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Aim: Early postnatal discharge of newborns leads to the risk of hospital readmission, mostly due to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Therefore, early identification of newborns at high risk of hyperbilirubinemia is important. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether cord blood red cell distribution width (RDW) levels could be used to identify newborns at high risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia. Material and methods: The data of all term infants who were born in our hospital between January and June 2017 whose cord blood samples were examined were reviewed retrospectively. Cord blood RDW, cord blood bilirubin, newborn/mother’s blood groups and direct Coombs’test (DCT) results were analyzed. Results: A total 175 newborns were included. Phototherapy was required 58 newborns in the first 48 hours postnatally. The mean cord blood RDW levels among newborns with hyperbilirubinemia was significantly higher compared to controls (18±1.6 vs. 16.4±1.0, p

Background Weight gain is an important adverse effect of valproate (VPA) therapy. A number of mechanisms have been proposed for its pathophysiology. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of insulin, leptin and lipid levels in epileptic children on treatment with VPA. Methods Thirty epileptic children treated with VPA, and 20 age-sex-matched healthy children, were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were taken and the body mass index was calculated for all of the subjects. Serum insulin, leptin, and lipid levels were compared between the two groups. Results Leptin levels were significantly higher in the patient group (P = 0.009) whereas body mass index values were comparable. There was a positive correlation between leptin and body mass index among both patient (r = 0.464, P = 0.01) and control groups (r = 0.734, P = 0.0001). Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were lower in VPA-treated epileptic children than the control group (P = 0.008; P = 0.003, respectively). No significant difference was determined in insulin levels between the two groups. A negative correlation was observed between plasma VPA level and total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in the patient group (r = -0.380, P = 0.03, r = -0.474, P = 0.008, respectively). Conclusion This study demonstrated higher leptin levels in the patient group despite similar BMI values. Hence, it seems likely that VPA causes leptin resistance. Unlike other anti-epileptics, VPA does not produce an increase in serum cholesterol levels. On the contrary, lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol levels in VPA-receiving patients have been observed in our study.

A 28-week-old preterm infant with a birth weight of 1250 g had a broken segment of umbilical vein catheter (UVC) lodged in the right atrium. It was observed that a 7-cm fragment of catheter had migrated to the right atrium through the inferior vena cava. The catheter was successfully retrieved by fluoroscopically guided percutaneous cardiac catheterization, using a cobra catheter and snare wire, without complication. Fracture and embolization of UVC is a rare but serious complication. Presently described was a case of fractured and embolized UVC in a very low-birth-weight preterm infant, and its successful retrieval via percutaneous endovascular approach.

Objective: To determine exposure to endocrine-disrupting phthalates in preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Methods: Urine samples (n=151) from 36 preterm infants (