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Background: One of the most important complications of premature birth is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Sepsis may increase the incidence of this complication. The aim of this study is to compare the incidence of ROP in neonates with and without sepsis. Methods: In a retrospective case-control study, preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Ghaem hospital from 2014 to 2022 were examined. The case group consisted of 155 preterm infants with definite sepsis (positive blood culture and clinical signs of sepsis) and the control group included 145 preterm infants without sepsis whose maternal and neonatal characteristics were collected; they were examined by a retinologist and evaluated for ROP at 32 weeks or four weeks after birth. Finally, we used the chi-square and the t test to compare the two groups. Results: Out of 155 preterm infants with sepsis, 70% and out of 145 preterm infants without sepsis, 58% had ROP (P = 0.023). Also, low birth weight, low initial Apgar score and low 5-minute Apgar score were significantly associated with ROP (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, sepsis is a serious risk factor for ROP. We can reduce its incidence and complication by preventing sepsis in premature infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (RoP) is a cause of newborn blindness. Several predisposing factors have been reported to contribute to the disease process. The current study aimed to compare serum vitamin D levels in infants with and without RoP. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 154 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants admitted to Ghaem hospital, Mashhad, Iran, during 2016–2019. Retinal examination for RoP was done at the 32nd week of pregnancy and vitamin D level was determined using the infants’ first-day serum samples. A researcher-made questionnaire including maternal, infant, laboratory, and retinal examination information was used as the data collection tool. Results: Out of 154 infants in the study, 56 (36.4%) were normal while 98 (63.6%) had RoP. Based on the severity of retinopathy, 43 infants (43.9%) were at stage I, 48 (49%) at stage II, and 7 (7.1%) at stage III. Significant differences in neonatal (P<0.001) and maternal (P=0.015) vitamin D levels, first and fifth minute Apgar scores (P=0.034 and P=0.001, respectively), and weight (P=0.014) were found between the infants with and without RoP. Conclusion: The incidence of RoP was higher in infants with lower gestational age, lower birth weight, low first and fifth minutes Apgar scores, and male sex. Low serum levels of vitamin D in premature infants and their mothers were associated with incidence of RoP. The higher the stage of RoP, the greater was the severity of vitamin D deficiency. Thus, controlling the maternal vitamin D level during pregnancy, consumption of vitamin D supplements, and investigation of serum vitamin D levels in premature infants are recommended. Early correction of vitamin D deficiency may lead to reduction of RoP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is one of the most frequent causes of respiratory distress in neonates. A relationship has been shown between vitamin D deficiency and respiratory disorders in neonates. This research was carried out to evaluate the serum level of vitamin D in TTN newborns and their mothers compared to the control group. Methods: This case-control research was conducted during 2016-2019 in a general hospital affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Thirty-four infants with TTN and 82 neonates in the control group as well as their mothers were investigated. The levels of umbilical cord serum vitamin D in infants with TTN and also their mothers were compared to the control group. Results: The mean levels of serum vitamin D in infants with TTN and their mothers were 8.11 ± 4.32 and 12.6 ± 10.12 ng/mL, respectively (P < 0.001), whereas they were 19.21 ± 12.71 and 25.96 ± 16.6 ng/mL in the newborns of the control group and their mothers, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean differences (95% CI) of neonatal and maternal vitamin D level between the two groups were 11.10 (7.92-14.28) and 13.36 (7.90-18.08), respectively. In the TTN group, 100% of the infants had vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/mL (79.4% had severe, 17.6% had moderate and 2.9% showed mild deficiency). However, vitamin D levels lower than 30 ng/mL were observed in 76.4% of the neonates in the control group (28.8% had severe, 31.1% showed moderate and 16.3% had a mild deficiency) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The serum vitamin D levels of infants with TTN and their mothers were significantly lower than the control group. Therefore, TTN in infants may be reduced through the treatment of vitamin D deficiency in mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diagnosis and timely treatment of neonatal jaundice and prevention of dangerous side effects of pathologic neonatal jaundice remain a serious debate. The first step in prevention of jaundice is the identification of predisposing factors. The present study aims to systematically review the maternal risk factors of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: For this study, we searched databases including Science Direct, Cochrane Library, ISI, PubMed and Google Scholar from 1993 to 2017. The keywords searched based on MESH included hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice, infants, mothers and risk factors. The present systematic review was conducted on studies reporting maternal risk factors for neonatal jaundice. The inclusion criteria were: study on neonates; examination of maternal factors or both maternal and neonatal factors. Papers associated with the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal jaundice were excluded from the study, as well as those articles for which only abstracts were available. The limitations of this study include lack of access to all relevant articles, lack of qualified reports in some papers, and the limitation in number of articles related to maternal risk factors, and therefore inability to judge accurately about their effects on neonatal jaundice. Results: Of 500 searched articles, 17 articles (1 prospective article, 2 retrospective papers, 12 cross-sectional papers and 2 historical cohort articles) were finally investigated. Maternal risk factors included hypertension, diabetes, type of delivery, vaginal bleeding, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), maternal age, lack of initiation of feeding during the first hours of life, inappropriate breastfeeding techniques and presence of maternal breast problems. Conclusion: The most common maternal risk factors for neonatal jaundice were prematurity, blood type incompatibilities, preeclampsia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, vaginal bleeding, delivery problems (type of delivery, labor injuries, delivery at home, skin ecchymosis, and cephalohematoma), mothers and community cultural beliefs (use of traditional supplements), breast problems, and decrease in breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perinatal asphyxia is an important cause of death, as well as permanent neurological and developmental complications. Diagnosing in time would lead to better prognosis and applying the most proper treatment. We sought to define the predictive values of serum concentrations of interleukin -1β (IL-1β) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in newborns with perinatal asphyxia to see if there is a relation between the short-term neurological deficit and serum IL-1β and IL-6 concentrations. Methods: This was a prospective (case-control) study conducted between March 2006 and April 2013, at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Mashhad, Iran. Serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels were measured at birth in 38 consecutive uninfected neonates with perinatal asphyxia (blood pH < 7.2, low Apgar score, signs of fetal distress) and 47 randomly selected healthy newborns. The results were compared between the groups, using Chi-Square, f-tests, and Mann-Whitney tests, as well as receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves and regression models. Results: Serum IL-1β and IL-6 concentrations in the infants who developed perinatal asphyxia were significantly higher compared to values in the normal infants [16.88 vs 3.34 pg/mL for IL-1β, (P = 0.006), and 88.15 vs 6.74 pg/ mL for IL-6, (P < 0.001) respectively]. The sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia using serum IL-6 were 80.5% and 81.6% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity using serum IL-1β were 71 % and 89.1 %, respectively. Conclusion: Evaluating serum IL-6 and 1β simultaneously, could improve the sensitivity and specificity of early diagnosis of the perinatal asphyxia.The most appropriate indicator of perinatal asphyxia is combined measurement of interleukin 1β and interleukin 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perinatal asphyxia is a major cause of neurologic morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate variations in nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) count per 100 white blood cells (WBC) and absolute NRBC/mm3 in blood associated with perinatal asphyxia and its relationship to both the severity and short term prognosis of asphyxia. Methods: A prospective (case-control) study was undertaken between October 2006 and December 2008, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. A total of 91 infants completed the study. Levels of nucleated red blood cell per 100 white blood cells and absolute nucleated red blood cell counts in venous blood were compared for 42 asphyxiated (case group) and 49 normal neonates (control group). These parameters were also related to the severity of asphyxia and clinical outcome. Results: The NRBC/100 WBC and absolute nucleated red blood cell levels in the blood of newborns in the control group were 3.87±5.06 and 58.21±87.57/mm3, respectively; whereas the corresponding values in the cases were 18.63±16.63 and 634.04±1002/mm3, respectively (P<0.001). A statistically signi cant negative correlation existed between nucleated red blood cell level and indicators of the severity of perinatal asphyxia, first minute Apgar score and blood pH (P<0.001), respectively. A positive correlation was demonstrated between these parameters and severity of asphyxia, acidosis, and poor outcome (P<0.05). Conclusions: The NRBC/100 WBC and/or absolute nucleated red blood cell are simple markers for assessment of severity and early outcomes of perinatal asphyxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]