[Screening, identification and evaluation of probiotic potential of Enterococci in traditional dairy products of Sabzevar]

Background: Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that will be health effects, if be used in a sufficient amount. Due to the growing use of industry dairy, rather than traditional products, there is the possibility of losing a lot of probiotic bacteria. It is, therefore, essential to identify the bacteria from traditional sources and use them in the production of dairy products. The aim of this study was to screen and identify Enterococci from KAMEH [a traditional dairy product of Sabzevar], and evaluation of their probiotic potential.

Material and Methods: In this study, sampling was carried out from four different villages. For screening, the collected samples were placed in pH 4.5. The remained strains were evaluated in pH 4 and 0.3 % bile salt. Antimicrobial activity of screened strains was analyzed against Salmonella typhimurium and staphylococcus aureus using disc plate method. Finally, the strains were identified by PCR and sequencing techniques.

Results: The results showed that three different species of Enterococci, including E. faecium, E. avium and E. faecalis, exist in KAMEH, which have a strong probiotic potential, such that they can withstand high levels of acid and bile salts . E1 code had most antimicrobial activity.

Conclusion: This study revealed that KAMEH has Enterococci with appropriate probiotic potential, and can be added as a supplement to other dairy products.

Hyperbilirubinemia and neonatal infection

Hyperbilirubinemia is a relatively common disorder among infants in Iran. Bacterial infection and jaundice may be associated with higher morbidity. Previous studies have reported that jaundice may be one of the signs of infection. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate, presentation time, severity of jaundice, signs and complications of infection within neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. This cross sectional study was conducted between 2003 and 2011, at Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad- Iran. We prospectively evaluated 1763 jaundiced newborns. We finally found 434 neonates who were categorized into two groups.131 neonates as case group [Blood or/and Urine culture positive or sign of pneumonia] and 303 neonates with idiopathic jaundice as control group. Demographic data including prenatal, intrapartum, postnatal events and risk factors were collected by questionnaire. Biochemical markers including bilirubin level, urine and blood cultures were determined at the request of the clinicians. Jaundice presentation time, age on admission, serum bilirubin value and hospitalization period were reported significantly higher among case group in comparison with control group [p<0.0001]. Urinary tract infection [UTI], sepsis and pneumonia were detected in 102 [8%], 22 [1.7%] and 7 [0.03%] cases, respectively. We concluded that bacterial infection was a significant cause of unexplained Hyperbilirubinemia among jaundice newborns [10%]. Therefore, we advise performing screening test for UTI as part of the evaluation in asymptomatic jaundice infants presenting after five days of life and sepsis workup should be request in symptomatic infant especially in the first week of life

Use of "kangaroo care" to alleviate the intensity of vaccination pain in newborns

It has been demonstrated that newborns feel pain completely. Thus, they should be treated with this in mind. Recent research showed that non-pharmacological interventions such as "Kangaroo Care" may be useful for decreasing pain in newborns. We tried to determine the effect of kangaroo care on the pain intensity of vaccination in healthy newborns. This study was a randomized case-control clinical trial. Subjects were 60 healthy full-term newborns delivered in a general Hospital, in Iran, from March to July 2006. They were randomly assigned to case and control groups. The case group received 30 minutes skin to skin contact, whereas infants in the control group were put, wrapped in a blanket, aside the mothers. Behavioral changes of newborns were evaluated and observed 2 minutes before, during, and 3 minutes after the intervention. All procedures were filmed. An assistant who was blinded to the study, scored behavior changes using Neonatal/Infant Pain Scale. Heart rate and oxygen saturation levels as displayed on the pulse monitor and duration of crying were recorded using a stopwatch. Mean pain intensity during the intervention v was significantly lower in the case group [P<0.006]. Mean pain intensity 3 minutes after intervention was also significantly lower in the case group [P<0.021]. Mean duration of crying was significantly lower in case group as well [P<0.001]. Kangaroo care may be used to decrease pain intensity in newborns undergoing painful procedures

Role of intravenous extra fluid therapy in icteric neonates receiving phototherapy

To evaluate the role of intravenous extra fluid therapy in accelerating the reduction of jaundice in newborns who received phototherapy. This study was performed on 100 terms, jaundiced neonates who had a total bilirubin of 18mg/dl or more in the Pediatrics Ward of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran from October 2007 to April 2008. The patients were randomly divided into 2 equal groups; group I [case group] were given extra parenteral fluid besides breast feeding, and group II [control group] received only breast milk. The rate of bilirubin decrement, length of hospital stay, and rate of blood exchange were compared. The rate of serum bilirubin decrease per hour in the first 12 hours after admission in group I [0.41mg/dl [95%CI 0.1] versus 0.38mg/dl in group II [95% CI 0.3], [p=0.22]]. It was 0.4lmg/dl for group I [95% CI 0.0001], and 0.21mg/dl [95%CI 0.06] for group II in the second 12 hours [p=0.02]. After 24 hours, it was 0.38mg/dl in group I [95% CI 0.0001], and 0.29mg/dl in group II [95% CI=0.09] [p=0.037]. The mean hospital stay was 68.5 hours in group I, and 67.4 hours in group II [p=0.95]. Additional parenteral fluid therapy in icteric newborns can accelerate reduction in serum bilirubin levels in the first 24 hours

Prevalence and predisposing factros of retinopathy of prematurity in very low-birth-weight infants discharged from NICU

Retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] is a disease of the eye caused by disorganized growth of retinal blood vessels resulting in scarring and retinal detachment. All preterm babies are at high risk for ROP, and very low birth weight is an additional risk factor. An increased incidence of ROP is expected in Iran because of improved survival of low birth weight and premature babies, and it is obvious that pediatricians and ophthalmologists are concerned about prevention and timely treatment of ROP in these children. To asses the real situation of ROP in our NICU we studied its prevalence and risk factors. This was a retrospective analysis of premature infants with birth weight of