Evaluation of newborns with vitamin D deficiency: A single-center experience

Aim: To evaluate the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics (primarily phosphorus, calcium (Ca), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels of newborns with low 25-OHD levels. Methods: In this retrospective study, babies whose 25-OHD levels were determined during hospitalization were evaluated. The newborns were classified as stated by their serum 25-OHD levels as follows: severely deficient, <5 ng/mL (group 1); deficient, 5–20 ng/mL (group 2); and insufficient, 20 to 30 ng/mL (group 3). In addition to the newborns' serum 25-OHD levels, their serum Ca, phosphorus, parathormone (PTH), and alkaline phosphatase levels and their mothers' 25-OHD levels were also measured. Results: A total of 568 newborns were included. Serum 25-OHD level was severely deficient in 112 patients (19.7%). The mothers of the babies in group 1 were younger than those of the babies in the other groups. First PTH level (F3,1, p = 0.04) and maternal ALP level were highest in group 1. In all the groups, the maternal 25-OHD level was <30 ng/mL. Vitamin D supplementation rate during pregnancy was found to be significantly lower in the severely deficient and deficient groups than in the insufficient group (F1,84, p = 0.01). Conclusion: 25-OHD deficiency continues to be a problem among pregnant women and their babies in Turkey despite the introduction of a supplementation program. This study emphasizes the need to improve maternal 25-OHD status to support maternal and infant health. &nbsp

Prognostic value of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography in neonates with hypernatremic dehydration

Conclusion: The follow-up of newborns after discharge is key to determine the risks associated with hypernatremic dehydration. Our results suggest that hypernatremic dehydration had no impact on the long-term outcome. In addition, continuous aEEG monitoring could provide information regarding early prognosis and mortality

Indications of Collecting Blood Culture and Necessity of Educations [Kan Kulturu Alma Nedenleri ve Egitimin Gerekliligi]

Blood culture is the most usefull test for the diagnosis of bacteremia and infectious diseases either it provides optimising the treatment to microorganism. For the treatment and management of bacteremia in child patients group, it is obligated to be more carefull. Therefore, blood culture is used more often in child patients group. Although, collecting blood culture without indication results cost increase due to unnecessary testing and treatments. This study is performed by investigating the results of blood cultures obtained from the patients that are hospitalized at Diskapi Childrens Hospital in 2007 and 2008. The practitioners have been educated for blood culture obtaining techniques and indications. Number of blood culture testing and changes in indications are analysed at all departments seperately and also whole of the hospital. Blood culture collecting rates were 26.2% before and 21.9% after educations. After educations, despite increase for bacteremia related reasons, collecting blood cultures for bacteremia unrelated reasons such as indirect hyperbilirubinemia, acute bronchiolitis, acute gastroenteritis, routine procedure was decreased. After educations, number of blood culture testing was decreased. It is also observed that blood cultures are more often obtained with indication. Rate of collecting blood culture due to bacteremia independent reasons was decreased. Its seen that routine blood culture collecting is not less and could not be eliminated completely with educations. This study emphasizes the need of routine education programs about blood cultures for medical and financial gains. [Med-Science 2014; 3(4.000): 1571-81

Congenital Chylothorax in a Newborn with Down Syndrome

In the neonatal period, the most common cause of pleural effusion is idiopathic congenital chylothorax. Congenital chylothorax is rarely associated with chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down, Turner and Noonan syndromes. The diagnosis can be made after analysis of the pleural fluid drained by thoracentesis or chest tube placement. During the neonatal period, chylothorax treatment is composed of conservative and surgical therapies. Nowadays, for cases among which conservative therapies fail, treatment with octreotide has been reported to be beneficial with promising results. In this report, a case of congenital chylothorax, in a newborn with Down syndrome, treated by octreotide after failure of chest tube drainage and medical treatment (total parenteral nutrition and medium chain fatty acid formula) is presented

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