Localized Fetomaternal Hyperglycemia: Spatial and Kinetic Definition by Positron Emission Tomography

to isolated hyperglycemia in the pregnant rat. mg/dL) localized to the left uterine artery was sustained for at least 48 hours while maternal euglycemia was maintained. fetal effects of isolated hyperglycemia. Broadly, this approach can be extended to study a variety of maternal-sided perturbations suspected to directly affect fetal health

Effect of radiant warmer on transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin hydration in preterm infants

To evaluate the effect of radiant warmers on skin barrier function in preterm infants. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and stratum corneum hydration were measured in 30 preterm infants (birth weight 825 to 2220 g) in seven body areas: forehead, upper back, cubital fossa, palms, soles, abdomen, and inguinal region. Measurements were performed under radiant warmer and incubator conditions. Each patient served as his/her control. TEWL was significantly higher in the radiant warmer compared to the incubator condition in only two areas: forehead and back. The overall mean difference in percentage TEWL between the conditions was 15%. Stratum corneum hydration was not affected by the radiant warmer. The use of radiant warmers does not significantly decrease barrier function in the preterm infant

Characteristics of neonates with isolated rectal bleeding

Objective: To determine the characteristics of full term and preterm neonates with isolated rectal bleeding (IRB), and to follow the outcome of these low risk patients. Design: A retrospective case-control study consisting of 147 cases (83 full term and near term infants and 64 preterm infants) and 147 controls in a single institution. Results: A feeding regimen that did not include breast milk was the only variable found to predict IRB. In full term and near term babies (gestational age ⩾ 35 weeks), 52.6% of the study group were breast fed compared with 83.1% of the controls (p < 0.0001). In preterm babies (gestational age ⩽ 34 weeks), 45.9% of the study group were breast fed compared with 74.2% of the controls (p = 0.0014). No obvious systemic infection cause was detected. None of the patients showed clinical or radiological deterioration in the days after diagnosis of IRB. Conclusions: The outcome of a group of low risk neonates with IRB was excellent. It is questionable whether antibiotic treatment is required and feeding needs to be stopped. Breast feeding, even if only partial, should be encouraged

Faecal elastase 1 levels in premature and full term infants

Background: Determination of faecal elastase 1 (FE1) is a simple, relatively inexpensive, non-invasive, highly specific and sensitive test for determining pancreatic function. Secretion of pancreatic enzymes varies during infancy, but there are almost no specific data on the ontogeny of elastase 1 in human babies. Aim: To study FE1 levels in preterm and term babies, and to determine the possible effect of gestational and postconceptual age on these levels. Methods: Serial stool samples were collected and tested for FE1 level from 77 premature and full term infants. FE1 levels were determined by a commercially available enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results: A total of 232 stool samples were collected from 77 neonates. The FE1 level measured in the first stool sample (meconium) was below normal (200 µg/g stool) in all samples regardless of gestational age. Sixty three neonates had at least two samples tested for FE1 level. The mean (SD) level of FE1 in sample 1 was 45.9 (51.1) µg/g stool and was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than in sample 2 (243.0 (164.9) µg/g stool). The lower the gestational age of the newborn, the more time it took for FE1 to reach normal levels. Conclusions: FE1 levels in meconium are low, and studies in meconium should be avoided if pancreatic sufficiency is to be determined. FE1 reaches normal levels by day 3 in term newborns and by 2 weeks in infants born before 28 weeks gestation. Normal levels are reached sooner in infants of more advanced gestational age who start enteral feeding earlier