[A PROSPECTIVE FOLLOW-UP OF NON-PALPABLE TESTES IN NEONATES].

Introduction: Cryptorchidism is the most common genitourinary disorder in male neonates, with an incidence of 2-5% in term neonates and 30% in preterm infants. Known complications of this condition include impaired fertility and an increased risk of malignancy. This leads to a high frequency of imaging tests, specifically ultrasonography.

When should phototherapy be stopped? A pilot study comparing two targets of serum bilirubin concentration.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of two groups of jaundiced newborns randomized to one of the two targets of total serum bilirubin (TSB) for phototherapy discontinuation.

Design: Infants treated with phototherapy were assigned to two groups: in the 'high-threshold' group, phototherapy was interrupted when TSB decreased to >/=1 mg/dL (17 micromol/L) below the limit requiring phototherapy and in the 'low-threshold' group when TSB decreased to >/=3 mg/dL (51 micromol/L) below the same limit.

Results: Fifty-two infants were enrolled, 25 in the high- and 27 in the low-threshold group.

The prevalence of regurgitations in the first 2 days of life in human milk- and formula-fed term infants.

Purpose: Very little is known about the prevalence of regurgitations in human milk-fed infants in the first days of life. The authors aimed to compare the frequency of regurgitations in formula- and breastfed infants in the first 2 days of life. It was hypothesized that human milk-fed infants experience less episodes of regurgitations than their formula-fed counterparts.

Posttransfusion equilibration of hematocrit in hemodynamically stable neonates.

Objective: To determine whether hematocrit obtained 15 mins after blood transfusion in hemodynamically stable neonates is significantly different from that obtained after 6 hrs. We hypothesized that the hematocrit stabilizes within the first 15 mins that follow a 3-hr blood transfusion in preterm infants.

Design: We prospectively studied 24 consecutive infants who received blood transfusion.

Effect of hematocrit on exhaled carbon monoxide in healthy newborn infants.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that, the red blood cell (RBC) mass, estimated by hematocrit (HCT) or hemoglobin (Hb) level, influences the carbon monoxide (CO) production rate.

Study Design: The relationship between end tidal CO corrected for ambient carbon monoxide level (ETCOc) and the RBC mass have been studied in 58 full-term infants at the mean age 4.9 hours.

A cluster of early neonatal sepsis and pneumonia caused by nontypable Haemophilus influenzae.

Nine premature infants developed early onset sepsis and/or pneumonia with Haemophilus influenzae during a period of 53 months (January 2000 -May 2004). Their respiratory problems were pneumonia-like rather than classic respiratory distress syndrome. In 8 of the cases, the pathogen was a beta-lactamase-negative, nontypable H.

The effect of positioning on energy expenditure in preterm infants: a feasibility study.

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of a study of the effect of positioning on energy expenditure in preterm infants. We performed a prospective, randomized, clinical cross-over pilot study of eight healthy, appropriate weight for gestational age, gavage-fed, clinically stable preterm infants at the postmenstrual age of 30 weeks. Prior to the study and in accord with our feeding protocol, infants uniformly received either their own mother's milk or a preterm formula.

Indomethacin-induced early patent ductus arteriosus closure cannot be predicted by a decrease in pulse pressure.

Wide pulse pressure is considered to be a sign of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We tested the hypothesis that, following indomethacin therapy, PDA closure is associated with a significant decrease in pulse pressure. Thirty-two ventilated preterm infants were echocardiographically diagnosed within the first 24 hours of life with PDA.

Evaluation of a new thermometer for rapid axillary temperature measurement in preterm infants.

Mercury-in-glass thermometers are considered the "gold-standard" for temperature measurements, but require at least 4 minutes for accuracy. Electronic thermometers sample temperature measurements over a shorter period. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of the Penguin (Medisim, Jerusalem, Israel) and the IVAC (San Diego, CA) Temp plus II thermometers in preterm infants.