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Background: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women has important impacts on perinatal and neonatal outcomes. However, there are a limited number of studies investigating the effect of the pandemic period on newborns. With this study, we aimed to determine the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak on prenatal care, obstetric outcomes, neonatal mortality and morbidity. Methods: The retrospective results of patients hospitalized to the Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between 1 March and 30 May 2020, the first peak period of the pandemic in our country, were compared with the data of the same period of the previous year. Results: A total of 307 cases were included in our study. The mean gestational weeks of the neonates hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the COVID-19 period were higher than those in the control group (p: 0.003). During the pandemic period, an increase was found in the frequency of pregnant women presenting to obstetric emergency services in emergencies requiring acute intervention (p: 0.01). Compared to the control group, there was an increase in the number of infants with small for gestational age (SGA) diagnosis, 5th-minute Apgar score of 0.05). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was shown that pregnant women disrupted their regular antenatal care, and more pregnant women were admitted to the obstetric emergency department with emergencies requiring acute intervention. This led to an increase in the number of cases diagnosed with SGA and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborns. Our results will be useful for better management of current and future pandemic periods.

Background: Limited data exist regarding how medications for pediatric use can be developed to minimize medication errors. The integrase inhibitor raltegravir was developed for use in neonates (≥2 kg). Anticipating that neonatal administration would be performed primarily by mothers with varying degrees of health literacy, a health literate, patient-focused, iterative process was conducted to update/redesign the raltegravir granules for oral suspension pediatric kit and instructions for use (IFU) for neonatal use to be ready for regulatory submission. Methods: Prototypes of an updated/redesigned raltegravir IFU were systematically assessed through multi-stage, iterative testing and evaluation involving untrained lay individuals with varying levels of health literacy, healthcare professionals and health literacy experts. Results: This iterative process resulted in numerous refinements to the IFU and kit, including wording, layout, presentation, colored syringes and additional instructional steps. The revised raltegravir pediatric kit and IFU (to include neonatal dosing) were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 and the European Union in 2018. No reported medication errors related to IFU utilization had been reported as of March 2021, reflecting >3 years of commercial use worldwide. Conclusions: This patient-focused process produced health literate instructions for preparing and administering an antiretroviral for neonatal use with complex dosing requirements. Testing demonstrated that lay users with a range of health literacy levels were able to accurately mix, measure and administer the product. This process demonstrates how a neonatal medication can be optimized for use through collaboration between the infectious disease expert community and a manufacturer.

In these last 25 years, the Neonatal Emergency Transport (NET) service has been widely improved in Italy. To date, all National areas are covered by a NET service; 53 NET centers have been activated in all the Italian territory. Herein, the authors present an observational study to evaluate the rate of infantile mortality after introduction of NET in Sicily, and to study the efficiency of this service in reducing these rates of mortality in vulnerable neonates, transported from primary care birth centers to tertiary facilities to undergo to specialized NICU assistance. All neonates who required an emergency transport by NETS were included. No exclusions criteria were applied. Demographic and regional infantile mortality data, expressed as infant mortality rate, were selected by the official government database (ISTAT- National Statistic Institute—http://www.istat.it). All data were respectively divided into three groups: data concerning transport, clinical condition, and mortality of the transported patients. We transported by NET 325 neonates. The analysis of the infant mortality rate (per 1.000 live births) in Catania from 2016 to 2018 was reduced compared to the same rate calculated before NETS activation (4.41 index before 2016 vs 4.17 index after 2016). These data showed an increase in other provinces (Enna, Caltanissetta, and Agrigento). 61% of neonates showed a respiratory disease. During the study period the proportion of neonates with a Mortality Index for Neonatal Transportation—MINT

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] is among the most common diseases in preterm infants. Numerous causes of RDS have been recently diagnosed and researchers have identified the presence of low serum carnitine in preterm infants with RDS.The aim of this study: to evaluate serum carnitine levels in preterm infants with RDS.Patients and methods: Eighty preterm infants were divided into two groups; group 1 consisted of 50 preterm with RDS in the first 6h of life constituted Group [A] as they were preterm infants with RDS with normal serum carnitine levels while Group [B] represented infants with carnitine deficiency. Control group 2 consisted of 30 preterm infants without RDS in the first 6 h of life. All cases and their mothers included in the study were subjected to a thorough history taking, thorough clinical examination and measurement of serum carnitine.Results: The cases groups had significantly lower serum L-carnitine than the controls group [25.56 ± 11.14 vs. 34.53 ± 2.54], and carnitine deficiency in RDS cases [32%]. Concerning weight, cases with carnitine deficiency had higher weight than cases with normal carnitine and control. With regard to clinical manifestations, there was a statistically significant difference between the cases subgroups in Down score indicting severe RDS in cases with carnitine deficiency. There was a statistically significant difference among cases subgroups regarding radiological findings. The cases with carnitine deficiency had worse X-ray, more need for surfactant therapy and MV than the cases with normal carnitine.Conclusion: Preterm neonates with RDS were demonstrated to be associated with a significant reduction in carnitine level compared to RDS- free preterm ones.

Background Permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (PNDM) presents with dehydration and hyperglycemia, which usually occurs during the first 12 months of life. Activating mutations of beta-cell adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium [KATP] channel subunits that cause opening of the channel are associated with PNDM. Some patients with PNDM respond to administration of a sulfonylurea derivative, which has long action on blood glucose even during hypoglycemia and has an apoptotic effect on beta cells. However, there have been no reports regarding treatment with meglitinide (repaglinide), which has rapid and short duration of action during the rise in blood glucose after meals that is more similar to beta cell function. It has no effects during hypoglycemia, so it does not cause neurological damage, and has no apoptotic effect on beta cells. We report herein the effects of repaglinide administration in the management and clinical outcome of two patients with PNDM during 9 and 10 years of follow-up. Case presentation Two Iranian infants were brought to our institution with poor general condition, dehydration, lethargy, and poor feeding. They had diabetic ketoacidosis at 52 days and 3.5 months of age, respectively. Their genetic analysis revealed mutations in the KCNJ11 gene encoding KIR6.2, so they both had PNDM. After treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis with insulin, they responded to sulfonylurea (glibenclamide) treatment, but were switched to repaglinide because of blood sugar fluctuations in terms of hyper- and hypoglycemia. Repaglinide was administered with the dosage of 0.04 mg/kg/day divided before every meal. Results The patients were 10 and 9 years old at the last visit, with normal growth parameters. The values of self-monitored blood glucose were well-controlled, and the hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels ranged from 3.6 to 6.4% during the follow-up period. There was no complication of diabetes, neurological disorder, or adverse effects related to repaglinide. Conclusion In every neonate or infant < 6 months of age with diabetes mellitus, PNDM should be considered. A trial of oral repaglinide can be performed and substituted for glibenclamide for prevention of hypoglycemia, neurological damage, and apoptosis of beta cells during long-term administration.

Background Healthcare facilities in remote locations with poor access to a referral centre have a high likelihood of health workers needing to manage emergencies with limited support. Obstetric and neonatal clinical training opportunities to manage childbirth emergencies are scant in these locations, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Objectives This study aimed to explore the factors, which influenced healthcare worker experience of attending birth emergencies in remote and regional areas of South India, and the perceived impact of attending the Obstetric and Neonatal Emergency Simulation (ONE-Sim) workshop on these factors. Design Qualitative descriptive study using pre- and post-workshop qualitative surveys. Settings Primary healthcare facilities in remote/regional settings in three states of South India. Participants A total of 125 healthcare workers attended the workshops, with 85 participants completing the pre- and post-workshop surveys included in this study. Participants consisted of medical and nursing staff and other health professionals involved in care at childbirth. Methods ONE-Sim workshops (with a learner-centred approach) were conducted across three different locations for interprofessional teams caring for birthing women and their newborns, using simulation equipment and immersive scenarios. Thematic analysis was employed to the free-text responses obtained from the surveys consisting of open-ended questions. Results Participants identified their relationship with the patient, the support provided by other health professionals, identifying their gaps in knowledge and experience, and the scarcity of resources as factors that influenced their experience of birth emergencies. Following the workshops, participant learning centred on improving team and personal performance and approaching future emergencies with greater confidence. Conclusions Challenges experienced by healthcare workers across sites in remote and regional South India were generally around patient experience, senior health professional support and resources. The technical and interpersonal skills introduced through the ONE-Sim workshop may help to address some of these factors in practice.

Clostridium perfringens and Clostridioides difficile cause significant morbidity and mortality in foals. Antemortem diagnosis of C. perfringens infection has been complicated by a paucity of tests available for toxin detection. Fecal PCR panels have assays for a variety of C. perfringens toxin gene sequences as well as for several other foal gastrointestinal pathogens. We evaluated results of a comprehensive fecal diarrhea PCR panel in 28 foals that had been presented to a referral hospital because of diarrhea. Sixteen (57%) foals were positive for C. perfringens and/or C. difficile toxin gene sequences on fecal PCR, including 3 foals positive for NetF toxin. These foals were younger ( p = 0.0029) and had higher hematocrits ( p = 0.0087), hemoglobin ( p = 0.0067), and red blood cell concentrations ( p = 0.028) than foals with diarrhea that tested negative for clostridial toxins. The foals had lower total protein concentrations ( p = 0.045) and were more likely to have band neutrophils on a CBC ( p = 0.013; OR: 16.2). All 3 foals with NetF toxin gene sequences detected in feces survived to discharge, indicating that diarrhea caused by NetF toxigenic C. perfringens isolates is not uniformly fatal.

Background Congenital biliary atresia is a type of obstruction of the bile ducts inside and outside the liver, which can lead to cholestatic liver cirrhosis and eventually liver failure. The preduodenal portal vein (PD-PV) is a rare developmental malformation of the PV. The PV courses in front of the duodenum. However, very few cases of neonatal biliary atresia combined with PD-PV have been reported in the scientific literature. Case summary A 1-mo-and-4-d-old child was admitted to the hospital in January because of yellowish skin. After surgical consultation, surgical intervention was recommended. The child underwent Hilar-jejunal anastomosis, duodenal rhomboid anastomosis, and abdominal drainage under general anesthesia. During the operation, the PV was located at the anterior edge of the duodenum. Conclusion Diagnoses: (1) Congenital biliary atresia; (2) PD-PV; and (3) Congenital cardiovascular malformations. Outcomes: Recommendation for liver transplantation. Lessons: The choice of treatment options for neonatal biliary atresia combined with PD-PV.

Background Mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is an immediate postpartum intervention known to improve the health of newborn and mothers alike. Albeit, there is paucity of data that explored the coverage or factors associated with SSC in Nigeria. Therefore, we aimed to explore the coverage and hierarchical nature of the factors associated with SSC among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Methods The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data was used for this study. Data on 29,992 women who had ever given birth were extracted for analysis. SSC was the outcome variable as determined by women’s report. A multivariable multilevel logistic regression model was used to estimate the fixed and random effects of the factors associated with SSC. Statistical significance was determined at p< 0.05. Results The coverage of SSC was approximately 12.0%. Educated women had higher odds of SSC, when compared with women with no formal education. Those who delivered through caesarean section (CS) had 88% reduction in SSC, when compared with women who had vaginal delivery (OR= 0.12; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.22). Women who delivered at health facility were 15.58 times as likely to practice SSC, when compared with those who delivered at home (OR= 15.58; 95%CI: 10.64, 22.82). Adequate ANC visits and low birth weight significantly increased the odds of SSC. Women from richest household were 1.70 times as likely to practice SSC, when compared with women from poorest household (OR= 1.70; 95%CI: 1.04, 2.79). There was 65% reduction in SSC among women with high rate of community non-use of media, when compared with women from low rate of community non-use of media (OR= 0.35; 95%CI: 0.20, 0.61). Conclusion SSC coverage was low in Nigeria. Moreover, individual, household and community level factors were associated with SSC. More enlightenment should be created among women to bring to limelight the importance of SSC specifically to newborn’s health.

Aims The impact of Ramadan exposure to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) pregnancies is not known. We therefore aimed to assess the association of Ramadan with maternal and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with GDM. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 345 Muslim women with singleton pregnancies who attended a major Sydney teaching hospital during the period 1989–2010, was undertaken. Exposure to Ramadan was stratified by the: (1) total pregnancy days exposed to Ramadan, (2) duration (hours) of daily fasting and (3) trimester of exposure. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were examined by exposure status, and never exposed pregnancies were comparator in all three analyses. Fasting status was not recorded. Results We found no significant effect of Ramadan exposure on mean birthweight, macrosomia and maternal outcomes. However, we found a significant trend for increased neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with increasing Ramadan days exposure and later trimester exposure (ptrend ≤ 0.02 for both), with adjusted OR 3.9 (p=0.03) for those with ≥ 21 days exposure to Ramadan and adjusted OR 4.3 (p=0.04) for third trimester exposure. Conversely longer Ramadan exposure and late trimester exposure were independently associated with a lower prevalence of neonatal hypoglycaemia (adjusted OR 0.4 and 0.3 for ≥ 21 days and third trimester exposure, respectively). Furthermore, neonatal hypoglycaemia decreased for the fasting period of > 15 h group (adjusted OR 0.2, p = 0.01). Conclusions Ramadan exposure is associated with reduced neonatal hypoglycaemia, with no effect on birthweight, implying more favourable glycaemic control. However, the fourfold excess of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia indicates a need for further study of Ramadan and GDM.

Fang Liu,1 Mingyu Shao,1 Feng Xu,2 Fang Rong3 1Department of Child Health Care, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pediatrics, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 3The Community Clinic of Overseas Chinese Town, Zibo Central Hospital, North Gate of Zhongrun Overseas Chinese Town, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fang RongThe Community Clinic of Overseas Chinese Town, Zibo Central Hospital, North Gate of Zhongrun Overseas Chinese Town, Zhangdian District, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-18678186178Email rongfang0817@163.comBackground: Autophagy is implicated in neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) induced cognitive impairment. The nucleotide-oligomerizing domain-1 (NOD1), a protein involved in inflammatory responses, has been shown to activate autophagy to promote progression of other diseases. We aimed to investigate whether and how NOD1 is involved in HI-induced brain injury using an HI mouse model.Methods: We induced HI in neonatal mice and examined levels of NOD1 and genes associated with autophagy. We then inhibited NOD1 by intracerebroventricular injection of si-NOD1 following HI induction and tested the effects on autophagy, inflammatory responses and long-term behavioral outcomes through Morris water maze and open field tests.Results: We found that HI induction significantly elevated mRNA levels of NOD1 (3.54 folds change) and autophagy-related genes including Atg5 (3.89 folds change) and Beclin-1 (3.34 folds change). NOD1 inhibition following HI induction suppressed autophagy signaling as well as HI induced proinflammatory cytokine production. Importantly, NOD1 inhibition after HI improved long-term cognitive function, without impacting exploratory and locomotor activities.Conclusion: We show here that NOD1 is involved in the pathogenesis of HI-induced brain injury through modulation of autophagy-related proteins and inflammatory responses. Our findings suggest that NOD1 may be a potent target for developing therapeutic strategies for treating HI-induced brain injury.Keywords: neonatal, hypoxia-ischemia, cognitive impairment, NOD1, autophagy

ObjectiveTo evaluate trends in respiratory care practices and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) among very preterm infants born in Spain between 2010 and 2019.Study designThis was a retrospective cohort study of data obtained from a national population-based database (SEN1500 network). Changes in respiratory care and BPD-free survival of infants with gestational age (GA) of 230–316 weeks and ResultsA total of 17 952 infants were included. In the second period, infants were less frequently intubated in the delivery room and during neonatal intensive care unit stay. This corresponded with an increase in use of non-invasive ventilation techniques. There were no significant differences between the periods in BPD-free survival or survival without moderate-to-severe BPD. After adjusting for covariates, the RR for the change per year was significant for the following variables: never intubated (RR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.04); intubation in the delivery room (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99); use of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.11); and BPD-free survival (only in the group with the lowest GA; RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99).ConclusionOur findings reveal significant changes in respiratory care practices between 2009 and 2019. Despite an increase in use of non-invasive respiratory strategies, BPD-free survival did not improve and even worsened in the group with the lowest GA (230–256).

Introduction Gastroschisis is a congenital malformation characterized by intestinal herniation through an abdominal wall defect. Despite its unknown pathogenesis, known risk factors include maternal smoking, alcohol use, and young maternal age. Previous work has shown that gastroschisis is associated with placental delayed villous maturation, and the goal of this study was to assess for additional associated placental pathologies that may help clarify the pathogenesis of gastroschisis. Methods We conducted a retrospective slide review of 29 placentas of neonates with gastroschisis. Additionally, we reviewed pathology reports from one control group of 30 placentas with other congenital malformations. Gross and histological data were collected based on a standardized rubric. Results Gastroschisis was associated with increased placental fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM) in 62% of cases (versus 0% of controls, p Conclusion Our study demonstrates an association between gastroschisis and FVM. While FVM could be the consequence of vascular disruption due to the ventral location of gastroschisis, it could also reflect estrogen-induced thrombosis in early pregnancy. Further research is needed to separate these possibilities and determine the cause of the placental FVM observed in gastroschisis.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal serum vitamin D status in the first trimester of pregnancy and maternal as well as neonatal outcomes, considered the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (serum 25(OH)D MethodsFrom January 2015 to December 2016, in this cross-sectional retrospective study, we enrolled women receiving regular prenatal examinations and giving birth in the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital. Cases confirmed as multiple pregnancy, incomplete medical records, and vitamin D level recorded after 13 weeks of gestation were excluded. A total of 23,394 mother-infant pairs were included ultimately. Obstetric and neonatal information were extracted from the database. Maternal serum vitamin D concentration was measured by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. Logistic regression analysis (unadjusted and adjusted models) was used to analyze the association between vitamin D and maternal and neonatal outcomes.ResultsThe average 25(OH) D concentration was 43.20 ± 0.10 nmol/L; 67.09% of patients were vitamin D deficient(25(OH) D Pbonferroni = .002) and a longer stay (deficiency: 6.2 ± 4.1 days vs insufficiency: 5.9 ± 3.1 days vs sufficiency: 5.1 ± 2.1 days,Pbonferroni = .010). Moreover, maternal vitamin D deficiency was a dependent risk factor for admission to NICU (unadjusted OR = 1.35, 95% CI,1.05–1.74Pbonferroni = .022; adjusted OR = 1.31, 95% CI,1.010–1.687Pbonferroni = .042).ConclusionsMaternal vitamin D deficiency (25(OH) D

Kehamilan merupakan momen yang sangat membahagiakan. Agar kehamilan berjalan dengan baik diperlukan pelayanan maternal dan neonatal di fasilitas kesehatan untuk menjamin keselamatan ibu dan janin. Namun adanya wabah COVID-19 ini menyebabkan meningkatnya kecemasan dan ketidaknyamanan ibu hamil di Kabupaten Sleman. Berdasarkan survey pendahuluan yang dilakukan pada bulan juli 2020 di Kabupaten Sleman, dari 46 ibu hamil dan didapatkan 38 ibu hamil (82,6%) mengalami kekhawatiran berlebih yang disebabkan kurangnya informasi tentang pelayanan maternal dan neonatal di masa pandemi. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh edukasi online terhadap peningkatan pengetahuan dan sikap terhadap pelayanan maternal dan neonatal saat pandemi di Kabupaten Sleman Tahun 2020. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode pre-eksperiment dengan sampel 60 ibu hamil yang dibagi menjadi 2 kelompok dengan teknik randomisasi sederhana (simple randomization) dan uji Mann-Whitney dengan p=0,000 < 0,05 sehingga ada pengaruh edukasi online terhadap pengetahuan dan sikap ibu hamil tentang pelayanan maternal dan neonatal di masa pandemi. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukan peningkatan pengetahuan melalui edukasi online sebesar 39,17 (post 1) dan 43,52 (post 2) tingkat sedangkan kelompok lefleat sebesar 21,83 (post 1) dan 17,46 (post 2) tingkat. Hasil penelitian juga menunjukkan perbedaan antara kelompok yang diberikan edukasi online dengan yang menggunakan lefleat terhadap peningkatan sikap pada pelayanan maternal dan neonatal sebesar 41,25 (post 1) dan 39,68 (post 2) di Kabupaten Sleman Tahun 2020. Diharapkan ibu hamil dapat menyikapi dan mengambil langkah terbaik dalam menjaga kesehatan dengan pengetahuan online yang telah diperoleh.

Introduction: Bartter’s syndrome comprises a heterogeneous group of inherited salt-losing tubulopathies. There are two forms of clinical presentation: classical and neonatal, the most severe type. Types I and II account for most of the neonatal cases. Types III and V are usually less severe. Characteristically Bartter’s syndrome type IV is a saltlosing nephropathy with mild to severe neonatal symptoms, with a specific feature - sensorineural deafness. Bartter’s syndrome type IV is the least common of all recessive types of the disease. Description: the first reported case of a Portuguese child with neurosensorial deafness, polyuria, polydipsia and failure to thrive, born prematurely due to severe polyhydramnios, with the G47R mutation in the BSND gene that causes Bartter’s syndrome type IV. Discussion: there are few published cases of BS type IV due to this mutation and those reported mostly have moderate clinical manifestations which begin later in life. The poor phenotype-genotype relationship combined with the rarity of this syndrome usually precludes an antenatal diagnosis. In the presence of a severe polyhydramnios case, with no fetal malformation detected, normal karyotype and after maternal disease exclusion, autosomal recessive diseases, including tubulopathies, should always be suspected.

Purpose: Video visits, or televisits, have become increasingly popular across various medical subspecialties. Within the University of California, Davis, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a video visitation program known as FamilyLink allows families to remotely view their babies when they are otherwise unable to visit. This study aimed to explore parents' perceived effects of video camera use as well as the relationship of video visit use with rates of breast milk feedings at hospital discharge. Materials and Methods: Families enrolled in this study completed a series of two identical surveys that gathered self-reported data on their experiences during their infant's hospitalization. Comparisons were made considering whether the FamilyLink program was utilized during the admission as well as changes in self-reported experiences over the time course of the hospital admission. The type of enteral feeding at discharge was recorded and reviewed for each baby. Results: Of 100 families enrolled in the study, 30 were found to have used FamilyLink to visit with their baby. The use of FamilyLink was associated with survey findings of sustained intention to breastfeed or provide breast milk to the baby, as well as increased perceived parental involvement in the baby's care. Improved rates of breast milk feedings at the time of discharge were also found among babies whose families conducted televisits using FamilyLink. Conclusions: Video viewing in the NICU has effected a positive impact on breast milk feedings and parents' feelings of involvement during the admission, with the potential to further improve on families' experiences with a hospitalized baby.

Aim To review the evidence on safety of maintaining family integrated care practices and the effects of restricting parental participation in neonatal care during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases were searched from inception to the 14th of October 2020. Records were included if they reported scientific, empirical research (qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods) on the effects of restricting or promoting family integrated care practices for parents of hospitalised neonates during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. Two authors independently screened abstracts, appraised study quality and extracted study and outcome data. Results We retrieved 803 publications and assessed 75 full‐text articles. Seven studies were included, reporting data on 854 healthcare professionals, 442 parents, 364 neonates and 26 other family members, within 286 neonatal units globally. The pandemic response resulted in significant changes in neonatal unit policies and restricting parents' access and participation in neonatal care. Breastfeeding, parental bonding, participation in caregiving, parental mental health and staff stress were negatively impacted. Conclusion This review highlights that SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic‐related hospital restrictions had adverse effects on care delivery and outcomes for neonates, families and staff. Recommendations for restoring essential family integrated care practices are discussed.

BackgroundTopical treatment with sunflower seed oil (SSO) or Aquaphor® reduced sepsis and neonatal mortality in hospitalized preterm infants Methods497 infants were randomized to receive SSO, Aquaphor®, or neither through the neonatal period or hospital discharge. 159 infant survivors were enrolled in the longitudinal follow-up study using a validated Rapid Neurodevelopmental Assessment tool and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID II) administered at three-monthly intervals for the first year and thereafter at six-monthly intervals. Lowess smoothing was used to display neurodevelopmental status across multiple domains by age and treatment group, and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to compare treatment groups across age points.Results123 children completed at least one follow-up visit. Lowess graphs suggest that lower proportions of children who received massage with either SSO or Aquaphor® had neurodevelopmental delays than control infants in a composite outcome of disabilities. In GEE analysis, infants receiving SSO showed a significant protective effect on the development of fine motor skills [odds ratio (OR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86–0.98,p=0.006]. The Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) in the BSID II showed significantly lower disability rates in the Aquaphor group (23.6%) compared to the control (55.2%) (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06–0.72,p=0.004).ConclusionsEmollient massage of very preterm, hospitalized newborn infants improved some child neurodevelopmental outcomes over the first 2 years of follow-up. Findings warrant further confirmatory research.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov(98-04-21-03-2) under weblinkhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00162747

Background and Aims: Inadequate nutrient provision causes neonatal growth failure and malnutrition. Therefore, this study aimed to 1) quantify infant growth velocity from birth to hospital discharge, 2) determine the incidence of neonatal malnutrition at the time of discharge from a government hospital newborn unit in Nakuru, Kenya. Methods: After ethical approval, data was collected for infants (n=104) hospitalized >14 days (June 2016 - December 2018) including: birth gestational age (GA), birth and discharge weight (grams, g) with z-scores (2013 Fenton Preterm or 2006 World Health Organization 0-2 Year growth chart), hospital length of stay (LOS) days. Growth during hospitalization was calculated in g/day [(discharge weight – birth weight)/LOS] and g/kilogram(kg)/day [1000xln(birth weight/discharge weight)/LOS). Malnutrition was diagnosed by birth to discharge weight z-score change (decline): mild = 0.8-1.2 standard deviations (SD), moderate = >1.2-2.0 SD, severe = >2.0 SD. P-value Results: 94/104 (90.4%) infants were preterm with median birth GA 32 weeks, weight 1500 g (z-score -0.33), LOS 21 days and discharge weight 1735 g (z-score -1.95). Median weight gain was 8.2 g/day or 5.2 g/kg/day with weight z-score change -1.34 SD. Linear regression predicted each hospital day decreased z-score by -0.031 (p 81.7% of infants met malnutrition criteria—27.1% mild, 49.4% moderate, 23.5% severe. Conclusions: Infants with LOS >14 days in a government hospital newborn unit in Nakuru, Kenya, experience growth rates below recommended velocities by the World Health Organization (23-34 grams/day from 0-4 months). Nutrition intervention is necessary to support appropriate growth.

Amac: Premature bebekler, cevresel stres faktorlerine karsi ozellikle yasamin ilk haftalarinda daha savunmasizdir. Bu sure zarfinda, ozellikle bebeklerin etrafinda kullanilan destekleyici konumlandirma, kendilerini uterus icinde oldugu gibi daha iyi hissetmelerini saglar. Bu calismanin amaci, yenidogan yogun bakim unitesinde destekleyici konumlandirmanin; premature bebeklerin kilo alimi, yasamsal belirtileri, beslenme intoleranslari, ventilasyon sureleri, hastanede kalis sureleri ve konfor olcegi puanlari uzerine etkisini degerlendirmektir. Gerec ve Yontemler: Calismaya rastgele olarak secilen, 25'i desteklenen grupta ve 25'i kontrol grubunda olmak uzere toplam 50 premature bebek dahil edildi. Desteklenen gruptaki bebekler pozisyon malzemesi olarak yumusak ortuler ve yastiklarla yuvalandi. Kontrol grubunda yuvalama ya da kundaklama yoktu. Bebeklerin demografik ozellikleri, konfor olcegi skorlari, kalp hizi, solunum hizi ve oksijen saturasyonu kaydedildi ve karsilastirildi. Bulgular: Desteklenen grup ve kontrol grubunun sirasiyla ortalama gestasyonel haftalari 32,9±2,5 (26-36) ve 32,7±2,8 (26-36) hafta (p=0,791), ortalama dogum agirliklari ise 1554±492 (680-2380) ve 1772±439 (590-2375) gramdi (p=0,105). Kilo alimi, ventilator gunleri ve hastanede kalis gunleri gruplar arasinda benzerdi, ancak ortalama oksijen saturasyonu ve derin sedasyon gosteren konfor olcegi skorlari desteklenen grupta gunluk bakim sonrasi daha yuksekti (sirasiyla; p=0,024, p

Giriş: Türkiye’deki yenidoğan hekimlerinin klinik ultrasonografi (US) kullanımı, görüş ve deneyimleri hakkında bilgi bulunmamaktadır. Çalışmamızın amacıülkemizdeki yenidoğan hekimlerinin klinik US kullanımı konusundaki, tutum, tercih, kullanım sıklığı ve bakış açılarının değerlendirilmesidir.Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma Türkiye’deki yenidoğan hekimlerinin anket yoluyla elektronik ortamda 01 Şubat-1 Mart 2020 tarihleri arasında katılımı ile gerçekleştirildi. Katılımcıların yaş, cinsiyet, görev yapılan sağlık kurumu, yenidoğan yoğun bakımdaki deneyim süresi ve akademik unvan bilgileri kaydedildi. Ankete katılan katılımcılara, klinikte US kullanıp kullanmadığı, kullanıyorsa hangi vücut bölgesi ve hangi girişim için kullandığı, bunun için eğitim alıp almadığı gibi sorular yöneltildi. Klinik US ile ilgili tutumları 5 noktalı Likert skalası ile değerlendirildi.Bulgular: Çalışmaya 120 yenidoğan hekimi katıldı. Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 40,38±5,24 yıl olarak bulundu. Katılımcıların kliniklerinde %90 (n=108) oranındaUS cihazı bulunurken katılımcılar arasında US yapma sıklığı %69,1 (n=83) olarak tespit edildi. Klinikte US cihazı mevcudiyeti, kullanımı, klinik US eğitiminekatılım, pediatrik radyoloji rotasyonunun yenidoğan yandal eğitim programında yer alması, kranial US, abdominal US ve santral ven kateterizasyonu için USkullanımı konusunda akademik ünvana göre cevaplarda gruplar arası fark bulunmadı (p>0,05). Akciğer US kullanımı yandal araştırma görevlisi grubunda(%86,7) diğer akademik ünvanlara oranla anlamlı olarak daha yüksek oranda bulundu (p, Introduction: There is no information about the clinical ultrasonography (US)use, opinion and experiences in neonatal physicians in Turkey. The aim of ourstudy is to evaluate the attitudes, preferences, frequency of use and perspectives ofneonatal physicians in our country regarding clinical use of US.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted through a survey with theparticipation of neonatal physicians in Turkey with electronically between 1February to 1 March 2020. The information about participants’ age, gender,type of institution, experience period in neonatal intensive care and academictitle were recorded. The participants were asked questions such as whetherthey use US in the clinic, if they are using, which part of body and for which intervention, and whether they received training for this purpose. The attitudes about Clinical US were evaluated using a5-point Likert scale.Results: 120 neonatal physicians participated in the study. The average age of the participants was determined as 40.38 ± 5.24 years.While 90% (n=108) of the participants had US devices in their clinics, the use of frequency of US among the participants was foundas 69.1% (n=83). There was no difference between groups in the answers according to academic title about US device availabilityin the clinic, use of, participation in clinical US training, pediatric radiology rotation in the neonatal fellow education program,useof US for cranial US, abdominal US and central vein catheterization (p>0,05). Lung US use was found at a significantly higher ratein the neonatology fellows group (86.7%) compared to other academic titles (p

A fetal scalp electrode (FSE) is a frequently used investigation during labor. However, it is an invasive procedure which can lead to complications. Our patient developed a very large brain abscess after initial superficial infection of the skin site due to an FSE. The patient was admitted to the hospital after an asymmetric growth of the skull was noticed with no further signs of clinical illness. MRI showed a very large brain abscess which was aspirated and treated with antibiotics for 10 weeks. A 2-year follow-up showed only a slight developmental delay in gross motor skills. Only once before a similar case has been described at which the patient developed a brain abscess after superficial infection of the scalp following an FSE. In both cases, the brain abscess was noticed due to an asymmetric growth of the skull without any further signs of clinical illness. A brain abscess has a high mortality and morbidity rate, and early diagnosis is vital for the optimal outcome. We therefore recommend to organize an out-patient clinical follow-up for every infant with a superficial infection of the skin site after placement of an FSE.

الملخص: يهدف هذا التقرير إلى تنبيه الأطباء حول النزيف المتأخر داخل المخ باعتباره مظهر نادر لمرض المكورات العقدية من المجموعة ب لدى حديثي الولادة، وتسليط الضوء على الحاجة إلى إرشادات علاجية فاعلة. نقدم هنا حالة مرض نزيف متأخر داخل المخ ناتج عن مرض المكورات العقدية من المجموعة ب لدى طفلة حديثة ولادة تبلغ من العمر ١٧ يوما، وكانت الحالة معقدة مع نزيف ثنائي تحت العنكبوتية أكده التصوير بالرنين المغناطيسي، من خلال مراجعة الملف الطبي. تأخرت الأعراض لهذه المريضة مع أعراض الحمى والخمول والتشنجات والتأكيد الميكروبيولوجي للمكورات العقدية في مزرعة الدم، إضافة إلى وجود نزيف ثنائي تحت العنكبوتية ونقص التروية الدماغي المنتشر الذي أكده التصوير بالرنين المغناطيسي للدماغ، يشير إلى حدوث مضاعفات شديدة، مع عدد قليل جدا من الحالات المبلغ عنها من نزيف داخل المخ. وقد أظهرت المتابعة على المدى القصير تأخرا ملحوظا في النمو.يعد الفحص المبكر لعدوى المكورات العقدية من المجموعة ب بين النساء الحوامل أمرا مهما لمنع الحالات الشديدة من مرض النزيف المتأخر داخل المخ الناتج عن مرض المكورات العقدية من المجموعة ب. وهناك حاجة إلى مزيد من الأدلة لدعم الصلة الوثيقة بين مرض النزيف المتأخر داخل المخ الناتج عن مرض المكورات العقدية من المجموعة ب والنزيف داخل المخ. Abstract: This report aims to alert clinicians to the possibility of intracerebral haemorrhage as a rare manifestation of late-onset neonatal group B streptococcal (LOGBS) disease. This case also highlights the need for effective treatment guidelines for LOGBS disease. We report a case of LOGBS disease in a 17-day-old full-term female neonate, complicated by bilateral subarachnoid haemorrhage confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient presented with fever, lethargy, and convulsions. Microbiological examination confirmed the presence of Streptococcus agalactiae in the blood culture. Brain MRI showed bilateral subarachnoid haemorrhage and diffuse cerebral ischaemia, suggesting a severe complication of LOGBS disease. Short-term follow-up of the patient showed marked developmental delay. Early screening for group B streptococcus infection in pregnant women is essential to prevent severe cases of LOGBS disease. Very few cases of intracerebral haemorrhage in LOGBS disease have been reported. Further evidence is required to support a pertinent link between LOGBS disease and intracerebral haemorrhage.

This study is to determine the incidence and outcome of neonatal gram-negative bacilli (GNB) sepsis in Stockholm, Sweden, and describe bacterial characteristics. This is a retrospective cohort study. All infants with GNB-sepsis between 2006 and 2016 were included and matched with two control groups, with suspected sepsis and uninfected neonates, respectively. Outcome was death before discharge, risk of death within 5 days after sepsis onset, and morbidity. The resistance pattern from all GNB was collected, and all available isolates were subjected to genome typing. All neonates with GNB-sepsis (n = 107) were included, and the cumulative GNB-sepsis incidence was 0.35/1000 live born. The in-hospital mortality was 30/107 (28%). GNB late-onset sepsis (LOS) was associated with an increase in mortality before discharge compared to uninfected controls (OR = 3.9; CI 1.6–9.4) but not versus suspected sepsis. The suspected LOS cases did not statistically differ significantly from uninfected controls. The case fatality rate (CFR) at 5 days was 5/33 (15%) in GNB early-onset sepsis (EOS) and 25/74 (34%) in GNB-LOS. The adjusted hazard for 5 days CFR was higher in GNB-LOS versus uninfected controls (HR = 3.7; CI 1.2–11.2), but no significant difference was seen in GNB-LOS versus suspected sepsis or in suspected sepsis versus controls. ESBL production was seen in 7/107 (6.5%) of the GNB isolates. GNB-LOS was associated with a higher 5 days CFR and in-hospital mortality compared to uninfected controls but not versus suspect sepsis. The incidence of both GNB-EOS and GNB-LOS was lower than previously reported from comparable high-income settings. The occurrence of antibiotic resistance was low. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10096-021-04211-8.

Objective To explore the experiences of parents with an integrated maternity and neonatal ward designed to empower parents by providing family-integrated care (FICare) to mother–newborn couplets in single-family rooms. Design A qualitative analysis with a contextual constructivist approach. Setting An integrated maternity and neonatal level 2 ward designed to empower parents in a teaching hospital in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Maternity and neonatal care, up to and including highly complex care, is provided to mother–newborn couplets in single-family rooms according to the principles of FICare. Participants Twenty-seven mothers and nine fathers of newborns who were hospitalized for at least 7 days. Methods We held four focus group discussions and eight semistructured interviews 1 to 3 months after discharge of the newborn to explore which experiences (mechanisms) facilitated or impeded aspects of parent empowerment (outcomes) under which specific conditions of the integrated infrastructure (contexts). We used the realist evaluation model to analyze the data. Results Our analysis revealed five themes of parent empowerment (outcomes): Feeling Respected, Gaining Self-Management Tools, Insights Into the Newborn’s Condition, Perceived Control, and Self-Efficacy. For each theme, participants reported facilitating and impeding experiences (mechanisms) that were initiated and influenced by the combination of single-family rooms, couplet care, rooming-in, and FICare (contexts). Unrestricted physical proximity to their newborns, 24 hours per day, in a safe private environment offered parents intensive learning experiences through active participation in care. It helped them to achieve independent parenthood at the time of discharge, but it also generated challenges such as power conflicts with the staff; prioritizing care for themselves, siblings, or the newborn; feelings of isolation; and lack of sleep. Conclusion Providing FICare to mother–newborn couplets in single-family rooms offers parents an intensive learning context for independent parenthood at the time of discharge. Health care professionals should be aware of the challenges and facilitators experienced by parents in the context of close physical proximity to their newborns 24 hours per day in single-family rooms. This awareness will allow them to better support parents in their empowerment process toward independent parenthood at the time of discharge.

Background Acute foetal distress (AFD) is a life-threatening foetal condition complicating 2% of all pregnancies and accounting for 8.9% of caesarean sections (CS) especially in developing nations. Despite the severity of the problem, no evidence exists as to the safest anaesthetic technique for the mother and foetus couple undergoing CS for AFD. We aimed to compare general anaesthesia (GA) versus regional (spinal and epidural) anaesthesia in terms of their perioperative maternal and foetal outcomes. Methods We carried out a retrospective cohort study by reviewing the medical records of all women who underwent CS indicated for AFD between 2015 to 2018 at the Douala General Hospital, Cameroon. Medical records of neonates were also reviewed. We sought to investigate the association between GA, and regional anaesthesia administered during CS for AFD and foetal and maternal outcomes. The threshold of statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results We enrolled the medical records of 117 pregnant women who underwent CS indicated for AFD. Their mean age and mean gestational age were 30.5 ± 4.8 years and 40 weeks respectively. Eighty-three (70.9%), 29 (24.8%) and 05 (4.3%) pregnant women underwent CS under SA, GA and EA respectively. Neonates delivered by CS under GA were more likely to have a significantly low APGAR score at both the 1st (RR = 1.93, p = 0.014) and third-minute (RR = 2.52, p = 0.012) and to be resuscitated at birth (RR = 2.15, p = 0.015). Past CS, FHR pattern on CTG didn’t affect these results in multivariate analysis. Adverse maternal outcomes are shown to be higher following SA when compared to GA. Conclusion The study infers an association between CS performed for AFD under GA and foetal morbidity. This, however, failed to translate into a difference in perinatal mortality when comparing GA vs RA. This finding does not discount the role of GA, but we emphasize the need for specific precautions like adequate anticipation for neonatal resuscitation to reduce neonatal complications associated with CS performed for AFD under GA.

The skin is potentially an important vaccine delivery route facilitated by a high number of resident antigen presenting cells (APCs), which are known to be stimulated by different Toll-like receptor agonists (TLRa). In this study, neonatal and adult pigs were vaccinated in the skin using dissolving microneedle patches to investigate the immuno-stimulatory potential of different TLRa and possible age-dependent differences early after vaccination. These patches contained TLR1/2a (Pam3Cys), TLR7/8a (R848) or TLR9a (CpG ODN) combined with inactivated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) or with an oil-in-water stable emulsion. Vaccinated skin and draining lymph nodes were analysed for immune response genes using microfluidic high-throughput qPCR to evaluate the early immune response and activation of APCs. Skin pathology and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the local immune responses and APCs in the vaccinated skin, respectively.In both neonatal and adult pigs, skin vaccination with TLR7/8a induced the most prominent early inflammatory and immune cell responses, particularly in the skin. Skin histopathology and immunohistochemistry of APCs showed comparable results for neonatal and adult pigs after vaccination with the different TLRa vaccines. However, in vaccinated neonatal pigs in the skin and draining lymph node more immune response related genes were upregulated compared to adult pigs. We showed that both neonatal and adult skin could be stimulated to develop an immune response, particularly after TLR7/8a vaccination, with age-dependent differences in regulation of immune genes. Therefore, age-dependent differences in local early immune responses should be considered when developing skin vaccines.

In a male neonate with bilateral hydroureteronephrosis, the most common surgical diagnosis is posterior urethral valves. This case report describes a male infant with the same presentation, but caused by a very uncommon congenital anomaly. The summation of different imaging modalities allowed a multidisciplinary team of colleagues to define the anatomy: bilateral duplex kidneys draining into separate urinary bladders. Only one of the bladders had an outlet, hence the obstructive uropathy to the right kidney led to total loss of function. The distended tortuous ureters produced a mass effect at presentation. This case acts as a reminder that complex congenital anomalies can mimic the presentation of more common conditions, and that they often require input from various specialists to diagnose the condition and guide its management.

Objective Serious bacterial infection (SBI) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamically increased value of the red cell distribution width (RDW) in the diagnosis of SBI. Methods This retrospective study enrolled 334 preterm infants with birth weight less than 1500 g. The initial RDW and the maximum value of RDW during hospitalization were extracted from the MIMIC-III database (version 1.4). Infants were categorized into four groups according to baseline RDW value and ΔRDW (ΔRDW = RDW at maximum- RDW at baseline). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk of developing SBI in each group. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of RDW at baseline alone, ΔRDW alone, and in combination. Results Infants with increased RDW at baseline (> 17%) and ΔRDW > 2% exhibited the highest risk of developing SBI, whereas the patients with normal RDW level at baseline (≤ 17%) and ΔRDW≤2% (the reference group) had the lowest risk. This association remained unaltered even after adjustment in multivariable models. Basing on ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve predicted by the combination of RDW at baseline and ΔRDW for SBI was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.76–0.87). Sensitivity and specificity were 78.16 and 72.47% respectively. Conclusions We observed that combination of elevated RDW at baseline and dynamic increases during hospitalization is significantly associated with SBI. Therefore, that combination could be a promising independent diagnostic indicator of SBI in newborns.

We previously conducted two randomized controlled trials with bovine lactoferrin (bLF) for the prevention of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in infants with a birth weight –1·day–1], and used the same control (maltodextrin). We fitted multivariate Cox regression models to estimate the effect of bLF on the risk of development of the composite outcome, adjusting for covariates. We included 335 neonates with a mean birth weight of 1162 ± 244 g; 27.5% were

The study included the isolation and diagnosis of some gram positive and negative bacterial species from (NICU ) in Ibn Al-Atheer Teaching hospital for children from from August 2019 to February 2020 .A total of 90 swabs were obtained from various sites of Intensive Care Unit from Ibn Al-Atheer hospital environment and inoculated on culture media. The obtained growth revealed different bacterial colonies which had been tested for their morphological and biochemical characteristics. Eighty pure isolates were obtained including (76 ) Gram positive, and (4 ) Gram negative bacterial isolates. The highest rate of bacterial contamination had been found in the couh and incubator. The most prevalent bacteria isolated from inanimate surfaces were Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase negative staphylococci, Bacillus, in addition to Diphtheroids, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and E, coli. Antibiotic susceptibility testing for all isolates was performed using (8) types of commonly used antibiotics in Iraq. Taken all together, gram positive and negaive bacteria showed high resistance against streptomycin, erythromycin, and ampicillin respectively. Notably, resistance to ampicillin and gentamicin were demonstrated which are commonly given as the first line of treatment in NICUs.

Purpose of review The aim of this review was to describe the process of and challenges in developing national guidance for management of infants born to mothers with COVID-19. Recent findings Beginning in January 2020, infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 spread across the USA, causing the illness COVID-19. As pregnant women began to present for delivery while sick with COVID-19, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) convened a writing group in March 2020 to develop guidance for the management of their newborns. The initial guidance was developed emergently and was forced to rely on extremely limited data from China. The initial guidance advocated for a conservative approach that included temporary physical separation of infected mother and newborn. To address the knowledge deficit, the AAP sponsored a volunteer registry to collect data on perinatal infection and management. As data have emerged informing the natural history of COVID-19, the performance of PCR-based diagnostics, the value of infection control measures and the risk of infant disease, AAP has issued serial updates to newborn guidance. Summary Evolving knowledge on the epidemiology of perinatal COVID-19 has informed newborn guidance. The most recent guidance focuses on the use of infection control measures to support maternal-newborn contact and breastfeeding.

Clinical application of strain in neonates requires an understanding of which image acquisition and processing parameters affect strain values. Previous studies have examined frame rate, transmitting frequency, and vendor heterogeneity. However, there is a lack of human studies on how user-regulated spatial and temporal smoothing affect strain values in 36 neonates. This study examined nine different combinations of spatial and temporal smoothing on peak systolic left ventricular longitudinal strain in 36 healthy neonates. Strain values were acquired from four-chamber echocardiographic images in the software-defined epicardial, midwall, and endocardial layers in the six standard segments and average four-chamber stain. Strain values were compared using repeated measure ANOVAs. Overall, spatial smoothing had a larger impact than temporal smoothing, and segmental strain values were more sensitive to smoothing settings than average four-chamber strain. Apicoseptal strain decreased by approximately 4% with increasing spatial smoothing, corresponding to a 13–19% proportional change (depending on wall layer). Therefore, we recommend clinicians be mindful of smoothing settings when assessing segmental strain values. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00246-020-02536-3.

Recent reports from several developed countries have documented a resurgence of bilirubin encephalopathy causing both healthcare and forensic issues. For these reasons, many national pediatric societies have issued recommendations on the diagnosis and the treatment of clinically significant neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The differences among individual national documents may have an impact on neonatal healthcare. This paper shortly reviews the advantages and the shortcomings of the main international guidelines with a focus on the available evidence.

A literature review was conducted to determine norms for practice in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) around the world, given the harmful risks associated with radiation exposure at a very young age; risk of radiation-induced harm later in life increases with every X-ray image taken, more so for younger premature babies. Empirical studies including a measurement of radiation dose in a NICU, published after the year 2000 in a peer-reviewed journal, were collected. Measured doses to patients or X-ray phantoms, number of X-rays per stay and conclusions with recommendations made in response to these values were compared for 25 studies from around the world. The number of X-rays a patient underwent during a NICU stay ranged from 0 to 159. Younger, lower birth weight patients consistently had the greatest number of X-rays per stay. Recommended action based on measured dose ranged from extensive (to minimize risk to neonates) to minimal (to reduce risk) to none (because imaging benefits outweigh patient risk), with no consistent pattern linking recommended action with dose quantity. This demonstrates a broad range of interpretations of the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) concept. These findings indicate a disparity in the response to neonatal X-ray dose concerns on a global scale, posing a public health risk to this particular neonatal population. More up-to-date imaging protocols and dose limits specifically for the NICU environment with standardized dose monitoring would help minimize this risk to achieve the public health goals of prevention and harm reduction.

Maternal hypothyroidism has been reported to have concerns over neonatal outcomes, not only in the context of neurocognitive development but also in the short term as birth weight and neonatal jaundice. We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study on 638 cases who delivered live births in the Aga Khan University Hospital after ethical approval. Data were collected on hypothyroid pregnant females who were diagnosed before conception or during their antenatal visits during the year 2008–2016. Neonatal outcomes were noted for birth weight, maturity, and neonatal jaundice, neonatal hypothyroidism, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, hypocalcaemia, congenital anomalies, need for intensive care admission, and neonatal death. Subgroup analysis was performed on the timing of diagnosis of maternal hypothyroidism. Data analysis was performed on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0. Neonatal jaundice was the most common neonatal outcome (37.6%) in our cohort of 662 live births. Nearly 15% required intensive care unit admission, however, neonatal death was very rare. The most common clinically significant congenital anomalies were cardiovascular defects, whereas Mongolian spots were the commonest congenital condition to report. There is a statistically significant association between low birth weight (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.0–3.2, p ≤ 0.05) and congenital anomalies (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.4–4.0, p ≤ 0.05) with women diagnosed with hypothyroidism before pregnancy. We report the neonatal outcomes and spectrum of congenital anomalies of hypothyroid pregnancies diagnosed before and during conception for the first time from the region of Pakistan.KEY MESSAGEOverall, none of the neonates of hypothyroid pregnancies developed congenital hypothyroidism.Cardiovascular defects in these neonates imply extensive screening and monitoring during pregnancy.Low birth weight and congenital anomalies are associated with the timings of diagnosis of hypothyroidism in pregnancy. Overall, none of the neonates of hypothyroid pregnancies developed congenital hypothyroidism. Cardiovascular defects in these neonates imply extensive screening and monitoring during pregnancy. Low birth weight and congenital anomalies are associated with the timings of diagnosis of hypothyroidism in pregnancy.

Introduction: A clear picture of neonatal withdrawal signs due to in utero selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) exposure and its consequences is still missing. Objective: A systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed to provide an overview of neonatal withdrawal signs following late in utero exposure to SSRIs and to quantify the corresponding risks. Methods: MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase were searched from inception to January 2021. The Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines were followed. English-language observational studies reporting on acute postpartum outcomes following late in utero exposure to SSRIs or SSRIs/venlafaxine were evaluated. Results: Of 2,269 citations reviewed, 79 studies were assessed for eligibility; 13 were included in the qualitative analysis of the literature, which allowed us to identify 26 signs. A meta-analysis was run separately for studies on SSRI exposure (n = 3) and those on SSRI/venlafaxine exposure (n = 6). Hypoglycemia was identified as a withdrawal sign based on the SSRI studies. Tremors, hypotonia, tachycardia, rapid breathing, respiratory distress, and hypertonia were identified as withdrawal signs based on the SSRI/venlafaxine studies. Conclusions: The present work provides a framework for the identification of neonatal SSRI withdrawal syndrome. Tapering and discontinuation of antidepressant drugs before and during the early phase of pregnancy are worth attempting to prevent the occurrence of this syndrome.

Background: Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a common condition, affecting nearly half of infants born before 28 weeks' of gestation, and it has been associated with poor growth. It is not known if different treatment modalities are associated with more profound growth impairment. Our aim was to compare differences in weight gain at 36 weeks' corrected gestational age (CGA) in premature infants that received medical, surgical or conservative management for PDA. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed notes of 208 infants born under 30 weeks' gestation with a diagnosis of PDA. Gestational age (GA) at birth, birth weight z-score, CGA and weight z-score at 36 weeks' CGA were collected. In our cohort, surgical closure was performed in infants who remained symptomatic after medical or conservative management. Results: Ninety-four infants had medical, 56 surgical and 58 conservative management. Surgically managed infants had a lower median (IQR) GA [24.4 (24.0–26.1) weeks'] than medically [25.4 (24.6–26.5) weeks'] or conservatively managed [26.4 (25.4–28.1) weeks', p

Congenital abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are an extremely rare entity. We present the case of a female fetus diagnosed with an AAA on routine prenatal ultrasound. A postnatal computed tomography angiogram revealed an infrarenal AAA with a narrow proximal neck. Surgery was performed on day of life 14 using a cadaveric femoral artery graft. The proximal anastomosis was performed under the microscope given the severity of the aortic stenosis and the proximity of the renal arteries. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and she is developing normally 1 year after surgery. The graft remains permeable, albeit with evidence of proximal and distal stenosis and graft calcification on imaging.

The use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for the pediatric and neonatal population continues to grow. At the same time, there have been dramatic improvements in the technology and safety of ECLS that have broadened the scope of its application. This article will review the evolving landscape of ECLS, including its expanding indications and shrinking contraindications. It will also describe traditional and hybrid cannulation strategies as well as changes in circuit components such as servo regulation, non-thrombogenic surfaces, and paracorporeal lung-assist devices. Finally, it will outline the modern approach to managing a patient on ECLS, including anticoagulation, sedation, rehabilitation, nutrition, and staffing.

Aim Following extreme preterm birth, there has traditionally been felt an imperative to rush baby to the neonatal unit for ongoing intensive care. Immediate needs of parents to bond with their babies through direct early physical contact have often been overlooked; many weeks can pass before parents get to hold their babies for the first time. Recognition of the importance of early contact is growing. We aimed to review the safety and value of routinely practising delivery room cuddles for extremely preterm babies. Methods We reviewed delivery room cuddles in babies born

Objective Being born preterm is related to adverse health effects later in life. We studied whether preterm birth predicts the risk of migraine. Methods In this nationwide register study, we linked data from six administrative registers for all 235,624 children live-born in Finland (January 1987 to September 1990) and recorded in the Finnish Medical Birth Register. n = 228,610 (97.0%) had adequate data and were included. Migraine served as primary outcome variable and was stringently defined as a diagnosis from specialised health care and/or ≥2 reimbursed purchases of triptans. We applied sex- and birth year-stratified Cox proportional hazard regression models to compute hazard ratios and confidence intervals (95% confidence intervals) for the association between preterm categories and migraine. The cohort was followed up until an average age of 25.1 years (range: 23.3–27.0). Results Among individuals born extremely preterm (23–27 completed weeks of gestation), the adjusted hazard ratios for migraine was 0.55 (0.25–1.24) when compared with the full-term reference group (39–41 weeks). The corresponding adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the other preterm categories were: Very preterm (28–31 weeks); 0.95 (0.68–1.31), moderately preterm (32–33 weeks); 0.96 (0.73–1.27), late preterm (34–36 weeks); 1.01 (0.91–1.11), early term (37–38 weeks); 0.98 (0.93–1.03), and post term (42 weeks); 0.98 (0.89–1.08). Migraine was predicted by parental migraine, lower socioeconomic position, maternal hypertensive disorder and maternal smoking during pregnancy. Conclusion We found no evidence for a higher risk of migraine among individuals born preterm.

Background: Neonates require continuous and reliable intravenous routes to receive fluids, intravenous nutrition, and medications; accordingly, repeated interventions are essential to implant these routes. Percutaneous catheterization is a technology used for this purpose. Considering that central line infections are a major concern in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), the present study aimed to assess the effects of using a care package on the incidence of infections and shelf life of peripheral central catheterization in the premature infants admitted to the NICU. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was a process assessment research conducted on 131 premature catheterized infants who were admitted to the NICU of Mofid Children’s Hospital affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, in 2019. The study sample included 131 neonates who met the inclusion criteria. The neonates were enrolled in the study at two levels, including 53 subjects in the first four months before the intervention, and 78 in the second four months after application of the care package. The infants were selected via the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the central line maintenance bundle and central line maintenance bundle daily checklists. The catheter insertion method and the degree of catheter tip infection were evaluated before and after the protocol training program for the nurses. The results of catheter tip culture after removal were considered as the training outcomes. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V. 16, using descriptive statistics, independent t test, the Fisher exact test, and the chi-squared test. Results: The results of the catheter tip culture confirmed the presence of pathogens in the catheter and culture of 18 samples (34%), before the intervention, while a reduction was denoted in 14 samples (17.9%) after the intervention; the reduction was statistically significant (P=0.036). Furthermore, the shelf life of the catheter increased after the intervention, however, the difference was not significant. Conclusion: According to the results, applying the care package reduces the incidence of central peripheral venous catheter infection in neonates admitted to the NICU. Therefore, it is suggested to incorporate this package into the care instructions of neonatal wards.

Background Parents of infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are often unintentionally marginalized in pursuit of optimal clinical care. Family Integrated Care (FICare) was developed to support families as part of their infants’ care team in level III NICUs. We adapted the model for level II NICUs in Alberta, Canada, and evaluated whether the new Alberta FICare™ model decreased hospital length of stay (LOS) in preterm infants without concomitant increases in readmissions and emergency department visits. Methods In this pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial conducted between December 15, 2015 and July 28, 2018, 10 level II NICUs were randomized to provide Alberta FICare™ (n = 5) or standard care (n = 5). Alberta FICare™ is a psychoeducational intervention with 3 components: Relational Communication, Parent Education, and Parent Support. We enrolled mothers and their singleton or twin infants born between 32 0/7 and 34 6/7 weeks gestation. The primary outcome was infant hospital LOS. We used a linear regression model to conduct weighted site-level analysis comparing adjusted mean LOS between groups, accounting for site geographic area (urban/regional) and infant risk factors. Secondary outcomes included proportions of infants with readmissions and emergency department visits to 2 months corrected age, type of feeding at discharge, and maternal psychosocial distress and parenting self-efficacy at discharge. Results We enrolled 654 mothers and 765 infants (543 singletons/111 twin cases). Intention to treat analysis included 353 infants/308 mothers in the Alberta FICare™ group and 365 infants/306 mothers in the standard care group. The unadjusted difference between groups in infant hospital LOS (1.96 days) was not statistically significant. Accounting for site geographic area and infant risk factors, infant hospital LOS was 2.55 days shorter (95% CI, − 4.44 to − 0.66) in the Alberta FICare™ group than standard care group, P = .02. Secondary outcomes were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions Alberta FICare™ is effective in reducing preterm infant LOS in level II NICUs, without concomitant increases in readmissions or emergency department visits. A small number of sites in a single jurisdiction and select group infants limit generalizability of findings. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02879799, retrospectively registered August 26, 2016.

Neonatal extremity compartment syndrome is an extremely rare diagnosis. Risk factors that predispose infants to a hypercoagulable state or trauma have been implicated, but the exact mechanisms remain poorly understood. The hallmark of the condition is extremity swelling with sentinel skin changes. We report a case of upper extremity compartment syndrome from initial presentation until 3 months after discharge and discuss the importance of prompt diagnosis and timely surgical evaluation.

Objective: Autosomal recessive pathogenic variants of the SLC13A5 gene are associated with severe neonatal epilepsy, developmental delay, and tooth hypoplasia/hypodontia. We report on 14 additional patients and compare their phenotypic features to previously published patients to identify the clinical hallmarks of this disorder. Methods: We collected clinical features of 14 patients carrying biallelic variants in SLC13A5 and performed a PubMed search to identify previously published patients. Results: All patients presented clonic or tonic seizures in the first days of life, evolving into status epilepticus in 57%. Analysis of seizure frequency and developmental milestones divided into five epochs showed an evolutionary trajectory of both items. In the first 3 years of life, 72% of patients had weekly/monthly seizures, often triggered by fever; 14% were seizure-free. Between the ages of 3 and 12 years, 60% become seizure-free; in the following years, up to age 18 years, 57% were seizure-free. After the age of 18 years, all three patients reaching this age were seizure-free. Similarly, 86% of patients at onset presented mild to moderate developmental impairment and diffuse hypotonia. In late childhood, all had developmental delay that was severe in most. Benzodiazepines, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine were the most effective drugs. Eight probands carried heterozygous compound variants, and homozygous pathogenic variants occurred in six. Literature review identified 45 patients carrying SLC13A5 gene pathogenic variants whose clinical features overlapped with our cohort. A peculiar and distinguishing sign is the presence of tooth hypoplasia and/or hypodontia in most patients. Significance: Autosomal recessive pathogenic variants in SLC13A5 are associated with a distinct neonatal epileptic encephalopathy evolving into severe cognitive and motor impairment, yet with seizures that settle down in late childhood. Tooth hypoplasia or hypodontia remains the peculiar feature. The SLC13A5 gene should be screened in neonatal epileptic encephalopathies; its recessive inheritance has relevance for genetic counseling.

Context: Jaundice is a common problem and the most common risk factor for hospitalization during the neonatal period. Objective: The prevention of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia would not be possible without identifying its predisposing risk factors. The present systematic review study aims to determine the risk factors of neonatal jaundice. Data Sources: Databases including Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Web of Science (ISI), PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched to identify all eligible papers concerning the risk factors of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Study Selection: This systematic review was performed to review the causes and risk factors of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Finally, 18 articles were defined as eligible for further review. Data Extraction: The keywords included neonates, jaundice, hyperbilirubinemia, and risk factors. The inclusion criteria were studies determining jaundice risk factors, while papers with only published abstracts were excluded. Results: A total of 18 eligible articles (3 retrospective, 4 prospective, 10 cross-sectional, and 1 historical cohort) out of 421 retrieved articles were included in this review. The etiologic causes for neonatal jaundice were ABO incompatibility (24.6%), infection (including UTI and sepsis) (13.7%), G6PD deficiency (9.4%), Rh incompatibility (7%), and cephalohematoma (2.9%), while, known predisposing factors for neonatal jaundice included unknown (33.2%), low birth weight (30.9%), hyperbilirubinemia in siblings (22.7%), prematurity (20.1%), and infant of diabetic mother (6.7%). Conclusion: According to our review with considering the studies, the etiologic causes for neonatal jaundice are ABO incompatibility, infection (including UTI and sepsis), G6PD deficiency, Rh incompatibility, and cephalohematoma. While, known predisposing factors for neonatal jaundice include low birth weight, hyperbilirubinemia in siblings, prematurity, and infant of diabetic mother.

Background: There is evidence suggesting that the pregnancy outcome may be affected by some medical conditions, such as liver diseases. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of liver disease and its outcomes in pregnant women referred to antenatal clinic in the hospital. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all pregnant women with abnormal liver function test attending antenatal clinic affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were recruited from August 2017 to July 2018. All participants were followed-up until delivery with respect to the maternal and neonatal outcome. Results: Of a total of 7,121 pregnant women recruited in the study, 110 (1.58%) women were detected with a liver disease; of these, 105 women were diagnosed with pregnancy-specific liver diseases, including HELLP syndrome (10.9%), preeclampsia (50.98%), partial HELLP (0.9%), eclampsia (0.9%), acute fatty liver (9.1%), intra-hepatic cholestasis 25 (22.7%), and 5 women the non-pregnancy-specific liver disease, including Liver transplantation (2.7%), and Autoimmune hepatitis (1.8%). Prevalence of the premature birth was 64.5% in pregnancy-specific liver disease, but no premature birth was detected in cases with liver transplantation. We found that neonatal mortality was significantly associated with neonatal prematurity (p = 0.013), IUGR (p < 0.001), placental pathology (p = 0.04), we had no maternal mortality. Conclusion: Liver disease is not uncommon in pregnancy. This study demonstrated that pregnancy is safe in women with liver disease. Key words: Liver diseases, Maternal, Outcome, Neonatal, Pregnancy.

Background There are a number of factors that may contribute to high mortality and morbidity of women and newborns in low-income countries. These include a shortage of competent health care providers (HCP) and a lack of sufficient continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities. Strengthening the skills and building the capacity of HCP involved in the provision of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) is essential to ensure quality care for mothers, newborns and children. To address this challenge in Rwanda, mentorship of HCPs was identified as an approach that could help build capacity, improve the provision of care and accelerate the reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. In this paper, we describe the development and implementation of a novel mentorship model named Four plus One (4+ 1) for MNCH in Rwanda. Methods The mentorship model built on the basis of inter-professional collaboration (IPC) was developed in early 2017 through consultations with different key actors. The design phase included refresher courses in specific skills and training course on mentoring. Field visits were conducted in 10 hospitals from June 2017 to February 2020. Hospital management teams (MT) were involved in the development and implementation of this mentorship model to ensure ownership of the program. Results Upon completion of planned visits to each hospital, a total of 218 HCPs were involved in the process. Reports prepared by mentors upon each mentorship visit and compiled by Training Support and Access Model (TSAM) for MNCH’CPD team, highlighted the mothers and newborns who were saved by both mentors and mentees. Also, different logbooks of mentees showed how the capacity of staff was strengthened, thereby suggesting effectiveness of the model. Through different mentorship coordination meetings, the model was much appreciated by the MTs of hospitals, especially the IPC component of the model and confirmed the program ‘effectiveness. Conclusion The initiation of a mentorship model built on IPC together with the involvement of the leadership of the hospital may be the cause effect of reduction of specific mortality and improve MNCH in low resource settings even when there are a limited number of specialists in the health facilities.