[Respiratory disorders among late-preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit]. / Morbidité respiratoire des prématurés tardifs dans une unité de soins intensifs néonatale.

INTRODUCTION: The rate of infants born at 34-36 weeks of gestation has increased over the last 20 years. These babies are at higher risk of morbidity, particularly respiratory, than full-term infants are. The purpose of this study was to describe the respiratory morbidity of late-preterm infants and identify risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive, single-center study including 273 late-preterm infants born in a tertiary care hospital between July 2009 and December 2010. RESULTS: Of the mothers who delivered, 53.9% had morbidity. The cesarean-section delivery rate before labor was 20.9%; the main indication was fetal growth restriction (34%). Sixty-four percent of newborns had morbidity during their hospitalization and 23.1% suffered from respiratory distress. Mechanical ventilation was needed in 4.4% of the infants. Respiratory distress was mainly caused by early-onset sepsis or transient tachypnea. Ten infants presented with respiratory distress syndrome, of whom seven received a surfactant. Neonatal respiratory distress risk factors were gestational age, sex, and prelabor cesarean section (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Late-preterm infants have an increased risk of respiratory disorders requiring ventilation. Elective cesarean should be limited if possible during this period.

[Maternal nutrition as a determinant of fetal weight: role of trace elements and vitamins]. / Alimentation maternelle et poids foetal: rôle des oligoéléments et vitamines.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal trace elements and vitamins food intake in the last month of pregnancy and assess their effect on fetal weight. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It is a food intake survey led near 350 pregnant women. All women participated in a nutritional survey and were at term. To examine dietary intakes, food frequency questionnaires were completed before delivery on the diet during the last 24 hours. Authors compared the maternal intakes to the recommended allowance and analyzed the correlation between these intakes and fetal weight. RESULTS: This study confirmed the influence of factors such as parity, maternal BMI and term of pregnancy on the fetal weight. The mean daily intakes of iron (10.7 mg/day), calcium (553 mg/day), zinc (6.2 mg/day), magnesium (284.3 mg/day) were lower than recommended. The mean daily intakes of vitamins C and E did not differ from recommended allowance. Only calcium intakes were significantly correlated to birth weight. CONCLUSION: We noted a deficiency of most of these intakes compared to the recommended dietary allowance. Trace elements and vitamins C, E maternal-food intakes in the end of pregnancy don't seem to be a significant determinant of foetal weight.