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Several complications during childhood is associated with nutritional status of infants at birth. Therefore, nutritional status of newborns must be evaluated properly after birth. Assessment of the nutritional status of neonates based on anthropometric and physical indices is simple and inexpensive without the need for advanced medical equipment. However, no previous studies have focused on the assessment methods of the nutritional status of infants via anthropometric and physical indices. This study aimed to review some of the key methods used to determine the nutritional status of neonates using anthropometric and physical indices. To date, most studies have focused on the diagnosis of fetal malnutrition (FM) and growth monitoring. In order to diagnose FM, researchers have used growth charts and Ponderal index (PI) based on anthropometric indices, as well as Clinical Assessment of Nutritional (CAN) Score based on physical features. Moreover, in order to assess the growth status of infants, growth charts were used. According to the findings of this study, standard intrauterine growth curves and the PI are common measurement tools in the diagnosis of FM. Furthermore, CAN score is widely used in the evaluation of the nutritional status of neonates. Given the differences in the physical features of term and preterm infants, this index should be adjusted for preterm neonates. Longitudinal growth charts are one of the most prominent methods used for monitoring of the growth patterns of infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few cases of persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI) have been reported, so far. The main concern in the management of PHHI is to prevent severe hypoglycemia, which can lead to coma, brain damage and mental retardation. Total or subtotal pancreatectomy is normally required for the infants, despite the availability of medical therapies. Case report: In this report, we present the case of a three-day-old male infant with hypoglycemia and seizure, admitted to a hospital in Mashhad with the diagnosis of PHHI. Further evaluations revealed multiple congenital disorders including dextrocardia, posterior communicating aneurysm, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, situs inversus and asplenia. Maximal doses of diazoxide, octreotide and intravenous glucose were prescribed for the infant. The patient was referred to our hospital and subtotal pancreatectomy was performed. In addition, due to frequent hypoglycemic episodes, a near-total pancreatectomy was conducted six days after the first surgery. The patient died eight months after total pancreatectomy at the age of nine months with no follow-ups. Conclusion: Infants with PHHI are at a high risk of severe neurological damage due to severe hypoglycemia, unless immediate and adequate medical interventions are carried out. Considering the co-occurrence of different congenital anomalies and PHHI in the present case, further assessment of concomitant congenital disorders is highly recommended in PHHI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prognosis of small intestine Artesia, the most common agents causing intestinal obstruction in neonates, has improved in last decades. Some variable such as weight change, type of feeding, post operation oral feeding starting time, and adequacy of energy and protein intake can change patients clinical outcomes. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate all neonates with small intestinal Artesia who were admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), during 2002-2010 and followed-up their clinical outcomes over an 8-year period. Materials and Methods: We reviewed medical records of all patients with small intestinal atresia treated at Dr. Sheikh hospital in the between 2002 and 2010. Information of all patients were recorded, including demographic data, type and location of atresia, other problem or anomalies, being term or preterm, term of stay and length of hospitalization, weight change, type of feeding, post operation oral feeding starting time, and adequacy of energy and protein intake. Results: 65 neonates presented with small intestinal atresia treated at Dr. Sheikh hospital during 2002-2010 entered our study. The age of neonates at admission time was median 3 days (1 day - 2 month). The median weight at reception was 2.32 ±0.6 kg (ranged 0.75-3.85 kg). The median of hospitalization period was 15 days. The mean amount of delivered calorie- protein and energy intake was significantly lower than the guidelines of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (p<0.001). Conclusion: We recommend full investigation of congenital anomalies and possible prevention of infections and its resultant sepsis in all infants with intestinal atresia, in order to reduce the risk of mortality in these infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a metabolic disorder and especial nutritional support has an important role in improvement of growth and development in these patients. Case presentation: A 3-month old female infant with known MMA was admitted to emergency department of Dr Sheikh Children Hospital with primary diagnosis of pneumonia and sepsis .This patient was a full term baby; MMA was diagnosed at 3th day of her life after several episodes of tachypnea, lethargia, poor feeding and irritability. After patient was stabilized, she was referred to nutritional support team for specialized MMA medical nutritional therapy. The patient's growth and development improved significantly after 2 months of follow up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]