A Comparison between Late Preterm and Term Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Early-Onset Sepsis, and Neonatal Jaundice in Ecuadorian Newborns

Background: To examine the differences in prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome, early-onset sepsis and jaundice, between late preterm infants versus term infants in Ecuadorian newborns. Methods: Study design: Epidemiological, observational, and cross-sectional, with two cohorts of patients. Settings: IESS Quito Sur Hospital at Quito, Ecuador, from February to April of 2020. Participants: This study included 204 newborns, 102 preterm infants, 102 term infants. Results: There are significant differences between late preterm infants and term infants, with a p-value of 0.000 in the prevalence of early sepsis, 70.59% vs. 35.29%. In respiratory distress syndrome between late and term premature infants, significant differences were observed with a p-value of 0.000, the proportion being 55.58% vs. 24.51% respectively. The prevalence of jaundice is higher in term infants with a p value of 0.002, 72.55%, versus 51.96% in late preterm infants, and the mean value of bilirubins in mg/dL was higher in term infants 14.32 versus 12.33 in late preterm infants;this difference is statistically significant with a p value of 0.004. Admission to the NICU is more frequent in late preterm infants with a p-value of 0.000, being 42.16% for late preterm infants vs. 7.84% in term infants;the mean of the hospital days with p-value 0.005, was higher in late preterm infants 4.97 days vs. 3.55 days for term newborns. Conclusion: Due to the conditions of their immaturity, late preterm infants are 2.86 times more likely to present early sepsis than full-term newborns. It is shown that late preterm infants are 2.69 times more likely to have respiratory distress syndrome compared to term infants, therefore, late preterm infants have a longer hospital stay of 4.97 days versus 3.55 days in term infants. Jaundice and mean bilirubin levels are higher in term infants due to blood group incompatibility and insufficient breastfeeding.

The Distribution and Morphological Diversity of GABA-containing Neurons in The Prefrontal Cortex of Human Newborn Baby Infant

The prefrontal cortex of a human full termnewborn infant just after accidental death was studies by mcans of immunocytochemical technique with antibody directedagainst GABA(Immunonuclear Corp.)and ABC kit(Vector)。GABA-containing neurons were found over all layers and all were nonpyramidal cells.The laminar distribution of GABA-containing ne-urons was not even between different layers,density in laye Ⅱ was prominently higher than any other layers,density in layer Ⅲ and layer Ⅳ was higher than that in layer V and Ⅵ.

Nutritional management of newborn infants:Practical guidelines

The requirements of growth and organ development create a challenge in nutritional management of newborn infants,especially premature newborn and intestinal-failure infants.Since their feeding may increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis,some high-risk infants receive a small volume of feeding or parenteral nutrition (PN) without enteral feeding.This review summarizes the current research progress in the nutritional management of newborn infants.Searches of MEDLINE (1998-2007),Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library,Issue 3,2007),abstracts and conference proceedings,references from relevant publications in the English language were performed,showing that breast milk is the preferred source of nutrients for enteral feeding of newborn infants.The number of nutrients found in human milk was recommended as a guideline in establishing the minimum and maximum levels in infant formulas.The fear of necrotizing enterocolitis and feeding intolerance are the major factors limiting the use of the enteral route as the primary means of nourishing premature infants.PN may help to meet many of the nutritional needs of these infants,but has significant detrimental side effects.Trophic feedings (small volume of feeding given at the same rate for at least 5 d) during PN are a strategy to enhance the feeding tolerance and decrease the side effects of PN and the time to achieve full feeding.Human milk is a key component of any strategy for enteral nutrition of all infants.However,the amounts of calcium,phosphorus,zinc and other nutrients are inadequate to meet the needs of the very low birth weight (VLBW) infants during growth.Therefore,safe and effective means to fortify human milk are essential to the care of VLBW infants.

Modeling and Simulation of Heat Transfer Phenomenon from Infant Radiant Warmer for a Newborn Baby

Nowadays death of a newborn baby due to hypothermia is one of the vital factors. To overcome the problem infant radiant warmer has been used in hospitals which helps to prevent excessive heat loss of the baby by maintaining a proper temperature. However, in practice, it is critical to regulating proper thermal stability that is exactly required for a premature baby to conquer the heat loss problem. In this study, we have established a computational model for heat transfer analysis using the Finite Element Method. The heat transfer to the surrounding area skin of newborn with the help of Infant Radiant Warmer (IRW) is simulated to study the best range of light source to overcome the hypothermia. We simulate the efficiency and effect of the infant radiant of the thermal radiation using COMSOL Multiphysics program. For this simulation, we considered the distance between the infant’s mattress and the bottom surface of the heater unit as 70 cm and the heater power 500 watts, and 600 watts. We have investigated mattress temperature, baby temperature and surface radiosity which are important to understand to increase newborn baby body temperature. It is found that the temperature of mattress raises up to 36 - 36.5 degrees Celsius and skin temperature raises up to 37 - 37.5 degrees Celsius.

STUDY ON THE GROWTH OF CEREBELLUMIN NEWBORN INFANTS

Objective To know the growth of the cerebellum in newborn infants. Methods The centraivermian area (CVA) of the cerebellum was measured by head ultrasonography in 90 newborns including 65full - terms, 14 preterms and 11 small for gestational age infants (SGA). Results The average age of the newborninfants were 4.7d (3~7d). The mean CVA in full-terms was 5.81±0.8cm2, which was significantly greater thanthat in preterms (3.7±1.0cm2), and SGA (5.1±0.8cm2), respectively. However, when corrected for birth weight(BW), the ratio of CVA/BW in term SGA was 2.07, being signoficantly higher than the ratio of 1.72 in normalfull- term newborns. There was no dillerence between male and female infants. Statistically significantrelationships were lound between CVA and BW (r=0.8129, P<0.01) and between CVA and gestational age(r=0.7450, P<0.01). Conclusion The study provide some understanding on the grouth of the cerebellum, and thecerebellar measurement by cranial ultrasound is helpful for the assessment of neurological maturation in newborninfants.

Achondrogenesis Type II in a Live Term Newborn Infant: A Case Report

Background: Achondrogenesis type II is a lethal form of osteochondrodysplasia characterized by short trunk, disproportionately large head, prominent forehead, micrognathia, extreme micromelia, anasarca, large abdomen and poor ossification of the bones. The children with achondrogenesis are usually born premature, or die in the neonatal period mostly from respiratory failure. We report the case of a live term newborn infant with achondrogenesis type II who died shortly after birth. Methods: We report a case of achondrogenesis type II in a live male newborn. Results: We report the case of a term male infant delivered to a 24-year-old woman with a chondrogenesis type II confirmed radiologically but died at age 5 days. Conclusion: Whenever a skeletal dysplasia in a fetal dwarfism is suspected, a proper work-up plan should be done to evaluate family history. A clinical, radiographic and histopathologic examination, should be done and confirmed by genetic study. Following evidence-based diagnosis, patients could be offered termination of pregnancy after counseling.

Single-incision pediatric endosurgery in newborns and infants

This study focuses on the successful application of single-incision pediatric endosurgery in the treatment of congenital anomalies and acquired diseases in neonates and infants. The purpose of this scientific review consists in highlighting the spectrum, indications, applicability, and effectiveness of single-port endosurgery in children during the first 3 postnatal months.

Transition of Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety Symptoms According to Parity and Associations of These Symptoms with Feelings for Involvement with Newborn Infants during a 6-Month Postpartum Period

Background: Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms during the postpartum period affect physical health and child rearing and that these effects are important social issues. Objective: The aims of this study were to clarify the differences in the transition of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms according to parity during a 6-month postpartum period and to clarify the differences in associations of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms with feelings for involvement with newborn infants in primiparous and multiparous postpartum women. Methods: The design of this study was a longitudinal investigation. This study was conducted from February 2017 to July 2018 in Japan. By using self-administered questionnaires that included questions on psychological symptoms in a standard climacteric scale and questions on feelings for involvement with newborn infants, we collected data at 3 days postpartum, 2 weeks postpartum, one month postpartum, 3 months postpartum and 6 months postpartum. Results: Responses to all of the questionnaires were obtained from 121 (52.8%) of 229 women. The score for depressive symptoms in primiparous women was significantly higher than that in multiparous women at 3 days postpartum. Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms showed peaks at 2 weeks postpartum in both primiparous women and multiparous women, but depressive symptoms reoccurred from 3 months postpartum to 6 months postpartum in primiparous women and anxiety symptoms reoccurred from one month to 3 months postpartum in multiparous women. Depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were associated with negative feelings for involvement with newborn infants and with mother’s sleeping time. Conclusion: Changes in depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were different in primiparous women and multiparous women during a 6-month postpartum period. In addition, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were associated with negative feelings for involvement with newborn infants and with sleeping time in postpartum women.

Gastrointestinal tolerability of organic infant formula compared to traditional infant formula: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Infants'nutrition significantly influences their growth,development,and overall well-being.With the increasing demand for organic infant formula driven by the perception of health benefits and growing awareness of natural feeding options,it is crucial to conduct a comparative analysis of the gastrointestinal tolerability between organic and traditional infant formulas.AIM To provide a concise and precise analysis of the gastrointestinal tolerability of organic infant formula compared to traditional infant formula.Due to limited direct comparisons,the review synthesizes available literature on each formula type,presenting insights into their potential effects on infants'digestive health.METHODS An extensive literature search was conducted,compiling studies on organic and traditional infant formulas,their compositions,and reported effects on gastrointestinal tolerability.We searched academic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar and specialized nutrition,paediatrics,and infant health journals using relevant keywords till October 1,2023.RESULTS Although specific comparative studies are scarce and formula heterogeneity is a significant limitation,this systematic review provides an in-depth understanding of organic infant formulas'composition and potential benefits.While scientific evidence directly comparing gastrointestinal tolerability is limited,organic formulas strive to use carefully selected organic ingredients to imitate breast milk composition.Potential benefits include improved lipid profiles,higher methionine content,and decreased antibiotic-resistant bacteria levels.Understanding the gastrointestinal tolerability of organic and traditional infant formulas is crucial for parents and healthcare providers to make informed decisions.CONCLUSION Despite limitations in direct comparisons,this systematic review provides insights into the composition and potential benefits of organic infant formulas.It emphasizes the need for further research to elucidate their gastrointestinal effects comprehensively.

Ultrasound screening of the kidneys and urinary tract in 11.887 newborn infants: A 10-year experience

Objective: To determine the usefulness of sonographic screening of the newborn kidneys and urinary tract over a 10-year time period. Methods: Ultrasound screening of the kidneys and the urinary tract was performed between the third and tenth day after birth on 11.887 newborn infants. The classification of renal pyelectasis (RPE) according to the Society for Fetal Urology (SFU) was used. We evaluated infant renal pathologies and correlated them with the gestational age and weight at birth. Results: Renal pyelectasis (grades 1-4) was detected in 179 cases (1.5%);it was significantly more common in male (vs female) infants (p 4.000 g were the most significant risk factors (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Renal pyelectasis grades 1-4 was detected in only 1.5% of 11.887 consecutive infants subjected to sonographic screening of the kidneys and the urinary tract within the first 10 days after birth. Sonographic screening of the kidneys and the urinary tract is a non-invasive and effective screening method after birth. It allows planning for appropriate diagnostic tests and therapeutic procedures in a timely fashion.

Clinical analysis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in newborn infants:report of 33 cases

Objective To review the clinical experience of diagnosis and treatment of the congenital diaphragmatic hernia in newborn infants. Methods Thirty-three neonates were diagnosed having congenital diaphragmatic hernia in our hospitalfrom Jan. 1,2004 to Sept. 30,2009. The clinical data was retrospectively reviewed. Results 21 cases were treated

Effect of foot reflexology on an infant with sensorineural hearing loss:A case report

BACKGROUND Our study contributes to the further understanding of the mechanism of foot reflexology.Foot reflexology has been reported to affect hearing recovery,but no physiological evidence has been provided.This lack of evidence hampers the acceptance of the technique in clinical practice.CASE SUMMARY A girl was taken to North Sichuan Medical University Affiliated Hospital for a hearing screen by her parents.Her parents reported that her hearing level was the same as when she was born.The girl was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss(SNHL)by a doctor in the otolaryngology department.After we introduced the foot reflexology project,the parents agreed to participate in the experiment.After 6 months of foot reflexology treatment,the hearing threshold of the girl recovered to a normal level,below 30 dB.CONCLUSION Foot reflexology should be encouraged in clinical practice and for families of infants with SNHL.

Nutritional and Sanitary Quality of Infant Flours Produced in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

The quality of infant flours used during the weaning age is of great importance in that it conditions the nutritional health of infants and young children. This study aimed to assess the nutritional and sanitary quality of infant flours produced in the city of Ouagadougou. This was a cross-sectional study including 11 out of 25 infant flour production units that gave their consent to partake in the study. In total, 25 infant flour samples have been collected from July to September 2021. The physicochemical and microbiological parameters were determined according to standard methods. The ANOVA analysis of variance showed significant differences between the means of the physico-chemical and the means of the microbiological parameters respectively. The results showed that 60% of proteins and 80% of lipid and total carbohydrate contents were below the authorised limits. The energy values were below the authorised limit in 88% of the cases. All instant infant flours had microbiological loads compliant with Burkinabè standards. As for infant flour to be cooked, 63.64% and 81.82% had satisfactory numbers of total coliforms and faecal coliforms respectively. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were detected in these samples with 86.36% of infant formulae having results below the recommended limit. These results show that the infant flours produced in Ouagadougou were somehow of acceptable quality. However, there is a need to improve the formulae for macronutrient contents, energy values and sanitary quality to comply with the recommendations.

Brain development in newborns and infants after ECMO

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)not only significantly improves survival rates in severely ill neonates but also is associated with long-term neurodevelopmental issues.To systematically review the available literature on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of neonates and infants who have undergone ECMO treatment,with a focus on motor deficits,cognitive impairments,sensory impairments,and developmental delays.This review aims to understand the incidence,prevalence,and risk factors for these problems and to explore current nursing care and management strategies.Data sources A comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed,EMBASE,and Web of Science using a wide array of keywords and phrases pertaining to ECMO,neonates,infants,and various facets of neurodevelopment.The initial screening involved reviewing titles and abstracts to exclude irrelevant articles,followed by a full-text assessment of potentially relevant literature.The quality of each study was evaluated based on its research methodology and statistical analysis.Moreover,citation searches were conducted to identify potentially overlooked studies.Although the focus was primarily on neonatal ECMO,studies involving children and adults were also included due to the limited availability of neonate-specific literature.Results About 50%of neonates post-ECMO treatment exhibit varying degrees of brain injury,particularly in the frontal and temporoparietal white matter regions,often accompanied by neurological complications.Seizures occur in 18%–23%of neonates within the first 24 hours,and bleeding events occur in 27%–60%of ECMO procedures,with up to 33%potentially experiencing ischemic strokes.Although some studies suggest that ECMO may negatively impact hearing and visual development,other studies have found no significant differences;hence,the influence of ECMO remains unclear.In terms of cognitive,language,and intellectual development,ECMO treatment may be associated with potential developmental delays,including lower composite scores in cognitive and motor functions,as well as potential language and learning difficulties.These studies emphasize the importance of early detection and intervention of potential developmental issues in ECMO survivors,possibly necessitating the implementation of a multidisciplinary follow-up plan that includes regular neuromotor and psychological evaluations.Overall,further multicenter,large-sample,long-term follow-up studies are needed to determine the impact of ECMO on these developmental aspects.Conclusions The impact of ECMO on an infant’s nervous system still requires further investigation with larger sample sizes for validation.Fine-tuned management,comprehensive nursing care,appropriate patient selection,proactive monitoring,nutritional support,and early rehabilitation may potentially contribute to improving the long-term outcomes for these infants.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Probio-M9 may be vertically transmitted from mother to infant during lactation based on faeces metagenomics

Probiotics exert beneficial effects on the host.This study aimed to investigate whether maternally ingested Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Probio-M9 during pregnancy could access and colonize the infant gut.This study recruited one pregnant woman,who ingested Probio-M9 daily from 35 weeks of gestation to delivery.Feces of the mother-infant pair were regularly collected from one month before delivery to 6 months of infant's age for metagenomic sequencing.Probio-M9 genomes were mappable to all infant fecal samples,suggesting the ingested probiotics could be vertically transmitted from mother to infant.Infant-or mother-specific differential metabolic pathways were found between the maternal and infant's gut microbiome,implicating apparent differences in the intestinal metagenomic potential/function between the mother and the infant.In conclusion,maternal ingestion of Probio-M9 during the final weeks of gestation could deliver to the infant gut.The findings provided novel insights into shaping infant's gut microbiota.

The Effects of Different Feeding Practices on the Nutritional Status of Infants below 12 Months Old in the Kumba 1 Sub-Division

Appropriate feeding practices are important during infancy for good health, growth and development of infants and children. WHO revised its earlier recommendation of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) of infants from 4 to 6 months of age to EBF until about 6 months of age, with the addition of complementary foods thereafter. This recommendation confirms that breast milk alone is sufficient to meet infants’ nutritional requirements for the first 6 months of life. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various feeding practices on the Nutritional status of infants 0 - 12-month-old in the Kumba 1 Sub-Division. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to August 2020. A total of 341 nursing mothers and their infants 0 - 12 months of age were recruited. Socio-demographic factors and the different feeding habits of the children were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements. The overall proportion of infants who exclusively breastfed for 6 months was 69.2% and those who were mix-fed were 30.8% in the study area. The overall prevalence of malnutrition in the population was 61.0%. Among the malnourished children, 53.1% were underweight, 19.6% were wasted and 10.0% were stunted. Though not significant, the prevalence of wasting (21.0%) and underweight (58.3%) was higher among Mix-Fed (MF) children when compared to their EBF counterparts. Feeding practices affected the nutritional status of the infants. Underweight and wasting were observed among infants on Complementary Feeding (CF), although some exclusively breast-fed infants were stunted. Hence, nursing mothers should try as much as possible to practice EBF as recommended by WHO and can practice CF when the child is above six months.

Draft of an Anthropometric Reference System for Full-Term Cameroonian Newborns: Prospective Study with Analytical Aim in the Maternity Wards of Douala

Introduction: Anthropometry applied to newborns is a reliable indicator of the quality of fetal growth. The latter is influenced by genetic, racial and nutritional factors varying from one population to another, explaining why a standard cannot be applied to all populations. Research question: should the Caucasian frame of reference be dogmatically applied in our African context? Multicenter studies are therefore necessary;hence the interest of this work, the main objective of which was to describe the anthropometric profile of full-term newborns in the city of Douala. Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional study with an analytical aim and prospective data collection in the maternity wards of the Douala General Hospital, Laquintinie Hospital, District hospitals of Deido, Nylon and Bonassama over a period of 4 months (January to April 2020). We were interested in any newborn, born alive, vaginally or by cesarean section, seen in the first 24 hours from a full-term single-fetal pregnancy whose mother had given consent. We excluded newborns whose term was unclear and those with congenital malformations or signs of embryo-foetopathy. Data collection was done using structured and pre-tested survey sheets. The study variables were obstetric and anthropometric. Statistical analyzes were carried out with CS Pro 7.3 and SPSS version 25.0 software. The Student, Chi-square and Fischer tests were used to compare the means of the variables, the percentages with a significance threshold P value Results: During the study period, 305 full-term newborns were included, divided into 172 boys and 133 girls. The average anthropometric parameters of the full-term newborn in the city of Douala were: average weight: 3305 grams, average height: 49.8 centimeters, average head circumference: 34.6 centimeters, average upper arm circumference: 11.3 centimeters, circumference average thoracic: 32.8 centimeters. The percentile distribution showed a 10th percentile at 2656 grams and a 90th percentile at 3966 grams for weight defining the limits for small-for-gestational-age neonates and macrosomes. Conclusion: The anthropometric data of the full-term newborn in the city of Douala were: an average weight of 3305.4 grams, an average height of 49.8 centimeters, an average head circumference of 34.2 centimeters, an average upper arm circumference of 11.3 centimeters, and an average thoracic circumference of 32.8 centimeters with higher valuesin male newborns.

Resistant Pulmonary TB-HIV Co-Infection in an Infant: About a Case

Diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis (TB) is difficult, especially in resource-limited countries where the number of reported cases of TB-HIV co-infection continues to rise. This co-infection poses a diagnostic and therapeutic problem for caregivers. We report a case of rifampicin-resistant HIV-TB pulmonary coinfection in a 19-month-old infant.

Changes of the peripapillary vascular parameters inpremature infants without retinopathy of prematurityusing U-net segmentation

AIM:To quantitatively assess the changes in mean vascular tortuosity(mVT)and mean vascular width(mVW)around the optic disc and their correlation with gestational age(GA)and birth weight(BW)in premature infants without retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).METHODS:A single-center retrospective study included a total of 133(133 eyes)premature infants[mean corrected gestational age(CGA)43.6wk]without ROP as the premature group and 130(130 eyes)CGA-matched fullterm infants as the control group.The peripapillary mVT and mVW were quantitatively measured using computerassisted techniques.RESULTS:Premature infants had significantly higher mVT(P=0.0032)and lower mVW(P=0.0086)by 2.68(10^(4) cm^(-3))and 1.85μm,respectively.Subgroup analysis with GA showed significant differences(P=0.0244)in mVT between the early preterm and middle to late preterm groups,but the differences between mVW were not significant(P=0.6652).The results of the multiple linear regression model showed a significant negative correlation between GA and BW with mVT after adjusting sex and CGA(P=0.0211 and P=0.0006,respectively).For each day increase in GA at birth,mVT decreased by 0.1281(10^(4) cm^(-3))and for each 1 g increase in BW,mVT decreased by 0.006(10^(4) cm^(-3)).However,GA(P=0.9402)and BW(P=0.7275)were not significantly correlated with mVW.CONCLUSION:Preterm birth significantly affects the peripapillary vascular parameters that indicate higher mVT and narrower mVW in premature infants without ROP.Alterations in these parameters may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of ocular vascular disease.

Button Cell Ingestion in Infants: A Report of Five Cases

Button cell ingestion is a common household accident among infants, often leading to serious complications that require immediate diagnosis and urgent removal. We report five cases of button cell ingestion involving infants aged between 9 and 32 months, including four boys and one girl. The ingestion was accidentally discovered in two infants, while in the other three, it was suspected during play. In three cases, mothers attempted to induce vomiting by giving fluids, but the batteries remained in the digestive tract for 38 hours to 5 days. After confirming the diagnosis, the batteries were removed within 4 to 36 hours. The locations of the cells were the esophagus in two cases, the cardia in one, the stomach in one, and the bowel in one. One case involved a large cell in the esophagus, while the others involved smaller cells. Complications occurred in four cases, including esotracheal fistula, esophageal ulceration, and perforation of the jejunum and caecum. In one case, the digestive mucosa appeared normal upon endoscopy. One patient died.