[Evaluation of a modification of the nutrition policy on the frequency of extrauterine growth retardation in premature newborns between 2012 and 2014]. / Évaluation d'une modification de politique nutritionnelle sur la fréquence du retard de croissance extra-utérin chez le nouveau-né prématuré entre 2012 et 2014.

INTRODUCTION: Extrauterine growth restriction is associated with long-term effects on growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a change in nutritional policy on the postnatal growth of premature infants. METHOD: Prospective observational study carried out between 01/01/14 and 31/12/14 in all newborns under 33 weeks GA admitted to the Bordeaux University Hospital after modification of the nutrition policy at the beginning of January 2014. This cohort was compared to a retrospective historical cohort of children born between 01/01/12 and 31/12/12. In the second period, the nutrient intakes received were evaluated and compared with the recent recommendations (ESPGHAN 2005, 2010, Nutritional care of preterm infant). The impact of EUGR was compared between the two populations. RESULTS: A total of 144 children were included: 66 in the 2012 cohort and 78 in the 2014 cohort. Their initial characteristics were similar. The moderate EUGR rate was 86.4 % in 2012 vs. 39.7 % in 2014 and the severe EUGR rate was 21.2 % in 2012 vs. 5.1 % in 2014. In 2014, half of the newborns had an energy deficit and two-thirds had a protein deficit at the end of the 6 weeks of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: This study shows that optimization of the nutrition policy can reduce the incidence of EUGR.

[Use of subcutaneous route for comfort care in neonatal palliative population: Systematic review and survey of practices in France]. / Utilisation de la voie sous-cutanée en soins palliatifs néonatals : revue de la littérature et enquête de pratique en France.

INTRODUCTION: Subcutaneous hydration (hypodermoclysis) and drug administration is a widely used method of analgesic therapy in adult palliative care medicine. Very little is known about its use in neonatal medicine. Evidence-based guidelines do not exist due to a lack of data. In this study, the advantages of subcutaneous analgesic therapy in terms of comfort in neonatal palliative care situations were investigated. METHODS: This report details the results of a systematic review associated with a survey in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and pediatric palliative care departments (PPCTs) in France. RESULTS: No article was available in the Medline database. In Google®, we found six guidelines that described the use of the subcutaneous route in the pediatric palliative population. The participation rate in the survey was approximately 83 % for French NICUs and 74 % for PPCTs. Eleven percent of NICUs and 27 % of PPCTs had already used subcutaneous drug administration for palliative care, mainly for analgesia and terminal sedation. Limiting factors of its use were mainly alternative options and the lack of data. Nevertheless, 76 % of NICUs and 73 % of PPCTs expressed an interest in the use of the subcutaneous route in NICUs. Ninety-one percent of French NICUs and 80 % of PPCTs were interested in elaborating a protocol using the subcutaneous route for analgesia, anxiolysis, or terminal sedation. CONCLUSION: The subcutaneous route can be advantageous for comfort care in the neonatal palliative population. Studies are needed to define the modalities, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of therapeutics in this population.

[Invasive candidiasis in neonatal intensive care units]. / Candidoses invasives en réanimation néonatale.

In the USA, the incidence of invasive candidiasis in neonates is respectively 0.3% of infants over 2500 g and up to 20% of infants less than 1000 g. Their incidence is increasing. Two populations of newborn infants are particularly vulnerable: the premature infants and newborn infants with severe neonatal digestive diseases. Fifty percent of infants hospitalized in NICU are colonized with Candida at the end of the first week of hospitalization; a direct relationship exists between the importance of colonization and the invasive infection risk. C. albicans is the species most often responsible for invasive candidiasis in the newborn. These infections represent the third cause of related-catheter infection in the USA. Mortality rate in neonates linked to this disease is 20 to 50%; morbidity primarily concerns brain and lungs. Neonatal invasive candidiasis risk factors are known and a primary prevention is possible. The diagnosis of neonatal invasive candidiasis is difficult and often delayed because of a polymorphic clinical expression. Empiric and preemptive treatment are based on the use of amphotericin B. Prophylactic treatment using fluconazole of newborns with birth weight ≤ 1000 grams and/or gestational age ≤ 27 weeks gestation is recommended by the American Academy of Paediatrics and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. A better knowledge of French epidemiological data in this area would improve both the diagnosis and therapeutic management of this disease.

Mosaic maternal uniparental isodisomy for chromosome 7q21-qter.

Uniparental disomy (UPD) for several human chromosomes is associated with clinical abnormalities. We report the case of a 2-year-old boy with severe intrauterine and post-natal growth retardation (IUGR/PNGR) and highly variable sweat chloride concentrations. The patient was identified as heterozygous for the F508del mutation of the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene. Unexpectedly, the signal corresponding to the maternally inherited F508del allele appeared much more intense than the paternally derived wild allele. Molecular analysis including polymorphic marker studies, microsatellites and single-nucleotide polymorphisms subsequently showed that the boy was a carrier of a de novo mosaic maternal isodisomy of a chromosome 7 segment while there was a biparental inheritance of the rest of the chromosome. This is the first report of a mosaic partial UPD7. The matUPD7 segment at 7q21-qter extends for 72.7 Mb. The karyotype (550 bands) of our patient was normal, and fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes mapping around the CFTR gene allowed us to rule out a partial duplication. The detection of this chromosomal rearrangement confirms the hypothesis that the 7q31-qter segment is a candidate for the localization of human imprinted genes involved in the control of IUGR and PNGR. It also emphasizes the importance of searching for UPD7 in severe, isolated and unexplained IUGR and PNGR.