[Risk factors for congenital anal atresia].

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for the development of congenital anal atresia in neonates.

Methods: A total of 70 neonates who were admitted to 17 hospitals in Foshan, China from January 2011 to December 2014 were enrolled as case group, and another 70 neonates who were hospitalized during the same period and had no anal atresia or other severe deformities were enrolled as control group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the risk factors for the development of congenital anal atresia.

[Relationship between plasma motilin level and feeding intolerance in preterm infants].

Objective: To observe changes in plasma motilin (MOT) level among preterm infants after birth, to investigate the relationship between plasma motilin level and feeding intolerance (FI), and to clarify the possible risk factors.

Methods: A total of 112 preterm infants were divided into feeding tolerance (FT) group (n=59) and FI group (n=53). Their plasma MOT levels were measured by radioimmunoassay on days 1, 4, 7 and 14 of life.

[Effects of feeding patterns after hospital discharge on increase rates of growth indices in preterm and low-birth-weight infants within 3 months after birth].

Objective: To study the effects of post-discharge formula (PDF) for preterm infants, breast milk (BM) and term infant formula (TF) on increase rates of body weight, length and head circumference in preterm and low-birth-weight infants (PLBWIs) from discharge to 3 months after birth, and to provide a reference for the choice of feeding pattern for PLBWIs.

Methods: A total of 407 PLBWIs discharged from the newborn departments of ten hospitals in Guangzhou City and Foshan City in Guangdong Province, China were chosen for this study. According to feeding pattern, they were assigned to three groups: PDF-fed (n=258), BM-fed (n=58) and TF-fed (n=91).

[Relationship between plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide and feeding intolerance in preterm infants].

Objective: To study the changes of plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels and the relationship of plasma VIP levels with feeding intolerance (FI) in preterm infants.

Methods: Plasma VIP concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay in 53 preterm infants with FI 1, 4, 7 and 14 days after birth. Fifty-nine preterm infants without FI served as the control group.

Effect of phototherapy on blood endothelin and nitric oxide levels: clinical significance in preterm infants.

Background: Phototherapy may have an adverse effect on the hemodynamics of preterm infants, and endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) are both the powerful vasoactive substances. This study was designed to observe the effect of phototherapy on blood levels of ET and NO in preterm infants.

Methods: Sixty-four preterm infants with hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy were studied.