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This study aims to act as a methodological guide for contamination monitoring, decontamination, and DNA extraction for peaty and silty permafrost samples with low biomass or difficult to extract DNA. We applied a biological tracer, either only in the field or both in the field and in the lab, via either spraying or painting. Spraying in the field followed by painting in the lab resulted in a uniform layer of the tracer on the core sections. A combination of bleaching, washing, and scraping resulted in complete removal of the tracer leaving sufficient material for DNA extraction, while other widely used decontamination methods did not remove all detectable tracer. In addition, of four widely used commercially available DNA extraction kits, only a modified ZymoBIOMICS™ DNA Microprep kit was able to acquire PCR amplifiable DNA. Permafrost chemical parameters, age, and soil texture did not have an effect on decontamination efficacy; however, the permafrost type did influence DNA extraction. Based on these findings, we developed recommendations for permafrost microbiologists to acquire contaminant-free DNA from permafrost with low biomass.IMPORTANCEPermafrost has the capacity to preserve microbial and non-microbial genomic material for millennia; however, major challenges are associated with permafrost samples, including decontamination of samples and acquiring pure DNA. Contamination of samples during coring and post coring handling and processing could affect downstream analyses and interpretations. Despite the use of multiple different decontamination and DNA extraction methods in studies of permafrost, the efficacy of these methods is not well known. We used a biological tracer to test the efficacy of previously published decontamination methods, as well as a bleach-based method we devised, on two chemically and structurally different permafrost core sections. Our method was the only one that removed all detectable tracer. In addition, we tested multiple DNA extraction kits and modified one that is able to acquire pure, PCR amplifiable DNA from silty, and to some extent from peaty, permafrost samples.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity can be altered by intercropping plant species, as well as N fertilizer applications. This study examined the effects of oat-pea intercropping and N fertilizer addition on the richness and diversity of mycorrhizal species, as well as identified the most common arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) genera recruited for oats and peas in two growing seasons (2019 and 2020). The AMF diversity was higher in an intercropped system compared to their respective monocropping system. Under drier conditions in 2019, arbuscular mycorrhizal richness decreased with N fertilizer addition in sole peas and increased with N fertilizer addition in sole oats, but no significant change in richness was observed in oat-pea intercropping. During the wetter growing season 2020, arbuscular mycorrhizal diversity increased when oat and pea were intercropped, compared to either sole oat or sole pea. Diversispora in sole pea was a significant indicator differentiating the root associated AMF community from sole oat. Claroideoglomus richness increased in peas in 2020, thus this genus could be moisture dependent. Paraglomus richness in oat-pea intercropping was similar to sole oat in 2019, and similar to sole pea in 2020. This can suggest that Paraglomus is an indicator of plant stress under intercropping, as based on the premise that stressed plants release more exudates, and the subsequent mycorrhizal associations favor these plants with higher exudation. Future investigations can further reveal the functions and benefits of these mycorrhizal genera in annual monocrop and intercropping systems.

AimData on the depth of nasal intubation in neonates are rare, although this is the preferred route in some countries. Therefore, recommendations on optimal nasal intubation depths based on gestational age (GA) and weight are desirable.MethodsWe determined the distances between the middle of thoracic vertebrae 2 (T2) and the tip of the endotracheal tube in 116 X-rays from nasally intubated neonates. The intubation depth (tip to nostril distance) that was documented in the digital patient’s file was then corrected for this distance to reach an optimal nasal insertion depth. Results were plotted against the infant’s GA and weight.ResultsGA-based and birthweight-based charts and formulas for the nasal intubation depth in infants with a GA between 24 and 43 weeks and body weight between 400 and 4500 g were created.ConclusionsGenerated data may help in predicting optimal insertion depths for nasal intubation in neonates.

Background Less-invasive surfactant administration (LISA) is increasingly used. We investigated the feasibility of a new LISA-device (Neofact®) in neonates. Design Prospective observational pilot study with open-label LISA in two tertiary neonatal intensive care units. Patients 20 infants with a gestational age of ≥26+0/7 weeks and an indication for LISA (Respiratory Severity Score (RSS)≥5 or fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ≥0.30). Infants with respiratory tract malformations or unavailability of an instructed neonatologist were excluded. Main outcome measures Success of LISA, defined as laryngoscopy-confirmed intratracheal catheter position or a decrease in FiO2 by ≥0.05 or to 0.21, accompanied by an RSS decrease of ≥2; number of attempts needed for tracheal catheterisation. Results 20/57 screened infants were enrolled. Successful application occurred in 19/20 (95%). One application failed after three attempts. No device-related adverse events occurred. The median number of attempts was 2, success rate per attempt 19/31 (61%). Conclusion LISA via Neofact® appears feasible., This paper reports on a new medical device to administer surfanctant (LISA technique), including a useful video on the tool.

Zusammenfassung Ziel Die Prävention der Hypothermie ist eine der wichtigsten Maßnahmen bei der Erstversorgung kleiner Frühgeborener. Es existiert eine umfassende Datenlage zu diversen Präventionsmaßnahmen (z. B. Anwärmen der Atemluft, sterile Folien, Wärmestrahler, Gelmatratzen etc.), jedoch gibt es bislang keine Empfehlungen bzw. Vergleichsstudien zu dem Teilaspekt der optimalen Raumtemperatur im Erstversorgungsraum. Methoden Vergleich der rektalen Aufnahmetemperaturen von Frühgeborenen unter 1500 g nach postnataler Versorgung in zwei unterschiedlich warmen Erstversorgungsräumen (28°C vs. 34°C) als retrospektive Kohortenstudie. Ergebnisse Es zeigte sich, dass eine höhere Temperatur im Erstversorgungsraum signifikant weniger hypotherme Frühgeborene (Aufnahmetemperatur 37,5°C zur Folge hatte. Fazit Die Auskühlung von Frühgeborenen könnte durch eine höhere Temperatur im Erstversorgungsraum mit verhindert werden. Weitere Studien sollten diesen Teilaspekt untermauern, wodurch eventuell eine Aussage zur optimalen Temperatur im Erstversorgungsraum gegeben werden könnte.

To determine the frequency of obstetrical adverse events and clinical outcome in infants following antenatal hyperimmune globulin (HIG) treatment for primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pregnancy. Data from 50 women including three twin pregnancies were retrospectively evaluated. Primary infection was defined by seroconversion or the presence of CMV-specific IgM and low IgG avidity. All women received two or more infusions of HIG (200 U/kg). Congenital CMV (cCMV) infection was diagnosed by detection of CMV in amniotic fluid and/or neonatal urine. We compared gestational age (GA) at birth, head circumference (HC) and birth weight (BW) of infants in our study cohort with those of live-born infants delivered in our clinic between 2015 and 2016. Median gestational age at time of maternal CMV diagnosis was 13 weeks. One-hundred-forty-one maternal HIG doses were given. No HIG-related severe adverse reactions occurred. Preterm birth rate was 4.2% (2/47) in singleton pregnancies. None of the neonates had birth weight or head circumference

retrospective cohort study.

Background: Recent studies indicate an increasing use of less invasive surfactant administration. Different techniques have been shown with distinct risks and benefits. The aim of this study was to develop a new method that simplifies this procedure. Objectives: An applicator was developed and tested on a manikin to make tracheal surfactant application easier and faster. Methods: A device for oral administration of a catheter into the trachea was developed. After refining, it was tested by 9 neonatologists on a manikin. The primary aim was device feasibility, which was defined as successful intubation within 30 s. Results: The first device showed success in 30 of 33 measurements (90.9%). After refinement, the final device showed successful intubation in all 27 trials (100%). Conclusion: The new technique was feasible in this manikin test and should be confirmed in a clinical study.

Objective Preterm infants are at risk of acquiring human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection through breast milk transmission, possibly leading to serious symptoms, as suggested by previous studies. Over a period of 8.5 years, we compared infants infected postnatally with CMV with noninfected controls to determine whether CMV infection transmitted through breast milk poses serious acute risks. Study design CMV monitoring included maternal serologic testing and biweekly viral culture and polymerase chain reaction in breast milk and infant urine. Clinical and laboratory test findings were assessed retrospectively in infected infants and controls matched for gestational age during the initial hospital stay. Results Forty CMV-infected infants met the study criteria. They had lower minimal platelet and neutrophil counts and a higher frequency of C-reactive protein (CRP) elevations to 10 to 20 mg/L than their matched controls ( P ≤ .001). But no association of CMV infection with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, growth, or CRP elevations to > 20 mg/L was found. Cholestasis appeared in 3 infants in the CMV-infected group, but disappeared within 10 weeks. Conclusions Neonatal symptoms related to postnatal CMV infection were transient and had no affect on neonatal outcome in these infants, in contrast with uncontrolled reports. Whether withholding or pasteurizing breast milk is warranted, however, depends on long-term outcome.

Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (IPSS) are abnormal vascular communications within the liver between branches of the portal vein and the hepatic veins. They have been recognized as an important disorder in children and should be differentiated from metabolic diseases, the symptoms of which may be similar. Several cases of prenatal diagnosis of abnormalities of the fetal venous system have been described in the literature, but the significance and prognosis of isolated congenital IPSS in prenatal life have not been reported and have only been derived from children. We present a case of congenital IPSS in which there was severe intrauterine growth restriction with a concomitant atypical fetal Doppler pattern. Findings on Doppler ultrasound indicate that the prenatal diagnosis of congenital IPSS is now feasible.

The Large Scale Data Facility (LSDF) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology was started end of 2009 with the aim of supporting the growing requirements of data intensive experiments. In close cooperation with the involved scientific communities, the LSDF provides them not only with adequate storage space but with a directly attached analysis farm and -- more importantly -- with value added services for their big scientific data-sets. Analysis workflows are supported through the mixed Hadoop and Open Nebula Cloud environments directly attached to the storage, and enable the efficient processing of the experimental data. Metadata handling is a central part of the LSDF, where a metadata repository, community specific metadata schemes, graphical tools, and APIs were developed for accessing and efficiently organizing the stored data-sets.