Early postnatal transitional circulation in fetal growth restricted neonates.

Background: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) may impact early postnatal transitional circulation.

Aim: Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular cardiac output, superior vena cava (SVC) and ductus venosus (DV) blood flow in FGR neonates first three days after birth.

Study Design: Prospective observational study.

Prolonged hospitalization signature and early antibiotic effects on the nasopharyngeal resistome in preterm infants.

Respiratory pathogens, commonly colonizing nasopharynx, are among the leading causes of death due to antimicrobial resistance. Yet, antibiotic resistance determinants within nasopharyngeal microbial communities remain poorly understood. In this prospective cohort study, we investigate the nasopharynx resistome development in preterm infants, assess early antibiotic impact on its trajectory, and explore its association with clinical covariates using shotgun metagenomics.

Lung function in preterm infants at 3 months corrected age after neonatal LC-PUFA supplementation.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) supplementation improves lung function at 3 months corrected age (CA) compared with standard treatment in very preterm infants. We also aimed to investigate the association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), longitudinal growth, and lung function at 3 months CA.

Methods: A secondary analysis from the ImNuT trial, in which 121 infants with gestational age <29 weeks were randomized to a daily supplement with arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (ARA:DHA group) or MCT-oil (control group) from birth up to 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA).

Effect of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on quality of growth in preterm infants: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: A balanced supply of arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may be crucial for quality of growth in preterm infants. This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the effect of enhanced ARA and DHA supplementation on growth and body composition in infants born before 29 weeks of gestation. Furthermore, we aimed to study associations between human milk feeding, growth patterns and body composition.

Heart function by M-mode and tissue Doppler in the early neonatal period in neonates with fetal growth restriction.

Background: Fetal growth restricted (FGR) neonates have increased risk of circulatory compromise due to failure of normal transition of circulation after birth.

Aim: Echocardiographic assessment of heart function in FGR neonates first three days after birth.

Study Design: Prospective observational study.

Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation and Early Inflammation in Preterm Infants: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Postnatal inflammation is associated with increased mortality and adverse outcomes in preterm infants. The essential fatty acids arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are precursors of lipid mediators with a key role in resolving inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the effect of ARA and DHA supplementation on systemic inflammation in very preterm infants and to identify clinical factors associated with early inflammation.

Vitamin A Status in Preterm Infants Is Associated with Inflammation and Dexamethasone Exposure.

Vitamin A has a key role in lung development and its deficiency is associated with an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This secondary cohort analysis of the ImNuT trial (Immature, Nutrition Therapy NCT03555019) aimed to (1) explore vitamin A status in preterm infants <29 weeks gestation and (2) assess the influence of inflammation and postnatal dexamethasone exposure on vitamin A concentrations in blood. We report detailed information on vitamin A biochemistry, vitamin A intake, markers of inflammation and dexamethasone exposure.

A standardized feeding protocol ensured recommended nutrient intakes and prevented growth faltering in preterm infants < 29 weeks gestation.

Background & Aims: Nutrition is a cornerstone of postnatal care to prevent compromised growth and support short- and long-term health outcomes in preterm infants. We aimed to evaluate nutritional intakes and growth among infants <29 weeks gestation after implementation of a standardized feeding protocol.

Methods: This is an observational cohort secondary analysis of data from the ImNuT study (Immature, Nutrition Therapy, NCT03555019).

Microbial DNA extraction of high-host content and low biomass samples: Optimized protocol for nasopharynx metagenomic studies.

Introduction: Low microbial biomass and high human DNA content in nasopharyngeal aspirate samples hinder comprehensive characterization of microbiota and resistome. We obtained samples from premature infants, a group with increased risk of developing respiratory disorders and infections, and consequently frequent exposure to antibiotics. Our aim was to devise an optimal protocol for handling nasopharyngeal aspirate samples from premature infants, focusing on host DNA depletion and microbiome and resistome characterization.

Effect of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on respiratory outcomes and neonatal morbidities in preterm infants.

Background & Aims: Studies have suggested that supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to preterm infants might be associated with an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Our aim was to investigate the effect of enteral supplementation with arachidonic acid (ARA) and DHA on short-term respiratory outcomes and neonatal morbidities in very preterm infants.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from the ImNuT (Immature, Nutrition Therapy) study, a randomized double blind clinical trial.

Cardiac morphology in neonates with fetal growth restriction.

Objective: Assess effects of fetal growth restriction (FGR) on cardiac modelling in premature and term neonates.

Study Design: Prospective echocardiographic study of a cohort of FGR neonates (n = 21) and controls (n = 41) with normal prenatal growth and circulation.

Results: Unadjusted for gestational age, birth weight, sex, and twin/singleton, Late-FGR neonates had smaller hearts than controls, with globular left ventricles and symmetrical right ventricles.

Starting parenting in isolation a qualitative user-initiated study of parents' experiences with hospitalization in Neonatal Intensive Care units during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Worldwide, strict infection control measures including visitation regulations were implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic at Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). These regulations gave restricted access for parents to their hospitalized infants. The consequence was limited ability to involve in the care of their infants.

Effects of nutrition therapy on growth, inflammation and metabolism in immature infants: a study protocol of a double-blind randomized controlled trial (ImNuT).

Background: Current nutritional management of infants born very preterm results in significant deficiency of the essential fatty acids (FAs) arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The impact of this deficit on brain maturation and inflammation mediated neonatal morbidities are unknown. The aim of this study is to determine whether early supply of ARA and DHA improves brain maturation and neonatal outcomes in infants born before 29 weeks of gestation.

When a common language is missing: Nurse-mother communication in the NICU. A qualitative study.

Aims And Objectives: To explore how communication in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) between immigrant mothers and nurses take place without having a common language, and how these mothers experience their NICU stay.

Background: Admission of infants to NICU affects both parents and infants. Immigrant mothers constitute a vulnerable hospital population in need of culturally, linguistically and individually tailored information.

Preserved endothelial function in young adults with type 1 diabetes.

Background And Aim: Endothelial dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is typically present in older adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). In young adults, we aimed to assess the impact of T1D on endothelial function as detected by digital peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors and long term glycemic control.

Materials And Methods: Reactive hyperemia index (RHI) as a measure of endothelial function was assessed by PAT in 46 T1D patients and 32 healthy controls.

Amplitude-Integrated Electroencephalography Improves the Identification of Infants with Encephalopathy for Therapeutic Hypothermia and Predicts Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 2 Years of Age.

Objectives: To examine whether using an amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) severity pattern as an entry criterion for therapeutic hypothermia better selects infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and to assess the time-to-normal trace for aEEG and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion load as 24-month outcome predictors.

Study Design: Forty-seven infants meeting Norwegian therapeutic hypothermia guidelines were enrolled prospectively. Eight-channel EEG/aEEG was recorded from 6 hours until after rewarming, and read after discharge.

Advanced glycation end products in children with type 1 diabetes and early reduced diastolic heart function.

Background: Reduced diastolic function is an early sign of diabetes cardiomyopathy in adults and is associated with elevated levels of HbA1c and advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Objective: To assess the associations between early reduced diastolic function and elevated levels of HbA1c and AGEs in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: One hundred fourty six T1D patients (age 8-18 years) without known diabetic complications were examined with tissue Doppler imaging and stratified into two groups according to diastolic function.

Cooling Effect on Skin Microcirculation in Asphyxiated Newborn Infants with Increased C-Reactive Protein.

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia is presumed to suppress inflammatory processes after perinatal asphyxia. In a previous study of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) we found altered skin microcirculation in about a third of the infants after rewarming. We speculated whether this could be linked to increased inflammatory responses, such as high C-reactive protein (CRP).

Speckle Tracking Using Gray-Scale Information from Tissue Doppler Recordings versus Regular Gray-Scale Recordings in Term Neonates.

The use of 2-D strain speckle tracking echocardiography in B-mode images from tissue Doppler (TD) recordings was compared with its use in regular gray-scale (GS) recordings in healthy and asphyxiated neonates at days 1-3. Single-cycle and three-cycle longitudinal deformation indices were assessed. Median B-mode frame rates were 38/s (TD) and 77/s (GS).

Early reduced myocardial diastolic function in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus a population-based study.

Background: Reduced diastolic myocardial function is an early sign of diabetic cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), but without other known complications, have early reduced diastolic myocardial function diagnosed with echocardiographic color tissue Doppler imaging (cTDI).

Methods: cTDI examination was carried out in 173 T1D patients and 62 age-matched controls.

Noninvasive assessments of oxygen delivery from the microcirculation to skin in hypothermia-treated asphyxiated newborn infants.

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has become standard treatment for severe and moderate hypoxic-ischemic neonatal encephalopathy (HIE). Our group has developed an optically based, noninvasive concept of assessing the capacity for oxygen delivery from the microcirculation to the cells of a tissue under investigation. The hypothesis was that mechanisms of reduced oxygen delivery due to reduced metabolism in cooled asphyxiated neonates could be characterized with this concept.