The possible role of corticosterone in regulating sodium and potassium concentrations in human milk

Objectives: The aim of the study was to find the presence of corticosterone as a regular human milk constituent. We have evaluated the correlation of concentrations between the analyzed hormone and sodium and potassium in breast milk and serum. Material and methods: Hand expressing breast milk samples and median cubital vein blood samples had been taken from 69 healthy, lactating women in early puerperium period (between the 3rd and 10th day) twice, before and after breastfeeding. Corticosterone concentrations in human plasma and breast milk were determined by radioimmunoassayed method. Direct assays were performed before and after breastfeeding, twice. The serum and milk sodium and potassium concentrations were estimated by Flame Emission analyzer CIBA-Corning 480, equipped with an automatic diluter. Results: Corticosterone was found in all milk samples, which is an original observation, and its concentration in milk was a few times lower than in serum. Its concentration values in human serum when were not higher than 3 nmol/L (n  = 108) positively correlated with its concentrations in milk, and those exceeding 3 nmol/L (n  = 30) have demonstrated a negative correlation. An original finding has shown a positive correlation between concentrations of corticosterone in human serum and of potassium in human milk (r  = 0.018, p < 0.03). An attempt was also made to determine the presence of aldosterone in breast milk, but the radioimmunoassay did not reveal its presence. Conclusions: The results confirm a relation between potassium concentration in milk and serum corticosterone concentration delivered to mammal gland with blood

Maternal active or passive smoking in relation to some neonatal morphological parameters and complications

Abstract Objective: To determine the relationship between maternal active and passive smoking and neonatal morphological parameters, as well as some neonatal complications in full-term newborns. Methods: 150 women with uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies were assessed by means of a patient questionnaire. Neonates were divided into 3 groups according to obtained information on maternal smoking status - active smoking: n=51, passive smoking: n=49, non-smoking: n=50. Immediately after birth morphological parameters such as: birthweight, body length, head and chest circumference were assessed. Results: Values of birthweight, body length, head and chest circumference in newborns born to active smoking mothers were significantly lower than in newborns of passive smoking and non-smoking mothers. No significant differences in values of RBC, WBC, PLT, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit between the studied groups have been detected. Oxygen hood was applied significantly more often in case of newborns from active smoking mothers than in the control subjects. In groups of newborns from active and passive smoking mothers, hyperbilirubinemia and signs of early onset infection were diagnosed significantly more frequently than in the control subjects. Conclusions: Active maternal smoking, as opposed to passive maternal smoking, leads to decreased birthweight, body length, head and chest circumference. Full-term newborns born to active smoking mothers often need to be treated with oxygen hood during the first hours after birth. Maternal smoking, both active and passive, leads to an increased risk of hyperbilirubinemia and early onset infection in neonates

Analysis of risk factors for nosocomial infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin in the years 2005-2008

Summary The aim of the study was to assess the significance of some perinatal risk factors and neonatal complications in occurrence of nosocomial infections in the population of NICU patients. Material and methods: Analysis of risk factors was performed in all patients treated in the years 2005-2008 in NICU Department of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland. Five hundred and seventeen neonates divided into groups with and without occurrence of nosocomial infection were included into the study. Results: Seventy nine (15.28%) neonates developed nosocomial infection. Among them pneumonia (56.96%) and sepsis (21.5%) were the most common. The proportion of Gram-positive and Gram negative organisms were 44.3% and 50.6% respectively. The main risk factor for nosocomial infection was colonization (sensitivity - 100% and specificity – 94.75%). Univariate analysis showed that premature rupture of fetal membrane, GA< 32 hbd, birthweigh

Assessment of relationship between cord blood cotinine levels and some factors of perinatal hypoxia

Abstract Objective: To determine the relationship between cord blood cotinine levels and some markers of perinatal hypoxia such as cord blood erythropoietin levels, parameters of umbilical arterial blood gas analysis and Apgar scores. Methods: 150 women with uncomplicated, healthy singleton pregnancies were assessed by means of a patient questionnaire. Neonates born by the examined pregnant women were divided into 3 groups according to recorded maternal smoking status – active smoking: n=51, passive smoking: n=49, non smoking: n=50. Immediately after birth umbilical venous (for cotinine and erythropoietin levels) and arterial blood (for pH, pO2, pCO2, BE) were collected. Results: Cotinine levels were significantly higher (

Implications of Indirect Biomarkers of Intestinal Permeability in the Stools of Newborns and Infants with Perinatal Risk Factors for Intestinal Colonization Disorders and Infant Feeding Patterns

Background: The intestinal microbiota of pregnant women and factors disturbing the microbial balance of their gastrointestinal tract during the perinatal period may be the cause of dysbiosis and thus intestinal permeability syndrome in their children. The purpose of this study was to analyze the implications of intestinal permeability parameters in the stools of newborns and infants with perinatal risk factors for intestinal colonization disorders (the route of delivery, antibiotic therapy in the neonatal period and the abandonment of breastfeeding). Methods: The study included 100 mother&ndash;child pairs. All children were born from uncomplicated and term pregnancies (between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation). In order to determine the parameters of dysbiosis and intestinal permeability, we determined the concentrations of zonulin and occludin in stool samples taken from all children at 0 (i.e., at birth), 3, 6 and 12 months of age. Elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are associated with metabolic diseases and its presence may be indicative of TJ injury and the onset of leaky gut syndrome. To indirectly determine the presence of endotoxemia, the concentrations of lipopolysaccharide were also measured in stool samples taken from all children at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months of age. We analyzed the relationship between the markers studied and perinatal risk factors for impaired intestinal colonization, including the mode of delivery, the method of feeding, and a family history of allergy. Results: During the first 3 months of infant life, higher concentrations of fecal occludin and zonulin were most often accompanied by higher values of fecal LPS. Similarly, higher concentrations of zonulin were accompanied by higher values of occludin. There were no significant differences in the stool concentrations of the studied markers during the first year of life between children born by caesarean section and those born naturally. In addition, the method of feeding had no significant effect on the changes in the concentrations of the determined fractions. Antibiotic therapy was associated only with an increase in the fecal occludin concentration after birth, without any effect on zonulin, occludin or LPS levels. The use of probiotic therapy in infants resulted in a decrease in only LPS concentrations at 3 months of age, with no effect on zonulin or occludin concentrations at 0, 6 and 12 months. Conclusions: Perinatal factors related to intestinal permeability are important during the first 3 months of infant life. However, we found that the mode of delivery had no influence on the parameters of infant intestinal leakage during the first year of life. In addition, the mode of infant feeding&mdash;breast or exclusively formula&mdash;did not significantly affect the changes in the concentrations of LPS, zonulin or occludin in the stools of children. A short-term increase in occludin concentrations after delivery in the stools of children from mothers undergoing antibiotic therapy indicates a negative but reversible influence of intrapartum antibiotics on the intestinal integrity of children in the perinatal period. Probiotic therapy seems to have a positive effect on reducing endotoxemia in children during the first 3 months of life. The presence of LPS at 3 months did not affect intestinal tightness at any of the later measured periods of the infants&rsquo; lives

Differences in Dietary Patterns of Adolescent Patients with IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The prevalence of both in pediatric populations has been constantly increasing. This study aimed to analyze the diet of adolescent patients with IBD in comparison to healthy controls and the current dietary standards for the Polish population to further their optimal supplementation regimen. The study group consisted of 53 patients (21 girls and 32 boys) with IBD (CD: n = 27; UC: n = 26) at a mean age of 15.4 ± 2.4 and 14.7 ± 2.2, years for girls and boys, respectively. The control group (CG) consisted of 20 patients, and 72 h of recall diaries on nutrition were collected. The nutritional data were analyzed in the Dieta 6D dietary program. When compared to Polish dietary standards, the largest differences girls with IBD and boys with IBD were found for the intake of energy (61.9 and 71.9%), iodine (61.9 and 62.6%), folates (76.2 and 87.5%), vitamin D (100 and 96.9%), potassium (61.9 and 59.4%), and calcium (85.7 and 93.8%). The overconsumption of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (61.9 and 56.3%) and sodium (76.2 and 90.6%) in girls and boys, respectively, was noted. In relation to girls with CG, girls with IBD showed a significantly higher intake of energy (1751. 3 vs. 1558.6 p = 0.0224), total protein (71.3 vs. 56.2 p = 0.0217), animal protein (47.8 vs. 34.5 p = 0.0183), total carbohydrates (237.3 vs. 196.1 p = 0.0442), and assimilable carbohydrates (219.8 vs. 180.5 p = 0.7921). Boys in the CG consumed significantly more calcium (851.8 vs. 432 p = 0.0006), phosphorus (1024.3 vs. 1357.5 p = 0.0431), lactose (11.6 vs. 6.1 p = 0.0016), and riboflavin (1.7 vs. 1.3 p = 0.0123) compared to boys with IBD. Dietician care should therefore be mandatorily provided alongside outpatient care. Based on our results, we suggest that supplementation with the selected components be considered