Importance: Neonatal protein intake following very preterm birth has long lasting effects on brain development. However, it is uncertain whether these effects are associated with improved or impaired brain maturation.
Objective: To assess the association of neonatal protein intake following very preterm birth with brain structure at 7 years of age.
Importance: Neonatal hypoglycemia is an important preventable cause of neurodevelopmental impairment, but there is a paucity of evidence to guide treatment.
Objective: To evaluate whether early, low-dose oral diazoxide for severe or recurrent neonatal hypoglycemia reduces time to resolution of hypoglycemia.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This 2-arm, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted from May 2020 to February 2023 in tertiary neonatal units at 2 New Zealand hospitals.
Objective: To determine the relationship between transient neonatal hypoglycemia in at-risk infants and neurocognitive function at 6-7 years of corrected age.
Study Design: The pre-hPOD Study involved children born with at least 1 risk factor for neonatal hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia was defined as ≥1 consecutive blood glucose concentrations <47 mg/dl (2.
Background: Most moderate-to-late-preterm infants need nutritional support until they are feeding exclusively on their mother's breast milk. Evidence to guide nutrition strategies for these infants is lacking.
Methods: We conducted a multicenter, factorial, randomized trial involving infants born at 32 weeks 0 days' to 35 weeks 6 days' gestation who had intravenous access and whose mothers intended to breast-feed.
Low blood concentrations of glucose (hypoglycaemia) soon after birth are common because of the delayed metabolic transition from maternal to endogenous neonatal sources of glucose. Because glucose is the main energy source for the brain, severe hypoglycaemia can cause neuroglycopenia (inadequate supply of glucose to the brain) and, if severe, permanent brain injury. Routine screening of infants at risk and treatment when hypoglycaemia is detected are therefore widely recommended.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the evidence for dose and effectiveness of caffeine in preterm infants. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL Plus, CENTRAL, and trial databases were searched to July 2022 for trials randomizing preterm infants to caffeine vs. placebo/no treatment, or low (≤10 mg·kg) vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Parents with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. The NICU experience may also lead to impaired parenting and early childhood socio-emotional problems. Psychosocial interventions can reduce NICU parent distress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate the effect of different doses of prophylactic dextrose gel on neurocognitive function and health at 6-7 years.
Design: Early school-age follow-up of the pre-hPOD (hypoglycaemia Prevention with Oral Dextrose) study.
Setting: Schools and communities.
Introduction: Birth at early term (37-38 completed gestational weeks [GW] and additional days) is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes compared with waiting to ≥39 GW. Most studies report outcomes after elective cesarean section or a mix of all modes of births; it is unclear whether these adverse outcomes apply to early-term babies born after induction of labor (IOL). We aimed to determine, in women with a non-urgent induction indication (elective/planned >48 h in advance), if IOL at early and late term was associated with adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes compared with IOL at full term.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: There is uncertainty about the effect of increased neonatal protein intake on neurodevelopmental outcomes following preterm birth. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a change in neonatal nutrition protocol at a major tertiary neonatal intensive care unit intended to increase protein intake on ophthalmic and visual development in school-age children born very preterm.
Methods: The study cohort comprised children (n = 128) with birthweight <1500 g or gestational age < 30 weeks born at Auckland City Hospital before (OldPro group, n = 55) and after (NewPro group, n = 73) a reformulation of parenteral nutrition that resulted in increased total protein intake during the first postnatal week and decreased carbohydrate, total parenteral fluid and sodium intake.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev
November 2023
Background: Neonatal hypoglycaemia is a common condition that can be associated with brain injury. Current practice usually includes early identification of at-risk infants (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCochrane Database Syst Rev
October 2023
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has major short- and long-term implications for both the mother and her baby. GDM is defined as a carbohydrate intolerance resulting in hyperglycaemia or any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy from 24 weeks' gestation onwards and which resolves following the birth of the baby. Rates for GDM can be as high as 25% depending on the population and diagnostic criteria used, and overall rates are increasing globally.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiazoxide is a potential candidate for the treatment of transitional hypoglycaemia in infants. A clinical trial is currently underway to investigate whether low-dose oral diazoxide is beneficial for severe or recurrent transitional neonatal hypoglycaemia (the NeoGluCO Study, registration ANZCTR12620000129987). The present study aimed to develop and validate the parameters for quantifying diazoxide from neonatal plasma samples, and to assess the stability of extemporaneously prepared diazoxide suspensions to support the NeoGluCO Study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Neonatal hypoglycemia is common, occurring in up to 50% of infants at risk for hypoglycemia (infant of diabetic mother [IDM], small for gestational age [SGA], large for gestational age [LGA], and preterm) and is associated with long-term neurodevelopmental impairment. Guidelines recommend screening infants at risk of hypoglycemia. The proportion of infants who require screening for neonatal hypoglycemia is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this trial was to determine if midwives or doctor leaders are more effective at implementing a clinical practice guideline for oral dextrose gel to treat neonatal hypoglycaemia. This was a cluster-randomised, controlled, trial. New Zealand maternity hospitals were randomised to guideline implementation by a midwife or doctor implementation leader.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol
December 2023
Background: Clinical guidelines improve outcomes, but poor compliance with recommendations is common. Insight into perceived barriers and enablers to the implementation of guidelines can engage maternity care providers and inform strategies for effective implementation.
Aim: To identify the perceived barriers and enablers to implementing the 2020 'Induction of Labour [IOL] in Aotearoa New Zealand; a Clinical Practice Guideline.
Objective: To describe current psychosocial support practices and programs for parents with infants in level II nurseries and level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Australia and New Zealand.
Study Design: A staff member from each level II and level III hospital completed an online survey about the psychosocial support services available for parents in Australia and New Zealand. Mixed methods (descriptive and statistical analysis; descriptive content analysis) were used to describe current services and practices.
Objectives: High rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are reported in children of South Asian (SA) descent in some western countries. This population-based study describes the incidence and clinical course of IBD in SA children compared to non-South Asian (NSA) children in New Zealand (NZ).
Methods: Children (≤15 years) with new-onset IBD presenting to a centralized tertiary referral center in Auckland, NZ from 2010 to 2020 were identified.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev
February 2023
Background: Gestational diabetes with onset or first recognition during pregnancy is an increasing problem worldwide. Myo-inositol, an isomer of inositol, is a naturally occurring sugar commonly found in cereals, corn, legumes and meat. Myo-inositol is one of the intracellular mediators of the insulin signal and correlates with insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is linked to the dysregulation of inflammatory markers in women with GDM compared to women without. It is unclear whether the intensity of glycemic control influences these biomarkers. We aimed to assess whether different glycemic targets for women with GDM and compliance influence maternal and infant biomarkers.
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