Auditory Brainstem Evoked Response Patterns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: Delayed maturation of auditory brainstem pathway in neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may lead to misdiagnosis of children with normal peripheral hearing and inappropriate use of amplification devices. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of auditory brain stem response in neonates admitted to the NICU for proper hearing assessment in this high-risk population. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study was conducted on 1,469 infants who were admitted to the NICU, of which 1,423 had one or more risk factors for permanent congenital hearing loss and were screened with automated auditory brain stem response (AABR). A total of 60 infants were referred for diagnostic ABR analysis after failure on AABR screening. The control group comprised 60 well-baby nursery neonates with no risk factors for PCHL. RESULTS: Mean values of absolute latencies of waves III and V; interpeak latencies I-III, III-V, and I-V; amplitude of waves I, and V; and I/V amplitude ratio at 90 dBnHL measured for the right and left ears at 1 and 3 months of age show significant difference in NICU neonates compared with controls (p < 0.05). All the diagnostic ABR measurements significantly improved at the age of 3 months (p < 0.001) except wave I absolute latency of both groups (p > 0.05). Significant correlations were found between ABR readings at the age of 1 and 3 months and the gestational age of the NICU neonates (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Diagnostic ABR findings in NICU neonates suggested delayed maturation of the auditory brainstem pathway with a great impact of gestational age on this maturation. Auditory maturational changes were observed at 3 months of age of patient and control groups.

Post-natal bone physiology.

Post-natal bone development is characterized by substantial longitudinal bone growth and changes in skeletal size and shape. Bone is in a dynamic process of continuous remodeling which helps to regulate calcium homeostasis, repair micro-damage to bones from everyday stress, and to shape the skeleton during growth. Bone growth is regulated by systemic hormones and locally generated factors. Understanding their mechanisms of action enables us to obtain a better appreciation of the cellular and molecular basis of bone remodeling and could therefore be valuable in approaches to new therapies. This article will review molecular and cellular control of skeletal growth in the post-natal period, the physiology of each bone cell with their systemic and local regulators, as well as the physiology of bone remodeling.

Auditory brainstem response in full-term neonates born to mothers with iron deficiency anemia: relation to disease severity.

Background: Iron is crucial for fetal brain development; however, there are insufficient data regarding the effects of maternal iron deficiency anemia (IDA) on auditory neural maturation.Aim: We evaluated the effect of maternal IDA on auditory brainstem response (ABR) in full-term neonates.Methods: Out of 223 pregnant women, 50 were diagnosed as having IDA and 50 healthy mothers were enrolled as controls. ABR test was done for the studied neonates within 48 hours after birth and at 3 months.Results: We found that hemoglobin and iron profile were lower in neonates born to anemic mothers compared with controls. Of 100 neonates screened for ABR, 25 failed the test (all of them were born to anemic mothers). The majority of neonates who failed the screening ABR test (88%) had latent iron deficiency (cord blood ferritin 11-75 µg/L). After 3 months, 85 neonates underwent diagnostic ABR test which revealed significantly prolonged interpeak latencies I-III, III-V, and I-V among neonates born to IDA mothers compared with the control group. Within the IDA group, all interpeak latencies were more prolonged in neonates with latent iron deficiency and in those born to mothers with serum ferritin <15 µg/L. Logistic regression analysis showed that maternal hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume could predict neonatal ABR results.Conclusions: IDA during late pregnancy adversely affects cord blood iron and hearing status. ABR results are closely related to the severity of maternal and neonatal iron status. Antenatal screening of pregnant mothers is needed to improve fetal iron status and prevent abnormal auditory maturation.

Simulated amniotic fluid-like solution given enterally to neonates after obstructive bowel surgeries: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Withholding postoperative feeding is common in neonates recovering from surgeries for congenital abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which leads to prolonged exposure to total parenteral nutrition, intestinal atrophy, and feeding intolerance. Because amniotic fluid plays a significant role in fetal gut maturation and development, the aim of this study was to test a hypothesis suggesting that feeding tolerance could be improved in neonates recovering from surgeries for congenital obstructive bowel abnormalities by enteral administration of simulated amniotic fluid-like solution given enterally (SAFE) containing recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and erythropoietin. METHODS: This prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 40 late preterm/term neonates recovering from GIT surgeries. Neonates were randomly divided postoperatively into two groups: 20 neonates received the test solution (SAFE group) and 20 neonates received distilled water (placebo group) with a gestational age range (34.3-40.4 versus 34-40 wk, respectively) and mean gestational age (37.10 ± 1.68 versus 36.90 ± 1.83 wk, respectively). Treatment was started postoperatively and the test solution (or distilled water) was discontinued when daily enteral intake reached 100 mL/kg. RESULTS: The study group showed better feeding tolerance as demonstrated as reflected by an earlier achievement of 50, 100, 120, and 150 mL/kg enteral feeding per day with a higher enteral caloric intake on day 7 post SAFE administration and a higher rate of weight gain (P < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Enteral administration of SAFE may improve postoperative feeding tolerance, enteral caloric intake, and weight gain.

Early rescue Neopuff for infants with transient tachypnea of newborn: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of early continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), delivered using a T-piece-based infant resuscitator (Neopuff) via a face mask, in reducing the severity and duration of transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) as well as testing a hypothesis suggesting that rapid clearance of fetal lung fluid to the circulation via CPAP would increase plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). METHODS: A randomized controlled trial (NCT01859533) was conducted on 64 late preterm/term neonates, delivered by cesarean section and presented by respiratory distress shortly after birth. The Neopuff group included 34 neonates received 20 min of early CPAP and control group included 30 neonates received free flow O2. Plasma BNP was measured baseline and 2 h later. RESULTS: The duration of tachypnea was shorter in Neopuff group with less need of neonatal intensive care unit admission and need of mechanical support (p < .05) with no effect on duration of hospitalization (p > .05). Plasma BNP showed no significant difference between pre- and post-Neopuff levels (p > .05). A positive correlation was found between BNP and duration of tachypnea as well as the length of hospitalization (p < .05) among Neopuff group. CONCLUSION: Early rescue CPAP reduces the duration and severity of respiratory distress among infants with TTN.

Cord blood iron profile and breast milk micronutrients in maternal iron deficiency anemia.

BACKGROUND: Micronutrient deficiencies among pregnant women are widespread in low-income countries, including Egypt. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most frequent nutritional deficiency during pregnancy, with an impact on maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal IDA and nutritional status on birth anthropometry, cord blood iron profile and breast milk micronutrients in 50 anemic (hemoglobin <11 g/dl) and 30 healthy pregnant women. PROCEDURE: Maternal and neonatal anthropometric measures were recorded. Hemoglobin, red blood cell (RBC) indices, and indices of iron nutriture were measured in maternal and cord blood. Breast milk minerals; iron, copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium were assessed. RESULTS: Hemoglobin, RBC indices, and iron profile showed significant differences in the neonates born to anemic mothers compared to controls, particularly in moderate to severe anemia and linear correlations with maternal hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin levels were found (P < 0.01). Anthropometric measurements of anemic mothers and their neonates were positively correlated (P < 0.05). Breast milk micronutrients were significantly reduced in all anemic mothers showing significant relations with maternal serum iron (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal IDA wields a significant influence on maternal and fetal nutritional status. IDA during pregnancy adversely affects both cord blood iron and breast milk mineral status, particularly in moderate to severe anemia and concurrent micronutrient deficiencies occur in maternal IDA. Further investigations including larger population of pregnant women with severe anemia are needed to verify the nutritional interrelation between maternal anemia and breast milk mineral status.

Methylation pattern of calcitonin (CALCA) gene in pediatric acute leukemia.

Disruption of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation patterns has emerged as one of the possible origins of leukemogenesis. Calcitonin (CALCA) gene is a hot-spot for gene hypermethylation in acute leukemias. This study aimed to systematically analyze the methylation status of CALCA gene in pediatric acute leukemia using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and assess its value as a potential prognostic biomarker. The study population consisted of 70 children divided into; 35 acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and 35 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. CALCA gene was found to be hypermethylated in 54.3% of AML and 65.7% of ALL patients. CALCA hypermethylation was neither correlated to any of the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients, standard prognostic factors nor response to induction therapy (P>0.05). Hypermethylated AML and ALL patients displayed poorer clinical outcome when compared with hypomethylated counterparts as evidenced by high relapse and mortality rates with the occurrence of early relapse (P<0.05). The estimated overall and disease-free survival rates at 2.5-years were significantly shorter for hypermethylated patients in both groups (P<0.01). Our results suggest that CALCA gene methylation pattern is an independent prognostic factor in pediatric acute leukemia that could characterize a group of patients with enhanced risk of relapse and death.