Effect of high calcium and phosphate concentrations on the physicochemical properties of two lipid emulsions used as total parenteral nutrition for neonates.

Premature infants require protein and energy for their growth and an adequate intake of calcium and phosphorus for their bone formation. However, several factors can affect the stability of intravenous lipid emulsions intended to be administered as neonatal total parenteral nutrition. This study evaluated the effect of additives and various concentrations of both calcium gluconate and glucose-1-phosphate on two intravenous lipid emulsions (Clinoleic 20% and Ivelip 20%) when using Primene 10% as source of amino acids and simulating clinical conditions (24-h storage at 37 degrees C).

Outbreak of Acinetobacter baumannii in a neonatal intensive care unit: antimicrobial susceptibility and genotyping analysis.

Purpose: We describe an outbreak of nosocomial respiratory infection caused by multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Tunis and our investigation to determine the source.

Methods: Between May 2006 and February 2007, 31 infants hospitalized in the NICU of the Centre of Maternity and Neonatology of La Rabta in Tunis developed A. baumannii pneumonia.

Randomized pilot study comparing oral ibuprofen with intravenous ibuprofen in very low birth weight infants with patent ductus arteriosus.

Background: We conducted a prospective, randomized, single-masked pilot study with the principal aim of comparing efficacy and tolerance between oral and intravenous ibuprofen in early closure of patent ductus arteriosus in very low birth weight infants. The possibility of ductal closure with only 1 or 2 doses of treatment was a secondary objective.

Material And Methods: Sixty-four very low birth weight patients with echocardiographically confirmed patent ductus arteriosus and respiratory distress were studied.

Risk factors of the failure of surfactant treatment by transient intubation during nasal continuous positive airway pressure in preterm infants.

We sought to identify risk factors and neonatal outcomes associated with the failure of the INSURE method ( INtubation- SURfactant- Extubation) during nasal continuous positive airway pressure for preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. We used a retrospective analysis of the prenatal histories, clinical courses, and laboratory data of all inborn infants with gestational age 27 to 34 weeks and respiratory distress syndrome treated with INSURE method. Infants were categorized into two groups: INSURE failure group and INSURE success group.

Effect of the intravenous lipid emulsions on the availability of calcium when using organic phosphate in TPN admixtures.

Purpose: The addition of high amounts of calcium remains a pharmaceutical concern due to its precipitation with phosphate in total parenteral nutrient (TPN) admixtures, compromising also the stability of the lipid emulsion.

Materials And Methods: Calcium-phosphate solubility was compared when using binary PN solutions versus all-in-one TPN (admixtures with lipid emulsions) in three formulas using organic calcium gluconate and glucose-1-phosphate.

Results: It was found that variation of Ca-P solubility exists between formulation with or without lipid emulsions.

The Tunisian population history through the Crigler-Najjar type I syndrome.

Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I (CN-I) is a rare and severe metabolic disorder. A recurrent mutation - c.1070A>G in exon 3 - was identified in the Tunisian population, suggesting a founder effect.

Oral ibuprofen in early curative closure of patent ductus arteriosus in very premature infants.

Intravenous indomethacin and intravenous ibuprofen are widely used for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants. Intravenous indomethacin may lead to renal impairment, enterocolitis, and intraventricular hemorrhage. Intravenous ibuprofen was shown to be as effective and to cause fewer side effects.

[Antenatal corticotherapy: ten years after the first conference of consensus].

Beneficial effects of antenatal corticotherapy on neonates are now well established. However, after the first conference of consensus, three controversial issues were left unresolved = use of dexamethasone or betamethasone, ideal number of curses to be given, and appropriateness of corticotherapy in case of prmature of the membranes. A literature review suggests that betamethasone is preferred to dexamethasone, that prscription of a single course is more advisable than multiple courses, and that antenatal corticotherapy is finally not contraindication in case of premature rupture of membranes.

Clinical and anatomic features of acardiac twins.

Objective: To report 6 cases of acardiac twins, and to investigate prognostic factors that would lead to survival of the normal twin.

Subjects And Methods: During a 9-year period from 1993 to 2001, 6 cases of acardiac twins out of 109,000 deliveries at the Maternity Center, Tunis, Tunisia were studied. Detailed inspection, X-rays, ultrasound and autopsies were performed.

Prenatal diagnosis of Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP).

Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I (CN-I) is a rare and severe inherited disorder of bilirubin metabolism, caused by the total deficiency of bilirubin-UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activity. Enzymatic diagnosis cannot be performed in chorionic villi or amniocytes as UGT is not active in these tissues. The cloning of the UGT1 gene and the identification of disease-causing mutations have led to the possibility of performing DNA-based diagnosis.

[Retrocervical cystic hygroma: about 35 cases].

Retrocervical cystic hygroma is a congenital defect associated to chromosomic anomalies. We report a retrospective study about 35 cystic hygroma autopsies colliged in C.M.