Higher Dose Noninvasive Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Increases Feeding Volumes and White Matter Microstructural Complexity in Open-Label Study of Infants Slated for Gastrostomy Tube

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) paired with twice daily bottle feeding increases the volume of oral feeds and white matter neuroplasticity in term-age-equivalent infants failing oral feeds and determined to need a gastrostomy tube.

STUDY DESIGN

In this prospective, open-label study, 21 infants received taVNS paired with 2 bottle feeds for 2 - 3 weeks (2x). We compared 1) increase oral feeding volumes with 2x taVNS and previously reported once daily taVNS (1x) to determine a dose response, 2) number of infants who attained full oral feeding volumes, and 3) diffusional kurtosis imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy before and after treatment by paired t tests.

RESULTS

All 2x taVNS treated infants significantly increased their feeding volumes compared with 10 days before treatment. Over 50% of 2x taVNS infants achieved full oral feeds but in a shorter time than 1x cohort (median 7 days [2x], 12.5 days [1x], P < .05). Infants attaining full oral feeds showed greater increase in radial kurtosis in the right corticospinal tract at the cerebellar peduncle and external capsule. Notably, 75% of infants of diabetic mothers failed full oral feeds, and their glutathione concentrations in the basal ganglia, a measure of central nervous system oxidative stress, were significantly associated with feeding outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In infants with feeding difficulty, increasing the number of daily taVNS-paired feeding sessions to twice-daily significantly accelerates response time but not the overall response rate of treatment. taVNS was associated with white matter motor tract plasticity in infants able to attain full oral feeds.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04643808).

Optimally Controlled Diabetes and Its Influence on Neonatal Outcomes at a Level II Center: A Study on Infants Born to Diabetic Mothers

Background and Objectives: We investigated the effect of optimal maternal glycemic control on neonatal outcomes among infants born to mothers with diabetes. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, we assessed 88 eligible mothers admitted to the obstetrics department for pregnancy evaluation. Our analysis included 46 infants born to diabetic mothers (IDMs) and 138 infants born to unaffected mothers, all admitted to the Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Results: Mothers affected by diabetes were generally older and exhibited a higher body mass index (BMI) and a greater number of gestations, although parity did not differ significantly. Cesarean section emerged as the most frequently chosen mode of delivery. A significantly higher proportion of infants in the affected group presented with respiratory disease (3% vs. 19.5%), which required NICU admission (4.3% vs. 23.9%), phototherapy (18.1% vs. 43.5%), and had congenital heart defects or myocardial hypertrophy (15.2% and 26% vs. 3% and 4.3%) compared to matched controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study underscores the persistence of adverse neonatal outcomes in IDMs, even when maternal glycemic control is optimized. It calls for further investigation into potential interventions and strategies aimed at enhancing neonatal outcomes in this population.

Effect of gestational diabetes on the vitamin D levels in the neonates: a case control study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of maternal gestational diabetes on the Vitamin D levels of the mother and their newborns and to compare it with healthy mother-infant pairs.

METHODS

The study design was a Case Control study. It was conducted at the antenatal unit of Obstetrics and Neonatal unit of Pediatrics department of a tertiary care hospital in costal Karnataka. Consecutive sample of otherwise healthy pregnant women presenting with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and their healthy term neonates were taken as study group. The weight matched healthy mothers and their healthy term neonates were taken as controls. The blood samples of the mothers, at term and the cord blood samples of the neonates were collected for estimating the Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D levels in the cases and controls were the primary outcome measures.

RESULTS

The mean value of Vitamin D levels in the GDM mothers was 10.74 ng/ml and in the mothers forming the control group was 23.53ng/ml (p value < 0.001). The mean value of Vitamin D levels in GDM babies was 8.47ng/ml and was 19.51ng/ml in the control (p value < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Comparison of Vitamin D levels of mothers and infants of both groups showed a positive correlation. GDM seems to exacerbate the Vitamin D deficiency in the mothers and their neonates.

Epicardial fat thickness in infants of diabetic mothers

BACKGROUND

Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) in adults and children has been related to the metabolic syndrome and other cardiovascular risk factors; however, scarce studies have evaluated it in infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) in whom, alterations in the thickness of the interventricular septum have been reported. This study compares the EFT in IDM versus infants of non-diabetic mothers (INDM) and its association with others echocardiographic parameters.

METHODS

We performed a cross sectional study in 93 infants (64 IDM and 29 INDM). To evaluate EFT dimensions, an echocardiogram was performed within the first 24h of extrauterine life in both groups. In diabetic mothers, HbA1c was also determined.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in birth weight between the groups although gestational age was lower in IDM. The EFT (3.6 vs. 2.5 mm, p <  0.0001), the interventricular septum thickness (IVST) (6.2 vs. 5.2 mm, p <  0.0001) and the IVST / left ventricle posterior wall (1.3 vs. 1.1, p = 0.001) were higher in the IDM; while the left ventricular expulsion fraction [LVFE] (71.1 vs. 77.8; p <  0.0001) was lower than in the INDM, respectively. We found a positive correlation between EFT with IVST (r = 0.577; p = 0.0001), LVPW (r = 0.262; p = 0.011), IVST/LVPW index (r = 0.353; p = 0.001), and mitral integral early velocity (r = 0.313; p = 0.002), while a negative correlation with LVFE was observed (r = -0.376; p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The EFT is higher in IDM than in INDM. It was positively related with echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular thickness and negatively with left ventricular ejection function.

Infant Death Following Home Birth: A Case Report of Fatal Neonatal Hypoglycemia

Infants born to diabetic mothers are at increased risk for symptomatic hypoglycemia and death after birth. A 36-year-old G4P3 mother with a history of gestational diabetes and newly diagnosed type II insulin-dependent diabetes gave birth at home, in the care of a midwife, to a macrosomic infant girl (10 lbs.). Several hours after birth, the infant became lethargic and was found to be hypoglycemic (blood sugar: 28 mg/dL). Glucose and sugar water were administered by the midwife; however, the infant continued to decompensate. Emergency medical services were called, and the infant was transported to the hospital where, despite resuscitative efforts, she died. An autopsy and review of the literature was performed. At autopsy, characteristic features of maternal-fetal glucose dysregulation were identified, including fetal macrosomia, cardiomegaly, hepatomegaly, and severe pancreatic islet cell hypertrophy/hyperplasia. Developmental abnormalities and other potential causes of death were not identified. Although deaths due to hypoglycemia cannot be reliably diagnosed postmortem using vitreous glucose levels, a clinical history of maternal glucose dysregulation in combination with certain gross and histologic findings should prompt a pathologist to consider maternal-fetal glucose dysregulation as a diagnosis of exclusion and cause of death.

Continuous glucose monitoring as a screening tool for neonatal hypoglycemia in infants of diabetic mothers

Objective: To assess the plausibility of using the continuous glucose monitoring as a sole source of data for the screening of the neonatal hypoglycemia.Study design: Infants of mothers with diabetes were screened for neonatal hypoglycemia (less than 2.5 mmol/l after 4 h of life). Initial measurement was performed using point of care analyzer. We applied continuous glucose monitoring system subsequently. Infants were monitored up to 5 days or until discharge.Results: Out of 32 infants 11 had postnatal hypoglycemia resolved within 12 h of life. Two infants had hypoglycemia found due to continuous glucose monitoring after 24 h of life when sufficient feeding was established and they did not show any signs of hypoglycemia. We did not have any false negative measurements. No infant showed clinical signs of neonatal hypoglycemia.Conclusions: Continuous glucose monitoring is plausible and safe to use for screening of neonatal hypoglycemia. It operates well within the range that is accepted as safe for neurodevelopment. In addition, it can be used after first day of life where regular screening ends. Limitation of this method is possible alarm negligence of caregivers.

Neonatal Glycemic Status of Infants of Diabetic Mothers in a Tertiary Care Hospital

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is a common medical complication during pregnancy that results in significant neonatal morbidities. In infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs), hypoglycemia is a common complication.

OBJECTIVE

To study the neonatal hypoglycemia in IDMs in a tertiary care hospital.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was done in postnatal ward in Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetic, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders from January to December 2009.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The data of IDMs were collected from postnatal ward. All IDMs delivered during this period staying in postnatal ward were included in this study. The outcomes were compared between the hypoglycemic and normoglycemic IDMs and between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pre-GDM in hypoglycemic group using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. The data analysis was performed with Epi-enfo7 software. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 363 IDMs were included in this study. Hypoglycemia developed in 38.3% IDMs and 43.2% mothers of hypoglycemic IDMs had GDM and 56.8% had pre-GDM. Duration of maternal diabetes (P = 0.04) and large for gestational age (P = 0.0001) were associated with hypoglycemia. Multigravidae (82.2% vs 68.3%, P = 0.03), prolonged duration of maternal diabetes (45.46 weeks vs 3.23 weeks, P = 0.00001), preterm babies (48.1% vs 28.3% P = 0.009), and control of diabetes by insulin (81% vs 46.7%, P = 0.001) were more in pre-GDM, and statistically significant. About 85% IDMs developed hypoglycemia within 6 h of birth (P-value 0.00001) and majority (68%) were at 2 h of age. Forty percent of hypoglycemic IDMs from postnatal ward were admitted in special care baby unit.

CONCLUSION

Hypoglycemia observed in 38.3% IDMs and developed within 6 h of age and maximum were at 2 h. Early recognition and appropriate intervention are needed in IDMs.

Cord blood resistin and adiponectin in term newborns of diabetic mothers

INTRODUCTION

Adipose tissue can release hormones into the blood stream in response to specific extracellular stimuli or changes in metabolic status. Resistin, an adipose-secreted factor, is primarily involved in the modulation of insulin sensitivity and adipocyte differentiation. Adiponectin, an adipocyte-specific hormone with insulin sensitizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects, is reduced in obesity and type II diabetes. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of maternal pre-existing diabetes on cord blood resistin and adiponectin at birth in relation to neonatal anthropometric parameters and cord blood insulin levels.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 60 term newborns were prospectively enrolled and categorized into three groups: 20 were macrosomic infants of pre-gestational diabetic mothers (group I), 20 were non-macrosomic infants of pre-gestational diabetic mothers (group II) and 20 were healthy non-macrosomic infants born to non-diabetic mothers serving as controls (group III). Infants' anthropometric indices were recorded. Cord blood samples for glucose, insulin, resistin and adiponectin assay, together with maternal glycosylated haemoglobin were obtained.

RESULTS

Serum insulin was increased while resistin and adiponectin were significantly decreased in infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) compared to the control group. Serum glucose, insulin, resistin and adiponectin were comparable in group I and II. Cord serum resistin correlated positively with cord blood glucose in IDMs in both macrosomic and non-macrosomic groups. Cord serum insulin correlated positively with triceps skinfold thickness in all studied neonates. Cord serum resistin and adiponectin showed no correlation with neonatal anthropometric indices. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that insulin, resistin and adiponectin together were highly correlated with birth weight, with adiponectin as the one responsible for this positive correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

Infants of diabetic mothers had elevated levels of cord serum insulin and suppressed levels of cord serum resistin and adiponectin, suggesting that the regulation of these metabolic pathways is probably operational before birth. Levels were comparable in both macrosomic and non-macrosomic neonates.