Comparison of neurally-adjusted ventilator assist in infants before and after extubation.

Background: To compare invasive (iNAVA) and non-invasive (nivNAVA) neurally adjusted ventilatory assist in infants, respect to gas exchange, breathing pattern, respiratory drive, infant-ventilator interaction and synchrony, vital parameters and required sedation.

Methods: Ten consecutive intubated term infants admitted for respiratory failure of different etiology underwent to 2-hour not-randomized trials of iNAVA and, after extubation, nivNAVA, the latter with unchanged ventilator settings and with air-leaks compensating software. Arterialized capillary blood was sampled at the end of each trial.

[What new fathers know, think and do: a survey about fathering's attitudes, beliefs and behaviors in a sample of 570 men just after the birth of their newborn].

Aim: The aim of this paper was to know and analyze information, attitudes and behaviors related with transformations occurring in men when they become fathers.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire has been given out to all men whose newborns were born in the Hospitals located into Borgosesia, Ivrea, Novara, Verbania and Vercelli (Piedmont region in north west of the Italy) in the last quarter of 2006. The questionnaire was created ad hoc and filled out on the day of discharge; results underwent statistical analyses through SPSS system.

[An unusual case of "complicated" adrenal hemorrhage].

This case report concerns a newborn with bilateral adrenal massive hemorrhage complicated by inferior cava vein thrombosis, hypertension and encephalopathy to elaborate diagnostic and therapeutic problem of neonatal thromboembolic events. Increasing of risk population (extreme prematurity), improvement of imaging, laboratory and neonatologist care enhanced in recent years the diagnosis of this group of diseases. Even if literature about this subject is poor, we remark the significant effort of neonatologist to revise and update neonatal guidelines and the relevance of the institution of the National Registry of Neonatal Thrombosis (RITI).

Late and unusual onset of congenital duodenal obstruction due to combination lesion.

Duodenal obstruction is one of the most common congenital anomalies. Both intrinsic (atresia, web and stenosis) or extrinsic lesions (malrotation, peritoneal bands, intestinal duplication, anterior portal vein and annular pancreas) may be involved. It usually presents within the first week of life with vomiting.

Ghrelin levels are reduced in prepubertal epileptic children under treatment with carbamazepine or valproic acid.

A relationship between ghrelin and epilepsy has been already shown in humans, although the results are controversial. Ghrelin levels are reduced in obesity. Epileptic patients progressively develop a therapy-linked weight gain; however, the mechanisms for this have not been fully explained.

Access to paediatric emergency departments in Italy: a comparison between immigrant and Italian patients.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate whether access to paediatric emergency departments differed between foreign and Italian patients.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study between January-December 2007 to analyse attendance's characteristics in the paediatric emergency departments of ten Italian public hospitals. The study population included each foreign patient and the following Italian patient admitted to the same emergency department.

Serum ghrelin concentration, fasting time and feeding in infants.

Background: Data on hormonal feeding control in infants in the first months of life according to the kind of feeding are scanty.

Aim: To evaluate whether serum ghrelin could be involved in feeding behaviour control of breast-fed (BF) and formula fed (FF) infants.

Methods: We studied 50 AGA healthy term infants aged 1-6 months of age.

Ghrelin, motilin, insulin concentration in healthy infants in the first months of life: relation to fasting time and anthropometry.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate: (i) the relation between fasting time and serum ghrelin, motilin and insulin concentrations and (ii) the correlations between these hormones and anthropometrical parameters of infants in the first 18 months of life.

Patient And Methods: A cross-sectional study on 62 term infants was performed. Blood samples for hormonal assay were obtained at least 1 h after feeding.

Ghrelin and motilin concentration in colicky infants.

Aim: To evaluate serum ghrelin and motilin concentration in infants with infantile colic.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted on fasting blood venous samples obtained from 18 infants with infantile colic and 20 healthy infants to measure ghrelin (RIA test) and motilin (RIA test).

Results: Colicky infants showed higher ghrelin serum levels (2534.

Ghrelin, leptin and IGF-I levels in breast-fed and formula-fed infants in the first years of life.

Aim: To establish ghrelin, leptin and IGF-I serum levels in breastfed (BF) and formula-fed (FF) infants during the first period of life.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on fasting blood venous samples obtained from exclusively BF (n=106) and FF (n=100) infants to measure total ghrelin (RIA test), leptin (RIA test) and IGF-I (chemiluminescence). Anthropometrical measurements of weight, length and cranial circumference were performed.