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Objective: Early neonatal sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome lead to neonatal mortality in preterm infants during the first days of life. The objectives of this study were to identify whether spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio is an early diagnostic indicator of early neonatal sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. Material and Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal analysis of 126 preterm infants born at less than 34 weeks of gestation. In this study, we evaluated serum concentrations of albumin, creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP) and spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio on the first, third and seventh day of life. We also investigated the association of these parameters with early neonatal sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants during the first days of life. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio and early neonatal sepsis group in the first and seventh day of life (p=0.01). Urinary albumin/creatinine ratios were not statistically significant in the respiratory distress syndrome group. Serum albumin concentrations and spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio were not correlated during the first days of life. There was also no relationship between gestational age, birth weight and spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio during the first days of life. Conclusion: Our results suggest that spot urine albumin/creatinine ratio during the early postnatal period can identify early neonatal sepsis in preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • To date there have only few methods available for assessing Moro response objectively. • This study differs from other studies from the new application that measures Moro response and latency interval with video monitorization and accelerometer. • We believe that the evaluation of Moro reflex with an objective method may be a guide for early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders and also may prevent long term complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze maternal and neonatal interleukin 6 (IL-6) (-174 G/C) polymorphism and to determine effect on preterm birth and neonatal morbidity.Study Design: One hundred and sixty-four mothers (100 term births, 64 preterm births) and 183 newborn infants who were 100 healthy term and 83 preterm babies followed in newborn intensive care units were evaluated. PCR-RFLP was performed for IL-6 (-174 G/C) genotyping.Results: The rate of GG genotype in mothers of term and preterm infants were 54% (n = 54/100), 75% (n = 48/64), respectively (p > .05) and the rate of GC + CC genotype was 46% (n = 46/100) and 25% (n = 16/64) in mothers giving term and preterm birth (PTB), respectively (p < .05). Additionally, the rate of GG genotype was 65% (n = 65/100) and 81.9% (n = 68/83) in term infants and preterm infants, respectively. GC + CC genotype was 35% (n = 35/100) in term infants and 18.1% (n = 15/83) in preterm infants (p < .05). The effect of IL-6 (-174) GC + CC genotype on PTB was statistically significant.Conclusion: The IL-6 174 G/C gene polymorphism was significantly different between mothers who were giving to term and preterm birth. The presence of polymorphism is protective against preterm birth and was not associated with neonatal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, no study has evaluated changes in oral labial angle as preterm infants mature. The main purpose of this study was to document goniometer measurements of the labial angle of the mouth in preterm infants, to assess changes with development, to compare to findings in healthy term infants, and also evaluate oral motor reflexes in these groups. Seventy-eight preterm infants and 45 healthy term infants were recruited for the prospective study. Labial angle was assessed via goniometer, and oral motor reflexes and the volume of milk ingested were evaluated. There was significant difference between term and preterm infants’ labial angles (P < .01). The distribution of preterm infants’ angles were similar to term infants’ by 36 to 40 weeks’ postmenstrual age. Goniometer measurements of the oral labial angle may reveal oral motor performance in preterm infants and may be relevant for feeding skills assessment in this group of infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When conventional methods for treating complicated problems such as acute and chronic renal failure or metabolic diseases fail, the therapy of choice is peritoneal dialysis ( PD) in neonatal period. However, in cases that involve technical difficulties, such as bulky lesions in the abdomen or complications from previous abdominal surgeries, it is not always possible to place a peritoneal catheter. In such situations, continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration ( CVVHDF) can be effective. This case series presents our experience in 2013 with the administration of CVVHDF to four patients in our neonatal intensive care unit who could not undergo PD for various reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attachment is defined as the emotional tie that a baby forms between itself and those who care for it, in order to keep an adult closer, thereby obtaining safety and security. Infantile colic has been defined as paroxysmal uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy infant less than three months of age, with more than three hours of crying per day on more than three days a week and for more than three weeks. We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between maternal attachment and infantile colic. The study was carried out at the Başkent University Department of Pediatrics. To evaluate maternal bonding, the Maternal Attachment Inventory was administered to 58 mothers of babies with infantile colic and 60 mothers of babies without infantile colic. The infantile colic rate was higher in female infants and in infants of mothers with a history of problematic pregnancy. In this study, no significant relationship was found between infantile colic and maternal bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inferior vena cava (IVC) oxygen saturation as an indicator of mixed venous oxygenation may be valuable for understanding postnatal adaptations in newborn infants. It is unknown how this parameter progresses in critically ill premature infants. Aims: To investigate IVC oxygen saturation during the first three days of life in preterm infants with and without patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Study Design: Case-control study. Methods: Twenty-seven preterm infants were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care. Preterm infants with umbilical venous catheterization were included in the study. Six umbilical venous blood gas values were obtained from each infant during the first 72 hours of life. Preterm infants in the study were divided into two groups. Haemodynamically significant PDA was diagnosed by echocardiography in 11 (41%) infants before the 72nd hour of life in the study group and ibuprofen treatment was started, whereas 16 (59%) infants who didn't have haemodynamically significant PDA were included in the control group. Results: In the entire group, the highest value of mean IVC oxygen saturation was 79.9% at the first measurement and the lowest was 64.8% at the 72nd hour. Inferior vena cava oxygen saturations were significantly different between the study and control groups. Posthoc analysis revealed that the first and 36th hour measurements made the difference (p=0.01). Conclusion: Inferior vena cava oxygen saturation was found to be significantly different between preterm infants with and without PDA. Further studies are needed to understand the effect of foetal shunts on venous oxygenation during postnatal adaptation in newborn infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Despite extensive research, there is still controversy regarding the time at which sucking and swallowing functions mature in preterm infants. This study aimed to evaluate maturation using the noninvasive method of swallowing sound. Methods We compared 52 preterm infants of between 27 and 36 weeks' gestational age with a control group of 42 healthy full-term infants. Feeding performance was based on swallowing data collected during two-minute audio recordings. The following variables were generated for each evaluation: total number of swallows, total number of rhythmic swallows, total number of resting intervals, average time between resting intervals, average time between swallows, average time between rhythmic swallows, maximum number of rhythmic swallows and volume of milk ingested. The dependency of the variables on postmenstrual age was also investigated. Results The volume of milk ingested by the preterm infants and the maximum number of rhythmic swallows were positively correlated with postmenstrual age ( PMA). The preterm infants reached the 10th percentile of the control infants at 34-35 weeks' PMA and were not significantly different from the control infants at 38-40 weeks' PMA. Conclusion Swallowing sound can be used to assess feeding maturation in preterm infants during neonatal intensive care unit follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]