Postpartum Interventions to Increase Maternal Vaccination Uptake: Is It Worth It?

Background/objectives: Vaccination of pregnant and postpartum women for pertussis, influenza and COVID-19 not only protects themselves but also offspring. Despite the benefits of this approach, vaccination uptake remains suboptimal in pregnancy. Where the opportunity to be vaccinated in pregnancy is missed, the offer of vaccination in the post-partum period may be an alternative strategy.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Performance of Children Born Non-Extremely Preterm.

Data on exercise tolerance of children born non-extremely preterm are sparse. We aimed to explore the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) characteristics in this population. We studied 63 children (age 7-12 years) born at 29-36 weeks of gestation (34 were late preterm, 29 were preterm) and 63 age-matched, term-born controls.

Flow-resistive loading and diaphragmatic muscle function in term and preterm infants.

Purpose: We aimed to assess diaphragmatic function in term and preterm infants with and without history of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), before and after the application of inspiratory flow resistive loading.

Methods: Forty infants of a median (range) gestational age of 34 (25-40) weeks were studied. BPD was defined as supplemental oxygen requirement for >28 days of life.

Diaphragmatic muscle function in term and preterm infants.

We aimed to assess the determinants of diaphragmatic function in term and preterm infants. 149 infants (56 term; 93 preterm, of whom 14 were diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia-BPD) were studied before discharge. Diaphragmatic function was assessed by measurement of the maximum transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdimax)-a measure of diaphragmatic strength, and the pressure-time index of the diaphragm (PTIdi)-a measure of the load-to-capacity ratio of the diaphragm.

Post-Traumatic Stress as a Psychological Effect of Mild Head Injuries in Children.

Background: Head trauma is one of the most common pediatric emergencies. While the psychological effects of severe head injuries are well studied, the psychological consequences of mild head injuries often go overlooked. Head injuries with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13-15, with symptoms such as headache, vomiting, brief loss of consciousness, transient amnesia, and absence of focal neurological signs, are defined as mild.

Association of the Bacteria of the Vermiform Appendix and the Peritoneal Cavity with Complicated Acute Appendicitis in Children.

Background: Primary infection has been questioned as the pathogenetic cause of acute appendicitis. We attempted to identify the bacteria involved and to investigate if their species, types, or combinations affected the severity of acute appendicitis in children.

Methods: Samples from both the appendiceal lumen and the peritoneal cavity of 72 children who underwent appendectomy were collected to perform bacterial culture analysis.

Clinical outcome in newborns of perinatally COVID-19 infected women.

Objective: Maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy has been associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, such as prematurity and neonatal morbidity. Those adverse events are mainly attributed to maternal factors, rather than to the neonatal infection itself. Our aim is to add our experience and present the neonatal outcome of neonates born to mothers with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Early Diagnosis of Late-Onset Neonatal Sepsis Using a Sepsis Prediction Score.

Sepsis represents a common cause of morbidity in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Our objective was to assess the value of clinical and laboratory parameters in predicting septicemia (positive blood culture) in NICU infants. In the first part of the present study (derivation cohort) we retrospectively reviewed the clinical files of 120 neonates with symptoms of suspected sepsis and identified clinical and laboratory parameters associated with proven sepsis on the day the blood culture was taken, as well as 24 h and 48 h earlier.

Parental and Pediatricians' Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccination for Children: Results from Nationwide Samples in Greece.

Although many studies have examined factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination and healthcare professionals' attitudes towards vaccines, less is known about parents' and pediatricians' attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination for children. Using two cross-sectional surveys from November to December 2021 in Greece, we aimed to assess parental intention to vaccinate their 5 to 17 years old children against COVID-19 and to evaluate pediatricians' attitudes towards children's vaccination against COVID-19. Overall, 439 parents and 135 pediatricians participated.

Predictive Scores for Late-Onset Neonatal Sepsis as an Early Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship Tool: What Have We Done So Far?

Background: Late-onset neonatal sepsis (LOS) represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and early diagnosis remains a challenge. Various 'sepsis scores' have been developed to improve early identification. The aim of the current review is to summarize the current knowledge on the utility of predictive scores in LOS as a tool for early sepsis recognition, as well as an antimicrobial stewardship tool.

Hearing Outcomes of Infants Born to Mothers With Active COVID-19 Infection.

Introduction COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. A major concern of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women is vertical maternal-fetal transmission and the ramifications on infant hearing. This retrospective study aims to investigate whether perinatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 has an impact on the hearing of the offspring.

Persistent Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Bacteremia in Neonates: Clinical, Microbiological Characteristics and Changes within a Decade.

Atypical outbreaks of persistent bacteremias, defined as three or more consecutive positive blood cultures with the same species, at least 48 h apart, have been reported in neonatal intensive-care units (NICUs). Our aim was to describe the profile of these cases in our NICU over a two-year period with the objective of assessing possible changes within a decade. Demographics, clinical and microbiological data were recorded for all bacteremias in our tertiary NICU during 2016-2017 and compared with the results of the same study in 2006-2007.

Validation of a non-invasive pressure-time index of the inspiratory muscles in spontaneously breathing newborn infants.

To validate the pressure-time index of the inspiratory muscles as a non-invasive index of inspiratory muscle function in spontaneously breathing infants by comparing it against the gold-standard pressure-time index of the diaphragm. Prospective observational cohort study of consecutive infants breathing unsupported in room air in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit, studied prior to discharge from neonatal care. The invasive pressure-time index of the diaphragm was calculated using a transdiaphragmatic dual-pressure catheter that measured transdiaphragmatic pressure by subtraction of the oesophageal from the gastric pressure.

Parental attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19 of children 5-11 years old in Greece.

Rationale: Vaccinating children against COVID-19 is critical to contain the ongoing pandemic.

Aims/objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess parents' and caregivers' intention to vaccinate their 5-11 years old children against COVID-19 and to estimate the association between vaccination intention and sociodemographic, clinical and contextual factors.

Method: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey on a convenience sample of parents in Patras, Western Greece.

Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Antibiotic Use for Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece.

This cross-sectional study aims to assess parents' knowledge, attitude, and practices on antibiotic use for children with URTIs symptoms in Greece in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. We distributed a questionnaire to a random sample of parents who visited primary health care centers in Patras, Greece. Out of 412 participants, 86% believed that most infections with common cold or flu symptoms were caused by viruses, although 26.

Effect of prone and supine positioning on the diaphragmatic work of breathing in convalescent preterm infants.

Objectives: To compare the work of breathing in the prone and supine positions in convalescent prematurely born infants.

Working Hypothesis: The work of breathing would be lower in the prone compared to the supine position.

Study Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Changing trends in the prevalence of childhood asthma over 40 years in Greece.

Background: A series of repeated questionnaire surveys among 8- to 9-year-old school children in the city of Patras, Greece, demonstrated a continuous rise in the prevalence of wheeze/asthma from 1978 to 2003, with a plateau between 2003 and 2008. We further investigated wheeze/asthma trends within the same environment over the last decade.

Methods: Two follow-up surveys were conducted in 2013 (N = 2554) and 2018 (N = 2648).

Respiratory muscle function in the newborn: a narrative review.

Our aim was to summarise the current evidence and methods used to assess respiratory muscle function in the newborn, focusing on current and future potential clinical applications. The respiratory muscles undertake the work of breathing and consist mainly of the diaphragm, which in the newborn is prone to dysfunction due to lower muscle mass, flattened shape and decreased content of fatigue-resistant muscle fibres. Premature infants are prone to diaphragmatic dysfunction due to limited reserves and limited capacity to generate force and avoid fatigue.

Does a brief trial of endotracheal CPAP before extubation increase the work of breathing in preterm infants?

A brief period of endotracheal continuous positive airway pressure (ETT-CPAP) can predict extubation outcome but longer periods are associated with increased work of breathing and extubation failure. In ventilated preterm infants, brief ETT-CPAP does not increase the work of breathing and can be used to predict the outcome of extubation.

Work of Breathing in Mechanically Ventilated Preterm Neonates.

Objectives: To compare the imposed work of breathing by means of pressure-time product of the diaphragm in newborn infants receiving different modes of mechanical ventilation.

Design: Prospective observational crossover study.

Setting: Tertiary care neonatal unit.

Prediction of extubation outcome in preterm infants by composite extubation indices.

Objective: To determine whether composite extubation indices can predict extubation outcome in preterm infants.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Level III neonatal intensive care unit.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and respiratory muscle function in infants.

Objective: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene contains a polymorphism consisting of either the presence (I) or absence (D) of a 287-bp fragment. Recent studies have suggested that the I-allele may be associated with superior exercise endurance; respiratory muscle function may be similarly influenced. The pressure-time index of inspiratory muscles (PTImus) is a measure of the load-capacity ratio of the inspiratory muscles.

Determinants of morbidity in late preterm infants.

Objective: To assess the effect of selected maternal medical conditions and complications of pregnancy on the risk for morbidity among late preterm neonates.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Material And Methods: A total of 548 late preterm neonates (34(0/7) to 36(6/7)weeks' gestation) delivered from August 2006 to July 2009, were included.

Association of circulating angiotensin converting enzyme activity with respiratory muscle function in infants.

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene contains a polymorphism, consisting of either the presence (I) or absence (D) of a 287 base pair fragment. Deletion (D) is associated with increased circulating ACE (cACE) activity. It has been suggested that the D-allele of ACE genotype is associated with power-oriented performance and that cACE activity is correlated with muscle strength.