Relationship between low birth weight neonate and maternal serum zinc concentration

Zinc deficiency can lead to clinically relevant disturbances in tissue functions and particularly important for birth weight of neonates. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum zinc in pregnant women and the incidence of low birth weight [<2500 g] in their newborns. This case-control study was done on women who delivered low birth weight infants [Cases], and normal birth weight infants [Controls]. Blood samples got in all women within 5 minutes of delivery, and assessed the concentration of zinc using electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum concentration of zinc was compared. One hundred and seventeen mothers were enrolled, of them, 65 cases were low birth weight infants [1845 +/- 472 g] and 52 were controls [3166 +/- 435 g]. Mothers in the case and control groups did not differ in age, body mass index, and socioeconomic or demographic factors. Maternal zinc concentration differed between cases and controls; 753.34 +/- 15 micro g/l vs. 654.76 +/- 12 micro g/l respectively. Maternal zinc differed between premature and full term deliveries. Maternal zinc concentration was shown to affect birth weight and prematurity

Comparison between two and twenty-four hours salt powder in treatment of infant umbilical granuloma

One of the most common umbilical abnormalities in neonates is umbilical granuloma, causing inflammation and drainage. The common treatment is application of a 75% silver nitrate stick. This study was carried out to compare the effect of 2 and 24 hours salt [NaCl] in treatment on infant umbilical granuloma. From January 2004 to January 2006, at Neonatal ICU and Infant Follow-up Clinic of Imam Reza Hospital, Mashad University of Medical Sciences, Mashad, Iran, two groups including 20 infants with umbilical granuloma undergoing a 24 hours treatment with salt as the case group and 20 infants undergoing a 2 hours treatment with salt as the control group were compared. There were18 boys and 22 girls. The treatment days in case and control groups were 1.2+0.6 and 2.1+0.4, respectively and the difference was statistically significant. In either group, there were no significant differences between sex, birth weight, time of umbilical separation and age of enrollment. 24-hours treatment of umbilical granuloma with salt was shown to be more effective than the 2- hours treatment method

[Comparison of continuous and intermittent feeding in very low birth weight breast-milk-fed neonates in the NICU of Imam-Reza Hospital in Mashhad]

Neonates with a birth weight lower than 1500 g [VLBW] compose almost 1% of all newborns, and 50% of neonatal mortality as well. Nutrition is one of the most important problems in these neonates given that they are not able to suck. So, we decided to study intermittent feeding through NG tube every 2 hours and continuous feeding by pump in order to compare weight gain and complications between these two methods. This study was a randomized clinical trial on neonates admitted to the NICU of Imam-Reza Hospital between 2004 and 2005. All neonates, with a birth weight lower than 1500g, were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. Weight of each neonate was measured every 3 days. Data were gathered and analyzed using Chi-squared test and Student's t-test. P-value less < 0.05 was considered significant. Studied neonates with birth weights lower than 1500g, were either in the intermittent feeding or continuous feeding group. Neonates entered the investigation when milk volume reached 100 ml/Kg. The two groups were matched with respect to birth weight, gestational age, feeding start age, and weight and age at the time of study entry. Of 73 neonates, 61 were discharged and 11 died. One neonate was excluded from the study because of early discharge. No significant difference was found between the groups in weight gain, feeding tolerance, and reaching birth weight or discharge weight [p=0.33]. There does not seem to be any difference between the efficiency of the two feeding methods

Serial serum CRP value for early diagnosis of neonatal septicemia

The early diagnosis of neonatal infection is important. Because of its various clinical signs and symptoms it is necessary to resort to methods for detecting and treating them as soon as possible. Serial serum CRP value has recently attracted some researchers attention. Therefore, in this study the CRP value for diagnosing neonatal infection has been examined. This study was performed in Imam Reza hospital, on all newborns suspected of infection within a period of 9 months. These newborns were divided into two groups: The first group [case] with positive blood culture and the second group [control] with positive signs but negative blood, urine, CSF, eye and skin lesion's cultures. Serum CRP were controlled at the beginning of the admission, after 48 hours and after 7 days. The sensitivity, specificity, the positive and negative predicting values were examined. The sensitively first CRP had a sensitivity of 61.5% and specificity of 93.8%. Fourty eight hours later, CRP had a sensitivity of 69.2% and specificity of 69%. The first two days CRP sensitivity, [CRP[1,2]] was 74.3% and its specificity was 69%. Negative predicting value of CRP in successive days was 80%. CRP specificity was 98.4% in the 7[th] day. Serial serum CRP is a good method for confirming the infection and to evaluate the response to the treatment of infection