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Neonates have limited antioxidative capacity and are at increased risk of infection and inflammation-a situation that is exacerbated in preterm neonates. Together, oxidative stress and inflammation are implicated in many serious conditions affecting neonates, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and periventricular leukomalacia. Neonates requiring parenteral nutrition have certain nutritional requirements. For example, very long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are regarded as conditionally essential with critical roles during early retinal and brain development, and may also have other benefits such as anti-inflammatory effects. Because of these factors, the choice of lipid emulsion used as part of parenteral nutrition support may influence clinical outcomes in neonates. There are concerns that lipid emulsions based purely on soybean oil may increase lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and inflammation because of their high ω-6 PUFA and low ω-3 PUFA concentrations. Composite fish-oil containing lipid emulsions may provide advantages for neonates owing to their high DHA and EPA content and high antioxidant (α-tocopherol) levels. Here, we discuss clinical trials of lipid emulsions in preterm and term neonatal populations, with a particular emphasis on markers of oxidative stress and DHA and EPA levels. Olive oil/soybean oil lipid emulsions have shown few advantages in neonates over other lipid emulsions. However, compared with either pure soybean or soybean/olive-oil based emulsions, composite fish-oil containing lipid emulsions reduce oxidative stress/lipid peroxidation and also increase DHA and EPA levels. These advantages may translate into clinical benefits for neonates requiring parenteral nutrition., (© 2020 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Context: Late-onset sepsis (LOS) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. Despite various preventive measures, its incidence continues to remain high, hence the urgent need for additional approaches. One such potential strategy is supplementation with probiotics. The updated Cochrane Review (2014) did not find benefits of probiotics in reducing the risk of LOS in preterm infants (19 studies, N = 5338). Currently there are >30 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of probiotics in preterm infants that have reported on LOS., Objectives: To conduct a systematic review including all relevant RCTs., Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and E-abstracts from the Pediatric Academic Society meetings and other pediatric and neonatal conference proceedings were searched in June and August 2015., Study Selection: RCTs comparing probiotics versus placebo/no probiotic were included., Data Extraction: Relevant data were extracted independently by 3 reviewers., Results: Pooled results from 37 RCTs (N = 9416) using fixed effects model meta analysis showed that probiotics significantly decreased the risk of LOS (675/4852 [13.9%] vs 744/4564 [16.3%]; relative risk, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.94; P = .0007; I(2) = 35%; number needed to treat, 44). The results were significant even after excluding studies with high risk of bias., Conclusions: Probiotic supplementation reduces the risk of LOS in preterm infants., (Copyright © 2016 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Background: Current evidence indicates that probiotic supplementation significantly reduces all-cause mortality and definite necrotising enterocolitis without significant adverse effects in preterm neonates. As the debate about the pros and cons of routine probiotic supplementation continues, many institutions are satisfied with the current evidence and wish to use probiotics routinely. Because of the lack of detail on many practical aspects of probiotic supplementation, clinician-friendly guidelines are urgently needed to optimise use of probiotics in preterm neonates., Aim: To develop evidence-based guidelines for probiotic supplementation in preterm neonates., Methods: To develop core guidelines on use of probiotics, including strain selection, dose and duration of supplementation, we primarily used the data from our recent updated systematic review of randomised controlled trials. For equally important issues including strain identification, monitoring for adverse effects, product format, storage and transport, and regulatory hurdles, a comprehensive literature search, covering the period 1966-2010 without restriction on the study design, was conducted, using the databases PubMed and EMBASE, and the proceedings of scientific conferences; these data were used in our updated systematic review., Results: In this review, we present guidelines, including level of evidence, for the practical aspects (for example, strain selection, dose, duration, clinical and laboratory surveillance) of probiotic supplementation, and for dealing with non-clinical but important issues (for example, regulatory requirements, product format). Evidence was inadequate in some areas, and these should be a target for further research., Conclusion: We hope that these evidence-based guidelines will help to optimise the use of probiotics in preterm neonates. Continued research is essential to provide answers to the current gaps in knowledge about probiotics.

An alarming rise of dengue has been seen in Mumbai during the post-monsoon season. We undertook this prospective study in the pediatric wards and pediatric intensive care unit of B. J. Wadia Hospital for Children between 27 August 2003 and 10 October 2003 to determine the clinical features, laboratory abnormalities, and outcome of children affected with dengue and to determine the predictive markers for dengue shock syndrome. Fifty-one suspected dengue cases were tested for positivity of dengue by determination of dengue IgM antibodies by ELISA test. These positive cases were analysed for common clinical features, laboratory derangements, and outcome. Patients were subdivided into three subgroups: dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) as per WHO classification. Predictive markers for DSS were also determined. Thirty-nine patients had a positive dengue IgM titre, 20 patients had DHF, 18 patients had DSS, and one patient had DF The mean age of presentation was 4.9 years. Fever, hepatomegaly, vomiting, bleeding tendencies, erythematous rash, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, and deranged PT and PTT were the predominant clinical and laboratory features. Predictive markers for DSS were younger age at onset, altered sensorium, paralytic ileus, and significantly deranged PT. Patients with DSS also had a longer recovery period and required more supportive management in the form of component therapy and ionotropic support. All three patients who died belonged to the DSS subgroup with case fatality rate for DSS being 16.6 per cent. None of the patients in the DHF or DF subgroup died. Endemicity of dengue fever is on the rise in Mumbai with increased incidence among children. Appropriate investigations, strict monitoring and prompt supportive management can reduce mortality in dengue. Predictive markers of DSS can reduce the mortality if promptly treated. Also prevention of transmission by mosquito control and maintaining water sanitation is required to effectively control this epidemic.