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Background: A total of 620 healthy term neonates, randomly selected among babies born at the San Paolo Hospital in Milan (Italy), were examined to study the relationship between birthmarks and transient cutaneous lesions in newborns of different ethnic groups. Methods: Information on sociodemographic factors and on physiopathological variables of the pregnancy was collected. Multiple logistic analyses were performed to assess associations between diagnosed skin lesions and various factors. Odds ratios (OR) as a measure of association and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Results: A positive association was found between reduced hypoderm and pregnancy illness (OR = 2.78), hypertrophy genitalia and use of drugs (OR = 1.86) and illnesses in pregnancy (OR = 1.61). Hyperpigmentation in the genital area and Mongolian spot showed significant positive association with geographical area of origin, being systematically more frequent in non-European neonates, while for melanocytic congenital nevi a positive association was observed only for Asiatic newborns (OR = 4.67); salmon patch on the nape showed a significant OR of 1.81 among mothers aged ≧35. Conclusions: Significant associations between some sociodemographic factors and cutaneous lesions of the newborn and anamnestic data related to the pregnancy were found. Dermatologic conditions are common in the newborns and may justify dermatologic examination.

The objective is of this study is to examine the relationship of dietary glycemic load (GL) and overall glycemic index (OGI) with macronutrients intake, body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity in healthy children. The subjects comprised of 105 healthy non-obese eight -years old children, 60 boys and 45 girls. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) evaluating dietary habits, GL and OGI. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA). GL was positively associated with dietary total (correlation coefficient, r=0.57) and starch (r=0.67) carbohydrates, daily consumption of pasta and white bread, cooked potatoes, bakery products and cookies, and negatively with dietary fats (r=-0.52). OGI was positively associated with daily consumption of white bread and cookies, and negatively associated with soluble carbohydrates (r=-0.35), and consumption of fibres, proteins, fruit, legumes and carrots. No significant association was found of GL or OGI with BMI or insulin sensitivity. In healthy children, GL and OGI may represent a useful indicator of quality of diet. Asia Pac J Public Health 2005; 17(2): 88-92.

During a nursing conference of the Northeaster Piedmont Neonatal Intensive and Subintensive Neonatal Units the error in pediatrics and neonatology was discussed and a follow-up work was proposed with the aim to understand how many, what type of errors and what kind of adverse event they cause in our clinical practice.Through an anonymous "detection sheet" we detected the errors made between March 1 and April 30, 2010 in a NICU and 2 Subintensive therapies. The total number of patients was 166 for 2398 days of hospitalization.The total number of errors was 72, with a error of 0.43/patient. Forty-six patients had experienced at least 1 error (28% of patients) and more than a 16 (10% of our patients). There is a statistically significant correlation between days of hospitalization and the number of errors occurred (r=0.63 Sperman's correlation, P0.01); 48% and 53% of the errors in the NICU and Subintensive CU were related to medication administration.The severe damage in the NICU was caused by errors more frequently related to vascular access while the only mistake that led to a serious incident in subintensive CU was determined by a monitoring error. Errors were most frequently attributed to inattention-distraction, less frequently have been attributed to a lack of experience or a state of excessive fatigue. The data of our study were made available to all staff in order to make operators more aware of the importance of working safely.

To investigate the associations between whole blood fatty acid (FA) profile and restricted intrauterine growth, any small for gestational age (SGA) infant born in our maternity ward through 1 y was matched with two appropriate for gestational age (AGA), of the same GA ± 0.5 wk, infants, further subdivided into term and preterm. Whole blood was collected at d 4 on a strip and FA % composition assessed by means of gas chromatography. The whole sample consisted of 28 SGA versus 56 AGA born at term and 20 SGA versus 40 AGA born preterm at around 35 wks. Parent FA of the n-6 and n-3 FA families were higher in preterm groups, whereas docosahexaenoic acid was higher in term AGA (median % values, 3.9 versus 3.7 in term SGA, 2.8 in preterm AGA, and 2.5 in preterm SGA, p < 0.001). Term AGA had markedly higher values for the docosahexaenoic acid/alpha-linolenic acid ratio (median value: 91, versus 18 in term SGA, 12 in preterm AGA, and 10 in preterm SGA, p < 0.001). Term SGA had significantly lower levels of total monounsaturated FA and higher levels of eicosapentaenoic acid. Therefore, the 4-d whole blood FA pattern is associated with both GA and birth weight.

To describe the longitudinal pattern of dietary energy and macronutrient intakes during the first 10 years of life in a sample of healthy Italian children.Sixty-one healthy children were followed from birth to 10 years of age. At 1, 5, 8, and 10 years of age, anthropometric measurements were taken and nutritional habits evaluated using a standardized food frequency questionnaire.Compared to the Italian recommended dietary allowances, the children's diet was high in protein at any age, high in lipids from age 5 onward, and high in calories at 5 years of age. At 1 year, mean (SD) protein, carbohydrate, and lipid intake, expressed as percentage of total energy, was 20% (3%), 48% (7%), and 34% (5%), respectively. Afterward, the corresponding mean value ranged around 14% to 15%, 57% to 60%, and 29% to 32%. The mean glycemic load and overall glycemic index ranged around 143 to 150 and 58 to 59, respectively. A difference between boys and girls was found in the longitudinal pattern for the intake of energy (P0.0001) and glycemic load (P0.0001). The individual longitudinal dietary pattern varied over time for the intake of total energy (P0.0001), any macronutrient (P0.0001), and overall glycemic index (P = 0.05).Although the amount of energy intake was in accordance with the Italian recommended dietary allowances, children consumed a high-protein and high-lipid diet. Early and continuous dietary education of children and parents may provide support for adequate nutritional habits throughout their childhood.

Bilateral periventricular nodular heterotopia in a couple mother-infant. Bilateral periventricular nodular heterotopia (BPNH) is a malformation of neuronal migration, recently recognized X-linked. We report a case of BPNH associated with mega-cisterna magna diagnosed by ultrasound imaging at 27 weeks' gestation and confirmed by MR at 11 days of life. Similar findings in the mother's MR underlines the recurrency of this malformation in the same family.

The relationships between dietary habits and the blood fatty acid (FA) profile have been poorly explored, particularly in children. Aim of the present investigation was to look at the associations between dietary habits and the plasma pattern of FA in a school-age population. In 105 healthy 8-years old children, the nutritional habits have been evaluated by means of a Food Frequency Questionnaire and a 24-h recall. FA analyses (expressed as FA%) were performed by means of capillary gas chromatography. Statistics: non-parametric tests. The children with high pasta and low red meat consumption ( n =9), compared to those with either medium or low pasta and either high or medium red meat consumption ( n =96), showed lower levels of total saturated (29% vs. 35%, P =0.001) and higher levels of total monounsaturated (30% vs. 24%, P =0.04) FA in plasma. They also showed lower levels of LDL cholesterol (90 vs. 109mg/dl, P =0.08) and fasting insulin (4.0 vs. 6.3μU/ml, P =0.04) in blood. A high consumption of pasta coupled with a low intake of red meat may be marker of a food behaviour and/or lifestyle associated with a more favourable pattern of circulating FA and hematochemical metabolic markers.

The Authors describe a case of neonatal scrotal hematoma due to post-traumatic intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Differential diagnosis with testicular torsion and other causes of neonatal acute scrotum is considered and discussed.

Background: Long Chain Polyunsaturated (LCP) Fatty Acid (FA) status in the newborn may affect post natal growth and development, but data in newborns are limited due to difficulties in sample collection. Methods: A new method for FA analysis in a drop of whole blood absorbed on a strip of Chromatography Paper (Marangoni et al, Anal Biochem 2004;326:267) was applied to a population of 110 infants, by analyzing blood samples collected from the heel within 72 h after delivery (37–41 wks post-conceptional age). Results: Comparisons with data from an unrelated, healthy adult population (100 subjects), analyzed with the same technique, showed lower levels of linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) together with higher LCP (mainly arachidonic acid, AA, and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA, 22:6 n-3) levels, and markedly higher proportions of > 22 C FA of all FA families in the newborns, revealing major differences in FA intake, metabolism and incorporation in lipid pools between the two groups. Differences in FA profiles occurred also within the newborns, in relation with 1. gender (higher LA in females) 2. gestational age, with lower AA and DHA levels in the highest decile (10 s) for post-conceptional age at birth (41.2 weeks, SD 0.1) compared to the others 3. birth weight, with higher DHA levels in the lowest (10 s) vs the highest (12 s) decile (%: 4.2, SD 0.4, vs 3.4, SD 1.0, Mann-Whitney U test: P = 0.002) and 4. maternal life style (higher 22:5 n-6/22:6 n-3 ratio in smoking vs non-smoking mothers). Conclusion: The new method of FA analysis provides valuable information on the FA status and biochemical features related to FA at very early stages of post natal development, an age that has not been adequately investigated so far.

Persistence of Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) frequently occurs in preterm infants. In a remarkable number of cases, PDA may undergo spontaneous closure. In other cases, especially in patients with respiratory problems, a ductal left-to-right shunt may compromise the cardiac-respiratory function. Until a few years ago, surgery was the only possible therapy. Recently, pharmacological closure of the duct by means of Indomethacin, a powerful inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, was successfully carried out. The medical treatment, however, appears to be less effective if it is carried out on patients older than 2 weeks. It has also been reported that in patient with a very low birthweight and with lack of muscular tissue in the duct wall, closure of the duct may be transient. It is the purpose of this communication to report observations made on 4 preterm infants of 24-33 weeks gestational age, and with a weight range of 660 to 2.280 g. They received Indomethacin via naso-gastric tube, in a single dose of 0,3 mg/Kg, within 8 days of age. Successful closure of the PDA was obtained in all cases. The pharmacological treatment resulted also in reductions in ventilatory support requirements, reduced respiratory component of acidosis, reduced pCO2, increased pO2. A second administrations of Indo was necessary only in one case, and it was followed by permanent closure of the duct. Collateral effects, such as reduced diuresis and reduced number of platelets, were transient. Indo therapy was successful regardless of very low birthweight: in three cases, birthweight was under 1.000 g.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)