Feeding preterm infants with L-carnitine supplemented formula

A total of 29 preterm infants maintained on mixed enteral nutrition (50% pooled human milk, 50% formula daily) were studied over a 15 days period. 16 of them received L-carnitine supplemented formula during the first seven consecutive days (600 nmol/ml, as added supplement), 13 infants served as controls. In response to enhanced dietary intake, the plasma levels and urinary excretion rates of carnitines were increased by the 7th day of study. The plasma carnitines then returned to the initial values, whilst the urinary excretion remained elevated at the 14th day of study. The elevated daily urinary excretion of carnitines was accompanied by increased clearance and decreased relative reabsorption rates in the supplemented group. In the control group the plasma carnitine levels remained unchanged throughout the observations, while the daily excretion of free carnitine decreased by the end of the study. In the supplemented group statistically significant decrease was found in the daily excreted ammonia and urea with a decrease of plasma alanine and glutamine levels by the 7th day of study. The plasma levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate, glucose and creatinine remained unchanged in both groups.     

早产儿喂养不耐受

早产儿喂养不耐受可导致早期营养不良、生长受限,对以后的行为和认知产生影响,是目前新生儿科医生面临的重要问题。喂养不耐受与早产儿胃肠功能不成熟、围生期窒息、感染等疾病因素相关。临床治疗常采用微量喂养,促胃肠动力药、口服益生菌等方法,但目前尚无统一的预防和治疗指南。     

No short-term benefits of antenatal corticosteroid treatment in severely preterm growth restricted fetuses: A case-control study

Background

Antenatal corticosteroid administration to premature, growth restricted fetuses may not be beneficial and even have adverse effects on neonatal outcome.

Aims

To determine if preterm growth restricted fetuses benefit from antenatal corticosteroids.

Study design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

All singleton pregnancies with growth restricted fetuses delivered at our department before 34 weeks' gestation or weighing less than 1500 g, between January 2001 and December 2005, were retrospectively reviewed. Neonatal outcome was compared between growth restricted fetuses (defined as abnormal flow patterns in umbilical and middle cerebral arteries) that received antenatal CST (CST group) and those who did not receive antenatal CST (no CST group). The administration of CST appeared to be quasi randomized.

Results

A total of 88 pregnancies fulfilled the inclusion criteria (CST group, n = 54; no CST group, n = 34). The incidence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in the CST and no CST group was 42% (22/54) and 50% (17/34), respectively (p = 0.44). Neonatal mortality in the CST and no CST group was 9% (5/54) and 12% (4/34), respectively (p = 0.73). The prevalence of adverse neonatal outcome (neonatal mortality, major neonatal morbidity or severe cerebral lesions) in the CST and no CST group was 28% (15/54) versus 24% (8/34), (p = 0.62).

Conclusions

Administration of CST to growth restricted preterm fetuses does not appear to be beneficial with respect to short term neonatal outcome.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

早产/低出生体重儿喂养建议

早产/低出生体重儿是指出生胎龄小于37周、出生体重低于2500 g的新生儿,是需要特殊关注的群体,合理的营养支持是提高其存活率的关键环节之一,不仅关系到近期生长和疾病转归,而且直接影响远期预后,充足均衡的营养是保证早产/低出生体重儿健康成长的物质基础.     

Feeding problems in preterm infants of preeclamptic mothers

Aim: Maternal disease can cause prematurity and neonatal complications, notably feeding problems. To determine the relationship between maternal disease and the nature and severity of neonatal feeding problems, we compared feeding profiles, time to demand feeding and length of hospital stay between preterm infants of preeclamptic mothers, mothers with amniotic infection and mothers with other disease causing prematurity. Methods: The retrospective study used labour ward data collected from 2002 to 2005 in a tertiary university centre to analyse three groups of singletons born at <32 completed gestational weeks to mothers with preeclampsia (n = 61), amniotic infection (n = 55) and non‐preeclamptic non‐amniotic infection controls (n = 55). The groups were similar in gestational age, birthweight and sex ratio; all infants received enteral feeding according to departmental guidelines. Feeding profiles and enteral/oral nutrition were compared. Results: Feeding problems occurred in 46% of the preeclamptic group, 11% of the amniotic infection group and 13% of controls. Full oral demand feeding was established at 36 0/7 weeks postmenstrual age, 35 3/7 weeks (P = 0.03) and 35 2/7 weeks (P < 0.0001), respectively. Feeding problems were the main cause of delay (7–10 days) in hospital discharge in the preeclamptic group (P = 0.0002). Conclusions: Feeding problems are greater, and hospital stay longer, in preterm infants of preeclamptic mothers than in other preterm infants.     

产前使用抗生素与早产儿早发型及晚发型败血症关系的研究

目的探讨母亲分娩前使用抗生素与早产儿早发型败血症(EOS)及晚发型败血症(LOS)发生以及病原菌的关系。方法选取2010年1月至2012年12月间胎龄≤33周,生后24h内住院,住院时间≥24 h的单胎早产儿;将母亲分娩前使用抗生素时间≥4 h作为抗生素组,未使用或使用抗生素时间4 h为对照组,分析比较两组早产儿EOS和LOS的比例和致病菌情况。结果共入选629例早产儿,其中抗生素组232例,对照组397例。抗生素组早产儿的出生体质量、临床羊膜炎、产前激素24h、EOS的发生比例均高于对照组,窒息和呼吸窘迫综合征(RDS)的发生比例均低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);两组LOS发生比例差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。EOS 29例,5例(17.2%)合并化脓性脑膜炎,抗生素组EOS 16例,血培养阳性11例(68.8%),革兰阳性(G+)菌6例(37.5%),G-菌5例(31.3%);对照组EOS 13例,血培养阳性5例(38.5%),G-菌4例(30.8%),G+杆菌1例(7.7%);均以非耐药菌为主,两组EOS早产儿血培养阳性率和G+菌比例差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。LOS 75例,5例(6.7%)合并化脓性脑膜炎,与EOS差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。抗生素组LOS 29例,血培养阳性17例(58.6%),G+菌6例(20.7%),G-菌9例(31.0%),真菌2例(6.9%);对照组LOS 46例,血培养阳性23例(50.0%),G+菌14例(30.4%),G-菌8例(17.4%),真菌1例(2.2%);均以耐药菌为主,两组LOS早产儿血培养阳性率以及G+菌比例差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论母亲分娩前使用抗生素,既没有减少早产儿EOS和LOS的发生概率,也未改变病原菌的分布。     

Reduced cerebellar diameter in very preterm infants with abnormal general movements

Background

Abnormal General Movements (GMs) early in life are predictive of later neuromotor deficits and are related to white matter abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, other structural correlates of abnormal GMs have not been defined.

Aims

The objective of this study was to explore brain-metrics (linear brain measurements on MRI representative of 3-D brain volumes) at term as a predictor of abnormal GMs at 1 and 3 months' corrected age in preterm infants. It was hypothesized that abnormal GMs would be related to reduced brain-metrics in primary motor areas, namely the cerebellum and parietal lobes.

Study design

Eighty three preterm infants (< 30 weeks' gestational age) were scanned at term-equivalent age. MRI was assessed for white matter abnormality and brain-metrics in six predefined brain regions (i.e. bifrontal, biparietal, lateral ventricles and transverse cerebellar diameters, and inter-hemispheric distance).

Outcome measures

At 1 and 3 months' corrected age infants' GMs were assessed from video-taped footage and rated as normal or abnormal using standardized methodology.

Results

At 1 month, 63% (n = 52) of infants had abnormal GMs with no association between any of the brain-metrics and abnormal GMs. At 3 months, 23% (n = 18) of infants had abnormal GMs (absent fidgety movements n = 18; abnormal fidgety movements n = 0). Reduced bifrontal, biparietal, and cerebellar transverse diameters, along with an increase in lateral ventricle sizes were associated with an increased risk of abnormal GMs at 3 months' corrected age. After controlling for white matter abnormality and grade III/IV intraventricular haemorrhage, only the cerebellar transverse diameter was predictive of abnormal GMs at 3 months.

Conclusions

Reduced cerebellar diameter at term equivalent age is related to abnormal GMs at 3 months' corrected age, independent of white matter abnormality and intraventricular haemorrhage.     

Management of preterm infants with intrauterine growth restriction

Preterm intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is strongly associated with increased mortality and morbidity. In the management of these infants, complications of preterm birth can be amplified by the effect of suboptimal fetal growth. It is important that pregnancies with IUGR are detected before birth, so that delivery can be arranged in a high-risk maternity unit with the appropriate neonatal staff in attendance. The provision of full support for resuscitation and stabilisation of these infants is crucial to the short-term and long-term health of these infants, who have suffered chronic hypoxia and malnutrition in utero. The long term outcome studies of these infants are retrospective and they include SGA infants. The effects of prematurity affect the outcome of IUGR infants. IUGR is associated with cerebral palsy in those delivered more than 32 weeks gestation. Infants less than 32 weeks of gestation may have poor developmental outcome if the head growth is affected, these infants may have associated cognitive and behavioural problems. Children who fail to grow by 2-4 years are at risk of long term growth problems. This paper outlines the acute and long-term management of these infants.