Can High Average Oxygen Saturation be a Risk Factor for Necrotizing Enterocolitis in VLBW Infants?

Background: Avoiding hyperoxia with oxygen saturation monitoring is important in the follow-up of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Role of oxygen-derived free radicals in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has been well defined. However, a great majority of the evidence supporting the role of hyperoxia in NEC development are data from experimental studies and there are very few clinical studies.

Mean platelet volume/count and mortality in extremely low birth weight infants of preeclamptic mothers.

Purpose: To compare complete blood count (CBC) parameters in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants born to mothers with and without preeclampsia and to evaluate whether these parameters could be used to determine the prognosis of infants born to mothers with preeclampsia.

Method: Thirty-eight infants of preeclamptic mothers (IPM) and 77 infants of non-preeclamptic mothers (INPM) were included in the study. The CBC parameters of ELBW infants were evaluated at the sixth hour of life.

The association of early postnatal weight loss with outcome in extremely low birth weight infants.

Background: To compare outcomes of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants having different weight losses in the first 3 days of life.

Methods: One hundred and twenty six ELBW infants were evaluated retrospectively for weight loss percentages on the third day of life compared to their birth weight. We examined the weight loss on the third day of life compared to the birth weight for the ELBW infants and tested its association with mortality and morbidities.

Ischemia-Modified Albumin May Be a Novel Marker for Predicting Neonatal Neurologic Injury in Small-For-Gestational-Age Infants in Addition to Neuron-Specific Enolase.

 This study aims to evaluate hypoxia/ischemia and oxidant stress, and negative neurodevelopmental outcomes in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants.  Two study groups were established as SGA and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants. SGA infants were allocated asymmetric and symmetric SGA infants.

In vitro chemosensitivity in ovarian carcinoma: Comparison of three leading assays.

Objective: An alternative approach to the current therapy of ovarian carcinoma is the individualization of treatment by determining the sensitivity of tumoral tissue to chemotherapeutic agents before the initiation of chemotherapy. The objectives of the study are to determine the efficacy of in vitro chemosensitivity assays in ovarian carcinoma and to measure the correlation of three leading assays.

Material And Methods: Fresh tumoral tissue samples of 26 newly diagnosed primary ovarian cancer patients were studied with 3-(4,5-dimeth-ylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolyum bromide (MTT) assay, adenosine triphosphate-tumor chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA) and differential staining cytotoxicity (DISC) assays.

Comparison of Three Different Administration Positions for Intratracheal Beractant in Preterm Newborns with Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and adverse effects of various intratracheal beractant administration positions in preterm newborns with respiratory distress syndrome.

Methods: This study was performed on preterm newborns with respiratory distress syndrome. The inclusion criteria were being between 26 weeks and 32 weeks of gestational age, having a birth weight between 600 g and 1500 g, having received clinical and radiological confirmation for the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) within 3 hours of life, having been born in one of the centers where the study was carried out, and having fractions of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ≥ 0.

Prospective randomized trial of oxytocin administration for active management of the third stage of labor.

Objective: To determine the most efficient route and timing of oxytocin administration for active management of the third stage of labor.

Methods: A prospective randomized study was done at one center in Ankara, Turkey, between January and October 2010. Women with a singleton pregnancy (>37 weeks) who had a live vaginal birth were randomly allocated to four groups: iv-A (intravenous oxytocin after delivery of the fetus), iv-B (when anterior shoulder seen), im-A (intramuscular oxytocin after delivery), and im-B (when anterior shoulder seen).

Role of pentoxifylline and/or IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin in the management of neonatal sepsis.

Objective: To investigate the effectivity of pentoxifylline (PTX) and immunoglobulin M (IgM)-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in the treatment of neonatal sepsis (NS), alone or in combination.

Study Design: This was a prospective, double-blind, controlled study. Newborns with suspicion of sepsis were enrolled in the study.

Investigation of perceived social support in mothers of infants hospitalized in neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Purpose: To identify the degree of perceived social support by mothers of infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to investigate effects depression and anxiety levels on the perceived social support.

Method: The study included 50 mothers of infants hospitalized in NICU. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the mothers were collected using a personal data form designed by the study researchers via face-to-face interviews.

Paraovarian cyst torsion in children: report of two cases.

Paraovarian cysts are assumed to be rare in childhood. This assumption is due to the fact that most patients with paraovarian cyst are asymptomatic unless complicated. Owing to the wide range of pathologies in differential diagnosis, preoperative diagnosis of paraovarian cyst presents a challenge.

Early regular versus late selective poractant treatment in preterm infants born between 25 and 30 gestational weeks: a prospective randomized multicenter study.

Objective: Surfactant treatment in the early hours of life significantly decreases the rates of death and air leak, and increases survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. We aimed to compare the impact of early surfactant (ES) administration to late selective (LS) treatment on neonatal outcomes in preterm infants.

Methods: All preterm infants between 25 and 30 wks gestational age and who were not entubated in the delivery room and did not have any major congenital malformation or perinatal asphyxia were randomized to ES treatment (200 mg/kg Curosurf® administration in 1 hour after birth) or LS treatment (200 mg/kg Curosurf®administration in the first 6 h of life if needed).

Low platelet count is associated with ductus arteriosus patency in preterm newborns.

Background/aim: To determine whether there is an association between platelet counts and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) incidence and/or closure in preterm newborns.

Study Design And Subjects: Premature infants with hemodynamically significant PDA (n=154) and a control group without PDA (n=207) who were hospitalized in the NICU were retrospectively evaluated. Platelet counts and other platelet indices including mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) of the infants in both groups during the first 3 days of life were recorded.

Do oral probiotics affect growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low-birth-weight preterm infants?

Objective: To evaluate the growth and neurodevelopment outcomes of very low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants supplemented with oral probiotics for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Study Design: This prospective follow-up study was conducted in a cohort of VLBW preterm infants enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of oral probiotics for the prevention of NEC. Growth outcomes included weight, length, and head circumference.

Fecal calprotectin levels are increased in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.

Objective: To investigate the value of fecal calprotectin in diagnosis and predicting severity of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.

Methods: A prospective controlled study was conducted including preterm infants with stage 2 to 3 NEC, and birth weight and gestational age-matched controls. Fecal samples were obtained both at the time of NEC diagnosis and 3-5 days later from the patients, and at similar postnatal age from controls.

Hydrops Fetalis due to Kell Alloimmunization: A Perinatal Approach to a Rare Case.

Objective: While routine administration of rhesus (Rh) immunoglobulin has significantly reduced the incidence of Rh alloimmunization, maternal alloimmunization to other red cell antigens remains a contributor to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Although the Kell antigen is seen on the red cells of only 9% of the general population, attention to Kell antibodies continues to increase.

Case Report: A case of fetal hydrops was sonographically detected at 30 weeks of gestation.

Does necrotizing enterocolitis affect growth and neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight infants?

Aim: To evaluate the effect of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) on growth and neurodevelopmental outcome.

Patients And Methods: Neurodevelopmental outcome of 20 of 39 surviving very low birthweight infants (VLBW) diagnosed with NEC between 2007 and 2009 was compared with 40 control infants matched for gestational age and year of admission. Follow-up studies were performed at 18 and 24 months of corrected age.

A randomized, controlled trial of poractant alfa versus beractant in the treatment of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

We prospectively evaluated the differences in clinical responses and short-term outcomes in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) treated with poractant alfa or beractant. Premature infants with RDS were randomized to poractant alfa or beractant treatment between July 2008 and June 2009. Patients were followed until 40 weeks of corrected gestational age or death.

Total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant status after surfactant treatment in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Oxidative damage is important in the pathogenesis of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). However, data on the effect of surfactant therapy on oxidative stress in vivo are limited. We aimed to evaluate the oxidant/antioxidant status in preterm infants with RDS via measurement of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant status (TOS), to determine the effect of surfactant on oxidant/antioxidant balance and to assess the association between TAC, TOS and clinical outcomes of the patients.

Serum fructosamine and retinopathy of prematurity.

Objective: To determine whether serum fructosamine which is a good marker for detecting hyperglycemia during the previous 2 to 3 wk in infants could predict the development of retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight infants.

Methods: One hundred sixty seven premature infants who had a birth weight of < 1500 g and a gestational age of less than 32 wk were investigated in the present study. Blood glucose was measured at the bedside and infants were recorded as hyperglycemic if their mean blood glucose levels were higher than 150 mg/dL.

A controlled trial of erythromycin and UDCA in premature infants during parenteral nutrition in minimizing feeding intolerance and liver function abnormalities.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of oral erythromycin versus ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment in preventing feeding intolerance and liver function abnormalities.

Study Design: A prospective, double blind, randomized, controlled trial in which three groups of preterm infants (birth weight <1500 g) were randomized to erythromycin (12.5 mg kg(-1) per day), UDCA (5 mg kg(-1) every 6 h) or placebo treatment.

Adjusted poor weight gain for birth weight and gestational age as a predictor of severe ROP in VLBW infants.

Aim: To analyze relative weight gain by 2-week intervals up to 6 weeks after birth in order to predict the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment among very low birth weight (BW) infants.

Methods: A prospective study including infants with BW ≤1500 g born in a single tertiary intensive care unit over 1-year period was conducted. Body weight measurements were recorded weekly and relative weight gains (g/kg/day) were calculated.