Iranian Journal of Neonatology
Volume:5 Issue: 1, Spring 2014

Maternal diabetes mellitus is associated with depleted fetal iron stores and this is proportionate to the degree of maternal control، presence or absence of diabetes-related complications، and is not related to maternal iron status. In this study، we aim to assess the effect of maternal diabetes on cord blood serum ferritin. The present prospective (case-control) study was carried out in AL-Zahraa Teaching Hospital (March 2012-October 2012). Umbilical cord blood samples were collected from 100 newborn infants who were delivered normally or by caesarean section. Fifty infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) and 50 normal control neonates were randomly recruited. A serum sample was obtained to measure ferritin concentrations by mini VIDAS machine، which compares the results with the standards. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (statistical package for social sciences) Version 17. Independent sample t-test was used for data measurement and chi-square test for analyzing the categorical data. Also، Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to compare two measurement variables. P-value There was no significant difference between IDMs and infants of healthy mothers، regarding the gestational age at the time of delivery (P=0. 31). Also، there was no significant difference between the two groups، regarding their packed cell volume (PCV)، mean corpuscular volume (MCV)، and red cell distribution width (RDW) (P>0. 05). Finally، there was a highly significant difference between the two groups، regarding cord blood serum ferritin (P<0. 05). This study shows that IDMs have lower tissue iron stores (S. ferritin) at birth. Also، according to the results، there is a significant association between S. ferritin، gestational age and birth weight in these neonates.

One factor known to cause thrombophilia in women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is C677T polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene. This study aimed to determine the association between RSA and MTHFR C677T polymorphism in Iranian patients. In this case-control study, 30 patients with previous history of two or more consecutive unexplained abortions, and 10 women with at least two live births without a miscarriage were analyzed for MTHFR C677T polymorphism using PCR-RFLP (PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) method; the study was carried out on patients referring to Baqiyatallah Hospital and Avicenna Infertility Clinic. The results obtained via estimating the genotype of each polymorphism were analyzed by SPSS version 16. Seventeen women (56.6 %) with recurrent spontaneous abortions and 5 women (50 %) from the control group were heterozygous for MTHFR C677T polymorphism. T-allele frequency in the experiment group was higher than the control group (28.4 % and 25 % for the experiment and control group, respectively). The prevalence of MTHFR C677T polymorphism was slightly higher in RSA patients compared with the controls. This finding failed to support the relationship between this polymorphism and the increasing risk of RSA in the evaluated Iranian women.

Infant mortality index is an important health indicator. This index has a direct impact on infant mortality and mortality of children less than five years. The present study aimed to investigate causes of infant deaths during 2010-2011 in Bandar Abbas hospital of children. In this cross - sectional retrospective study profiles of all dead newborns who aged from 0 to 28 days in Children''s Hospital of Bandar Abbas zero to 28 days during the past two years were considered as the sample of this study. The necessary information were collected through answering to a predesigned checklist, telephone interviews, if necessary, the data were gathered from visiting people in person. Then the data were analyzed by using SPSS software version 16. In the present study, prematurity was the most common cause of infant death (25 percent). 62 percent of newborns aged less than 7 days so two-thirds of the deaths occurred in the first week of their life, variables such as the infant`s age, the RAM or pre-term, birth weight, type of birth, father''s education, and mother''s education all showed a statistically significant relationship with infant mortality. In this regard paying particular attention to low birth weight infants, increasing the health awareness of mothers and families, providing the standard care before and during pregnancy can be effective in reducing infant mortality.

The traditional view that neonates are not capable of perceiving pain has been refuted and there is now no doubt those neonates feel pain. Although babies cannot express their pain as older children, but capable to show in response the pain a set of measures as observable behavioral responses. The aim of this study was to determine Effect of foot reflexology on physiologic index of neonates. This investigation was a quasi-experimental study on 30 neonates admitted to NICU. The questionnaires were composed of socio-demographic status and NIPS scale test. Measurements of HR and SaO2 were taken twice, before and then again after completion of the intervention, and foot reflexology was codified to measure and evaluate them. P The study showed that there was significant difference between before and after the intervention on physiologic index(O2 saturation, heart rate) in neonates (P=0.003). Nonetheless, we suggest doing more studies in related subjects. Our investigation shows that foot reflexology can improve the physiologic index and decrease O2 saturation, heart rate (toward normal range), and can inspirited relaxation in neonates. Nonetheless, we suggest to doing more studies to this subjects.

Prenatal infections are one of the fundamental causes of early puerperal complications in mothers and neonates. These infections are mostly due to colonized organisms in pregnant woman''s genitor-urinary system. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of streptococcus group B (GBS) colonization in parturient women and the rate of pathogen transmission to the newborn. Totally 400 pregnant women (gravid one and nuliparity and gestational age 35-37 weeks) applied for this study.Vaginal and rectal samples was given from all mothers and skin samples were given from their child, and if the neonates become symptomatic and admission accord the blood samples were given to evaluate blood culture. After sample culturing on the specific environment data analyzed by SPSS software. GBS colonization was seen in 15.2% of mothers and 7.75%oh their child. Vertical transmission rate was 49.2%. Also it was significant relation between organism colonization prevalence and prolonged ruptured of membrane more than 18 hours. (P=0) According to high prevalence of GBS colonization and vertical transmissions rate in our city and, it seems that prophylaxis for GBS is necessary to protect neonates.

Evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell (WBC) count and glucose and protein concentrations is used to assess the probability of the presence of central nervous system (CNS) infection. Although normal values are well established for CSF cell counts and protein and glucose contents in children and adults, this is not the case for neonates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the composition of noninfected CSF obtained by nontraumatic lumbar puncture in neonates (age < 28 days), specifically distinguishing CSF profiles of those term babies compared with those premature infants. The CSF samples obtained by lumbar puncture from 120 neonates were examined by routine procedures. By comparing CSF parameters between term gestation neonate group with premature neonate one, nontraumatic puncture, there was no statistically significant difference(p<0.05) in the mean WBC (p=0.6)The mean protein concentration was significantly greater in those premature neonates (p <0.04). The mean glucose concentration was also analogous in both groups (p=0.5) a prospective study using mortality under developmental follow up will better define the utility of CSF parameters in the premature neonate.

Neonatal tetanus is a highly fatal disease that can be prevented by immunization and improvement in obstetric practices. The aim of the present study was to assess the characteristics of cases of neonatal tetanus in two large tertiary hospitals (Ghaem and Imam Reza hospitals) of Mashhad -North East of Iran between 1984- 2001. all cases whose epidemiological and clinical characteristics were compatible with neonatal tetanus and were admitted into the NICU’s of these two hospitals between July 1984 to June 2001 were analyzed from their hospital records. A total of 60 patients had been hospitalized with the diagnosis of neonatal tetanus during the study period. All of them were delivered out of hospital by untrained birth attendants and none of the mothers had been immunized against tetanus during pregnancy. 74% of infants died. Age younger than 7 days at the time of admission was associated with a high mortality rate. Although neonatal tetanus is a highly fatal disease yet. It can be prevented with appropriate health care practices and tetanus immunization of pregnant women.

Neonatal purpura fulminans is a rare and life threatening disease that can be inherited or acquired in etiology. It manifests as DIC and extensive subcutaneous thrombosis. The condition is often fatal unless there is prompt diagnosis, and judicious therapy. The most important causes of this condition are infections and congenital deficiency of anticoagulant proteins C and S.In the case of PC (protein C) deficiency,the management includes an acute phase of replacement therapy with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or protein C concentrate and a maintenance therapy that includes anticoagulation with Warfarin or low molecular weight heparin. Here we report a case of neonatal purpura fulminans due to suspected protein C deficiency.

Neonatal period damages occur due to mechanical forces (compression, stretching) during the birth process are classified as birth trauma. Various maternofetal factors, such as maternal diabetes, breech or other noncephalic presentations and birth weight might have been effective in developing prenatal trauma. Shoulder dystocia, which is common in neonates` of diabetic mothers, usually occurs in term neonates and associated with birth trauma and complications such as brachial plexus palsy. A higher rate of trauma was reported in neonates with birth weight more than 4500 gram. Recently, incidence of birth trauma was decreased, because of better prenatal care. Fetus face trauma might happen due to maternal blunt trauma. Although this type of fetus injuries are rare, they could be life threatening. In this article we report a neonate with nasal trauma.