BACKGROUND: Using guinea pigs, we previously demonstrated that pneumoperitoneum during pregnancy produces behavioral deficits in the offspring. In the current study, the purpose was to determine if CO(2) pneumoperitoneum during the early postnatal period also produced behavioral anomalies. METHODS: Following delivery, guinea pig pups were randomly assigned to one of ...

Our objective was to ascertain if nuchal cord is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Using a retrospective database of term neonates, outcomes were compared among infants with 0, 1, and 2 or more loops of cord encircling the neck. Of 4426 neonates, 3651 served as controls, 691 had one loop, ...

In this review of a clinical case and the subsequent autopsy findings, the importance of autopsy in determining the cause of death is highlighted. The importance of an autopsy in the neonatal age group is especially important since the yield of unexpected findings is considerably greater than in other groups, ...

Neonatal sepsis and chorioamnionitis induce morphologic modifications and shrinkage of the thymus. We show fetal and neonatal morphologic modifications of the spleen in the same autopsy subjects as previously used to describe thymus shrinkage, including 10 preterm or full-term neonates who died of proven sepsis within 48 hours after birth ...

PURPOSE: To assess pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in a woman accidentally exposed to Verteporfin photodynamic therapy in the third week of pregnancy. METHODS: Post-conception counselling and prospective follow-up by telephone interview at Telefono Rosso (Teratology Information Service) were carried out. The baby was examined at birth and at 26 months. ...

OBJECTIVE: To document effects of intrapartum risk factors for early onset sepsis (EOS) on CRP levels in neonates and to assess the suitability of this test in diagnosing EOS. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Labour and post natal wards in a tertiary level teaching hospital in India. SUBJECTS: 250 neonates at ...

Neurogenesis persists throughout life in the rodent subventricular zone (SVZ)-olfactory bulb pathway and increases in the adult after brain insults. The influence of neonatal injury on SVZ neural precursors is unknown. We examined the effects of hypoxia-ischemia (HI) on neonatal mouse SVZ cell proliferation and neurogenesis. Postnatal day 10 (P10) ...

The prevalence and incidence of genital herpes are increasing worldwide. Conversely, the incidence of neonatal herpes shows global discrepancies: very higher numbers of cases are reported in parts of the USA, whereas rates remain low across much of Europe. As illustrated by the French experiences reported here, regionally appropriate management ...

Maternal use of the antispasmodic baclofen during pregnancy is an uncommon clinical scenario and leads to uncertainty regarding neonatal risks. We present a team-based, peripartum management plan designed for safe monitoring and minimizing the risk of neonatal withdrawal after unusual drug exposure. Incorporating the expertise of neonatology, nursing, pharmacy, neurology, ...

Neonatal herpes is rare in Australia, possibly because of the older average age at pregnancy compared with other developed countries, low herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 seroprevalence in the general community, low risk of HSV-2 acquisition during pregnancy and relatively high HSV-1 seroprevalence in adults. Guidelines on herpes management in pregnancy ...

The case of a neonate with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) following intrauterine transfusions (IUTs) for Rhesus hemolytic disease (RHD) prompted us to undertake a retrospective study (1995-2002) to determine whether there is an association between IUT and NEC. Maternal and neonatal demographics, and details concerning IUT and definite (> or =Stage ...

A 3.26-kg neonate with a gestational age of 40 weeks presented with episodic hypothermia and seizures, but stable vital signs. Semilobar holoprosencephaly was seen on magnetic resonance imaging. Ocular examination revealed bilateral persistent fetal vasculature. As genetic testing was not contributory, toxic intrauterine environmental insulin causing neurologic maldevelopment was the ...

Herpes gestationis, also known as Pemphigoid gestationis, is a rare autoimmune disease of pregnancy. It is characterized by itching and skin lesions. The disease causes prominently maternal discomfort but fetal and neonatal complications have been reported. There are only scattered reports of cutaneous neonatal herpes gestationis in the literature; however, ...

In neonatal-onset nonketotic hyperglycinemia, severe psychomotor retardation is the expected uniform outcome. We report two patients with typical neonatal presentation who showed far better developmental outcomes. The in vitro expression analysis of the identified GLDC mutations revealed considerable residual enzyme activity, suggesting prognostic and enzymatic heterogeneity even in neonatal-onset nonketotic ...

Tetanus remains a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. It is caused by the release of two toxins produced by Clostridium tetani, a noninvasive gram-positive anaerobic bacillus. Tetanospasmin is taken up by the neuronal end plates and prevents neurotransmitter release at the synaptic junction. ...

A 770 g birthweight, 25-weeks gestation infant girl was born from a bigeminal pregnancy. Six days later she developed erythematous "diaper dermatitis" and maceration of the flexural areas. Despite topical antifungal therapy, erythematous plaques appeared 2 days later on the back. Within less than 24 hours, skin erosions with crusting ...

When cancer is diagnosed in a pregnant woman, life-saving chemotherapy for the mother poses life-threatening concerns for the developing fetus. Depending on the type of cancer and the stage at diagnosis, chemotherapy cannot necessarily be delayed until after delivery. Women diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who decline both termination and ...

OBJECTIVES: To determine the perinatal outcome associated with severe chronic hypertension (SCH) in pregnancies of > or =20 weeks' gestation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data obtained prospectively of patients with SCH (> or =160/110 mmHg) who were hospitalized and delivered during a 5-year period. Each patient received intensive monitoring ...

This review article aims at summarizing the data regarding fetal and neonatal hydronephrosis, at correlating controversial data with the differences in the practice of obstetrical sonography from one country to another, and finally, at presenting our own criteria for fetal renal collecting system dilatation along with our own guidelines of ...

Neonatal Tetanus (NNT) elimination has been defined as an annual incidence of <1 case of NNT per 1,000 live births in each district of a province, state, or country. Reported incidence of NNT does not always reflect the true dimension of the problem. Thus, NNT mortality survey was planned during ...

BACKGROUND: The transport of critically ill newborns by specialised transport teams has been shown to be associated with a significant improvement in their clinical condition on arrival at the receiving hospital. AIM: To determine if the National Neonatal Transport Programme introduced in 2001 improved clinical condition of newborns at the ...

Thrombocytopenia in pregnant women can be associated with substantial maternal and neonatal morbidity. It may result from a range of conditions and early implementation of some specific treatment may improve both maternal and neonatal outcome. In this review we discuss the clinical features of the more common causes of thrombocytopenia ...

At 38 weeks of gestation, a woman with a previously unremarkable pregnancy was noted to have fetal tachycardia without obvious cause. Fetal echocardiography resulted in a presumptive diagnosis of fetal atrial flutter with a 2:1 block. The newborn resumed the same rhythm. The neonate underwent transesophageal incremental overdrive pacing. A ...

Genital prolapse is a rare condition in neonates. It is most commonly associated with neural tube defects such as spina bifida. A preterm, growth restricted neonate with genital prolapse without an associated central nervous system anomaly is reported. The risk factors, management and outcome of neonatal genital prolapse are reviewed. ...

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP) are involved in a variety of physiologic growth and development and pathophysiologic inflammatory conditions. We hypothesized that 1) MMP-2 and -9 plasma activities and TIMP-1 and -2 plasma concentrations in preterm and term neonates were dependent on the gestational and postnatal age; ...

Hb Iowa is a rare hemoglobin (Hb) variant with a Gly --> Ala substitution at position 119 of beta-globin. It was previously reported only in an African American infant who was also heterozygous for Hb S [beta6(A3)Glu --> Val] and her mother (Hb A/Iowa). Here we describe the second report ...

AIM: To detect whether preeclampsia influences neonatal intrahepatic hematopoiesis, given that an activation of fetal neutrophils and monocytes during the course of this disorder occurs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined liver samples from 10 neonates of hypertensive/preeclamptic women at 27 to 28 weeks of gestation delivered by a cessarian section. All ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine, in a large preterm cohort (20-34 completed weeks of gestation), the incidence of histologic chorioamnionitis and the incidence of a histologic fetal response to chorioamnionitis (umbilical vasculitis with or without funisitis) in neonatal survivors (to 28 days) and perinatal deaths. STUDY ...

Oral mucosal immunoglobulins play an important role in the human immune system as a first-line defense against viral and bacterial infection. Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), IgD and the free secretory component (FSC) can be determined in the first days of life; however, it is yet unknown which events influence the ...

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential effect of environmental exposure to cadmium on pregnancy outcome and fetal growth. Normal pregnant women were selected from Da-ye city of Hubei province, a cadmium-polluted area, from November 2002 through January 2003. Whole blood of pregnant women, cord blood, ...

The germinal matrix contains a concentrated network of blood vessels. The unusual structural qualities of these vessels are implicated as a factor underlying the high incidence of hemorrhage that occurs in the germinal matrix of prematurely born neonates. The present study is a histologic analysis of an postmortem examination series ...

BACKGROUND: The myasthenia gravis is twice as common in women as in men and frequently affects young women in the second and third decades of life, overlapping with the childbearing years. Generally, during pregnancy in one third of patients the disease exacerbates, whereas in two thirds it remains clinically unchanged. ...

OBJECTIVE: Separation of Macrosomic, normal and intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) neonates using the modified Neonatal Growth Assessment Score (NGAS). METHODS: A sample of 23 neonates with evidence of growth acceleration and 74 neonates classified as normal or IUGR in a previous study was used in this investigation. The prenatal growth ...

Past work has shown that distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) (2f1-f2) ipsilateral suppression and input/output (I/O) characteristics are not adult-like in prematurely born neonates [Abdala, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 1465-1476 (2001)]. These age differences are most pronounced at f2 = 6000 Hz and have been interpreted to indicate a ...

OBJECTIVE: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an inherited deficiency that may be the cause of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, as has been found in several countries and among widely different ethnic groups, especially in Mediterranean region. Our aim was to study the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in relation to neonatal jaundice. METHODS: ...

This paper reviews the evidence from recent studies in young piglets to examine the hypothesis that glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) is a physiologically relevant hormonal signal linked to the intestinal adaptation associated with enteral nutrition in neonates. Observations that support the hypothesis include, 1) the GLP-2 secretory response to enteral ...

Evidence for staffing recommendations in labour wards is scant. This study aimed to test association between midwife workload with adjusted process of continuous electronic fetal monitoring (CEFM) and neonatal outcome indicators. This was a prospective workload study in 23 consultant-led labour wards in Scotland. There were 3489 livebirths during September ...

Neonatal herpes is a potentially devastating consequence of perinatal transmission of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), with significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment options are available, but must begin early in disease with manifestations that are often protean. Thus, preventive measures need to be optimised. Antiviral suppression in late pregnancy of ...

The pediatric neurologist can fulfill a useful role as a subspecialty consultant concerning the fetus with a suspected brain disorder, given that neurologic disease may occur before the intrapartum period. Brain disorders detected in the neonatal period may also reflect fetal brain damage before dysfunction is first documented. Medical conditions ...

Ecological explanations have been put forward to account for the precocious or delayed development of patency in ducts leading to the vomeronasal organ (VNO) in certain mammals. Perinatal function may be related, in part, to the patency or fusion of the vomeronasal and nasopalatine (NPD) ducts. However, few studies have ...

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to audit 'crash' emergency caesarean sections (CS) with respect to response time (the diagnosis to delivery interval [DDI]) and perinatal outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The computerised database at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) delivery suite was used to identify all cases of 'crash' emergency CS activated ...

Neonatal hemochromatosis is a rare gestational condition in which iron accumulates in the fetal tissues in a distribution like that seen in hereditary hemochromatosis. Extensive liver damage is the dominant clinical feature, with late fetal loss or early neonatal death. NH recurs within sibships at a rate higher than that ...

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is more common than previously appreciated. Clinical presentation is varied, but it is generally a severe disorder and it is said to be more severe in subsequent pregnancies. The authors present a case of fatal disseminated intravascular coagulation that was diagnosed as NAIT only after presentation ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate plantar response in the early neonatal period in normal, term, healthy newborn infants. This was a prospective study set in the postnatal ward of a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: The plantar response was elicited in 256 healthy, term, appropriate-for-gestational-age neonates during their first 7 days of life, ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the threshold of fetal arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation that predicts neonatal acidosis and adverse outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Fetal oxygen saturation data from a published randomized controlled trial of fetal pulse oximetry were evaluated in relation to the number and duration of low ...

AIM: To evaluate the effect of gender, gestational age, birthweight, mode of delivery, 5'-Apgar score and maternal conditions on calprotectin concentrations in meconium. METHODS: Calprotectin was measured in 131 neonates, in the first passed meconium. RESULTS: Calprotectin levels (mean +/- SD) resulted in 145.2 +/- 78.5 mg kg(-1) meconium, significantly ...

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of growth impairment in neonates with encephalopathy. STUDY DESIGN: In a case-control design, neonates with neonatal encephalopathy (NE) meeting criteria for an acute intrapartum hypoxic event (IHE, n = 21) and those who did not meet these criteria (n = 20) ...

Fetal and neonatal toxic effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonists have been described in animals and humans. Five cases of fetal or neonatal deaths have been reported following maternal use of sartans for hypertension. We report a case of neonatal transient renal failure following telmisartan therapy during pregnancy. This class ...

OBJECTIVE: Gastroschisis is associated with significant neonatal morbidity, and occasionally mortality. Previous studies looking at ways to prognosticate this condition by antenatal ultrasound have shown conflicting results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of prenatal sonographic parameters to predict neonatal outcome of gastroschisis. METHODS: The charts, ...

Neonatal anuria is not an uncommon problem in neonates. Here, we report an unusual case of neonatal anuria due to renal tubular dysgenesis, secondary to the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) during pregnancy. ACEI remains one of the most commonly used antihypertensive drug at present. A greater awareness ...