Rapid test for lung maturity, based on spectroscopy of gastric aspirate, predicted respiratory distress syndrome with high sensitivity.

Aim: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in premature infants. By the time symptoms appear, it may already be too late to prevent a severe course, with bronchopulmonary dysplasia or mortality. We aimed to develop a rapid test of lung maturity for targeting surfactant supplementation.

Early surfactant guided by lamellar body counts on gastric aspirate in very preterm infants.

Background: We have developed a rapid method, based on lamellar body counts (LBC) on gastric aspirate, for identifying newborns who will develop respiratory distress syndrome with a need for surfactant supplementation.

Objective: We set out to test whether it was possible to improve the outcome when used in a clinical trial.

Methods: We randomly assigned 380 infants born at 24-29 weeks' gestation and supported with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) to receive surfactant guided either by LBC (intervention group) or increasing need for oxygen (control group).

Pregnant women on thyroxine substitution are often dysregulated in early pregnancy.

Background: Thyroid hormones are important for normal fetal development. Maternal hypothyroidism during early pregnancy is associated with impaired neuropsychological development of children and other adverse outcomes. The primary aim of this prospective study was to determine whether thyroxine-treated pregnant women with hypothyroidism are adequately thyroxine substituted in early pregnancy.

Treatment of acute neonatal bacterial conjunctivitis: a comparison of fucidic acid to chloramphenicol eye drops.

Purpose: To compare the clinical and bacteriological effects of fucidic acid (Fucithalmic: 1.0%) and chloramphenicol (Minims(R): 0.5%) eye drops in neonates with a clinical diagnosis of acute conjunctivitis of suspected bacterial origin.