newborns

Semiz S, Kucuktasci K, Zencir M, Sevinc O. One-year follow-up of penis and testis sizes of healthy Turkish male newborns. Turk J Pedatr 2011; 53: 661-665.Penile length, penile diameter and testicular volume at birth reflect the activity and normality of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis. In this prospective longitudinal study, we aimed to measure penis and testicular size in healthy newborns at birth and 6 and 12 months of age.Seven hundred forty-six term healthy male newborns were enrolled in the study. According to measurements taken within 48 hours after birth, mean penile length (MPL) was 2.81 +/- 0.32 cm, mean penile diameter (MPD) 1.04 +/- 0.09 cm, right testicular volume (TV) 1.73 +/- 0.45 ml, and left TV 1.64 +/- 0.48 ml. At 6 months of age, MPL was 3.67 +/- 0.35 cm, MPD 1.23 +/- 0.08 cm, right TV 2.07 +/- 0.31 ml, and left TV 2.00 +/- 0.27 ml. At 12 months of age, MPL was 4.47 +/- 0.43 cm, MPD 1.25 +/- 0.09 cm, right TV 2.01 +/- 0.12 ml, and left TV 2.01 +/- 0.13 ml. There was a weak albeit statistically significant correlation between weight, length and PL at birth.In conclusion, the MPL of newborns was shorter than that reported in the published data from other populations. This situation may be related to ethnicity in addition to the lower birth weight and length of our subjects when compared to the newborns in other populations.We observed a significant increase, more marked during the first six months, in MPL, MPD and TV, which can be explained by the hormonal mechanism during minipuberty

hemorrhage

Objective: Periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage (PV/IVH) is the most common type of intracranial hemorrhage in the neonatal period. PV/IVH may cause significant neurodevelopmental problems for preterms, even it can be fatal. Low-birth weight and gestational age are the most important risk factors.Methods: In this study, predisposing risk factors were investigated by bedside cranial ultrasonography in 24 patients with PV/IVH in our neonatal intensive care unit retrospectively.Results: Predisposing risk factors were determined as need for ventilator therapy (87.5%), 5th minute Apgar score <7 (83.3%), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS, 79.1%), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA, 66.6%), early neonatal sepsis (66.6%), nonuse of antenatal steroids (54.1%), asphyxia (33.3%), thrombocytopenia (25%), early rupture of membranes (25%) and intrauterine growth retardation (25%). Seven (29.2%) infants died during neonatal period, while 71.4% of them were <= 1500 g and 85.7% were <= 32GWs.Conclusion: Low gestational age (<= 32GWs) and birth weight (<= 1500 g), nonuse of antenatal steroids, low Apgar score, RDS, PDA, sepsis and need for ventilator therapy are important risk factors for PV/IVH. The newborns having predisposing risk factors should be evaluated by cranial US and infants diagnosed with intracranial bleeding should be closely monitoring

nfants: A Chance Before Surgical Ligation

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) remains a common problem in premature infants. Treatment options include pharmacologic therapy and surgical ligation, but these are associated with potentially significant adverse effects. This report describes the effect of administering oral paracetamol to premature neonates with PDA. The study enrolled seven premature neonates followed up with the diagnosis of hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA) between February and December 2012 and treated with oral paracetamol. Patients with hsPDA were given at least two or more courses of ibuprofen treatment. If this therapy failed to promote ductal closure, the patients with clinical symptoms who had hsPDA defined by echocardiography were treated with oral paracetamol (15 mg/kg every 6 h). If these patients did not respond to paracetamol therapy, the PDA was closed by surgical ligation. The mean gestational age of the seven patients in this study was 26.1 weeks, and their mean birth weight was 936 g. Paracetamol treatment was started at 36.2 +/- A 11.6 days. The mean internal ductal diameter was 2.0 +/- A 0.2 mm, and the left atrium-to-aorta ratio was 1.5 +/- A 0.2. All the patients were administered oral paracetamol because of no response to ibuprofen treatment. The hsPDA was successfully closed with oral paracetamol in five (71.4 %) of the seven patients. The remaining two patients had surgical ligation performed, but one of them died. No side effects related to paracetamol were observed. Oral paracetamol may be used as an alternative drug for the management of hsPDA in premature neonates when ibuprofen treatment is unsuccessful and the only other therapeutic option is surgery

Congenital brucellosis in a premature infant

One of the most common public health problems in the world is brucellosis, a disease primarily of domestic animals caused by bacteria of the Brucella group. The most invasive and pathological cases caused by all species of Brucella are related to Brucella melitensis. The infection is transmitted to humans through consumption of unpasteurized milk, direct contact with infected animals and inhalation of contaminated aerosols. Congenital brucellosis occurs by means of transplacental transmission due to maternal infection during pregnancy or ingestion of contaminated maternal secretions during birth and breastfeeding. Diagnosis of brucellosis is made by culture or serology. The definitive diagnosis and management of brucellosis during pregnancy can be lifesaving for the fetus. The most rational approach for preventing human brucellosis is control and elimination of the infection in infected animals. In this article, the case of a premature infant with congenital brucellosis presumed to have been acquired through transplacental transmission is reported because of the rarity of such cases. We note that preventive procedures should be taken in order to protect pregnant women living in high-risk areas where brucellosis is endemic

Thalassemia Major Patients

Objectives: To evaluate the impaired glucose metabolism and their possible risk factors in beta thalassemia major (TM) patients negative for hepatitis serology and PCRDesign: Prospective descriptive studySetting: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, TurkeySubjects: Patients with history of familial diabetes mellitus (DM) and hepatitis serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive TM patients were excluded. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done on 32 TM patients. Insulinogenic index, beta-cell function index and insulin resistance index were calculated.Main Outcome Measures: Glucose metabolism in beta TM patients negative for hepatitis serology and PCRResults: Seven patients (1.8%) had impaired glucose metabolism (IGM). Three patients (9.3%) were diagnosed with DM, one (3.1%) patient with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and three (9.3%) patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Cases with IGM had significantly higher, annual erythrocyte consumption rate (ml/kg/year), ferritin, alaninaminotransferase (ALT), post-splenectomy period, age at first transfusion when compared with normal glucose metabolism (NGM) patients (p < 0.05). Insulinogenic index decreased in IGM patients compared to NGM patients (p < 0.005).Conclusions: Our results show that annual erythrocyte consumption rate, ferritin, post-splenectomy period, insulinogenic index and ALT values are predictive of IGM in TM patients negative for hepatitis serology and PCR

Dandy-Walker's variant and tetralogy of Fallot with atrial septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus and primary hypothyroidy--a new association.

An 11-month-old girl who has Dandy-Walker's variant (DWV) associated with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and primary hypothyroidy is presented. There has been no report describing a case of DWV associated with TOF, ASD and PDA and primary hypothyroidy. The first case of Dandy-Walker malformation associated with TOF was reported by Kohyama et al in 1988, since then, a few cases were reported in the literature. Our patient is the first reported case

Thalassemia Major Patients

Objectives: To evaluate the impaired glucose metabolism and their possible risk factors in beta thalassemia major (TM) patients negative for hepatitis serology and PCRDesign: Prospective descriptive studySetting: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, TurkeySubjects: Patients with history of familial diabetes mellitus (DM) and hepatitis serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive TM patients were excluded. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done on 32 TM patients. Insulinogenic index, beta-cell function index and insulin resistance index were calculated.Main Outcome Measures: Glucose metabolism in beta TM patients negative for hepatitis serology and PCRResults: Seven patients (1.8%) had impaired glucose metabolism (IGM). Three patients (9.3%) were diagnosed with DM, one (3.1%) patient with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and three (9.3%) patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Cases with IGM had significantly higher, annual erythrocyte consumption rate (ml/kg/year), ferritin, alaninaminotransferase (ALT), post-splenectomy period, age at first transfusion when compared with normal glucose metabolism (NGM) patients (p < 0.05). Insulinogenic index decreased in IGM patients compared to NGM patients (p < 0.005).Conclusions: Our results show that annual erythrocyte consumption rate, ferritin, post-splenectomy period, insulinogenic index and ALT values are predictive of IGM in TM patients negative for hepatitis serology and PCR

Mediterranean Diet on Vulnerable Populations

Low vitamin B12 and folate levels in expectant mothers may lead to low stores in babies. The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies in pregnant women and neonates, and to assess the effect of maternal vitamin status on babies' vitamin levels in the Aegean region of Turkey, where the Mediterranean diet (mainly fresh fruits and vegetables) is adopted. We studied 72 pregnant women and their singleton-term babies. Venous blood samples of expectant mothers were collected 1 h before delivery and cord blood of babies were obtained at birth. The mean vitamin B12 in maternal and cord blood serum was 163.1 +/- 72.0 pg/mL and 146.2 +/- 102.5 pg/mL, and the mean folate, 9.8 +/- 4.8 ng/mL and 15.8 +/- 3.8 ng/mL, respectively. There were statistically significant correlation between maternal and cord blood serum vitamin B12 (r=0.61, P=.04) and folate levels (r=0.65, P<.001). 70.8% of the mothers and 83.9% of the babies were vitamin B12 deficient (<200 pg/mL). Neither group showed folate deficiency. The mean level of vitamin B12 in mothers significantly varied by the type of diet (241.6 (72.1) pg/mL versus 155.9 (68.2) pg/mL; P=.012). Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnant women and neonates may be a public health problem in our community. The Mediterranean diet in these vulnerable groups may be an aggravating factor for vitamin B12 deficiency. Prenatal screening of all expectant mothers, prenatal supplementation of vitamin B12, and an increase in animal-source food intake may improve expectant mother's vitamin B12 level

association

An 11-month-old girl who has Dandy-Walker's variant (DWV) associated with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and primary hypothyroidy is presented. There has been no report describing a case of DWV associated with TOF, ASD and PDA and primary hypothyroidy. The first case of Dandy-Walker malformation associated with TOF was reported by Kohyama et al in 1988, since then, a few cases were reported in the literature. Our patient is the first reported case

Dandy-Walker's variant and tetralogy of Fallot with atrial septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus and primary hypothyroidy - A new association

An 11-month-old girl who has Dandy-Walker's variant (DWV) associated with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and primary hypothyroidy is presented. There has been no report describing a case of DWV associated with TOF, ASD and PDA and primary hypothyroidy. The first case of Dandy-Walker malformation associated with TOF was reported by Kohyama et al in 1988, since then, a few cases were reported in the literature. Our patient is the first reported case. © 2009 Dr. K C Chaudhuri Foundation