Maternal risk factors associated with lead, mercury and cadmium levels in umbilical cord blood, breast milk and newborn hair.

Objective: Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) are environmental pollutants that are wide spread throughout the world. The present study aimed to investigate the level of exposure to Pb, Hg and Cd during the prenatal period, and the possible routes of maternal exposure to these toxic heavy metals.

Participants: The study included 123 mothers and their newborns.

Myocardial performance index by tissue Doppler in bronchopulmonary dysplasia survivors.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) survivors from the surfactant era were evaluated by echocardiography in a few studies and no significant differences were found between BPD and non-BPD children. In this study, we evaluated these children with myocardial performance index (MPI), which was obtained by tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) in addition to the conventional methods. Fifteen children with BPD who did not have any cardiopulmonary symptoms at the time of the study were examined.

Fetal malnutrition and its impacts on neonatal outcome in preterm infants.

Fetal malnutrition is an important risk factor for both early and late neonatal outcome and adult diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence and characteristics of fetal malnutrition and its impacts on early neonatal morbidity and mortality in preterm infants by using the clinical assessment of nutritional status score (CANSCORE). Preterm infants whose gestational ages were between 28-34 weeks were included in the study.

Procalcitonin versus CRP as an early indicator of fetal infection in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in neonates who were born after preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and compare these with interleukin-6 (IL-6). The study involved 74 preterm neonates who were born after PPROM. IL-6, CRP, complete blood count and leukocyte ratios, and PCT levels were measured in the 1st day of life, and CRP, PCT, and blood counts were repeated on the 3rd day of life.

Ponderal index of large-for-gestational age infants: comparison between infants of diabetic and non-diabetic mothers.

Ponderal index (PI) is a weight-height related parameter that is mainly used to assess the pattern of fetal growth in small-for-gestational age infants. We aimed to use PI for large-for-gestational age (LGA) infants who were born to diabetic or non-diabetic mothers, in order to predict the fetal growth pattern. One hundred sixty-six LGA infants born at the Department of Obstetrics, Hacettepe University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey were included in the study.

Inhaled beta-2 agonist salbutamol for the treatment of transient tachypnea of the newborn.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of inhaled salbutamol, a beta-2 adrenergic agonist, for the treatment of transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) and to determine whether inhaled salbutamol is safe in newborn infants.

Study Design: Inhaled salbutamol or normal saline solution was administered to 54 infants with gestational ages ranging from 34 to 39 weeks and TTN. The response to salbutamol therapy was evaluated by determining respiratory rate, clinical score of TTN, level of respiratory support, and fraction of inspired oxygen before and at 30 minutes and 1 and 4 hours after salbutamol nebulization.

Adenosine deaminase levels in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Adenosine is produced in the inflammed and damaged lung where it plays roles in the regulation of inflammation and tissue remodeling. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme responsible for the degradation of adenosine. Our aim was to compare the levels of ADA between infants with and without respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and to determine the relationship between plasma ADA levels and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Maternal pertussis is hazardous for a newborn: a case report.

Pertussis, or whooping cough, a highly contagious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis, is making a comeback globally and nationally in spite of reasonable vaccination coverage. Worldwide, there have been increasing reports of Bordetella pertussis infection among adolescents and adults, but the peak incidence and highest mortality occur among infants. We report a 19-day-old female infant presenting with progressive respiratory failure.

Association between the Glu298Asp and T(-786)C polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and respiratory distress in preterm neonates.

Genetic polymorphisms in the gene that codes for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) have been associated with less nitric oxide availability and with various cardiovascular diseases in humans. The objective of this study was to analyze the genotype distributions and allele frequencies for the Glu298Asp (G894T) and T(-786)C polymorphisms of the eNOS gene among neonates with respiratory distress in comparison to healthy control subjects. Fifty premature neonates with respiratory distress and 55 neonates without any respiratory problem were included in the study.

Hydrops fetalis associated with chorioangioma and thrombosis of umbilical vein.

Placental chorioangioma and thrombosis of an umbilical vein varix are rare etiologic factors of non-immune hydrops fetalis. Herein, we report a patient who had hydrops fetalis associated with placental chorioangioma and thrombosis of an umbilical vein varix. This is the first report of coexistence of non-immune hydrops fetalis with placental chorioangioma and thrombosis of an umbilical vein varix.

The effects of antenatal anticoagulants (low-molecular-weight heparin and aspirin) on neonatal pulmonary vasculature in rabbits.

Low-molecular-weight heparin and aspirin are the most prescribed medical agents as anticoagulants in pregnancy. Our objective was to investigate the effects of antenatal use of low-molecular-weight heparin and aspirin on pulmonary vascular development in neonatal rabbits. Seven pregnant rabbits (42 newborn rabbits) were divided into 5 groups as follows: control group (group 1, n = 14), heparin treated (group 2, n = 8), heparin and aspirin treated (group 3, n = 7), only aspirin treated (group 4, n = 6), and high-dose heparin treated (group 5, n = 12).

Bone speed of sound curves of twin and singleton neonates.

Aim: To evaluate associations between prenatal risk factors, neonatal characteristics and bone development.

Methods: Tibial speed of sound (SOS) of 317 neonates whose gestational ages ranged between 25 and 41 weeks and birth weight between 580 and 4,350 g was measured using quantitative ultrasound.

Results: Bone SOS values correlated significantly with gestational age and birth weight.

Does individual room implemented family-centered care contribute to mother-infant interaction in preterm deliveries necessitating neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization?

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of individual room care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on the factors that influence mother-preterm infant interaction. Mothers in group I had hospitalization with their preterm infants in an individual room in the NICU. Mothers in group II were not hospitalized but had opportunity to visit their babies and spend time with them whenever they wanted.

Vascular endothelial growth factor levels in newborns with meconium stained amniotic fluid.

Objective: The effects of meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) on cord blood vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels have not been explored. The aim of this study was to verify whether MSAF influences cord blood VEGF levels in healthy term neonates and we can use cord blood VEGF levels in infants with MSAF as an indicator of fetal distress.

Methods: Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay double sandwich method, plasma VEGF levels were determined in 18 healthy term neonates with MSAF and in 16 healthy term neonates without MSAF.

Determination of reference values for plasma cystatin C and comparison with creatinine in premature infants.

Cystatin C (CysC) is a low-molecular-mass protein (13,343 dalton, 120 amino acids) belonging to the cystatin superfamily of reversible inhibitors of cysteine proteases. CysC appears to be eliminated from the circulation almost exclusively by glomerular filtration, which makes it a promising endogenous marker of renal function. CysC has been demonstrated to reflect glomerular filtration rate better than other low-molecular-weight proteins, including creatinine (Cr).

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity (TAFIa) levels in neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Objective: Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is thought to be a sign of fetal hypoxia, which causes activation of coagulation and inhibition of fibrinolysis. Inflammation is also seen in MSAF. On the other hand, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is an inhibitor of fibrinolysis and a regulator of vascular inflammation.

Evaluation of risk factors in developmental dysplasia of the hip: results of infantile hip ultrasonography.

In this study, risk factors of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) were evaluated. History, clinical examination and risk factors for DDH of the babies were recorded. The hips were evaluated with ultrasonography.

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity, thrombin-antithrombin complex and D-dimer levels in preterm neonates with early respiratory distress syndrome.

Intraalveolar fibrin deposition found in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is explained by the activation of the coagulation system and inefficient fibrinolysis. However, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity (TAFIa), an inhibitor of fibrinolysis, and the ratio of D-dimer to thrombin-antithrombin complex (D-dimer/TAT), an index of fibrinolytic activity, have not been reported previously in neonatal RDS. Aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of plasma TAFIa levels on the fibrinolytic state in neonatal RDS.

ACE gene deletion/deletion polymorphism may be a protective factor for respiratory distress in preterm infants.

The objective in this study was to evaluate the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism in premature infants with and without respiratory distress within the first 24 hours of life. Totally, 87 premature babies who were followed up in the neonatal unit were included in the study. Of these babies, 41 had respiratory distress, and constituted the patient group.

Evaluation of serum granulocyte colony stimulating factor levels in infants of preeclamptic mothers.

In this study we aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) in infants of preeclamptic mothers. The study group consisted of 31 infants of preeclamptic mothers while the control group consisted of 24 gestational age-adjusted infants of normotensive mothers. G-CSF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Long-term enteral glutamine supplementation in very low birth weight infants: effects on growth parameters.

Enteral and parenteral glutamine supplementation in preterm infants has been shown to have some beneficial effects on neonatal morbidity and mortality, although the results are controversial. In this study, we aimed to determine if long-term glutamine-supplemented enteral nutrition affects growth parameters in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants. Preterm infants with a birth weight of < or = 1500 g were assigned to receive enteral glutamine supplementation (300 mg/kg/day) or placebo between 8-120 days (4 months) of life.

Prenatal diagnosis of isolated non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium: study of six cases.

Background: Isolated non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium (INVM) is characterized by prominent and excessive trabeculations in one or more ventricular wall segments, with deep intertrabecular recesses communicating directly with the ventricular cavities. Diagnosis of the disease is based on the 2-D echocardiographic features. Despite the fact that many cases of INVM have been reported in children and adults since the initial description of the disease, it has been diagnosed in only a few fetuses up to now.