New insight into the pathogenesis of retinopathy of prematurity: assessment of whole-genome expression.

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the most common preventable causes of blindness and impaired vision among children in developed countries. The aim of the study was to compare whole-genome expression in the first month of life in groups of infants with and without ROP.

Methods: Blood samples were drawn from 111 newborns with a mean gestational age of 27.

[Difficulties in diagnosing febrile states in 3-month-old infant].

Wide spectrum of infectious causes should be considered while diagnosing febrile states in infants.The aim of study is to present the case of 3-month-old infant with febrile states. Boy was admitted to Department of Pediatrics to Infant Unit because of the febrile states lasting for 4 weeks.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in newborns--a case presentation and literature review.

Unlabelled: Preterm ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (POHS) is a rare condition in which immaturity of the gonadal axis is accepted as the cause. Based on our case and 8 cases from the literature, we made an attempt to specify the mechanisms underlying the syndrome and its pathognomonic signs. All POHS newborns were born between 24 and 31 weeks postconception age (WPCA) and developed vulvar, hypogastric and upper leg swelling, and ovarian follicular cyst/cysts (10-40 mm in diameter) with mildly or considerably elevated E(2) concentrations (80-5,300 pmol/l) between 35 and 39 WPCA.

Genetic risk factors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

The aim of the study was to assess the association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and polymorphisms of genes coding for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-[beta]1), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). A sample of 181 newborns with mean gestational age of 28 wk was prospectively evaluated. Molecular analysis of TGF-[beta]1 -800G>A, -509C>T, 10T>C, 25G>C, VEGF -460T>C and 405G>C and MTHFR 677C>T polymorphisms were performed and the number of CA repeats in the promoter region of IGF-1 gene was assessed.

The clinical role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) system in the pathogenesis of retinopathy of prematurity.

Background: Recent experimental studies suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can play an important role in the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). There are interesting observations of VEGF concentration in the serum, depending on its gene polymorphism which can have an impact on abnormal vessel development in the retina.

Aim: Analysis of: (1) association of VEGF gene polymorphisms and the incidence of ROP, (2) correlation between serum concentration of VEGF and soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sVEGFR-1) during the 1st month of life and the risk of ROP, and (3) correlation between VEGF gene polymorphisms and VEGF serum concentrations.

[The role of videoelectroencephalography in diagnostics of seizures in neonates and infants].

Objectives: The clinical characteristic of attack is frequently difficult to unequivocal establishment by observation. It refers especially to seizures in youngest children, due to complicated attack morphology. VideoEEG as a diagnostic tool makes possible more precise establishment of seizures type and derivation.

[Intracranial hemorrhage in term newborn].

Background: The improvements in perinatal care during last decade have changed clinical presentation of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) among full-term newborns. New imaging techniques allow for diagnosis of ICH even in asymptomatic babies.

Aim: Analysis of prevalence and risk factors of ICH among full-term newborns requiring intensive care.

[Risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity in newborns treated in neonatal intensive care unit of University Children's Hospital Collegium Medicum Jagiellonian University].

Background: A persistent progress in perinatal care and a large increase in infants' survival rate have been observed recently. As a result, the number of neonates requiring ophthalmologic examinations due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) increased as well.

Method: A retrospective survey including 206 neonates with mean birth weight 1342 g and mean gestational age 30 weeks.

[Peritoneal drainage as an alternative to laparotomy in premature infants with complicated necrotizing enterocolitis].

Unlabelled: The highest mortality due to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in noted among low birth weight infants. Poor general medical condition of those children does not allow for major surgery despite obvious symptoms of perforation that usually require laparotomy. The aim of this study was assessment of the outcome of peritoneal drainage in complicated NEC in low birth weight infants.

[Influence of the lactose free and lactose containing diet on prevalence of gram-negative sepsis and feeding intolerance in very low birth weight infants: double-blind randomized trial].

Objective: VLBW infants have a developmental lactase deficiency in the gut. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of lactose containing and lactose free diets on prevalence of feeding intolerance and Gram negative sepsis in VLBW infants.

Methods: 80 newborns with mean (+/- SEM) birth weight 1091 +/- 25 g and gestational age 28.

[Diagnostic and prognostic reliability of interleukin-10 measurements in very low birth weight infants with late-onset sepsis].

Background: There exists little data on releasing Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and on the clinical usefulness of its measurements in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Aim: The evaluation of diagnostic and prognostic reliability of IL-10 measurement in VLBW infants with sepsis.

Methods: 87 newborns with the median birth weight (BW) 1060 g and median gestational age (GA) 28 wks were divided into 3 groups: A) with no clinical signs of sepsis in the first month of life-control group (n = 28), B) with clinical signs of sepsis but with negative blood cultures (n = 13), and C) with clinically and microbiologically confirmed sepsis (n = 46).

[Thanatophoric dysplasia: three patients hospitalized in PAIP in 1994-2000].

Background: Thanatophoric dwarfism is a lethal bone dysplasia causing severe disturbance in body proportions, shortening and deformation of the long bones and maldevelopment of the chest leading to severe respiratory failure and early death. The disease is caused usually by de novo mutation in the gene of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). Inheritance is autosomal dominant.

Definitive diagnosis of enzymatic deficiencies of steroidogenesis in at-risk newborns and infants by urinary marker analysis using GC/MS-SIM.

A simplified urinary marker analysis for diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and 5alpha-reductase deficiency in infancy by GC/MS-SIM is introduced. The analysis was performed in 161 patients aged 3-90 days, 99 females and 62 males. CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency was diagnosed in 61 patients (42 females and 19 males; in 10 cases simple virilizing form and in 51 patients salt-wasting form) and CAH induced by 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency without salt loss in 1 female patient.

Prenatal lead exposure and the pregnancy outcome. A case-control study in southern Poland.

In an attempt to test null hypothesis (Ho): that prenatal lead exposure does not increase the risk of prematurity and the delivery of SGA infants, a case-control study was performed in four hospitals of Southern Poland (Kraków, Rabka, Limanowa, Zakopane). Lead content was determined in maternal and cord blood as well as in head and pubic hair by the GF AAS (Perkin Elmer). A significant interregional variation of lead content in maternal blood was observed.