Analysis of TORCH results of retinal exudative changes in neonates

AIM:To explore the relationship between retinal exudative changes in neonates and perinatal toxoplasmosis,others,rubella,cytomegalovirus,and herpes simplex virus(TORCH)infections,as well as the characteristics of TORCH infection in neonates with retinal exudative changes.METHODS:Retrospective study.A total of 612 neonates with retinal exudative changes detected during ophthalmic screening in our hospital from May 2019 to March 2023 were selected.TORCH tests were performed on these neonates,and the results were subjected to statistical analysis to determine the infection characteristics.The neonates with retinal exudative changes were grouped by sex and age,the characteristics of TORCH infection were analyzed,and the positive rates were compared.RESULTS:Among the 612 neonates with retinal exudative changes,the highest positive rate was observed for cytomegalovirus(CMV-IgG)(96.7%),followed by rubella virus(RV-IgG)(73.9%).Mixed infections with two or three viruses were also observed,with the highest positive rate for mixed infection of RV-IgG and CMV-IgG reaching 71.2%.There was no statistically significant difference in TORCH infection among neonates of different sex(P>0.05).However,there were statistically significant differences in RV-IgG and CMV-IgM infections with retinal exudative changes among neonates of different age groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Perinatal TORCH infection may be an important factor causing retinal exudative changes in neonates.The differences in various infections are not related to sex but are related to different age groups.

Efficacy of 25% dextrose versus breast milk on pain and duration of cry during heel prick in neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Neonates,especially admitted to neonatal intensive care unit,frequently need various medical interventions in their early days.A common procedure is the heel prick for blood sampling.Although necessary for diagnosis,this procedure can be stressful for neonates,causing pain,extended crying,and discomfort.Reducing distress in neonates during such procedures is important for the well‐being of neonates and the satisfaction of caregivers and healthcare providers.Therefore,this review aims to identify and compare the efficacy of 25%dextrose and breast milk on pain and duration of cry among neonates during heel-lance.As part of its review process,the article examined widely used databases,including PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane,Academia,and Google Scholar.For the meta-analysis,the authors utilized RevMan 5.4.All eligible trials were analyzed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool to assess the quality of the included studies and evaluate the risk of bias.Out of 131 studies reviewed,seven studies were included in meta-analysis of pain,and four studies were included in duration of cry.The results show that 25%dextrose is more effective to reduce pain among neonates during minor invasive procedure like heel prick(P<0.00001),whereas both interventions are effective in the reduction of crying duration.This review highlights that dextrose is more effective in reducing pain in comparison to breast milk.However,additional well-designed studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods are needed to validate and build upon the current findings.Hence,this review underscores the importance of utilizing effective pain management strategies,such as 25%dextrose,to enhance neonatal care and improve the overall well-being of newborns during invasive procedures.

Bacteriological Profile, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns and Predictors of Bacteremia in Neonates with Clinical Sepsis at KCMC Hospital, Northern Tanzania

Background: Despite a significant decline in neonatal deaths in the last 20 years (5 million in 1990 to 2.4 million in 2019), the risk of death is still high, especially in developing countries. In Tanzania, neonatal sepsis is the third leading cause of neonatal death, accounting for 25% of all deaths. The rising global threat of antimicrobial resistance and the rising burden of neonatal death due to neonatal sepsis have been of great concern and have delayed progress toward reaching SDG goal 3.2 by 2030. This study aims to determine the bacteriological profile, antibiotic susceptibility patterns, and predictors of bacteremia among neonates with clinical sepsis at KCMC Hospital in Northern Tanzania. Methodology: This study had a cross-sectional design conducted at KCMC Hospital, Northern Tanzania. The study population was neonates admitted to the neonatal unit at KCMC Hospital. Data were collected using questionnaires and blood cultures from neonates. Frequencies and proportions were used to summarize categorical variables, while continuous variables were summarized using mean and standard deviation. The frequencies and proportions of bacteria isolated and the antimicrobial susceptibility results were analyzed and compared using Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test where applicable. Modified Poisson regression model was used to determine factors associated with positive blood culture. Results: Out of 411 neonates with a clinical diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, 175 (42.9%) had positive blood cultures. Gram-positive bacteria were most frequently isolated at 52.3%, and gram-negative bacteria were 47.7%. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (30.7%) and Staphylococcus aureus (19.9%) were the predominant gram-positive isolates. Gram-negative isolates were Klebsiella spp 47 (26.7%), E. coli 10 (5.7%), and Citrobacter spp 10 (5.1%). The gram-positive isolates were sensitive to vancomycin, piperacillin/tazobactam, and ceftazidime, whereas the gram-negative were sensitive to amikacin, meropenem, and vancomycin. The study did not find statistically significant associations between clinical factors and positive blood cultures in bacteremia. Conclusion: Gram-positive bacteria are the dominant pathogens in early-onset and late-onset neonatal sepsis. High levels of resistance to ampicillin and ceftriaxone and moderate resistance to gentamycin were observed in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Gram-positive organisms exhibit better susceptibility rates to vancomycin and ciprofloxacin, while gram-negative micro-organisms are more sensitive to amikacin and meropenem. An effective initial treatment approach for neonatal sepsis would involve a combination of drugs.

Respiratory Distress in Neonates at the Teaching Hospitals of Lomé, Togo

Introduction: Respiratory distress in neonates is a neonatal emergency that can lead to serious complications if not treated appropriately. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology, the diagnostic, and the outcomes of neonatal respiratory distress. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the pediatric wards of Lomé Teaching Hospitals (CHU Sylvanus Olympio and CHU Campus), including neonates treated for respiratory distress (dyspnea associated with the use of accessory muscles of respiration, noisy breathing and with or without cyanosis) from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Data were entered using Epi Data 3.1 and SPSS software version 12.0. Results: The total number of neonates hospitalized for respiratory distress was 353, with a frequency of 12.5% and a sex ratio of 1.5. The mean age was 0.82 ± 3.20 days;the 0 - 6-day age group accounted for 92.4% of cases. Neonates had been resuscitated at birth in 46.7% of cases. Dyspnea was tachypnea in 94% of cases and bradypnea in 6%. Dyspnea was associated with cyanosis in 21.5% of cases. The severity of the respiratory distress was moderate in 64.9% of cases. Perinatal asphyxia (49.1%), inhalation pneumonitis (17.1%) and neonatal bacterial infection (14.1%) were the main etiologies. The mortality rate was 20.4%. Age greater than or equal to seven days, no neonatal resuscitation were protective factors against death. Prematurity, no antenatal consultations follow up, neonatal resuscitation, severe respiratory distress were risk factors of death. Conclusion: Neonatal respiratory distress was common in the early neonatal period and its mortality was high.

Prevalence and outcomes of neonates with severe COVID-19:An observational study at Children’s Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam

Objective:To evaluate the impact of the severe COVID-19 pandemic on neonates and develop strategies to improve their outcomes.Methods:We conducted an observational cross-sectional study at Children's Hospital 1(CH1)from July 25,2021,to May 31,2022.All neonates who had fever or respiratory symptoms or were born from mothers with COVID-19 and had a positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 result would be included.We classified neonates with COVID-19 into 2 groups:mild/moderate and severe for analysis.Differences between groups were analyzed using Fisher's exact test/Chi-square test for categorical variables and Student's t-test/Wilcoxon Rank Sum test for continuous variables.Results:This study included 88 newborns who had positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 results.The severity COVID-19 rate among neonatal cases was found to be 13.6%(12/88),with a corresponding mortality rate of 1.1%(1/88).All severe cases showed lung abnormalities as evident on chest X-ray images.In addition to respiratory symptoms,a higher incidence of gastrointestinal manifestations,such as vomiting and diarrhea,was observed in the severe group,indicating a compelling association.The administration of anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory drugs in the study group resulted in a satisfactory outcome with no significant complications.Conclusions:The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the well-being of neonates.The management of COVID-19 in this population presents significant challenges.

Surgical Repair of Ventricular Septal Defect in Neonates: Indications and Outcomes

Background:The optimal surgical timing and clinical outcomes of ventricular septal defect(VSD)closure in neo-nates remain unclear.We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of VSD closure in neonates(age≤30 days).Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 50 consecutive neonates who underwent VSD closure for isolated VSDs between August 2003 and June 2021.Indications for the procedure included congestive heart failure/failure to thrive and pulmonary hypertension.Major adverse events(MAEs)were defined as the composite of all-cause mortality,reoperation,persistent atrioventricular block,and significant(≥grade 2)valvular dysfunction.Results:The median age and body weight at operation were 26.0 days(interquartile range[IQR],18.8–28.3)and 3.7 kg(IQR,3.3–4.2),respectively.The median follow-up duration was 110.4 months(IQR,56.8–165.0).Seven patients required preoperative respiratory support,andfive had significant(≥grade 2)preoperative valvular dysfunction.One early mortality occurred due to irreversible cardiogenic shock;no late mortality was observed.One reopera-tion was due to hemodynamically significant residual VSD at 103.8 months postoperatively.The overall survival,freedom from reoperation,and freedom from MAE at 15-years were 98.0%,96.3%,and 94.4%,respectively.Pre-operative mechanical ventilation was associated with a longer duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation(p<0.001)and a longer length of intensive care unit stay(p<0.001).Conclusions:VSD closure with favorable outcomes without morbidities is feasible even in neonates.However,neonates requiring preoperative respiratory support may require careful postoperative management considering the long-term postoperative risks.Overall,surgical VSD closure might be indicated earlier in neonates with respiratory compromise.

Clinical profile and risk factors of symptomatic and asymptomatic hypoglycemia in neonates admitted to NICU in a tertiary care center: A cross-sectional study

Objective:To investigate the clinical profile and risk factors of symptomatic and asymptomatic hypoglycemia in neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary care center.Methods:The prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care center in the Specialty Department of Pediatric.196 Newborn babies with blood glucose levels<45 mg/dL were examined with a simple random sampling method between December 2019 and November 2021.Maternal and neonatal risk factors and clinical signs were recorded and compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases.Results:The proportion of symptomatic hypoglycemia neonates born to gestational diabetes mellitus mothers was significantly higher(23.4%vs.8.4%)(P<0.05).Small for gestational age,low birth weight,respiratory distress syndrome,hypothermia,and endocrine disorders were risk factors.The death rate in asymptomatic hypoglycemia neonates was significantly higher(58%vs.39%)(P<0.05).Conclusions:The study indicates that maternal gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with symptomatic hypoglycemia and asymptomatic hypoglycemia is associated with neonatal mortality.It is important to take vigilance and timely interventions to address associated symptoms,particularly poor feeding,in the management of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Effects of pulmonary surfactant combined with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome

BACKGROUND Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS)is one of the most common diseases in neonatal intensive care units,with an incidence rate of about 7%among infants.Additionally,it is a leading cause of neonatal death in hospitals in China.The main mechanism of the disease is hypoxemia and hypercapnia caused by lack of surfactant AIM To explore the effect of pulmonary surfactant(PS)combined with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation on keratin-14(KRT-14)and endothelin-1(ET-1)levels in peripheral blood and the effectiveness in treating NRDS.METHODS Altogether 137 neonates with respiratory distress syndrome treated in our hospital from April 2019 to July 2021 were included.Of these,64 control cases were treated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and 73 observation cases were treated with PS combined with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.The expression of KRT-14 and ET-1 in the two groups was compared.The deaths,complications,and PaO_(2),PaCO_(2),and PaO_(2)/FiO_(2)blood gas indexes in the two groups were compared.Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)analysis was used to determine the diagnostic value of KRT-14 and ET-1 in the treatment of NRDS.RESULTS The observation group had a significantly higher effectiveness rate than the control group.There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of neonatal mortality and adverse reactions,such as bronchial dysplasia,cyanosis,and shortness of breath.After treatment,the levels of PaO_(2)and PaO_(2)/FiO_(2)in both groups were significantly higher than before treatment,while the level of PaCO_(2)was significantly lower.After treatment,the observation group had significantly higher levels of PaO_(2)and PaO_(2)/FiO_(2)than the control group,while PaCO_(2)was notably lower in the observation group.After treatment,the KRT-14 and ET-1 levels in both groups were significantly decreased compared with the pre-treatment levels.The observation group had a reduction of KRT-14 and ET-1 levels than the control group.ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of KRT-14 was 0.791,and the AUC of ET-1 was 0.816.CONCLUSION Combining PS with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation significantly improved the effectiveness of NRDS therapy.KRT-14 and ET-1 levels may have potential as therapeutic and diagnostic indicators.

Evaluation of Procedural Pain in Neonates in Cameroon

Introduction: Acute pain associated with caregiving is a major cause of pain among neonates. Left untreated, it can lead to long-term neurosensory and psychoaffective consequences. In Cameroon, this subject has been scarcely explored, thus constituting an impediment to the management of care-induced pain. Objective: Assess procedural pain in neonates in Yaoundé. Material and Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study with prospective data collection over a period of eight months (October 2022 to May 2023) in three hospitals. We included neonates who were being cared for and were not crying prior to the onset of healthcare, whose parents consented to the study. Assessments were done using the DAN scale, which is specific to care-induced pain. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS 23.0 software. Results: A total of 161 newborns were included. The hospital prevalence of care-induced pain in neonates was 85%. Neonatal sepsis was the main cause for admission (96.6%). The most common procedures were venous blood sampling (94.4%) and insertion of peripheral venous lines (93.8%). The pain intensity for these procedures was severe (83.9%). The most painful procedure was lumbar tap, followed by venous access procedures. Conclusion: Neonates in hospitals are subjected to many painful procedures. The pain experienced during these procedures is severe. The most nociceptive procedure is a lumbar puncture.

Characterization of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in 2–4 day old neonates with respect to gender and ear

BACKGROUND： Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions （SOAEs） are regarded as a valuable audio- metric parameter that objectively reflects the function of outer hair cells （OHCs）. Many studies have reported that the incidence of SOAEs in adults is less than 50%. Therefore, measurement of SOAEs may be of little value to clinical examinations. However, the incidence of SOAEs in infants and neonates is higher than in adults. OBJECTIVE： To analyze the basic characteristics of SOAEs in 2–4 day old neonates, and to demonstrate the difference in OHC function between sexes and ears. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Neurophysiological contrast study, performed in the Department of Neonates, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, between December 2007 and August 2008. PARTICIPANTS： A total of 112 newborns （224 ears） consisting of 59 females and 53 males were included in this study. METHODS： The probe was adapted and embedded in the neonate external auditory canal with a foam rubber earplug after checking and clearing up the outer ear canal. The presence of SOAEs was determined when the signal amplitude had a clear peak exceeding –30 dB, or was 3 dB above the noise floor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The incidence of SOAEs, the number of SOAE signal peaks, and the maximal tension of SOAEs. RESULTS： The incidence in females （79.7%） was higher than males （76.4%） （P 〉 0.05）, and the incidence in right ears （86.6%） was higher than in left ears （69.6%） （P 〈 0.05）. There were no significant difference in the number of SOAE peaks between females and males （4.49 vs. 4.28）, or between right ears and left ears （4.62 vs. 4.12） （P 〉 0.05）. The mean maximum SOAE level per ear in females （–3.29 ± 9.28） dB sound pressure level （SPL） was slightly higher than that in males （–3.91 ± 9.14） dB SPL （P 〉 0.05）. Also, the mean maximum SOAE level in right ears （–2.03 ± 9.11） dB SPL was higher than in left ears （–5.50 ± 9.65） dB SPL （P 〈 0.05）. The maximum SOAE level showed a positive correlation with maximum SOAE number in emitting ears （r = 0.55, P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： The incidence of SOAEs in neonates is high （78.1%） within 4 days of birth. The in-cidence of SOAEs and the maximum SOAE level exhibited a significant difference between right and left ears, but the difference between sexes was insignificant. Both the strongest SOAE signal peak and number of SOAEs per ear are representative of the function OHCs.

Correlation between UGT1A1 Polymorphism and Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia of Neonates in Wuhan

This study attempts to discuss the correlation between UGT1A1＊28 as uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase gene promoter and coding region Gly71 Arg gene polymorphism with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of neonates in Wuhan. A total of 168 neonates were divided into the hyperbilirubinemia group（case group, n=108） and healthy neonates group（control group, n=60）. Their DNA was obtained through blood extraction. The gene exon mutation of UGT1A1 was detected by Sanger sequencing, which revealed the relationship between UGT1A1＊28 and Gly71 Arg polymorphism with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of neonates. The results showed that：（1） The frequency of UGT1A1＊28 allele mutation in the case group and the control group was 9.3% and 10% respectively, with the difference being not significant between the two groups（P〉0.05）.（2） The frequency of Gly71 Arg allele mutation in the case group and the control group was 35.1% and 21.7% respectively, with the difference being significant between the two groups（P〈0.01）.（3） The serum bilirubin level of Gly71 Arg mutant homozygous and heterozygous subgroups（n=66） in the case group was 302.7±31.4 μmol/L, which was significantly higher than 267.3±28.5 μmol/L of the wild subgroup（n=42）（P〈0.01）. It was suggested that the occurrence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of neonates in Wuhan was not associated with UGT1A1＊28 gene polymorphism, but closely with the Gly71 Arg gene polymorphism. Meanwhile, the Arg allele mutation was related to the degree of jaundice.

Effects of white noise on procedural pain-related cortical response and pain score in neonates:A randomized controlled trial

Objectives To evaluate the effects of white noise on pain-related cortical response,pain score,and behavioral and physiological parameters in neonates with procedural pain.Methods A double-blind,randomized controlled trial was conducted.Sixty-six neonates from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in a university-affiliated general hospital were randomly assigned to listen to white noise at 50 dB(experimental group)or 0 dB(control group)2 min before radial artery blood sampling and continued until 5 min after needle withdrawal.Pain-related cortical response was measured by regional cerebral oxygen saturation(rScO_(2))monitored with near-infrared spectroscopy,and facial expressions and physiological parameters were recorded by two video cameras.Two assessors scored the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised(PIPP-R)independently when viewing the videos.Primary outcomes were pain score and rScO_(2)during arterial puncture and 5 min after needle withdrawal.Secondary outcomes were pulse oximetric oxygen saturation(SpO_(2))and heart rate(HR)during arterial puncture,and duration of painful expressions.The study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(ChiCTR2200055571).Results Sixty neonates(experimental group,n=29;control group,n=31)were included in the final analysis.The maximum PIPP-R score in the experimental and control groups was 12.00(9.50,13.00),12.50(10.50,13.75),respectively(median difference−0.5,95%CI−2.0 to 0.5),and minimum rScO_(2)was(61.22±3.07)%,(61.32±2.79)%,respectively(mean difference−0.325,95%CI−1.382 to 0.732),without significant differences.During arterial puncture,the mean rScO_(2),HR,and SpO_(2)did not differ between groups.After needle withdrawal,the trends for rScO_(2),PIPP-R score,and facial expression returning to baseline were different between the two groups without statistical significance.Conclusion The white noise intervention did not show beneficial effects on pain-related cortical response as well as pain score,behavioral and physiological parameters in neonates with procedural pain.

Resting-state network complexity and magnitude changes in neonates with severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging has revealed disrupted brain network connectivity in adults and teenagers with cerebral palsy. However, the specific brain networks implicated in neonatal cases remain poorly understood. In this study, we recruited 14 termborn infants with mild hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and 14 term-born infants with severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy from Changzhou Children's Hospital, China. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data showed efficient small-world organization in whole-brain networks in both the mild and severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy groups. However, compared with the mild hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy group, the severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy group exhibited decreased local efficiency and a low clustering coefficient. The distribution of hub regions in the functional networks had fewer nodes in the severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy group compared with the mild hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy group. Moreover, nodal efficiency was reduced in the left rolandic operculum, left supramarginal gyrus, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, and right middle temporal gyrus. These results suggest that the topological structure of the resting state functional network in children with severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is clearly distinct from that in children with mild hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and may be associated with impaired language, motion, and cognition. These data indicate that it may be possible to make early predictions regarding brain development in children with severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, enabling early interventions targeting brain function. This study was approved by the Regional Ethics Review Boards of the Changzhou Children's Hospital(approval No. 2013-001) on January 31, 2013. Informed consent was obtained from the family members of the children. The trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration number: ChiCTR1800016409) and the protocol version is 1.0.

Brainstem tegmental lesions in neonates with hypoxicischemic encephalopathy: Magnetic resonance diagnosis and clinical outcome

Lesions of the brainstem have been reported in the clinical scenarios of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE), although the prevalence of these lesions is probably underestimated. Neuropathologic studies have demonstrated brainstem involvement in severely asphyxiated infants as an indicator of poor outcome. Among survivors to HIE, the most frequent clinical complaints that may be predicted by brainstem lesions include feeding problems, speech, language and communication problems and visual impairments. Clinical series, including vascular and metabolic etiologies, have found selective involvement of the brainstem with the demonstration of symmetric bilateral columnar lesions of the tegmentum. The role of brainstem lesions in HIE is currently a matter of debate, especially when tegmental lesions are present in the absence of supratentorial lesions. Differential diagnosis of tegmental lesions in neonates and infants include congenital metabolic syndromes and drug-related processes. Brainstem injury with the presence of supratentorial lesions is a predictor of poor outcome and high rates of mortality and morbidity. Further investigation will be conducted to identify specific sites of the brainstem that are vulnerable to hypoxic-ischemic and toxic-metabolic insults.

Exhaled nitric oxide in neonates with or without hypoxemic respiratory failure

BACKGROUND： Exhaled nitric oxide （eNO） is one of the airway condensate derived markers, reflecting mainly airway inflammation in asthma and other lung diseases. The changes of eNO levels as pathophysiology of neonatal hypoxemic respiratory failure （HRF） in early postnatal life have not been thoroughly studied. The present study was to establish a method for measuring eNO concentrations in neonates with or without HRF. METHODS： Twenty-two newborn infants with HRF and 26 non-NRF controls were included within the first 24 hours of postnatal life. Their eNO levels were detected with a rapid-response chemiluminescence analyzer daily during the first week of their postnatal life, and lung mechanics and gas exchange efficiency were monitored at the same time, such as pulse oxygen saturation （SpO2）, inspired fraction of oxygen （FiO2） and other parameters. RESULTS：During the first two days of postnatal life, eNO values of HRF neonates were significantly higher than those of the control neonates （day 1,7.9±3.2 vs. 5.8±1.8 parts per billion [ppb], P〈0.05; day 2, 8.8±3.2 vs. 6.0±2.4 ppb, P〈0.05）, but there were no significant differences in the following days. With SpOJFiO2 increasing, difference of eNO values between the HRF and non-HRF neonates became narrowed, but there was still a two-fold difference of eNO/[SpO2/（FiO2×100）] on days 5-7. CONCLUSION： We established a method for measuring eNO and found difference in neonates with or without HRF, which diminished with prolonged postnatal days, reflecting pathophysiological characteristics of HRF.

Bedside cardiopulmonary ultrasonography evaluates lung water content in very low-weight preterm neonates with patent ductus arteriosus

BACKGROUND Patent ductus arteriosus(PDA)is a common congenital heart abnormality in preterm neonates with a high incidence in neonates with very low birth weights.When PDA persists,interstitial lung water content increases,which could lead to abnormal circulation hemodynamics and pulmonary edema.It is important to perform early and reliable assessment of lung water content in very low-weight preterm neonates with persistent PDA.AIM To evaluate the role of bedside cardiopulmonary ultrasonography in the lung water content assessment in very low-weight preterm neonates with persistent PDA.METHODS From January 2018 to March 2020,69 very low-weight preterm neonates with echocardiography-confirmed PDA were selected as the PDA group.At the same time,89 very low-weight preterm neonates without PDA were randomly selected as the control group.All neonates underwent echocardiography and 6-segment lung ultrasonography on the fourth day after birth.The clinical characteristics and main ultrasonography results were compared between the two groups.Pearson’s analysis was used to analyze the correlation between lung ultrasonography score(LUS)and other related clinical and ultrasonography results in all neonates.In the PDA group,PDA diameters were recorded,and the correlation with LUS and left atrium to aortic(LA/AO)dimension ratio were also analyzed.LA/AO ratio is one of the ultrasonic diagnostic criteria for hemodynamically significant PDA.When the ratio is≥1.5,it suggests the possibility of hemodynamic changes in persistent PDA.A receiver operating characteristic curve was established using the sensitivity of LUS to predict the hemodynamic changes in neonates with PDA as the ordinate and 1-specificity as the abscissa.RESULTS A total of 158 neonates were enrolled in this study,including 69 in the PDA group and 89 in the control group.There were no statistical differences in sex,gestational age,birth weight,ventilator dependence,hospitalization length and left ventricular ejection fraction between the two groups(P>0.05).The LUS and LA/AO ratio in the PDA group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05),but there was no difference of LUS in neonates with or without use of the ventilator(t=0.58,P=0.16).In all cases,LUS was negatively correlated with gestational age(r=-0.28,P<0.01)and birth weight(r=-0.36,P<0.01),while positively correlated with the LA/AO ratio(r=0.27,P<0.01).In the PDA group,PDA diameter was positively correlated with the LA/AO ratio(r=0.39,P<0.01)and LUS(r=0.31,P<0.01).Receiver operating characteristic results showed that LUS had the moderate accuracy for predicting hemodynamic changes in PDA(area under the curve=0.741;sensitivity=93.75%;specificity=50.94%).CONCLUSION Bedside cardiopulmonary ultrasonography can evaluate lung content in neonates with PDA and predict the possibility of hemodynamic changes in persistent PDA.

Development of a Three-Dimensional Measuring System for Neonates' Head and Facial Morphology

A web camera based multi-camera convergent close-range photogrammetric system is developed to obtain the neonates＇ head and facial morphology. The data will then be used to develop a secure and good-fitting eye-patch protector for neonates, particularly whoa they are exposed to bright lights such as phototherapy light. Measurements obtained by the system are evaluated and validated against data obtained from optical scanning. Results show that the photogrammetric system meets the requirements of measuring accuracy and safety for neonate in the neonatal units.

Language and cognitive outcome for high-risk neonates at the age of 2-3 years-experience from an Arab Country

AIM To investigate the effect of different neonatal risk factors on different language parameters as well as cognitive abilities among Arabic speaking Egyptian children at the age of two to three years of life and to find out which risk factor(s) had the greatest impact on language and cognitive abilities.METHODS This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 103 children with age range of 2-3 years(median age 31 mo).They were 62 males and 41 females who were exposed to different high-risk factors in the perinatal period,with exclusion of metabolic disorders,sepsis/meningitis,congenital anomalies and chromosomal aberrations.The studied children were subjected to a protocol of language assessment that included history taking,clinical and neurological examination,audiological evaluation,assessment of language using modified preschool language scale-4,IQ and mental age assessment and assessment of social age.RESULTS The studied children had a median gestational age of 37 wk,median birth weight of 2.5 kg.The distribution of the high-risk factors in the affected children were prematurity in 25 children,respiratory distress syndromein 25 children,hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in 15 children,hyperbilirubinemia in 10 children,hypoglycemia in 13 children,mixed risk factors in 15 children.The results revealed that high-risk neonatal complications were associated with impairment of different language parameters and cognitive abilities(P < 0.05).The presence of prematurity,in relation to other risk factors,increases the risk of language and cognitive delay significantly by 3.9 fold.CONCLUSION Arabic-speaking children aged 2-3 years who were exposed to high-risk conditions in the perinatal period are likely to exhibit delays in the development of language and impairments in cognitive abilities.The most significant risk factor associated with language and cognitive impairments was prematurity.

Temperature Measurements in Neonates: Assessing the Agreement of Two Methods

Background: Neonatal temperature response during illness is unpredictable. Whereas accurate temperature measurement is an important diagnostic step in Neonatal practice. Abnormalties in temperature pattern may be a pointer to a sinister condition especially in neonates, whose thermoregulatory mechanism is immature. There are several methods of temperature measurements and the search for a suitable thermometry method in neonates continues. This study compared the forehead non touch infra-red thermometer (NTIT) with the axilllary mercury-in-glass (MIGT) method of temperature measurement in neonates. Method: Four hundred babies aged 1 to 28 days were recruited from the immunization clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital between August 2016 and May 2017. Temperatures were taken using both NTIT and MIGT in the standard way and recorded.?Result: The mean age and SD was 5.10 ± 4.28?days. Pearson correlation showed a positive correlation between the Axillary Mercury-in-Glass and Forehead Non-Touch Infra-red thermometry readings (r?=?0.426, p??0.001). Bland-Altman method revealed a good agreement between both methods of thermometry as 95.5% of the readings were within the limits of agreement. Conclusion: Axillary Mercury-in-Glass thermometer and Forehead Non touch Infra-red thermometers have a good agreement and can be used interchangeably in neonates.

Research progress of relationship between hyptoxic ischemic encephalopathy and interleukin in neonates

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) refers to brain lesions caused by hypoxia in perinatal neonates, usually combined with damage or dysfunction of other organs. The pathogenesis of HIE is very complex, which is still unclear, and it is one of the important subjects of perinatal medicine research. In recent years, the role of immune system in the pathogenesis of HIE has attracted more and more attention, especially interleukin (IL), which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HIE. Therefore, further study on the immune mechanism of neonatal HIE, to realize early diagnosis and early intervention is of great significance for preventing HIE complications.