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Background: The present study was conducted to determine the utility of Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology II (SNAP II) and Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology with Perinatal Extension II (SNAPPE II) scoring systems as predictors of neonatal mortality rate, and to compare the predictive value of these two methods. Methods: In this prospective study data were gathered from infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Imam Hossein Medical Center, Tehran, Iran, from March 2015 to December 2015. In addition to demographic data, Apgar score at 5 minutes after birth, initial and final diagnosis, SNAP II, and SNAPPE II were recorded within 24 hours after admission to the NICU. Results: One hundred ninety-one newborn infants entered into the study. Birth weight (2555 ± 722 g in survival group versus 1588 ± 860 g in expired group, P < 0.001), and Apgar score more than 7 at 5 minutes after birth (99.4% in survival group versus 57.1% in expired group, P < 0.001) were significantly related to the mortality rate. By analyzing the data using logistic regression, it was found that SNAP II (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.992; 95% CI: 0.98-1) and SNAPPE II (AUC = 0.994; 95% CI: 0.984-1) had better value for predicting the patients' survival compared to Apgar score at 5 minutes after birth (AUC = 0.711; 95% CI: 0.568-0.855). There was no statistically significant difference in predictive value of SNAP II and SNAPPE II methods (P > 0.99). Conclusion: According to our findings SNAP II and SNAPPE II are useful tools in predicting the mortality rate among Iranian neonates admitted to NICU. Although there was no significant difference between SNAP II and SNAPPE II, both methods had a much better predictive value compared to Apgar score at 5 minutes after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To evaluate the accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubin measurement in a large population of newborn infants, before and during the phototherapy. Patients and Methods: Asingle Bilicheck instrument was used for transcutaneous measurements. A photo-opaque patch was positioned over the measurement site prior to starting phototherapy. Transcutaneous bilirubinometry was conducted on an unpatched area of the forehead skin and on the nearby site covered by the photo-opaque patch. Readings were obtained from patched and unpatched areas and simultaneous total serum bilirubin concentrations were compared. Results: We studied 134 term and 36 preterm newborns. Pre-phototherapy measurements showed a strong correlation (r: 0.929, P < 0.001, Limit of agreement: -1.8 to 3.1) between Bilicheck and serum bilirubin readings. Post-phototherapy correlation between Bilicheck and serum bilirubin readings was (r: 0.921, P < 0.001, LOA: -1.8 to 2.8) among term and (r: 0.887, P = 0.001, LOA: -1.4 to 2.7) among preterm neonates in patched areas. These correlations were (r: 0.666, P < 0.001, LOA: -1.7 to 7.3) among term and (r: 0.756, P < 0.001, LOA: -0.5 to 5.3) preterm neonates post-phototherapy in unpatched areas. Conclusion: BiliCheck can be safely used for the evaluation of bilirubin levels in preterm and term newborn infants under phototherapy. BiliCheck is slightly less reliable among preterm newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the hematological effects of umbilical cord clamp timing and delivery type in term infants 48 hours after birth in Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. METHOD: From Oct 2007 - March 2008, 100 mother-infant eligible pairs were selected and divided by cord clamp timing (15 s) for hematologic value determination between the two groups. Data analysis was performed with SPSS for Windows statistical package (version 13). RESULTS: Maternal hematological status was assessed upon admission to the delivery room. A total of 100 mother-infant pairs were divided into two groups: delayed cord clamp time within 15 s (n=70) or early cord clamp time [15 s after delivery (n=30)]. The groups had similar demographic and biomedical characteristics at baseline. Forty-eight hours after delivery the mean infant hemoglobin (Hgb; 16.08 gm/dL vs. 14.5 gm/dL; P<0.001) and hematocrit (Hct 47.6 vs. 42.8; P<0.001) levels were significantly higher in the delayed clamping group. There was no significant difference in ferritin levels (214.7 vs. 173.6 ng/dL; P=0.08). Fifty infants were born vaginally and 50 were delivered by cesarean section. Infants delivered vaginally had significantly more delayed cord clamp times (>15 s; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Delaying cord clamping increases the red cell mass in term infants. It is a safe, simple and low cost delivery procedure that should be incorporated in integrated programs that are aimed at reducing iron deficiency anemia in infants in developing countries. Vaginal delivery facilitates this action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the hematological effects of umbilical cord clamp timing and delivery type in term infants 48 hours after birth in Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Method: From Oct 2007 - March 2008, 100 mother-infant eligible pairs were selected and divided by cord clamp timing (⩽15 s and >15 s) for hematologic value determination between the two groups. Data analysis was performed with SPSS for Windows statistical package (version 13). Results: Maternal hematological status was assessed upon admission to the delivery room. A total of 100 mother-infant pairs were divided into two groups: delayed cord clamp time within 15 s (n=70) or early cord clamp time [15 s after delivery (n=30)]. The groups had similar demographic and biomedical characteristics at baseline. Forty-eight hours after delivery the mean infant hemoglobin (Hgb; 16.08 gm/dL vs. 14.5 gm/dL; P<0.001) and hematocrit (Hct 47.6 vs. 42.8; P<0.001) levels were significantly higher in the delayed clamping group. There was no significant difference in ferritin levels (214.7 vs. 173.6 ng/ dL; P=0.08). Fifty infants were born vaginally and 50 were delivered by cesarean section. Infants delivered vaginally had significantly more delayed cord clamp times (>15 s; P<0.001). Conclusion: Delaying cord clamping increases the red cell mass in term infants. It is a safe, simple and low cost delivery procedure that should be incorporated in integrated programs that are aimed at reducing iron deficiency anemia in infants in developing countries. Vaginal delivery facilitates this action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ideal respiratory support for very low birth weight infants (VLBW) can be selected based on demographic and clinical status at birth. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we included 163 VLBW neonates treated with either invasive or non-invasive respiratory support in their first 72 hours of life in the neonatal intensive care unit of Mahdiyeh hospital, Tehran, Iran. We used descriptive statistics to describe the data, and multiple logistic regression to determine the factors associated with the success rate of different strategies and the choice of strategy for primary respiratory support. All analyses were done using SPSS version 20 and STATA version 12 at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The success rates of initial respiratory supports with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP), noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), and INSURE (intubation surfactant extubation) were 63.20%, 42.10% and 61.90%, respectively. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed patent arterial duct (PDA) (yes vs. no: OR = 0.42) had a significant effect on initial respiratory support success (P < 0.05). Also, gestational age (>28 vs. ≤28 weeks: OR = 0.26) and 5-min APGAR (≤6 vs. >6: OR = 9.69) had a significant effect on the choice of initial respiratory support in VLBW infants (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The neonatal clinical condition may be a predictor of success for initial respiratory support at birth. Since the arterial duct may be open during the first hours of life, more study is needed to verify if early closure of the arterial duct may help increase the success rate of non-invasive respiratory support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iran and its neighboring countries represent four world regions with unique cultures and geography. Skin diseases span a wide diversity of etiologies including infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, vascular, neurogenic, and oncologic. The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2015 measures the burden from skin diseases in 195 countries. Methods: Epidemiologic data were collected from literature review, survey data, and hospital inpatient/outpatient claims data. These raw data entered modeling using a Bayesian meta-regression tool, DisMod MR-2.1, which yielded prevalence estimates by age/sex/location/ year. Prevalence estimateswere combined with disability weights to yield years lived with disability (YLDs). YLDs are combined with years of life lost (YLLs), from mortality estimates, to yield disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). DALYs were obtained for 16 skin conditions and both sexes in Iran and 15 surrounding countries. The sociodemographic index (SDI) for each country was also correlated with skin disease DALY rate using the Pearson coefficient (r) with two-tailed p-value. Results: There was no significant correlation between individual skin diseases and SDI. Acne and dermatitis caused the greatest burden and BCC the lowestburden ofskin diseases in Iran and the other15countries. SCC and BCCwere responsible forthe largestdiscrepancy by sex, with higher burden in males compared to females. Conclusion: Skin diseases, particularly dermatitis and acne, cause considerable burden in Iran and surrounding regions. Objective and transparentepidemiologic data such asGBD hasthe potential to inform and impactmanyfacetsofhealthcare, research prioritization, public policy, and international partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]