Effect of a Short-Time Probiotic Supplementation on the Abundance of the Main Constituents of the Gut Microbiota of Term Newborns Delivered by Cesarean Section-A Randomized, Prospective, Controlled Clinical Trial.

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of human health. Numerous factors, including the mode of delivery, impact early gut colonization in newborns. Recent research focuses on the use of probiotics in the prevention of gut dysbiosis in newborns delivered by cesarean section (CS). The objective of this study was to determine whether a probiotic supplement given to newborns delivered by CS during their stay in the maternity ward alters the pattern of early gut colonization by lactic acid bacteria versus potential pathogens. A prospective, randomized trial was conducted. In total, 150 newborns, born at 38-40 weeks gestational age and delivered by CS, were included in the study. They were randomized into the intervention group, supplemented orally with a probiotic containing Bifidobacterium breve PB04 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus KL53A, and the control group. Stool samples were obtained on days 5 and 6 of life and after one month of life and were analyzed for the presence and abundance of the main groups of bacteria. An application of two probiotic bacteria during the first days of life after CS resulted in quick and abundant colonization by days 5 and 6, with high populations of L. rhamnosus and B. breve. The applied bacterial strains were present in the majority of neonates one month after. The supplementation of term neonates delivered by cesarean section immediately after birth with a mixture of L. rhamnosus and B. breve enriched the gut microbiota composition with lactic acid bacteria.

Nonactivated Protein C in the Treatment of Neonatal Sepsis: A Retrospective Analysis of Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Previously, we found that plasma protein C (PC) activity ≤10% significantly increased the probability of the occurrence of death during neonatal sepsis. Accordingly, if the activity of plasma PC declined during the course of sepsis to ≤10%, we administered a nonactivated PC zymogen to increase a PC activity. The aim of that retrospective analysis was to explore treatment effects of PC zymogen supplementation in septic infants, with plasma PC activity ≤10%. METHODS: A database was used to locate 85 newborns treated with PC from among 458 analyzed infants with confirmed sepsis. RESULTS: The median birth weight and gestational age of treated infants were, respectively, 1010.0 g and 29 weeks. In 47 infants, early-onset sepsis developed, whereas in 38 neonates, late-onset sepsis was recognized. PC was given as a single dose of 200 IU/kg. Among 458 septic patients, death occurred in 19 newborns (4.2%), exclusively in infants with plasma PC activity ≤10%. In 15 infants, death occurred in the course of early-onset sepsis and 4 newborns died of late-onset sepsis (early-onset sepsis vs. late-onset sepsis; P = 0.036; χ with the Yates correction). CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk of death in septic neonates with plasma PC activity ≤10% suggests the necessity for its evaluation and possibility of supplementation of PC zymogen.

Fish-oil fat emulsion supplementation reduces the risk of retinopathy in very low birth weight infants: a prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies suggest that fish-oil lipid emulsion given parenterally to very preterm infants reduces the severity of retinopathy (ROP) and cholestasis. METHODS: Infants weighing <1250 g at birth were randomly allocated to 2 groups: an experimental group of 60 infants that received an intravenous (IV) soybean, olive oil, and fish oil emulsion, and a control group of 70 infants that was given a parenteral soybean and olive oil emulsion. Plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. RESULTS: Nine infants in the fish oil group required laser therapy for ROP compared with 22 infants in the standard intralipid group (risk ratio [RR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.96). Three infants in the fish oil group developed cholestasis compared with 20 infants in the standard intralipid group (RR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.055-0.56). The mean plasma DHA concentrations in treated infants were 2.9-fold higher in the fish oil group than in control infants on the 7th and 14th days of life. The mean DHA content in erythrocytes of treated infants was 4.5-fold and 2.7-fold higher compared with controls at 7 and 14 days of age. CONCLUSIONS: Premature infants receiving an IV fat emulsion containing fish oil had less ROP requiring laser treatment and less cholestasis than those receiving a standard lipid emulsion. These infants also had higher plasma and erythrocyte DHA levels at 7 and 14 days, suggesting potential long-term neurodevelopmental benefits.

[The effects of enteral administration of glutamine enriched solution in very low birth weight infants on reducing the symptoms of feeding intolerance. A prospective, randomized pilot study]. / Wplyw enteralnej podazy roztworu wzbogaconego glutamina u noworodkow z bardzo mala urodzeniowa masa ciala, na ograniczenie objawow nietolerancji karmiena. Prospektywne, randomizowane badanie pilotazowe.

BACKGROUND: Feeding intolerance frequently occurs during the first several weeks of life in very low birth weight infants and may require the reduction of oral feeding. When significantly expressed, it may lead to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis. Apart from breast milk, also the maintenance of normal peristalsis, enterocyte nourishment and keeping a low pH value in the stomach seem to be important points in the NEC prophylaxis. AIM: The authors present the results of the randomized pilot study, performed in two, differently fed groups of VLBW newborns. The aim of the study was to compare the frequency of feeding intolerance, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis caused by Gram negative bacteria, intestinal perforation and the number of deaths between the study group and the control group of newborns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 106 VLBW newborns were qualified for research. In the study group (50 newborns), apart from the mother's milk or preterm formula, infants were enteraly receiving a glutamine/ amino acid solution, the osmolality of which was comparable to amniotic fluid. The pH value of the solution was 5.5 so as to lower acidity of the stomach fluids. In the control group (56 newborns) infants were fed enteraly exclusively with the mother's milk or preterm formula. The patients in the two groups were comparable with regard to birth weight, gestational age, Apgar score and CRIB score, and the frequency of antenatal corticosteroid administration. RESULTS: There was a significantly lower risk of feeding intolerance in infants who were receiving the glutamine/amino acid solution (p=0.015). Also there was a lower risk of NEC (5 vs 10 cases), intestinal perforation (1 vs 4 cases), sepsis caused by Gram negative bacteria (1 vs 4 cases) and death (1 vs 3) in the study group. However, none of these differences reached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Enteral supplementation of glutamine/amino acid solution given simultaneously with enteral feeding is safe and may significantly reduce feeding intolerance in very low birth weight infants in their first days or weeks of life. The results of our research can be useful when attempting to work out the principles of NEC prophylaxis by means of maintaining normal peristalsis, enterocyte nourishment and keeping a low pH value in the stomach.

Effect of pentoxifylline, administered in preterm labour, on the foetal-placental circulation and neonatal outcome: a randomized, prospective pilot study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the pentoxifylline administration on the foetal-placental circulation and neonatal outcome in women with threatened preterm labour. Pentoxifylline was given as a supplement to standard tocolytic therapy in a group of 43 patients (pentoxifylline group) as an intravenous infusion and oral supplementation in a total dosage of 800 mg/day. The drug was administered within 3 weeks after admission. No pentoxifylline was given in the control group (53 patients). Doppler velocimetry of pulsatility indices (PI) of the umbilical (UA) and middle cerebral (MCA) arteries as well as cerebro-placental ratio (CPR) were calculated. Also, the neonatal outcome was estimated in both groups. From the second week of therapy with pentoxifylline, the PI decreased in umbilical artery and increased in the MCA, whereas in the control group, there were no changes. The value of PIUA, evaluated after the third week of pentoxifylline administration, was statistically significantly lower when compared to data obtained on admission (mean: 0.99 ± 0.22 versus 0.82 ± 0.12; p =0.016). Pentoxifylline significantly increased CPR values calculated after third week of drug administration, which were statistically significantly higher in the pentoxifylline group when compared with respective data in the control group (mean: 2.30 versus 1.61; p = 0.001). The risk of severe neonatal complications was significantly lower in the pentoxifylline group (p = 0.026). Pentoxifylline changed foetal-placental blood circulation in patients with threatened preterm labour and improved neonatal outcome.

The efficacy of fish-oil based fat emulsion administered from the first day of life in very low birth weight newborns.

BACKGROUND: DHA has been shown to be important for foetal brain development, optimal development for motor skills and visual acuity in infants. Newborns born prematurely are at increased risk for DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) insufficiency because they may not have benefited from a full trimester of the mother's lipid stores and have very limited ability to synthesize DHA. Moreover, within the first 2-3 weeks of life, the main sources of lipids for most prematurely delivered infants are soyabean/safflower/olive oil emulsions which are rich in n-6 fatty acids and do not contain DHA. AIM: To perform a retrospective analysis, which compares the safety and efficacy outcomes of an intravenous fat emulsion based on fish-oil (containing docosahexaenoic acid- DHA), and is administered from the first day of life in very low birth weight newborns, with data obtained in preterm neonates with birthweight below 1500 g, receiving soyabean/olive oil emulsion, which do not contain DHA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Infants from the two groups (the study group n=152; the control group n=185) were comparable with regard to demographic and clinical characteristics and were subjected to the same conventional therapy. Determination of plasma and erythrocytes DHA concentrations in newborns was made using a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) method. Detection of parent ions with negative ionization mode, m/z 327.5 amu. Method validation was according to the ICH and FDA requirements. RESULTS: There was a significantly lower risk of cholestasis in infants, who were receiving the soyabean/ olive oil/fish-oil emulsion (p=0.025). Also, there was a markedly lower risk of laser therapy in infants, who were receiving a fish-oil emulsion however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Fish-oil-based fat emulsion administered as a component of total parenteral nutrition from the first day of life is safe in the prophylaxis of cholestasis and severe retinopathy of prematurity. Further clinical investigations are needed.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentration in very low birth weight newborns receiving a fish-oil based fat emulsion from the first day of life. Preliminary clinical observation.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants are at increased risk for DHA deficiency because from 26th weeks of pregnancy until term, 80% of the brain this acid accrues in the fetus. Moreover, the main sources of lipids for preterm newborns are fat emulsions which do not contain DHA. AIM: 1) to investigate the plasma DHA concentration in prematurely delivered newborns who are receiving a fish-oil emulsion in amount equal to one third of total daily intravenous lipid intake or soybean/olive oil fat emulsion from the first day of life. 2) to compare plasma DHA concentration, evaluated immediately after birth in prematurely born infants, with the respective data obtained in full term newborns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty one preterm infants in the two groups: the study group n=12 (newborns fed parenterally with a partially replaced a soybean/olive oil emulsion with a fish-oil emulsion); the control group n=9 (newborn fed parenterally with a soybean/olive oil emulsion) comparable with regard to demographic and clinical characteristics. Determination of plasma and erythrocytes DHA concentrations in newborns was made using a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) method. Detection of parent ions with negative ionization mode, m/z 327,5 amu. Method validation was according to the ICH and FDA requirements. RESULTS: The mean values of plasma DHA level measured on the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th day of life, were statistically significantly lower in the control group when compared with respective data obtained in the study group (7th day: 7.98 vs 42.4 emol/L, p=0.0002; 14th day: 6.8 vs 21.14 emol/l, p=0.000001; 21st day: 11.56 vs 19.1 emol/L, p=0.035; 28th day: 11.4 vs 25.4 emol/L, p=0.0004). The mean value of plasma DHA level in full-term newborns measured in the first hours of life was 164.7 emol/L whereas in preterm neonates it reached 15.9 emol/L (p=0.000001). CONCLUSIONS: The administration of fish-oil-based fat emulsion as a component of total parenteral nutrition from the first day of life may alleviate a marked decrease in plasma DHA level observed in preterm infants within the first weeks after birth. Established method allows for routine determination of DNA concentrations in plasma erythrocytes of newborns.