Neurodevelopment of preterm infants with glucose and sodium abnormalities.

Background: Blood glucose and serum sodium abnormalities in very low birth weight infants may cause increased morbidity and mortality, but data regarding the long-term outcomes are limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between the peak and nadir blood glucose and serum sodium levels and neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants.

Methods: A single-center retrospective medical record of 284 infants with birth weight<1500 g born between February 1, 2011 and January 31, 2015 was reviewed.

Parenteral nutrition with fish oil-based lipid emulsion reduces the risk of cholestasis in preterm infants.

Objective: Preterm infants receive long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) for gastrointestinal immaturity. This study aimed to determine if mixed lipid emulsions containing fish oil decrease the incidence of PN-associated cholestasis by reducing oxidative stress and providing an anti-inflammatory effect.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 399 very low birth weight premature infants (gestational age ≤32 weeks) between January 2009 and November 2017 at a single neonatal intensive care unit.

Effects of fish oil-containing lipid emulsions on retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight infants.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of different types of parenteral emulsions on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (VLBW, birth body weight < 1500 g) infants by comparing fish oil-containing and soy-based parenteral emulsions.

Methods: Data of preterm infants with body weights below 1500 gm at birth and receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for a minimum of 7 days during the period between January 2009 and November 2017 were analyzed in this retrospective study. We compared clinical outcomes in two epochs using different lipid emulsions: epoch 1 (soybean-based lipid emulsions, January 2009-February 2014) versus epoch 2 (fish oil-containing lipid emulsions, January 2015-November 2017).

Intravenous fish oil containing lipid emulsion attenuates inflammatory cytokines and the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very premature infants: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Preterm infants have lower levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs). Supplementing very premature infants with intravenous lipid emulsions that fish oil, which is rich in n-3 LC-PUFAs, may decrease bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) by modulating inflammation and neonatal immune function.

Methods: Sixty very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants requiring ventilator support were randomized in a double-blind manner to 2 groups and received total parenteral nutrition with fish oil containing LE (intervention group, n = 30) or soybean oil containing LE (control group, n = 30) for 7 days.

Correlates of Elevated Interleukin-6 and 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine Levels in Tracheal Aspirates from Very Low Birth Weight Infants Who Develop Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains the most common complication of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants, and inflammatory regulation plays a role in the development of the BPD. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has an important role in airway inflammation and therefore can be used as a marker of airway injury. The study aimed to compare the changes between IL-6 and oxidative stress marker with 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) from serum and tracheal aspiration (TA) in VLBW preterm infants following development of BPD.

Correlations between pulmonary function and childhood asthma control test results in 5-11-year-old children with asthma.

Objectives: We examined correlations between the two asthma assessment tools, pulmonary function tests, and Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) scores, in 5-11-year-old children with asthma to determine if the C-ACT scores could predict pulmonary function test results.

Materials And Methods: A total of 172 children with asthma aged 5-11 years completed C-ACT questionnaires and underwent pulmonary function testing. Correlations between these test results were examined.

The accuracy of a glucose-oxidase-based point-of-care glucometer in premature infants.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a novel commercial glucose-oxidase (GO)-based glucometer in measuring glucose concentrations in arterial blood samples collected from premature infants.

Patients And Methods: A commercial glucometer, which is a plasma separation GO-based glucometer, was employed to compare the accuracy of the commercial blood glucometer with that of a standard glucose analyser for monitoring blood glucose levels in premature infants. Arterial blood samples were collected and analysed, including samples adjusted for specific glucose (3.

Nationwide population-based epidemiologic study of childhood and adulthood intussusception in Taiwan.

Background: Most studies have evaluated the epidemiology of intussusception only in children. This was the first nationwide population-based study conducted to investigate the epidemiology and associated medical expenses of intussusception for all age groups in Taiwan.

Methods: Cases of intussusception were identified from the annual hospitalization discharge claims of the National Health Insurance Research Database with corresponding International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 560.

Perception of medical care systems and stress responses in preschoolers' caregivers at a pediatric emergency department in Taiwan.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to understand caregivers' perception of medical care systems and their stress responses throughout their stay with preschoolers at a pediatric emergency department (ED).

Methods: Overall, 201 preschoolers' caregivers in pediatric ED were recruited in this study. They were asked to answer self-made questionnaires regarding the perception of medical care systems and their stress responses immediately before preschoolers' release.

The dose-dependent immunoregulatory effects of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in rats with sub-acute peritonitis.

Background: Chronic inflammation accompanied by arginine deficiency, immune dysfunction, and excess nitric oxide (NO) production is a clinical condition found in patients with peritonitis. A previous study showed that the nonselective NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) may facilitate the metabolism of the immune nutrient arginine without altering NO homeostasis in rats with sub-acute peritonitis. Here, we investigated the effects of L-NAME on the immunocytic subpopulation distribution and response.

Group B streptococcal infection in Taiwan: maternal colonization and neonatal infection.

Background: There is no national data on group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in Taiwan. We investigated incidence of maternal GBS colonization and neonatal GBS infection rate and clinical pictures of neonatal GBS infection to estimate the value of intrapartum chemoprophylactic strategy in Taiwan.

Methods: From January 2004 to June 2005, a prospective study to estimate maternal colonization rate by maternal rectovaginal culture at six hospitals was conducted.

Dose effects of chronically infused nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on anabolic response and arginine metabolism in rats with subacute peritonitis.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors alleviate the adverse effects of nitric oxide (NO) overproduction that occurs during peritonitis, a clinical condition that is accompanied by arginine deficiency. However, the variations in the disease severity and the dosage, route, and period of NOS inhibitor administration are debatable. Therefore, we investigated the dose effects of chronically infused NOS inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on the anabolism, inflammatory responses, and arginine metabolism in parenterally fed rats with cecal puncture-induced subacute peritonitis.

New plasma separation glucose oxidase-based glucometer in monitoring of blood with different PO2 levels.

Background: The PalmLab glucometer is a newly designed plasma separation glucose oxidase (GO)-based glucometer. Past studies have shown that the accuracy of GO-based glucometers is compromised when measurements are taken in patients with high PO(2) levels. We performed a two-arm study comparing the fitness of the PalmLab blood glucometer with that of a standard glucose analyzer in monitoring blood glucose levels in pediatric patients, especially when arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PO(2)) was high.

Congenital stridor and wheezing as harbingers of the del22q11.2 syndrome presenting cardiovascular malformations of right aortic arch, aberrant left subclavian artery, Kommerell's diverticulum, and left ligamentum arteriosum.

A complete vascular ring composed of right aortic arch, aberrant left subclavian artery with Kommerell's diverticulum, and left ligamentum arteriosum was diagnosed by barium esophagography, echocardiography, angiography, and multidetector computed tomography of chest in an 18-day-old male neonate who presented with remarkable inspiratory stridor, expiratory wheezing, postprandial vomiting, and dysphagia since birth, and survived surgical division of the left ligamentum arteriosum, resection of the Kommerell's diverticulum, and reimplanation of the left subclavian artery to the left common carotid artery. Cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization study of his blood revealed chromosome 22q11.2 deletion, with a karyotype of 46,XY.

Changing clinical presentations and survival pattern in trisomy 18.

Background: The clinical presentations and survival patterns of infants with trisomy 18 have changed with increasing utilization of prenatal ultrasound and amniocentesis, and improvements in neonatal intensive care.

Methods: We obtained data on duration of survival, male to female ratio, and clinical details for patients with trisomy 18, and calculated the prevalence rate.

Results: We studied 31 consecutive trisomy 18 infants.

Outcomes in neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum underwent pulmonary valvulotomy and valvuloplasty using a flexible 2-French radiofrequency catheter.

Purpose: Outcomes in 6 neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) undergoing radiofrequency pulmonary valvulotomy and valvuloplasty (RPVV) were reported to identify the factors favorable for RPVV as the treatment of choice.

Materials And Methods: From May 2000 to January 2008, 6 patients with PAIVS were included in this retrospective study. They were aged 1 day to 90 days old.

Endoscopic surgery for nasal glioma mimicking encephalocele in infancy.

Intranasal gliomas are challenging for several reasons. Their diagnosis may not be immediately obvious at presentation. It is important to exclude an intracranial extension, and for this some have suggested a craniotomy.

Late-onset Enterobacter cloacae sepsis in very-low-birth-weight neonates: experience in a medical center.

Objective: The objective of this study was to review the early clinical profiles and outcomes of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates with late-onset sepsis caused by Enterobacter cloacae.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of VLBW neonates whose blood and/or cerebral spinal fluid yielded E. cloacae after 3 days of hospitalization in our neonatal intensive care unit.

Early or late surgical ligation of medical refractory patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants.

Optimal time to surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in very-low-birth-weight (< 1500 g) premature infants remains an area of controversy. We compared the outcomes of early or late ligation of medical refractory PDA in very-low-birth-weight premature infants. Fifty-six infants underwent surgical closure of PDA after failure of or having contraindications to medical treatment.

Phenotype and genotype of two Taiwanese cystic fibrosis siblings and a survey of delta F508 in East Asians.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is considered to be a rare disease in Asians. We report two cases of CF in a 5-year-old girl and her newborn brother. They are of mixed parentage: a Taiwanese mother and an Australian father.

Oral probiotics prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight preterm infants: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: The goal was to investigate the efficacy of orally administered probiotics in preventing necrotizing enterocolitis for very low birth weight preterm infants.

Methods: A prospective, blinded, randomized, multicenter controlled trial was conducted at 7 NICUs in Taiwan, to evaluate the beneficial effects of probiotics in necrotizing enterocolitis among very low birth weight infants (birth weight: <1500 g). Very low birth weight infants who survived to start enteral feeding were eligible and were assigned randomly to 2 groups after parental informed consent was obtained.

Exchange transfusion using peripheral vessels is safe and effective in newborn infants.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency and safety of exchange transfusion by using peripheral arteries and veins with that of conventional exchange transfusion via the umbilical vein in treating neonatal pathologic hyperbilirubinemia.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of all neonates who had undergone exchange transfusion at our institution from January 1995 to December 2006. Causes of jaundice, efficiency of exchange transfusion in lowering serum bilirubin concentrations, adverse events, and outcomes were recorded.

Heat-shock response protects peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from hydrogen peroxide-induced mitochondrial disturbance.

The present study was designed to investigate ex vivo the protective mechanisms of heat-shock response against H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of rats. Twenty-four hours later, heat-shock treatment was executed in vivo; rat PBMCs were collected and treated with H(2)O(2). The accumulation of reactive oxygen species and the mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated by intracellular fluorescent dHE and JC-1 dye staining, respectively, and expression of HSP72 and cytochrome c was detected by Western blot analysis.

A systematic classification of the congenital bronchopulmonary vascular malformations: dysmorphogeneses of the primitive foregut system and the primitive aortic arch system.

Purpose: We reviewed the cases of 33 patients from our clinic and 142 patients from the literature with congenital bronchopulmonary vascular malformations (BPVM), systematically analyzed the bronchopulmonary airways, pulmonary arterial supplies, and pulmonary venous drainages, and classified these patients by pulmonary malinosculation (PM).

Materials And Methods: From January 1990 to January 2007, a total of 33 patients (17 men or boys and 16 women or girls), aged 1 day to 24 years (median, 2.5 months), with congenital BPVM were included in this study.