Effect of Prophylactic Caffeine on Noninvasive Respiratory Support in Preterm Neonates Weighing 1250-2000 g: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Caffeine is commonly used to prevent or treat apnea in preterm neonates. The present trial was designed to determine the effect of caffeine on reducing the time required for nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, a total of 90 neonates (birth weight between 1250 and 2000 g) who were clinically diagnosed with RDS were subjected to random assignment to one of the two groups of caffeine (n=45) or control (n=45).

Heated Humidified High Flow Nasal Cannula (HHHFNC) is not an effective method for initial treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) versus nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation (NIMV) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP).

Background: Noninvasive respiratory support techniques are widely used to treat respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants, and the effectiveness of these methods should be compared. In the current study, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP), nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation (NIMV), and heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) were compared.

Materials And Methods: In the current bicenter clinical trial, 109 preterm infants with RDS not treated with surfactant were randomly assigned to three groups: NCPAP, NIMV, and HHHFNC.

Nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (nHFOV) versus nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) as an initial therapy for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm and near-term infants.

Background: Currently, various forms of non-invasive respiratory support have been used in the management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm neonates. However, nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (nHFOV) has not yet been applied commonly as an initial treatment.

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of nHFOV compared with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preterm and near-term infants with RDS.

Caffeine Administration to Prevent Apnea in Very Premature Infants.

Background: Apnea intervals frequently occur in premature infants. Periods of apnea occur more often with decreases in gestational age. Periods of apnea can cause damage to the infant's developing brain and other organs.

Comparison of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid content in human milk in preterm and term deliveries and its correlation with mothers' diet.

Background: Human milk (HM) is the main food for infants, and phospholipids, especially long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), play an essential role in the growth and brain development. This study was designed to evaluate the fatty acid composition in HM of mothers with preterm and full-term newborns and to determine the relationships of dietary intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) of mothers and the content of these fatty acids in their milks.

Materials And Methods: The AA and DHA of HM were determined by gas chromatography at the 3(rd) day after birth from mothers of 59 term and 58 preterm infants.

A study on lipid content and fatty acid of breast milk and its association with mother's diet composition.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to determine the content of fat and fatty acid composition of breast milk, and its association with the mother's diet.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant mothers who came to health care centers for last prenatal care in Isfahan, Iran. Eight to 72 hours after delivery, 2 to 5 ml of colostrum was collected by hand into tubes.

Comparison of Two Phototherapy Methods (Prophylactic vs Therapeutic) for Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in Very Low Birth Weight Newborns.

Objective: Preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants are at greater risk of developing bilirubin-associated brain damage compared with term infants. Certainly, phototherapy, if used appropriately, is capable of controlling the bilirubin levels in LBW infants; but there is not a unique phototherapy treatment strategy in LBW infants. This study was designed to compare the prophylactic phototherapy and late treatment of jaundiced newborns weighing 1000-1500 grams.

Assessing the effect of high school students' training program on peers performance suffering from asthma.

Background: Asthma is the most common disease in childhood which is considered as the forerunner of the acute diseases and simply can cause disability among the children. Since childhood and adolescence are the most important periods of growth and perfection and incidence of asthma can bring about distortion in this process, the present study done aimed to assess the effect of conducting high school training program on peers' performance with asthma.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study in which the performance rate of the students at the time of artificial attack of asthma was directly observed, assessed and compared through demographic data questionnaire and performance assessment check list.

Nephrocalcinosis in very low birth weight infants.

To determine the incidence and risk factors of nephrocalcinosis in preterm infants, we studied in a prospectively 64 preterm infants of birth weight :5 1500 g from February 2006 to November 2007. Data were collected on gestation, birth weight, gender and family history of renal calculi, respiratory support, and use of nephrotoxic drugs. The parameters of mineral metabolism were assessed in blood and spot urine samples at the end of 2 nd and 4 th weeks of age.

Comparison of maternal and umbilical cord blood selenium levels in term and preterm infants.

Objective: Selenium is an essential trace element and has a main role in cellular antioxidant defense system. In very preterm babies, low selenium is associated with an increased risk of complications such as chronic neonatal lung disease and retinopathy of prematurity. This study was designed to determine and compare maternal and umbilical cord blood selenium levels in term and preterm infants.

Permanent and transient congenital hypothyroidism in Isfahan-Iran.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of permanent and transient congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in Isfahan, Iran.

Methods: In 256 primarily diagnosed CH patients identified through the neonatal screening programme from May 2002 to February 2005, treatment was discontinued for 4 weeks and T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured. Permanent or transient CH was determined from the results of the thyroid function tests and the radiologic findings.

Newborn screening for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Isfahan, Iran: a quantitative assay.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Isfahan, the central state of Iran.

Methods: From February to March 2006, a total of 2501 samples were screened for the quantitative measurement of G6PD activity by enzymatic colorimetric assay by a commercial kit (GAMMA, Belgium). The neonates were referred from 17 delivery units to the Isfahan neonatal screening center at 3-7 days after birth.

Comparison of blood lead levels of mothers and cord blood in intrauterine growth retarded neonates and normal term neonates.

Objective: To compare the blood lead levels of mothers and cord blood in intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) neonates and normal term neonates.

Methods: From April to December 2005, we carried out a cross-sectional, prospective study in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Blood lead levels were measured in the umbilical cord and maternal venous blood samples in 32 mother-infant pairs with IUGR full term neonates, and 34 mother-infant pairs with normal full term neonates.

Rate of recalls in congenital hypothyroidism based upon a regional survey in Isfahan, Iran, using serum T4 and TSH analyses: comparison of two different recall methods.

Aims: To evaluate and compare the recall rate in congenital hypothyroidism screening project in Isfahan, first using an approach involving measures of both TSH and T4 and then using TSH alone.

Methods: From June 2002 to January 2005, serum TSH and T4 level of referred neonates were measured at 3rd to 7th day of birth through venous sampling. If neonates' serum TSH was >20 mIU/l or T4 was <6.

Comparison of urinary iodine excretion in neonates and their mothers in Isfahan, Iran.

Objective: To determine the urinary iodine excretion of neonates (28 days of age or younger) and their mothers in Isfahan, a centrally located city in Iran, in 1997 after 8 years of iodized salt distribution in an effort to ameliorate iodine deficiency.

Methods: Through a cross-sectional study and by means of convenient sampling, 146 mother-neonate pairs were selected among neonates born in Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Isfahan. In order to eliminate the effect of povidone-iodine on breast milk and urinary iodine, Savlon antiseptic solution was used in normal vaginal delivery and on the umbilical cord.

Prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism in Isfahan, Iran: results of a survey on 20,000 neonates.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in a screening program performed for the first time in Isfahan, Iran.

Methods: From May 2002 to December 2002, T4 and TSH serum concentrations of 20,000 3- to 7-day-old newborns, born in all 17 hospitals of the city, were measured by radioimmunoassay and immunoradiometric assay, respectively. The newborns with abnormal screening results (TSH >20 mIU/l, T4 <6.