How does maternal anemia affect the levels of umbilical cord brain-derived neurotrophic factor?

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal iron deficiency anemia on the umbilical cord level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a very important role in the central nervous system. METHODS: Our research was planned as a quantitative, prospective, and analytical type of study. A total of 90 volunteers, term, singleton pregnant hospitalized in the Health Sciences University Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic between September 2021 and August 2022 were included in this study. While 45 of these pregnants were pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin ≤ 110 g/L and serum ferritin level ≤ 12 µg/L), 45 cases were in the control group without iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin > 110 g/L, serum ferritin > 12 µg/L). When pregnant were admitted to the hospital, blood samples were taken to analyze hemoglobin, mean cell volume (MCV), iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin, transferrin, and CRP levels. Also, we noted the maternal age, gravida, parity, birth weight, head circumference, type of birth, 1. minute Apgar score, and 5. minute Apgar score. During the delivery; after the umbilical cord had been clamped and cut, we took 5 cc of umbilical cord blood. Then, we put it in the serum-separating laboratory tubes. After we centrifuged these blood samples, we put the serum parts in the Eppendorf tubes to be stored at -80 degrees Celsius. At the end of the study, we calculated the level of BDNF using special human brain-derived neurotrophic factor ELISA kits. The umbilical cord BDNF levels of the maternal iron deficiency anemia group and the control group were compared statistically. RESULTS: When we evaluated the fetal umbilical cord BDNF values of 90 participants, the median value BDNF in the babies of 45 anemic mothers was 3.16 (IQR 0.73), and the median BDNF value of the babies of 45 healthy mothers was 5.37 (IQR 1.02). We found a statistical difference between BDNF and hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and iron values between these two groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the BDNF value of the babies of healthy individuals is higher than that of anemic individuals. Our study showed that the amount of BDNF in the umbilical cord blood was significantly affected by maternal iron deficiency anemia.

The Effect of Oral Motor Stimulation on the Transition to Full Oral Feeding, Breastfeeding, and Length of Hospital Stay in Preterm Infants.

Objective: To determine the effect of oral motor stimulation (OMS) applied to preterm infants on their sucking and swallowing abilities to establish a successful and safe oral feeding experience. Methods: A pre-post intervention study was conducted between December 2019 and December 2020, which included preterm infants born at <35 weeks of gestational age and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Patients with major congenital abnormalities (including cardiac, facial, and jaw deformities), severe NEC, stage 3-4 IVH were excluded from the study. Patients who received OMS by a speech and language therapist between June 2020 and December 2020 were assigned to Group 1, while patients who received no intervention between December 2019 and May 2020 were assigned to Group 2. The time to achieve full oral feeding (FOF), acquisition of breastfeeding rates at discharge, and the length of hospital stay (LOS) were compared between the groups. Results: A total of 62 patients were included in the study (31 in Group 1 and 31 in Group 2). There were no significant differences in birth weight and demographic data between the groups. The mean time to achieve FOF was found to be significantly shorter in Group 1 (31 ± 23.6 and 46.7 ± 22.3 days, respectively, p = 0.013). The mean LOS was also found to be shortened with a mean duration of 10 days in Group 1, without statistical significance (56.4 ± 35.3 days versus 66.0 ± 42.9 days, respectively, p = 0.34). Acquisition of breastfeeding rates was significantly higher in the intervention group (p < 0.05) Conclusions: OMS accelerates the transition to FOF in preterm infants and increases the rates of acquiring breastfeeding skills at discharge.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Tip of the Endotracheal Tube: A Neonatologist Perspective.

OBJECTIVE: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been reported to reduce radiation exposure and has been shown to be a reliable bedside technique to confirm endotracheal tube (ETT) placement, but evidence in neonates is still limited. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and reliability of POCUS performed by a neonatologist, as an alternative to chest radiography (CXR) for the optimal position of ETT. STUDY DESIGN: Newborns who underwent intubation were included in this prospective observational study. The CXR was used to evaluate the position of the ETT tip and categorized into three groups: above the T1, between the T1 and T3, and below the T3 vertebra. An experienced neonatologist measured the distance between the ETT tip and the upper border of the aortic arch from the suprasternal notch with ultrasonography (US). A 5 to 10 mm measurement was considered as the optimal distance, and the position was classified into three categories: correct, high, and deep. RESULTS: Among 91 measurements performed on 63 intubated patients with US, 73 (80%) were within the 5 to 10 mm range (correct position). Of these, 61 (92.4%) were determined to be between T1 and 3 vertebrae in CXR. There was no significant difference between the two methods, and the US had an excellent ability to distinguish the correct position of the ETT. The distance measured by the US for the ETT tip to be located between the T1 and T3 vertebrae on CXR should range between 6.17 and 9.0 mm. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the US by an experienced neonatologist is an easy and feasible alternative to determine the position of the ETT in the neonatal intensive care unit. KEY POINTS: · POCUS has been reported to reduce radiation exposure, and it is areliable bedside technique.. · Evidence for confirmation of ETT placement in neonates is limited.. · POCUS can be used for determination of ETT position in NICU's by experienced neonatologists..

Point-of-Care Ultrasound versus Chest X-Ray for Determining Lung Expansion Based on Rib Count in High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation.

INTRODUCTION: Chest X-ray (CXR) is the most prevalent method for evaluating lung expansion in high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of chest radiography with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in determining lung expansion. METHODS: This prospective study included newborns who required HFOV and were monitored in a neonatal intensive care unit. A single neonatologist assessed lung expansion with CXR and POCUS to measure the costal level of the right hemidiaphragm and compared the results. RESULTS: A neonatologist performed 55 measurements in 28 newborns with a gestational age of 32 (23.2-39.4) weeks, followed by HFOV. The rib counts obtained from anterior chest ultrasonography and posterior CXR showed a statistically high concordance (r = 0.913, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Lung ultrasonography is a reliable method for the evaluation of lung expansion based on rib count in patients with HFOV.

Pain during PICC insertion in preterm infants: the needle is not the only problem.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether warm povidone-iodine (PI) application before peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement eased pain related to the procedure in premature infants and reduced the duration of the procedure and the number of attempts. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted with infants born before 32 weeks of gestation who required the first placement of the PICC. Skin disinfection was performed with warm PI before the procedure in the warm PI(W-PI) group, whereas PI kept at room temperature was used in the regular PI(R-PI) group. NPASS scores of the infants were evaluated three times: at baseline(T0), during skin preparation(T1), and during needle insertion(T2). RESULTS: Fifty-two infants (26 in the W-PI group,26 in the R-PI group) were enrolled in the study. The perinatal and baseline demographic characteristics did not significantly differ between the two groups. While the median NPASS scores at T0 and T2 were similar between the groups, the median T1 score was significantly higher in the R-PI group(p = .019). While the median NPASS scores at T1 and T2 were similar in the R-PI group, there was a significant difference in the W-PI group, with NPASS scores being significantly lower at T1 compared to T2. The results demonstrate that skin disinfection was just as painful as needle insertion in the R-PI group. The duration of the procedure and the number of needle insertions were significantly lower in the W-PI group. CONCLUSIONS: Before invasive interventions, such as PICC insertion, we recommend warm PI as a part of non-pharmacological pain management.

Early or later prophylactic INSURE in preterm infants of less than 30 weeks' gestation.

We aimed to determine whether an early prophylactic INSURE strategy combined with early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) treatment could decrease the subsequent need for mechanical ventilation (MV) compared to the administration of surfactant prophylaxis later, at the 15th minute after birth, combined with early nCPAP. Infants born at <30 weeks' gestation were randomized to receive surfactant prophylaxis immediately or at the 15th minute after birth. All infants received 100 mg/kg poractant alpha, were ventilated with a T-piece resuscitator and were extubated to nCPAP if they had sufficient respiratory drive. Forty infants were analyzed in each group. Ten (25%) infants in the early prophylactic INSURE group, and 13 (32.5%) infants in the later prophylactic INSURE group could not be extubated after surfactant administration in the delivery room. Among the infants who were initially extubated to nCPAP after surfactant administration, 6 in the early prophylactic INSURE group and 4 in the later prophylactic INSURE group needed intubation for MV within the first 3 days of life (20% vs. 16.7%; P=0.73). The duration of total respiratory support (CPAP plus MV) of infants who were intubated within the first 3 days of life was shorter in the early prophylactic INSURE group than in the later prophylactic INSURE group (median: 96 h vs. 309 h; P=0.038). The incidence of all neonatal morbidities and mortality and the duration of hospitalization were similar between the groups. Our study did not demonstrate superiority of early surfactant prophylaxis combined with early nCPAP to the later administration of prophylactic surfactant with early nCPAP; however, it did detect an absolute difference in the primary outcome: need for MV within the first 3 days of life.

The association between cord hormones and transient tachypnea of newborn in late preterm and term neonates who were delivered by cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: Failure of adequate and timely clearance of fetal lung fluid has been implicated in transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). There has been lack of human data on the association between endocrinological adaptation and fetal lung fluid clearance. Although TTN development in term or late preterm newborns delivered by cesarean section (CS) is well known, whether stress hormones levels at birth contribute to it or not is not known. The aim of the study was to assess the possible association between low adrenocorticothrophic hormone (ACTH), cortisol and free triiodothyronin (fT3) levels at birth and TTN in late preterm and term infants. STUDY DESIGN: We compared cord blood concentrations of epinephrine, cortisol, ACTH, fT4, fT3 and thyroid stimulating hormone in two groups of term and late pretrem infants born by CS: those who developed TTN and a comparison group without respiratory distress. RESULTS: While there were no significant demographic differences between patient and control groups, cord ACTH, cortisol and fT3 were significantly lower and epinephrine was higher in infants developing TTN (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lower cord levels of cortisol, ACTH and fT3 in patients with TTN may indicate the possible relation of these hormones in fetal lung fluid clearance and postnatal pulmonary adaptation through their modulatory effect on epithelial sodium channel and Na-K-ATPase.