A conservative treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in very low birth weight infants
Treatment of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the preterm infant remains contentious. There are numerous options of the PDA management from early targeted treatment, late (symptomatic) treatment to no treatment at all. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - December 30, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: J.B. Letshwiti, J. Semberova, K. Pichova, E.M. Dempsey, O.M. Franklin, J. Miletin Source Type: research
Editorial: Biomarkers in neonatology
Nowadays, the use of readily available biomarkers has become clinical routine in many fields of medicine - including neonatology. Biomarkers often provide important adjunct information in the process of establishing a diagnosis, and by serial measurements of specific biomarkers changes over time can be assessed (e.g., response to a specific treatment). Biomarkers should never be used as “stand-alone information”, but must always be evaluated in conjunction with clinical information gathered at the bedside by a physician/neonatologist. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - December 30, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Sascha Meyer, Michael Zemlin, Martin Poryo Tags: Introduction Source Type: research
D-Transposition of the Great Arteries and ductal dependent pulmonary circulation
I am very glad to come across an interesting article by Mebius et al. in Early Human Development [1]. It is very interesting to observe the differences in arterial saturations and NIRS during first 3days of life and how it differs between critical congenital heart diseases of different categories. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - December 29, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Laxmi V. Ghimire Source Type: research
Cohort study of the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth and septic abortion referred by pathological examination in Gifu prefecture in Japan
To clarify the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth (PB) and septic abortion (sab) in Gifu prefecture in Japan. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - December 25, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Yuichiro Takahashi, Shigenori Iwagaki, Mitsuaki Itoh, Hiromi Nakamura, Kazuo Kuwabara, Yuka Hiraku, Masashi Hori, Ryo Misao, Tatsuro Furui, Kenichiro Morishige Source Type: research
The potentials and limitations of neuro-biomarkers as predictors of outcome in neonates with birth asphyxia
Perinatal asphyxia and its complication, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, are still among the major causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Despite accurate standard postnatal monitoring procedures, the post-insult period is crucial because at a time when radiologic pictures are still silent, brain damage may already be at a subclinical stage. Against this background, the measurement of quantitative parameters, such as constituents of nervous tissue, that are able to detect subclinical lesions at a stage when routine brain monitoring procedures are still silent, could be particularly useful. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - December 16, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Angela Satriano, Francesca Pluchinotta, Francesca Gazzolo, Laura Serpero, Diego Gazzolo Source Type: research
Cardiac biomarkers and haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants
Accurately defining haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants who are at risk of PDA related morbidities are active areas of neonatal research. Natriuretic peptides are cardiac hormones that respond to volume and pressure loading, with elevated plasma levels found in infants with PDA. In the preterm neonatal setting, studies to date have predominantly investigated the ability of these biomarkers to discriminate between infants with and without a PDA at various postnatal ages. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - December 16, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Dany E. Weisz, Patrick J. McNamara, Afif El-Khuffash Source Type: research
Cellular and humoral biomarkers of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
The pathogenesis of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) is multifactorial and the clinical phenotype of BPD is extremely variable. Predicting BPD is difficult, as it is a disease with a clinical operational definition but many clinical phenotypes and endotypes. Most biomarkers studied over the years have low predictive accuracy, and none are currently used in routine clinical care or shown to be useful for predicting longer-term respiratory outcome. Targeted cellular and humoral biomarkers and novel systems biology ‘omic’ based approaches including genomic and microbiomic analyses are described in this review. (Source: Ea...
Source: Early Human Development - December 14, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Charitharth Vivek Lal, Namasivayam Ambalavanan Source Type: research
An emerging evidence base for the management of neonatal hypoglycaemia
Neonatal hypoglycaemia is common, and screening and treatment of babies considered at risk is widespread, despite there being little reliable evidence upon which to base management decisions. Although there is now evidence about which babies are at greatest risk, the threshold for diagnosis, best approach to treatment and later outcomes all remain uncertain. Recent studies suggest that treatment with dextrose gel is safe and effective and may help support breast feeding. Thresholds for intervention require a wide margin of safety in light of information that babies with glycaemic instability and with low glucose concentrat...
Source: Early Human Development - December 14, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Jane E Harding, Deborah L Harris, Joanne E Hegarty, Jane M Alsweiler, Christopher JD McKinlay Source Type: research
Does maternal psychological distress affect neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants at a gestational age of ≤32weeks
There is some evidence that maternal psychological status in the prenatal and postnatal periods is associated with infants' cognitive, behavioural, and emotional functions. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - December 11, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Ozlem Bozkurt, Zeynep Eras, Fatma Nur Sari, Evrim Alyamac Dizdar, Nurdan Uras, Fuat Emre Canpolat, Serife Suna Oguz Source Type: research
Digit ratio (2D:4D) and month of birth: A link to the solstitial-melatonin-testosterone effect
Digit ratio (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic trait and its determination in utero is influenced by testosterone. The solstitial-melatonin-testosterone hypothesis posits that melatonin inhibits the production of foetal testosterone and melatonin levels are at their lowest in months when light levels are high. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - December 11, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Anita Szwed, Magdalena Kosinska, John T. Manning Source Type: research
Population based report on health related quality of life in adolescents born very preterm
As the survival rate of preterm infants constantly improves, knowledge on the impact of prematurity on long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for clinical and parental guidance. We aimed to assess HRQoL in a national cohort of young adolescents born very preterm, and to identify predictors for poorer HRQoL. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - December 5, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Giancarlo Natalucci, Hans Ulrich Bucher, Michael Von Rhein, Cristina Borradori Tolsa, Beatrice Latal, Mark Adams Source Type: research
Quality of attachment in infants less than 1500g or less than 32weeks. Related factors
Prematurity carries a high risk of mortality and sequelae, altering the bonding process and leading to repercussions in terms of attachment. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - November 29, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Mar ía López-Maestro, Purificación Sierra-Garcia, Celia Diaz-Gonzalez, Ma Jose Torres-Valdivieso, David Lora-Pablos, Susana Ares-Segura, Carmen R. Pallás-Alonso Source Type: research
Inter-observer agreement of the General Movements Assessment with infants following surgery
The General Movements Assessment (GMA) is a validated and reliable method of identifying infants at risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, however there is minimal data available on the use of the GMA with infants following surgery. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - November 29, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Cathryn Crowle, Claire Galea, Catherine Morgan, Iona Novak, Karen Walker, Nadia Badawi Source Type: research
The adaptive psychological changes of elective induction of labor in breastfeeding women
Labor induction has been associated with breastfeeding suppression, but reasons for why this association exists have not been well determined. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - November 29, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Vincenzo Zanardo, Martina Bertin, Laura Sansone, Laura Felice Source Type: research
Management of the giant occipital encephaloceles in the neonates
Encephalocele is a congenital anomaly characterized by the herniation of the cranial contents through a bony defect in cranium. The incidence of encephalocele is 1 –4 cases per 10.000 live births [1–3]. Approximately 75% of the encephaloceles are located in the occipital region [1,4]. Occipital encephalocele are described as giant when they are larger than the head from which they arise [2,5–7]. Giant occipital encephalocele is a rare clinical condition and the exact incidence of this pathology is not known. (Source: Early Human Development)
Source: Early Human Development - November 9, 2016 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Nail Ozdemir, Senem Alkan Ozdemir, Esra Arun Ozer Source Type: research
