KEY POINTS 1. Normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis production of cortisol and a normal renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis are needed for the normal regulation of volume status, blood pressure, and serum sodium, potassium and glucose levels in the neonate. Disorders of these axes…
KEY POINTS 1. Thyroid hormone signaling is required for both normal fetal and pediatric development. 2. The identification of genes critical for thyroid gland development and migration and thyroid hormone metabolism, transport, and receptor function has revealed that derangement of…
KEY POINTS 1. Congenital pituitary hormone deficiencies can be caused by maldevelopment of central brain structures, acute injury, and pituitary gene mutation. 2. The anterior pituitary is composed of four distinct cell types that produce five different hormones. 3. Understanding…
KEY POINTS 1. Diabetes in pregnant women can be visualized in two distinct subsets: 1% to 2% of women have pregestational disease, whereas 6% to 9% develop diabetes during pregnancy. 2. In mothers with pregestational or early-onset diabetes, placental vasculopathy…
KEY POINTS 1. Hypoglycemia is frequently seen in premature and critically ill term infants. 2. Neonates are at risk of hypoglycemia in the early neonatal period because of the abrupt interruption of maternal glucose transfer to the baby at birth,…
KEY POINTS 1. All infants should be classified at birth with the use of appropriate anthropometric measurement techniques to determine risk status for complications such as hypoglycemia or catabolism. Growth charts and tools to determine z -scores are readily available…
KEY POINTS 1. Intestinal failure (IF) is defined as the loss of functional gut mass to levels below those needed for digestion and absorption of fluid and nutrients required to support adequate nutrition and growth. 2. Short bowel syndrome (SBS)…
KEY POINTS 1. Parenteral nutrition is a necessary component of the nutritional and medical management of the premature infant. 2. The fluid, macronutrient, and micronutrient requirements are unique to the premature infant due to their transition from the intrauterine to…
KEY POINTS 1. The benefits of enteral nutrition for the preterm infant extend beyond growth and encompass gastrointestinal development and gut inflammatory balance. 2. Preterm infant intake of mother’s milk, including oral immune therapy, is associated with improved outcomes. 3.…
KEY POINTS 1. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts by an adult host, are believed to and in many instances have been shown to confer health benefits. 2. The best-known probiotics belong to the genera Bifidobacteria…