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Background: Although preterm infants often experience desaturation or bradycardia during oral feeding, specific guidelines for its management are lacking.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a commercial thickened formula (TF) on oxygen saturation and heart rate stabilization during oral feeding in preterm infants.Methods: This retrospective study included 122 infants born at a median (interquartile range [IQR]) 31+6 weeks (29+4 −34+6 weeks) of gestation weighing 1,725 g (1,353–2,620 g) and fed commercial cornstarch-containing TF due to feeding-associated desaturation or bradycardia. We excluded infants fed TF to treat symptomatic regurgitation. Desaturation and bradycardia events were compared between 3 days prior to the change and 3 days after the change to TF. Desaturation and bradycardia were defined as SpO2 +1 weeks (34+6–38+0 weeks) and 2,395 g (2,160–2,780 g), respectively, at the time of change to TF. The frequency of desaturation significantly decreased after TF feeding (median [IQR]: 2.3 [1.3–3.3] events/day vs. 0.3 [0–1.7] events/day, P< 0.001). Bradycardia also decreased after TF feeding (0.3 [0–1] events/day vs. 0 [0–0.7] events/day, P=0.006). There were no cases of diarrhea or electrolyte abnormalities after TF feeding. Defecation frequency decreased (P=0.037), and polyethylene glycol was prescribed to 27% of the TF-fed infants. In a subgroup analysis of 16 infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the frequency of desaturation was reduced (2.3 [1.8–3.8] events/day vs. 0.5 [0–1.5] events/day, P=0.042), and weight gain improved (22.5 [3.1–36.3] g/day vs. 41.3 [28.1–55.1] g/day, P=0.019), after TF feeding.Conclusion: TF feeding significantly reduces oral feeding-associated oxygen desaturation and bradycardia in preterm infants. TF may be useful for stabilizing oxygen saturation and heart rate among preterm infants with difficulties in oral feeding.

Background : : Premature infants are at high risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). Serum creatinine (Cr) has limitations for evaluating kidney function in premature infants. We evaluated whether urine biomarkers could be used to monitor AKI in premature infants. Methods : : A prospective cohort study was conducted among infants born at < 37 weeks. Urine biomarkers and serum Cr were measured on postnatal days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14. Infants were divided into 3 groups according to gestational age (GA); < 28, 28 to < 32 and 32 to < 37 weeks. Results : : AKI occurred in 17 of 83 (20.5%) recruited infants at a median age of 7 (interquartile range 5–10) days. While the most common cause of AKI was hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (53.8%) in infants of GA < 28 weeks, necrotizing enterocolitis was the leading cause (50.0%) in infants of GA 28 to < 32 weeks. Urinary levels of neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin/Cr were higher and epidermal growth factor/Cr were lower in AKI group before the onset of AKI in infants of GA < 28 weeks. In infants of GA 28 to < 32 weeks, urinary interleukin-8/Cr levels were higher in AKI group at approximately the time of AKI onset. Conclusion : : Several urine biomarkers were significantly different between AKI and no AKI groups, and some had changed before the onset of AKI. These groups were distinct according to causative factors of AKI and GA. Urine biomarkers could be useful for monitoring the development of AKI in premature infants.

Purpose: Nursing protocols for glucose management are well known for both healthy term newborns and high-risk newborns. However, for less risky newborns who are under only observation surveillance, hypoglycemia could be overlooked unless clinical symptoms develop. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to explore factors influencing variations in glucose levels in 91 newborns who did not require any interventions, but were under nursing surveillance, at a level II neonatal intensive care unit. Data were retrieved from electrical medical records on glucose levels, demographic characteristics, and other clinical characteristics of newborns in their first day of life from January 2016 to May 2019. Results: Glucose levels tended to stabilize within the normal range (60~80 mg/dL) as time passed during the first day of life. Cesarean section, multiple gestation, abnormal growth, and later preterm birth were associated with low glucose levels in the first 2 hours of life. Thirty-one newborns experienced a hypoglycemic episode (< 45 mg/dL) during the first 24 hours of life. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the active encouragement of early feeding within 2 hours of birth and urgent adoption of a structural protocol for glucose surveillance in newborns with potential health problems immediately after birth.

Altered pulmonary angiogenesis contributes to disrupted alveolarization, which is the main characteristic of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) plays an important role during lung vascular development, and recent studies have demonstrated that endoglin is engaged in the modulation of TGFβ downstream signalling. Although there are two different isoforms of endoglin, L- and S-endoglin, little is known about the effect of S-endoglin in developing lungs. We analysed the expression of both L- and S-endoglin in the lung vasculature and its contribution to TGFβ-activin-like kinase (ALK)-Smad signalling with respect to BPD development. Hyperoxia impaired pulmonary angiogenesis accompanied by alveolar simplification in neonatal mouse lungs. S-endoglin, phosphorylated Smad2/3 and connective tissue growth factor levels were significantly increased in hyperoxia-exposed mice, while L-endoglin, phosphor-Smad1/5 and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 levels were significantly decreased. Hyperoxia suppressed the tubular growth of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (ECs), and the selective inhibition of ALK5 signalling restored tubular growth. These results indicate that hyperoxia alters the balance in two isoforms of endoglin towards increased S-endoglin and that S-endoglin attenuates TGFβ-ALK1-Smad1/5 signalling but stimulates TGFβ-ALK5-Smad2/3 signalling in pulmonary ECs, which may lead to impaired pulmonary angiogenesis in developing lungs.

Purpose: A longitudinal study was conducted to explore flora colonization and oral glucose high-risk newborns during the first 7 days after birth. Methods: Oral secretions of hospitalized newborns were obtained for microbial cultures and glucose test at days 1-7 after birth. Results: Among the total 112 newborns, 40% were girls and 73% were premature. Mean gestational age was 34.4±3.2 weeks and weight was 2,266±697.5 grams. The most common flora included Streptococcus (28.2%), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 10.9%), Staphylococcus (6.0%), and Coagulase- Negative Staphylococcus (CNS, 4.0%). The average oral glucose level was 29.2±23.0 mg/dL~58.2±39.5 mg/dL. Newborns with higher oral glucose than serum (crude odds ratio [ORc] =1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.03-2.97), phototherapy (ORc=3.30; 95% CI=2.29-4.76) and prone position (ORc= 2.04; 95% CI=1.13-3.69) were more likely to be colonized. Having oral tubes (ORc=0.42; 95% CI=0.29-0.59), parental nutrition (ORc=0.21; 95% CI=0.13-0.32) and antibiotics (ORc=0.51; 95% CI=0.36-0.73) had protective effects. For oral glucose statistical significances existed on time effect among newborns with Streptococcus (F=9.78, p=.024), MRSA (F=7.60, p=.037) or CNS (F=11.15, p=.019) and interaction between time and colonization among newborns with all of four flora (F=2.73, p=.029) or colonization with only Staphylococcus (F=2.91, p=.034). Conclusion: High-risk newborns develop flora colonization at an early period of life. Their clinical features were associated with types and time of oral flora colonization. They need close monitoring and multifaceted intervention to improve oral environment and infection control.

Purpose: This study was conducted to describe health in optimal fitness (HOF) in young children born prematurely and to analyze factors affecting HOF in health status, investment resources, and anthropological values, based on HOF theory. Methods: A case-control study of 76 children with preterm births (PTB) was conducted at 24 to 42 months of corrected age. Their HOF status was evaluated based on height, weight, head circumference, and the Korean-Bayley Scale of Infant Development-II and classified as either HOF-achieved or HOF-uncertain in the domain of growth, development, and all together. Results: For growth, development, and all, 26.3%, 27.6%, and 47.4% of children, respectively, belonged to the HOF-uncertain group. Logistic regression analysis showed that longer length of hospital stay (≥21 days; OR=7.8; 95% CI [1.5, 40.5]), worse scores on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) (≥38; OR=0.1; 95% CI [0.0, 0.4]), having a working mother, (OR=5.7; 95% CI [1.2, 27.6]), and an older mother (≥35 years; OR=8.8; 95% CI [2.1, 37.3]) were statistically significant contributors of HOF-uncertain in the domain of all. Conclusion: Findings show that young children born prematurely with prolonged stays in a neonatal intensive care unit and insufficient socioeconomic resources at home are more likely to exhibit delayed growth and development.

BACKGROUND Preterm infants have difficulty maintaining body temperature after birth. However, clinical guidelines advocate that neonatal body temperature should be maintained at 36.5°C-37.5°C. PURPOSE We aimed to investigate the incidence of admission hypothermia in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and to determine the association of admission temperature with in-hospital mortality and morbidities. METHODS A cohort study using prospectively collected data involving 70 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) that participate in the Korean Neonatal Network. From registered infants born between January 2013 and December 2015, 5,343 VLBW infants born at less than 33 weeks of gestation were reviewed. RESULTS The mean admission temperature was 36.1°C±0.6°C, with a range of 31.9°C to 38.4°C. Approximately 74.1% of infants had an admission hypothermia of

Results: The rate of severe IDA among IDA patients was higher in female than male. Patients from age 1 to 6 and adolescents over the age of 13 outnumbered others, and the majority of adolescent patients were female. Among weight groups, low weight-for-ages (less than 3 rd percentile) was prevail (20%). There were no statistical differences between laboratory results of symptomatic patients and those of asymptomatic ones (25.4%). The common causes of severe IDA were; long-term exclusive breast feeding (13.0%), menorrhagia (10.0%), H. pylori gastritis (9.2%), upper GI bleeding (9.2%) and malnutrition (8.5%). All were treated with oral or intravenous iron replacement therapy and after 3 months, laboratory results were significantly improved. In cases of H. pylori gastritis, iron replacement therapy in conjunction with H. pylori eradication showed better efficacy in treatment. Conclusion: The importance of severe IDA should not be underestimated. Especially with female adolescents, H. pylori gastritis patients, and athletes, it is still more important

Background: As improving of the techniques and equipments of NICU, the survival rate of low birth weight (LBW) infants has been increased. LBW babies have the risk for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) due to their rapid growth after birth and the low endowment of iron. We investigated weaning practices in LBW infants and their mother ’s knowledge about weaning with respect to iron nutrition. Methods: The 112 infants born lower than 2,500 g brought to Inha University hospital from March 2000 to July 2012 were assigned to this study. The range of the age of the infants is from 5 to 24 months. We classified the infants to 2 groups, that is, IDA group (n=41) and non-IDA group (n=71). We compared the hematologic value-hemoglobin ＜11 g/dL and serum ferritin ＜10 ng/mL or transferring saturation ＜15%-of the 2 groups, and the questionnaire about feeding pattern, weaning practice and mother’s nutritional knowledge about weaning. Results: The IDA group showed significant lower level of hematological parameters than non-IDA group (P＜0.05). The group diagnosed IDA before the first 6 months of life was tendency to breastfeed without iron-fortification (P＜0.01). The starting time for weaning showed no significant difference in 2 groups. The groups started weaning at 6-6.6 months after the birth (P=0.66). Both Education level of mother and gestational age have no effect on the time of beginning weaning. The food with weaning start is mainly home-made rice soup (over 80%) on both group (P=0.55). Over 20% of the IDA group tended to be delayed in weaning course (over 4 month), compared to the non-IDA group. Only 17% of IDA infants took iron, whereas 88% of non-IDA infants did. There were no significant differences in knowledge about weaning. Conclusion: Most of the IDA infants did feeding just by maternal milk until 6 months without iron fortification. LBW infants revealed lower hematologic values about IDA, and IDA group had a higher tendency to be delayed over 4 months in completing weaning course. Therefore, we recommend that the LBW infants with maternal feeding should take iron supplements or high-iron containing foods earlier.

Aplasia cutis congenita with or without congenital anomalies is a rare congenital disorder most commonly involving the skin of the scalp, as well as the skull and dura.The etiology is uncertain, and several theories, including vascular accident intrauterine period, vascular anomaly, intrauterine infection, teratogen, and aminiotic adhesion, have been proposed. One theory is that lesions of the scalp are usually caused by vascular anomalies.The authors report on a patient with aplasia cutis congenita presenting with a huge skin and skull defect combined with aplasia of the superficial temporal artery, which was thought to be the etiology.

The possible teratogenic effects of maternal antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on the development of the fetus are of major concern. The fetal risks imposed by these drugs must be weighed against the risks associated with untreated maternal epilepsy not being treated. Here, we describe an infant with a neural tube defect caused by AEDs prescribed to the mother during her pregnancy. A female infant was delivered by means of cesarean section after 37+6 weeks of gestation. Her 21-year-old mother had been diagnosed with epilepsy at 2 years of age, following brain surgery performed for a traffic accident injury. Since the age of 6 years, the mother had been medicated with lamotrigine (Lamictal®), levetiracetam (Keppra®), and valproate (Depakote®). At birth, the baby exhibited pallor, severe macrocephaly, a large anterior fontanelle (4 cm × 4 cm), and sutural widening. On her lower back, there was a 3 cm open spinal dysraphism exposing nervous tissue. On the 11th postnatal day, a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was placed and a myelomeningocele removal operation was performed. After this operation, the head circumference decreased from 44.0 cm to 35.8 cm, and the post-operative period was uneventful. The patient was discharged on the 24th day. Several case reports and studies have reported that valproate or multi-antiepileptic medication that contains valproate increased the risk of neural tube defects in the offspring. For women of childbearing age who use AEDs, clinicians should review pregnancy risk regularly and consider adjusting medication whenever possible. Additionally, while examing newborns with neural tube defects, clinicians should review prenatal maternal medication history thoroughly.

Purpose A randomized intervention study was conducted to explore the impact of oral care with sterile normal saline to oral flora colonization of high-risk newborns at the third day after birth. Design and methods Ninety-two newborns were allocated to either intervention or control group. After obtaining oral secretion for prepoint data, the intervention group received oral care with sterile normal saline only. Oral secretions for postpoint data were obtained 8 hr after the prepoint. Total 179 specimens were obtained during the study period. Results Among the total 92 newborns, 44.6% were female and 57.6% were premature. Mean gestational age and weight was 35.9 ± 3.2 weeks and 2,545 ± 697.5 g. The most common colonized flora included Streptococcus (26.3%), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 16.2%), and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS, 13.4%). The oral care with normal saline did not change the number of flora type of newborns. The statistic results were not significant by group (F = 0.918, p = 0.514), time (F = 0.322, p = 0.672), and the interaction between time and group (F = 0.519, p = 0.472). Practice implications Oral care with sterile saline did not change oral flora colonization among high-risk newborns at early period of life. This intervention can be safely delivered to high-risk newborns when they are at risk of infection and particularly breast milk is not available.

This randomized clinical study explored the effects of two cord care methods on hydration, temperature, pH, and floras at the cord area in high-risk newborns. One group used the water method; and the other group used the alcohol method. Seventy-two newborns, including premature newborns, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a university-affiliated hospital in South Korea were enrolled from August 2011 to May 2012. Hydration, temperature, pH, and floras were measured daily until the cords fell off. The results showed no difference between the groups in hydration, temperature, pH, and the colonization of floras, but cord detachment in the alcohol group took 2 days longer (12.8 [5.7] days) than in the water group (10.9 [4.1] days). Our findings suggest that the clean-and-dry method of cord care, which uses water, could be sufficient, possibly even better than alcohol in maintaining the physiologic surface milieu of the cord area with less chance of infection and manipulation in NICUs with optimal infection control.

This prospective longitudinal study explored the growth patterns of preterm infants and the implications of rearing them in an advancing culture. The study measured the weight, length, and head circumference of 343 Korean preterm infants over 12 months corrected age. Data were analyzed using a generalized estimation equation for growth patterns of preterm infants by the degree of prematurity (mild, moderate, or severe). Results showed that the early ‘catch-up phenomenon’, accelerated growth rate, occurred around 11 months corrected age, although the mild preterm group weighed less, was shorter, and had a smaller head circumference than the moderate and severe preterm groups. This may reflect the Asian culture’s preference for big babies and draws special attention to the influence of cultural values and childrearing practices in the growth of preterm infants. Pediatric nurses should be alert to accelerated growth in preterm infants in societies in cultural transition.

Background Severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) often leads to prolonged mechanical ventilation lasting several months. Cyanotic episodes frequently occur in these patients, which necessitate long-term sedation and/or intermittent muscle paralysis. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) might provide precisely the amount of support that these patients need without sedation. Methods We reviewed the medical records of preterm infants who underwent a tracheostomy and required mechanical ventilation for more than 6 months during a period of 6 years. We compared two groups of patients - those supported with NAVA for at least 2 months vs. those supported by pneumatically triggered assist methods. We also evaluated any change after NAVA application in patients supported with NAVA. Results Among 14 prematurely born patients who received prolonged ventilation, 9 were supported with NAVA and 5 were supported using other ventilatory modes. The continuous sedative duration was significantly shorter and the bolus use of sedatives was also significantly lower in the NAVA group than in the group using pneumatically driven ventilation methods. In addition, patients supported with NAVA received a lower dose of dexamethasone than patients supported with other modes of ventilation. In pre- and post-application comparisons, cyanotic episodes and the bolus of sedatives were significantly decreased after implementation of NAVA. Conclusions For infants on prolonged mechanical ventilation, NAVA could reduce cyanotic episodes and the need for sedatives and dexamethasone. NAVA may be superior to pneumatically triggered modes in terms of the minimization of patient-ventilator dys-synchrony while delivering of appropriate respiratory support in premature infants with tracheostomies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

[Jun Yong Hoon is Assistant Professor in the Humanities Korea Project Team, Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies, Seoul National University. He received his Ph.D. from Seoul National University in 2004. In 2005 he studied at the Needham Research Institute, as a fellow of National Research Foundation of Korea. He was a fellow of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, hosted by Professor Yano Michio, Kyoto Sangyo University, in 2007-2009. He has published a number of works on the history of astronomy and mathematics in Korea.]

Objective To evaluate the in-hospital consequences of prolonged respiratory support with invasive mechanical ventilation in very low birth weight infants. Study design A cohort study was performed using prospectively collected data from 69 neonatal intensive care units participating in the Korean national registry. In total, 3508 very low birth weight infants born between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014 were reviewed. Results The adjusted hazard ratio for death increased significantly for infants who received mechanical ventilation for more than 2 weeks compared with those were mechanically ventilated for 7 days or less. The individual mortality rate increased after 8 weeks, reaching 50% and 60% at 14 and 16 weeks of cumulative mechanical ventilation, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, the cumulative duration of mechanical ventilation was associated with a clinically significant increase in the odds of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension. Mechanical ventilation exposure for longer than 2 weeks, compared with 7 days or less, was associated with retinopathy of prematurity requiring laser coagulation and periventricular leukomalacia. The odds of abnormal auditory screening test results were significantly increased in infants who needed mechanical ventilation for more than 4 weeks. A longer cumulative duration of mechanical ventilation was associated with increased lengths of hospitalization and parenteral nutrition and a higher probability of discharge with poor achievement of physical growth. Conclusions Although mechanical ventilation is a life-saving intervention for premature infants, these results indicate that it is associated with negative consequences when applied for prolonged periods.

Infantile spasm is an age-related refractory epilepsy. Topiramate is a new anticonvulsant with multiple mechanisms of action, and it may be effective for treating pediatric epilepsies. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of first-line topiramate treatment for infantile spasm, 20 patients received topiramate monotherapy during this study. They were treated with an initial dose of 1mg/kg/day, with a progressive titration of 1 mg/kg a week until their spasms were controlled and a maximum dose of 12 mg/kg/day was achieved. The evaluation of the treatment efficacy was based on the spasm frequency data that was obtained by the scalp and video-EEG, and by the parental count of spasm. Thirty percent of the subjects became spasm-free during the study. Six of 20 subjects (30%) had cessation of spasm and disappearance of hypsarrhythmia as seen via the video EEG; four (50%) of eight idiopathic patients had a response, whereas two (17%) of 12 patients with symptomatic infantile spasm responded. Seventy of the patients, including the spasm-free patients, had a reduction in their seizure frequency of more than 50%, and 10% of the patients had a reduction in their seizure frequency of less than 50%. The clusters of spasm frequency decreased from 10.6 +/- 8.5 to 3.5 +/- 1.4 clusters/day. Topiramate is effective and tolerated in those patients suffering from infantile spasm. Our results suggest that this drug should be considered as a new first-line drug for treating infantile spasm.

Purpose Iron deficiency remains a very common nutritional problem despite the improvement in nutrition and increased understanding of methods for its prevention. Thus, we try to create a new method for screening iron nutrition through infant nutrition history. Methods Among the children who visited Inha University Hospital from March 2006 to July 2012, 181 children with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and 52 children without IDA ranging from 6 to 36 months of age were reviewed in this study. We used the age when they began to wean food, the type of sort weaning foods, the time required for successful weaning, iron content in weaning foods, and the duration of breastfeeding for scoring infant nutrition history based on a questionnaire. Results The mean score of the IDA group was 7.8±2.6 points, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (5.6±2.1) (p=0.000). If we set up the cutoff value at 6 points, this screening has 86.8% sensitivity and 36% specificity. In addition, as the IDA score increased, there was a falling trend of hemoglobin. Conclusion The IDA score does not have high specificity or high sensitivity. However, this study conveys that those patients who record a high score have low hemoglobin. Therefore, we suggest this score system for screening more IDA patients via nonpainful techniques.

With the electronic counters routinely used, it has become practical to determine the concentration of hemoglobin, red cell indices, and RDW concurrently in association with transferrin saturation and ferritin in accordance with feeding practices. The 1028 infants and children aged 6 to 24 months, who had been mainly admitted with acute infectious or inflammatory diseases, were divided into three groups, i.e., children who were exclusively breast-fed more than 6 months (group A), those who had been given iron-fortified formula milk since birth (group B), and those who had been given breast milk for 5-6 months and then switched to the iron-fortified formula (group C). Children with anemia comprised 34.8% (104/299) of group A, significantly more than 5.6% (34/608) of group B and 6.6% (8/121) of group C (p0.001, respectively). Children with MCV70 fl comprised 39.5% (118/299) of group A, significantly more than 7.1% (43/608) of group B and 13.2% (16/121) of group C. Out of the total 146 patients with anemia, 82.2% (n = 120) had laboratory evidence of iron deficiency, which was mostly suggested by a dietary history. The sensitivity of MCV values70 fl in IDA patients was 90.0%; specificity was 53.8%. The sensitivity of RDW valuesor = 15% was 83.3%; specificity was 57.7%. The positive predictive value could be increased to 97.8% by combining MCV70 fl and RDWor = 15%. The sensitivity of serum ferritin concentrations10 ng/ml was 62.4% and specificity was 100%. The sensitivity of transferrin saturation12% was 72.3% and specificity was 81.3%. By combining the hemoglobin with MCV and RDW in screening for iron deficiency, the diagnostic accuracy of IDA can be increased. We support the use of appropriately iron-fortified weaning foods or the routine iron supplement starting at 6 months of age in exclusively breast-fed infants.

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test is the gold standard for differentiating central precocious puberty (CPP) from exaggerated thelarche (ET). Because of this test's limitations, previous studies have clarified the clinical and laboratory factors that predict CPP. The present study investigated the early diagnostic significance of pelvic ultrasound in girls with CPP. The GnRH stimulation test and pelvic ultrasound were performed between March 2007 and February 2015 in 192 girls (aged

The surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is provided more frequently in extremely low birth weight babies who are usually deemed unsuitable for phar- macological closure. We have adopted subaxillary mini-thoracotomy in order to lessen surgical trauma in these babies; and its clinical results were analyzed. From April 2004 to August 2008, out of 50 babies at the neonatal intensive care unit who underwent the surgical closure of PDA, 22 premature babies weighing less than 1 kg at operation were included in the study. Eleven babies were males and mean ges- tational age was 27 weeks ranging from 23+3 to 30 +2 weeks. Mean body weight at operation was 816 g ranging from 490 to 989 g and average age at operation was 17.9±11.9 days. Of them, 17 babies (72%) were ventilator dependent preopera- tively, as compared with 13 out of 28 (46%) babies that weighed more than 1 kg (P

This study investigated the use of corrected 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) values to detect congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in newborn infants. 17-OHP concentrations in blood spots from 913 neonates were measured using a neonatal screening test. A prematurity index was calculated using a scoring system based on gestational age and birth weight. Blood spot 17-OHP concentrations divided by the sum of prematurity scores were defined as the corrected 17-OHP values. Preterm infants (30 wk) and low birth weight infants (1.0 kg) showed 3.9- and 3.8-fold higher blood spot 17-OHP concentrations than normal full term infants. However, no significant differences were observed in the corrected 17-OHP values between the groups. Blood spot 17-OHP levels yielded significant correlations with the prematurity index (r = 0.42, p0.05). Positive results for CAH were obtained in 9.5% (n = 53) and 2.0% (n = 11) of 556 premature infants by the cutoffs of blood spot 17-OHP (15.0 ng/ml) and corrected 17-OHP values (13.0 ng/ml), respectively. Of the 53 positive subjects, 39 (73.6%) converted to negative after 1 to 5 mo without treatment. In summary, blood spot 17-OHP levels are influenced by the prematurity of newborns. Use of corrected 17-OHP values provide limited but helpful information in screening for CAH by reducing the rate of false-positive results, especially in premature infants.

A 13-year-old Asian boy presented with an 8 h history of lethargy and vomiting. He had a 3-week history of polyuria, polydipsia and a 6 kg weight loss over a period of 1 month. Fluid intake prior to admission was over 6 L of sports drinks and cola per day. Initial biochemical findings were as follows: plasma glucose 1351 mg/dL, serum sodium 154 mEq/L, serum osmolarity 425 mOsm/L, arterial blood pH 6.96 and urine ketone of 3+. He was treated with intensive fluid resuscitation and an insulin infusion. He completely recovered without any neurological deficits. Severe hypernatremia is rare in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) but was exhibited in this case. Excess intake of carbonated carbohydrate-rich beverages may exacerbate the initial severe presentation of type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of an Asian child with DKA combined with severe hypernatremic hyperosmolarity at onset of T1DM.