In our study, the risk factors for seizure recurrence were the presence of prior epilepsy, existence of neurological abnormalities and remote symptomatic causes. We argue that improving the compliance of patients and their families to take medicine appropriately and training them in how to cope with febrile illnesses may decrease the recurrence of seizures.

Background Breast milk is preferred for the feeding of very low‐birth‐weight (VLBW) infants, but it does not meet nutrition requirements unless it is fortified. Adequate protein intake to maintain the growth of preterm infants cannot be provided by standard fortification methods because of variation in the protein content of human milk. Individualization is necessary to achieve target protein intakes. The goal of this study was to compare the effects of 2 different methods of individualized protein fortification of breast milk on the early growth of VLBW preterm infants. Methods In a prospective observational study, VLBW preterm infants ≤32 weeks of gestational age were randomized into 2 groups according to the method of breast milk fortification. Anthropometric measurements were performed in both groups weekly for 4 weeks to compare their growth. Results During the trial period, the daily protein intake (targeted vs adjustable fortification groups) was (median [range]) 4.5 (4.4–4.6) vs 4.01 (3.5–4.4) g/kg/d (P = 0.001); the daily weight gains (g/d and g/kg/d; mean ± SD) were 25.7 ± 3.9 vs 22.2 ± 6.4 g/d (P = 0.048) and 23.1 ± 4.3 vs 18.7 ± 4.3 g/kg/d (P = 0.014); and the weekly increase in head circumference was 9.8 ± 1.5 vs 8.4 ± 2.1 mm/wk (P = 0.040). All parameters were significantly higher in the targeted than the adjustable fortification group. Conclusions Individualized protein fortification using the targeted method for VLBW preterm infants had more positive effects on short‐term growth compared with the adjustable fortification method.

The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, Upar, IL-33 and ST2 in comparison with C-reactive protein, TNF-a and Interleukin-6 in neonatal sepsis. A total of 106 term babies were included 20 of whom were the control group. We used only data of high probable sepsis with blood culture positive infants, therefore 46 infants were excluded. Blood was collected from infants from the first day of sepsis (l.value) and 48-72 hours later (2.value). There were significant differences between the controls and sepsis (l.value) for 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (35±19ng/ml and 69±7.5ng/ml, p=O.Ol), for IL-33 levels (90±34 ng/ml and 412±170 ng/ml, p=O.Ol), for sST21eveis (453±44 ng/ml and 4120±2720ng/ml, p=O.Ol), for sUpar levels (2.1±1.3 ng/ml and 11.4 ± 5.2 ng/ml, p=O.Ol), respectively. There were significant differences between sepsis (l.value) and sepsis (2.value.) with reference to 25-hydroxyvitamin D, IL-33, sST2, and suPAR levels, respectively. In

Background The recent increase in early term birth rates represents a growing challenge to public health given the association between early term birth and neonatal morbidities. We compared the risk of respiratory morbidity between early term and full‐term infants. Methods This retrospective cohort population study included infants born at 37–41 weeks’ gestation in a single tertiary care university hospital between 2014 and 2016. Newborns were categorized as early term (37–38 weeks) and full term (39–41 weeks). The primary outcome was respiratory morbidity. Results Of the 4,894 babies born at 37–41 weeks gestational age, 31% (n = 1,521) were early term births. The rate of cesarean deliveries, which were often elective, was higher for early term than for full‐term newborns (P = 0.001). Compared with full‐term newborns, early term newborns, had significantly higher risks of respiratory morbidity (13.2 % vs 6.3 %; odds ratio [OR], 2.28, P = 0.001), respiratory distress syndrome (0.5 % vs 0 %, P = 0.001), transient tachypnea of the newborn (11.2 % vs 4.6 %; OR, 2.72, P = 0.001), continuous positive airway pressure use (9.7 % vs 3.7 %; OR, 2.82, P = 0.001), and ventilation support (1.4% vs 0.4%; OR, 4.11, P = 0.001). Conclusions The elevated frequency of respiratory morbidity in early term infants emphasizes the importance of early term birth interventions. More than half of the early term births were elective cesarean sections; interventions should therefore focus on reducing elective cesarean procedures at the time of first birth.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains an important complication of preterm births. The soluble form of ST2 (sST2), interleukin-33 (IL-33), and soluble form of the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) have attracted increasing attention as biomarkers for different diseases. The aim of the current study was to assess the predictive value of plasma sST2, IL-33, and suPAR levels in patients with risk of BPD development. Methods: A total of 38 babies were studied prospectively on delivery to the neonatal intensive care unit. Serum levels of IL-33, sST2, and suPAR were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum samples were collected from umbilical cord (at the time of delivery, termed CB) and peripheral blood (on day 14, termed PB). results: Levels of suPAR (PB-suPAR) and sST2 (PB-sST2) in the peripheral blood of the BPD group were significantly higher than the corresponding levels in the non-BPD group (P < 0.001, P = 0.028, respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between PB-suPAR levels and the severity of BPD (P < 0.001)) when the suPAR results were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve. conclusion: PB-suPAR and PB-sST2 levels are sensitive and specific independent predictive biomarkers in preterm babies with BPD.B ronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease associated with preterm babies who require mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy for acute respiratory distress (1). BPD remains a serious and common problem in very-low-birth-weight infants despite the use of antenatal steroids and postnatal surfactant therapy to decrease the incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) ((2-4). The incidence of BPD is directly proportional to the degree of prematurity. BPD has a complex and multifactorial etiology, including oxygen toxicity, preterm delivery, hypoxia/ hyperoxia, infection, and inflammation (5-7). Many studies have suggested that BPD is a result of imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mechanisms (8,9).The ST2 gene, which produces a soluble secreted form (sST2) and a transmembrane form (ST2L) of the IL-1 receptor, is expressed in several cells, including Th2 cells, mast cells, and macrophages (10). Interleukin-33 (IL-33) was identified as a new member of the IL-1 cytokine family. It has been described as a modulator of inflammation, mediating Th2 immune responses. It has also been detected that IL-33 is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases (11). Recently, it has been shown that IL-33 can bind to ST2L and can thereby trigger Th2-associated responses. Soluble ST2, which is mainly secreted by fibroblasts, has been suggested to act as a decoy receptor by binding IL-33, thereby inhibiting signaling by ST2L (12). Elevated sST2 levels have been reported in sepsis, asthma, and acute myocardial infarction. A significant positive correlation between sST2 levels and severity of these medical conditions has been shown (13).The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA...