Reference ranges for preductal oxygen saturation and heart rate in moderate and late preterm infants with deferred cord clamping.

Introduction: Moderate and late preterm (MLPT) infants represent a substantial percentage of all preterm infants and frequently need support in the delivery room (DR). Deferring cord clamping (DCC) improves SpO2 and heart rate (HR) stabilization in term infants. However, data on MLPT infants are limited.

Care bundle for preventing intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants: a best practice implementation project.

Introduction: Intraventricular hemorrhages remain a major problem in neonatology, because their complications affect neonatal morbidity, mortality, and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this project was to prevent intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants during their first days of life in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods: This pre- and post-implementation clinical audit project used the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework and was conducted in a tertiary-level Spanish NICU with a consecutive sample.

Effect of autologous umbilical cord blood transfusion in the development of retinopathy of prematurity: randomized clinical trial - study protocol.

Background: Currently, the treatment of anemia in preterm infants is based on packed red blood cell (RBC) transfusions from adult donors. Oxygen (O2) is mainly transported to the tissues bound to hemoglobin (Hb). In extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs), fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which has a higher affinity for O2, represents up to 95% of circulating hemoglobin.

Do Lower Levels of Fetal Hemoglobin in Preterm Infants Relate to Oxidative Stress?

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) has a higher affinity to oxygen than adult hemoglobin, allowing for a slower oxygen transfer to peripheral tissue, creating a microenvironment conducive to adequate fetal development . However, most preterm infants receive packed red blood cell transfusions from adult donors leading to a drastic nonphysiological descent of circulating HbF. We hypothesized that this drop could enhance oxygen delivery to peripheral tissues generating a hyperoxic pro-oxidant environment.

Analysis of Fractional Cerebral Oxygen Extraction in Preterm Infants during the Kangaroo Care.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FtOE) during kangaroo care (KC) in premature infants and compare cardiorespiratory stability and hypoxic or bradycardic events between KC and incubator care.

Methods: A single-center prospective observational study was carried out at the NICU of a level 3 perinatal center. Preterm infants <32 weeks gestational age were subjected to KC.

Early molecular markers of ventilator-associated pneumonia in bronchoalveolar lavage in preterm infants.

Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) constitutes a serious nosocomial infection. Our aim was to evaluate the reliability of cytokines and oxidative stress/inflammation biomarkers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tracheal aspirates (TA) as early biomarkers of VAP in preterm infants.

Methods: Two cohorts were enrolled, one to select candidates and the other for validation.

Direct Derivatization in Dried Blood Spots for Oxidized and Reduced Glutathione Quantification in Newborns.

The glutathione (GSH)-to-glutathione disulfide (GSSG) ratio is an essential node contributing to intracellular redox status. GSH/GSSG determination in whole blood can be accomplished by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) after the derivatization of GSH with -ethylmaleimide (NEM). While this is feasible in a laboratory environment, its application in the clinical scenario is cumbersome and therefore ranges reported in similar populations differ noticeably.

Impact of Kangaroo Care on Premature Infants' Oxygenation: Systematic Review.

Introduction: Kangaroo care (KC) is defined by the World Health Organization as a method of care consisting in putting premature infants or newborns in skin-to-skin contact with their parents. KC is an effective method of promoting health and well-being of infants and their families. Physiological stability during KC has been widely analyzed, however with controversial results.

GC-MS analysis of short chain fatty acids and branched chain amino acids in urine and faeces samples from newborns and lactating mothers.

Background: Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are frequently determined in faeces, and widely used as biomarkers of gut-microbiota activity. However, collection of faeces samples from neonates is not straightforward, and to date levels of these metabolites in newborn's faeces and urine samples have not been described.

Methods: A targeted gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the determination of SCFAs and BCAAs in both faeces and urine samples has been validated.

Non-invasive monitoring of saliva can be used to identify oxidative stress biomarkers in preterm and term newborn infants.

Aim: The aim of this study was to appraise the feasibility and reproducibility of applying a validated analytical method to determine salivary oxidative stress biomarkers in newborn infants.

Methods: Prospective observational single-centre study was carried out in level III neonatal intensive care unit. Eligible patients were preterm infants and healthy full-term newborn infants.

Preventive bundle approach decreases the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in newborn infants.

Objective: We hypothesized that the implementation of evidence-based interventions shaping a bundle approach could significantly reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Study Design: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study including neonates undergoing mechanical ventilation >48 h. VAP rate and endotracheal intubation ratio were compared before (pre-period) and after (post-period) applying VAP prevention bundle strategies.

Transcriptome profiles discriminate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative sepsis in preterm neonates.

Background: Genome-wide expression profiles have been previously employed as clinical research diagnostic tools for newborn sepsis. We aimed to determine if transcriptomic profiles could discriminate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial sepsis in preterm infants.

Methods: Prospective, observational, double-cohort study was conducted in very low birth weight infants with clinical signs and culture-positive sepsis.