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Background: A delay in reaching full enteral feeding is linked to poorer outcome in preterm neonates. Meconium retention has been viewed as a cause of bowel dysfunction in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI). Thus, adequate evacuation of meconium could help to promote feeding tolerance. Objectives: Our goal was to determine the effect of the induction of early meconium evacuation on feeding tolerance in VLBWI. Methods: An observational study involving two subsequent periods was performed in inborn infants with birth weights of <1,500 g, before (control) and after (study) the induction of early meconium evacuation by routine glycerin enema. The total duration of these periods was from January 2003 to December 2005. To evaluate feeding tolerance, we measured time to achieve full enteral feeding. Complications such as sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis were compared. Results: The study group achieved full enteral feeding significantly faster than the control group (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.8–4.8), and this effect was more definite in infants with a birth weight of <1,000 g (HR = 4.6; 95% CI = 1.9–11.1). The study group passed first meconium faster than the control group (median = 1.4 vs. 3.7 days; p < 0.001). Sepsis, especially as determined by positive culture in central venouscatheter, was significantly reduced in the study group (7.7 vs. 27.8%; p = 0.02). Conclusions: The induction of early meconium evacuation had a significantly positive effect on feeding tolerance and sepsis prevention in VLBWI.

are studied to understand the site characteristics and the relationship between the aerosol composition and meteorological conditions. The average non-sea-salt-(nss)-sulfate concentration (6.74 mg m À3 ) is higher than those observed at other background areas in the world. It was demonstrated that the observed high level of sulfate is due to transport from outside the site. The concentrations of nss-sulfate/ammonium/nss-potassium, sodium/chloride/magnesium, and nss-calcium/nitrate show a strong relationship, suggesting their common emissions sources and/or transport pattern. It is likely that the concentration ratio of nss-sulfate to nitrate is decreasing because of the increase of the nitrate concentration. On the basis of various measurement and emission estimate studies, it is suggested that this trend is mainly caused by the emission trend change in China. About half of the air mass trajectories are from northern China, and a quarter are from southern China. On the basis of cluster analysis, it was found that when air parcels moved from China, the concentrations of nss-sulfate, ammonium, and nitrate are the highest.