Background: Previous studies demonstrated that dopamine infusion reduces plasma concentration of thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH) in adults, children, and infants. Objectives: The purpose of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the relationship between dopamine infusion and the dynamics of T4, TSH, PRL, and GH in preterm newborns weighing less than 1,500 g (very low birth weight infants, VLBW) admitted in a neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital over a one year period. Methods: A total of 97 preterm newborns were enrolled and divided into two groups: group B included hypotensive infants treated with plasma expanders and dopamine infusion; group A was the control group including newborns who were never treated with dopamine. The newborns were studied dynamically through blood samples taken every day till 10 days. Newborns of group B were studied during dopamine infusion and after its withdrawal. Results: Among the VLBW newborns who were given dopamine, the four pituitary hormones had different dynamics: a reduction of T4, TSH, and PRL levels was noticed since the first day of treatment, and a rebound of their levels was evident since the first day after its interruption. On the contrary, the postprandial GH levels were roughly constant: GH plasma concentrations were in fact a little lower in newborns treated with dopamine, and a slight increase was observed after its withdrawal. However, observed differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The results suggest that dopamine infusion reduces T4, TSH, and PRL plasma levels in preterm VLBW infants and have no effect on postprandial GH rate. This hormonal suppression reverses rapidly after dopamine withdrawal. This observation suggests that the iatrogenic pituitary suppression probably cannot produce long-term injuries.

Infections represent a serious health problem in neonates. Invasive Candida infections (ICIs) are still a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Infants hospitalized in NICUs are at high risk of ICIs, because of several risk factors: broad spectrum antibiotic treatments, central catheters and other invasive devices, fungal colonization, and impaired immune responses. In this review we summarize 19 published studies which provide the prevalence of previous surgery in neonates with invasive Candida infections. We also provide an overview of risk factors for ICIs after major surgery, fungal colonization, and innate defense mechanisms against fungi, as well as the roles of different Candida spp., the epidemiology and costs of ICIs, diagnosis of ICIs, and antifungal prophylaxis and treatment.

Terlipressin appears an effective rescue treatment in patients with refractory vasodilatory septic shock. Further studies are required to assess its efficacy and safety in neonatal population.

An association between the deletion of chromosome 22q11.2, microgastria, and impaired mucociliary function has never been observed before. A casual association seems highly unlikely and we can not exclude the possibility of genetic mechanisms that may link those syndromes.

Three preterm newborns affected by congenital syphilis, born to mothers not adequately treated during pregnancy, are described. The clinical picture is characterized by a severe cholestatic hepatopathy and, in the two surviving patients, by an unusually wide ischemic-hemorrhagic lesion of the cerebral parenchyma. This lesion is probably due to a syphilitic endarteritis, and has rarely been described before in preterm infants.