Severe Anemia Is Associated with Intestinal Injury in Preterm Neonates.

OBJECTIVE: A temporal relationship has been reported between necrotizing enterocolitis, anemia, and red blood cell transfusion (RBCT) in preterm neonates. However, the mechanism underlying this association is not clearly defined. Intestinal (I-) and liver (L-) fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) have been proposed as plasma markers for the detection of acute intestinal injury. This study aimed to investigate the effect of anemia and RBCT on intestinal injury in preterm neonates by measuring serum I-FABP and L-FABP levels. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort study including preterm neonates with gestational age <32 weeks and/or birth weight <1,500 g and requiring erythrocyte transfusions for anemia after day 15 of life was conducted. Stable growing preterm infants with hemoglobin values ≥ 10 g/dL were taken as controls. I-FABP and L-FABP levels of the neonates with anemia were compared with levels of the control group. In addition, pretransfusion I-FABP and L-FABP levels of the neonates with anemia were compared with posttransfusion levels. RESULTS: In total, 39 infants transfused for anemia and 20 controls were enrolled. L-FABP levels were significantly higher in neonates with anemia compared with controls (p < 0.001), whereas I-FABP (p = 0.695) was not different. L-FABP and I-FABP levels were similar before and after transfusion in neonates with anemia. L-FABP levels before transfusion were negatively correlated with pretransfusion hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Anemia is associated with intestinal injury documented by increased L-FABP levels in preterm infants, and this injury is more severe with lower hemoglobin levels.

Early neonatal outcomes of very-low-birth-weight infants in Turkey: A prospective multicenter study of the Turkish Neonatal Society.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early neonatal outcomes of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants discharged home from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed between April 1, 2016 and April 30, 2017. The study included VLBW infants admitted to level III NICUs. Perinatal and neonatal data of all infants born with a birth weight of ≤1500 g were collected for infants who survived. RESULTS: Data from 69 NICUs were obtained. The mean birth weight and gestational age were 1137±245 g and 29±2.4 weeks, respectively. During the study period, 78% of VLBW infants survived to discharge and 48% of survived infants had no major neonatal morbidity. VLBW infants who survived were evaluated in terms of major morbidities: bronchopulmonary dysplasia was detected in 23.7% of infants, necrotizing enterocolitis in 9.1%, blood culture proven late-onset sepsis (LOS) in 21.1%, blood culture negative LOS in 21.3%, severe intraventricular hemorrhage in 5.4% and severe retinopathy of prematurity in 11.1%. Hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus was diagnosed in 24.8% of infants. Antenatal steroids were administered to 42.9% of mothers. CONCLUSION: The present investigation is the first multicenter study to include epidemiological information on VLBW infants in Turkey. Morbidity rate in VLBW infants is a serious concern and higher than those in developed countries. Implementation of oxygen therapy with appropriate monitoring, better antenatal and neonatal care and control of sepsis may reduce the prevalence of neonatal morbidities. Therefore, monitoring standards of neonatal care and implementing quality improvement projects across the country are essential for improving neonatal outcomes in Turkish NICUs.

The effect of the modes of delivery on the maternal and neonatal dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis.

Background: Thiols are organic compounds containing sulfhydryl groups which exert antioxidant effects via dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis. The shift towards disulfide indicates the presence of oxidative environment. The thiol-disulfide homeostasis has not been studied in different mode of delivery before. Aims: To investigate the effects of mode of parturition on the thiol-disulfide homeostasis in mothers and term infants. Study design: The participants were grouped according to the mode of their delivery: group vaginal delivery (VD, n = 40) and group cesarean section (C/S, n = 40). Three serum samples were collected: from mothers at the beginning of labor, from the cord blood (CB), and from the infants at the 24th hour after birth. The dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis in both groups were compared. Results: The levels of native-thiol and total-thiol in CB were significantly higher in VD group than those with C/S group. The levels of disulfide were higher in infants born by C/S compared with those born by VD. The disulfide-to-native thiol ratio, disulfide-to-total thiol ratio, and native thiol-to-total thiol ratio were similar between two groups. Conclusion: Our results showed that the dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis of the neonate was greatly influenced by the way of delivery and supported that vaginally delivered infants have less oxidative stress.

SNAPPE-II and risk of neonatal morbidities in very low birth weight preterm infants.

Özcan B, Kavurt AS, Aydemir Ö, Gençtürk Z, Bas AY, Demirel N. SNAPPE-II and risk of neonatal morbidities in very low birth weight preterm infants. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 105-112. Illness severity scores were described to estimate the mortality and morbidity risks based on data obtained shortly after admission to an intensive care unit. The aim of this study is to evaluate Scores for Neonatal Acute Physiology-Perinatal Extension-II (SNAPPE-II) as a predictors of neonatal morbidities such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). A retrospective cohort study was conducted between October 2011- 2012. A total of 278 preterm infants born with gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks and birthweight (BW) < 1,500 g were given SNAPPE-II scores based on data collected within the first 12 h of admission to ICU. The main outcomes were the development of BPD and ROP. The main variable was the SNAPPE-II obtained at admission. Logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve were calculated for SNAPPE-II. The mean GA and mean BW of the whole cohort were 29.2 weeks (± 2.15) and 1,323 g (±331,4), respectively. The median SNAPPE-II value was significantly higher among patients with BPD and ROP. After logistic regression the SNAPPE-II was independent risk factor for BPD and ROP. The best discriminative cutoff value for BPD was 14.5 (sensitivity 92%) and for ROP was 23.5 (sensitivity 80%). The present study reviewed an association between SNAPPE-II and neonatal morbidities including ROP and BPD.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome due to prenatally citalopram exposure: A case report. / Síndrome de abstinencia neonatal debido a exposición prenatal al citalopram: a propósito de un caso.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) due to prenatally exposure to citalopram can develop during the first days of life even with low dose of drug exposure. Supportive management is the first choice but phenobarbital can be used in treatment of this syndrome. Breastfeeding should not be interrupted. These neonates should be followed both for NAS and neurodevelopmental outcome. In this article, we reported a newborn with NAS due to citalopram exposure with a lower dose than previously reported in the literature, during the last six months of pregnancy. Phenobarbital was used because of non-pharmacological treatment failure.

El síndrome de abstinencia neonatal (SAN) debido a la exposición prenatal al citalopram se desarrolla durante los primeros días de vida, incluso con una exposición al fármaco en dosis bajas. El tratamiento de apoyo es la primera opción, aunque puede usarse el fenobarbital en el tratamiento de este síndrome. No debe interrumpirse la lactancia. Debe hacerse un seguimiento de estos recién nacidos para establecer el desenlace del SAN y las consecuencias en el desarrollo neurológico. En este artículo presentamos el caso de un recién nacido con SAN debido a exposición al citalopram en una dosis más baja que lo informado previamente en la bibliografía durante los últimos seis meses del embarazo. Se utilizó el fenobarbital debido al fracaso del tratamiento no farmacológico.

A Newborn with Transient Diabetes Mellitus Accompanied by Ketoacidosis Attributable to a ZFP57 Mutation.

Hyperglycemia commencing within the first 6 months of life requires exogenous insulin therapy and, if the condition persists for >2 weeks, is termed neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM). This rare illness is of two types: transient and permanent NDM. Most cases come to medical attention because of nonspecific symptoms, including intrauterine growth retardation, dehydration, difficulties in feeding and inadequate weight gain. In the present article, we describe an infant who smelt of ketones during examination and who was diagnosed with transient NDM caused by a ZFP57 mutation, accompanied by ketoacidosis. This is the first report of such a condition.

Increased ADMA levels are associated with poor pulmonary outcome in preterm neonates.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO), synthesized from the amino acid L-arginine by the action of NO synthases (NOS), is a pulmonary vasodilator. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of NOS. Preterm infants have higher plasma ADMA concentrations than term infants which could cause inhibition of NO synthesis and deterioration in pulmonary functions. We aimed to investigate the relationship between serum ADMA and L-arginine levels of preterm infants and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), requirement of surfactant treatment, duration of mechanical ventilation, oxygen treatment, and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted including 80 preterm infants born with gestational age (GA) ≤ 32 weeks and birth weight (BW) ≤ 1500 g. Blood samples were obtained from all infants immediately after birth, and at postnatal 28th day of age. The relationship of first-day serum ADMA and L-arginine levels and surfactant requirement, duration of mechanical ventilation, oxygen treatment was investigated. Serum ADMA and L-arginine levels at 1st and 28th days were compared at patients with and without BPD. The role of serum ADMA levels at postnatal 28th day of age to predict the requirement of oxygen at postmenstrual 36 weeks of age was also investigated. RESULTS: Eighty preterm infants (42 male, 38 female) were enrolled in the study. Mean BW and GA for the total cohort was 1144.81 ± 220.44 g and 28.3 ± 1.8 weeks, respectively. Sixty-one infants were diagnosed as RDS and 44 infants treated with surfactant. The first-day ADMA levels were significantly higher in infants with surfactant requirement (1.14 ± 0.23 versus 0.86 ± 0.37, p < 0.01). First-day L-arginine levels were lower in infants with surfactant requirement compared to infants without surfactant requirement (22.32 ± 2.33 versus 23.75 ± 2.42, p > 0.05) but not significantly. Serum ADMA and L-arginine concentrations at first day were not different among infants with and without BPD (p > 0.05). ADMA concentrations at 28th day was significantly higher in infants with BPD (1.00 ± 0.25 versus 0.81 ± 0.25, p < 0.05). The cutoff level of 0.875 µmol/L for ADMA at 28th day offered the best predictive value for oxygen requirement at postnatal 36 weeks of age with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 54%. Conclusion: Serum ADMA and L-arginine levels are related to pulmonary morbidities in newborn. The results of this study show that increased ADMA levels are associated with poor pulmonary outcomes in preterm infants.

Bedside Diode Laser Photocoagulation Under Remifentanil Analgesia for Retinopathy of Prematurity: Early Structural Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate one-year structural outcomes of bedside diode laser photocoagulation with remifentanil analgesia for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and discuss clinical and demographic characteristics of infants and other possible risk factors that may affect the outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of premature infants who were treated with bedside transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation under remifentanil analgesia for ROP were evaluated for clinical and demographic characteristics, accompanying systemic risk factors, laser parameters, complications of treatment, retreatment rate and one-year structural outcomes. RESULTS: One-hundred and ninety-five eyes of 99 infants (59 males, 40 females) were recruited for the study. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 27.4±2.3 weeks (23-34) and 1003.3±297.8 g (570-2250), respectively. Laser therapy was performed for high-risk prethreshold ROP in 66.2% of eyes, aggressive posterior ROP (APROP) in 15.4% and threshold ROP in 18.4%. The mean number of laser spots was 1510.4±842.1 per laser session. No adverse effects of laser photocoagulation were observed except small lens opacities in two eyes and corneal opacity in one eye. Retreatment was needed in only three eyes, and vitreoretinal surgery was needed in six eyes of six patients despite laser treatment. Anatomic outcome was favorable in 189 eyes (96.9%) at the end of a 1-year follow-up. Presence of dilated and tortuous iris vessels (p=0.002) and tunica vasculosa lentis (p=0.009) along with type of ROP (APROP and stage 4a ROP at initial presentation) (p=0.001) were associated with poor anatomical outcome. CONCLUSION: Accurate and timely bedside transpupillary diode-laser photocoagulation under remifentanil analgesia is an effective and safe treatment modality for ROP, and may prevent vision-threatening retinal detachment and reduce the need for vitreoretinal surgery.

Successful embolization in childhood hemoptysis due to abnormal systemic arterial bleeding of the lung and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hemoptysis in children is a rare but potentially life-threatening symptom of an underlying respiratory tract abnormality. Hemoptysis, when massive and untreated, has a mortality rate of more than 50%. With interventional radiological procedures and surgery, this rate has dropped to 7%-18%. The experience with bronchial arterial embolization in childhood is very limited; only a few case reports with short-term follow-up have been reported. METHODS: We report herein two patients with massive hemoptysis due to abnormal systemic arterial bleeding of the lung; neither patient had any lung or systemic disease. In both cases, the bleeding was controlled with endovascular embolization. The first case had bronchopulmonary arterial anastomosis and represents the first reported case with this anomaly. The second case had recurrent massive hemoptysis due to bronchial artery bleeding, and repeat embolization was performed. RESULTS: Both of these children had rare vascular anomalies without parenchymal lung disease and were treated successfully with bronchial arterial embolization. CONCLUSION: Massive hemoptysis due to abnormal systemic bleeding of the lung in the absence of parenchymal disease is an uncommon and severe symptom in childhood. Embolization can be a treatment option in children with abnormal vasculature bleeding and can be repeated safely when needed.

Central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure in premature infants.

To evaluate the central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) of premature infants and to document correlation of them with gestational age, chronological age, and birth weight of infants. Using a hand-held applanation tonometer and a portable pachymeter, IOP and CCT of 170 premature infants were measured just before initial retinopathy of prematurity screening examination and re-measured 4 weeks after the first visit. The CCT and IOP were positively correlated during the first (r = 0.616, p < 0.001) and second (r = 0.564, p < 0.001) visits. The mean CCT at first and second visits were 568.1 ± 22.1 (527-628) and 561.6 ± 21.4 (520-619) µm, consecutively (p < 0.001). Gestational age, chronological age and birth weight of infants were found to be negatively correlated with CCT at first (r = -0.751, p < 0.001; r = -0.745, p < 0.001; r = -0.581, p < 0.001, consecutively) and second (r = -0.729, p < 0.001; r = -0.729, p < 0.001; r = -0.555, p < 0.001, consecutively) visits. The mean IOP at first and second visits were 14.1 ± 1.9 (11-19) and 13.7 ± 1.7 (11-18) mmHg, consecutively (p < 0.001). Gestational age, chronological age, and birth weight of infants were found to be negatively correlated with IOP at first (r = -0.724, p < 0.001; r = -0.715, p < 0.001; r = -0.558, p < 0.001, consecutively) and second (r = -0.704, p < 0.001; r = -0.703, p < 0.001; r = -0.518, p < 0.001, consecutively) visits. CCT and IOP of the premature infants with a smaller gestational age were found to be higher (p < 0.001 for both). Premature infants with smaller gestational age have higher CCT and IOP values when compared to older infants. These values tend to become lower 4 weeks after the first examination as infants become older. The CCT and IOP were positively correlated with each other and both were negatively correlated with gestational age, chronological age, and birth weight during first and second visits.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine and L-arginine levels in neonatal sepsis and septic shock.

OBJECTIVE: Nitric oxide (NO) formed by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) from L-arginine, is an important mediator for pathogen elimination. Being a potent vasodilator NO is implicated in hypotension and decreased organ perfusion in sepsis. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous NOS inhibitor. We investigated ADMA and L-arginine levels in neonatal sepsis and their relation to disease severity. METHODS: A prospective controlled study was conducted including 31 neonates with sepsis and 20 controls. Serum ADMA and L-arginine levels were measured within 24 h of sepsis diagnosis. Clinical and laboratory data including clinical risk index for babies (CRIB) score, presence of septic shock, organ dysfunction and death were recorded. RESULTS: L-arginine and ADMA levels were higher in neonates with sepsis compared to controls (p = 0.029 and p = 0.001, respectively). Neonates with septic shock had higher ADMA levels compared to septic neonates without shock (p = 0.026) and controls (p < 0.001). L-arginine levels were higher in neonates with septic shock compared to septic neonates without shock (p = 0.012) and controls (p < 0.001). Survivors and non-survivors had similar L-arginine and ADMA levels. ADMA levels were correlated with CRIB score (rho = 0.320, p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: L-arginine and ADMA levels are elevated in neonatal sepsis and even higher levels are observed in septic shock.

Risk of retinopathy of prematurity in small for gestational age premature infants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence, risk factors and severity of retinopathy of prematurity in neonatal intensive care unit and to evaluate its relationship with gestational age. METHODS: Cohort study of neonates with gestational age ≤ 32 weeks or birthweight ≤ 1500 g. RESULTS: Of the 495 neonates screened, 43 (8.7%) infants were small for gestational age; the frequency of severe retinopathy of prematurity was 5.8%. Sepsis and being small for gestational age were independent risk factors for severe retinopathy of prematurity. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of the presence of presence of retinopathy of prematurity when caring for protein small for gestational age infants.

Congenital megalourethra presenting with large cystic mass in the inguinal area.

Congenital megalourethra is a rare urogenital malformation characterized by severe dilatation and elongation of the penile urethra. It causes functional obstruction of the lower urinary system. Herein, we present a newborn with congenital megalourethra with single umbilical artery.

A newborn with widespread skin lesions and extremity anomalies.

A variety of diseases can cause vesicular or pustular eruptions in newborns. A thorough clinical history and physical exam provide important clues for differential diagnosis. Goltz syndrome, also known as focal dermal hypoplasia, is a rare genodermatosis and generally diagnosed by the presence of the characteristic skin lesions. We present an infant with aplasia cutis, atrophic skin lesions, syndactyly and eye abnormalities who was diagnosed with Goltz syndrome soon after birth. Goltz syndrome should be considered in differential diagnosis of hypoplastic or aplastic skin lesions in neonates in the presence of skeletal or ophthalmic anomalies.

The genotoxic effect of nicotine on chromosomes of human fetal cells: the first report described as an important study.

CONTEXT: Recent studies have suggested a direct contribution of nicotine--the addictive component of tobacco and tobacco smoke--to human carcinogenesis, and it remains the most common harmful substance to which pregnant women are exposed. Also, it has deleterious effects on the fetus. The sperm of smoking fathers and newborns of smoking mothers have elevated frequencies of chromosome translocations and DNA strand breaks. OBJECTIVE: We tried to understand the genotoxic effect of nicotine in pregnancies of active or passive smoking mothers. For this reason, we provide the evidence that nicotine exposure in vitro has detrimental effects on fetal cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the effect of nicotine sulphate on amniotic cells by designing an experimental setting consisting fetal cells grown in nicotine containing medium (25 ng/mL) in study group and fetal cells grown in control medium, which did not contain nicotine. RESULTS: According to our findings, there is a significant difference of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) between nicotine containing medium grown cells and control medium grown cells, determined by the χ² test (P <0.001). We found CAs in 21.5% of cells analyzed. The 19.4% of the all cells had numerical aberrations. Chromosomes 21, 22, 8, 15 and 20 related numerical abnormalities were found to be the most frequent numerical abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Results of this study confirm that the nicotine leads to significant direct genotoxic effects in human fetal cells in vitro. We speculate that there is an association between prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke and in utero aneuploidies.

The first report of West Nile virus infection in a child from Turkey.

Seroprevalence data indicate that West Nile virus (WNV) activity is present in Turkey; however, no pediatric cases of WNV infection have been reported to date. WNV is an emerging flavivirus in Turkey, and in September2010, the Turkish Ministry of Health reported the first seven cases of laboratory-confirmed WNV infection from five different cities in the western part of the country. This is the first report of a child from central Anatolia, indicating the existence of the virus in other regions of the country.