Neonatal Resuscitation Practices in Turkey: A Survey of the Turkish Neonatal Society and the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies.

Objective: Optimal care in the delivery room is important to decrease neonatal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate neonatal resuscitation practices in Turkish centers.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional survey consisted of a 91-item questionnaire focused on delivery room practices in neonatal resuscitation and was sent to 50 Turkish centers.

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).

Intravenous Immunoglobulin Use in Hemolytic Disease Due to ABO Incompatibility to Prevent Exchange Transfusion.

Introduction: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been widely used to treat the hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). Although it has been shown that IVIG treatment reduces the duration of phototherapy and hospitalization, the use of IVIG in hemolytic disease due to ABO incompatibility has been controversial in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the role of IVIG in the prevention of exchange transfusion in infants with ABO HDN who presented with bilirubin levels at or above the level of exchange transfusion.

Early Immunomodulatory Effects of Different Natural Surfactant Preparations in Preterms With Respiratory Distress.

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the most common respiratory disease in premature infants. Exogenous natural surfactant preparations are used in the treatment of RDS. In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that surfactant plays an immunoregulatory role.

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.

Research training program in a Turkish medical school: challenges, barriers and opportunities from the perspectives of the students and faculty members.

Background: Providing medical students with opportunities for research experience is challenging for medical schools in developing countries. The Research Training Program (RTP), which is carried out in Ege University Faculty of Medicine (EUFM) parallel to the core curriculum, aims to improve the scientific competencies of the highly motivated students and to provide them with the opportunity to conduct a research. The purpose of this project is to evaluate RTP through the perspectives of students and faculty members.

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.

Comparison of the Finger Feeding Method Versus Syringe Feeding Method in Supporting Sucking Skills of Preterm Babies.

The aim of this study is to compare the efficiency of a new method called "finger feeding" with a well-known technique called syringe feeding for improving sucking skills and accelerating transition to breastfeeding in preterm infants. Totally 70 babies were included in this prospective randomized controlled study. Finger feeding method was applied in Group 1 ( = 35) and syringe feeding method was applied in Group 2 ( = 35).

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.

Clinical value of a set of neuropeptides in term and preterm neonates with seizures: Brain derived neurotrophic factor, galanin and neuropeptide Y.

The aim of our study to investigate clinical value of a set of neuropeptides (brain derived neurotrophic factor-BDNF, galanin and neuropeptide Y-NPY) in critically ill neonates. A total of 53 neonates (preterm: 26, term: 27) evaluated with lumbar pucture for etiologic evaluation were consequtively included into the study. Serum and CSF levels of the neuropeptides were measured in the first 48 h of life.

Is Nasal Septum-Tragus Length Measurement Appropriate for Endotracheal Tube Intubation Depth in Neonates? A Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: Endotracheal intubation is a frequent procedure performed in neonates with respiratory distress. Clinicians use different methods to estimate the intubation insertion depth, but, unfortunately, the improper insertion results are very high. In this study, we aimed to compare the two different methods (Tochen's formula = weight in kilograms + 6 cm; and nasal septum-tragus length [NTL] + 1 cm) used to determine the endotracheal tube (ETT) insertion depth.

Reference ranges of presepsin (soluble CD14 subtype) in term and preterm neonates without infection, in relation to gestational and postnatal age, in the first 28 days of life.

Objective: To determine the reference ranges of presepsin in term and preterm neonates without infection, with respect to gestational and postnatal age, within the first 28 days of life.

Methods: A total of 144 neonates born at 24-42 weeks' gestation, including healthy term and preterm neonates without clinical signs or symptoms of infection, were included in this prospective observational study. Presepsin measurements included cord blood levels and serum levels on postnatal days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28.

Perinatal outcomes of renal transplant pregnancies: a 22-year experience at a single tertiary referral center.

Renal transplantation not only prolongs survival but also improves quality of life and fertility, particularly in patients with end-stage renal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancy after renal transplantation at a high volume academic tertiary hospital. Fifty-one renal transplant patients (RTPs) who experienced pregnancy after transplantation and received care at Ege University Hospital between January 1995 and December 2017 were retrospectively identified.

Turkish Neonatal Society guideline on the neonatal pain and its management.

Pain control is an important ethical issue to be considered and constitutes the basis of treatment in premature and term newborns. The inadequacy of pain control in these infants in neonatal intensive care units leads to neurodevelopmental and behavioral problems in the long term. For this reason, it is extremely important to raise awareness of the presence of pain in newborn infants, to reduce invasive procedures applied to infants as much as possible, and to minimize pain with non-pharmacologic or pharmacologic treatments when it is inevitable.

Preterm Infants May Better Tolerate Feeds at Temperatures Closer to Freshly Expressed Breast Milk: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Feeding intolerance is one of the most frequent problems among preterm infants. These infants are fed with expressed breast milk or preterm formulas of which the temperature is not routinely measured. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of feeds with warm milk versus room temperature milk in preterm infants.

[Investigation of congenital CMV infection with the presence of CMV DNA in saliva samples of new born babies].

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), is the most common cause among congenital infections and is the most seen etiology in long-term sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and neurological impairment. Congenital CMV infection (CCMV) was reported in 0.15-2.

Reference values of anthropometric measurements in healthy late preterm and term infants.

Background/aim: Geographical distribution, ethnicity, and other socioeconomic factors may affect anthropometric measurements, and for that reason each society should determine their own measurements accounting for those factors. In this study, we aimed to determine the anthropometric measurements of healthy late preterm and term infants to compare the results with other national and international studies.

Materials And Methods: This sectional study was carried out among 1197 infants born with a gestational age of ≥35 weeks.

The value of peripheral perfusion index measurements for early detection of critical cardiac defects.

Background: Approximately 25% of congenital heart diseases (CHD) are estimated to be critical and require an intervention. In this study, we aimed to investigate the additional value of peripheral perfusion index (PPI) measurements to pulse oximetry screening for critical CHD (CCHD).

Methods: Infants born at Ege University Hospital between May 2013 and September 2015 were prospectively included in the study.

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.

The serial changes of perfusion index in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus: is perfusion index clinically significant?

Background: Perfusion Index (PI) which reflects the peripheral blood flow may help early detection and treatment decision of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) in preterm infants. The present study is designed to analyze the usefulness of PI level in early detection of hsPDA in preterm infants.

Methods: Preterm infants born before 36 gestational weeks were assessed for PI and simultaneous echocardiography.

Mannose-binding lectin may affect pregnancy outcome.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a component of the innate immune system and acts as a complement activator through the lectin pathway. Genetic variations of MBL and low MBL levels cause several infection problems, which may also be related to pregnancy problems. We aimed to investigate the role of MBL gene codon 54 polymorphism and serum MBL levels in pregnancy problems and premature delivery.

Treatment of Congenital Complete Atrioventricular Heart Block With Permanent Epicardial Pacemaker in Neonatal Lupus Syndrome.

Introduction: Neonatal lupus syndrome (NLS) is a passively acquired autoimmune condition due to the transplacental passage of maternal anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies in mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and congenital complete heart block (CHB) is its most serious manifestation. Skin and hepatic involvement may occur in later infancy.

Case Presentation: A term infant with fetal bradycardia, detected at the 23rd gestational age, was diagnosed with CHB due to NLS and was successfully treated with a permanent epicardial pacemaker.

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.