0000000000324853
AUTHOR
Pilar Saenz
Human milk enhances antioxidant defenses against hydroxyl radical aggression in preterm infants
Background: Preterm infants endowed with an immature antioxidant defense system are prone to oxidative stress. Hydroxyl radicals are very aggressive reactive oxygen species that lack specific antioxidants. These radicals cannot be measured directly, but oxidation byproducts of DNA or phenylalanine in urine are reliable markers of their activity. Human milk has a higher antioxidant capacity than formula. Objective: We hypothesized that oxidative stress associated with prematurity could be diminished by feeding human milk. Design: We recruited a cohort of stable preterm infants who lacked perinatal conditions associated with oxidative stress; were not receiving prooxidant or antioxidant drugs…
Does Oxygen Concentration Used for Resuscitation Influence Outcome of Asphyxiated Newly Born Infants Treated With Hypothermia?
To the Editor. — In a recent article, Rutherford et al1 describe the neuroprotective effect of whole-body cooling and selective head cooling in newly born infants suffering from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. MRI studies of infants receiving either of these therapies showed a lesser degree of basal ganglia and thalamic lesions than nontreated controls, which correlates with a better neurologic prognosis. However, no description of the resuscitation maneuvers used is present in the article's “Patients and Methods” section. Thus, the authors do not include details on how many infants were given positive pressure ventilation and, especially, what concentration of oxygen was used, if oxygen s…
Antenatal Steroids and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Preterm Infants: Influence of Gender and Timing
Antenatal steroids have improved the survival of preterm infants; however, the mechanism of action is not fully understood. We aimed to establish an association between antenatal steroids and antioxidant activity and postnatal oxidative stress. In a prospective cohort study, extremely preterm neonates receiving antenatal steroids (CORT) or not (NOCORT) were enrolled. An association between antenatal steroids and activities of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione cycle enzymes in cord blood was found. In addition, reduced oxidative stress (GSH/GSSG ratio, CORT vs. NOCORT, 35.68 + or - 12.20 vs. 28.38 + or - 9.92; p < 0.01) and, decreased oxidation of proteins (ortho-tyrosine/phenylalanine rat…