Low Birth Weight Preterm Newborns Research Articles

In vivo Oxidative DNA Damage and lipid Peroxidation as a Biomarker of Oxidative Stress in Preterm Low-Birthweight Infants

To analyze the status of oxidative stress in relation to the degree of prematurity and birthweight of neonates. Umbilical cord blood samples were obtained at the time of delivery. 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) has been measured as oxidative DNA damage marker in preterm low-birthweight (LBW) newborns by competitive in vitro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) along with malondialdehyde (MDA) as marker of lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant status to study the oxidative stress. Significant elevation in the levels of 8-OHdG along with malondialdehyde has been noted in preterm LBW newborns. Serum 8-OHdG is found to be significantly and negatively correlated with birthweight (r = -0.834, p < 0.001) and gestational age of the newborn (r = -0.626, p < 0.001). These results provide evidence of increased oxidative stress in the form of DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in premature LBW newborns, which may be responsible for different complications associated with prematurity.

Early iron supplementation for very low birth weight preterm newborns: statistical vs. clinical significance!!

Early iron supplementation for very low birth weight preterm newborns: statistical vs. clinical significance!!

Early iron supplementation for very low birth weight preterm newborns: statistical vs. clinical significance!!

Early iron supplementation for very low birth weight preterm newborns: statistical vs. clinical significance!!

Échanges thermiques et thermorégulation chez le nouveau-né

The newborn's energy expenditure is used in order of priority for: (i) basic metabolism; (ii) body temperature regulation and (iii) body growth. Thermal regulation is an important part of energy expenditure, especially for low birth-weight infants or preterm newborns. The heat exchanges with the environment are greater in the infant than in the adult, explaining the increased risk of body hypo- or hyperthermia. The newborn infant is a homeotherm, but over a long period of time, he cannot maintain the thermal processes. Further developments are expected to improve the infant's thermal environment, with assessment of the various heat exchange mechanisms by conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. The quantification of the respective parts of these exchanges would improve nursing care through clinical procedures or equipment used to ensure the control of the optimal thermohygrometric conditions in incubators, especially when the likelihood of excessive body cooling is high. The present review focuses on the various body heat exchange mechanisms, the thermoregulation processes of the newborn, and their implications in clinical usage and limitations in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Carnitine and lipid profiles in Korean neonates

In this study, 50 newborns¡− carnitine and lipid status were evaluated in the neonatal intensive care unit and obstetrics care unit of Chonbuk National University. The infants were divided into two groups, the under-2500g neonates of low birth weight and the over-2500g neonates of normal birth weight. Vital statistics including: birth weight, stature, chest circumference, head circumference were collected, and plasma or urinary carnitine, as well as plasma lipid levels were determined for comparing the subjects with one another. In addition, the 50 neonates were divided into three groups according to gestational age at birth, 28-32 week, 33-36 week, and 37-40 week; plasma or urinary carnitines and plasma lipid profiles were assayed to compare their lipid and carnitine metabolism by gestational age. Serum neutral lipid concentrations in Korean low birth weight newborns and preterm newborns of 28–32 week gestation age were significantly higher compared with normal birth weight newborns and full-term newborns. The compromised carnitine status and abnormal carnitine bioavailability were observed in the low birth weight neonates and immature neonates. Therefore, more research is needed to assess whether lipid and carnitine supplements might improve neonatal energy metabolism, as appears to be indicated by this study.

Cytomegalovirus Infection

Cytomegalovirus Infection

Arterial Partial Pressure of Oxygen Required to Achieve 90% Saturation of Hemoglobin in Very Low Birth Weight Newborns

Since very low birth weight preterm newborns are prone to oxygen toxicity and have red blood cells that have a high oxygen affinity, the knowledge of the P90 (the PaO2 required for 90% saturation of hemoglobin) could result in a more optimal oxygenation. This information could diminish the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retrolental fibroplasia. To determine P90 and P50 (the PaO2 required for 50% saturation of hemoglobin), cord blood was obtained from 10 preterm newborns who were of less than 30 weeks' gestation (26.4 +/- 1.4 [SD] weeks) weighing less than 1000 g (816 +/- 119 g). The P50 and P90 were determined by gas mixing tonometry and expressed in millimeters of mercury at a temperature of 37 degrees C, a pH of 7.40, and PCO2 of 40 mm Hg. The tonometer permitted an equilibration and sampling of successive aliquots of blood at different oxygen tensions. Measurement of oxygen saturation, pH, and PaO2 provided the information for plotting the oxygen dissociation curve, the P50 and P90. There were at least six experimental points for each oxygen dissociation curve. The results showed that the mean P50 was 18.3 +/- 1.9 mm Hg (2.5 +/- 0.3 kPa) and the P90 was 40.8 +/- 3.6 mm Hg (5.4 +/- 0.5 kPa). This study demonstrates the fetal nature of the oxygen dissociation curve of very low birth weight newborns; but most importantly it also shows that when treating very low birth weight newborns with oxygen, a PaO2 of 41 mm Hg (5.5 kPa) is enough to saturate 90% of the hemoglobin at a physiological pH. This information could be of clinical importance to minimize oxygen toxicity.