The clinical value of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography in a historical cohort with neonatal encephalopathy: A comparison of short-term versus prolonged-period monitoring.

Background: To compare the amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) monitoring (short-term versus prolonged-period) for neonatal seizure detection and outcome.

Methods: The aEEG monitoring in a historical cohort (n = 88, preterm:42, and term:46) with neonatal encephalopathy between 2010-2022 was re-evaluated for neonatal seizures (electrographic, electro-clinical, and clinical seizures) and EEG background scoring. The cohort was dichotomized: group I (short-period with 6-12 h, n = 36) and group II (prolonged-period with 24-48 h, n = 52).

The role of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background: Vitamin D and its receptor (VDR) effects on the gastrointestinal system are among its most critical multisystemic effects.

Methods: This study aimed to reveal that VDR gene polymorphisms may constitute a risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). VDR Fok1-Bsm1-Apa single-nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed in the NEC group (n = 74) and the control group (n = 147).

The net impact of clinical seizures on outcome characteristics in infants with neonatal encephalopathies at 12 months of age.

Purpose: To assess the impact of clinical neonatal seizures on outcome characteristics of preterm and term newborns with neonatal encephalopathy (NE).

Methods: We designed a prospective comparative study with 53 babies (preterm neonates: 26 and term neonates: 27) with NE: group 1 (preterm neonates with seizures, n = 13), group 2 (preterm neonates without seizures, n = 13), group 3 (term neonates with seizures, n = 13) and group 4 (term neonates without seizures, n = 14). The functional outcome characteristics of the survivors were assessed by the Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory (ADSI) and the Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) at 12 months of age.

Omitting routine gastric residual checks may help to accelerate enteral feeds and postnatal growth in stable preterm infants.

Background: The prefeed gastric residual check (GRC) when increasing the amounts of feeds given via orogastric and nasogastric tubes as a precaution for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and intestinal intolerance is a routine procedure. However, it is mostly misleading, and recently, there has been a tendency not to check prefeed residuals.

Methods: We changed our nutrition protocol at the end of 2018 to start minimal enteral feeds (MEFs) and increase feeds without GRCs.

The effects of IGF-1 and erythropoietin on apoptosis and telomerase activity in necrotizing enterocolitis model.

Background: Apoptosis that occurs after hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) has an important role in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Telomerase activity, showing the regeneration capacity, may also be important in the recovery process. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and erythropoietin (EPO) on apoptosis and telomerase activity in an H/R model.

Can urinary biomarkers predict acute kidney injury in newborns with critical congenital heart disease?

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital malformation group and is the leading cause of newborn mortality in developed countries. Most of the infants with CHD develop preoperative or postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). Acute kidney injury may develop before the serum creatinine rise and oliguria.

Efficacy of levetiracetam as first-line therapy for neonatal clinical seizures and neurodevelopmental outcome at 12 months of age.

Appropriate treatment of neonatal seizures with an effective therapy is important in reducing long-term neurologic disabilities. Sixty-seven neonates, who received intravenous (IV) levetiracetam (LEV) as first-line therapy for treating seizures between 2013 and 2017 were evaluated retrospectively to investigate the efficacy of LEV and its neurodevelopmental outcome at 12 months of age. Of the 67 neonates (44 preterm and 23 term babies) evaluated for seizures, 55 (82%) had a defined etiology.

Turkish Neonatal Society Guideline on neonatal encephalopathy.

Neonatal encephalopathy is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Therapeutic hypothermia is standard treatment for newborns at 35 weeks of gestation or more with intrapartum hypoxia-related neonatal encephalopathy. Term and late preterm infants with moderate-to-severe encephalopathy show improved survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months of age after therapeutic hypothermia.

The Change of Perinatal Mortality Over Three Decades in a Reference Centre in the Aegean Region: Neonatal Mortality has decreased but Foetal Mortality Remains Unchanged.

Background: Perinatal, foetal and neonatal mortality statistics are important to show the development of a health care system in a country. However, in our country there are very few national and regional data about the changing pattern of perinatal neonatal mortality along with the development of new technologies in this area.

Aims: Evaluation of the changes in mortality rates and the causes of perinatal and neonatal deaths within years in a perinatal reference centre which serves a high-risk population.

Perforated appendicitis after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in a term neonate with haemolytic jaundice.

Neonatal appendicitis is a rare clinical condition that may cause high morbidity and mortality if diagnosis is delayed. There is usually an underlying disease; it can also be a localized form of necrotizing enterocolitis. Here, we present a term neonate who was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin because of severe isoimmune hemolytic jaundice.

Effects of Two Different Exogenous Surfactant Preparations on Serial Peripheral Perfusion Index and Tissue Carbon Monoxide Measurements in Preterm Infants with Severe Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Background: Administration of an exogenous surfactant may affect both ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Peripheral perfusion may be expected to be influenced, and serial perfusion index (PI) values may show this effect. Noninvasive transcutaneous carbon monoxide (TCO) monitoring may show RDS severity, oxidative and inflammatory stress, and response to surfactant treatment.

Cardiovascular consequences of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in prematurely born preschool children.

Background: A limited number of studies have reported various short-term cardiovascular changes in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) patients in the postsurfactant era. Little is known about the course of these changes in children with BPD.

Objectives: It was the aim of this study to investigate cardiovascular consequences of BPD at preschool ages and to find out possible risk factors related to cardiovascular sequelae.

Role of digoxin-like immunoreactive substance in the pathogenesis of transient tachypnea of newborn.

Background: Transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN) is usually observed in term or near-term infants. It constitutes an important part of the respiratory distress cases observed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Aim: This paper examines the effects of digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (DLIS) on fluid and ion balance, hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters of neonates with TTN.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension and pregnancy.

This is the case report of a pregnant woman who refused pregnancy termination when diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) functional class 2-3 at the 24th week of gestation and of her newborn. A pregnant woman with PAH functional class 2-3 was treated with inhaled prostacyclin analog (iloprost), oral sildenafil, oxygen, and low molecular weight heparin. She delivered at 32nd week by Cesarean section.

Histological chorioamnionitis: effects on premature delivery and neonatal prognosis.

Background: Chorioamnionitis is closely related to premature birth and has negative effects on neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Methods: In this prospective study, 43 mothers who delivered earlier than 35 gestational weeks and their 57 infants were evaluated clinically and with laboratory findings. Placentas and umbilical cords were investigated histopathologically for chorioamnionitis and funisitis.

Serial intravesical pressure measurements can predict the presence and the severity of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background And Aims: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) which is accompanied with gastrointestinal ulceration and necrosis is one of the most important problems of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is detected among most of the pediatric patients hospitalized in intensive care unit and undergoing surgery or trauma. This pathology, namely, abdominal compartment syndrome, causes ischemia and hypoperfusion of abdominal organs.

Diagnostic tools of metabolic and structural brain disturbances in neonatal non-ketotic hyperglycinemia.

Non-ketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of glycine metabolism. We report a newborn case of NKH and discuss the effects of this rare disease on brain metabolism and structure together with amplitude-integrated electroencephalography, cranial magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings which are very rarely reported together so far.

Association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia and MBL2 and IL1-RN polymorphisms.

Background: The imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Mannose binding lectin (MBL) codon 54 and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist gene (IL1-RN) polymorphisms cause genetic predisposition to increased risk of infection and inflammation, therefore may increase the risk of BPD. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between MBL, IL1-RN gene polymorphisms and BPD development in preterm infants.

Evaluation of device-associated infections in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Device-associated infections are common in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in accordance with the frequent use of invasive devices, and they must be continuously and closely monitored for infection control. Six hundred newborn infants hospitalized longer than 72 hours in Ege University Children's Hospital NICU between January 2008 and December 2010 were prospectively followed for occurrence of device-associated infections (central venous catheter- and umbilical catheter-associated blood stream infections [CVC/UC BSI] and ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP]). In a total of 10,052 patient days, the VAP rate was 13.

Long-term ongoing coagulopathy in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

The previously reported activated intravascular coagulation system in the acute phase of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has not been evaluated in the long term. We assessed the activities of coagulation system of a cohort of premature infants with RDS in comparison with healthy premature infants (HPIs), healthy mature infants (HMIs), and pediatric laboratory controls over a 6-month period. Cord and venous blood samples were taken at birth, at the first month and sixth month.

Chlamydial infections in term and preterm neonates.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and morbidities of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in newborn infants. Tissue culture and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) tests were used to detect the presence of nasopharyngeal C. trachomatis infection in 35 preterm and 21 healthy term neonates.