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Neonatal mortality of low-birth-weight infants in Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the role of low birth weight (LBW) in neonatal mortality in a periurban setting in Bangladesh. METHODS: LBW neonates were recruited prospectively and followed up at one month of age. The cohort of neonates were recruited after delivery in a hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and 776 were successfully followed up either at home or, in the event of early death, in hospital. FINDINGS: The neonatal mortality rate (NMR) for these infants was 133 per 1000 live births (95% confidence interval: 110-159). The corresponding NMRs (and confidence intervals) for early and late neonates were 112 (91-136) and 21 (12-33) per thousand live births, respectively. The NMR for infants born after fewer than 32 weeks of gestation was 769 (563-910); and was 780 (640-885) for infants whose birth weights were under 1500 g. Eighty-four per cent of neonatal deaths occurred in the first seven days; half within 48 hours. Preterm delivery was implicated in three-quarters of neonatal deaths, but was associated with only one-third of LBW neonates. CONCLUSION: Policy-relevant findings were: that LBW approximately doubles the NMR in a periurban setting in Bangladesh; that neonatal mortality tends to occur early; and that preterm delivery is the most important contributor to the NMR. The group of infants most likely to benefit from improvements in low-cost essential care for the newborn accounted for almost 61% of neonatal mortalities in the cohort.

Bangladesh↗

Mechanisms underlying reduced responsiveness of neonatal neutrophils to distinct chemoattractants.

Potential mechanisms underlying impaired chemotactic responsiveness of neonatal neutrophils were investigated. Two distinct chemoattractants were compared: bacterially derived N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and a unique chemotactic monoclonal antibody, designated DL1.2, which binds to a neutrophil antigen with an apparent molecular mass of 120 kDa. Chemotaxis of neutrophils toward fMLP, as well as DL1.2, was reduced in neonates when compared with adult cells. This did not appear to be a result of decreased fMLP receptor or DL1.2 antigen expression by neonatal neutrophils. fMLP, but not DL1.2, induced a rapid increase in intracellular calcium in adult and neonatal cells, which reached a maximum within 30 s. The calcium response of cells from neonates to fMLP was reduced when compared with adult cells, and an unresponsive subpopulation of neonatal neutrophils was identified. NF-kappaB nuclear binding activity induced by fMLP and DL1.2, as well as expression of the p65 NF-kappaB subunit and IkappaB-alpha, was also significantly reduced in neonatal cells, when compared with adult cells. In contrast, although fMLP, but not DL1.2, activated p42/44 and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in neutrophils, no differences were observed between adults and neonates. Chemotaxis of adult and neonatal neutrophils toward fMLP and DL1.2 was also blocked to a similar extent by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, as well as an inhibitor of NF-kappaB. These findings indicate that reduced chemotactic responsiveness in neonatal neutrophils is a result of, at least in part, aberrations in chemoattractant-induced signaling. However, the biochemical pathways mediating this defect appear to be related to the specific chemoattractant.

Adult↗

Neonatal magnetoencephalography and spectral analysis.

PURPOSE: We performed a prospective study of neonatal brain function on 44 respective term neonates who were delivered normally, without any clinical signs of brain damage. Thirty were associated with a normal pregnancy and labor with normal values of Apgar scores, umbilical cord pH and birth weight, while 14 neonates were the result of pre-eclamptic pregnancy. METHODS-RESULTS: Biomagnetic measurements were performed by means of a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) in an electrically shielded room of low magnetic noise. Biomagnetic signals (waveforms) recorded from neonatal brains in the frequency range of 2-7 Hz were expressed in terms of magnetic power spectral amplitudes. These were low (mean value 163.2, SD 22.57) in almost all neonates from the "normal pregnancy" group, while they were high (mean value 211.6, SD 37.74) in most neonates from the "pre-eclamptic" group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (Student's t-test, p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: A statistically significant difference in spectral amplitudes of neonatal brain activity was observed between normal term neonates and the pre-eclamptic neonates. Biomagnetic measurements of neonatal brain activity could provide clinical practice with a promising procedure for assessing brain function.

Adolescent↗

Heart rate response profiles to tilting in healthy and unhealthy neonates.

BACKGROUND: Clinical observations suggest the immaturity of the neonate's ability to respond appropriately to cardio-respiratory challenges and tilt test could help in detecting autonomic dysfunction in neonates. MATERIAL/METHODS: Heart rate (HR) responses following a 45 degrees head-up tilt during sleep were measured within the first week of adjusted age in 7 healthy full-term neonates, 7 healthy preterm infants and 5 neonates with abstinence syndrome. RESULTS: The tilt and the return to the horizontal position generally provoked a sustained or transient tachycardia, or a flat response in healthy full-term neonates and in preterm neonates, but a sustained or transient bradycardia in neonates with abstinence syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: When compared to previous studies in older infants, our data point to the immaturity of the neonate's ability to respond appropriately to cardio-respiratory challenges. No difference is noted between full-term and preterm neonates. The altered HR response in neonates with abstinence syndrome suggests an autonomic dysregulation in this group.

Bradycardia↗

[Quantitative changes of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, HLA-DR+, T lymphocytes and CD25+ cells in eutrophic full-term neonates with staphylococcal septicemia].

OBJECTIVE: Influence of staphylococcal septicemia on changes of share and changes of amount of CD3+ lymphocytes and their subpopulation as well as CD25+ cells in eutrophic full-term neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 52 full-term neonates, with birthweight ranged from 2900 to 4500 g, including 30 infants with staphylococcal septicemia caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis (19 cases), S. sciuri (2 cases) S. varneri, S. hominis, S. haemolyticus and S. aureus (6 cases) and 22 healthy neonates (control group) the subpopulation of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, HLA-DR+ lymphocytes in venous blood was estimated using flow cytometer FACScan with monoclonal antibodies of Becton Dickinson. RESULTS: Average percentage of CD3+ (69.2 +/- 5.9%), CD4+ (48.9 +/- 10.7%) and HLA-DR+ (1.8 +/- 0.9%) lymphocytes and average CD4+/CD8+ ratio (2.97 +/- 1.33) in neonates with septicemia did not significantly differ from average values of these parameters in healthy neonates that were: CD3+ (69.1 +/- 9.0%), CD4+ (47.4 +/- 10.6%), HLA-DR+ (1.5 +/- 0.5%) and CD4+/CD8+ (2.29 +/- 1.29). Likewise the average numbers of these lymphocytes were close to the values found in the control group. Whereas the average subpopulation of CD8+ (19.2 +/- 4.6%) lymphocytes in ill neonates was significantly lower (p = 0.007) than in healthy ones (23.6 +/- 6.6%), and the average number of CD25+ cells was essentially (p = 0.01) higher in septicemia neonates (8.5 +/- 2.5) compared to the control group (6.6 +/- 1.3%). Average numbers of these cells in ill neonates did not substantially differ from their average values in control group. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Staphylococcal septicemia significantly decreases the values of subpopulation of CD8+ lymphocytes and increases the number of CD25+ cells in eutrophic full-term neonates. 2. Estimation of lymphocytes, and their subpopulation and CD25+ cells in neonates with staphylococcal septicemia may be useful in assessment of immunological changes in severe infections.

Amniotic Fluid↗

[Induction of fetal lung maturation in the prevention of hyaline membrane disease: the connection with neonatal sepsis].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antenatal maternal corticosteroid treatment on the frequency of neonatal outcomes and perinatal infectious morbidity among singleton pregnancies complicated by preterm delivery. METHODS: A nonrandomized analysis was performed on 189 neonates of 24-34 weeks' gestation who were born at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Udine, between January 2000 to December 2001. The neonates were subdivided into 3 groups: 1) 143 neonates received 2 doses of corticosteroids in a 24-hour interval and repeated after 10 days; 2) 26 neonates received 2 doses; 3) 20 neonates did not receive any treatment. Data were analysed with the Fisher exact test. p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), neonatal mortality and intraventricular hemorrhage was respectively 43.4%, 3.2 % and 6.3 %. The rate of early-onset neonatal sepsis was 4.9% in the 1st group, 3.9% in the 2nd group and 5% in the 3rd group. There were no significant differences in the early-onset neonatal sepsis and the antenatal corticosteroids treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The single or the multiple courses of antenatal steroids did not apparently increase neonatal sepsis in patients with preterm delivery.

Adult↗

Severe echovirus 30 infection in twin neonates.

Although enteroviruses can cause overwhelming and fatal systemic infections in neonates, such severe neonatal infections remain uncommon and rarely involve both of twin neonates at the same time. We report the cases of twin neonates who developed fever initially, and then progressed to disseminated systemic disease with marked thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, and hepatic failure. One of the neonates died and the other survived. Both neonates were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and maternal fresh frozen plasma was also given to the neonate who survived. Virus cultures from the nasopharynx, rectum and cerebral spinal fluid of both neonates yielded enterovirus, later typed as echovirus 30. The surviving neonate had normal development without obvious sequelae during a follow-up period of 1 year. The major determinant of the survival from severe neonatal enterovirus infection might have been the pre-existing severity of the disease before treatment, and complete recovery could be expected if the infant survived the acute stage of illness.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation↗

Freshly isolated, murine neonatal T cells produce IL-4 in response to anti-CD3 stimulation.

In previous studies of chimeric animals, we found that fetal intrathymic T cell precursors give rise to phenotypically abnormal peripheral T cell populations. Because most peripheral T lymphocytes in newborn mice are the progeny of fetal T cell precursors, this result led to the hypothesis that neonatal and adult T cells differ in their functional capacities. To investigate this issue, the responses of neonatal and adult T cells to anti-CD3 antibody and TCR-independent stimulation were compared. When stimulated with soluble anti-CD3 antibody in the presence of adult accessory cells, neonatal T cell proliferation was markedly decreased compared with that of adult T cells. This reduction in proliferation was associated with both quantitative and qualitative differences in lymphokine production. At 48 h of stimulation with anti-CD3 antibody, neonatal T cells produced at least 10-fold less IL-2 than adult T cells. This apparently accounted for their reduced proliferation because the addition of exogenous IL-2 restored their proliferation to the levels achieved by adult T cells. In striking contrast to adult T cells, neonatal T cells secreted large amounts of IL-4 upon primary stimulation in vitro. The differences between neonatal and adult T cells in proliferation and lymphokine production were shown to be specific for CD3-mediated stimulation. In the presence of phorbol ester and calcium ionophore, neonatal and adult T cells showed equivalent proliferation and IL-2 production. Under these conditions, IL-4 production by neonatal or adult T cells was essentially undetectable. Thus, in response to TCR-independent stimulation, freshly isolated neonatal and adult T cells show similar functional responses. However, when stimulation occurs via the CD3 components of the TCR, the responses of neonatal T cells resemble those of primed T cells from adult animals.

Animals↗

Neonatal course and outcome of twins from reduced multifetal pregnancy versus non-reduced twins.

BACKGROUND: Multifetal pregnancy reduction has been implemented for improving the outcome of multifetal pregnancies. Recent studies reported no difference in pregnancy outcome between reduced twins and non-reduced twins, but the neonatal course and subsequent outcome in reduced twin pregnancies were not well documented. OBJECTIVE: To compare the neonatal course and outcome, as well as the gestational and labor characteristics in twins from reduced multifetal pregnancies and in non-reduced twins. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study of the neonatal course of twins from reduced multifetal pregnancies. We found 64 mothers with multifetal pregnancy reduction who delivered twins during 1989-1997; 64 gestational age-matched non-reduced twin pregnancies served as controls. The following neonatal variables were examined: major malformations; small birth weight for gestational age; and neonatal morbidities including respiratory distress syndrome, apnea, pneumothorax, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, hyperbilirubinemia, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, seizures, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, ventriculomegaly, and hydrocephalus. In addition, we evaluated several neonatal interventions (surfactant replacement, mechanical ventilation, phototherapy, total parenteral nutrition), and some laboratory abnormalities (thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, anemia, and hypoglycemia), duration of hospitalization, and neonatal mortality. RESULTS: Gestational and labor variables were not significantly different between multifetal pregnancies reduced to twins and non-reduced twin pregnancies. The neonatal morbidity and mortality were not significantly different between twin neonates from multifetal pregnancy reduction and non-reduced control twins. CONCLUSIONS: Multifetal pregnancy reduction to twins appears to bear no adverse effect on the intrauterine course of the remaining fetuses or their neonatal course and outcome when born after 28 weeks of gestation.

Case-Control Studies↗

Prophylaxis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome by intra-amniotic administration of pulmonary surfactant.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is caused by a deficiency in pulmonary surfactant (PS) and is one of the main reasons of neonatal mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-amniotic administration of pulmonary surfactant for prophylaxis of NRDS. METHODS: Forty-five pregnant women who were due for preterm delivery and whose fetuses' lungs proved immature were divided into two groups. Fifteen women (study group) were administered one dose of pulmonary surfactant injected into the amniotic cavity and delivered within several hours. Nothing was injected into the amniotic cavity of 30 women of the control group. The proportion of neonatal asphyxia, NRDS, mortality and the time in hospital were analyzed to determine if there was any difference between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups for neonatal asphyxia. Foam tests showed that higher proportion of neonates in the study group than in the control group (56.3% vs 13.3%, P < 0.05) had lung maturity. A greater number of control neonates (11/30, 32.3%) had NRDS, compared with the neonates given PS via the amniotic cavity before delivery (1/16, 6.3%, P < 0.05). The neonates in the study group spent nearly 10 days less in hospital than the control group [(32.4 +/- 7.6) days vs (42.0 +/- 15.7) days, P < 0.05], but the difference in mortality between the two groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-amniotic administration of pulmonary surfactant can significantly reduce the proportion of NRDS and the time in hospital of preterm neonates. Whether this method can reduce the mortality of preterm neonates needs to be evaluated further. Intra-amniotic administration of pulmonary surfactant provides an additional effectual means for NRDS prophylaxis.

Amnion↗

[Expression of neutrophil adhesion molecule CD11b as an early diagnostic marker for neonatal sepsis].

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal sepsis is a common disease and the sepsis-related mortality rate is still high. Until now, there has no ideal diagnostic marker to early identify neonatal sepsis. Expression of neutrophil adhesion molecule CD(11b) was showed as the earlier reaction to the infection/inflammation, and may be applied as an early diagnostic marker for sepsis. This study was to investigate this antigen for early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis related to bacterial infection. METHODS: According to clinical symptoms, signs and four indices (WBC, PLT, plasma CRP and ratio of I/T), fifty-one neonates with established or suspected sepsis were allocated retrospectively into two groups of sepsis [n = 23, gestational age of (38.3 +/- 2.4) weeks, postnatal age of (12.7 +/- 8.8) days, body weight: (3.1 +/- 0.8) kg] and suspected sepsis [n = 28, gestational age of (38.8 +/- 1.6) weeks, postnatal age of (11.7 +/- 7.3) days, body weight: (3.3 +/- 0.6) kg]. Fifteen healthy neonates were served as controls [gestational age: (38.5 +/- 1.4) weeks, postnatal age: (8.2 +/- 5.5) days, body weight: (3.3 +/- 0.3) kg]. CD(11b) was quantified with the whole blood flow cytometry and direct immunofluorescence technique. RESULTS: The expressions of neutrophil CD(11b) in neonates with sepsis and suspected sepsis were (320 +/- 189) MFI and (456 +/- 213) MFI, respectively, which was lower than that of controls [(1,090 +/- 338) MFI, t = -9.01 and -7.56, respectively; P < 0.001]. The expression of CD(11b) was lower in neonates with sepsis than that with suspected sepsis (t = -2.39, P < 0.05). The expression of CD(11b) in neonates with CRP >or= 30 mg/L was (211 +/- 164) MFI, which was lower than those with CRP < 30 mg/L [(505 +/- 265) MFI, t = 2.64, P < 0.05]. The detection of CD(11b) (<or= 600 MFI) for suspected sepsis showed a sensitivity of 86.3%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 68.2%. The positive rate of CD(11b) detection was 86.3%, which was higher than the blood culture test (17.6%, chi(m)(2) = 31.2, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of CD(11b) in neonatal sepsis presented with a down-regulation and, the decreased CD(11b) expression might be related to the severity of infections. For the neonatal sepsis the serial measurements of neutrophil CD(11b) expression with the whole blood flow cytometry seemed feasible and reliable in the early diagnosis, evaluation of infection severity and observation of therapy reactions.

Bacteremia↗

Reticulated platelet percentages in term and preterm neonates.

OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to determine whether their reticulated platelet percentage (RP%) analysis technique was suitable for use in term and preterm neonates and to characterize RP% values among nonthrombocytopenic neonates. METHODS: The authors modified a whole blood method that uses dual-color CD41 staining for platelet gating and thiazole orange for RNA content, combined with RNase treatment of half the sample to subtract non-RNA fluorescence. The RP% was measured in samples from 10 healthy adults and then a longitudinal study was performed in 15 nonthrombocytopenic preterm neonates on days of life 0 to 1, 2 to 5, 6 to 10, and then weekly until day 28. The authors also performed a cross-sectional study of RP% in 22 nonthrombocytopenic neonates of different gestational age (GA) and postconceptional age (PCA). RESULTS: Overall, neonates had a higher RP% (2.7 +/- 1.6%) than adults (1.1 +/- 0.5%; P < 0.01). In preterm neonates, an increase in the RP% occurred between days 0 and 1 (3.3 +/- 1.3%) and days 2 and 5 (5.1 +/- 1.8%; P = 0.003). By days 6 to 10, the RP% decreased to 3.2 +/- 1.1% and remained unchanged throughout the rest of the study period. In neonates less than 7 days old, an inverse relationship was observed between RP% and GA (n = 20, r = -0.70; P = 0.0005). A correlation between RP% and PCA was not seen in neonates 7 days of age or older. CONCLUSIONS: This method for determining RP% is suitable for use in term and preterm neonates. In preterm infants, the RP% significantly increases over the first 2 to 5 days of life and then decreases to a stable level over the first 28 days. RP% is generally higher in neonates than in adults. Among preterm infants in the first week of life, the RP% is inversely related to GA.

Adult↗

[Expression of peripheral blood neutrophil CD64 in neonatal septicemia].

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal septicemia is a common and severe infection, which often results in death. Early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal septicemia may help decrease neonatal mortality. Recently, many studies sought to explore the possibility of early diagnosis of this disease. The high affinity Fcgamma-receptor I (CD(64)) was purposefully chosen as a potential marker for identifying neonatal septicemia. The present study was designed to evaluate neutrophil CD(64) level for early diagnosis of neonatal septicemia. METHODS: Eighty-nine suspected neonatal septicemia cases were recruited into the study. Five non-specific indices, i.e., C-reactive protein (CRP), micro-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mESR), white blood cell count, platelet count and the ratio of immature neutrophil count to total neutrophil count were measured for each patient. The patients were divided into septicemia group (n = 39) and non-septisemic infection group (n = 50) according to the diagnostic criteria for neonatal septicemia. Nineteen hospitalized neonates with non-infectious diseases were enrolled as controls (n = 19). The levels of peripheral blood neutrophil CD(64) were measured by using flow cytometry. The positive rate, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of CD(64) were calculated. RESULTS: The levels of peripheral blood neutrophil CD(64) in septicemia patients were (75.6 +/- 8.9)%, which were significantly higher than those of non-septisemic infection group (29.1 +/- 6.2)% and control group (5.1 +/- 1.1)% (P < 0.05), respectively. There were no significant differences in the levels of CD(64) expression between the patients with Gram-negative (79.5 +/- 3.5)% and Gram- positive (76.4 +/- 5.0)% (P > 0.05) bacterial infection. The levels of CD(64) of the cases with septicemia significantly decreased at day 10 of treatment with antibiotics. The detection of CD(64) (cutoff value > 30%) for suspected septicemia showed high sensitivity (97.4%), specificity (84.0%), PPV (82.6%), and NPV (97.6%). The positive rate of CD(64) detection (62.9%) was much higher than that of the blood culture test (19.1%) and that of the five nonspecific indices (29.2%, P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: The expression of CD(64) increased in neonatal septicemia cases. The measurement of cell surface expression of CD(64) on neutrophils may be helpful to early diagnosis, evaluation of severity of infection and observation of therapeutic effects for neonatal septicemia.

Biomarkers↗

Neonatal haemorrhagic conjunctivitis: a specific sign of chlamydial infection.

OBJECTIVE: To review the bacteriological causes and clinical features of acute neonatal conjunctivitis in a local paediatric centre. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Paediatric unit of a regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: All neonates who presented to Tuen Mun Hospital from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2002 with persistent eye discharge and a positive eye swab culture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical features of neonates with chlamydial and non-chlamydial conjunctivitis. RESULTS: Of 90 neonates with positive eye swab or conjunctival scraping cultures, Chlamydia trachomatis was the second most common (n=19, 21%) cause of acute neonatal conjunctivitis after Staphylococcus aureus (n=32, 36%). All of the neonates with chlamydial conjunctivitis were delivered vaginally: two of them had concomitant chlamydial pneumonia. Neisseria gonorrhoeae conjunctivitis was rare (n=1, 1%). None of the mothers of neonates with Chlamydia had any history of sexually transmitted disease. The timing of presentation, gestational age, birth weight, and sex of the neonates did not suggest a risk of chlamydial infection. Nonetheless haemorrhagic eye discharge had a specificity of 100% and positive predictive value of 100% for chlamydial infection. There were no adverse ophthalmological consequences or complications of pyloric stenosis in any neonate following treatment with oral erythromycin. CONCLUSIONS: Haemorrhagic eye discharge is a highly specific sign of neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis. Early and prompt treatment with oral erythromycin is safe and effective.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Role of some viral infections in neonatal cholestasis.

Viral infection is one of the postulated causes of neonatal cholestasis. In addition to earlier reports on the association of viral infection and intrahepatic cholestasis (IH), recent studies have suggested a similar link to extra hepatic biliary atresia (EHBA). The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of some viral infections in neonates presenting with cholestasis to the Neonatology Ward of Zagazig University Hospitals. Sixty-two neonates were included in the study (44 cholestatic neonates and 18 apparently healthy neonates as the control group). All neonates were subjected to full history taking and complete physical examination. Laboratory investigations included CBC, liver function tests, bleeding profile, blood cultures, abdominal ultrasound and detection of HBsAg and serum IgM antibodies against certain viruses (CMV, Reovirus III, HSV I, HSV II, Rubella virus) using ELISA. Radionuclide cholescintigraphy was performed for patients only. The study revealed that cholestatic neonates were significantly associated with dark urine, pale stool and hepatomegaly compared with the control (P<0.004, P<0.001, P<0.008, respectively). Quantitation of IgM antibody titre using ELISA revealed significantly higher levels of serum anti-CMV IgM and anti-Reovirus III IgM in cholestatic than in the control groups. No significant differences were found in levels of anti-HSV I, anti-HSV II or anti-rubella antibodies between cholestatic and control groups. HBsAg was negative for all neonates; cholestatic and control. Lastly, no significant differences were found between neonates with EHBA (7 cases) and Intrahepatic cholestasis (37 cases) regarding anti -CMV IgM or anti -Reo III IgM. It can be concluded that CMV and Reovirus type 3 infections of the neonates are associated with the development of cholestatic disorder, not only due to IH cholestasis but also due to the production of EHBA.

Antibodies, Viral↗

[The effect of intrauterine development and nutritional status on intrauterine and neonatal mortality].

The authors study to what extent bodily development and nutritional status influence the viability of foetuses and neonates, that is, their perinatal mortality. They developed a new method, the MDN system (MDN: Maturity, Development, Nutritional status) to determine the weight and length standard positions of neonates in relation to reference standards on the basis of their gestational ages, birth weights and lengths. The system contains a chessboard-like matrix (or MDN Table) comprising 64 cells arranged in eight horizontal lines of the most common zones of weight percentile standards and eight vertical columns of the length percentile standards. Depending upon its weight and length, each neonate can be positioned in one of the cells of the MDN Table. The table allows differentiating the major neonate groups with significantly different developmental and nutritional statuses. The authors used a computerised program to process in one MDN table the data of 680,947 neonates born in the 7 five years from 1997 to 2003 in Hungary. When the ratio of body length and weight was considered, 90.6% of this neonate population was found normally (proportionally) nourished. 4.9% of the population was relatively over-nourished, while 4.5% was relatively undernourished. Then, the authors computed the intrauterine and neonatal mortality rate of the newborns in each cell of the MDN Table. Intrauterine (neonatal) mortality rate in the neonate group with an absolute average development was 3,6 per thousand (4,4 per thousand), that in the proportionally retarded group under weight and length percentiles 10 was 21 per thousand (14 per thousand). This rate was 41 per thousand (24 per thousand) under weight and length percentiles 3. The mortality rate was 51 per thousand (49 per thousand) in the extremely overnourished group and 124 per thousand (78 per thousand) in the extremely undernourished group. The authors believe that the MDN system including the MDN table is a suitable method to differentiate the most endangered groups of neonates on the basis of their development and nutritional status.

Birth Weight↗

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte function in the preterm neonate: effect of chronologic age.

In this study, effect of chronologic age on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemiluminescence and random and chemotactic motility was evaluated in 38 stable preterm neonates of less than 32 weeks' gestation during the first month of life. Chemiluminescence and random and chemotactic motility of PMNs from preterm neonates were first evaluated at mean postnatal age of 9.8 days and then weekly for an ensuing 21-day period. For comparison, one blood sample was obtained for PMN functions from 14 healthy term neonates younger than 72 hours of age and seven normal adults. On day 1 PMN chemiluminescence and random and chemotactic motility values in preterm neonates were significantly lower (P less than .001) compared with those in term neonates and PMN function values of term neonates were significantly lower (P less than .001) than those of adults. Although initial PMN chemiluminescence and random and chemotactic motility values in preterm neonates were depressed, subsequent values on days 7, 14, and 21 increased significantly (P less than .002). On day 21 (mean postnatal age of 30.8 days) no differences existed in chemiluminescent activity and random motility between preterm and term neonates; chemotactic motility in preterm neonates, however, remained impaired. Mean cumulative age (gestational age at birth plus postnatal age) of preterm neonates on day 21 of study was 32.5 weeks, suggesting that chronologic age has more effect on maturational changes in PMN functions than gestational age.

Aging↗

[Studies on the intravenous administration of amikacin to neonates].

Amikacin (AMK) was administered mainly to neonates by either intravenous drip infusion or intramuscular injection and its pharmacokinetic changes were investigated. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. Serum half-lives of AMK in neonates at ages 0 to 3 days were longer than those at ages 4 to 10 days. Serum half-lives were prolonged particularly in neonates at an age 0 day. Neonates at ages 11 to 15 days, also showed longer half-lives in comparison to infants. Similar peak serum levels were observed in all the neonates with ages 0-15 days. 2. Similar serum AMK levels were obtained in neonates through intravenous drip infusion and through intramuscular injection at a same dose level. 3. When the drug was administered to neonates at 3.0 to 6.0 mg/kg by intravenous drip infusion, peak serum levels did not reach 30 micrograms/ml which is considered to be the critical level for AMK to be toxic. 4. Urinary excretion rates in neonates 11 day or older were almost the same levels as in infants. 5. AMK, when administered through intravenous drip infusion, was observed to have a higher migration rate to saliva when compared with kanamycin administered through intramuscular injection. 6. Based on the results obtained from the present study, the following doses seem to be optimal for neonates, but further studies are required to be conclusive. For neonates: 2.0 to 5.0 mg/kg daily in 1 to 2 divided doses. (For those at ages of 0 to 3 days: 2.0 to 3.0 mg/kg) For infants: 3.0 to 8.0 mg/kg daily in 1 to 2 divided doses through intravenous drip infusion over a period of 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Age Factors↗