Background:Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) result from the failure of the normal fetal-to-neonatal circulatory transition is associated with substantial infant mortality and morbidity.Objective:To estimate the possible risk factors and assess the outcome of these cases.Materials and Methods:Prospective study was performed enrolling all full-term and post-term newborn admitted to the NICU from January 2009 to April 2012, All neonates were subjected to complete history and physical examination, laboratory data including a complete blood count, arterial blood gases, blood glucose, serum electrolytes, and blood culture to exclude sepsis. Cases with PPHN had a continuous pulse oximeter, blood pressure and electrocardiography monitoring. Chest X-ray and echocardiogarphy were carried out to verify shunt and exclude structural congenital heart disease.Results:Out of the studied 640 infants, 32 infants (5%) developed PPHN, Meconium aspiration, birth asphyxia, hyaline membrane diseases, neonatal septicemia, post-term birth being large for gestational age, cesarean section, maternal overweight, and diabetes mellitus were associated with an elevated risk for PPHN. All neonates treated with O2, 10 neonates with Mg sulphate, 16 with oral sildenafil and 12 with mechanical ventilation. After 6 months follow-up, 12 (37.54%) improved and followed-up without sequelae, 4 (12.5%) developed some neurodevelopmental impairment, 8 (25%) died, 3 (9.3%) developed chronic lungs diseases, 2 (6.2%) developed hearing defects and another 3 (9.3%) missed follow-up.Conclusion:PPHN was found in 5% of the studied population. Meconium aspiration, birth asphyxia, neonatal septicemia, post-term were associated with an elevated risk for PPHN. As this is a unit based study, a comprehensive countrywide survey on PPHN in Egypt is recommended to determine any regional differences in disease incidence.

IntroductionSince research investigating IGF-1 levels in breast milk are few, the goal of this study was to analyze the IGF-1 levels in the breast milk of diabetic mothers as well as in the serum of their newborn babies and to identify what relationship exists between blood serum and IGF-1 milk levels through patient measurement of mothers and their babies.MethodsThis case control study was undertaken under the auspices of the Clinic of Neonatology at Al Minia University Pediatric Hospital over May 2012 through May 2013. With a total of 30 diabetic mothers and their babies forming the experimental group and the control group consisting of 15 non-diabetic mothers and their babies. A detailed medical history, anthropometric assessments, as well as the measurement of the baby’s serum IGF-1 and their mother’s breast milk IGF-1 levels were taken from all participants using ELSIA. The resulting data were analyzed via Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 and measurements of descriptive statistics, t-test, Chi-square test, as well as the Pearson Correlation Coefficient.ResultsThe Infants born to Diabetic Mothers (IDMs) demonstrated significantly greater anthropometric measurement. Both the serum levels and the milk IGF-1 levels as well as all of the physical measurements taken were found to have a positive correlation between the level of IGF-1 in mother’s milk and all of the anthropometric measurements studied with the exception of delivered baby’s length.ConclusionHigher levels of IGF-1 are present in the milk of diabetic mothers and the blood serum of their babies and this characteristic could be used as a prenatal biomarker for macrosomia.

Data about aldosterone production and excretion in the neonatal period are still few and controversial. Our objectives are to assess urinary aldosterone excretion (UAE) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and to identify clinical and biochemical variables that may influence this excretion. Thirty VLBW infants (14 males and 16 females), their gestational age <32 weeks and body weight <1500 g, were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data were recorded, within the first 72 h of life and urine and blood samples were collected for the measurement of urinary aldosterone and serum potassium, sodium, and chloride. The mean UAE value was 0.176 ± 0.05 μg/24 h and the mean absolute UAE was 1906 ± 271 pg/mL. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between UAE and gestational age and birth weight; also, infants with respiratory distress syndrome had higher urinary aldosterone levels than infants without respiratory distress. Only plasma sodium was a significant independent factor that negatively influenced UAE on linear regression analysis. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system of VLBW infants seems to be able, even immediately after birth, to respond to variations of plasma sodium concentrations; measurement of UAE constitutes an interesting method to determine aldosterone production in VLBW infants.

Background: Phototherapy is the main therapeutic interference for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia used to escape an exchange transfusion and to decrease the risk of bilirubin-induced encephalopathy (kernikterus). Phototherapy has an oxidative effect on cell components and cell membranes by enhancing peroxidation of lipid and damage to DNA. Many genes function as apoptosis regulatory genes. Examples of these genes involve the BCL2 gene as an anti-apoptotic oncogene, and the BAX gene which is a promoter of apoptosis. We aimed to evaluate the effect of phototherapy on expression of BAX and Bcl2 genes in hyperbilirubinemic fullterm neonates. Eighteen full-term neonates with indirect hyperbilirubinemia who received phototherapy for 24 h were enrolled as a study group and nine apparently healthy full-term neonates with a normal serum bilirubin level were included as a control group. Assessment of the anti-apoptotic effect(s) of BCL2 and the pro-apoptotic effect(s) of (Bax) genes was achieved by quantitative assay of their products (BCL2 and BAX proteins) by ELISA assay after phototherapy. Results: Significant decrease in the bcl2 (p < 0.001) and increase in Bax protein (p < 0.001) serum levels after phototherapy in hyperbilirubinemic full-term neonates. Conclusion: Hyperbilirubinemia has no apoptotic influence, while phototherapy induces apoptosis in the peripheral blood of hyperbilirubinemic full-term infants.