Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Blood Transfusion ; Infant, Premature, Diseases

OBJECTIVETo examine serum adiponectin level in preterm infants and to evaluate the relationship between serum adiponectin and bone mineral density in preterm infants.

METHODSSeventy-two appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates were classified into three groups according to their gestational ages: early preterm (31-33(+6) weeks, 13 cases), late preterm (34-36(+6) weeks, 16 cases), and full-term (37-42 weeks, 43 cases). Venous blood was collected at one week of their life to measure serum adiponectin concentration. During the period, omnisense ultrasound bone sonometer was applied to measure speed of sound (SOS) of the left tibia.

RESULTSThe median of tibia SOS in the early preterm group was significantly lower than in the late preterm and full term groups (P<0.05), and the median of tibia SOS in the late preterm group was lower than in the full-term group (P<0.05). Serum adiponectin level was lowest in the early preterm group, and the full-term group had the highest serum adiponectin level. Serum adiponectin level was positively correlated with tibia SOS in preterm infants (r=0.664, P<0.05). According to the result of multivariate linear stepwise regression analysis, serum adiponectin and birth weight were independent predictor of tibia SOS in preterm infants.

CONCLUSIONSSerum adiponectin level is lower in preterm infants than that in full-term infants. There is a positive correlation between serum adiponectin and bone mineral density in preterm infants.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Birth Weight ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; blood ; Linear Models ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study changes of plasma motilin concentration and it's effect on enteral nutrition in premature infants.

METHODSThe plasma motilin concentration of 72 premature infants was measured within 12 hours after birth before enteral feeding and on day 3 and 7 of life by using radioimmunoassay. Sixteen full-term neonates were enrolled as controls.

RESULTS(1) The plasma concentrations of motilin in premature infants before enteral feeding after birth and on day 3 and 7 were 198.65 +/- 58.42 ng/L, 248.83 +/- 56.00 ng/L, and 376.77 +/- 139.46 ng/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group (300.33 +/- 67.15 ng/L, 334.26 +/- 83.81 ng/L, 510.64 +/- 179.85 ng/L) (P < 0.001 or < 0.01). There was positive correlation between the concentration and gestational age, age in day and the volume of milk. On day 7 the level of motilin was higher than the pre-enteral feeding level of the full term control group. (2) The plasma motilin concentration in feeding un-tolerated premature infants group was lower than that in the normal group, especially on day 3 of life (P < 0.05). (3) Early enteral feeding could improve the plasma motilin levels, gastrointestinal motility and nutrition tolerance in premature infants.

CONCLUSIONSThe gastrointestinal functions of premature infants are adaptable to enteral nutrition. Early enteral feeding (including minimal enteral nutrition and non-nutritive sucking) can promote adaptive rapid growth and development of intestine.

Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; blood ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; blood ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; blood ; Male ; Motilin ; blood ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between third trimester hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and the risk of low birth weight and preterm delivery in a Chinese population.

METHODSSubjects were women who delivered in four cities/counties in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, China, during the period of 1995 - 2000. Incidence of low birth weight and preterm delivery was calculated and compared among groups of women with different levels of Hb during the third trimester. Multiple logistic regression was used to address relationships between Hb levels and the risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight while controlling for potential confounding factors.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of anemia during third trimester of pregnancy was 48.2% , mainly consisting of mild and moderate anemia. Mild and moderate anemia did not increase the risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight statistically. The lowest incidence of preterm delivery and low birth weight was found among pregnant women with Hb levels at 90-99 g/L. The risk for preterm delivery and low birth weight increased with either increasing or decreasing hemoglobin concentrations. However,there was no remarkable elevation of the risk when Hb was in the range of 70-119 g/L. Women with severe anemia (Hb< 70 g/L) had 80% higher risk (95% CI:1.0-3.3) of preterm delivery and a 4.0-fold higher risk (95 % CI :2. 1-7.5) of low birth weight compared with women with an Hb value of 90-99 g/L. In addition, women with a high Hb concentration (Hb> 130 g/L) had 20% higher risk (95 % CI: 1..0-1.4) of preterm delivery and 50 % higher risk (95 % CI: 1.2-1.9) of low birth weight.

CONCLUSIONA U-shape relationship was found between Hb concentration and the risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight. Severe anemia and high hemoglobin concentration were both associated with increased risk of preterm deliveries and low birth weight.

Adult ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Premature Birth ; blood ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

Serial platelet counts performed at four day intervals on forty two healthy premature infants whose birth weights were less than 2200 grams. The forty two infants were divided into two groups: twelve premature infants weighing less than 1700 grams, and thirty prematures infants weighing over 1700 grams at birth. We evaluated the length of time for the platetet counts of the premature infants to equal that of the full-term infants. Platelet counts also were determined on ninety-nine healthy full-term infants during twenty one days of age. The platelet counts were repeated twice a day. The counts of the twenty-four healthy premature infants and the twenty-two healthy full term infants were compared using the Brecher-Cronkite method. 1) There was no significant differnce in platelet counts between twenty four healthy premature infants and twenty two healthy full-term infants obtained at birth and four hour of life by the method of Brecher-Cronkite and the error of platelet Counts was within 2.4 percent. 2) There was no significant difference in the mean platelet values between premature infants weighing less than 1700 grams(21200/mm3) and weighing over 1700 grams (21900/mm3)during first day of life. It was noted the mean platelet values of forty two premature infants were significantly lower than that of sixty eight full term infants which was 27500/mm3. 3) At nine days of life, the mean platelet values of the forty two premature infants equaled that of the sixty eight full term infants at leveles of 27500/mm3. The platelet values were increase continuously and reached peak level of 370000/mm3at the age of three weeks. Increase of platelet values in premature infants weighing less than 1700 grams at birth was delayed about one week compared with that of the infants over 1700 grams at birth.
Birth Weight ; Blood Platelets* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Parturition ; Platelet Count*

A male infant, whose weight was 1 120 g at 28
Anemia ; Blood Transfusion ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/etiology* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Premature Birth

OBJECTIVESelenium is an essential trace element and has a main role in cellular antioxidant defense system. In very preterm babies, low selenium is associated with an increased risk of complications such as chronic neonatal lung disease and retinopathy of prematurity. This study was designed to determine and compare maternal and umbilical cord blood selenium levels in term and preterm infants.

METHODSFrom February 2008 to April 2008, 30 term (gestational age>37 weeks) and 30 preterm infants (gestational age<34 weeks) and their mothers were enrolled. Selenium concentrations in umbilical cord and maternal venous blood were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry.

RESULTSThe mean selenium concentration in term infants was higher than in preterm infants (124.80+/-13.72 microg/L vs 100.30+/-11.72 microg/L, P=0.0001). The mean selenium concentration in mothers of term and preterm infants was not significantly different (117.03+/-17.15 microg/L vs 110.56+/-17.49 microg/L, P=0.15). Cord selenium concentrations were strongly correlated with gestational age and birth weight (r=0.66, p<0.0001 and r=0.59, p<0.0001, respectively) when the data of all infants were analyzed together. None of the 60 women had a serum selenium level below the laboratory lower limit of normal (70.0 microg/L). Maternal selenium levels were correlated with cord selenium levels in their infants (r=0.40, p<0.001) when data of all newborn infants and mothers were considered together.

CONCLUSIONSMothers have a relatively good selenium status and serum selenium is not a significant predictor of preterm delivery in Isfahan. The cord selenium concentration in term infants is significantly higher than in preterm infants, but the cord selenium concentrations in both groups are in a suggested normal range.

Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Selenium ; blood

OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to evaluate maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancies with IgA nephropathy. METHODS: We reviewed 20 pregnancies occurred in 14 women who were diagnosed as IgA nephropathy with the method of renal biopsy between 1997 and 2006. We used clinical and laboratory data from medical records and statistic analysis using SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: Of 20 prenancies, there were 17 live births and 3 spontaneous abortions. There was no stillbirth and congenital anomaly. We found severe preeclampsia in 47%, low birth weight in 53% and preterm birth (comprising medical indications) in 59%. But most were late preterm birth and all were alive. Blood pressure was elevated after delivery compared with pre-pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Although pregnancy is not contraindicated in IgA nephropathy, it is associated with significant complications comprising preeclampsia, preterm birth and low birth weight.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Biopsy ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Live Birth ; Medical Records ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Premature Birth ; Stillbirth

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to review the clinical and hematologic findings of the preterm infants delivered from pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH) mothers. METHODS: The data were collected by reviewing the medical records on the current prognosis of preterm birth and sending questionnaires on the status of NICU. We reviewed the medical records from two university hospitals and two resident training hospitals in Gwangju-Chonnam to evaluate the neonatal prognosis of preterm birth from Jan. 1, 1995 to Dec. 31, 1997. RESULTS: The average survival rate of total preterm babies was 79.6%. According to birth weights, survival rate from less than 1,000 gm was 10%, 1,000-1,499 gm was 55.3%, 1,500-1,999 gm was 82.2%. Maternal risk factors were pretmature rupture of membrane(42.2%), preterm labor (21.3%), PIH(10.7%), multiple pregnancy(8.2%) and incompetent internal os of cervix(4.2%). The average gestational age and birth weight were 34.2+/-2.3 weeks and 1,940+/-620 gm in the preterm infants born to mothers with PIH. The death rate was 12.9% in the preterm infants born to mothers with PIH. There were no significant differences in the incidence of RDS, use of assisted ventilation and surfactant, and frequency of the blood transfusion between the preterm infants born to normotensive mothers and those to mothers with PIH. There were significant differences in the total WBC count, platelet count and the concentration of the Mg, Ca and P between the preterm infants born to normotensive mothers and those to mothers with PIH. CONCLUSION: Our results may be helpful to predict the perinatal complications and manage the preterm infants by considering the clinical and hematologic findings of preterm infants born to mothers with PIH.
Birth Weight ; Blood Transfusion ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Mothers* ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Platelet Count ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Prognosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Rupture ; Survival Rate ; Ventilation

Hypernatremic dehydration is an important cause of intracranial hemorrhage. A possible association of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) with hypernatremia and/or high sodium intake has been suggested in preterm infants. To investigate the associations of early fluid and sodium intake or serum sodium concentrations with severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, we reviewed the medical records of 169 inborn ELBW infants. Daily fluid and sodium intake, urine output, weight loss and serum sodium concentration during the first 4 days of life were obtained. Patients were divided into the severe IVH (grade 3/4) and the control (no or grade 1/2 IVH) group. The maximum serum sodium concentration and the incidence of hypernatremia did not differ between the two groups. Related to the fluid balance and sodium intake, the risk for severe IVH was strongly associated with total fluid and sodium intake during the initial four days of life. With respect to the fluids other than transfusion, severe IVH can be discriminated only by sodium intake but not by fluid intake. Large randomized controlled trials are required to clarify the causal relationship between the early sodium intake and severe IVH in ELBW infants.
Birth Weight ; Dehydration ; Drinking ; Heart Ventricles/*pathology ; Hemorrhage/mortality/*pathology ; Humans ; Hypernatremia/*blood ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight/*blood ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium/*blood ; Sodium, Dietary