Causes of severe visual impairment in infants and methods of management.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the causes of severe visual impairment (SVI) in infants below the age of 2 years and to review management methods. METHODS: The data of 2657 patients followed between January 2014 and July 2019 were reviewed, and 148 (5.6%) infants who had SVI were enrolled. Data including age, gender, affected anatomical site, diagnosis, presence of any non-ophthalmological deficiencies, and methods of management were reviewed. The diagnoses were investigated in the categories of avoidable and unavoidable basis. The methods of management were analysed from the perspective of low vision habilitation. RESULTS: The mean age at first eye examination was 6.61 ± 5.25 months, and 84 (56.7%) infants were male. Of the 148 infants, 69 (46.6%) were premature. Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) was the most common diagnosis in both preterm (39.1%) and term (11.4%) infants. Delayed visual maturation, optic nerve pathologies, oculocutaneous albinism, and congenital cataract were the other frequent causes. The rate of multiple disabilities was 30% in the whole group and 94% in infants with CVI. Most of the babies had a normal-appearing globe (43.3%). Retina was affected in 23.7% of the infants. Avoidable causes were identified in 79.7% of the infants. The used methods of management were optic interventions, visual stimulation therapy, medical and/or surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: CVI was found the most common cause of SVI in both preterm and term-born infants, and the higher rate of multiple disabilities in these infants was remarkable. Optic interventions and visual stimulation therapy were the most common methods of management.

Abordaje del desarrollo en la primera infancia y sus dificultades en Turquía: programa de capacitación para las unidades de pediatría del desarrollo / Addressing early childhood development and developmental difficulties in Turkey: a training program for developmental pediatrics units

Introducción. El abordaje del desarrollo en la primera infancia (DPI) y las dificultades del desarrollo (DD) en los países de ingresos bajos o medios (PIBM) requiere de programas aplicables y sostenibles. Se evaluó el programa de capacitación para las unidades de pediatría del desarrollo (UPD) en los centros de referencia tras siete años. Población y métodos. Diseño transversal con métodos cualicuantitativos para evaluar los servicios, la capacitación, la investigación y la promoción de las UPD. Resultados. Se mantuvieron los servicios clínicos, la capacitación, investigación y promoción. En total, 23710 niños fueron derivados. La motivación y resistencia del personal, el respaldo de los administradores y la satisfacción del paciente facilitaron el programa, aunque la invisibilidad dentro del sistema de salud fue un obstáculo. Conclusiones. En Turquía, y posiblemente otros PIBM, el programa de capacitación para las UPD es aplicable y sostenible si se abordan los obstáculos del sistema de salud.

Introduction. Addressing early childhood development (ECD) and developmental difficulties (DDs) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) requires applicable and sustainable programs. Seven years after its implementation in 2010, we evaluated the Developmental Pediatrics Unit (DPU) Training Program in pediatric referral centers in Turkey. Population and methods. We applied crosssectional design and quantitative/qualitative methods to assess services, training, research and advocacy of the DPUs. Results. Five of six established DPUs sustained clinical services, training, research, and advocacy. A total of 23,710 children (9085 new cases in 2017) had been referred mainly for perinatal risks and chronic illness, all centers contributed with similar proportions of children. Staff motivation and endurance, hospital administrator support, and client satisfaction facilitated the program; whereas invisibility within the performance based healthcare system was a barrier. Conclusions. In Turkey and possibly other LMICs, the DPU Training Program is applicable and sustainable if health system barriers are addressed

Addressing early childhood development and developmental difficulties in Turkey: a training programfor developmental pediatrics units. / Abordaje del desarrollo en la primera infancia y sus dificultades en Turquía: programa de capacitación para las unidades de pediatría del desarrollo.

INTRODUCTION: Addressing early childhood development (ECD) and developmental difficulties (DDs) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) requires applicable and sustainable programs. Seven years after its implementation in 2010, we evaluated the Developmental Pediatrics Unit (DPU) Training Program in pediatric referral centers in Turkey. POPULATION AND METHODS: We applied crosssectional design and quantitative/qualitative methods to assess services, training, research and advocacy of the DPUs. RESULTS: Five of six established DPUs sustained clinical services, training, research, and advocacy. A total of 23,710 children (9085 new cases in 2017) had been referred mainly for perinatal risks and chronic illness, all centers contributed with similar proportions of children. Staff motivation and endurance, hospital administrator support, and client satisfaction facilitated the program; whereas invisibility within the performance based healthcare system was a barrier. CONCLUSIONS: In Turkey and possibly other LMICs, the DPU Training Program is applicable and sustainable if health system barriers are addressed.

Introducción. El abordaje del desarrollo en la primera infancia (DPI) y las dificultades del desarrollo (DD) en los países de ingresos bajos o medios (PIBM) requiere de programas aplicables y sostenibles. Se evaluó el programa de capacitación para las unidades de pediatría del desarrollo (UPD) en los centros de referencia tras siete años. Población y métodos. Diseño transversal con métodos cualicuantitativos para evaluar los servicios, la capacitación, la investigación y la promoción de las UPD. Resultados. Se mantuvieron los servicios clínicos, la capacitación, investigación y promoción. En total, 23 710niños fueron derivados. La motivación y resistencia del personal, el respaldo de los administradores y la satisfacción del paciente facilitaron el programa, aunque la invisibilidad dentro del sistema de salud fue un obstáculo. Conclusiones. En Turquía, y posiblemente otros PIBM, el programa de capacitación para las UPD es aplicable y sostenible si se abordan los obstáculos del sistema de salud.

Developmental outcomes of very low birthweight infants with non-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatations and the relationships thereof with absolute brain volumes measured via two-dimensional ultrasonography.

PURPOSE: We calculated the brain volumes of preterm infants using two-dimensional cranial ultrasonography and explored the relationships thereof with neurodevelopment. METHODS: Cranial measurements were derived using routine ultrasonographic scanning. The brain was considered to be an ellipsoid and estimated absolute brain volumes (EABVs) were calculated by substracting the volumes of the two lateral ventricles from the total brain volumes. RESULTS: We enrolled preterm infants of mean gestational age 28 ± 2 weeks and mean birthweight 973 ± 187 g. Twenty-one exhibited dilated ventricles; their EABVs were lower than normal (206 ± 11 cm3 vs. 275 ± 17 cm3, p < 0.001). The mental development indices were similar (74 ± 5 vs. 78 ± 14, p = 0.069), but the psychomotor development indices (PDIs) differed significantly (77 ± 7 vs. 86 ± 17, p = 0.001). We found a slight positive correlation between the PDI and EABV (r = + 0.258, p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: The EABV can be calculated using two-dimensional measurements and low EABV found to be associated with poor neurological outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02848755.

The Efficiency of Sensory Integration Interventions in Preterm Infants.

This study aimed to explore the effects of individualized sensory integration interventions on the sensory processing functions of preterm infants. Thirty-four preterm infants (intervention group) at a corrected age of seven months and 34 term infants (control group) were included. The preterm infants underwent an eight-week sensory integration intervention. Before and after the intervention, the preterm infants' sensory processing functions were evaluated using the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants and compared with those of term infants. Preterm infants had significantly poorer sensory processing function preintervention when compared with term infants. There was a significant improvement in preterm infants' sensory processing functions after the sensory integration intervention. In conclusion, preterm infants should be evaluated for sensory processing disorders and individualized sensory integration interventions should be implemented.

Comparison of stored umbilical cord blood and adult donor blood: transfusion feasibility.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the storage properties of red blood cell (RBC) concentrates of umbilical cordblood (UCB) and adult donor blood (ADB), and to evaluate the feasibility of UCB-RBC concentrate as an autologoussource for blood transfusion in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm neonates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In all, 30 newborn (10 preterm, 20 full term) UCB and 31 ADB units were collected.RBC concentrates were stored and compared with regard to pH, potassium (K(+)), 2,3-biphosphoglycerate (2-3-BPG),adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), plasma Hb, and bacterial contamination on d 1, 21, and 35 of storage. RESULTS: The K(+) level increased with time and differed significantly between storage d 1 and 21, and between storaged 1 and 35 in both the UCB and ADB units. Initial and d 21 K(+) levels were higher in the UCB units than in the ADBunits. The 2,3-BPG level did not differ significantly between the UCB-PRC and ADB-PRC samples. After 35 d of storageboth UCB-PRC and ADB-PRC samples exhibited significant differences from the initial free Hb, intracellular ATP, andpH values. Significant differences in intracellular ATP and pH were also observed between the UCB-PRC and ADB-PRCsamples. CONCLUSION: The volume of harvested and prepared UCB-PRC can be used for some of the blood transfusions requiredduring the neonatal period and thus may decrease the number of allogeneic transfusions, especially in preterm newborns.The hematological and biochemical changes that occurred in UCB during storage were comparable with those observedin ADB, and do not pose a risk to the immature metabolism of neonates. UCB-RPC prepared and stored under standardconditions can be a safe alternative RBC source for transfusions in VLBW newborns.

Why are they having infant colic? A nested case-control study.

We aimed to analyse infant (birth characteristics, feeding type, faecal enzyme activities) and environmental (maternal smoking, nutrition and psychological status, mother-child bonding, family structure, support for the mother, familial atopy) risk factors for infant colic and to follow infants with respect to physical growth, sleeping status up to 8 months of age in a nested case-control study. 660 mothers who delivered at Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Hospital, were enrolled within 3-72 h post delivery. Each infant with inconsolable persistent crying and four matched infants with no crying episodes were invited by phone to Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital at 30-45 days post partum. At 40-55 days, we examined the infants and gave mothers a questionnaire, including crying characteristics of the infants; 47 infants were diagnosed with colic and 142 as non-colic. When the infants were 7-8 months old, another interview was done. The colic group had higher proportions of less-educated (≤ 8 years) and smoking mothers, extended family and families with domestic violence than the non-colic group. The colic group of mothers had significantly higher rates of 'impaired bonding' in the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, higher scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, higher scores for hostility subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory and a more irregular sleep pattern than the non-colic group. No differences were revealed for faecal enzyme activities. At 7-8 months, the colic group was shorter than the non-colic group. Colic was associated with various perinatal factors (maternal education, smoking habits, cheese consumption, hostility scores and domestic violence) and having colic in infancy negatively affected the sleeping pattern and the height of the infant.