Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the significance of urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1) levels in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. Methods: This prospective, observational cohort study was conducted on 39 VLBW preterm infants. Serum creatinine (SCr) and uKIM-1 levels were measured in the first 24 and 48 to 72 hours of life. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. Levels of uKIM-1 were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Among 39 VLBW infants, 9 (23%) developed AKI. The mortality rate was 17.9% (n = 7 neonates). There was no significant difference in SCr levels, uKIM-1 levels, or the eGFR obtained in the first 24 hours in the AKI group compared with controls. However, significant differences were found in SCr and uKIM-1 levels, and the eGFR rate at 48 to 72 hours between the groups. Levels of uKIM-1 were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors in the first 24 and 48 to 72 hours of life. Conclusion: The level of uKIM-1 can be used as a simple noninvasive diagnostic method for predicting AKI and mortality, especially within 48 to 72 hours of life. Clinical trial registration: We do not have a clinical trial registration ID. In Turkey, clinical trial registration is not required for non-drug, noninvasive, clinical studies.

Objective: The aim of our study is to determine the relationship between exposure to hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus and morbidities in premature babies, the optimal number of pharmacologic treatment cycles, and ideal ductus ligation timing. Materials and Methods: The study was a retrospective single-center study conducted in a 3-year period between July 2017 and June 2020. Premature babies, born ≤30 weeks of gestation and transferred to our unit for bedside ductus ligation, were included in the study. The subjects were divided into 2 groups; Group A consisted of the patients who received ≥3 pharmacologic treatment cycles, and group B consisted of the patients who received ≤2 cycles. The groups were compared according to preoperative and postoperative features. The main outcome of the study was the presence of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The secondary outcomes were specified as the length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit and the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). Results: The study group consisted of 24 patients. There were 10 patients in group A and 14 patients in group B. The mean gestational week and the mean birthweight were found to be 26,7 ± 2.2 weeks and 928 ± 190 g, respectively. The incidence of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia was significantly higher in group A (70% vs. 14.3%; P = .019). Post-ligation invasive MV, duration, and length of stay in the intensive care unit were found to be significantly longer in group A. None of the patients had hemodynamic disturbances or complications during and after the operation. Conclusions: Bedside surgical ductus ligation is a safe procedure. Prolonging pharmacologic treatment in order to avoid surgery increases the risk of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and prolongs hospital stay. Cite this article as: Zubarioglu AU, Yildirim O, Zeybek C, et al. The ideal timing of bedside surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in premature babies less than 30 gestational weeks. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2021; 56(4): 300-307.

Objective: Real-time bedside ultrasound-guided catheterization of the internal jugular vein (IJV) offers potential benefits for critically ill neonates, especially those with low birth weight and preterm delivery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and success rates in a high-risk neonatal population. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four neonates (birth weight 500-4010 g; 61% preterm) who underwent ultrasound-guided IJV catheterization were retrospectively analyzed in the Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital. The primary outcome is successful usage of the catheter. Other key outcomes include first session and overall successful catheterization rates, number of attempts, catheter dwell time, and complication rates. Subgroup analyses were performed based on birth weight (<2500 g vs. ≥2500 g) and gestational age (preterm vs. term). Results: First-session catheterization success was 88.5%; overall success increased to 94.4% by the third attempt. The median number of attempts was 1. Median catheter dwell time was 13.7 Å} 5.1 days. Successful usage of the catheter by completion of therapy without removal was achieved in 81.5% of cases; premature removal due to occlusion or dislodgement occurred in 13%, and catheter-related complications in 5.6%. Subgroup comparisons showed no statistically significant differences in success rate, number of attempts, or complication rates based on birth weight or gestational age. Conclusion: Bedside ultrasound-guided IJV catheterization is a feasible, effective, and safe alternative to operating-room procedures, even in fragile neonates. High success rates, minimal complications, and avoidance of general anesthesia support its adoption in routine neonatal intensive care unit practice. Cite this article as: Zübarioğlu AU, Bülbül A, Coşkun Yİ, et al. Ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein catheterization in neonates: A retrospective single-center study of procedural success and outcomes. TurkArch Pediatr. 2025;60(6):608-615.

Neonatal hypocalcemia is among the most common metabolic abnormalities in early life, particularly in preterm and critically ill infants. Maternal and neon

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic was declared a pandemic and a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 infection is the most common cause of life-threatening acute respiratory tract infection in adults and older people but more mildly in the childhood age group. While the pandemic continues, there is no clear information about the vertical transmission of COVID-19 infection from the mother to the baby. Methods In our study, we aimed to examine vertical virus transmission (breast milk, amniotic fluid, placenta) in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection and to examine the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of these infants. Our prospective and observational study was conducted in our hospital between March 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021. Results During the study period, a total of 24 infants were included. All infants were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for postnatal follow-up. The virus was not detected in breast milk or amniotic fluids by the SARS-COV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, and no evidence of vertical transmission was found. Conclusion In our study, no life-threatening complication was found in the babies of mothers infected with COVID-19 at birth. Babies born to mothers with COVID-19 infection did not develop any system findings that required specific treatment.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 235 young infants hospitalized with viral LRTI between January 2018 and January 2024. Patients were categorized into pre-pandemic (n=54), during the pandemic (n=64), and post-pandemic (n=117) periods. Demographic characteristics, viral pathogen distribution, respiratory support requirements, length of stay, and clinical morbidities were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).Results: RSV was the most frequently identified pathogen (49.8%), followed by SARS-CoV-2 (8.5%), influenza (6.4%), and rhinovirus (3.0%); no pathogen was detected in 24.7% of cases. Viral distribution differed significantly across pandemic periods (χ² test, p=0.017; Cramer’s V=0.35). RSV proportion increased from 40.7% (pre-pandemic) to 53.0% (post-pandemic), while SARS-CoV-2 emerged during the pandemic (20.3%). Respiratory support requirements differed significantly (p=0.002; Cramer’s V=0.22), with invasive ventilation decreasing from 50.0% (pre-pandemic) to 20.5% (post-pandemic). Length of NICU stay did not differ significantly among periods (p=0.354). Clinical morbidities were comparable across periods (all p>0.05). In multivariate analysis, RSV-related infection independently predicted IMV (OR 4.36, 95% CI 2.15-8.84, p