Partially Hydrolysed Whey-Based Formulae with Reduced Protein Content Support Adequate Infant Growth and Are Well Tolerated: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial in Healthy Term Infants.

The current study aimed to investigate growth, safety and tolerance of partially hydrolysed infant formulae in healthy full-term infants. Fully formula-fed infants were randomised ≤14 days of age to receive a partially hydrolysed whey formula with 2.27 g protein/100 kcal (pHF2.

Higher proportion of G2P[4] rotaviruses in vaccinated hospitalized cases compared with unvaccinated hospitalized cases, despite high vaccine effectiveness against heterotypic G2P[4] rotaviruses.

The overall vaccine effectiveness of the monovalent rotavirus vaccine in an observational, prospective, multicentre, hospital-based case-control study in Belgium (RotaBel) was 90%. However, rotavirus genotype and co-infecting pathogens are important parameters to take into account when assessing vaccine effectiveness. In this study we specifically investigated the effect of rotavirus genotypes and co-infecting pathogens on vaccine effectiveness of the monovalent vaccine.

Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in prevention of hospital admissions for rotavirus gastroenteritis among young children in Belgium: case-control study.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination among young children in Belgium.

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Setting: Random sample of 39 Belgian hospitals, February 2008 to June 2010.

Reduction in pediatric rotavirus-related hospitalizations after universal rotavirus vaccination in Belgium.

Background: This study investigated the effect of pediatric vaccination against rotavirus on the number of rotavirus-related hospitalizations of children in Belgium.

Methods: This retrospective database study was conducted at 12 pediatric hospitals in Belgium (546 pediatric beds, 30.6% of Belgian total).

Glass and antimony electrodes for oesophageal pH monitoring in distressed infants: how different are they?

Objective: Although antimony electrodes are by far the most popular for performing oesophageal pH monitoring, there are few data comparing the accuracy of glass and antimony electrodes. Therefore, we tested the accuracy of both electrodes in the prediction of oesophagitis.

Method: pH monitoring using a glass electrode and an antimony electrode was performed in 60 distressed infants, aged between 1 and 6 months.

Oesophageal pH monitoring and reflux oesophagitis in irritable infants.

Unlabelled: Acid reflux and/or oesophagitis may be responsible for inconsolable crying in infants. We evaluated prospectively the presence of acid reflux disease, oesophagitis and the accuracy of pH monitoring in the prediction of oesophagitis in a population of irritable infants. A 24-h oesophageal pH monitoring with a glass electrode and an upper gastro-intestinal tract endoscopy with grasp biopsies were performed in 60 irritable infants, aged 1 to 6 months, not responding to cow's milk elimination.

[Neonatal type 1 pneumococcal meningitis and maternal septicemia].

The most common organisms in neonatal meningitis are group B streptococcus and Gram negative enteric bacteriae. Although Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the most frequent causes of meningitis in infancy and childhood, they are uncommon in newborns. We report one case of neonatal meningitis and maternal septicemia.

Neurological and neurobehavioural differences between preterm infants at term and full-term newborn infants.

A detailed neurological and neurobehavioural examination was done in 80 preterm infants of 27 to 35 weeks gestation in the first week of life and again at 40 weeks postmenstrual age, and in 40 appropriately-sized full-term infants on the first and fifth days of life. There were several consistent differences between the preterm infants reaching term and the newborn full-term infants. The preterm infants reaching 40 weeks showed less flexion in their posture, and less arm traction, arm recoil and leg recoil than the full-term infants on day 1, although this difference was less apparent by day 5.

Visual function in the preterm and fullterm newborn infant.

Visual function in the preterm newborn infant has been studied by the visual orientation (tracking) technique of the Brazelton neurobehavioural assessment, and by the pattern preference and fixation techniques of Frantz. Both these methods demonstrated the presence of discriminative visual function by 31 to 32 weeks gestation, which by 34 weeks reaches a maturity comparable to the pattern found in fullterm infants. Sequential studies at weekly intervals of preterm infants, ranging in gestation from 28 to 32 weeks, have shown a similar pattern of development of visual function to that of the newborn infant of equivalent postconceptional age.

A new approach to the neurological assessment of the preterm and full-term newborn infant.

A method has been developed for the neurological assessment of the newborn infant comprising a carefully selected series of neurological and neurobehavioral items. It is applicable to preterm as well as full-term infants within 24 hours of birth, and can also be repeated sequentially on the same infant. The whole examination is recorded directly on a single sheet which also contains detailed instructions and diagrams.