Cord blood transfusions in extremely low gestational age neonates to reduce severe retinopathy of prematurity: results of a prespecified interim analysis of the randomized BORN trial.

Background: Preterm infants are at high risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), with potential life-long visual impairment. Low fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels predict ROP. It is unknown if preventing the HbF decrease also reduces ROP.

X-ray beam diagnostics at the MID instrument of the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser Facility.

The Materials Imaging and Dynamics (MID) instrument at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser Facility (EuXFEL) is equipped with a multipurpose diagnostic end-station (DES) at the end of the instrument. The imager unit in DES is a key tool for aligning the beam to a standard trajectory and for adjusting optical elements such as focusing lenses or the split-and-delay line. Furthermore, the DES features a bent-diamond-crystal spectrometer to disperse the spectrum of the direct beam to a line detector.

BORN study: a multicenter randomized trial investigating cord blood red blood cell transfusions to reduce the severity of retinopathy of prematurity in extremely low gestational age neonates.

Background: Extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs, i.e., neonates born before 28 weeks of gestation) are at high risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), with potential long-life visual impairment.

Materials Imaging and Dynamics (MID) instrument at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser Facility.

The Materials Imaging and Dynamics (MID) instrument at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (EuXFEL) facility is described. EuXFEL is the first hard X-ray free-electron laser operating in the MHz repetition range which provides novel science opportunities. The aim of MID is to enable studies of nano-structured materials, liquids, and soft- and hard-condensed matter using the bright X-ray beams generated by EuXFEL.

A Novel Donkey Milk-derived Human Milk Fortifier in Feeding Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: The purpose of the present randomized controlled clinical trial was to compare the use of donkey milk-derived fortifier (DF) with commercial bovine milk-derived fortifier (BF) in very preterm or very-low-birth-weight newborns, in terms of feeding tolerance.

Methods: This trial included 156 newborns born at <32 weeks of gestational age and/or with a birth weight ≤1500 g. Newborns were randomized 1:1 to receive enteral feeding with either a BF-arm, or a new, DF-arm for 21 days.

Development of a hard X-ray split-and-delay line and performance simulations for two-color pump-probe experiments at the European XFEL.

A hard X-ray Split-and-Delay Line (SDL) under construction for the Materials Imaging and Dynamics station at the European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL) is presented. This device aims at providing pairs of X-ray pulses with a variable time delay ranging from -10 ps to 800 ps in a photon energy range from 5 to 10 keV for photon correlation and X-ray pump-probe experiments. A custom designed mechanical motion system including active feedback control ensures that the high demands for stability and accuracy can be met and the design goals achieved.

Efficacy of combined intravenous immunoglobulins and steroids in children with primary immune thrombocytopenia and persistent bleeding symptoms.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the combined administration of intravenous immunoglobulins and steroids as a second-line therapy in 34 children with primary immune thrombocytopenia and persistent, symptomatic bleeding.

Materials And Methods: Combined therapy (intravenous immunoglobulins 0.4 g/kg daily on days 1 and 2, and methylprednisolone 20 mg/kg daily on days 1-3) was administered to 12 patients with newly diagnosed ITP who did not respond to the administration of a single therapy (either intravenous immunoglobulins or steroids) and to 22 children with persistent and chronic disease who required frequent administrations (i.

Successful use of antihistamines in severe hypereosinophilia.

Eosinophilia is common in childhood, and in most cases it is mild and of limited clinical relevance, being often secondary to allergy or infections. In rare cases, eosinophilia may be idiopathic or related to neoplastic aetiology. When severe and protracted, it can cause potentially irreversible organ or system damage, whose prevention is the first priority in the clinical management of hypereosinophilia.

Reticulocyte parameters: markers of early response to oral treatment in children with severe iron-deficiency anemia.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of exclusive oral iron supplementation (iron sulphate 2 mg/kg/die) in asymptomatic children with severe iron-deficiency anemia [median hemoglobin (Hb) level before treatment 6.3 g/dL; range 4.5 to 7 g/dL] and to investigate the accuracy of Hb, reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr), and absolute reticulocyte count (ARC) as markers for monitoring early response to treatment.

Susceptibility tests on Phlebotomus perniciosus and Phlebotomus perfiliewi wild populations in Sicily.

In Sicily, wild populations of Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. perfiliewi were submitted in 1990 to WHO method for susceptibility to DDT, Malathion and Permethrin. P.

[Leishmaniasis vectors (Diptera, Psychodidae) in 3 different environments of western Sicily and 2 of the Aeolian Islands].

Some cases of visceral leishmaniasis in children and in adults have been diagnosed in the last fifteen years in Western Sicily and an increasing number of cases of canine leishmaniasis has been recorded, mainly in the province of Palermo. Such a human leishmaniasis recrudescence, after the antimalaria campaign had reduced the transmission, and the increase of canine leishmaniasis in the city of Palermo and its suburbs suggest that transmission in urban areas may be possible. Using the oiled paper method, a survey of phlebotomine sandflies was carried out during June and July 1988 both in the centre and suburbs of Palermo, and during July and August '88 in the Madonie mountains (at 800 to 1200 meters above sea level) and in two Eolian Islands: Lipari and Filicudi.