Evaluation and management of neonatal onset hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia: a single neonatal center experience

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment options of neonates requiring prolonged hospitalization due to persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HH). Methods: This retrospective cohort study included infants >34 weeks of gestation at birth who were born in our hospital between 2018 and 2021, diagnosed with HH, and required diazoxide within the first 28 days of life. The baseline clinical characteristics, age at the time of diagnosis and treatment options in diazoxide resistance cases were recorded. Genetic mutation analysis, if performed, was also included. Results: A total of 32 infants diagnosed with neonatal HH were followed up. Among the cohort, 25 infants were classified as having transient form of HH and seven infants were classified as having congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (CHI). Thirty-one percent of the infants had no risk factors. The median birth weight was significantly higher in the CHI group, whereas no differences were found in other baseline characteristics. Patients diagnosed with CHI required higher glucose infusion rate, higher doses, and longer duration of diazoxide treatment than those in the transient HH group. Eight patients were resistant to diazoxide, and six of them required treatment with octreotide and finally sirolimus. Sirolimus prevented the need of pancreatectomy in five of six patients without causing major side effects. Homozygous mutations in the ABCC8 gene were found in four patients with CHI. Conclusions: The risk of persistent neonatal hyperinsulinism should be considered in hypoglycemic neonates particularly located in regions with high rates of consanguinity. Our study demonstrated sirolimus as an effective treatment option in avoiding pancreatectomy in severe cases

Antimicrobial Activity of Centaura derderiifolia, Stachys aleurites and Anthemis aciphylla

The antimicrobial activity of the ethanol, aseton, ethyl asetate and chloroform extracts from Centaurea derderiifolia Wagenitz (Asteraceae) , Stachys aleurites Boiss. (Lamiaceae) and Anthemis aciphylla Boiss. var.aciphylla (Asteraceae) were investigated by agar-well diffusion assay. These extracts were tested in vitro against 26 bacterial and 3 yeast species. Etyhl acetate and acetone extracts of C. derderiifolia, S. aleurites and A. a.var. aciphylla showed antimicrobial activity in varying degrees on all the microorganisms tested. However, chloroform and ethanol extracts of all the plants were not active on some microorganisms tested. Ethyl asetate extracts of the samples exhibited stronger and broader spectrum of antimicrobial activity as compared to ethanol, aseton and chloroform extracts. Therefore, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of only ethyl acetate extracts of the samples was determined for seven bacteria chosen from agar-well diffusion assay. MIC values of the extracts were between 250-125 ?g/ml. In conclusion, ethyl asetate extract of C. derderiifolia was the most active against Aeromonas hydrophila both in agar-well diffusion and MIC assay

A Newborn Case of “c” Subgroup Mismatch Presenting with Severe Hemolysis and Anemia

Hemolysis and jaundice related to Rh incompatibility in the neonatal period has decreased substantially due to the widespread use of anti-D gammaglobulin in recent years. Nevertheless, the rate of subgroup mismatch in the etiology of hemolytic diseases of the newborn has increased significantly. In this article an 8-day-old newborn infant with “c” subgroup incompatibility and presenting with severe anemia, in whom hemolysis could be controlled with intravenous immunoglobulin infusion and subgroup appropriate blood transfusion, has been presented. Scientific studies have demonstrated that the hemolytic disease of patients who don’t have major blood group incompatibility but carry anti-C antibodies can be rather serious. Therefore, subgroup mismatch should always be kept in mind for newborns presenting with severe hemolytic anemia, and transfusion or if necessary exchange transfusion should be provided with subgroup matched blood products

Urea Cycle Disorders in Neonates: Six Case Reports

Urea cycle disorders are a group of diseases associated with hyperammonemia, which causes severe neurological sequelae, seizures and psychomotor retardation. In this study, six newborn cases diagnosed between 2010-2014 as citrullinemia Type I (four cases) and argininosuccinic aciduria (two cases) are presented in terms of clinical course and treatment responses

Neonatal Resuscitation Practices in Turkey: A Survey of the Turkish Neonatal Society and the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies

Objective: Optimal care in the delivery room is important to decrease neonatal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate neonatal resuscitation practices in Turkish centers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey consisted of a 91-item questionnaire focused on delivery room practices in neonatal resuscitation and was sent to 50 Turkish centers. Hospitals with <2500 and those with ≥2500 births/year were compared. Results: In 2018, approximately 240 000 births occurred at participating hospitals with a median of 2630 births/year. Participating hospitals were able to provide nasal continuous-positive- airway-pressure/high-flow nasal cannula, mechanical ventilation, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, inhaled nitric oxide, and therapeutic hypothermia similarly. Antenatal counseling was routinely performed on parents at 56% of all centers. A resuscitation team was present at 72% of deliveries. Umbilical cord management for both term and preterm infants was similar between centers. The rate of delayed cord clamping was approximately 60% in term and late preterm infants. Thermal management for preterm infants (<32 weeks) was similar. Hospitals had appropriate equipment with similar rates of interventions and management, except conti nuous-positive-airway-pressure and positive-end-expiratory-pressure levels (cmH2O) used in preterm infants (P = .021, and P = .032). Ethical and educational aspects were also similar. Conclusions: This survey provided information on neonatal resuscitation practices in a sam- ple of hospitals from all regions of Turkey and allowed us to see weaknesses in some fields. Although adherence to the guidelines was high among centers, further implementations are required in the areas of antenatal counseling, cord management, and circulation assessment in the delivery room