Small-Scale Variations in Urban Air Pollution Levels Are Significantly Associated with Premature Births: A Case Study in São Paulo, Brazil.

Premature birth is the result of a complex interaction among genetic, epigenetic, behavioral, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. We evaluated the possible associations between air pollution and the incidence of prematurity in spatial clusters of high and low prevalence in the municipality of São Paulo. It is a spatial case-control study.

Late preterm infants' motor development until term age.

Objectives:: To analyze the motor development of late preterm newborn infants (LPI) from birth to term-corrected age using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and to compare the obtained results with those of term infants at birth.

Methods:: Prospective cohort study, 29 late preterm newborn infants were evaluated by the TIMP at birth and every two weeks until term-corrected age. The TIMP was administered to 88 term infants at birth.

Detecting congenital hypothyroidism with newborn screening: the relevance of thyroid-stimulating hormone cutoff values.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism and the ability of various neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSHneo) cutoff values to detect this disease.

Methods: This cohort study was based on the retrospective collection of information available from the Reference Service for Newborn Screening database for all live births from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2012, assessed using the Newborn Screening Program of a Brazilian state, Brazil. The infants were divided into two groups: I - Control: infants with normal newborn screening tests and II - Study: infants with congenital hypothyroidism.

Hematological and iron content evolution in exclusively breastfed late-preterm newborns.

Objectives: To analyze and compare the evolution of hematological parameters and body iron content between exclusively breastfed late-preterm and term newborns during the first two months of life.

Methods: Cohort study. Weight, length, head circumference, body mass index, hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocytes, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation, serum iron and ferritin were measured in 25 late-preterm and 21 term newborns (at birth and at one and two months of age) who were exclusively breastfed.

Late-onset sepsis in very low birth weight infants: a Brazilian Neonatal Research Network Study.

Background: Late-onset sepsis (LOS) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Aim: To determine the incidence, risk factors and etiology of LOS.

Methods: LOS was investigated in a multicenter prospective cohort of infants at eight public university neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

[Infant breastfeeding prevalence in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, 2008].

This cross-sectional epidemiological study based on AMAMUNIC aimed to evaluate infant breastfeeding (BF) prevalence and duration in São Paulo, Brazil. Sample size was based on a cluster calculation, selecting 35 primary care units and 35 infants (< 1 year of age) per unit. A total of 1,424 interviews with mothers were performed (56 items on feeding in the previous 24 hours) in August 2008, subsequently analyzed according to residential areas: Central West, East, North, Southeast, and South.

Red blood cell transfusions are independently associated with intra-hospital mortality in very low birth weight preterm infants.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in preterm infants are associated with increased intra-hospital mortality.

Study Design: Variables associated with death were studied with Cox regression analysis in a prospective cohort of preterm infants with birth weight <1500 g in the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research. Intra-hospital death and death after 28 days of life were analyzed as dependent variables.

Longitudinal study of Cystatin C in healthy term newborns.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of Cystatin C in healthy term newborns in the first month of life.

Introduction: Cystatin C may be a suitable marker for determining the glomerular filtration rate because it is not affected by maternal renal function.

Methods: Cohort study.

Intrauterine growth restriction and zinc concentrations in term infants during the first month of life.

Objective: We analyzed the influence of IUGR on the concentrations of plasma (Znpl) and erythrocyte (Zne) zinc and on the ratios of Zne to Znpl (Zne:Znpl) and Zne to hemoglobin (Zne:Hb) in term infants during the first month of life.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary Care Neonatal Unit.

Perinatal factors associated with early deaths of preterm infants born in Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research centers.

Objective: To evaluate perinatal factors associated with early neonatal death in preterm infants with birth weights (BW) of 400-1,500 g.

Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study of all infants with BW of 400-1,500 g and 23-33 weeks of gestational age (GA), without malformations, who were born alive at eight public university tertiary hospitals in Brazil between June of 2004 and May of 2005. Infants who died within their first 6 days of life were compared with those who did not regarding maternal and neonatal characteristics and morbidity during the first 72 hours of life.

[Development of sucking rhythm and the influence of stimulation in premature infants].

Background: The sucking development pattern of the preterm newborn (PTNB) in the neonatal period is important for an effective sucking and oral motor development. The establishment of a safe and efficient feeding in pre-term newborns is related to a rhythmic and coordinated sucking. Nonnutritive sucking stimulation can have an influence on the development of sucking and the development of sucking rhythm of pre-term newborns.

Blood pressure and kidney size in term newborns with intrauterine growth restriction.

Context And Objective: Low birth weight is associated with higher blood pressure in childhood and adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on newborn systolic blood pressure (SBP).

Design And Setting: Prospective comparative study at Neonatal and Intensive in Clinical Pediatrics Division, Maternity Hospital in Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo.

[Sucking in preterm newborns and the sucking stimulation].

Background: Non-nutritive sucking stimulation may anticipate the beginning of oral feeding and may influence the development of sucking in pre-term newborns.

Aim: To describe the development of the sucking pattern and the effects of NNS.

Method: Participants of this study were 95 preterm newborns (PTNB), adequate for their gestational age (GA), born with GAs inferior or equal to 33 weeks, randomly distributed in three groups: Group 1 (G 1)--control group--did not undergo NNS stimulation; Group 2 (G2) underwent NNS stimulation with orthodontic pacifier for premature infants; Group 3 (G3), underwent NNS stimulation with a gloved finger.

The role of serum and urinary urea in the evaluation of enteral protein intake in adequate and small-for-gestational-age very low birth weight infants.

Context And Objective: Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants have special nutritional needs. There is a current tendency to individualize their protein needs. The objective of this study was to determine the suitability of serum and urinary urea as indicators for protein intake in adequate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) VLBW infants.

[Echocardiographic post-neonatal progress of preterm neonates with patent ductus arteriosus].

Objective: To identify clinical and echocardiography predictors of the spontaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates.

Methods: Sixty-one consecutive preterm neonates (gestational age 30+/-2 weeks, birth weight 1.2+/-0.

[Frequent ophthalmologic problems and visual development of extremely preterm newborn infants].

Objectives: To review the concepts of visual development and the major ocular abnormalities in preterm newborns. To emphasize the importance of preventive ophthalmologic examination and early treatment of ocular disorders.

Source Of Data: A review of published data.

Hydronephrosis in Schinzel-Giedion syndrome: an important clue for the diagnosis.

Schinzel-Giedion syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by coarse facies, midface retraction, hypertrichosis, multiple skeletal anomalies, and cardiac and renal malformations. Craniofacial abnormalities of this syndrome sometimes resemble a storage or metabolic disease. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown.

Characterization of newborns with nonimmune hydrops fetalis admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.

Purpose: To determine the incidence and characteristics of nonimmune hydrops fetalis in the newborn population.

Method: A retrospective study of the period between 1996 and 2000, including all newborns with a prenatal or early neonatal diagnosis of nonimmune hydrops fetalis, based on clinical history, physical examination, and laboratory evaluation. The following were analyzed: prenatal follow-up, delivery type, gender, birth weight, gestational age, presence of perinatal asphyxia, nutritional classification, etiopathic diagnosis, length of hospital stay, mortality, and age at death.