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Purpose To investigate the risk factors associated with hypospadias in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (VLBWIs). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 729 infants born at ≥24 weeks of gestational age and weighing

Congenital lymphatic dysplasia is a rare congenital maldevelopment of the lymphatic system, in which dysfunction of the lymphatic system may cause leakage of lymph fluid into the limbs and the pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal cavity. We experienced a case of hydrops fetalis with subcutaneous lymphedema, chylothorax, chylous ascites and pericardial effusion. Lymphangiography revealed a critical defect of lymphatic system. Here, we report the first case of premature infant with congenital lymphatic dysplasia confirmed by lymphangiography, which is the first reported in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics are living micro-organisms that beneficially affect the composition of the host intestinal microflora. In very preterm infants, probiotics reportedly help reduce necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), invasive fugal colonization and sepsis, and enable the establishment of complete enteral feeding at an earlier stage. However, emerging evidence has indicated the risk of potential side effects of probiotic use, such as gut organism translocation, including probiotic organisms, in infants that are more premature. In the present report, we describe a case of Lactobacillus bacteremia in a very preterm infant with short bowel syndrome. Lactobacillus sepsis developed during the therapeutic use of this organism for diarrhea and diarrhea-related malabsorption. The organism isolated from the blood sample was found to be of the same strain as that administered, by using molecular techniques. The findings of the present case suggest that probiotics should be carefully used, particularly in very preterm infants with altered intestinal permeability such as short bowel syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine whether the degree of fetal smallness in small for gestational age (SGA) infants would increase the risk of catch-up-growth failure at 12 and 24 months corrected age (CA), and whether the high-calorie nutritional support would improve catch-up growth between 12 and 24 months CA. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 103 preterm infants born between January 2010 and December 2011. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate whether the birth weight z-score would be an independent risk factor for catch-up growth failure at 12 or 24 months CA. Among the 46 infants with failed catch-up growth at 12 months CA, 16 infants were provided high-calorie nutritional support, including nutritional supplements and medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil at the pediatric gastroenterology clinic. Results: Of 103 preterm infants, 34 infants (33%) were SGA and 69 infants (67%) were appropriate for gestational age (AGA). One birth weight z-score decrement increased the odds for catch-up growth failure 2.9 times at 12 months CA and 3.0 times at 24 months CA after adjustment for major neonatal morbidities. The increase in z-score between 12 and 24 months CA was significantly greater in the infants provided nutritional support than in the infants who were not provided nutritional support. Conclusion: The birth weight z-score can be used as a predictor of catch-up growth failure. High-calorie nutritional support may improve weight gain during the second year in preterm infants with failed catch-up growth at 12 months CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]