Critically ill children frequently develop CIP/CIM, mostly of axonal polyneuropathy pattern, which compromises rehabilitation and recovery and is associated with a number of comorbidities.

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition that has been well-known for more than 50 years in nations with low perinatal death rates, has developed an epidemic pattern in recent years in a number of growing economies with advanced populations. Objective: To study ROP among our preterm newborns and to assess the effect of vitamin A and beta-blockers supplementation on ROP if it exists. Patients and Methods: The present study was carried out on 186 preterm newborns of both sexes who were admitted to NICU, Pediatric Department at Menoufia University Hospitals from October 2019 to March 2020. Results: Advancement from grade I to grade II occurred significantly lesser among those who received vitamin A (4.55%) in comparison to beta blockers group (59.09%) and judicious O2 group (36.36%) (P<0.001). Those who were free of ROP at 2 weeks and became grade I at 4 weeks, occurred significantly more among those on judicious O2 (100%) in comparison to beta blockers group (0%) and vitamin A group (0%) (P=0.023). Also, among those who were grade I at 2 weeks and remained grade I with no progression at 4 weeks, occurred significantly more in vitamin A group (69.23%) in comparison to beta blockers group (7.69%) and judicious O2 group (23.08%) (P<0.001). Conclusion:Vitamin A and to a lesser extent beta blockers supplementation have an important role in decreasing the morbidity among the newborns. Early administration of vitamin A (1500 IU/day as early as possible) and beta blockers (0.5-2 mg/kg/day) in neonates may help decrease the progression of ROP grading.

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Objective and background: Perinatal asphyxia is a serious medical condition in which there is lack of oxygen or blood flow during, or even after the labor process. So, this study aimed to study serum blood levels of Lactate, vitamin D and count of nucleated Red Blood Cells (nRBCs) per 100 White Blood Cells (WBCs) as early biological predictors of Hypoxic–Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) after birth Asphyxia.Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 20 neonates with HIE comprising the cases (APGAR ≤ 5) and another 20 neonates representing the control group with their age, sex, and weight matched, admitted to NICU from March 2020 to the end of September 2020 at Menoufia University Hospital and El-Bagour Central Hospital, Egypt. Venous blood samples for lactate, vitamin D and nucleated RBCs were drawn during 1st 6h of birth and sent for analysis. Sarnat score was used to assess the severity of HIE.Results: Venous blood levels of lactate and nucleated Red Blood Cells per 100 White Blood Cells (nRBC/100 WBC) counts were significantly higher in HIE neonates than in the control group with a highly significant difference (P-value < 0.001). While serum Vitamin D was significantly lower in the HIE group than in the control (P-value < 0.001).Conclusion: Serum lactate level, vitamin D level and nRBCs/100 WBCs might be used as biomarkers in the early prediction of HIE.