Infants' Vitamin D Nutritional Status in the First Year of Life in Northern Taiwan.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and insufficiency (VDI) are common among exclusively breastfeeding infants. However, epidemiological evidence for the prevalence of VDD in infants during their first year of life in Taiwan has never been found. This trial determined the prevalence of VDD and VDI and the association between dietary vitamin D and vitamin D nutritional status in Northern Taiwan.

Iron Status of Infants in the First Year of Life in Northern Taiwan.

Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) typically occur in developing countries. Notably, ID and IDA can affect an infant's emotion, cognition, and development. Breast milk is considered the best food for infants.

Impact of urine osmolality/urine sodium on the timing of diuretic phase and non-invasive ventilation support: Differences from late preterm to term neonates.

Background: Extracellular fluid retained in the lungs lead to respiratory distress in both late preterm (LP) and term neonates. The relationship between urine parameters toward the diuresis and the duration of ventilation postnatally is unknown. To find the correlation between the diuretic phase with urine parameters in the first 4 days after birth and the duration of non-invasive ventilation (NIV).

The Role of Heated Humidified High-flow Nasal Cannula as Noninvasive Respiratory Support in Neonates.

Recently, heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) has been introduced and applied as a noninvasive respiratory support in neonates. Although HHHFNC is widely used in neonates presenting with respiratory distress, the efficiency and safety when compared with nasal continuous positive airway pressure or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation are still controversial. This review aims to evaluate the performance and applications of HHHFNC in neonates.

Prolonged Hyperbilirubinemia in a Neonate with a Novel Mutation in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 Gene.

The total bilirubin value of a male infant was 385 μmol/l on day 5. Liver function test results were normal and there was no evidence of sepsis and no hemolysis reaction. Phototherapy was administered and on day 8 the patient's total bilirubin level was 255 μmol/l.

The impact of small-for-gestational-age on neonatal outcome among very-low-birth-weight infants.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) on mortality and morbidity in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on VLBW infants registered at the Premature Baby Foundation of Taiwan between 2007 and 2011. All 21 neonatal departments in Taiwan participated in the data collection, and a total of 4636 VLBW infants were registered during the study period.

Parental smoking during pregnancy and its association with low birth weight, small for gestational age, and preterm birth offspring: a birth cohort study.

Background: Intrauterine exposure to tobacco smoke has been discerned as an important risk factor for low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth infants. In this cohort study, we investigated the association of the amount of parental smoking during the different pregnancy stages with birth weight and the incidence of preterm delivery.

Methods: Our study population was acquired from the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study.

Distinct clinical characteristics of patients with congenital duodenal obstruction in a medical center in Taiwan.

Background: Patients with congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) predominantly have a postampullary lesion site and a high association with Down syndrome, according to previous reports from Western countries. This study aimed to determine whether there are racial differences in the clinical characteristics of congenital duodenal obstruction, based on the experience from a Taiwanese medical center.

Methods: The charts were retrospectively reviewed among neonates with CDO who received surgery at National Taiwan University Hospital during the period 1985- 2008.

Deciduoid mesothelioma of the pleura in an adolescent boy.

Deciduoid mesothelioma is an extremely rare variant of malignant epithelioid mesothelioma. This report presents the case of a 13-year-old boy with this type of tumor in his pleura, whose initial main symptoms were chest pains and progressive scoliosis. Ensuing chemotherapy, which comprised pemetrexed and cisplatin, yielded good response after 5 cycles.

Neonatal listeriosis in Taiwan, 1990-2007.

Objectives: Listeria monocytogenes is an important pathogen in neonates in Western countries, with a fatality rate of 20-30%. There is limited information on neonatal listeriosis in Eastern countries. The purpose of this study was to delineate the occurrence and clinical picture of neonatal listeriosis in Taiwan.