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Background: Human exposures to organophosphate flame retardants result from their use as additives in numerous consumer products. These agents are replacements for brominated flame retardants but have not yet faced similar scrutiny for developmental neurotoxicity. We examined a representative organophosphate flame retardant, triphenyl phosphate (TPP) and its potential effects on behavioral development and dopaminergic function. Methods: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were given low doses of TPP (16 or 32 mg kg−1 day−1) via subcutaneous osmotic minipumps, begun preconception and continued into the early postnatal period. Offspring were administered a battery of behavioral tests from adolescence into adulthood, and littermates were used to evaluate dopaminergic synaptic function. Results: Offspring with TPP exposures showed increased latency to begin eating in the novelty‐suppressed feeding test, impaired object recognition memory, impaired choice accuracy in the visual signal detection test, and sex‐selective effects on locomotor activity in adolescence (males) but not adulthood. Male, but not female, offspring showed marked increases in dopamine utilization in the striatum, evidenced by an increase in the ratio of the primary dopamine metabolite (3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) relative to dopamine levels. Conclusions: These results indicate that TPP has adverse effects that are similar in some respects to those of organophosphate pesticides, which were restricted because of their developmental neurotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify maternal and neonatal factors associated with neonatal readmissions. Methods: A case controlled, cross‐sectional, retrospective review of neonatal readmissions within 28 days from birth to a level 4 hospital in Western Sydney was conducted from January to December 2018. Maternal and neonatal factors for readmission were assessed. A control group of 122 neonates were randomly selected. Comparative statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to analyse the data. Results: Of the 3914 neonatal discharges following birth, there were 129 neonatal readmissions (3.3%). Following regression analysis, gestational age (odds ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.7–0.97, P = 0.02) and intrapartum intravenous (IV) fluids (odds ratio 2.78, 95% confidence interval 1.66–4.67, P < 0.001) were associated with readmission. The majority of readmissions were feeding‐related (72.9%). Of these readmissions, 29.8% had feeding concerns noted by nursing or midwifery staff during the initial hospital stay. During the initial hospital stay following birth, neonatal feeding issues were significantly associated with primiparous mothers (P = 0.005). Mothers who did not receive IV fluids during labour were also more likely to experience feeding issues (P = 0.015). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that hospital discharge prior to established feeding patterns may be associated with an increased incidence of neonatal readmission. The factors associated with neonatal readmission are earlier gestational age and intrapartum IV fluid administration. These findings suggest that more comprehensive feeding assessment prior to discharge, flexibility of discharge timing and increased community support may reduce neonatal readmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Further to our published article,1 we write in response to Dr Gribble,2 who questioned whether weight loss during the birth admission was greater in babies whose mothers received intravenous fluid during labour and whether these babies were more likely to need readmission for weight loss. References 1 Jarrett OM, Gim D, Puusepp-Benazzouz H, Liu A, Bhurawala H. Factors contributing to neonatal readmissions within 28 days after birth to a level 4 hospital. Child Health 2022; 58: 1251 - 5. 2 Gribble J. Factors contributing to neonatal readmissions to a level 4 hospital within 28 days after birth: The effect of neonatal fluid loading. [Extracted from the article]