Vitamin E levels during early iron supplementation in preterm infants.

On the basis of preliminary data, this larger bi-institutional continuation trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of early iron supplementation in preterm infants calls attention to the levels of vitamin E, a marker of antioxidant activity, during iron treatment. A total of 116 preterm infants were randomly assigned to receive at 2 or 4 weeks of age ( N = 62, N = 54, respectively) 5 mg/kg/d of nonionic iron polymaltose complex concomitantly with a daily dose of 25 IU vitamin E (as dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate) from 2 weeks of age. Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) levels, iron, ferritin, hemoglobin concentration, and reticulocyte count were recorded from 2 to 8 weeks of age.

Enriched post-discharge formula versus term formula for bone strength in very low birth weight infants: a longitudinal pilot study.

Aim: To initiate a longitudinal pilot study comparing the effect of nutrient-enriched post-discharge formula (PDF) with standard term formula (TF) on bone strength of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in the first six months post-term.

Methods: Two matched groups of VLBW infants were randomly assigned to enriched PDF (n=10) or TF (n=10) at corrected age of 40 weeks. Anthropometric measurements of growth and measurements of bone speed of sound (SOS) indicating bone strength and bone turnover markers (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and cross-linked carboxy terminal telopeptide of type I collagen) were taken at term and at three and six months corrected age.

The efficacy and safety of early supplementation of iron polymaltose complex in preterm infants.

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of early nonionic iron supplementation in preterm infants. Infants with gestational age < or = 32 weeks who were fed enriched human milk were assigned concurrently to receive 5 mg/kg/d enteral iron polymaltose complex (IPC) at 2 or 4 weeks of age. The levels of hemoglobin, reticulocytes, serum iron, ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor were recorded at 2, 4, and 8 weeks of age.

Serum amyloid A protein is a useful inflammatory marker during late-onset sepsis in preterm infants.

Background: Few studies demonstrated that serum amyloid A (SAA), a non-specific acute-phase reactant, could be used as a reliable early marker for the diagnosis of late-onset sepsis (LOS).

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value and the dynamics of SAA levels during the course of LOS and to compare it to those of other inflammatory markers.

Methods: Levels of SAA, C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 together with clinical variables, biochemical parameters and cultures retrieved from all preterm infants suspected of LOS were checked at the first suspicion of sepsis and after 8, 24, 48 and 72 h.

The prognostic virtue of inflammatory markers during late-onset sepsis in preterm infants.

Aim: Late-onset sepsis (occurring after the first three days of life) is a serious complication in preterm infants. In order to assess the possible prognostic virtues of the acute phase inflammatory response in the disease, we compared the inflammatory response of preterm infants who died within 72 hours (h) (fulminant sepsis) to infants who recovered from the disease (non-fulminant sepsis).

Methods: Of 42 preterm infants that were evaluated: 10 had fulminant sepsis and 32 non-fulminant sepsis.

Bone turnover markers and bone strength during the first weeks of life in very low birth weight premature infants.

Objective: To determine the association between changes in bone turnover markers and bone strength of very low birth weight infants during the first eight postnatal weeks.

Study Design: Twelve very low birth weight premature infants [mean gestational age: 28.4 +/- 0.

Early physical activity intervention prevents decrease of bone strength in very low birth weight infants.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of early range-of-motion intervention on bone strength and bone turnover in very low birth weight infants.

Methods: Twenty-four infants (mean birth weight: 1135 +/- 247 g; mean gestational age: 28.5 +/- 2.

The effects of exercise on body weight and circulating leptin in premature infants.

Objective: To assess the effect of daily movements on weight gain, serum leptin, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in premature infants.

Study Design: Twenty very-low-birth-weight premature infants were matched and randomized to a daily movement (n = 10) and control groups (n = 10). Daily movement consisted of passive range of motion with gentle compression of both the upper and lower extremities 5 days per week for 4 weeks.

Serum amyloid A protein in the early detection of late-onset bacterial sepsis in preterm infants.

In order to evaluate serum amyloid A as an early diagnostic marker of late-onset sepsis, seventy-nine preterm infants with clinically suspected sepsis and 40 healthy matched controls were assayed for serum amyloid A. In parallel, clinical and biochemical variables that are used to evaluate neonatal sepsis were compared. Forty-two episodes were diagnosed as sepsis.