Variations in medical practice of retinopathy of prematurity among 8 Asian countries from an international survey.

Advances in perinatal care have led to the increased survival of preterm infants with subsequent neonatal morbidities, such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This study aims to compare the differences of neonatal healthcare systems, resources, and clinical practice concerning ROP in Asia with review of current literature. An on-line survey at the institutional level was sent to the directors of 336 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in 8 collaborating national neonatal networks through the Asian Neonatal Network Collaboration (AsianNeo).

Perinatal Hemolytic Disorders and Identification Using End Tidal Breath Carbon Monoxide.

Hemolytic disorders can cause severe morbidity or can be life-threatening. Before the recent development of practical and inexpensive testing for hemolysis by quantifying carbon monoxide in end-tidal breath, some hemolytic disorders in perinatal patients were not detected until severely problematic hyperbilirubinemia and/or anemia occurred. Here we review studies aimed at establishing the normal reference intervals for end tidal breath carbon monoxide (ETCO) in various perinatal populations.

How Does Human Milk Protect Against Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)? Targeted Validation and Time-Course Analysis of 35 Gene Responses as NEC-Signature in Fetal Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. However, the molecular substrates by which human milk (HM) offers protection against NEC are not well known. Using fetal intestinal epithelial cells treated with known NEC aggravators, namely lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and platelet-activating factor (PAF), we mapped the time-course of changes in targeted expression analysis of 35 NEC-associated genes, so-called the NEC signature.

Reference intervals for end-tidal carbon monoxide of preterm neonates.

Objectives: We constructed reference intervals for end-tidal carbon monoxide (ETCOc) levels of neonates 28 to 34 weeks gestation in order to assess hemolytic rate.

Study Design: This is a prospective four-NICU study in Bangkok, Thailand, and Utah, USA.

Results: Of 226 attempted measurements, 92% were successful.

HMP-S7 Is a Novel Anti-Leukemic Peptide Discovered from Human Milk.

Chemotherapy in childhood leukemia is associated with late morbidity in leukemic survivors, while certain patient subsets are relatively resistant to standard chemotherapy. It is therefore important to identify new agents with sensitivity and selectivity towards leukemic cells, while having less systemic toxicity. Peptide-based therapeutics has gained a great deal of attention during the last few years.

Fetal Intestinal Cell Growth as a Measure of the Comparative Biofunctionality of Human Milk and Infant Formulas: An In Vitro Study.

Background: Infant formulas are produced to resemble human milk (HM) and to provide adequate energy and appropriate nutritional components for suitability of infant growth and development, some of which are customized for specific medical conditions. However, it has remained unclear whether formulas contain any biofunctionality equivalent to HM, particularly fetal intestinal cell growth promotion.

Objective: To evaluate the biofunctionality in HM and various formulas by using an in vitro fetal intestinal cell growth assay.

Evaluation of Fetal Intestinal Cell Growth and Antimicrobial Biofunctionalities of Donor Human Milk After Preparative Processes.

Background: Donor human milk is considered the next best nutrition following mother's own milk to prevent neonatal infection and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants who are admitted at neonatal intensive care unit. However, donor milk biofunctionalities after preparative processes have rarely been documented.

Objective: To evaluate biofunctionalities preserved in donor milk after preparative processes by cell-based assays.

Health-care professionals' approach in feeding term small-for-gestational age infants and its potential implications to later growth outcomes.

Aim: To understand feeding practices, nutrition management and postnatal growth monitoring of term small-for-gestational age (tSGA) infants in Southeast Asia.

Methods: Anonymous questionnaires to assess practices on feeding, nutrition management and post-natal growth monitoring of tSGA infants were distributed among health-care professionals (HCPs) participating in regional/local perinatology symposia in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

Results: Three hundred seventy-seven respondents from Malaysia (37%), Thailand (27%), Singapore (18%) and other Asian countries (19%) participated in the survey.

Cow milk protein allergy presenting as feeding intolerance and eosinophilia: case reports of three preterm neonates.

Three preterm infants with cow milk protein allergy (CMPA) presented with feeding intolerance, sepsis-like episodes and persistent moderate-to-severe eosinophilia. After eliminating cow milk, the clinical symptoms improved significantly. CMPA can cause common manifestations in sick preterm infants such as feeding intolerance and eosinophilia.

Cow milk protein allergy presenting as feeding intolerance and eosinophilia: case reports of three preterm neonates.

Three preterm infants with cow milk protein allergy (CMPA) presented with feeding intolerance, sepsis-like episodes and persistent moderate-to-severe eosinophilia. After eliminating cow milk, the clinical symptoms improved significantly. CMPA can cause common manifestations in sick preterm infants such as feeding intolerance and eosinophilia.

Current information and Asian perspectives on long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation, and infancy: systematic review and practice recommendations from an early nutrition academy workshop.

The Early Nutrition Academy supported a systematic review of human studies on the roles of pre- and postnatal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) published from 2008 to 2013 and an expert workshop that reviewed the information and developed recommendations, considering particularly Asian populations. An increased supply of n-3 LC-PUFA during pregnancy reduces the risk of preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation. Pregnant women should achieve an additional supply ≥200 mg docosahexaenic acid (DHA)/day, usually achieving a total intake ≥300 mg DHA/day.

Intestinal mucosal defense system, Part 2. Probiotics and prebiotics.

The interplay between microorganisms and the intestine of newborn infants is associated with diverse functional and clinical outcomes that result from the specific interactions among microbial communities, their products, and the unique characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract. Multiple mechanisms of action for infant formula ingredients with probiotic activity appear to exist. These mechanisms are thought to protect the host not only from intestinal diseases but also from systemic infection.

Intestinal mucosal defense system, Part 1. Consensus recommendations for immunonutrients.

When microbial communities colonize in the developing intestinal tract after birth, microorganisms interact with specific apical surface receptors on the enterocytes. This interaction triggers a response that prevents overexpression of inflammatory cytokines, thus providing protection from pathogen-induced mucosal damage. Multiple immune modulatory factors in human milk and innate humoral factors also control inflammatory responses, providing additional protective effects.

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia in two siblings with neonatal seizures.

Seizures are a common problem in neonates. Differential diagnoses include infection, trauma, hypoxia and congenital metabolic disorders. Among these, congenital metabolic disorder is less familiar to general pediatricians.

Vitamin A status in premature infants.

Background: Premature infants are at risk of vitamin A deficiency due to inadequate transplacental transport, inadequate storage and increased tissue utilization. Previous studies reported a significant decrease in serum vitamin A levels in premature infants at birth compared to those of full term infants.

Objective: To determine serial changes of plasma vitamin A status during the first month of life in 19 healthy, very low birth weight premature infants.

Oral erythromycin for treatment of feeding intolerance in preterm infants: a preliminary report.

Unlabelled: Feeding intolerance is a common problem in preterm infants resulting in a prolonged hyperalimentation which is associated with an increased risk of serious and sometimes even life threatening complications, including cholestasis jaundice, liver impairment, nutritional deficiency, biochemical rickets and catheter-related septicaemia. Erythromycin, a commonly used macrolide antibiotic, has been reported as having potent prokinetic properties and enhancing gastrointestinal motor activity. The authors, therefore, conducted a preliminary study of oral erythromycin for the treatment of feeding intolerance in preterm infants to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this drug.

The use of recombinant activated factor VII to control bleeding in a preterm infant undergoing exploratory laparotomy.

The case of a preterm infant weighing 1120 g who successfully received recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) without complication for control of a life-threatening bleeding event resulting from a ruptured umbilical artery is reported. After performing an exploratory laparotomy at 27 hours of age, hemorrhage from the surgical wound and various sites persisted. By 63 hours of age, the infant had received a total of 192 mL (171 mL/kg) of packed red blood cells, 115 mL (103 mL/kg) of fresh frozen plasma, 8 mL of cryoprecipitate, and 75 mL (67 mL/kg) of platelet concentrate without stabilization.