Joint Laxity in Preschool Children Born Preterm.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of joint laxity in children born preterm assessed in the first 2 years, the relationship between joint laxity and motor performance at preschool age, and possible changes over time in a subgroup of children followed longitudinally.

Study Design: The revised scale of Beighton Score was used to evaluate joint laxity in a population of 132 preschool children born preterm between 24 and 32 weeks of gestational age. All were assessed for joint laxity between 12 and 24 months of age.

The Long-Term Efficacy of a Galactagogue Containing Sylimarin-Phosphatidylserine and Galega on Milk Production of Mothers of Preterm Infants.

Aims: To investigate the efficacy of a galactagogue, containing Sylimarin-phosphatidylserine (SILITIDIL) and galega consumed in the first month after delivery by mothers of preterm infants, in maintaining milk production during the first 3-6 months after delivery.

Materials And Methods: Mothers of infants born at gestational age (GA) between 27 and 32 weeks, enrolled in our previous prospective, double-blind, randomized trial and randomly allocated to receive either the galactagogue (GG) or a placebo (PG), were asked about their milk production at 3 and 6 months after delivery.

Results: Of the 100 mothers involved in this study, 45 of GG and 44 of PG responded comprehensively to the questions asked.

Fetal Doppler velocimetry and bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk among growth-restricted preterm infants: an observational study.

Objective: To investigate whether fetal growth restriction (FGR) diagnosis, based on pathological prenatal fetal Doppler velocimetry, is associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) independently of being small for gestational age (SGA) per se at birth among very preterm infants.

Design: Prospective, observational study. FGR was defined as failing fetal growth in utero and fetal Doppler velocimetry abnormalities.

Neonatal neurological examination during the first 6h after birth.

Background: Few neurological assessments are easily performed during the first 6h after birth.

Aims: To assess a cohort of low risk term born newborns within the first 6h and at 48h after birth using the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination.

Study Design And Subjects: A population of low risk term born newborns was examined within 3h from birth or between 3 and 6h.

New Insights on Early Patterns of Respiratory Disease among Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns.

Background: The analysis of early patterns of lung disease among preterm infants may help to identify predictors of pulmonary deterioration.

Objectives: To analyze FIO2 requirement in the first 14 days of life among preterm infants and to find predictors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Methods: Retrospective cohort study.

Neonatal lupus: Follow-up in infants with anti-SSA/Ro antibodies and review of the literature.

Neonatal Lupus Syndrome (NLS) is a distinct clinical entity caused by transplacental passage of maternal anti-SSA/Ro antibodies (Ab). Mothers may have systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, or other connective tissue disease, or may be completely healthy at the time of giving birth. NLS includes several clinical manifestations: complete congenital heart block (CCHB) and cutaneous lupus are the most common, while hepatobiliary disease, hematological manifestations and central nervous system involvement may occur.

Effect of Early Expressed Human Milk on Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and Short-Term Outcomes in Preterm Infants.

Aims: Preterm breast milk contains high levels of bioactive components, including insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), that are reduced by Holder pasteurization. Animal studies have shown that milk-borne IGF-1 is likely absorbed intact in a bioactive form by the intestines. The aim of this study was to assess if early non-pasteurized expressed breast milk nutrition may affect IGF-1 plasma levels in premature infants.

T-cell polarization: Potential serological markers in preterm and term infants.

Background: The immaturity of immune system characterizes newborn infants. Possible serological markers of Th1 and Th2 immune response are the lymphocyte activation gene-3 (CD223) and soluble CD30, respectively (sCD30).

Aims: The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between Th1 and Th2 immune response and gestational age (GA), comparing data in preterm and term neonates.

Fetal hypoxia secondary to severe maternal anemia as a causative link between blueberry muffin baby and erythroblastosis: a case report.

Background: Neonatal blueberry muffin lesions are rare cutaneous eruptions, presenting as transient, non-blanching, red-violaceous papules, mostly localized in the trunk, head and neck, attributable to a marked dermal hematopoietic activity. Congenital infections of the TORCH complex (toxoplasmosis, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes) and hematological disorders have been classically associated with this neonatal dermatological manifestation. We report for the first time an unusual presentation of blueberry muffin lesions in a neonate born from a mother affected by severe anemia during pregnancy.

Variants in TNIP1, a regulator of the NF-kB pathway, found in two patients with neural tube defects.

Purpose: Neural tube defects (NTDs) occur in 1:1000 births. The etiology is complex, with the influence of environmental and genetic factors. Environmental factors, such as folate deficiency, diabetes, or hypoxia strongly contribute to the occurrence of NTD.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous paracetamol in comparison to ibuprofen for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants: study protocol for a randomized control trial.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is one of most common complications in preterm infants. Although ibuprofen represents the first choice for the closure of PDA, this treatment can cause severe gastrointestinal and adverse renal effects and worsen platelet function. The successful closure of the PDA with paracetamol has been recently reported in several preterm infants, and the safety of paracetamol for this use has been suggested by the available data.

Continuous glucose monitoring in preterm infants: evaluation by a modified Clarke error grid.

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring using subcutaneous sensors has been validated in adults and children with diabetes, and was found to be useful in the management of glucose control. We aimed to assess feasibility and reliability of a new continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) in a population of preterm neonates using a Clarke error grid (CEG) specifically modified for preterm infants.

Methods: Preterm infants were recruited within 24 h from delivery.

Revised recommendations concerning palivizumab prophylaxis for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Respiratory Syncytial Virus infections are one of the leading causes of severe respiratory diseases that require hospitalization and, in some cases, intensive care. Once resolved, there may be respiratory sequelae of varying severity. The lack of effective treatments for bronchiolitis and the lack of vaccines for RSV accentuate the role of prevention in decreasing the impact of this disease.

Position Statement on Breastfeeding from the Italian Pediatric Societies.

The 2015 Position Statement on Breastfeeding of The Italian Pediatric Societies (SIP, SIN, SICupp, SIGENP) recognizes breastfeeding as an healthy behaviour with many short and long term benefits for both mother and infant.While protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding, neonatologists and pediatricians need specific knowledge, skills and a positive attitude toward breastfeeding. In Maternity Hospitals and in Neonatal Units, appropriate organizative interventions should be applied in order to facilitate the beginning of breastfeeding and the use of mother's/human milk.

Italian guidelines for the management and treatment of neonatal cholestasis.

Hyperbilirubinemia is a frequent condition affecting newborns during the first two weeks of life and when it lasts more than 14 days it is defined as prolonged jaundice. This condition requires differential diagnosis between the usually benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and the pathological conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, that is mainly due to neonatal cholestasis. It is important that the diagnosis of neonatal cholestasis be well-timed to optimize its management, prevent worsening of the patient's outcome, and to avoid premature, painful, expensive, and useless tests.

Neonatal Platelet Function.

Similarly to the development of the plasma coagulation system, which matures during the early weeks and months of life, age-dependent mechanisms and developmental changes influence platelet production and function in neonates. Platelet function testing on cord blood and peripheral blood demonstrates a generalized platelet hyporeactivity, during the first days of life. This reactivity reaches normal adult levels between the fifth and ninth day of life.

Determination of Lung Volume and Hemodynamic Changes During High-Frequency Ventilation Recruitment in Preterm Neonates With Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate the changes in end-expiratory lung volume during an oxygenation-guided stepwise recruitment procedure in elective high-frequency ventilation. We hypothesized that high continuous distending pressure impedes pulmonary blood flow as evidenced by reduced lung volume measurements using respiratory inductive plethysmography. Changes in oxygenation, ventilation, and peripheral perfusion were evaluated as secondary outcomes.

Chrono-proteomics of human saliva: variations of the salivary proteome during human development.

An important contribution to the variability of any proteome is given by the time dimension that should be carefully considered to define physiological modifications. To this purpose, whole saliva proteome was investigated in a wide age range. Whole saliva was collected from 17 preterm newborns with a postconceptional age at birth of 178-217 days.

Epidural analgesia, neonatal care and breastfeeding.

The objective of our study is to evaluate the correlation between epidural analgesia during labor, start of breastfeeding and type of maternal-neonatal care.Two different assistance models were considered: Partial and Full Rooming-in.In this cohort study, 2480 healthy infants were enrolled, 1519 in the Partial Rooming-in group and 1321 in the Full Rooming-in group; 1223 were born to women subjected to epidural analgesia in labor.

Interleukin-22: biomarker of maternal and fetal inflammation?

Histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) is an intrauterine status of inflammation which may lead to the fetal inflammatory response syndrome. Inflammation is a pathogenetic mechanism also of preeclampsia, although not of microbial origin. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the pattern of inflammatory cytokines in mothers and high-risk preterm infants during the perinatal period.