Diminished ROS Production in Neonatal Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Stimulated with Escherichia coli

Bacterial infection in neonates, especially in immature preterm neonates, causes death and has a key role for long-term morbidity of those infants. The reason of this phenomenon is mainly due to the immaturity of bactericidal mechanisms in innate immunity. Neutrophils (PMNs: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes) are primaryresponders maintaining nonspecific innate immunity against bacterial invasion. 

 

Neonatal Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

 The principal functions exhibited by circulating PMNs in response to bacterial invasion and inflammation include adherence to the vascular endothelium, deformability, chemotaxis, phagocytosis and intracellular microbial killing. In neonates, the ability of PMNs adherence, deformability and chemotaxis are known to be low because of the immaturity of neutrophil structure.Read more>>>

Selenium and Vitamin A and E in the Nutrition of Very Low-Birth Weight Preterm Infants

Although studies on fetal and preterm infant nutrition have mainly focused on macronutrients, the investigation on micronutrients, also known as trace elements oroligo elements, especially those with antioxidant effect, is also important since they participate in preterm growth, metabolic functions and disease prevention.

Preterm infants have metabolic characteristics, diseases and complications due to immaturity that make the provision of appropriate nutrients a general concern, as inadequate food intake may have an impact on growth and disease development in later life. Difficulties in the ministration of vitamins and microelements are found because basic needs are not always well defined, variable doses have been used in clinical trials and dosage recommendations vary considerably in the literature.  Read more>>>>>>>>>>>

Importance of the Early Management of Omphalocele Minor

Omphalocele is a central defect of umbilical ring, resulting in persistent herniation of the abdominal content. The midgut, positioned in umbilical cord, rotates 90°counterclockwise around the superior mesenteric artery.

At 10 weeks of gestation, intestines return to the abdomen. The small intestines return first, followed by large intestines, which complete an additional 180° counterclockwise rotation. After the intestines return to the abdomen, they enlarge, lengthen, and fuse to the abdominal cavity. The abdominal wall then closes and the body stalk constricts to become umbilical cord. Omphalocele results due to either the developmental arrest of the abdominal wall or failure of the abdominal viscera to return to the abdominal cavity. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Congenital Asymmetric Crying Face with Bilateral Microtia

Congenital asymmetric crying faces is a minor congenital anomaly due to absence or hypoplasia of the depressor anguli oris muscle on one side of the mouth which manifest in a newborn at birth. Microtia is a congenital malformation characterized by total or partial absence of the whole auricle or any of its components, varying from a small auricle to the total absence (anotia). 

We present a case of congenital asymmetric crying face with bilateral microtia.We performed an assessment of a newborn girl with a birth weight of 4020 gr, head circumference of 35 cm, chest circumference of 34.5 cm, abdominal circumference of 34 cm and length of 50 cm. The Apgar scorewas 8 and 9 at 1st and 5th minute. The infant was born to a 40 y/o African mother, multigravida (6 pregnancies, 5 full term deliveries), after 39 weeks of gestation. She had a history of gestational diabetes in her last pregnancy, that was controlled with diet only and the baby was born without any anomalies. She did not have a family history of diabetes. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Extended Breast Feeding: A Proposal for Further Study

In this brief communication, I will put the issue of an extended duration of breast-feeding into the context of existing psychoanalytic literature on the subject. I would like to bring attention to the fact that psychoanalytic professionals have given it insufficient attention. 

 To underscore the importance of the issue, I will raise developmental questions, but not attempt to provide probable answers insofar as such would hopefully come only with greater focus on the issue, including both clinical and empirical investigations. While oral sucking deprivation is equally of importance, it is not my focus in this proposal. While I am strongly in favor of breast-feeding for its psychological benefits for the nursing couple, my interests are to inquire as to the possible consequences of extended breast-feeding.  Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Juvenile Batten Disease Past and Present Diagnosis

Juvenile Batten disease or Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCLs) inherit in autosomal recessive pattern leading to neurodegenerative disorder of onset in children between 4 to 8 years. The symptoms associated with this disease include cognitive decline, seizures, movement disorder, progressive dementia, epilepsy and retinopathy which was first described in 1903. 

This disease has estimated incidence range from 7/100,000 births worldwide and caused by genetic mutations which lead lipo fuscins to accumulate within the tissues of human body. In NCLs, nearly 400 pathogenic mutations have been reported and they are included in NCL Mutation Database. Till date, there is no established treatment available which can prevent or stop the disease pathogenesis. Nearly fourteen genes have been reported to be found associated with various types of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis and these genes harbor majority of mutations leading to development of batten disease phenotypes. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Realizing Personalized Medicine in Asthmatic Children Requires Large-Scale Collaboration

Although asthma treatment is effective in many children, there is large variability in the response as evidenced by improved symptom control, reduced exacerbations and lung function improvement. A study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Childhood Asthma Research and Education Network detailed theresponses of 144 children with mild-to-moderate asthma to 8-weeks of treatmentwith inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in a randomized cross-over design. 

A large variation in lung function improvement from baseline was found. Change in asthma-controlled days showed a similarly wide distribution, varying between an increase of seven asthma controlled days per week to a decrease of four asthma-controlled days per week. One mechanism for heterogeneity in treatment response seems likely to be due to genetic variations within the asthma population. These genetic variants may be due to either innate differences in underlying disease subtype all manifesting clinically as asthma or to pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamics influences on drug level or target.  Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>