Early-life protein-bound skin ceramides help predict the development of atopic dermatitis.

Background: Skin lipids are crucial components of the skin barrier. Individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD or eczema) have a different skin lipid profile from those without. However, whether altered skin lipids precede and predict the subsequent risk of AD remained unclear, especially for different AD phenotypes.

Sociodemographic Factors and Awareness of Consanguineous Marriages in Rural Northern Karnataka: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Consanguineous marriages, defined as unions between closely related individuals, are influenced by a complex interplay of cultural, social, economic, religious, and demographic factors. These marriages are prevalent among communities such as Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Christians, and Parsis in Southern and Western Asia, with significant regional variations within India. There is a lack of appropriate decision-making among women in consanguineous unions, particularly those with a low level of educational attainment, which leads to an increase in the prevalence of consanguineous marriages.

Lung ultrasound of the dependent lung detects real-time changes in lung volume in the preterm lamb.

Background: Effective lung protective ventilation requires reliable, real-time estimation of lung volume at the bedside. Neonatal clinicians lack a readily available imaging tool for this purpose.

Objective: To determine the ability of lung ultrasound (LUS) of the dependent region to detect real-time changes in lung volume, identify opening and closing pressures of the lung, and detect pulmonary hysteresis.

Ultrasound Measurements of Intracranial Structures in Growth-Restricted Neonates with Fetal Blood Flow Redistribution: A Pilot Observational Study.

Background: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with neonatal and long-term neuro-morbidity. Preferential redistribution of blood flow to the brain is a common antenatal adaptation in FGR. The impact of this "brain sparing," which may signify severity of FGR, on the growth of brain structures has not been studied.

Induction of left ventricular hypoplasia by occluding the foramen ovale in the fetal lamb.

Disturbed fetal haemodynamics often affects cardiac development and leads to congenital cardiac defects. Reduced left ventricular (LV) preload in the fetus may result in hypoplastic LV, mitral and aortic valve, mimicking a moderate form of hypoplastic left heart complex. We aimed to induce LV hypoplasia by occluding the foramen ovale (FO) to reduce LV preload in the fetal sheep heart, using percutaneous trans-hepatic catheterisation.

Stopping enteral feeds for prevention of transfusion-associated necrotising enterocolitis in preterm infants.

Background: Feeding practices around the time of packed red blood cell transfusion have been implicated in the subsequent development of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants. Specifically, it has been suggested that withholding feeds around the time of transfusion may reduce the risk of subsequent NEC. It is important to determine if withholding feeds around transfusion reduces the risk of subsequent NEC and associated mortality.

PEBBLES study protocol: a randomised controlled trial to prevent atopic dermatitis, food allergy and sensitisation in infants with a family history of allergic disease using a skin barrier improvement strategy.

Introduction: The skin is an important barrier against environmental allergens, but infants have relatively impaired skin barrier function. There is evidence that impaired skin barrier function increases the risk of allergic sensitisation, atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergy. We hypothesise that regular prophylactic use of emollients, particularly those that are designed to improve skin barrier structure and function, will help prevent these conditions.

Impact of intrauterine growth restriction on preterm lung disease.

Aim: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is an important cause for prematurity and adversely influences prematurity-related morbidities. This study evaluates the impact of IUGR on respiratory outcomes in infants <32 weeks with IUGR and birthweight <10th centile (SGA) compared to matched appropriate for gestation (AGA) controls.

Methods: The primary outcomes of this retrospective study are short-term pulmonary outcomes of chronic lung disease (CLD), CLD or death, and need for home oxygen at discharge.

Does fetal growth restriction lead to increased brain injury as detected by neonatal cranial ultrasound in premature infants?

Aim: Intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) is an important cause for prematurity as well as a significant risk factor for neurodevelopmental deficits. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between IUGR and early brain injury on neonatal cranial ultrasound in preterm infants.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined the relationship between IUGR and neonatal cranial ultrasound findings in preterm infants <32 weeks gestation with IUGR, compared with gestation and year of birth-matched appropriately grown infants, in a tertiary level neonatal unit.

The Efficacy of Surfactant Replacement Therapy in the Growth-Restricted Preterm Infant: What is the Evidence?

Background: Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) is an integral part of management of preterm surfactant deficiency respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Its role in the management of RDS has been extensively studied. However, its efficacy in the management of lung disease in preterm infants born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has not been systematically studied.

High flow nasal cannula for continuous positive airway pressure weaning in preterm neonates: A single-centre experience.

Aim: High flow nasal cannula therapy (HFNC) is an emerging method of non-invasive respiratory support therapy for premature infants. Recent evidence around its safety and efficacy for post-extubation respiratory support is encouraging. However, its effect on long-term respiratory outcomes is not known.

Use of inhaled nitric oxide in preterm infants: a regional survey of practices.

Objectives: To conduct a regional survey of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) Directors in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) to ascertain current practice.

Background: Use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy in infants < 34 weeks gestational age is not supported by current evidence.

Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey based on structured questionnaire was conducted amongst the Directors of all the tertiary neonatal intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN).

Congenital chylothorax: associations and neonatal outcomes.

Aim: Congenital chylothorax is a rare but significant neonatal entity with major morbidity and mortality. The study aims to describe the related associations, management and outcomes of this condition in neonates.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series of all cases of congenital chylothorax admitted to a tertiary neonatal centre in the last 15 years.

Vasopressin as an adjunct therapy for pulmonary hypertension: a case report.

Unlabelled: Vasopressin is emerging as a therapeutic adjunct option towards treatment of shock states in the pediatric population. Its effects on pulmonary vasculature are less well understood. This report describes a 5-month-old infant with nitric oxide-unresponsive pulmonary hypertension, oxygenation failure, and systemic hypotension.

Neonatal self-inflating bags: achieving titrated oxygen delivery using low flows: an experimental study.

Aim: To determine delivered O2 concentration (dFiO2) during manual inflations using neonatal self-inflating resuscitation bags (SIBs) at oxygen (O2) flow rates <1 L/min.

Methods: This experimental study, determined dFiO2 during 216 sets of manual inflations at different O2 flow rate (L/min; 0.2, 0.

Neonatal meningitis and sepsis by Chryseobacterium indologenes: a rare and resistant bacterium.

Early neonatal meningitis with non-fermenting Gram negative bacilli (NFGNB) is rare, and whenever it occurrs, inanimate environment is usually implicated as the source. The authors report a case of neonatal meningitis and sepsis with Chryseobacterium indologenes, a rare non fermenting Gram negative bacterium with unusual antimicrobial susceptibility. Despite resistance to all the beta lactams, carbapenems and aminoglycosides, therapy with ciprofloxacin led to a favorable outcome.

Vibrational spectra, structural conformations, scaled quantum chemical calculations and NBO analysis of 3-acetyl-7-methoxycoumarin.

The powder form NIR-FT Raman and FT-IR spectra of 3-acetyl-7-methoxycoumarin (3A7MC) have been recorded in the regions 4000-400 and 3500-100 cm(-1), respectively. The equilibrium geometry, vibrational frequencies, band intensities, NMR spectra, NBO analysis and UV-Vis spectral studies of the most stable conformer have been calculated by density functional B3LYP method with the 6-311G(d,p) basis set. A complete vibrational analysis has been attempted on the basis of experimental infrared and Raman spectra, the calculated wavenumber and intensity of the vibrational bands and the potential energy distribution over the internal coordinates.

Online Neonatal Training and Orientation Programme in India (ONTOP-IN)--the way forward for distance education in developing countries.

Background: Internet-based distance learning combined with local hands-on skill enhancement can provide high-quality standardized education to in-service healthcare professionals in a wide geographical area.

Objective: Primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of internet-based distance learning in conjunction with local hands-on skill enhancement in improving knowledge and skills of essential newborn care among in-service nursing health professionals.

Methods: A total of 98 participants from seven health facilities in India and Maldives were enrolled in the study.

Patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a major morbidity in preterm infants, especially in extremely premature infants less than 28 weeks. The clinical signs and symptoms of PDA in preterm infants are non specific and insensitive for making an early diagnosis of significant ductal shunting. Functional echocardiography is emerging as a new valuable bedside tool for early diagnosis of hemodynamically significant ductus, even though there are no universally accepted criteria for grading the hemodynamic significance.

'Primary cutaneous mucormycosis during induction chemotherapy in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia'.

We report a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed primary cutaneous mucormycosis at the site of lumbar puncture during induction chemotherapy. Though high mortality rates are reported with invasive mucormycosis, prompt biopsy, early identification and antifungal therapy using a combination regime of amphotericin-B and rifampicin along with extensive surgical debridement led to complete cure of the lesions in the index case.

Disclosure of the HIV infection status in children.

Objective: To determine the perception of caregivers about the disclosure of the diagnosis of HIV infection in children.

Methods: Caregivers of fifty HIV-infected children were enrolled in the study after taking written informed consent. They were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.

Efficacy of zinc supplements in reducing relapses in steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.

Relapses in steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) often follow infections of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract. Based on data that zinc supplements reduce the risk of infections, we examined the efficacy of such supplements in reducing relapse rates in these patients. Eighty-one patients with SSNS (1-16 years old) were stratified into frequent (n = 52) and infrequent (n = 29) relapsers and randomized to receive 12-months of therapy with the recommended dietary allowance of zinc (10 mg/day) (n = 40) or placebo (n = 41).

Potter syndrome with an unusual cardiac anomaly.

Potter syndrome is a congenital anomaly characterised by bilateral renal agenesis, pulmonary hypoplasia, cardiac, skeletal abnormalities and maternal oligohydramnios. Here we report a case of Potter syndrome with bilateral renal agenesis, pulmonary hypoplasia and complete transposition of the great vessels, which had been identified during a post-mortem examination. Although cardiac anomalies are known to exist with Potter syndrome, complete transposition of the great vessels has not been reported in the literature.

Myocardial cell injury is common in children with septic shock.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of myocardial cell injury in children with septic shock by estimating the levels of biochemical markers of myocardial injury, troponin I (TnI) and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB).

Patients: Children aged 3 months to 16 years were admitted to paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with septic shock. Children with sepsis without shock and children with hypovolaemic shock were enrolled as controls.