Serum levels of resistin and its correlation with adiponectin and insulin in healthy full term neonates.

Unlabelled: Resistin and adiponectin are two adipokines involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity, and have been suggested as mediators of adult metabolic syndrome.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate cord blood levels of resistin, and their postnatal changes in full-term appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates. Interrelations between resistin, adiponectin, and insulin, and between resistin and neonatal and maternal anthropometric parameters were also assessed.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in breastfed infants with prolonged indirect hyperbilirubinemia.

Unlabelled: The aim of this prospective study was to verify normal serum AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) levels in jaundiced breastfed infants with indirect hyperbilirubinemia.

Methods: The study was conducted in clinically jaundiced breastfed infants, 20, or more, days old, referred to our outpatient ambulatory. Inclusion criteria were: birth at term after a physiologic pregnancy, with an Apgar score >7 at 1 and 5 min, no evidence of congenital anomalies or diseases, direct bilirubin <1 mg/dl, normal values of alpha-1-antitrypsin, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, thyroid stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, tyroxine, and normal growth.

Breast milk sodium concentration, sodium intake and weight loss in breast-feeding newborn infants.

Elevated breast milk (BM) Na concentration is regarded as responsible for elevated Na intake. To verify the clinical significance of milk Na concentration, we studied the relationship between BM Na+ concentration and infants' daily Na+ intake, infants' daily BM intake (DBMI) and percentage weight loss (%WL) in healthy newborn infants. All mothers who gave birth to a single healthy infant, between February and March 2004 at the Obstetric Clinic of University of Messina (Italy), were invited to participate if they were willing to attempt to breastfeed exclusively.

Hyperexcitability syndrome in a newborn infant of chocoholic mother.

We present a case of hyperexcitability syndrome observed in a neonate born to a mother who was a heavy user of cocoa and chocolate during pregnancy and lactation. The infant presented jitteriness, irritability, inconsolable crying, excessive sucking, and sleeping difficulties almost immediately after birth. The infant underwent extensive diagnostic studies, but none of the usual causes for its symptoms were identified.

Urodilatin excretion and its correlation with sodium excretion in healthy full-term newborn infants.

Background: Urodilatin (URO) is a member of the natriuretic family, cleaved by the kidney, which acts as a paracrine hormone in the regulation of natriuresis and diuresis. In newborn infants the excretion of urodilatin and its biological effects have not been explored.

Methods: We measured urinary URO excretion, by direct RIA (radioimmunoassay), as well as its correlation to neonatal body weight loss, and sodium homeostasis in 30 full-term newborn infants on the 4th day of life.

Endothelin-1 concentrations in cord blood of neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Background: The effects of meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) on cord blood endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations have not been explored.

Objective: The aim of this study was to verify whether MSAF influences ET-1 cord blood concentrations in healthy term neonates.

Methods: Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, plasma ET-1 concentrations were determined in 30 healthy term neonates with MSAF, and in 15 healthy term neonates without MSAF.