Transcutaneous bilirubin measured on protected skin during phototherapy in term and preterm neonates.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous bilirubin (TCB) measurement is a simple, painless, and time-saving alternative for the assessment of TSB (total serum bilirubin) levels. However, TCB measurements obtained during phototherapy can yield inaccurate results. We evaluated the effectiveness of TCB measurements obtained from protected skin areas in patients who underwent phototherapy. METHODS: This prospective study included neonates delivered at a gestational age of ≥340/7 weeks. TCB measurements were performed at the forehead and the lower end of the sternum using a JM-105 device. Simultaneously, blood samples were collected to determine TSB levels. During phototherapy, the forehead was covered with a photo-opaque patch. TSB and TCB were measured before, during, at the end of, and after phototherapy. RESULTS: In total, 200 neonates, including 110 (55 %) term and 90 (45 %) late preterm infants, were enrolled. Of these neonates, 162 (81 %) were Turkish while 38 (19 %) were refugees from Syria and Iraq. Notably, no statistically significant differences were observed in the TSB and TCB values between the Turkish and refugee groups (p > 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis was conducted between the TCB values obtained from the covered forehead area and TSB values; the analysis revealed moderate, high, and excellent agreements for the first bilirubin measurement and at the end of phototherapy, before phototherapy, and for the second and rebound bilirubin measurements, respectively. Regarding intraclass correlation coefficients, values >0.95, 0.94-0.85, 0.84-0.70, and < 0.7 indicated perfect, high, moderate, and unacceptable compatibilities, respectively. Although a significant association was observed between pre-phototherapy TCB obtained from the sternum and TSB levels, no significant associations were observed during phototherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the consistency observed between TCB measurements obtained from the protected skin areas and TSB values can be used to monitor phototherapy effectiveness, particularly in late preterm/term infants and those with darker skin tones. Furthermore, this approach can aid in guiding decisions related to treatment termination, evaluating rebound bilirubin levels, minimizing costs, and providing a less invasive testing option.

Abnormal Umblical Artery Doppler is Utilized for Fetuses with Intrauterine Growth Restriction Birth at 280/7-336/7 Gestational Weeks.

Purpose: To compare short-term perinatal outcomes in preterm infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in those with absent or reversed end-diastolic umbilical artery blood flow (AREDF) to those with normal end-diastolic umbilical artery blood flow (NEDF). Methods: This study included preterm births (280/7-336/7 gestational weeks) with IUGR with AREDF (n = 86) or NEDF (n = 27). Results: There were lower mean gestational weeks, birth weights, and a higher ratio of corticosteroid application in the AREDF group (p < 0.05). The mean length of neonatal intensive care unit stay of the AREDF group was significantly longer (p < 0.001). Sepsis and feeding intolerance ratios in the AREDF group were also significantly higher (p = 0.041 and p < 0.001 respectively). Conclusions: Patients with IUGR and umbilical Doppler abnormalities have longer neonatal intensive care unit stays.

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.

The Effects of Bilirubin and Phototherapy on Neonatal Thiol-Disulfide Homeostasis.

OBJECTIVE: To determinate the effects of bilirubin and phototherapy on oxidative stress in newborns. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Third level Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women's Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Turkey, from May to August 2017. METHODOLOGY: Blood samples of 62 term newborns were grouped as control, before and after phototherapy. Total and native thiol, disulfide and ischemia modified albumin values in expressed blood samples were measured. Disulfide-native thiol ratio, disulfide-total thiol ratio and native thiol-total thiol ratio values were computed. RESULTS: Bilirubin levels were positively correlated with native and total thiol levels and negatively correlated with ischemia modified albumin levels (r=0.409 p= 0.001, r= 0.328 p<0.009, r=-0.503 p<0.001). Native and total thiol levels of the control group were lower (p<0.001) and ischemia modified albumin levels were higher than those before and after phototherapy (p<0.001). In jaundiced newborns, native and total thiol values reduced after phototherapy, while IMA levels increased (p=0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Bilirubin showed antioxidant effect without increasing oxidative stress. Oxidative stress increased after phototherapy. This result was associated with decrease in bilirubin rather than oxidative effect of phototherapy.

Effect of birth weight on retinopathy of prematurity in discordant twin pairs.

Purpose: Since twin pairs with discordance have equal gestational age (GA), discordant twins may constitute an appropriate group to investigate the specific effect that birth weight (BW) has on the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The present study aims to investigate the effect of BW on any and severe stages of ROP development in twin pairs. Methods: Fifty-two discordant twin pairs (104 preterms) born ≤32 gestational weeks, who were diagnosed with a minimum of 18% discordance between their BWs, were retrospectively analyzed. Twin pairs were separated into two groups based on the BW of each pair. The rate of any stage of ROP, Type 1 ROP, and perinatal risk factors were compared statistically among twin pairs. Results: The rate of any stage of ROP and Type 1 ROP was 24.0% and 4.8% in the whole group, respectively. A statistically significant difference was shown between lower and higher BW groups at any stage of ROP development (34.6% vs. 13.4%, P = 0.02). However, no difference was observed in Type 1 ROP development (7.7% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.17). No significant differences were found between twin pairs regarding neonatal morbidities. The number of small GA (SGA) infants in the smaller twin group was statistically higher than larger group and regression analysis showed that being SGA had significant correlation with any stage of ROP (odds ratio: 4.98, P = 0.02). Conclusion: This study showed that BW serves an effective role at any stage of ROP development in discordant twin pairs; however, no significant difference in terms of Type 1 ROP.

Evaluation of serum ischemia-modified albumin levels in anemia of prematurity.

PURPOSE: Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is used to determine tissue hypoxia. We aimed to evaluate the serum IMA levels in preterm infants requiring transfusion due to anemia of prematurity, a clinical condition to cause tissue hypoxia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was performed in Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Hospital, Turkey. Preterm infants with birth weight less than 1500 g and born between 25 and 32 weeks were included during assessment for anemia of prematurity. The transfused infants with anemia of prematurity formed the "transfusion group", the control group consisted of gender, gestational and postnatal age-matched infants without transfusion requirement. Serum samples of control group and pre-transfusion and post-transfusion samples of transfusion group were analyzed for IMA (ABS unit). Serum IMA levels were compared between control group and pre-transfusion samples of transfusion group and were also evaluated for the significance of change after transfusion. RESULTS: Sixty-two infants were included (transfusion group: 31, control group: 31). The pretransfusion serum IMA levels were higher than that of infants in the control group [ABS unit; transfusion group; pre-transfusion: 1.00 (0.76-1.09) and control group: 0.81 (0.52?1.04); p = .03]. Serum IMA levels decreased significantly to 0.79 (0.59-0.95) after transfusion; p = .007. Infants with hematocrit higher than 30% had lower IMA levels [0.69 (0.54-0.96)] than infants with lower hematocrit [0.96 (0.75-1.05)]; p = .002. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians may bear in mind that serum IMA levels could be utilized as a marker in deciding on erythrocyte transfusion in premature anemia.

Effects of two different lipid emulsions on morbidities and oxidant stress statuses in preterm infants: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the morbidities and oxidative stress statuses in preterms receiving either SMOFlipid or ClinOleic. STUDY DESIGN: This observational study was performed in Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Hospital, Turkey. Infants received SMOFlipid (5 months) or ClinOleic (7 months). Two hundred and twenty seven infants (SMOFlipid: 93, ClinOleic: 134) very low birth weighted infants were included. The oxidative stress status was evaluated in infants at low risk of oxidative stress by total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI; TAC/TOS/100) at baseline, first week and third week. RESULTS: Parenteral nutrition was given for a median of 7 days in both groups. There were statistically insignificantly higher rates of retinopathy of prematurity (9.4 versus 11.7%) and chronic lung disease (4.7 versus 6.7%) in ClinOleic group compared with SMOFlipid group. The TAC, TOS and OSI decreased significantly in ClinOleic group after 1 week, and although the results were not statistically significant, the TAC increased while the TOS and OSI decreased in SMOFlipid group. In both groups, the TAC, TOS and OSI were lower than baseline after 3 weeks. CONCLUSION: SMOFlipid and ClinOleic result in similar oxidative stress statuses after they were stopped, and we detected no statistically significant differences in morbidity rates.

Inguinal Hernia Development in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction The incidence and risk factors for inguinal hernia (IH) is not a thoroughly evaluated issue of preterms. Prematurity is the single most important risk factor. There exists no study in our country which reported the incidence of IH in preterms. The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence and time of diagnosis of IH in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. Patients and Methods This retrospective case-control study was conducted in Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women's Health Training and Research Hospital and included discharged VLBW infants with gestational age less than 32 weeks. Control group included gender, birth weight, and gestational age matched VLBW infants without IH. Results The incidence of IH was 10.1% in VLBW infants (70/693) and 16.1% in extremely low-birth-weight infants (19/174). Male/female ratio was found as 3.4:1. Most IH appeared as bilateral (40.0%). Time of diagnosis was 39 (37-42) weeks of postmenstrual age while 68.6% of infants were diagnosed after discharge. IH development increased by 2.3-folds by having respiratory distress syndrome and by 4.5 folds by achieving full enteral feeds on or after the 10th day. Conclusion Preterms with respiratory distress syndrome and those reach full enteral feeding on or after the 10th day should be monitored carefully for IH development. Bearing in mind that a significant amount of IH cases exhibit symptoms after discharge, neonatologists should inform the parents of premature infants of the issue and close attention should be paid in postdischarge follow-up examinations.

A case series of neonatal arrhythmias.

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal arrhythmias (NAs) are defined as abnormal heart rates in the neonatal period. They may occur as a result of various cardiovascular, systemic and metabolic problems. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on newborns who were diagnosed with NA during hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), or who were admitted to the NICU because of an arrhythmia diagnosis in two NICUs in Turkey from May 2011 to June 2013. RESULTS: Seventeen neonates with arrhythmias were identified. The incidence of NA was 0.4% and 0.3% in the two NICUs, and was 0.37% in the study population as a whole. Mean gestational age was 37 (29-40) weeks. Nine of the infants (53%) were diagnosed with fetal arrhythmia (FA) during the last week of gestation. The distribution of NA types was as follows: six (35%) supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), six (35%) premature atrial contractions (PACs), two (11%) premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), two (11%) multiple arrhythmias such as SVT + PAC and AV block + PVC, and one (5%) AV block. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was present in one patient. An association of NA with congenital heart malformations was identified in five cases. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac arrhythmias are important causes of infant morbidity, and an occasional cause of infant mortality if undiagnosed and untreated. It is important for the physician to be aware of the etiology, development and natural history of arrhythmias in the fetal and neonatal period.

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.