PLASMA FERRITIN CONCENTRATIONS IN PRETERM INFANTS IN CORD BLOOD AND DURING THE EARLY ANAEMIA OF PREMATURITY

Abstract. Hågå, P. (Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Research Institute, National Hospital of Norway, and Department of Paediatrics, Oslo City Hospital, Ullevål, Oslo, Norway). Plasma ferritin concentrations in preterm infants in cord blood and during the early anaemia of prematurity. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69: 637, 1980.—Ferritin concentrations in cord blood were determined in 22 normal term and 32 preterm infants (birth weights 600–2000 g). Eight of the preterms were SGA infants. AGA preterm infants had significantly lower concentrations than term infants, and the SGA preterm newborn had even lower levels. Plasma ferritin in cord blood of the term and AGA preterm infants correlated positively with plasma iron and transferrin saturations, but not with the transferrin level, while plasma iron and transferrin concentrations correlated positively. In a longitudinal study, 17 AGA preterm infants (birth wights 850–1500 g) were followed during the early anaemia of prematurity. Iron was supplemented from 4 weeks of age. Plasma ferritin rose rapidly during the first days after birth, peak levels being reached at 1–4 weeks. Thereafter linear falls (semilog) occurred with similar slopes in different infants. Transferrin concentrations showed a slow progressive increase from 0–8 weeks. Plasma ferritin, after reaching the peak value, correlated negatively with weight gain. No infant had low ferritin values indicating iron deficiency during the early anaemia.     

Relationship of maternal and newborn (cord) serum ferritin concentrations measured by immunoradiometry

Serum ferritin concentration was determined by immunoradiometry in venous blood samples of 45 pregnant women at term, in their babies' cord blood samples, and blood specimens obtained from 43 infants aged 3-12 months. The concentration of ferritin was higher in cord serum than in respective maternal samples and infant specimens. Low values were found in more than half of the maternal venous samples. Iron stores of newborns delivered by mothers with low serum ferritin concentration were lower than in newborns of mothers having normal ferritin levels. Serum ferritin measurement is a sensitive method to determine iron deficiency in pregnancy.     

CERULOPLASMIN LEVELS AND ERYTHROCYTE SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE ACTIVITY IN SMALL PRETERM INFANTS DURING THE EARLY ANEMIA OF PREMATURITY

Abstract. Hågå, P. (Paediatric Research Institute, National Hospital of Norway, and Department of Paediatrics, Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, Norway). Ceruloplasmin levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity in small preterm infants during the early anemia of prematurity. Acta Paediatr Scand, 70: 861, 1981.-Ceruloplasmin plasma levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity were studied in appropriate for gestational age preterm infants (birth weights ≤1500 g) during the first 10 weeks of life. Preterm infants had significantly lower ceruloplasmin concentrations in cord blood than term infants, the mean level in the preterm infants being 0.07 g/I. At 1 week of age ceruloplasmin levels had risen significantly, whereupon a fall occurred at 2 weeks of age. Ceruloplasmin concentrations increased slowly and progressively from 4 weeks of age. The low ceruloplasmin concentration during the early anemia of prematurity seems not to interfere with iron mobilization. The superoxide dismutase activity per gram hemoglobin in cord blood erythrocytes from normal term infants was significantly lower than that of red blood cells from adults. When the activity was expressed per erythrocyte no difference was found. The normochromic macrocytic red blood cells of the neonate most likely explain this discrepancy. The erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity of the preterm infants did not change from birth until 10 weeks of age, and the levels seemed adequate judged from the levels found in red blood cells from adults and cord blood from term infants. Neither ceruloplasmin nor erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity seem to play a role in the etiology of the early anemia of prematurity.     

Analyses of serum vitamin D-binding protein, ceruloplasmin and copper levels in preterm infants.

The cord blood specimens of 12 preterm and 20 term babies were investigated. We determined serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), vitamin-D binding protein (DBP), ceruloplasmin (Cp) and copper (Cu) levels in two groups. We found that Ca, P, and MG levels of cord sera did not differ between the groups (p > 0.05), but DBP, Cp and Cu values showed a significant decrease in the preterm group (p < 0.05). The Cu and Cp values of the preterm infants correlated with those of the term infants.     

早产儿及其母亲体内钙 铁 镁含量的研究

目的：研究早产儿母亲孕前孕期钙、铁、镁摄入情况,早产儿及其母亲体内钙、铁、镁含量,从早产儿的营养影响因素方面初步探讨早产的发病机制,并为预防早产提供依据。方法：选取严格配对的病例和对照共240例作为研究对象,对母亲怀孕前和怀孕期间钙、铁、镁的摄入情况进行膳食调查,ICP-OES法对血浆、羊水、胎盘、母乳、胎粪多种生物样本中钙、铁、镁的水平进行检测和统计分析。结果：怀孕期间,早产儿母亲铁和镁的摄入量亦均显著低于足月儿母亲（P<0.05）,怀孕前铁和钙的摄入量亦均显著低于足月儿母亲（P<0.05）。多元方差分析结果显示早产儿母亲体内的钙、铁含量显著低于足月儿母亲（P<0.05）;早产儿体内铁、镁含量明显低于足月儿（P<0.05）。母亲和新生儿的血浆钙、铁和镁水平都呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。结论：早产儿母亲体内钙、铁含量低于足月儿母亲,早产儿体内的铁、镁含量低于足月儿。有关反映钙、铁和镁含量的指标与母亲在孕前孕期摄入情况的关系还有待进一步研究。     

Perinatal vitamin D metabolism. II. Serial 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in sera of term and premature infants.

Serial concentration values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) were determined in the sera of term, premature, and twin infants. In infants born at term with normal concentrations of 25-OHD in cord blood, serial concentrations of 25-OHD remained normal; in infants born at term with low concentrations of 25-OHD in cord blood, serial concentrations of 25-OHD increased. In premature infants with normal concentrations of 25-OHD in cord blood, serial concentrations of 25-OHD decreased; in premature infants with low values of 25-OHD in cord blood, serial concentrations of 25-OHD did not increase until a postconceptual age of 36 to 38 weeks. The concentrations of 25-OHD in the sera of twin infant pairs followed parallel courses. Oral and intravenous supplementation of vitamin D did not significantly increase the concentrations of 25-OHD in serum of premature infants. These findings suggest that a decreased rate of 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D may be a factor impairing homeostasis of 25-OHD in premature infants.     

The ontogeny of serum immunoreactive pancreatic lipase and cationic trypsinogen in the premature human infant

We evaluated the development of the exocrine pancreas in 16 healthy preterm infants (29.3 +/- 1.6 weeks). The infants were fed breast milk with formula supplements (n = 8) or formula alone (n = 8). Growth was monitored weekly for 12 weeks then at 3, 6, 9, 12 months. At the same intervals sera were determined for pancreatic lipase and cationic trypsinogen. In addition, cord blood samples were analysed from another 33 preterm (27.6 +/- 5.2 weeks) and 75 healthy full-term infants. Serum pancreatic lipase in the cord blood of term (3.7 +/- 0.4 micrograms/l) and preterm infants (1.8 +/- 0.2 micrograms/l) was significantly below values reported for older children (10.5 +/- 0.9 micrograms/l; p less than 0.001). In the preterm infant, serum lipase was also significantly lower than values obtained at term (p less than 0.001). At birth, serum trypsinogen for preterm (16.8 +/- 1.3 micrograms/l) and term infants (23.3 +/- 1.9 micrograms/l) were below those for older children (31.4 +/- 3.7 micrograms/l; p less than 0.05). Over the first 3 weeks of life, serum lipase and trypsinogen increased significantly. From 3 weeks to 12 months of age, serum trypsinogen values remained unchanged, but serum lipase increased dramatically after 10 weeks of age. Thus, at 6 and 12 months of age, the preterm infants had significantly higher serum lipase values than infants of the same age born at term. These two pancreatic enzymes appear to show independent age-related maturation in infants born before term. The rate of maturation of lipase appears to be accelerated by exposure to the extrauterine environment.     

Cerebrospinal fluid evaluation in neonates: comparison of high-risk infants with and without meningitis.

Results of CSF examinations from 117 high-risk neonates were reviewed. The mean CSF cell count was 8.4 cells/mm3 and the range was 0 to 32 cells/mm.3 Approximately 60% of the CSF WBC were polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Average CSF protein concentrations were 90 mg/dl (range, 20-170 mg/dl) in term and 115 mg/dl (range, 65-150 mg/dl) in preterm infants. The average CSF glucose was 81% of the blood glucose value in term and 74% in preterm infants. Comparison of these CSF findings with those from 119 infants with bacterial meningitis revealed that there was considerable overlapping of values, but only one of the 119 infants with meningitis had a completely normal initial CSF examination. The decision to initiate antimicrobial therapy in neonates with suspected meningitis must be based on total evaluation of the patient.     

早产儿和足月儿脐血及母亲静脉血硒含量的比较

目的：硒是一种人体必需的微量元素,在细胞抗氧化防御系统中发挥着主要的作用。在早期早产儿中,低水平的硒会增加诸如慢性新生儿肺疾病、早产儿视网膜病等并发症的发生。该研究旨在检测并比较早产儿和足月儿脐血及母亲静脉血硒含量。方法：选取2008年3~7月间30个足月儿（胎龄>37 周）和30个早产儿（胎龄< 34 周）及他们的母亲作为研究对象。用原子吸收光谱法测定脐血和母亲静脉血的硒含量。结果：足月儿的脐血硒平均含量高于早产儿,差异有非常显著性(124.80± 13.72 μg/L vs 100.30 ± 11.72 μg/L, P=0.0001) 。 足月儿母亲与早产儿母亲的的平均硒含量差异无显著性 (117.03±17.15 μg/L vs 110.56±17.49 μg/L, P=0.15)。将所有婴儿的资料一起分析时,发现脐血硒含量与胎龄和出生体重显著正相关(r=0.66, P<0.0001;r=0.59, P<0.0001)。60例婴儿母亲中,无一例的血硒含量低于正常参考值的下限（70.0 μg/L）。将所有婴儿及其母亲的资料一起分析时,发现母亲血硒含量与其婴儿脐血硒含量呈显著正相关 (r=0.40, P<0.001)。结论：在伊斯法罕地区,孕母的血硒水平处于一个良好的状态,血硒水平不是早产的预测指标。足月儿的脐血硒含量高于早产儿,但足月儿和早产儿的脐血硒含量均在正常参考范围。［中国当代儿科杂志,2009,11（7）：513-516］     

Serum ferritin in term and preterm infants

Serum ferritin levels were examined in maternal serum, In cord sera and at one, four, eight and twelve weeks in 19 term and 28 preterm infants. There was no correlation between maternal and cord ferritin levels. Mean serum ferritin concentration was lower in preterm infants, and both term and preterm Infants exhibited' an initial rise in serum ferritin concentration followed by a steady fall. Serum ferritin concentration showed a good correlation with calculated iron stores at twelve weeks of age suggesting that serum ferritin estimation is the method of choice for monitoring body iron stores in infants. No correlation was found between serum ferritin concentration and calculated iron intake at any age in either term or preterm infants. It is suggested that iron supplementation additional to that present in modified cow's milk is not necessary for the first twelve weeks of life in either term or preterm infants.     

Neutrophil elastase level in cord blood and diagnosis of infection in mature and premature neonates

We determined the concentration of umbilical cord blood neutrophil elastase (EN) in 143 neonates. The infants were divided into four groups: A - Term non-infected, B - Term infected, C - Preterm non-infected, D - Preterm infected. In the study a low concentration of cord blood elastase in premature children was found. It was significantly lower in preterm non-infected (p<0.001) and infected (p<0.05) neonates than in non-infected term children. In full-term infected neonates mean concentration of elastase was markedly (p<0.001) higher as compared to term healthy ones. 87% values of cord blood elastase measured in full-term infected neonates and 6% in preterm ones exceed the upper limit reference interval (209.3 ug/L) while 97% measurements in preterm neonates (all with and without clinical signs of infection) were within the reference range. We conclude that significant differences in elastase level in the cord blood depend on age of gestation at delivery. These age-dependent differences of elastase concentration can be taken into consideration and examination of cord blood elastase concentration may provide a valuable indicator in early diagnosis of sepsis in neonates. In full-term neonates cord blood neutrophil elastase is a good marker of infection.     

PLASMA COPPER IN FOETAL MALNUTRITION

ABSTRACT. Plasma copper in the cord blood of 20 small for gestational age (SGA) term infants was studied. Twenty-five appropriate for gestational age (SGA) term infants were taken as control and another group of 20 preterm AGA infants for comparison. The plasma concentration of copper in term SGA infants was significantly lower than values obtained for the controls, while there was no significant difference from the levels observed in preterm infants. This lowering in the plasma copper levels was possibly because of decreased liver synthesis of caeruloplasmin as a result of foetal malnutrition. There was a marked foeto-maternal difference in the plasma copper levels in all three groups which was due to much higher levels of non-diffusible caeruloplasmin in the mothers compared to the neonates.     

Erythrocyte insulin binding in preterm newborn infants

To characterize the erythrocyte insulin receptor in newborn infants we studied the binding of 125I-insulin to the erythrocytes from 42 preterm infants (14 at birth, 14 aged 2-7 days, and 14 aged 8-16 days) with a mean gestational age of 34.1 wk, and from 32 term infants (16 at birth and 16 aged 2-7 days). The insulin binding to cord blood erythrocytes from preterm infants was significantly higher than that of cord blood cells from term infants and to postnatal cells from preterm as well as term infants. The erythrocytes from preterm infants aged 2-7 days bound more insulin than cells from preterm infants aged 8-16 days. The maximum insulin binding (specific insulin binding at tracer concentration of insulin) correlated negatively with the gestational age both at birth and over the 1st postnatal wk. In the preterm infants there was a strong negative correlation between the maximum insulin binding and postnatal age. The enhanced insulin binding to cord blood erythrocytes from preterm infants was due to both an increased receptor concentration and a high affinity for insulin. The increased affinity persisted over the 1st wk of life. In preterm infants older than 1 wk the insulin binding characteristics were basically similar to those in term newborn infants. In all infants studied the receptor concentration seemed to be postnatal age dependent while the receptor affinity was gestational age dependent. No correlation was found between the insulin binding data and the plasma concentrations of immunoreactive insulin or C-peptide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

SERUM LIPIDS IN MATERNAL/CORD BLOOD PAIRS FROM NORMAL AND LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

Abstract. Boersma, E. R. (Department of Child Health, Muhimbili Medical Centre, incorporating the Faculty of Medicine, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania). Serum lipids in maternal/cord blood pairs from normal and low birthweight infants in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69:747, 1980.—Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride were determined in the cord blood of 54 term appropriate for gestational age, 14 preterm appropriate for gestational age and 17 small-for-dates infants and their mothers immediately after delivery in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The mean serum level of total cholesterol in cord blood of term appropriate for gestational age infants was 1.9 mmol/l, whereas that from their mothers 6.3 mmol/l. Cord serum triglyceride values in term appropriate for gestational age infants were 0.29 mmol/l and from their mothers 1.91 mmol/l. Results of these maternal cord serum lipids in the normal and low birthweight groups are similar to those of Western countries.     

早产儿早期脑反应性与神经发育关系的研究

目的　研究早产儿早期脑对外界刺激的反应性与神经发育的关系 ,早期对早产儿进行脑功能的评价 ,为了解其神经发育水平、估价预后提供客观证据。方法　应用近红外光谱测定技术 ,对不同胎龄的早产儿进行脑氧合状态的监测 ,观察声刺激后脑反应性的变化 ;在纠正胎龄 4 0周时行新生儿神经行为评分 (NBNA) ,并进行神经发育随访 ,评价早产儿早期脑反应性与其后神经发育的关系。结果　本组早产儿生后对声刺激均显示出不同程度的反应 ,34周后的早产儿声刺激后最大反应值为 4 .1%± 1.4 % ,2 0例足月儿声刺激后最大反应值为 4 .2 %±1.4 % ,两者差异无显著性 ;小于 34w的早产儿声刺激后最大反应值为 3.1%± 1.4 % ,与足月儿相比差异有显著性(P <0 .0 5 )。有脑损伤早产儿声刺激后最大反应值为 2 .6 %± 1.8% ,无脑损伤早产儿声刺激后最大反应值为4 .4 %± 1.3% ,两者相比有统计学差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。纠正胎龄 4 0周的NBNA异常儿与正常儿比较 ,早期脑反应性有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。婴幼儿期随访 ,神经发育异常与正常儿比较 ,早期脑反应性也有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　早产儿具备对声刺激后的脑反应性 ,成熟度越低 ,脑反应性越差。围产期脑损伤可影响脑的反应性。早期的脑反应性与神经发育水平有关。     

Oxidative stress in preterm neonates at birth and on the seventh day of life

Previous studies have demonstrated increased oxidative damage to proteins and increased lipid peroxidation products in the plasma of hypoxic newborns at birth. We tested the hypothesis that hypoxic preterm newborns are at increased risk for oxidative stress in the first week of life. Heparinized blood samples of 34 hypoxic and 15 control preterm newborns were obtained at birth from the umbilical vein immediately after delivery and from a peripheral vein on postnatal d 7. Plasma levels of hypoxanthine, total hydroperoxide (TH), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were measured in cord blood and blood drawn on d 7. Hypoxanthine, TH, and AOPP levels were significantly higher in cord and d 7 blood samples of hypoxic newborn than control infants. Statistically significant correlations were observed between AOPP and hypoxanthine and between AOPP and TH plasma levels on d 7. AOPP and TH plasma levels significantly increased from cord to d 7 blood in neonates without hypoxia. These findings show that the oxidative stress observed in cord blood of hypoxic preterm newborns is still higher than control infants on d 7. The significant increase in TH and AOPP levels in nonhypoxic preterm newborns at the end of the first postnatal week indicates that damage caused by free radicals also occurs in nonhypoxic babies with normal clinical course. In summary, TH and AOPP production is prolonged for several days after birth in hypoxic preterm babies. The risk of free radical damage is lower but still exists in preterm neonates with normal clinical course.     

Placental transfer and decay of varicella-zoster virus antibodies in preterm infants

OBJECTIVES: To compare the placental transfer of maternal varicella-zoster (VZV) antibodies to preterm and term infants and to investigate antibody decay during the first 6 months of life in the preterm infants.Study design: Maternal and umbilical cord blood samples were taken from 113 healthy mother-newborn pairs: 64 term (gestational age > or =37 weeks) and 49 preterm (gestational age < or =35 weeks). Premature infants were further tested at 1, 2, and 6 months. Anti-VZV antibody to membrane antigen was measured with the immunofluorescent technique. RESULTS: Preterm infants of gestational age < or =28 weeks had positive cord antibody and a geometric mean titer significantly lower than those in preterm infants of gestational age 29 to 35 weeks and term infants (25% vs 95% and 95%, respectively, P <.001 for each, and 2.5 +/- 2.2 vs 10.5 +/- 2.4 and 12.6 +/- 2.4, respectively, P <.001 for each). There was no difference between the preterm 29 to 35 weeks of gestation and term groups. Fetal-maternal ratios for both preterm groups were <1 and were significantly less than the fetal-maternal ratio in the term infants. The transfer of maternal antibodies to term infants was significantly greater than to the 29- to 35-week preterm infants (P =.01). At 2 months of age, 25% of 29- to 35-week preterm infants and no preterm infant < or =28 weeks had a positive titer. At 6 months of age, all preterm infants were seronegative, and the geometric mean titer in both groups declined to undetectable levels. CONCLUSION: Transplacental transfer of maternal VZV antibodies is diminished in preterm infants. VZV antibody levels are significantly lower in preterm infants born at < or =28 weeks' gestational age compared with those in preterm infants 29 to 35 weeks' gestational age and term infants. Anti-VZV titers decrease to undetectable levels in preterm infants by 6 months of age or earlier; thus these infants appear to be susceptible to chickenpox before the scheduled 12-month vaccination.     

早产胎盘病理改变与早产儿并发症的分析

目的 分析早产儿胎盘病理改变特点,探讨胎盘病理与早产及早产儿结局的关系.方法 选择2008年5月至2010年5月我院产科分娩的单胎早产儿及其胎盘为早产组,同期分娩的单胎足月儿及其胎盘为足月组,检测所有新生儿胎盘组织病理学改变,早产儿脐血C反应蛋白(CRP)、相关细胞因子白细胞介素-8(IL-8)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF),以及神经元特异性烯醇酶(NSE),记录早产儿并发症情况.结果 与足月儿胎盘(42例)比较,早产儿胎盘(109例)形状不规则发生率高(17.4%比9.5%),但差异无统计学意义(P=0.226),胎盘子面血管分支计数少[(4.4±0.7)支比(5.4±0.7)支],差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).胎盘组织病理学显示早产儿胎盘感染性病变发生率高(77.1%比40.5%,P<0.05).早产并胎盘感染性病变时,脐血细胞因子IL-8、TNF及NSE增高,颅内出血发生率高于非感染组(P均<0.05).结论 早产胎盘形状不规则多见,血管数目少,感染性病变发生率高;早产胎盘感染性病变发生率高及脐血感染相关因子水平增高均提示感染可能是早产的原因之一,且与早产儿高患病率相关.     

The water content of the human umbilical cord

105 umbilical cords from 53 term and 52 preterm newborn infants were freeze-dried after removal of the blood vessels, to determine the water content. The mean umbilical cord water content (i.e. mean of water content of fetal and placental ends of the cord), was 88.9% (SD 2.73) for term cords and 91.9% (SD 1.99) for preterm cords. The mean water content fell with increasing gestation. The fetal end of the cord had a significantly higher water content than the placental end. Similarly, the volume of a 4-cm length segment of cord was significantly greater at the fetal than placental end. There was no correlation between cord water content or volume and several other variables including birthweight, size for gestational age and placental weight. These observations suggest a metabolically active role for the umbilical cord.