[Evaluation of seizure etiology in convulsive neonates admitted to Imam Khomeini and Abozar hospitals of Ahvaz 2004-2007]

The presence of neonatal seizures often signals an underlying ominous neurologic condition. The etiologies of neonatal seizure include; hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, central nervous system infections, intracranial hemorrhage, central nervous system malformation, acute metabolic disorders, inborn error of metabolism and others with lower frequencies. The aim of this study was to determine the etiologic distribution of neonatal seizure and correlation of age, gender, weight and route of delivery with neonatal seizures. Detailed questionnaires were retrospectively collected for a period of 3 years [2004-2007] on 94 infants experienced seizure at presentation in hospital. During the period of this study 94 neonate patients with convulsion were admitted. Seventy nine percent of them had seizure during the first 14 days of life. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was found to be the most common cause [34%] of neonatal seizures, followed by intracranial hemorrhage [13%], hypoglycemia [10%], meningitis [6%], hypocalcaemia [3%] and inborn error of metabolism [3%]. This study showed that birth asphyxia is the most common etiology of neonatal seizures. In 31 percent of patients no pathologic factor was found

[ effect of massage with coconut oil on weight gain in preterm neonate]

One of the most common and important problems in neonates is low birth weight [LBW]. The prevalence of LBW in Iran is estimated 12%, 30-50% of whom are preterm. Improvement in care procedures of these neonates in addition to decrease the cost of care can cause reduction in complications of neonatal, childhood and adulthood period. With regarding to the importance of growth and development, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of massage with coconut oil on weight gain of preterm neonates. This study is a clinical trial which was carried out on 72 healthy preterm neonates with gestational age between 34-37 weeks who had the conditions of entrance to the study. The sampling was done randomly based on purpose of the study. Neonates were divided into three equal groups [24 in each]: control, massage and massage with oil. In massage group: massaging were done 3 times-a-day and each session lasted for 5 minutes based on the teacher techniques started from the days 3 to 17 after birth by the mother. In the oil-massage group the same techniques were done with 10 ml/kg coconut oil for the same period. In control group there were no interventions. Weights were measured, 7[th] and 14[th] days after birth. The average gestational age at birth was 35-37 weeks. The average weight was 2314 g and there was no significant difference between these groups. There was a significant difference in average weight gain 7 days after intervention in massage with oil[2525.42 gr] to control group [2267.29 gr] [P=0.04] and in massage [2444.38 gr] to control group [P=0.02]. On day 14 after intervention there was a significant difference in massage with oil [2789.58 gr] to control group [2375.42 gr] [P< 0.001] and in massage [2606.67 gr] to control group [P< 0.01] and also there was a significant difference between massage with oil to massage group [P=0.04]. This study showed that massage and especially massage with oil is an effective and valuable method in weight gain in preterm neonates

[Early identification of hearing impairment of neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit using otoacoustic emissions]

It is well recognized that hearing is critical to speech and language development, communication, and learning. Otoacoustic emission [OAE] is an efficient and sensitive method to identify subjects at risk for auditory impairment. Infants who require admission to neonatal intensive care unit are reported to be at 10-20 times greater risk for hearing impairment. The object of this study was to investigate the incidence of hearing impairment in neonates screened by OAE. In a cross-sectional study, 148 newborns having risk factors for hearing impairment referring to Taleghani hospital of Arak and Aboozar hospital of Ahwaz were evaluated. All clients had normal otoscopic findings. Transient evoked [TEOAE] and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions [DPOAEs] were measured in both ears. If the results of otoacoustic emissions were not normal, these tests were repeated one monthly later. Patients who did not pass the second stage were reffered for comprehensive auditory evaluations. Data analysis was performed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and T tests. 41 and 28 cases could not pass the examining test at the first TEOAE and DPOAE examination, respectively. Also, 23 and 16 cases did not pass the examining test at the second TEOAE and DPOAE evaluations, respectively. These participants underwent auditory brainstem response evaluation and 11 of them had abnormal responses. In 5 cases of confirmed ones, hearing impairment was due to aminoglycoside side effects. OAE hearing screening of at-risk newborns is a clinically beneficial approach to early detection of hearing impairment. Regarding the high prevalence of hearing loss in our subjects [7.43%], prevention of its complications is highly recommended in this population