Mediastinal and retropharyngeal abscesses in a neonate.

Mediastinal abscess following retropharyngeal abscess is a rare entity. We report the first neonate presenting with a large mediastinal abscess as a complication of a retropharyngeal abscess. The initial manifestations of this newborn were fever and stridor.

Using non-nutritive sucking and oral glucose solution with neonates to relieve pain: a randomised controlled trial.

Aim: To compare the efficacies of non-nutritive sucking and glucose solution as pain-relief interventions for neonates undergoing a venipuncture procedure.

Background: Neonates may be subjected to painful procedures. The individual efficacies of non-nutritive sucking or oral glucose solution used alone on pain-relief for neonates still remain controversial.

Community-based epidemiological study on breastfeeding and associated factors with respect to postpartum periods in Taiwan.

Aims: To explore the prevalence of breastfeeding in different geographical areas and identify the factors influencing breastfeeding practices during in-hospital stay and at one, four and six months postpartum in Taiwan.

Background: The national data on prevalence for breastfeeding patterns are still unknown.

Design: Community-based epidemiological survey design.

Lower erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the first week of neonatal life.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major pulmonary complication in premature infants and is considered a free radical disorder. Erythrocyte catalase (CAT) and cellular glutathione peroxidase (c-GPx) are antioxidant enzymes that detoxify peroxides generated from dismutation of superoxide anion. The study goal was to measure enzyme activity for preterm infants during the first week of life.

Successful removal of a ruptured silastic percutaneous central venous catheter in a tiny premature infant.

The spontaneous rupture of a Silastic catheter is a rare occurrence. We describe our experience of managing a tiny premature infant with embolization of a Silastic percutaneous central venous catheter (PCVC) and discuss the possible mechanisms of the embolization. A 28-week, 980 g, preterm male infant received a Silastic PCVC (Epicutaneo Cava Catheter, Vygon, Germany) for parenteral nutritional support at 4 days of age.

Evolution of breast cancer screening in countries with intermediate and increasing incidence of breast cancer.

Background: Few studies have been published regarding the practice of breast cancer screening in Asian countries.

Aims: The present study illustrates how the health policy for breast cancer screening has evolved in Taiwan from selective mammographic screening within a high-risk group, firstly to a programme of physical examination by public health nurses, and finally to a two-stage breast cancer screening programme, with a risk assessment followed by mammography for those at moderate to high risk.

Data Sources: Breast cancer screening has evolved from 1995 to 2004 in Taiwan in three stages: (1) selective screening for breast cancer with mammography, ultrasound and physical examination only in first-degree relatives of breast cancer cases (1995-1998); (2) a programme of mass screening (1999-2001) with physical examination by public health nurses; and (3) two-stage breast cancer screening with a risk factor questionnaire and mammography for those deemed at moderate-to-high risk (2002-2004).

Prognostic factors and clinical features in liveborn neonates with hydrops fetalis.

The purpose of this study was to delineate the etiology and the clinical features of liveborn neonates with hydrops fetalis, and to explore the prognostic factors for survival. Medical records of 28 liveborn neonates with hydrops fetalis between April 1995 and March 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and outcomes were analyzed.

Health-related quality of life among 3--4-year-old children born with very low birthweight.

Aim: This paper reports a study comparing health-related quality of life at 3-4 years of age among children born with very low birthweight (
Background: Advances in modern medicine have increased the survival of infants with very low birthweight, but its impact on quality of life of children during preschool years has been less studied.

Methods: The study sample included 118 children born with very low birthweight and 170 non-very low birthweight controls in Taiwan.

Antioxidant profiles in full term and preterm neonates.

Background: Free radical damage has been recognized to be a common pathogenic mechanism of many neonatal diseases associated with oxygen toxicity.

Methods: A set of antioxidant measurements were used to investigate differences in levels between full term and premature infants after birth. Four groups of full term and preterm infants were enrolled, including full term appropriate-for-age (FT-AGA), full term small-for-age (FT-SGA), larger preterm (LPT) and smaller preterm infants (SPT).

Development and psychometric properties of the Chinese language version of the TAPQOL: a health-related quality of life instrument for preschool children.

The objectives of this study were to assess psychometric properties of the Mandarin version of the TZO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life (TAPQOL) questionnaire in Taiwanese preschool children. Two groups of children, a very low birthweight group (n=118) and a not-very low birthweight group (n=170), were recruited. The internal consistency was acceptable and the correlation coefficients between the 12 subscales were low.

Erythrocyte Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity in preterm infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Background: Erythrocyte Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase is believed to play a major role as a first-line antioxidant defense. Studies have reported varying results from measures of superoxide dismutase activity in cord blood samples from neonates.

Objective: The study goal was to assess enzyme activity for preterm infants representing a range of gestational ages during the 1st week of life.

Early-onset Escherichia coli sepsis presenting as acute scrotum in preterm infant.

Epididymitis, or epididymo-orchitis, and infected hydrocele are unusual in the neonatal period. It is critical to differentiate them rapidly from testicular torsion to salvage the affected testis and avoid unnecessary surgical exploration. Escherichia coli is an important gram-negative bacteria causing diverse neonatal infections and is also the common bacteria causing epididymo-orchitis from an ascending route.

Connatal tuberculosis in a very premature infant.

Unlabelled: Connatal tuberculosis is increasing in incidence and the mortality and morbidity of this disease remains high. We report a 27-week-old, 896 g female premature infant who had mild respiratory distress syndrome after birth. She developed signs of infection, progressive pneumonia and atelectasis which did not respond to mechanical ventilation and antibiotics.

Reexpansion pulmonary edema following patent ductus arteriosus ligation in a preterm infant.

Reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE) is rare and usually follows rapid reexpansion of a collapsed lung. We report on a preterm infant who developed pulmonary edema within an hour of surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). There were no other cardiac anomalies, fluid overload or airway obstruction to explain the change in clinical status.

Extravasation of calcium gluconate concomitant with osteomyelitis in a neonate.

Extravasation of calcium gluconate is not an uncommon complication in neonatal units, which may result in skin and soft tissue inflammation, injury and even infection. We report an 11-day-old preterm infant who developed osteomyelitis at an infiltrated intravenous site through which calcium gluconate was infused. The patient was initially treated conservatively as a simple calcium-infiltrate.

[Concepts and measures of health-related quality of life for children].

Health-related quality of life is considered an important outcome indicator in medical care, yet few studies have been conducted on Taiwanese children's health-related quality of life due to the lack of a measurement tool and no clear agreement on a concept definition. The authors present a review of previous work done in this area with the intended goal of helping Taiwanese health professionals gain insights into the concept of children's quality of life and to incorporate their new knowledge into their care plans. It is also hoped that the information will help researchers in their efforts to study quality of life among children as an indicator for assessing pediatric patient outcomes.

Catheter-related superior vena cava syndrome complicated by chylothorax in a premature infant.

A premature infant experienced respiratory distress due to chylothorax. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography showed superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction with collaterals, and surgery confirmed an obstruction of the SVC by intravascular fibrotic tissue and thrombi caused by placement of a central venous catheter. The respiratory distress improved after surgical intervention.

Clinical experience with ganciclovir and anti-cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin treatment for a severe case of congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

We report on a female neonate with severe onset of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. She was noted to have cerebral ventriculomegaly on antenatal ultrasound, and presented with petechia after birth. Laboratory tests revealed severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count, 11,000/mm3) and hypoglycemia (serum glucose level, 5 mg/dl).

Hyperbilirubinemia in healthy neonates with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

A cohort study was carried out to assess the association between glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, diagnosed by quantitative enzyme assay, and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, defined as serum total bilirubin >/=15 mg/dl, in the well-baby nursery of Chang Gung Children's Hospital. Among 42,110 inborn infants, 757 male (3.54%) and 326 female (1.

Clinical consequences of twin-to-twin transfusion.

Twin-to-twin transfusion (TTT) is a complication of monochorionic twins that may result in high mortality and morbidity. To better understand pathophysiology in TTT and the consequences for affected fetuses and neonates, we describe the clinical features of 19 consecutive pregnancies complicated by TTT over 5 years. The diagnosis was made based on the findings of polyhydramnios-oligohydramnios sequence with weight discordance judged by obstetrical sonogram in monochorionic twins.

Congenital tuberculosis proven by percutaneous liver biopsy: report of a case.

A female term neonate with congenital tuberculosis presented with clinical manifestations of cough, respiratory distress and bilateral reticulonodular infiltration on chest radiograph. Her Indonesian mother had extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The neonate's tuberculosis symptoms were characterized by multi-organ involvement including lung, liver, gall bladder and kidneys, suggesting a spreading hematogenous transmission.

Auditory brainstem evoked potentials in early-treated congenital hypothyroidism.

To evaluate the effect of early treatment of congenital hypothyroidism on central nervous system development, auditory brainstem evoked potentials were determined in 32 patients with hyperthyrotropinemia diagnosed during neonatal screening. The patients included 27 with congenital hypothyroidism and 5 with transient hypothyroidism. Abnormal auditory brainstem evoked potential tracings were found in 8 patients (congenital hypothyroidism in 7 and transient hypothyroidism in 1).