Mean platelet volume in neonatal sepsis.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate any changes in mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with neonatal sepsis (NS).

Methods: Subjects were stratified into two groups: proven sepsis (Group 1a) and clinical sepsis (Group 1b). The control group (Group 2) consisted of healthy newborns matched for gestational age and birth weight.

Serum ibuprofen levels of extremely preterm infants treated prophylactically with oral ibuprofen to prevent patent ductus arteriosus.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of early oral ibuprofen administration on the incidence of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) and define the association between serum ibuprofen levels and ductal closure.

Method: Preterm infants with a gestational age of <28 weeks and/or birth weight of <1,000 g were randomized either to the intervention (ibuprofen prophylaxis) or control group. The intervention group received oral ibuprofen 10 mg/kg within 12-24 h after birth followed by 5 mg/kg at 24 and 48 h.

Intrapleural streptokinase for the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusion and empyema in 2 newborns.

The management of complicated parapneumonic effusions by conventional first-line treatment with closed intercostal tube drainage and antibiotic therapy may fail because of thick viscous fluid and multiple pleural space loculations. Intrapleural fibrinolytic treatment is a non-invasive therapeutic option. In this report, we present successful use of intrapleural streptokinase for complicated parapneumonic effusion and empyema in 2 newborns.

Severe semilobar holoprosencephaly and lissencephaly associated with cebocephaly in a newborn.

Holoprosencephaly is frequently accompanied by midline facial abnormalities such as hypotelorism, cyclopia, etmocephaly and cebocephaly. Cebocephaly is a very rare congenital anomaly combining with semilobar holoprosencephaly. Chromosomal analysis shows normal karyotyping.

The acute-phase response in differentiating sepsis from inflammation in neonates who require abdominal surgery.

Introduction: In neonates, the influence of surgery on the inflammatory response has not been fully characterized and it remains difficult to differentiate an inflammatory response from sepsis. In this study, we evaluated changes in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in neonates undergoing different major abdominal surgeries who had a normal postoperative course without infection.

Material And Methods: In total, 43 neonates undergoing major abdominal surgery owing to congenital malformations involving the gastrointestinal tract, and who did not show blood culture positivity were enrolled in the study.

Effects of apelin and leptin on renal functions following renal ischemia/reperfusion: An experimental study.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of apelin and leptin on renal functions following renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). A total of 32 rats were divided into four groups. The control group was not induced with ischemia, but was administered normal saline intraperitoneally.

Rapid decrease of neonatal mortality in Turkey.

Our aim was to assess trends in neonatal mortality in 2009, evaluate advances in health policy, determine new goals to preserve a higher quality health service, and to prevent neonatal deaths. Data were gathered from the system of the General Directorate of Mother and Child and Family Planning. Maternal age, birth weight, gestational week, delivery at a health center, delivery by trained assistant, antenatal visits, and cause of death were evaluated.

Colchicine protects against hyperoxic lung injury in neonatal rats.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is characterized by inflammation, fibrosis and mucosal necrosis, which leads to emphysematous coalescence of alveoli.

Objective: We tested whether prophylaxis with colchicine , an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antifibrotic drug, would decrease the severity of lung injury in an animal model of BPD.

Methods: Twenty-five rat pups were divided into three groups: control (n = 8), hyperoxia (n = 7), and hyperoxia + colchicine (n = 10).

Proadrenomedullin as a prognostic marker in neonatal sepsis.

Background: Proadrenomedullin (pro-ADM) for the diagnosis of proven and clinical sepsis in a newborn cohort including preterm newborns has not been investigated. We aimed to investigate the value of pro-ADM as a new marker by comparing it with conventional markers in neonatal sepsis (NS).

Methods: Participants were stratified into three groups; proven sepsis (Group 1a), clinical sepsis (Group 1b), and the control group (Group 2), which consisted of newborns of matched gestational age and birth weight.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole treatment for meningitis owing to multidrug-resistant Elizabethkingia meningoseptica in an extremely low-birthweight, premature infant.

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is a recognised cause of meningitis in premature neonates and severe infections in immunocompromised adults; multi-drug resistance is a major issue. A premature infant developed sepsis, meningitis and hydrocephalus owing to E. meningoseptica and was treated successfully with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) for 3 weeks.

CD31 and Factor VIII in angiogenesis of normal and pre-eclamptic human placentas.

We aimed to evaluate normal and pre-eclamptic placental vasculature by using CD31 and Factor VIII. We evaluated placentas of 37 pre-eclamptic women by using immunohistochemical staining with CD31 and Factor VIII antibodies. Individual microvessels in the placental tissues were counted at × 100 and × 400 magnification.

Protective effect of Urtica dioica L. on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury may occur after renal transplantation, thoracoabdominal aortic surgery, and renal artery interventions. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Urtica dioica L. (UD), in I/R induced renal injury.

Umbilical artery intima-media and wall thickness in infants of diabetic mothers.

Background: Large for gestational age (LAG) neonates who had been exposed to an intrauterine environment of either diabetes or maternal obesity are at increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. This can be explained by exposure to high glucose and insulin levels in utero which alter fetal adaptation and programming.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the onset of preclinical atherosclerosis in utero.

Transfusion-associated necrotising enterocolitis in very low birth weight premature infants.

Objective: Our aim was to determine the relationship between red blood cell transfusion and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in all admitted very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with or without transfusion.

Study Design: All VLBW neonates were categorised into five groups: (i) subjects that developed NEC <48 h after transfusion (n = 15); (ii) subjects that developed NEC >48 h after transfusion (n = 31); (iii) subjects that were never transfused but developed NEC, (n = 50); (iv) subjects that were transfused but did not develop NEC, (n = 250) and (v) subjects that were neither transfused nor developed NEC (n = 301).

Results: A group of 647 infants were enrolled in the study.

A comparison of different methods of temperature measurement by mothers and physicians in healthy newborns.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of digital axillary thermometer (DAT), rectal glass mercury thermometer (RGMT) and infrared forehead skin thermometer (IFST) measurements made by mothers and physicians in healthy newborns.

Methods: The body temperature measurements of 120 healthy newborns were made on their 2nd day of life using DAT, RGMT and IFST, first by mothers followed by a designated physician. Correlation analysis was performed for the measurements obtained by mothers and the physician.

The effects of apelin on mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion damage in an experimental rat model.

Objective: Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. There is ongoing research to find an effective preventive or treatment agent. We aimed to evaluate the effects of apelin 13 (AP) on intestinal I/R injury in a rat model.

Chlorhexidine-associated transient hyperchloremia in an infant.

An infant was cleansed with 2% clorhexidine gluconate (CHG) because of repeated sepsis episodes from skin colonization. Asymptomatic hyperchloremia ensued, most likely associated with CHG therapy. Fourty-eight hours after CHG therapy withdrawal, serum chloride levels returned to normal.

A case of Keutel syndrome diagnosed in the neonatal period: associated with Binder phenotype.

Keutel syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by brachytelephalangia (short, broad distal phalanges), midfacial hypoplasia, abnormal cartilage calcifications, peripheral pulmonary stenosis and hearing loss. Binder profile is a well known maxillonasal dysplasia composed of midfacial hypoplasia with absence of anterior nasal spine and facial dysmophism (short nose, flat nasal bridge, perialar flatness, convex upper lip). Here we report a Keutel syndrome presenting with Binder phenotype, abnormal calcifications, hearing loss and respiratory insufficiency in the newborn period.

A case of fetal carbamazepine syndrome with right hemihypoplasia of the entire body.

Anticonvulsant drugs taken by pregnant women to prevent seizures are among the most common causes of potential harm to the fetus. It has been suggested that carbamazepine was less teratogenic than the other drugs. Here, we report a case of fetal carbamazepine syndrome presenting with facial dysmorphism, congenital heart defect, skeletal abnormalities, renal agenesis, ambiguous genitalia, anal atresia, and right hemihypoplasia of the entire body.

Protective effect of Urtica dioica on liver damage induced by biliary obstruction in rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of Urtica dioica (UD) against liver damage in the common bile duct-ligated rats. A total of 24 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups, namely, control, bile duct ligation (BDL) and BDL + received UD groups, containing eight animals in each group. The rats in UD-treated groups were given UD oils (2 ml/kg) once a day intraperitoneally for 2 weeks starting 3 days prior to BDL operation.

Do oral probiotics affect growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low-birth-weight preterm infants?

Objective: To evaluate the growth and neurodevelopment outcomes of very low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants supplemented with oral probiotics for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Study Design: This prospective follow-up study was conducted in a cohort of VLBW preterm infants enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of oral probiotics for the prevention of NEC. Growth outcomes included weight, length, and head circumference.

The association between respiratory tract Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization and severe retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants ≤1250 g.

Aim: To evaluate the association between respiratory tract Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) colonization and development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment.

Methods: The infants with birthweight (BW) ≤1250 g born in a third-level neonatal intensive care unit between March 2009 and May 2010 were prospectively identified. Nasopharyngeal swabs for Uu colonization were taken in postnatal first 3 days.

Unilateral renal agenesis and urethral atresia associated with ergotamine intake during pregnancy.

Ergotamine, an ergot alkaloid, used for the treatment and prevention of migraine attacks, is considered as a teratogenic drug and, therefore, should be avoided in pregnancy. Here, we report a newborn infant with unilateral renal agenesis, urethral atresia, and pulmonary hypoplasia associated with the use of ergotamine for the treatment of migraine attacks at early pregnancy. Genitourinary anomalies in association with ergotamine usage were rarely reported and this was the third case of renal agenesia in association with ergotamine usage in literature.