The role of time interval elimination on pain control of preterm infants by sucrose administration.

PURPOSE: The 2-min time interval of sucrose administration given before minor painful procedures in preterm infants is based on a few limited studies. We aimed to assess availability of sucrose analgesia in emergency states of minor procedural pain by eliminating the 2-min time interval prior to heel lance in preterm infants. The primary outcome was Premature Infants Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R) at 30 and 60 s. METHODS: Healthy 69 preterms undergoing a heel lance, who were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 groups, i.e., group I, with the 2-min time interval of per oral 24% sucrose given prior to heel lance, or group II, without a time interval of per oral 24% sucrose, were recruited. Premature Infants Pain Profile-Revised, crying incidence, duration, and heart rate at 30 and 60 s following heel lance were the outcome measures in this single-center, randomized, prospective study. RESULTS: The 2 groups did not differ significantly in PIPP-R scores at 30 s (6.63 vs. 6.32, p = .578) and 60 s (5.80 vs. 5.38, p = .478). The crying incidence was similar between the 2 groups (p = .276). The median crying duration was 6 s (range: 1-13 s) in group I and 4.5 s (range: 1-18 s) in group II (p = .226). No significant differences in the heart rates between the 2 groups and the proportion of adverse events by time interval elimination were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Eliminating the time interval did not decrease the analgesic effect of orally administered 24% sucrose given prior to heel lance. In emergency states of minor procedural pain, eliminating the 2-min time interval following sucrose administration is safe and efficacious in preterm infants.

Assessment of nutritional status in children with cancer: Significance of arm anthropometry and serum visceral proteins.

BACKGROUND: Arm anthropometry is a better indicator of nutritional status in children with cancer. The value of serum albumin and prealbumin in nutritional assesment is debatable. We investigated the nutritional status of children with cancer and their serum albumin and prealbumin levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: At diagnosis and following induction therapies, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and triceps skin-fold thickness (TSFT) were measured; serum albumin and prealbumin levels were determined. Prevalences of malnutrition defined by anthropometric indices were calculated. Correlations of anthropometric indices with each other, with serum albumin/prealbumin levels, and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: In 81 patients, median age was 7.5 years (males/females = 50/31), tumors were located mostly in the abdomen, and abdominal tumors were more common under 5 years. Prevalence of malnutrition according to weight for age, BMI, MUAC, TSFT z scores were 14.8%, 23.5%, 27.2%, 21%, respectively. Defined by combined BMI/MUAC/TSFT measurements, 33/81 cases (40.7%) had malnutrition (z scores < -1, 23 mild; z scores < -2, 10 moderate). Malnutrition was more prevalent under 5 years (P = .03), also in abdominal tumors (P = .03) and advanced disease (P < .001). Younger age and advanced disease were risk factors for malnutrition. At diagnosis, prevalences of low serum albumin and prealbumin levels were 7.4% and 54%, respectively. Cases with malnutrition had significantly lower survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional status is assessed best by MUAC and TSFT measurements. Serum prealbumin levels can be used to identify patients at risk of undernutrition. Presence of malnutrition is a significant poor prognostic factor. All children with cancer should undergo nutritional evaluation and active nutritional support.

A novel homozygous CLCNKB variant: An early presentation of classic Bartter syndrome in a neonate.

BACKGROUND: Bartter syndrome (BS) is a rare congenital salt-losing renal tubular transport disorder, characterized by salt wasting, polyuria, biochemical abnormalities, and acid-base homeostasis imbalance. The syndrome has five different genetic forms, and novel mutations of CLCNKB gene lead to type 3 BS also known as classic BS. In this case, we report clinical and molecular findings from a newborn baby with BS. CASE: A 10-day-old male infant born at 37 weeks of gestation by cesarean section following a pregnancy complicated with polyhydramnios, and fetal distress to a 30-year-old gravida 3, para 3 mother, with a 2500 g birth weight was brought to the pediatric emergency department due to weight loss and jaundice. The neonate was referred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with a preliminary diagnosis of hyponatremic dehydration (Na: 122 mmol/L, 10% dehydration) and hypokalemic hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis (K: 2.13 mmol/L, Cl: 63 mmol/L, pH: 7.62, pCO2 : 39 mmHg, HCO3 : 40.8 mmol/L, BE: 16.9 mmol/L), and hypocalcemia (ionized Ca: 0.72 mmol/L). On arrival to the NICU, symptomatic focal seizures, and polyuria complicated his course. Spot urine biochemistry revealed a renal salt wasting and hypercalciuria: Creatine 11.4 mg/dL Na: 51 mmol/L (54-150), K: 26 mmol/L (20-80), Cl: 164 mmol/L, fractional excretion of sodium (FENa): 3% (0.9-1.6), fractional excretion of chloride (FECl): 17% (<0.5%) and Ca/Cr: 0.33 (<0.2). Biochemical abnormalities disappeared through intravenous fluid and electrolyte therapy, but he could not achieve adequate weight gain, and polyuric urine output (6.5 cc/kg/h), and metabolic alkalosis continued as the enteral feedings advance. Patient's serum renin: 184 pg/mL (5-27 pg/mL) and aldosterone: 1670 pg/mL (1-180 ng/dL) were elevated. Polyuria, renal salt wasting, electrolyte and acid-base disturbances, and hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism established the diagnosis as Bartter syndrome. An oral indomethacin (1 mg/kg/day) treatment, on the 8th day. ensured the weight gain, and normalized daily urine output. He achieved the goal of birth weight on the 30th day and he was 3520 g weight at discharge on day 42. The genetic tests of the patient as KCNJ1 SLC12A1 gene sequence analysis revealed a novel homozygous mutation in the 14th exon of the CLCNKB gene, the c.1334_1338del CTTTT (p. Ser445fs*4) variant was identified. DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of BS should be considered in the presence of a medical history of severe polyhydramnios of fetal origin. Postnatally, polyuria, signs of dehydration, renal salt wasting, and hypokalemic-metabolic alkalosis should prompt the clinician to request genetic testing for BS in the neonatal period. This case is presented to emphasize that early diagnosis of BS should be considered in newborns presenting with electrolyte abnormalities and metabolic alkalosis accompanying dehydration and favorable growth results can be achieved by starting indomethacin treatment in the early neonatal period. The clinical exome sequencing illustrated a novel missense variant in the CLCNKB gene leading to the molecular diagnosis of BS type 3.

An observational, multicenter, registry-based cohort study of Turkish Neonatal Society in neonates with Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a significant cause of mortality and short- and long-term morbidities. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has been shown to be the standard care for HIE of infants ≥36 weeks gestational age (GA), as it has been demonstrated to reduce the rates of mortality, and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study aims to determine the incidence of HIE in our country, to assess the TH management in infants with HIE, and present short-term outcomes of these infants. METHODS: The Turkish Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Online Registry database was established for this multicenter, prospective, observational, nationally-based cohort study to evaluate the data of infants born at ≥34 weeks GA who displayed evidence of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) between March, 2020 and April 2022. RESULTS: The incidence of HIE among infants born at ≥36 weeks GA (n = 965) was 2.13 per 1000 live births (517:242440), and accounting for 1.55% (965:62062) of all neonatal intensive care unit admissions. The rates of mild, moderate and severe HIE were 25.5% (n = 246), 58.9% (n = 568), and 15.6% (n = 151), respectively. Infants with severe HIE had higher rates of abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and mortality (p<0.001). No significant difference in mortality and abnormal MRI results was found according to the time of TH initiation (<3 h, 3-6 h and >6 h) (p>0.05). TH was administered to 85 (34.5%) infants with mild HIE, and of those born of 34-35 weeks of GA, 67.4% (n = 31) received TH. A total of 58 (6%) deaths were reported with a higher mortality rate in infants born at 34-35 weeks of GA (OR 3.941, 95% Cl 1.446-10.7422, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The incidence of HIE remained similar over time with a reduction in mortality rate. The timing of TH initiation, whether <3 or 3-6 h, did not result in lower occurrences of brain lesions on MRI or mortality. An increasing number of infants with mild HIE and late preterm infants with HIE are receiving TH; however, the indications for TH require further clarification. Longer follow-up studies are necessary for this vulnerable population.

Neonatal Community-acquired Raoultella Ornithinolytica Septicemia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Raoultella ornithinolytica is an opportunistic, aquaphilic and Gram-negative bacterium. Immune deficiency states and indwelling catheters provide a basis for most of the infections arising. R. ornithinolytica septicemia (ROS) is extremely rare in neonates but can be life threatening. Community-acquired ROS has not been described in neonates before. The diagnosis of neonatal septicemia is occasionally complicated by unusual clinical presentations. Pyloric stenosis is manifested by projectile, nonbilious vomiting and late findings, including weight loss, dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities beyond 4-6 weeks old. Community-acquired neonatal septicemia symptoms can sometimes be confused with symptoms of gastrointestinal obstructions in patients without risk factors for sepsis. Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotics are essentials for a good prognosis in neonatal septicemia. Herein, we present a novel case of community-acquired ROS with an unusual presentation in a term infant and a review of the literature about ROS in the neonatal period.