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Objective: This study was conducted to examine the effect of narrative writing on fathers' stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) during infants' hospitalization.Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among two groups of fathers with preterm infants in the NICUs of two teaching hospitals of Gorgan University of Medical Sciences. Pre- and post-tests were administered to a sample size of 70 during 6 months. The Parental Stressor Scale (PSS) was used. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical methods.Results: The mean total stress score was 74.05 ± 17.39 in the control and 80.11 ± 15.82 in the intervention group on the 3rd day, suggesting no significant difference. In other words, both groups had a similar stress level before the intervention (p-value = .13, t = 1.52). However, the mean total stress score was 85.45 ± 16.91 in the control group and 48.00 ± 10.49 in the intervention group on the 10th day, suggesting a significant reduction in the stress level in the intervention group following the intervention (p-value = .001, t = -11.01).Conclusion: According to the findings, the narrative writing may be considered as an efficient supportive intervention to reduce the fathers' stress in the NICUs. However, more research is needed to justify its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm neonates is a serious problem in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) worldwide. IVH is reported in approximately 60-70% of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates. The present study aimed to assess the association of IVH with neonatal characteristics and serum markers, such as serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, in preterm neonates in an academic hospital in the Northeast of Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a number of 71 VLBW preterm neonates (≤34 weeks of gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW) ≤1500g) were examined regarding the evidence of IVH up to the 40th week of GA in Gorgan, Northeast of Iran. The serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level was measured within the first 12 hours of lifebirth. The association among the variables was analyzed in SPSS software (version 16) using the chi-square test. Results: Out of 56 preterm neonates who survived until the 40th week, 15 (26.8%) cases demonstrated evidence of IVH at discharge, they had a significantly lower GA (29.04±2 weeks vs. 30.44±1.7 weeks; P=0.003) and BW (1075.43±208 kg vs. 1251.6±199.4 kg; P=0.001), as compared to 41(73.2%) newborns with no IVH. Preterm neonates with IVH had a significantly higher IL-6 serum level, as compared to those without IVH (224±210 pg/ml vs. 91.93±138 pg/ml; P=0.035). Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained result, low birth weight and premature birth could be serious risk factors for the development of IVH. Furthermore, IL-6 concentration may play a pivotal role in the occurrence of IVH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Jaundice is a common condition during the neonatal period. Prolonged jaundice occurs in a large number of breastfed infants. Considering the impact of genetic factors on the incidence of jaundice present study was conducted. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the association between prolonged jaundice and G71R polymorphism in Gilbert's syndrome. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted at Taleghani Children's Hospital of Gorgan, Iran. The study group consisted of 87 icteric patients (aged more than 2 weeks) with an indirect bilirubin level higher than 10mg/dL. The control group consisted of 81 newborns without jaundice. The two groups were matched in terms of age and gender. DNA extraction was performed by "phenol-chloroform" method. Polymerase Chain Reaction with Confronting Two-Pair Primers (PCR-CTPP) was applied to amplify G71R polymorphism. Results: Overall, 84% and 64% of subjects in the study and control groups were male, respectively. The distribution of Gilbert genotype was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.772). There was a correlation between prolonged jaundice in males and UGT1A1 G71R polymorphism (p =0.03). In the study group, 5(5.7%) subjects were homozygous (for A/A), 73 (83.9%) were heterozygous (for A/G), and 9(10.3%) were normal (for G/G). In the control group, 3(3.7%) participants were homozygous (A/A), 68(84%) were heterozygous (A/G) and 10 (12.3%) were normal (G/G). Conclusion: There was no association between prolonged jaundice and G71R polymorphism, even though a relationship was revealed between male gender and the mentioned polymorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Anogenital distance is an accepted indicator for endogenous or environmental effects of androgens on development of reproductive system in fetus and newborns. This study was done to determine the relationship between penile length and anogenital distance in Iranian newborns. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study stretched penile length (PL) and anogenital distance (AGD) were measured in 427 healthy male newborn infants born in a Teaching Hospital (in north of Iran). Other variables included the age of mothers, and weight, height, and head circumference of neonates. Normal distribution of variables was measured by Shapiro-Wilk and data was analyzed using Pearson Correlation tests Results: The mean of PL was 32.1±3.5 mm and the mean of AGD was 24.5±2.5mm. A weak correlation was observed between PL and AGD (r=0.097, p=0.046). Conclusion: The correlation between penile length and AGD showed that, AGD could be also used in assessing the genital system and even as a common indicator to assess the genital system in both sexes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Hearing impairment or auditory disorder is a hidden disability and is one of the most common anomalies at birth and leaves so negative effects on speech, language and cognition development. The aim of this study was the assessment of the incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) among neonates. Materials and methods: In this prospective cohort study, 870 neonates were recruited by nonrandom sampling method. After filling in the demographic and clinical check lists, automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) was performed for neonates at the beginning of hospitalization; then they were followed-up and again they were assessed with AABR and for those babies who had abnormal AABR, auditory brainstem response (ABR) was performed before discharge at the same day. Results: The mean age of the infants on admission was 3.75 ± 4.86 days and 56.4% of them were females. Totally, 3.4% of the infants had SNHL. There was a statistically significant difference between the hearing loss and the variables of birth weight, Apgar score at 1st and 5th minutes, total serum bilirubin, mechanical ventilation and its duration (P < 0.05). However, there was not a statistically significant difference between the hearing loss and the variables of age and sex of neonates, type of delivery, mother's age and number of exchange transfusion (P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study estimates the incidence of SNHL in hospitalized neonates (3.4%) which was so much similar to other studies in Iran and other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]