Fatty Acid Composition of the Erythrocyte Membranes Varies between Early-Term, Full-Term, and Late-Term Infants in Japan.

Background: Term infants can be categorized into 3 sub-groups: early term (37w0d to 38w6d), full term (39w0d to 40w6d), and late term (41w0d and beyond). However, the fatty acid composition among the 3 groups of term infants has not been investigated. The association between fatty acid composition and gestational period of term infants in Japan is unclear.

Relationships between Psychophysiological Responses to Cycling Exercise and Post-Exercise Self-Efficacy.

Although self-efficacy (SE) is an important determinant of regular exercise, it is unclear how subjective and physiological states before, during, and after the exercise session affects post-exercise SE. The aim of this study was to clarify subjective and physiological factors affecting post-exercise SE assessed after a single exercise session at a physiologically equivalent level. Forty-three healthy volunteers (28 women, 15 men) completed an 82-min experimental session, comprising a 22-min pre-exercise rest, a 30-min steady-state cycling exercise at moderate intensity [40% of heart rate (HR) reserve], and a 30-min post-exercise rest.

Risk factors for nosocomial infection in the neonatal intensive care unit by the Japanese Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (JANIS).

We evaluated the infection risks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using data of NICU infection surveillance data. The subjects were 871 NICU babies, consisting of 465 boys and 406 girls, who were cared for between June 2002 and January 2003 in 7 medical institutions that employed NICU infection surveillance. Infections were defined according to the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System.

Serum free T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone levels in preterm infants and relationship between these levels and respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: There have been few studies of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) surge in extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants, and the relationship between thyroid hormones and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has yet to be clarified. The present study sought to determine the serum levels of free T4 (fT4) and TSH in ELBW infants and to examine the relationship between these levels and the development of RDS.

Methods: The authors measured serum fT4 and TSH levels soon after birth in 449 preterm infants, who were born at 22-36 weeks of gestation, and determined the associations between these levels, the incidence of RDS, and the recognized clinical factors associated with RDS.

Effects of extremely early enteral feeding on plasma glicentin levels in very-low-birthweight infants.

Aim: Glicentin, an active component of enteroglucagon, is considered to have a significant trophic action on the intestinal mucosa. We examined the effects of extremely early enteral feedings on the postnatal and postprandial changes in plasma glicentin levels in very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants.

Methods: We measured the plasma glicentin concentrations before and after feedings at 1 or 2 days, 5 or 6 days and 14 days after birth in 21 VLBW infants.

Comparison of the phospholipid classes in human milk in Japanese mothers of term and preterm infants.

Background: Phospholipids (PLs) play an essential role in the growth and brain development of infants.

Aim: To investigate PL composition in human milk (HM), including lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM), from healthy Japanese mothers. Analyses were performed on colostrum, transitional milk and mature milk from mothers of preterm and term infants.

Effects of parenteral lipid infusion on DNA damage in very low birth weight infants.

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are known to have poorly developed antioxidant system and may be at increased risk for radical damage. Previous studies have reported higher levels of lipid peroxide products in lipid emulsion used for parenteral nutrition. To examine the direct effects of parenteral lipid infusion on DNA damage in VLBW infants, we measured urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in VLBW infants before, during, and after the parenteral lipid infusion.