Gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus disease secondary to measles in an immunocompetent infant

Yang et al reported an immunocompetent infant with gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus disease secondary to measles infection.We express our opinion about the diagnosis and treatment of this rare disease.

Incidence of Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Liver Disease in Infants on Prolonged Parenteral Nutrition with a Soybean-Based Lipid Emulsion: A 7-Year Experience

Parenteral nutrition associated liver disease (PNALD) is a significant complication in infants receiving long-term parenteral nutrition (PN). Chronic administration of PN has been associated with its development. Our purpose is to characterize our incidence of PNALD over an extended period and identify risk factors for its development, including administration of soybean-based injectable lipid emulsions (ILEs) as we transit to novel ILEs in our practice. Infants receiving 30 days or more of PN were included. PNALD was defined as a direct bilirubin ≥ 2 mg/dL. Data collected included: patient demographics, clinical and enteral feeding characteristics. Macronutrient intake was recorded using these cut-offs: glucose infusion rate (GIR) of ≤14 mg/kg/min or above, protein doses of ≤3 g/kg/day or above and lipid doses of ≤2 g/kg/day or above. A total of 349 infants were included, with an annual incidence of PNALD ranging between 34% - 54%. Infants with PNALD were younger by gestation (27 vs. 29.5 weeks) and smaller by birthweight (900 vs. 1248 grams). Sepsis, GI disease including necrotizing enterocolitis and bowel resection were significantly associated with an increased risk for development of PNALD. PNALD infants received lower protein doses (3.0 vs 3.3 g/kg/day, p = 0.014) while receiving higher GIR (11.4 vs 10.7 mg/kg/min, p = 0.012) compared to non-PNALD infants. Low birth weight, sepsis and bowel resection remain strong indicators of risk for PNALD. No single macronutrient increased our infants’ risk for PNALD. The use of newer ILEs when available should be evaluated for their impact on PNALD development.

Clinical Effect of an Improved Post-Operative Feeding Protocol“in Transition”Infants of Congenital Heart Disease with Pulmonary Hypertension

Background:To achieve successful management of infants with congenital heart disease(CHD)together with pulmonary hypertension(PH),postoperative care,especially feeding care is vital in addition to surgery.Postoperative feeding is comprised of three stages:feeding in the intensive care unit,feeding in the general ward and family feeding,in which the general ward is considered as the“transitional stage”.At present,there is little research on the optimal mode of feeding care for the transitional stage,and there is no universally recognized and accepted protocol.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 114 CHD infants with PH who underwent family-centered(FC)feeding care from July 2017 to December 2018,and prospectively studied 122 CHD infants with the same baseline level who adopted the improved mode,nurse-parent-driven(NPD)feeding mode from January 2019 to June 2020.The feasibility and efficacy of NPD as a“transitional”feeding nursing mode in CHD infants with PH were compared with the FC cohort by observing and analyzing the stress of family caregivers,feedingrelated complications,the proportion of breastfeeding,improvement of nutritional status,acquisition of knowledge and skills of feeding care,inpatient’s satisfaction rating and prognosis.Results:When compared with the FC feeding care,the NPD mode significantly reduced the burden of family caregivers,improved the rate of feeding care knowledge and skills and inpatient’s satisfaction rating,reduced the incidence of improper feeding-related complications,and enhanced the proportion of breastfeeding and nutritional status of infants at the“transitional stage”(all P<0.05).The self-assessment score of care ability of family caregivers and weight gain of children in the NPD group were significantly higher than those in the FC group(all P<0.05)during the follow-up.Conclusions:As a transitional mode of feeding in CHD infants with PH,NPD feeding care is superior to the conventional FC mode,which therefore can be adopted as a standard protocol in clinical practice.

Beyond the Pediatric end-stage liver disease system: Solutions for infants with biliary atresia requiring liver transplant

Biliary atresia(BA), a chronic progressive cholestatic disease of infants, is the leading cause for liver transplant in children, especially in patients under two years of age. BA can be successfully treated with the Kasai portoenterostomy; however most patients still require a liver transplant, with up to one half of BA children needing a transplant by age two. In the current pediatric end-stage liver disease system, children with BA face the risk of not receiving a liver in a safe and timely manner. In this review, we discuss a number of possible solutions to help these children. We focus on two general approaches:(1) preventing/delaying need for transplantation, by optimizing the success of the Kasai operation; and(2) expediting transplantation when needed, by performing techniques other than the standard deceased-donor, whole, ABO-matched organ transplant.

Prevalence and outcome of acute kidney injury,as defined by the new Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guideline,in very low birth weight infants

AIM To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and outcome of acute kidney injury(AKI) in very low birth weight(VLBW) infants. METHODS In this retrospective study of VLBW infants, we analyzed the prevalence of AKI, as defined by changes in serum creatinine and urine output, associated risk factors and outcomes.RESULTS A total of 293 VLBW infants(mean gestational age 28.7 wk) were included, of whom 109 weighed less than 1000 g at birth. The overall prevalence of AKI was 11.6%(22% in infants with a birth weight under 1000 g and 5.4% those heavier). A total of 19(55%) affected infants died, with a mortality rate of 58% in infant less than 1000 g and 50% in those heavier. After adjusting for confounding variables, only necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC) remained associated with AKI, with odds ratio of 4.9(95%CI: 1.9-18.6). Blood pressure and glomerular filtration rate(GFR) were not different between affected infants and the others upon discharge from hospital. A normal GFR was documented in all affected infants at one year of age.CONCLUSION Using Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes definition of AKI, it occurred in over 10% of VLBW infants,more commonly in infants with lower birth weight. NEC was an independent associated risk factor. Renal function, as defined by GFR, was normal in all surviving affected infants 10 to 12 mo later.

STUDY ON THE GROWTH OF CEREBELLUMIN NEWBORN INFANTS

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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.

“AFGP” bundles for an extremely preterm infant who underwent difficult removal of a peripherally inserted central catheter:A case report

BACKGROUND There have been few reports on level 3 difficult removal of peripherally inserted central catheter(PICC)in neonates.Here,we reported a case of an extremely preterm infant who underwent level 3 difficult removal of a PICC.CASE SUMMARY Female baby A,weighing 1070 g at 27^(+1) wk of gestational age,was diagnosed with extremely preterm infant and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.She underwent PICC insertion twice.The first PICC insertion went well;the second PICC was inserted in the right lower extremity,however,phlebitis occurred on the second day after the placement.On the third day of catheterization,phlebitis was aggravated,while the right leg circumference increased by 2.5 cm.On the fourth day of catheterization,more red swelling was found in the popliteal part,covering an area of about 1.5 cm×4 cm,which was diagnosed as phlebitis level 3;thus,we decided to remove the PICC.During tube removal,the catheter rebounded and could not be pulled out(several conventional methods were performed).Finally,we successfully removed the PICC using a new approach termed“AFGP”.On the 36th day of admission,the baby fully recovered and was discharged.CONCLUSION The“AFGP”bundle approach was effective for an extremely preterm infant,who underwent level 3 difficult removal of a PICC.

Cardiac changes in infants of diabetic mothers

Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a systemic chronic metabolic disorder characterized by increased insulin resistance and/orβ-cell defects.It affects all ages from the foetal life,neonates,childhood to late adulthood.Gestational diabetes is a critical risk factor for congenital heart diseases(CHDs).Moreover,the risk increases with low maternal education,high body mass index at conception,undiagnosed pregestational diabetes,inadequate antenatal care,improper diabetes control,and maternal smoking during pregnancy.Maternal DM significantly affects the foetal heart and foetal-placental circulation in both structure and function.Cardiac defects,myocardial hypertrophy are three times more prevalent in infants of diabetic mothers(IDMs).Antenatal evaluation of the cardiac function and structures can be performed with foetal electrocardiography and echocardiography.Postnatal cardiac evaluation can be performed with natal and postnatal electrocardiography and echocardiography,detection of early atherosclerotic changes by measuring aortic intima-media thickness,and retinal vascular changes by retinal photography.Ameliorating the effects of diabetes during pregnancy on the offspring depends mainly on pregestational and gestational diabetes prevention.However,other measures to reduce the risk,such as using medications,nutritional supplements,or probiotics,still need more research.This review discusses the mechanism of foetal sequels and the risk factors that increase the prevalence of CHDs in gestational DM,the various cardiac outcomes of gestational DM on the foetus and offspring,cardiac evaluation of foetuses and IDMs,and how to alleviate the consequences of gestational DM on the offspring.

Epidemiological, Clinical Progress Aspects of Congenital Heart Disease with Neonatal Revelation at the Mother-Child Hospital of Bingerville (HME) Concerning 98 Cases from January 2021 to December 2022 (Côte d’Ivoire)

Introduction The distribution of congenital heart disease (CHD) in sub-Saharan Africa is highly imprecise and varies from one region to another due to the inequality of diagnostic facilities. The aim of this study was to determine the in-hospital prevalence of congenital heart disease in children at the Mother-Child hospital of Bingerville (HME) by specifying the diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study at HME of Bingerville from January 2021 to December 2022. All newborns with congenital heart disease confirmed by echocardiography were included in the study. Results Of 656 admissions to the neonatology department over the study period, congenital heart disease accounted for 14.9% (98/656) of cases. In our series, 76.7% were diagnosed before the 1st week of life, with a mean chronological age of 5.18 days and extremes of 0 and 46 days. There were as many male patients (50%) as female (50%), i.e. a sex ratio of 1. These newborns were premature in 60.2% of cases, with a mean and median gestational age of 34 weeks’ amenorrhea. Most were left-right shunts (90.8%). Persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (48.9%) predominated, followed by atrial septal defect (38.7%), ventricular septal defect (13.3%), common trunk artery (CTA) (3.1%) and open septal pulmonary atresia (OSPA) (1%) as the primary cyanogenic heart disease. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (50%) was primary in 38.8% and secondary (61.2%). The mortality rate was 30.6%, and all CTA patients died (100%), with a significant statistical relationship (p = 0.027). Progression under treatment was marked by clinical stabilization (68/98) in 69.4% of cases. Conclusion: Congenital heart disease is relatively common at the Bingerville HME. Access to echocardiography should be facilitated in neonatology departments for rapid diagnosis and optimal management of congenital heart disease in newborns.

Study on the Effects of Infant Fostering Interventions in Xuhui District,Shanghai

Objective To assess the effects of fostering interventions on the infants and their families through the community. Methods A total of 309 infants born on 1st August, 2003 to 30th August, 2004 and their families were recruited as participants by cluster sampling in Longhua and Kantian sub-districts of Xuhui district, Shanghai. The newborns were randomly assigned to intervention group （156 cases） and control group （153 cases）. The infants and their families will be followed up during 3-year interventions. Results After 6 months＇ intervention, the proportion of infants who could turn over the body in the intervention group （88.46%） was higher than that in control group （75.16%）. The morbidity of upper-respiratory tract infection in intervention group （20.51%） was significantly lower than that in control group （32.68%）. The incidence rates of pneumonia, diarrhea and anemia in intervention group were all lower than that in control group, except for pneumonia, the differences were not significant. Both of the knowledge about how to foster infants and service utility in intervention group were higher than that in control group. Conclusion The fostering interventions through the community promote the prevention and control of infants disease, increase the knowledge level and service util ity of families.

Potential carrier priming effect in Australian infants after 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction

AIM:To investigate evidence of clinical protection in infants after one dose of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine(7vPCV) owing to carrier priming.METHODS:Using Australian National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System data,we conducted a descriptive analysis of cases of vaccine type invasive pneumococcal disease(VT-IPD) during "catch-up" years,when 7vPCV was carrier primed by prior administration of DTPa vaccine.We compared the number of VT-IPD cases occurring 2-9 wk after a single dose of 7vPCV(carrier primed),with those < 2 wk post vaccination,when no protection from 7vPCV was expected yet.Further comparison was conducted to compare the occurrence of VT-IPD cases vs non-VT-IPD cases after a single carrier-primed dose of 7vPCV.RESULTS:We found four VT-IPD cases occurring <2 wk after one carrier primed dose of 7vPCV while only one case occurred 2-9 wk later.Upon further comparison with the non-VT-IPD cases that occurred after one carrier primed dose of 7vPCV,two cases were detected within 2 wk,whereas seven occurred within2-9 wk later;suggesting a substantial level of protection from VT-IPD occurring from 2 wk after carrier-primed dose of 7vPCV.CONCLUSION:This data suggest that infants may benefit from just one dose of 7vPCV,likely through enhanced immunity from carrier priming effect.If this is proven,an adjusted 2-dose schedule(where the first dose of PCV is not given until after DTPa) may be sufficient and more cost-effective.

Short-Term Outcomes of Two Surgical Techniques for the Treatment of Coarctation of the Aorta in Infants: Subclavian Flap Repair and Resection with Extended End-to-End Anastomosis Technique

Background: The aims of the study were to analyze the importance of two different surgical procedures, and to determine outcomes for neonates with coarctation of the aorta in two newly established centers. Methods: Outcomes of two different surgical repairs for coarctation of the aorta in 43 infants were evaluated retrospectively. The study was designed as a nonrandomized, cross-sectional study. The subclavian flap repair was applied to 22 patients (51%) and resection with extended end-to-end anastomosis technique to 21 patients (49%). After all operative survivors were followed up with a mean follow-up of 1.8 ± 0.8 years, data analyzed with t-test and the p value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The overall mortality rate was 4.6%. Forty mmHg gradients were determined in a patient from Resection Group postoperatively in the fifteenth month. After the balloon angioplasty, the gradient decreased to 25 mmHg. The presence of ventricular septal defect (p = 0.094) was the only significant predictor of adverse short-term outcome among the associated cardiac defects analyzed. The first-year survival rate was 100% in both groups in isolated coarctation (p = 0.965), however;such rate was found as 100% and 93.25% in Waldhausen Group and Resection Group, respectively in complex coarctation (p = 0.294). Conclusions: Both the subclavian flap repair and resection with extended end-to-end anastomosis for coarctation of the aorta in infants provide excellent short-term outcomes with lower recurrence rates requiring surgery or angioplasty.

Investigation of regurgitation and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in Indonesian infants

AIM: To evaluate the incidence of regurgitation and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in Indonesian infants. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study at the University Outpatient Clinic for vaccination in Jakarta, 138 mothers of healthy infants less than 12-mo old were prospectively asked to report the frequency of regurgitation. RESULTS: Whatever the age was, some infants did not regurgitate (from 10% during the first month of life to 67% in 1-year-old infants). Regurgitation of at least once a day was reported in 77% of infants younger than 3 mo. Daily regurgitation decreased to 12% in the 9-12 mo old group. Reported peak prevalence was 81%(26/32) during the firs tmonth of life. Regurgitation decreased sharply between the 4-6 and 7-9 mo old groups (from 44% to 9%). The longer the regurgitation persisted, the more frequently the mother perceived regurgitation as a problem. Volume and frequency of regurgitation, back arching, irritability, crying and refusal of feeding were the symptoms causing maternal anxiety. The longer the regurgitation persisted, the more frequently the mothers viewed it as a health problem. CONCLUSION: Regurgitation occurs frequently in Indonesian infants, and is a frequent cause of concern to mothers.

Prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease among Infants from 2012 to 2014 in Langfang, China

Background： Congenital heart disease （CHD） is the most common congenital malformations with high mortality and morbidity. The prevalence of CHD reported previously ranged from 4 per 1000 live births to 50 per 1000 live births. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to document the prevalence of CHD in Langfang district of Hebei Province, China by analyzing data collected by hospitals located in 11 the counties of the district, as supported by a public health campaign. Methods： A total of 67,718 consecutive 3-month-old infants were included from July 19,2012 to July 18, 2014. Structural abnormalities were diagnosed based on echocardiography findings, including two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography results. Results： Of the 67,718 infants, 1554 were found to have cardiac structural abnormalities. The total prevalence of CHD was 22.9 per 1000 live births, a value significantly higher than the previously reported prevalence of 8 cases per 1000 live births. The top five most common cardiac abnormalities were as follows： atrial septal defect （ASD, 605 cases, 8.93‰）; ventricular septal defect （550 cases, 8.12‰）; patent ductus arteriosus （228 cases, 3.37‰）; pulmonary stenosis （66 cases, 0.97‰）; and tetralogy of Fallot （32 cases, 0.47‰）. The CHD prevalence differed by gender in this study （x^2 = 23.498, P 〈 0.001）, and the majority of ASD cases were females. Regional differences in prevalence were also found （x^2 = 24.602, P 〈 0.001）; a higher prevalence was found in urban areas （32.2 cases per 1000 live births） than in rural areas （21. 1 cases per 1000 live births）. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of CHD in preterm versus full-term infants （x^2 - 133.443, P 〈 0.001 ）. Prevalence of CHD in infants of maternal aged 35 years or over was significantly higher （x^2 86.917, P 〈 0.001）. Conclusions： The prevalence of CHD in Langfang district was within the range reported using echocardiography. Echocardiography can be used to early diagnose the CHD.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease in children: What’s new right now?

Gastroesophageal reflux(GER)in children is very common and refers to the involuntary passage of gastric contents into the esophagus.This is often physiological and managed conservatively.In contrast,GER disease(GERD)is a less common pathologic process causing troublesome symptoms,which may need medical management.Apart from abnormal transient relaxations of the lower esophageal sphincter,other factors that play a role in the pathogenesis of GERD include defects in esophageal mucosal defense,impaired esophageal and gastric motility and clearance,as well as anatomical defects of the lower esophageal reflux barrier such as hiatal hernia.The clinical manifestations of GERD in young children are varied and nonspecific prompting the necessity for careful diagnostic evaluation.Management should be targeted to the underlying aetiopathogenesis and to limit complications of GERD.The following review focuses on up-to-date information regarding of the pathogenesis,diagnostic evaluation and management of GERD in children.

Oxidative stress and free radicals related diseases of the newborn

Free radicals (FRs) generation is an unavoidable consequence of the life in an oxygen-rich atmosphere. FRs can be considered a double-edged sword. Beneficial effects of FRs occur at moderate concentrations and involve physiological roles in cellular responses to noxia, as in defense against infectious agents, in the function of a number of cellular signaling pathways and the induction of a mitogenic response. The over-production of FRs and the insufficiency of an antioxidant mechanism result in oxidative stress (OS), a deleterious process and important mediator of damage to cell structures and tissues. It occurs at birth in all newborns as a consequence of the hyperoxic challenge after the transition from the hypoxic intrauterine environment to extrauterine life. During the perinatal period, OS can be magnified by others predisposing conditions such as hyperoxia, hypoxia, ischemia, hypoxia-reperfusion, inflammation and high levels of non-protein bound iron. Epidemiological studies linked OS occurring during fetal stages and early infancy with adverse health outcomes later in life, indicating that OS is an early event in the etiology of these chronic diseases. Newborns, especially if preterm, are particularly susceptible to OS and damage due to the increased generation of FRs, the lack of adequate antioxidant protection, and the inability to induce antioxidant defenses during the hyperoxic challenge at birth. This impairment of the oxidative balance has been thought to be the common factor of pathologies grouped together as “free radical disease in the neonate” that include retinopathy of prematurity (which may lead to blindness in severe cases), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (a particularly debilitating pulmonary lesion of the preterm infant), periventricular leukomalacia (an important cause of severe neurodisability) and necrotizing enterocolitis. In this review we discuss in detail these perinatal diseases. Particularly, we analyze the current knowledge about the role of OS in their pathogenesis.

Correlation of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with prolonged ICU stayin infants undergoing cardiac surgery

Background The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)stands as a valuable marker for assessing inflammation and predicting adverse outcomes post-cardiac surgery.This study aimed to ascertain the prognostic relevance of preoperative NLR concerning prolonged ICU stay among infants undergoing congenital heart surgery employing cardiopulmonary bypass.Methods A retrospective review was conducted involving 187 consecutive infants(≤1 year)who underwent congenital heart disease surgery between January and April 2019,stratified into two groups based on NLR(NLR<0.484,NLR≥0.484).The primary outcome was prolonged intensive care unit(ICU)length of stay,defined patients with ICU stays duration higher than the third quartile.Correlations between preoperative NLR and clinical outcomes were assessed.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,multivariable Logistic regression,and restricted cube plots were utilized to gauge the association of preoperative NLR with prolonged ICU stay.Results The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of NLRpredictive capability for prolonged ICU length of staywas 0.691.Subgroup analyses revealed poorer prognoses among patients with high NLR(≥0.484).Multivariable Logistic regression analysis indicated that heightened preoperative NLR(OR:2.63,95%CI:1.18-5.83,P=0.018)independently was correlated with prolonged ICU length of stay in infants'post-cardiac surgery.Conclusions In summary,the NLR emerges as a significant predictive factor for prolonged ICU stay in infants undergoing cardiac surgery.Nevertheless,further research is warranted to comprehensively grasp the relationship between the NLR and prolonged ICU stay.

The effect of glucose control on clinical outcomes of correction surgery in infants with hyperglycemia and congenital heart disease

Background Currently it remains controversial whether intensive control of glucose is required for pediatric hyperglycemia. Few studies are available on the blood glucose control for the infants receiving congenital heart disease operation. However, there are no uniform standards to control hyperglycemmia after congenital heart disease operation. In this study, we determined the ranges and methods of postoperative blood glycemic control in infants with congenital heart disease. Methods Eighty-two infants younger than 6 months of age, who underwent correction of congenital heart disease in our hospital from 06/01/2014 to 06/01/2015, participated in this study. All patients were randomly divided into two groups： group A （insulin control group） and groupB （non-insulin control group）. Each group was randomly divided into three subgroups （A1-A3.B1-B3）. Children in group A were treated using the glycemic control therapy with insulin. Children in group B received a glycemic control therapy without insulin. Femoral vein blood was drew in 72 hours after the operation to check WBC, CRP, lactate, ALT and Cr. The duration of ICU, incidence of lung infection, hypoglycemia and mortality were recorded. Results The differences of Cr ALT, WBC and CRP indexes were statistically significant （P 〈 0.05） in A and B subgroups, but not between the A and B groups （P 〉 0.05）. The ICU stay time of group A2 and B2 was less than that of other groups, but the difference was not statistically significant （P 〉 0.05）. The incidence of pulmonary infection and hypoglycemia in 2 groups was lower than that in A1 and A3 group. The incidence of complications in group B2 was lower than that in B1 group and B3 group, but there was no significant difference （P 〉 0.05）. There was no significant difference between the A and B groups （P 〉 0.05）. Conclusions Hyperglycemia can increase postoperative pulmonary infection. Aggressive control of blood glucose does not improve patient outcomes, but increases the incidence of hypoglycemia.