Evaluation of growth in very low birth weight preterm babies.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate physical growth of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm babies at a mean age of three years and to investigate the factors which affected growth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The factors including maternal problems, prenatal problems, early neonatal problems, nutrition, familial socioeconomical status and presence of chronic disease which affected catch-up growth in terms of height and weight in VLBW infants followed up in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of our hospital were examined. The target height formula was used in assessment of growht in height and the contribution of genetic properties was investigated. The points of the subjects on the growth curve were plotted according to the Percentile Curve of the Turkish Children prepared by Neyzi et al. The states of the subjects with and without intrauterine growth retardation (were compared. The study was intitiated after obtaining approval from the ethics committeee of our hospital (100/25.10.2005). RESULTS: One hundred and seventeen preterm babies (57 females and 60 males) with a mean adjusted age of 35.8±2.39 80 of whom were appropriate for gestational age (AGA), 28 of whom were symmetrical (small gestational age) SGA and 9 of whom were asymmetrical SGA were included in the study. The mean gestational age (GA) was found to be 31±2.16 weeks and the mean birth weight (BW) was found to be 1271±226 g. The mean current height was found to be 92.06±4.90 cm. The mean weight was found to be 12.98±1.94 kg. The mean target height was calculated to be 163.66±8.1 cm (157.20 cm for the girls and 170.20 cm for the boys). It was found that 15 preterm babies (12.8%) could not achieve the target height (girls: 6%, boys: 6.8%). The risk factors related with failure to achieve target height were found to include ventilator treatment, presence of chronic disease, advanced stage intracranial bleeding (ICB), posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus, absence of breastfeeding, failure to sit at the table with the family and malnutrition. The maternal age, early rupture of membranes (PROM), preeclampsia, smoking, early neonatal problems, gender, being AGA and SGA, gestational age, birth weight and socioeconomical level were statistically insignificant in terms of achieving target height (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: If very low birth weight preterm babies have no chronic disease and condition leading to neurodevelopmental retardation and if they are breastfed early and continuously (0-24 months), they can achieve catch-up growth similar to term babies. In examination of growth in terms of height, using target height may be more appropriate to shown the genetic potential.

Synthesis, characterization and superparamagnetic resonance studies of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles.

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles of zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) were produced by a microwave induced combustion synthesis method. XRD, FT-IR, SEM, VSM and ESR were used for the structural, morphological, and magnetic investigation of the product, respectively. Average particle size of the nanoparticles was estimated by the Schérrer equation using the full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of the most intense XRD peak and found as 41 nm. Magnetization measurements have shown that the samples have a blocking temperature of 72 K which indicates a superparamagnetic behavior. Superparamagnetic resonance (SPR) spectra at room temperature show a broad line with a Landé g-factor, g(eff) approximately 2. We used a theoretical formalism based on a distribution of diameters of the nanoparticles following lognormal proposed by Berger et al. The nanoparticles behave as single magnetic domains with random orientations of magnetic moments which are subject to thermal fluctuations. A Landau-Lifshitz line shape function presents adequate results which are in good agreement with the experimental ones. At high temperatures, the SPR line shape is governed by the core anisotropy and the thermal fluctuations. By decreasing the temperature, the magnetic susceptibility of shell spins increases. As a result of this, the surface spins produce an effective field on the core leading to a decrease of resonance field, B(r). Also, the effective anisotropy increases as the shell spins begin to order. So, the results are interpreted by a simple model, in which each single-domain nanoparticle is considered as a core-shell system, with magneto-crystalline anisotropy on the core and surface anisotropy on the shell.

The relationship of active ghrelin levels and intrauterine growth in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the association of active ghrelin levels with birth weight, sex, and gestational age (GA) in small for GA (SGA) and appropriate for GA (AGA) preterm infants. METHODS: Active ghrelin levels were measured by ELISA method during the first five postnatal days in 38 preterm SGA infants and 32 preterm AGA controls. RESULTS: Active ghrelin levels were significantly higher in preterm SGA infants than in preterm AGA controls (P < 0.01). Active ghrelin levels in preterms with birth weight <1500 g were statistically higher than those over 1500 g. Active ghrelin levels in preterms ≤ 34 gestational weeks were similar to those over 34 weeks. A negative correlation was detected between active ghrelin levels and birth weight (r = -0.561, P < 0.0001) as well as GA (r = -0.449, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: We found significantly higher active ghrelin levels in SGA preterms than those in AGA preterms and demonstrated a negative correlation between active ghrelin levels and birth weight in preterm infants. This was the first study showing a negative correlation between active ghrelin levels and birth weight in preterm infants.

A rare cause of perinatal asphyxia: maternal carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication has serious adverse effects to the mother and fetus and a result of intrauterine hypoxia, it leads to fetal death or severe neurological sequelae. In this article, a preterm infant who was acutely exposed to CO at the 33rd weeks of gestation before delivery was presented. The baby was delivered by emergent cesarean section at the 34th weeks of gestation due to findings of fetal distress and he had severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy leading to death. Results and treatment modalities of CO poisoning during pregnancy were reviewed.