Newborn Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease: A New Algorithm and Other Updated Recommendations: Clinical Report.

Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening was added to the US Recommended Uniform Screening Panel in 2011 and adopted by all US states and territories by 2018. In addition to reviewing key developments in CCHD screening since the initial American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) endorsement in 2011, this clinical report provides 3 updated recommendations. First, a new AAP algorithm has been endorsed for use in CCHD screening.

Evaluation of non-cancer risk owing to groundwater fluoride and iron in a semi-arid region near the Indo-Bangladesh international frontier.

Groundwater quality in Hili, a semi-arid border region at Indo-Bangladesh border, was investigated in the post-monsoon season of 2021, succeeded by assessment of probabilistic health risk arising from fluoride (F) and iron (Fe) intake, with the hypothesis that groundwater quality of the region was not satisfactory for human consumption and health, considering earlier reports on high groundwater F and Fe in few of the neighboring districts. All water samples were found to be potable in terms of Ca, Mg, Cl, SO and NO , but F and Fe exceeded prescribed safe limits for drinking water in about 48% and 7% samples. Almost all water samples were found to be good for irrigation in terms of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), Kelly's index (KI), %Na and magnesium ratio (MR).

Postnatal Corticosteroids to Prevent or Treat Chronic Lung Disease Following Preterm Birth.

The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to provide guidance on the use of postnatal corticosteroids to manage or prevent chronic lung disease following preterm birth (formerly referred to as bronchopulmonary dysplasia). Since the last revision of such guidance in 2010, several prospective randomized trials have been published. This revision provides a review of those studies as well as updated recommendations, which include the use of systemic low-dose corticosteroid in preterm neonates with or at high risk for chronic lung disease.

Neonatal respiratory distress: a practical approach to its diagnosis and management.

Respiratory disorders are the most frequent cause of admission to the special care nursery both in term and preterm infants. Pediatricians and primary care providers may encounter newborn infants with respiratory distress in their office, emergency room, delivery room, or during physical assessment in the newborn nursery. The authors have proposed a practical approach to diagnose and manage such infants with suggestions for consulting a neonatologist at a regional center.

Tuberculosis in the African continent: A comprehensive review.

Tuberculosis continues to be a major global health problem, causing an estimated 8.8 million new cases and 1.45 million deaths annually.

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: Clinical challenges, pathophysiology and management.

NEC remains a major concern for neonatologists, surgeons, and gastroenterologists due to its high morbidity and mortality. These infants often have poor developmental outcome, and contribute to significant economic burden resulting in marked stress in these families. By developing and adhering to strict feeding protocols, encouraging human milk feeding preferably from the infant's mother, use of probiotics, judicious antibiotic use, instituting blood transfusion protocols, the occurrence of NEC may possibly be reduced.

Elevated acetoacetate and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in cord blood of infants of diabetic mothers.

Background: Infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) are at increased risk for metabolic complications. Type 1 and some type 2 diabetic patients have elevated levels of the ketone bodies acetoacetate (AA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB).

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine how hyperketonemia in diabetic mothers affects markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in their offspring.

Use of a visual aid to improve counseling at the threshold of viability.

Objectives: To pilot-test a visual aid developed to help counsel pregnant women.

Methods: After agreeing to participate, pregnant women at >28 weeks of gestation were assigned randomly to counseling with or without a visual aid. The visual aid contained pictures, graphics, and short messages about delivery room resuscitation, chances of survival, anticipated neonatal course, and long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase genotypes in the etiology of retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants.

Purpose: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disorder affecting preterm infants leading to visual impairment. ROP is more common in Caucasians than African Americans. Very low birth weight infants have immature retinas and are susceptible to ROP.

Effect of placental transfusion on the blood volume and clinical outcome of infants born by cesarean section.

Delay in cord clamping up to 30 to 40 seconds is feasible and should be practiced in preterm and term infants born by cesarean section. In term infants, this maneuver may decrease iron deficiency anemia at 6 months of age. Premature infants may have a higher blood volume and hematocrit initially requiring fewer transfusions.