suMMARY The effect of feed temperature and phototherapy on the rate of stomach emptying was studied in healthy infants during the first week. Emptying rate was measured by the modified serial test meal technique using 10 % Dextrose feeds. The results show that emptying rate is independent of feed temperature and is not affected by phototherapy.In many nurseries, feeds are refrigerated after preparation and then are heated before they are given to the newborn infant. This practice is based more on custom than on reason since it has been shown that refrigerated feeds are well tolerated.1 Also, it is said that stomach emptying is more rapid when feeds of low temperature are given.2 The fact that small infants are likely to regurgitate and aspirate their gastric contents prompted us to study the effect of feed temperature on stomach emptying.It has been our impression that newborn infants often develop abdominal distension during phototherapy and only recently has this been studied.3 Based on the assumption that such distension is caused by gastric retention, we studied the effect of phototherapy on the rate of stomach emptying. Patients and methodsTest meals of three different temperatures: cold (0-40C), room temperature (about 250C), and body temperature (370C) were given during the first week to 20 healthy infants. Mean (± SE) birthweight was 1 * 97 ± O 06 (range 1 *55-2*53) kg, and gestation 35 6 ± 0 4 (range 32-39) weeks. Meals were given over a period of 24 hours. Temperature sequence was varied to obtain a balanced distribution and the volume retained at each temperature was compared.Cold test meals (0-40C) were given on day 3 or 4 to 12 healthy infants with jaundice (mean ± SE bilirubin 227 + 20 9 rmol/l; 13 *3 + 1 *2 mg/100ml).Mean (± SE) birthweight was 2 75 ± 0-18 (range 1.49-3.38) kg, and gestation 37-7 ± 0.6 (range 34-41) weeks. After a period of continuous phototherapy ranging between 16 and 24 hours, meals were again given and the differences in gastric retention before and after phototherapy were compared.Stomach emptying was measured by the modified serial test meal technique.4 Test meals of 10 % Dextrose containing phenol red (0.12 mg/100 ml) were given by tube Ij to 3 hours after the last feed. After first washing out the stomach, 20 ml test feed was given over 1 to 3 minutes and the infant was placed in the prone position. 30 minutes later the stomach was emptied and the aspirate volume recorded. The stomach was then washed out with 20 ml sterile water. The true volume remaining was calculated by the following formula: Volume retained = aA + 20B/c, where a is the volume of the aspirate after 30 minutes, A optical density of the aspirate, B optical density of washout, and c optical density of test meal.Aliquots of A, B, and c were alkalinised with trisodium orthophosphate (pH 12) before measurement in a spectrophotometer at wavelength 560 nm. In order to satisfy fluid requirements and prevent hypoglycaemia infants were given milk feeds at the end ofeach study.Approval for the study was obtained fr...

screening for cystic fibrosis using immunoreactive trypsin assay in dried-blood spots.

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. (1976). Archives of Disease in Childhood, 51, 377. Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations in plasma during first week of life and their relation to type of milk feed. Serial changes in plasma levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, and total proteins have been investigated in 138 healthy, term Caucasian infants. Blood samples were obtained for each infant from cord blood and on day 1 and day 6. The infants were studied in three groups according to whether they were breast fed, received 'Ostermilk No. 1' or 'Cow and Gate V' formulas.Levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, and total proteins did not differ between the groups at birth or on day 1. By day 6 calcium levels were higher and phosphorus levels lower in the breast-fed infants compared with either of the artificially-fed groups. Phosphorus levels were lower in the V Formula group compared with the Ostermilk group but the mean calcium levels of these two groups did not differ significantly. However, only 2 * 8 % of the V Formula group developed hypocalcaemia compared with 18 2% of the Ostermilk group. The only infant developing clinical tetany belonged to the group fed Ostermilk. Evidence is also given which suggests that those infants with low calcium levels on day 1 who were fed the high-solute milk tended to show a fall in calcium by day 6. This did not apply to the two other groups. It is concluded that the use of adapted cows' milk preparations for infant feeding should lead to a reduction in the incidence of neonatal tetany.