Effect of caffeine on superior mesenteric artery blood flow velocities in preterm neonates.

Objective: To investigate the effect of caffeine infusion on superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow velocities (BFV) in preterm infants.

Methods: Prospective observational study on 38 preterm neonates 28-33 weeks gestation, who developed apnea on their first day of life, and caffeine citrate infusion was initiated at a loading dose of 20 mg/kg, followed by a maintenance dose of 5-10 mg/kg/day. Duplex ultrasound measurements of SMA BFV were recorded: peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI), at 15 min before, 1-, 2- and 6-h after caffeine loading dose, and 2 h after two maintenance doses.

Endothelin 1 as a predictor marker for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: We aimed to investigate if endothelin 1 concentration at day 3 postnatal age could be used as a predictive marker for development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome.

Methods: This prospective observational study was done on 69 preterm neonates with gestational ages between 28 and 34 weeks and diagnosed as having respiratory distress syndrome. Serum concentrations of endothelin 1 was measured for all patients at day 3 of life and they were divided into BPD and No-BPD groups according to whether they developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia or not.

Enteral L-Arginine and Glutamine Supplementation for Prevention of NEC in Preterm Neonates.

Objective. Evaluating the efficacy and safety of arginine and glutamine supplementation in decreasing the incidence of NEC among preterm neonates. Methods.

Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a marker of acute kidney injury in asphyxiated neonates.

Objective: To determine the clinical utility of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an early marker of acute kidney injury in asphyxiated neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Design: Cohort study.

Settings: National Intensive Care Unit of Maternity Hospital, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Meperidine for uterine dystocia and its effect on duration of labor and neonatal acid-base status: a randomized clinical trial.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of meperidine, administered during the first stage of labor in patients with uterine dystocia, on the duration of labor and neonatal acid-base status at birth.

Material And Methods: We randomly assigned 240 nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy at term who were diagnosed with uterine dystocia in labor at 4-6-cm cervical dilatation to receive either a single dose of 50 mg meperidine in 10 mL of saline (slow intravenous injection over 2 min) or 10 mL of isotonic saline (control group). The primary outcome measures were duration of labor (from the time of beginning of the intervention to the time of the expulsion of the fetal head) and umbilical cord arterial acid-base status.