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Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without an intellectual disability have daily living skills (DLS) impairments. An initial feasibility pilot of Surviving and Thriving in the Real World (STRW), a group intervention that targets DLS, demonstrated significant improvements. A pilot RCT of STRW was conducted to extend these findings. Twelve adolescents with ASD were randomized to the treatment or waitlist groups. The treatment group had significant DLS improvements on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, 3(rd) Edition and the DLS goal attainment scale. Four adolescents from the waitlist crossed over and completed STRW. Entire sample analyses with 10 participants demonstrated large DLS gains. Results provide further evidence of the efficacy of STRW for closing the gap between DLS and chronological age.

Objectives To determine whether participation in a home visiting program increases and expedites utilization of early intervention services for suspected developmental delays. Methods Children participating in Every Child Succeeds (ECS), a large home visiting (HV) program serving greater Cincinnati, between 2006 and 2012, were propensity score matched to a sample of children identified from birth records who did not receive services from ECS. Data were linked to early intervention (EI) data acquired from the Ohio Department of Health. Descriptive statistics were employed to evaluate success of the matching. Chi square and log-rank tests evaluated whether the proportion of children accessing EI and the time to EI services differed for families participating in HV compared to eligible children not participating. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression modeled the associations. Results Among 3574 HV and 3574 comparison participants, there was no difference in the time to EI service utilization; however a higher percentage of HV participants accessed services. Overall, 6% of the HV group and 4.3% of the comparison group accessed services (p = 0.001). Modeling revealed an odd ratio = 1.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-1.78, p value = 0.001] and hazard ratio = 1.42 [95% CI 1.15-1.75, p value = 0.001]. Differences in utilization were greatest directly after birth and between approximately 2 and 3 years. Conclusions for Practise Participation in home visiting was associated with greater utilization of EI services during two important developmental time points, demonstrating that home visiting may serve as an important resource for facilitating access to early intervention services.

To determine acceptance of donor human milk (DM) for feeding preterm infants and whether offering DM, alters mothers' milk (MM) feeding.Infant feeding data were collected from medical records of 650 very preterm infants enrolled between 2006-2011 in two hospital level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Cincinnati, Ohio. The study was conducted during the implementation of a program offering 14 days of DM.From 2006-2011, any DM use increased from 8 to 77% of infants, largely replacing formula for the first 2 weeks of life; provision of MM did not change. DM was more likely to be given in the first 2 weeks of life, if infants never received MM or were1000 g birth weight, but DM use did not differ by sociodemographic factors.Offering DM dramatically increased human milk feeding and decreased formula use, but did not alter MM feeding in hospital.

The objective of this study is to assess the opportunities afforded to and competence of pediatric residents in performing neonatal endotracheal intubations.The records of all intubations performed on neonates over a 3-year period at a university-based birthing hospital were reviewed to assess the relationships between outcomes, types of providers and the setting of intubations.A total of 785 attempts were made during 362 intubations. Pediatric residents were given the opportunity to intubate 38% of the cohort (n=137) and were successful on 21% of the attempts. Residents were more likely to perform intubation in the neonatal intensive care unit (vs delivery room; P0.001), in non-emergency situations (P0.001), and on older (P0.001) and larger (P=0.07) infants.Opportunities for residents to intubate neonates were few and their success rate was low. In the current care paradigm, it is doubtful if trainees can be sufficiently skilled in endotracheal intubation during residency. Residents that plan to pursue procedure-intensive subspecialties may benefit from other models for training.

We sought to determine the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) in surviving extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW

To compare continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) vs. traditional mechanical ventilation (MV) at 24 h of age as predictors of neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants at 18–22 months corrected gestational age (CGA). Infants ≤1000 g birth weight born from January 2000 through December 2006 at two hospitals at the Cincinnati site of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network were evaluated comparing CPAP (n = 198) vs. MV (n = 109). Primary outcomes included the Bayley Score of Infant Development Version II (BSID-II), presence of deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and death. Ventilatory groups were similar in gender, rates of preterm prolonged rupture of membranes, antepartum hemorrhage, use of antenatal antibiotics, steroids, and tocolytics. Infants receiving CPAP weighed more, were older, were more likely to be non-Caucasian and from a singleton pregnancy. Infants receiving CPAP had better BSID-II scores, and lower rates of BPD and death. After adjusting for acuity differences, ventilatory strategy at 24 h of age independently predicts long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in ELBW infants.

To develop a specific, targeted intervention strategy for reducing preterm birth through use of geographic analysis. We utilized Hamilton County, Ohio vital records and Census data from 2003 to 2006. Spatial scanning statistics allowed determination of the prevalence of preterm birth for any geographical point. Attributable risk calculations demonstrated heterogeneity of risk factors within areas of high or low preterm birth prevalence. Three geographically separate areas with high preterm birth proportions (>16%) had differing primary risk factors for preterm birth, including short interpregnancy interval, previous preterm birth, and low prepregnancy weight, despite similarities in demographics and physical location. Primary risk factors also differed when comparing areas with high and low preterm birth proportions, with diabetes and smoking having primary associations in the lower risk areas. Each local region of high preterm birth proportion as well as those with average or low proportion displayed distinct hierarchies of attributable risk. The heterogeneous distribution of preterm birth proportion within an urban county is complex and requires location specific analysis to develop targeted interventions.

Background Neurobehavioral disabilities occur in 5–15 % of preterm infants with an estimated 50–70 % of very low birth weight preterm infants experiencing later dysfunction, including cognitive, behavioral, and social delays that often persist into adulthood. Factors implicated in poor neurobehavioral and developmental outcomes are hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and inconsistent caregiving patterns. Although much underlying brain damage occurs in utero or shortly after birth, neuroprotective strategies can stop lesions from progressing, particularly when these strategies are used during the most sensitive periods of neural plasticity occurring months before term age. The purpose of this randomized trial is to test the effect of a patterned feeding experience on preterm infants’ neurobehavioral organization and development, cognitive function, and clinical outcomes. Methods This trial uses an experimental, longitudinal, 2-group design with 120 preterm infants. Infants are enrolled within the first week of life and randomized to an experimental group receiving a patterned feeding experience from the first gavage feeding through discharge or to a control group receiving usual feeding care experience. The intervention involves a continuity of tactile experiences associated with feeding to train and build neuronal networks supportive of normal infant feeding experience. Primary outcomes are neurobehavioral organization as measured by Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant at 3 time points: the transition to oral feedings, NICU discharge, and 2 months corrected age. Secondary aims are cognitive function measured using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition at 6 months corrected age, neurobehavioral development (sucking organization, feeding performance, and heart rate variability), and clinical outcomes (length of NICU stay and time to full oral feeding). The potential effects of demographic and biobehavioral factors (perinatal events and conditions of maternal or fetal/newborn origin and immunologic and genetic biomarkers) on the outcome variables will also be considered. Discussion Theoretically, the intervention provided at a critical time in neurologic system development and associated with a recurring event (feeding) should enhance neural connections that may be important for later development, particularly language and other cognitive and neurobehavioral organization skills. Trial registration NCT01577615 11 April 2012. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0781-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

To characterize vernix caseosa in newborn infants with respect to factors that influence vernix distribution on the skin surface, vernix effects on thermal stability, skin hydration, acid mantle development, and vernix antioxidant properties. Vernix distribution was determined for 430 infants. Thermal stability was assessed in parallel groups following vernix retention (n=66) and removal (n=64). The effects of vernix retention on skin hydration, pH, erythema, and dryness/scaling were determined. Samples were analyzed for vitamin E before and after UV exposure. Vernix distribution depended upon gestational age, delivery mode, gender, race, and meconium exposure. Retention had no effect on axillary temperatures. Skin hydration was significantly higher for vernix-retained skin. Skin pH and erythema were significantly lower with retention. Vitamin E levels were decreased by ultraviolet radiation. Vernix is a naturally occurring barrier cream with multiple salubrious effects, which support its retention on the skin surface at birth.