An observational, multicenter, registry-based cohort study of Turkish Neonatal Society in neonates with Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a significant cause of mortality and short- and long-term morbidities. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has been shown to be the standard care for HIE of infants ≥36 weeks gestational age (GA), as it has been demonstrated to reduce the rates of mortality, and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study aims to determine the incidence of HIE in our country, to assess the TH management in infants with HIE, and present short-term outcomes of these infants. METHODS: The Turkish Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Online Registry database was established for this multicenter, prospective, observational, nationally-based cohort study to evaluate the data of infants born at ≥34 weeks GA who displayed evidence of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) between March, 2020 and April 2022. RESULTS: The incidence of HIE among infants born at ≥36 weeks GA (n = 965) was 2.13 per 1000 live births (517:242440), and accounting for 1.55% (965:62062) of all neonatal intensive care unit admissions. The rates of mild, moderate and severe HIE were 25.5% (n = 246), 58.9% (n = 568), and 15.6% (n = 151), respectively. Infants with severe HIE had higher rates of abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and mortality (p<0.001). No significant difference in mortality and abnormal MRI results was found according to the time of TH initiation (<3 h, 3-6 h and >6 h) (p>0.05). TH was administered to 85 (34.5%) infants with mild HIE, and of those born of 34-35 weeks of GA, 67.4% (n = 31) received TH. A total of 58 (6%) deaths were reported with a higher mortality rate in infants born at 34-35 weeks of GA (OR 3.941, 95% Cl 1.446-10.7422, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The incidence of HIE remained similar over time with a reduction in mortality rate. The timing of TH initiation, whether <3 or 3-6 h, did not result in lower occurrences of brain lesions on MRI or mortality. An increasing number of infants with mild HIE and late preterm infants with HIE are receiving TH; however, the indications for TH require further clarification. Longer follow-up studies are necessary for this vulnerable population.

Effects of the storage of breast milk at different temperatures on total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and paraoxonase-1 level.

Konak M, Minici M, Tarakçi N, Altunhan H, Toker A, Örs R. Effects of the storage of breast milk at different temperatures on total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, and paraoxonase-1 level. Turk J Pediatr 2019; 61: 1-6. Breast milk is a well-balanced ideal nutritional source with high bioavailability for infants. As being a fresh, biological and dynamic product, changes in the breast milk during these storage periods have been the subject of ongoing research. This study aims to evaluate total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) levels of fresh and freezestored breast milk. Ten cc of breast milk was obtained from the mothers as the days between 10 and 15 in the morning within a 1-hour period. TAC, TOS, and PON-1 levels were evaluated in the fresh breast milk. Collected breast milk samples were divided into two groups for storage at -20°C or -80°C. Stored samples were tested for TAC, TOS, and PON-1 levels after 72 hours. The highest TAC level was detected in fresh breast milk (p < 0.05). The TOS levels of fresh breast milk showed a statistically significant reduction in rate after storage. The TOS levels at -20°C and -80°C were significantly lower at -80°C (p < 0.05). Our study results show that oxidant and antioxidant activities are at the maximum level in the fresh breast milk. In terms of antioxidant status the effect of freezing temperatures hasn`t been determined. We conclude that it is more convenient to store the breast milk at -80°C than to store at -20°C in terms of preserving the storage TOS level.

Uvula Abscess in a Newborn Infant.

Abscesses can be found in several places in the oral cavity, most commonly occurring in peritonsillar and periodontal regions. In this report, the authors described a uvula abscess in a 1-month-old term newborn who was brought to the pediatric outpatient clinic with the complaints of difficulty in sucking-swallowing and refusal to suck at the breast. To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first report of a uvula abscess in the literature.

A congenital cranial dysinnervation disorder: Möbius' syndrome.

Möbius' syndrome, also known as Möbius' sequence, is a nonprogressive cranial dysinnervation disorder characterized by congenital facial and abducens nerve paralysis. Here, we report a 5-day-old girl who was conceived after in vitro fertilization with poor suck and facial paralysis. She had bilaterally ptosis and lateral gaze limitation, left-sided deviation of the tongue, dysmorphic face, hypoplastic fingers and finger nails on the left hand, and was diagnosed as having Möbius' syndrome. Involvement of other cranial nerves such as three, four, five, nine, 9 and 12, and limb malformations may accompany this syndrome. However, several factors have been proposed for the etiology, some rare cases have also been reported with artificial reproductive technologies. Feeding difficulties and aspiration are the main problems encountered in infancy. The other cranial nerves should be examined further in newborns who present with congenital facial palsy, and other cranial dysinnervation disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Total antioxidant, total oxidant and serum paraoxonase levels according to lipid administration method in parenterally fed premature infants.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to determine whether lipid solutions delivered separately or in mixture with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions effect the balance between oxidant and antioxidant levels in premature infants. METHODS: A total of 60 preterm newborns who were delivered at their 30-34 gestational weeks and received TPN were included in the study. Premature newborns were randomized into two groups based on the delivery method of the lipid solution, separately (Group 1) or in mixture with TPN solutions (Group 2). Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and paraoxonase (PON-1) levels were analyzed in both blood samples, and oxidative stress index (OSI) was also calculated. RESULTS: Thirty cases from both groups were included in the study. Statistically significant decrease in the level of TAS and increase in the level of PON-1 were detected at 72 h of TPN therapy in both groups (p < 0.05). Statistically significant decrease in both TOS and OSI levels were observed in Group 2 (p < 0.05). In association with these findings, any statistically significant intergroup difference was not detected in both parameters regarding oxidant balance (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that according to lipid administration method any difference for oxidant-antioxidant balance was not detected.

Fully automated simultaneous umbilical arteriovenous exchange transfusion in term and late preterm infants with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of two different catheterization techniques of exchange transfusion (ET) used in the therapy of newborn jaundice: fully automated two-way ET technique and the classical one-way ET. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included babies at gestational age of >34 weeks. In total, 107 ETs were performed on 86 babies. Totally, the umbilical vein (UV) group included 54 babies having undergone 69 ETs and the UV/UA group included 32 babies having undergone 38 ETs. RESULTS: The declines in bilirubin levels right after ET (p = 0.018) and 8 h after ET (p = 0.014) were higher in the fully automated UV/UA technique than in the classical UV technique. Furthermore, the duration of intensive phototherapy following ET was shorter in the UV/UA method than in the UV method (p = 0.003). There was no difference between the two methods in terms of ET-associated complications (p = 0.927). CONCLUSIONS: In neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, ET with fully automated UV/UA technique is more efficient than the classical ET technique, causing no additional side-effects. It is also more physiological than the classical technique, since it minimizes the fluctuations in the blood volume and intravascular pressure during ET.

A sample of paediatric residents' loneliness-anxiety-depression-burnout and job satisfaction with probable affecting factors.

OBJECTIVE: To assess levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, burnout and job satisfaction among paediatric Residents, and how they influence each other. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram, and Konya Meram Education and Research Hospital, Turkey from January to June 2011, and comprised paediatric Residents and their counterparts from other departments who formed the control group. While maintaining confidentiality, a questionnaire was used to collect data that had elements of the University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory and Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. SPSS version 13 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Overall there were 74 Residents in the study; 43 (58%) working with the paediatrics department, and 31 (42%) in the control group. Overall mean age was 27.60 ± 2.25 years. Residents who were not satisfied with the city they were living in, with their professional career and who would not choose the same career given a second chance were feeling more lonely and had higher loneliness scores (p < 0.05). In contrast, anxiety among female Residents who were unsatisfied with their professional career and working conditions was significantly high (p < 0.05). Positive correlation was detected between the burnout levels of Residents and their anxiety, depression and loneliness scores (r = 0.74; r = 0.65; r = 0.36). In terms of intrinsic, extrinsic and total job satisfaction, there was an obvious negative correlation (r = -0.57; r = -0.54; r = -0.61). CONCLUSION: Working conditions and professional liability were the main factors affecting the Residents. Informed decision and career willingness may help them feel better.

Serum ischemia-modified albumin and oxidized LDL in cord blood and serum of neonates born to pre-eclamptic mothers.

BACKGROUND: We investigated oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) in cord blood and neonatal blood of 7-day-old neonates born to pre-eclamptic and normotensive healthy mothers. METHODS: The study was performed on 30 neonates born to pre-eclamptic and 20 neonates born to normotensive mothers. IMA and OxLDL were determined on spectrophotometry and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: IMA in cord blood was higher in the pre-eclamptic group as compared with the normotensive group, but the difference between the groups was not significant. IMA in neonate venous blood was significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group than in the normotensive group (P < 0.001). OxLDL in both cord blood and in neonate venous blood was significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group compared with the normotensive group (P < 0.001). IMA and OxLDL were significantly decreased after delivery in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly increased cord blood OxLDL and significantly increased OxLDL and IMA 7 days after birth in neonates born to pre-eclamptic mothers might be an indicator of increased oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia.

Total antioxidant and total oxidant states, and serum paraoxonase-1 in neonatal sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is an enzyme with a glycoprotein structure that depends on calcium and which is located in serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The aim of this study was to evaluate PON-1, and oxidant/antioxidant state, before and after treatment for neonatal sepsis, and to determine the usability of PON-1 in neonatal sepsis treatment. METHODS: A total of 35 neonatal sepsis patients and 35 healthy controls were included in the study. Activity of PON-1, total oxidant state (TOS) and total antioxidant state (TAS) were measured and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. RESULTS: In the neonatal sepsis patients, pre-treatment TAS, TOS and OSI were significantly higher than the post-treatment levels (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively), and PON-1 was significantly lower (P < 0.0001). Similarly, pre-treatment TAS, TOS and OSI in the sepsis group were also significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively) and PON-1 was significantly lower (P < 0.0001). Post-treatment TAS in the sepsis group was significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.009), whereas post-treatment TOS, OSI and PON-1 in the sepsis group were not significantly different to the control group (P = 0.078, P = 0.597 and P = 0.086, respectively). CONCLUSION: Low serum PON-1 was found in neonatal sepsis. Serum PON-1 is thought to be a useful biomarker to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and recovery in neonatal sepsis.

NMR-Based Screening for Inborn Errors of Metabolism: Initial Results from a Study on Turkish Neonates.

Approximately 1 in 400 neonates in Turkey is affected by inherited metabolic diseases. This high prevalence is at least in part due to consanguineous marriages. Standard screening in Turkey now covers only three metabolic diseases (phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, and biotinidase deficiency). Once symptoms have developed, tandem-MS can be used, although this currently covers only up to 40 metabolites. NMR potentially offers a rapid and versatile alternative.We conducted a multi-center clinical study in 14 clinical centers in Turkey. Urine samples from 989 neonates were collected and investigated by using NMR spectroscopy in two different laboratories. The primary objective of the present study was to explore the range of variation of concentration and chemical shifts of specific metabolites without clinically relevant findings that can be detected in the urine of Turkish neonates. The secondary objective was the integration of the results from a healthy reference population of neonates into an NMR database, for routine and completely automatic screening of congenital metabolic diseases.Both targeted and untargeted analyses were performed on the data. Targeted analysis was aimed at 65 metabolites. Limits of detection and quantitation were determined by generating urine spectra, in which known concentrations of the analytes were added electronically as well as by real spiking. Untargeted analysis involved analysis of the whole spectrum for abnormal features, using statistical procedures, including principal component analysis. Outliers were eliminated by model building. Untargeted analysis was used to detect known and unknown compounds and jaundice, proteinuria, and acidemia. The results will be used to establish a database to detect pathological concentration ranges and for routine screening.

Serum ischemia-modified albumin levels at diagnosis and during treatment of late-onset neonatal sepsis.

Sepsis is one of the most common infectious conditions in the neonatal period, and continues as a major source of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to determine serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in late-onset neonatal sepsis at the time of diagnosis and after therapy, and to show the meaningful on the follow-up. Also, it is aimed to compare serum IMA levels with serum C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) levels and white blood cell count. The study was performed on 33 premature babies with sepsis and 21 healthy premature controls at 7-28 days of age. In the sepsis group, biochemical parameters and blood culture samples were obtained from the blood at the onset and on the fifth day of treatment for each patient. Serum IMA, CRP, PCT and white blood cell count were significantly higher in the sepsis group before treatment when compared with the control group. In addition, the levels of IMA were positively correlated with white blood cell count, CRP and PCT in the sepsis group before treatment. In conclusion, serum IMA levels may be useful in late-onset neonatal sepsis at the time of diagnosis and after therapy. As far as we know this is the first report about the assesment of illness diagnosis and after therapy using serum IMA levels, and further studies are needed to confirm our results in larger groups of patients.

Total oxidant, antioxidant, and paraoxonase levels in babies born to pre-eclamptic mothers.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidant-antioxidant status in babies born to pre-eclamptic mothers (BBPM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The paraoxonase (PON)-1, total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) levels were measured in the cord blood and venous blood (7th day) of BBPM (n = 31) and babies born to normotensive mothers (n = 25). RESULTS: The PON-1 and TOS levels in the cord blood and venous blood on the 7th day were not significantly different between the two groups; however, the cord blood TAS levels were higher in BBPM (P = 0.001), and the TAS levels in the venous blood were higher in the control group (P = 0.021). Furthermore, the cord blood PON-1 levels of babies born to severely pre-eclamptic mothers (n = 18) were higher than those of babies born to moderately pre-eclamptic mothers (n = 13) (P = 0.042). There were no differences in the cord blood TAS and TOS levels and venous blood PON-1, TAS, and TOS levels between babies born to severely and moderately pre-eclamptic mothers. CONCLUSION: The increased TAS levels found in the cord blood of BBPM indicate that the fetus is protected against oxidative damage caused by increased oxidative stress in the mother. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the published work investigating PON-1 levels in BBPM.

Is maternal depressive symptomatology effective on success of exclusive breastfeeding during postpartum 6 weeks?

AIM: The aim of this prospective study was to examine the relationship between success of exclusive breastfeeding and postpartum depressive symptomatology. Our hypothesis was that mothers with depressive symptoms initially fail exclusive breastfeeding. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred ninety-seven mothers were enrolled in the study. The participants were interviewed twice. The first visit was within the first 48 hours after birth. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed by the participants. The second interview was performed at 6 weeks. Participants answered questions regarding methods of breastfeeding for 6 weeks, any methodological problems, and nipple pain. The EPDS was again completed by the participants at 6 weeks. All newborns were term infants. RESULTS: All the participants were divided into two groups: exclusive breastfeeding and mixed-feeding (partial breastfeeding and/or bottle feeding). Both groups were compared in terms of features, such as mode of delivery, parity, prevalence of depressive symptomatology (at 48 hours and 6 weeks), and delayed onset of lactation within the first 48 hours. Statistical significance was found for only three variables: delayed onset of lactation within the first 48 hours, gestational age, and the problems related to breastfeeding methods. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should pay special attention to any lactation difficulty during the first week postpartum. Early lactation difficulties are associated with greater risk of early termination of breastfeeding and lower breastfeeding success.

Successful use of topical "Ankaferd Blood Stopper" for repetitive bleedings in an infant with infantile hemangioma.

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common vascular tumor of childhood. A major feature of this tumor is rapid growth during a proliferation phase in the first year of life, followed by contraction through a slow involution phase. Several complications may emerge during this course. Bleeding at the site of the lesion and infection are the most common complications. 'Ankaferd Blood Stopper' (ABS) is a hemostatic agent produced as a mixture of five separate plant extracts. Provision of hemostasis by ABS is independent from coagulation factors and the standard coagulation cascade. Furthermore, ABS has an antimicrobial effect. In this article, we have presented a seven-year-old infant with IH on the lower lip who had been admitted with the symptoms of frequent bleedings and infection, and who was successfully treated with topical ABS in terms of control of bleeding and infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of IH that has been treated with ABS for bleeding.

Normal values of left and right ventricular function measured by M-mode, pulsed doppler and Doppler tissue imaging in healthy term neonates during a 1-year period.

BACKGROUND: The measurements of left and right ventricular functions change after birth due to the influence of several hemodynamic changes upon the immature myocardium. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) functions of healthy term newborns using conventional and Doppler echocardiography during a 1-year period. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty healthy term newborns were examined prospectively on the first day, 3-4, 6-7, 9-10 and 11-12 months of their lives by M-mode, pulsed Doppler (PD) and Doppler tissue imaging techniques (DTI). PD velocities were obtained from mitral and tricuspid valves while DTI velocities were obtained from the lateral annuluses of atrioventricular valves. RESULTS: EF and FS did not change significantly by time. Early (E) flow velocity and early myocardial (Em) velocity were higher than late (A) flow velocity and atrial systolic (Am) velocity for LV, while A and Am velocities were higher than E and Em velocities for RV, respectively during the study period. E, A, Em, Am, Sm velocities and Em/Am ratios increased while E/Em ratios decreased significantly by time (P<0.05) for both ventricle. However, E/A ratios of LV and RV did not change significantly by time. Myocardial performance index (MPI), obtained by PD for RV and by DTI for LV, decreased significantly by time (P<0.05) and these DTI values were higher than PD values during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Due to hemodynamic and maturation change of myocardium PD and DTI velocity changes took place during the first year of life which reflects differences in ventricular adaptation.

Is myocardial performance index useful in differential diagnosis of moderate and severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy? A serial Doppler echocardiographic evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of myocardial performance index as an additive criterion to Sarnat criteria in differential diagnosis of newborn babies with moderate and severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. METHODS: Our study group included 50 healthy term newborn babies and 20 newborn babies with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. The 20 newborn babies with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy were scored using Sarnat grades. Left and right ventricular functions were determined on the first day and thereafter in the 1, 3-4, 6-7, and 11-12 months of life by M-Mode and pulsed Doppler. RESULTS: Myocardial performance indexes of the left ventricle were significantly higher in the severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy group than in the control group during the first, second, and third analyses (p = 0.01, p = 0.02, p = 0.02, respectively) and only during the first analysis (p = 0.01) in the moderate hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy group. In addition, the myocardial performance indexes of the right ventricle were significantly higher during the first, second, and third analyses in both severe and moderate hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy groups than in the control group (p = 0.01, all). Hypoxia-induced alterations last longer in the right ventricle than in the left ventricle in the moderate group, as during the second and third analyses myocardial performance index continues to be higher than the control group. CONCLUSION: Myocardial performance indexes for the left and right ventricles were significantly higher in both severe and moderate hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy groups than in the control group during the first analysis, and myocardial performance index greater than or equal to 0.5 can be used in order to distinguish moderate and severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy babies according to Sarnat grades as a discriminative additive criterion.

Comparing the efficacy of nebulizer recombinant human DNase and hypertonic saline as monotherapy and combined treatment in the treatment of persistent atelectasis in mechanically ventilated newborns.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to compare the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of nebulizer recombinant human DNase (rhDNase) and hypertonic saline (HS) as monotherapy and combined treatment in neonatal atelectasis. METHODS: Eighty-seven newborns with persistent atelectasis who did not respond to traditional treatment were studied retrospectively. Group 1 did not receive nebulizer drugs; Group 2 received 7%HS; Group 3 received rhDNase; and Group 4 received both 7%HS and rhDNase. Subjects' chest X-ray scores, partial pressure of CO(2), respiratory rate, fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO(2)) peak inspiratory pressure, atelectasis healing rate, median duration of nebulizer treatment and costs were compared. RESULTS: Percentages of improvement in atelectasis on Day 3 of treatment in Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 were 27, 70, 81 and 95%, respectively, while median duration of treatment was 8.1, 3.3, 2.9 and 2.4 days, respectively. Comparison of chest X-ray scores, partial pressure of CO(2), respiratory rate, FiO(2) and peak inspiratory pressure values before and 48 h after treatment did not yield a significant difference for the control group (P > 0.05), while a marked improvement was observed in other groups for all parameters (P < 0.05). The most distinct improvement was in Group 4, followed by Group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Although both the combined treatment with HS and rhDNase and their monotherapies are effective in the treatment of persistent atelectasis in newborns receiving mechanical ventilation, their combined use produces higher efficacy. The efficacy of rhDNase is superior to monotherapy with HS. Use of these two treatments concomitantly reduces the cost. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to use HS alone or in combination with rhDNase in newborn patients.