Background: The objectives of the study were to find the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity and risk factors associated with its development. Methods: Observational study was carried out at tertiary care hospital. Inclusion criteria: All hospitalized preterm infants with birth weight <1.5 Kg and gestational age ≤32 weeks. Selected preterm 1.5 to ≤2 Kg and gestational age >32 to ≤37 week, with additional risk factors (neonatal & maternal). Results: The overall incidence of ROP in present study was 21.87%. Of these 14.28% had stage І, 64.28% had stage ІІ ROP and 21.42% had plus disease. ROP was bilateral in all 14 neonates. The incidence was high in ELBW (100%), in the gestational age group 28-30 weeks (61.53%). Among the neonatal risk factors, oxygen therapy was a significant risk factor and chances of developing ROP were increased as duration of oxygen therapy increased (>72 hr) (p=0.0005). Episodes of hyperoxia, >3 episodes (p=0.0002) and hypoxia with 2-3 episodes, (p=0.008) were associated with development of ROP. Acidosis, (p=0.006), NEC (p=0.00002), proven sepsis (p=0.002), hyperbilirubinemia requiring intensive phototherapy (p=0.002), PDA (p=0.0007) and partial parenteral nutrition (p=0.02) were other risk factors associated. Mean NICU stay was longer in patients with ROP (p=0.001). Stage 1 and 2 ROP without plus disease showed spontaneous regression (100%) on follow up. Overall incidence of babies requiring laser treatment was 14.28%. Conclusions: We should screen all preterm with birth weight <1500 g and gestational age ≤32 weeks, irrespective of risk factors and babies between 1.5 to 2 kg and between 32 and 37 weeks, having risk factors for ROP.

Background: Noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubin measurement is an attractive option for jaundice evaluation in newborns. But variable accuracy had been reported in different studies. The aim of the study was to find out the correlation and agreement between TcB and TSB measurements in neonates.Methods: Prospective analytic study carried out in neonatal unit of tertiary care center. Newborns up to 10th postnatal DOL with visually found jaundice were enrolled in study. TcB was measured over forehead with Dragor JM 103 device. Simultaneous TSB measurements were done for all readings. Pearson’s correlation coefficient calculation and Bland Altaman analysis were done. ROC curve of mean TcB at different TSB level were constructed.Results: Total 160 newborns with male: Female ratios of 1.3:1 were enrolled. Mean values: gestational age 38.23±2.01; birth weight 2.403±0.61; age in hour at first reading 83.76±26.62; TSB11.65±4.58 mg/dl and TcB 11.73±3.53 mg/dl. A strong, positive and significant correlation was found between TcB and TSB measurements (r=0.836, r2=0.69, p <0.001). The average error in evaluating hyperbilirubinemia with TcB as compared to TSB was 0.856 with limits of agreement between -3.41 to +5.48. The AUOC at three TSB levels (>10mg/dl, >12 mg/dl, >15 mg/dl) of TcB were 0.899, 0.937 and 0.963 respectively. ROC analysis showed good sensitivity for all. Specificity was found to fall with increasing TSB concentration.Conclusions: In our study TcB correlated well with TSB measurements and showed good sensitivity and satisfactory specificity, thus validating its use as a screening tool for evaluation of jaundice in newborns.

Background: Although human milk banking in India was started in 1984, limited data regarding bacteriological quality of milk are available. Objective: To find bacteriological contamination of milk samples in human milk bank. Methods: Retrospective analysis of milk samples from milk bank for the year 2009-2015 was done. Group A donor mothers were from postnatal or neonatal units of our hospital. Group B mothers were from milk donation camps organized at the community level. All milk samples were plated on blood agar for bacteriological analysis. Pre-pasteurized samples were analyzed for the year 2014-2015 only. Results: Total donor mothers were 3670. 1481 (40%) were from milk donation camp at the community level. 327 (9%) were preterm milk. 2.34% of post-pasteurized samples showed contamination as compared to 9.1% pre-pasteurized milk samples (p=0.002). Group A mothers showed a higher contamination rate as compared to Group B mothers in both pre-pasteurized (p<0.001) and post-pasteurized samples (p=0.006). The most common organisms isolated in pre-pasteurized samples were Gram-positive bacilli (51.89%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS, 44.96%), and Gram-negative bacilli (3%). The most common organisms in post-pasteurized samples were Gram-positive bacilli (88.23%) and CONS (11.76%). No Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from post-pasteurized samples. Conclusion: Contamination rates in our study for both pre- and post-pasteurized samples are quite low as compared to other studies. Community collection of human milk was safe with regard to bacteriological contamination. Holder’s method of pasteurization is effective in reducing contamination.

Background: Nutritional anaemia are common health problems. Most studies are done regarding iron deficiency anaemias. There are limited data regarding vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia especially in adolescents. Aims and objectives of the study were to find the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among anaemic adolescents and to study various socio-demographic factors and hematological parameters associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Methods: Cross sectional hospital based observational study of 211 adolescents (10 -18 year) with anaemia. Socio demographic characteristics like age, sex, education of mother & patient, socio- economic class, dietary history were noted for each patient. CBC including RBC indices and serum estimation of vitamin B12 level were done for each patient. Results: Anaemia was seen in 46.6% of adolescents. Vitamin B12 deficiency was seen in 49.76%. Vitamin B12 deficiency was significantly associated with male gender (p=0.032) and vegetarians (p=0.047). Moderate to severe degree of anaemia (p=0.016), macrocytosis (p= 0.000) and thrombocytopenia (p=0.007) was more observed in vitamin B12 deficient patients as compared to vitamin B12 non deficient groups. Statistically significant fall in mean haemoglobin level and increase in mean MCV values were seen with decreasing serum vitamin B12 level. Conclusions: Among anemic male and vegetarian adolescents vitamin B12 deficiency is a significant health problem. Hematological findings in peripheral blood are more associated with severe degree of vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 supplementation along with IFA should be addressed through national programmes.

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