Influence of calcium fortification on physicochemical properties of whey protein concentrate solutions enriched in α-lactalbumin.

In this study, three whey protein concentrate systems enriched in α-lactalbumin, produced using membrane filtration (LAC-M), selective precipitation (LAC-P) and ion-exchange chromatography (LAC-IE), were fortified with calcium chloride (CaCl2) at 0-5 mM and changes in physicochemical properties studied. Binding of calcium (Ca2+) occurred for LAC-P in the range 0.00-2.00 mM, with an affinity constant (Kd) of 1.63 × 10-7, resulting in a proportion of total protein-bound calcium of 81.8% at 2 mM CaCl2. At 5 mM CaCl2, LAC-P had volume mean diameter (VMD) of 638 nm, while LAC-M and LAC-IE had VMD of 204 and 3.87 nm, respectively. Changes in physicochemical properties were dependent on the approach used to enrich α-lactalbumin and concentrations of other macromolecules (e.g., phospholipid). The results obtained in this study provide fundamental insights into the influence of fortification with soluble calcium salts on the physicochemical stability of next-generation whey protein ingredients enriched in α-lactalbumin.

Fish oil-based lipid emulsion in the treatment of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis.

BACKGROUND: Parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC) is a serious complication in preterm infants receiving prolonged parenteral nutrition. Soybean lipid emulsion (SLE) seems to have a role in its pathogenesis, whereas fish oil-based emulsion (FOLE) seems to be able to reverse cholestasis. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a FOLE in reversing PNAC. METHODS: The effectiveness in reversing PNAC was evaluated in prospective cohort study of very preterm infants when compared to historical controls: twenty-six infants (27.0 ± 2.6 weeks GA; 724 ± 204 g) who developed cholestasis while receiving SLE were shifted to receive FOLE and were compared with 30 infants (27.3 ± 2.5 weeks GA¸ 838 ± 277 g) who continued to receive SLE at diagnosis of cholestasis. RESULTS: Time to reversal of cholestasis was the same in the two study groups (45 ± 21 vs 43 ± 32 days). CONCLUSIONS: FOLE does not seem to be superior to SLE in reversing cholestasis. Considering that definitive data on the actual efficacy of FOLE to reverse PNAC are lacking, larger randomized trials are required, mainly to asses if FOLE may have a role in PNAC prevention rather than PNAC treatment.

BiliCheck vs JM-103 in identifying neonates not at risk of hyperbilirubinaemia.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous bilirubinometry is widely used to predict hyperbilirubinemia by using several devices. The aim of this study was to compare the predictive ability of BiliCheck vs JM-103 in identifying neonates not at risk of significant hyperbilirubinemia, putting the data obtained with the two instruments on our transcutaneous bilirubin nomogram built with the BiliCheck. METHODS: Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurement was performed when jaundice appeared in newborn babies and/or just before discharge from the hospital. It was performed at the forehead with the two instruments within 5 minutes by two experienced neonatologists, each one blind to the value obtained by the other. Blood samples were drawn to obtain total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels soon after TcB measurements. RESULTS: A total of 627 paired-sample measurements were obtained from 298 newborn babies. Out of the total population studied, 16 newborn babies (5.4%) showed significant hyperbilirubinemia defined as TSB value >17 mg/dL, or as need for phototherapy treatment according to the AAP guidelines. TcB measurements showed false negative results in the first 60 hours of life using both devices. After the 60th hour of life, TcB measurements using both devices successfully predicted newborn babies not at risk of significant hyperbilirubinemia, being the JM-103 more reliable than BC because of fewer false positive results. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that both BC and JM-103 can exclude subsequent significant hyperbilirubinemia when the measurements are performed after the 60th hour of life. Nevertheless, the transcutaneous pre-discharge screening should be considered only as the first step, and it has to be followed by a follow-up through the first days after discharge.

Validation of transcutaneous bilirubin nomogram in identifying neonates not at risk of hyperbilirubinaemia: a prospective, observational, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurement is widely used as screening for neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. AIMS: To prospectively validate TcB measurement using hour-specific nomogram in identifying newborn infants not at risk for severe hyperbilirubinaemia. STUDY DESIGN: prospective, observational, multicenter. SUBJECTS: 2167 term and late preterm infants born in 5 neonatal units in the Lazio region of Italy. METHODS: All neonates had simultaneous TcB and total serum bilirubin (TSB) measurements, when jaundice appeared and/or before hospital discharge. TcB and TSB values were plotted on a percentile-based hour-specific transcutaneous nomogram previously developed, to identify the safe percentile able to predict subsequent significant hyperbilirubinaemia defined as serum bilirubin >17 mg/dL or need for phototherapy. RESULTS: Fifty-five babies (2.5%) developed significant hyperbilirubinaemia. The 50th percentile of our nomogram was able to identify all babies who were at risk of significant hyperbilirubinaemia, but with a high false positive rate. Using the 75th percentile, two false negatives reduced sensitivity in the first 48 hours but we were able to detect all babies at risk after the 48th hour of age. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the 75th percentile of our TcB nomogram is able to exclude any subsequent severe hyperbilirubinaemia from 48 h of life ahead.

Skin bilirubin measurement during phototherapy in preterm and term newborn infants.

BACKGROUND: The few existing studies evaluating the reliability of transcutaneous bilirubin monitoring during phototherapy gave controversial results. AIMS: To evaluate the accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubin measurement in a large population of newborn infants, during phototherapy. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Total serum bilirubin and transcutaneous bilirubin on patched and unpatched skin areas were simultaneously measured in newborn infants undergoing phototherapy. Transcutaneous measurements were performed with a multiwavelength transcutaneous bilirubinometer (Respironics BiliCheck). The Passing-Bablok regression and the Bland-Altman plot were used to estimate the relationship between serum and transcutaneous bilirubin. RESULTS: We studied 364 newborn infants with a mean (SD) gestational age of 34.6 (3) weeks and a mean birth weight of 2371 (805) grams. Total serum bilirubin, patched transcutaneous bilirubin and unpatched transcutaneous bilirubin were similar before phototherapy. After 52 (33) hours of phototherapy, the difference between serum bilirubin and patched transcutaneous bilirubin was 0.2 (3.1) mg/dL (not significant) while the difference between serum bilirubin and unpatched transcutaneous bilirubin was 3.2 (3.0) mg/dL (p<0.001). Statistical analysis showed a good agreement between serum bilirubin and patched transcutaneous bilirubin, while unpatched transcutaneous bilirubin underestimates serum levels. The difference between patched and unpatched values was significantly lower in preterm than in term infants (2.8 mg/dL vs. 3.6 mg/dL; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: BiliCheck can be safely used for the evaluation of bilirubin levels in newborn infants under phototherapy. Its reliability on patched skin of the forehead is high enough to consistently reduce blood draws and to ascertain when to discontinue phototherapy. Because of the individual variance, any clinical decision has to be taken on the basis of the transcutaneous bilirubin trend more than on a single value.