vitamin D level in umbilical cord blood in premature infants with or without intra-ventricular hemorrhage: a cross-sectional study

Background: intra-ventricular hemorrhage [IVH] is acute cerebral complications of premature infants, which may lead to the long-term problems

Objective: according to the role of vitamin D in the stability of the blood vessels, the present study was carried out in order to compare the vitamin D level in the premature infants with or without IVH

Materials and Methods: this cross-sectional study was carried out on 180 premature infants in the Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran 97 infants without IVH [53.9%] and 83 with IVH [46.1%] through convenience sampling technique in 20152017. Serum vitamin D level of funiculus in the two groups was compared. A researcher made questionnaire was used which includes infants' personal and laboratory information; and their mother's information

Results: seventy nine percent of infants suffered from vitamin D deficiency in which 33.9% had a severe deficiency [less than 10 ng/ml], 30% moderate deficiency [10.1-20 ng/ml], 15% slight deficiency [20.1-30 ng/ml] and 21.1% had normal vitamin D [>30.1 ng/ml]. Vitamin D mean +/- SD of infants in the control group, 23.71 +/- 12.98 ng/ml and case group 15.92 +/- 10.27 ng/ml [p<0.001]. In total 92.8% of infants with IVH had levels of vitamin D below30 ng/ml, while this rate was 67% in infants without IVH

Conclusion: vitamin D deficiency in the premature infants is very common. Also, the serum vitamin D level in infants with IVH was less than infants without IVH. Therefore, the recommendation of vitamin D may be effective in the prevention of neonatal IVH

Effect of the number of Ramadan fasting days on maternal and neonatal outcomes

Gynecologists and perinatologists are left with many unanswered questions and concerns regarding fasting during pregnancy and its effects on maternal and neonatal health. The current study was conducted to investigate the correlation between the number of Ramadan fasting days and pregnancy outcomes. In this descriptive, analytical study, 641 newborns, whose mothers had fasting experience during pregnancy, were enrolled and allocated to three groups, based on the number of maternal fasting days during pregnancy [group A:

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

comparative study of the impact of antenatal training care infants to fathers and couple on the fathers' participations after birth

Increasing number of working mothers and changes in viewpoints on fathers' roles in families has increased fathers' participations. Fathers' participation is his broad, positive and active participation in different stages of children's life. Women possess the main role in enhancing and limiting father's participation. Fathers and couples require training to define father's role in infant care and the significance of his role in infant's health and foundation of family. Therefore, the present study is done to determine the impact of training couples and fathers how to take care of infants on the rate of father's participation to take care of infants after birth. The study was done as a clinical trial in three groups, on 150 people who refered to health clinical centers of Medical University of Mashhad. Fathers of training group and couples of training group took part in two training sessions of infant care in weeks 35 to 37 of pregnancy. The questionnaires of role of father's training in infant care were filled by mothers in three groups and were analyzed by SPSS18 software and ANOVA with repeated measure, Bonferroni tests. Role of fathers' participation in infants care in father's training group and couple training group than control group increased significantly [P=0.003]. Training fathers and couples before birth will enhance rate of their participation in infant care

effect of traditional remedies [camel's thorn, flixweed and sugar water] on idiopathic neonatal jaundice

Jaundice is the most common reason of newborn's admission to neonatal ward. Many Iranian families give traditional remedies like sugar water, camel's thorn and flixweed extracts to breast-fed babies for reducing jaundice. This study investigated the effect of traditional remedies on idiopathic neonatal jaundice. This prospective study has been performed on 336 babies with idiopathic jaundice in a four year period [2005-2009] at Ghaem hospital, Mashhad, Iran. The babies were divided into two groups. In case group [n=234] breast-fed babies received no remedy and in control group [n=102], traditional remedies were given additional to breast milk and the results recorded and compared. In the present study significant differences were observed between the two groups in age of admission [6.8 +/- 3.2 vs 9.2 +/- 3.7 day, P<0.001], serum bilirubin values [17.8 vs 21.3 mg/dl, P<0.001] and percent of weight loss [P<0.01]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in birth weight, sex, gestational age and duration of hospitalization, age at jaundice remission, hematocrit value and maternal factors [age, gestational order, pregnancy and labor problems][P>0.05]. Traditional remedies [camel's thorn, flixweed and sugar water] cause more weight loss and delayed reexamination of newborns leading to increased hyperbilirubinemia. These remedies may raise pseudo confidence in parents, which postpones reexamination and follow up of the newborns

relationship of level of maternal serum copper and zinc with neonatal birth weight

Minerals and trace elements such as zinc and copper have significant influence on development and growth of fetus and newborn. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between low birth weight and maternal, neonatal zinc, copper status. This is a case-control study, which was done in Ghaem hospital, Mashhad University over one year from September 2006 to September 2007. The study consisted of 65 infants with birth weight < 2500 gr and 65 infants with > 2500 g and their mothers' as case and control groups, respectively. Cord and maternal blood samples collected at delivery were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotomety for zinc and copper levels. Mean serum zinc levels in maternal and the cord blood were 6.35 +/- 2.09 micro mol/1, 12.77 +/- 3.83 micro nol/l and 7.57 +/- 1.75 micro mol/l, 13.18 +/- 2.69 micro mol/1 of case and control groups, respectively [p<0.05]. The mean copper levels in maternal and cord blood were 21.82 +/- 4.45 micro mol/1, 5.12 +/- 1.54 micro mol/1 and 21.19 +/- 5.34 micro mol/l, 3.65 +/- 2.04 micro mol/l of control and case groups, respective [p<0.05]. This study indicated that mothers with the zinc level of less than 6.4 micro mol/l were 3.8 time more at risk of having infant with the birth weight of less than 2500 gr. Lower maternal weight, was associated with increased risk of having low birth weight infants

Serum interleukin 8 level as a diagnostic marker in late neonatal sepsis

Late-onset sepsis is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in newborn infants in the world and in particular in developing countries. In this study, we evaluated whether clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and measurements of serum interleukin-8 [IL-8] are able to discriminate between late neonatal sepsis and normal baby. This was a prospective [case-control] study conducted between March 2007 and April 2008, at the neonatal intensive care unit, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. The study comprised 93 neonates >/= 72 hours of life. The infants were categorized in two groups based on the clinical presentation, and biochemical markers including complete blood count, C-reactive protein [CRP] and blood culture: 1] Control group including 42 infants with routine screening and 2] Case group consisting of 38 infants with definitive infection [positive blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid culture] or clinical sepsis [clinical and laboratory signs of infection without positive blood or CSF culture]. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were used for the determination of thresholds for the infection group versus healthy neonate group. Eighty infants were enrolled in this study. IL-8 and CRP decreased in order of definitive infection, clinical sepsis and healthy subjects respectively [P<0.001]. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value for serum levels were 0.95, 0.1, 0.97, 0.1 for IL-8 and 0.83, 0.86, 0.83, 0.69 for CRP respectively [cut-off point for IL-8 >60pg/ml and for CRP>6mg/dl]. IL-8 may be a valid and early predictive marker of neonatal infection. Also, IL-8 is associated with seventy of infection

[ report of a rare case of achondrogenesis syndrom type II]

Achondrogesis is a rare severs skeletal displasia. Clinical findings include large head, small narrow thorax, extreme limb shortening, variable degree of hydrops fetalis. Most babies die in uterus. In this article a rare case of this disease [type II] with all of clinical findings, and characteristics radiological features [short limb, large head, skeletal deformity, absence of ossification center of vertebra, pubis and sacrum is reponted. Antenatal diagnosis [villocentesis in the first trimesters and then experienced sonographer] and at birth clinical examination, radiographs, and autopsy are mandatory for making a specific diagnosis

10 year survey of neonatal kidney mass in north-east of Iran [Khorasn]

Although abdominal mass in neonates is not common, it is very critical to detect it promptly. 2/3 of neonatal abdominal masses belong to kidney. Correct diagnosis and immediate appropriate management can prevent morbidity and mortality. This study pays special attention to incidence, associated anomalies and mortality rate in those neonates who suffered from palpable kidney mass. During a period of 10 years 48250 neonates were examined for abdominal mass by neonatalogists or pediatric residents. Sonography in suspected cases of abdominal mass was performed to confirm the diagnosis. In all cases of neonatal death, autopsy was performed. Thirty out of 48250 neonates had abdominal mass presenting as nephromegaly [1/1600]. Polycystic kidneys [PCK] were the most common cause of renal enlargement followed by multicystic kidney disease [MCK] and hydronephrosis. It was revealed that renal mass contained most of abdominal mass in our study and mortality [73%] was higher than other reports. Also, we found that PCK was the most common abdominal mass in our cases. Lung hypoplasia was the most common cause of death in PCK cases