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Background: Although a variety of different lipid emulsions with varying fatty acid contents have been developed, there are some concerns about the administration of these lipid emulsions because of potential adverse effects, including oxidative stress-related morbidity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the effects of the standard soybean oil-based and olive oil-based i.v. lipid emulsions (ILE) on oxidative stress, determined by total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and to investigate the safety of the use of these two emulsions in terms of biochemical indices. Methods: In this prospective study, premature infants were randomly assigned to two groups, each group consisting of 32 patients who received parenteral ILE of either 20% olive oil or 20% soybean oil. They were given ILE for 7 days and then were evaluated with regard to TAC. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of routine biochemical parameters. TAC for both groups on day 7 was significantly lower compared with that on day 0. Although the decrease in TAC within 7 days of ILE administration was greater in the soybean group compared with that in the olive oil group, it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Olive oil-based ILE exhibit similar antioxidant activity and can be used as an alternative to soybean oil-based ILE. TAC significantly decreased in infants following administration of either lipid emulsion, and premature infants tolerated either ILE well, both biochemically and clinically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is expected to be elevated in iodine-deficient areas. In this study, the authors aimed to determine the incidence of transient and permanent CH in a large city which is known to be in the zone of moderate iodine deficiency. Methods: Newborn babies in Bursa, Turkey, were screened by measurement of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) obtained by heel prick. The babies who had a serum TSH >20 mIU/L were recalled for measurement of T4 and TSH in venous serum. Results: A total of 11 770 newborns were screened over a period of 9 years. The incidence of CH was found to be 1/840. However, after excluding the transient cases, permanent CH was diagnosed in 1/2354. It was impossible to distinguish transient patients from permanent CH by initial laboratory tests ( P > 0.05). The estimated power of the study in determining the incidence of CH in the population was 90% ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The authors conclude that the incidence of CH is very high in their population which warrants a country-wide neonatal screening program. Since transient cases cannot be distinguished and untreated transient hypothyroidism may also cause mental retardation, treatment must be started as early as possible with frequent monitoring to optimize the outcome and identify the transient patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is rare and is characterized by the proliferation of melanocytes in the central nervous system. A 6-day-old infant boy was referred to our department with giant congenital melanocytic nevi and convulsions. On physical examination the patient had a giant black-brown pigmented nevus covering his face, neck, scalp, shoulders, back, chest, and abdomen. Numerous satellite lesions were noted on the face, neck, and upper extremities. In the right bulbar conjunctiva, a brown plaque was present. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hyperintense areas in the brain on short repetition time/short echo time sequences, compatible with intraparenchymal melanin deposits. No leptomeningeal abnormality was seen. Further investigation also revealed agenesis of the right kidney and transposition of the great arteries. Transposition of the great arteries, which has never been reported in NCM, may be an incidental finding. We present a case of NCM associated with agenesis of the right kidney and transposition of the great arteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]