A milk pump as a source for spreading Acinetobacter baumannii in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative coccobacillus that has emerged as a troublesome pathogen causing institutional outbreaks. Environmental contamination is a distinctive characteristic of this microorganism, which brings a further difficulty in infection control. During A. baumannii outbreaks in intensive care units, a common contaminated object can be found as a reservoir. Finding out this source by epidemiological investigations is of particular importance in order to develop effective interventions. We describe an outbreak of A. baumannii and the results of epidemiological investigations in a neonatal intensive care unit. The outbreak strain was isolated from the outer surface of a breastmilk pump. We have successfully controlled the outbreak by careful reviewing of our milk collection process.

VEGF, PIGF and HIF-1α in placentas of early- and late-onset pre-eclamptic patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the VEGF, PIGF, and HIF-1α levels in the placentas of early- and late-onset pre-eclamptic patients, which are thought to be important in pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Pre-eclamptic early-onset (n = 22) and late-onset (n = 24) pregnant women and a control group of healthy pregnant women (n = 22) were recruited for this case-control study. A semi-quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of VEGF, PIGF and HIF-1α was performed in cross-sections of the placentas of the subjects, after which results were compared. RESULTS: Levels of VEGF and PIGF in the placentas of pre-eclamptic patients were found to be lower than the levels in the placentas of healthy pregnant women (p < 0.001 and p = 0.025, respectively), whereas the levels of HIF-1α were found significantly higher (p < 0.001). No difference was observed in terms of VEGF, PIGF and HIF-1α in a comparison of the early- and late-onset pre-eclampsia groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicated that there is no relationship between the time of onset of pre-eclampsia and the placental changes that occur in these factors.

Association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia and MBL2 and IL1-RN polymorphisms.

BACKGROUND: The imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Mannose binding lectin (MBL) codon 54 and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist gene (IL1-RN) polymorphisms cause genetic predisposition to increased risk of infection and inflammation, therefore may increase the risk of BPD. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between MBL, IL1-RN gene polymorphisms and BPD development in preterm infants. METHODS: MBL codon 54 and IL1-RN polymorphisms were studied in 71 infants who were born at <32 weeks of gestation, with the diagnosis of BPD (group 1) and in a control group of preterm infants without BPD (group 2). RESULTS: IL1-RN and MBL2 variant genes were closely associated with increased risk of BPD (both P < 0.001) together with significantly lower birthweight (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively), lower 5 min Apgar scores (P = 0.009 for both genes) and increased neonatal infection rate (P < 0.001 and P < 0.009, respectively). The IL1 RN 1/1 genotype was protective (odds ratio [OR], 0.075; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.019-0.76) while the IL1-RN 2/2 genotype increased the risk for BPD (OR, 11.7; 95%CI: 1.3-103.6). The MBL-AA genotype was protective against BPD (OR, 0.066; 95%CI: 0.02-0.2) whereas the MBL-BB genotype increased the susceptibility for the development of BPD (OR, 23.8; 95%CI: 2.8-200.6). CONCLUSION: MBL and IL 1 RN polymorphisms are closely related to low birthweight and increase the risk of neonatal sepsis and BPD development in preterm infants.

Perinatal and neonatal outcomes of twin pregnancies in Turkey.

UNLABELLED: This study was conducted for the purpose of assessing, in the light of results of other research carried out in the present researchers' clinic and in Turkey, the status of twin pregnancies in Turkey, the incidence of twin births, perinatal and mortality rates associated with twin pregnancies, and the problems experienced in Turkey in cases of multiple and twin pregnancies. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: The outcomes of twin births that occurred at the researchers' clinic during the period 2001-2009 were studied retrospectively. Seventeen studies conducted in Turkey on multiple and twin pregnancies during the years 1991-2010 were included in the study. FINDINGS: It was observed that the mean multiple pregnancy rate in Turkey is 1.9% and the mean twin birth rate is 1.7%. It was also observed that a large majority (80-97.3%) of multiple pregnancies in Turkey are twin pregnancies. It was noted from Turkish literature that the mean gestational age of twins at birth varies between 33-36.2 weeks and that mean birthweights are 2065-2327 grams for the first-born twin and 1887-2262 grams for the second-born. These findings were observed to be lower than what is indicated in the literature. Perinatal and neonatal mortality, at 58-156/1000 and 40-98/1000 respectively, were seen to be higher than in the literature. CONCLUSION: It can be seen that preterm birth rates for twin pregnancies in Turkey are higher than what is indicated in the literature and that prenatal and neonatal mortality rates are also similarly higher.