Similar adverse outcome rates with high or low oxygen saturation targets in an area with low background mortality.

Background: Randomized controlled trials have indicated reduced mortality rates in very preterm infants assigned to high compared to low oxygen saturation (SpO) target levels, accompanied by higher rates of retinopathy of prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, the benefit-to-harm ratio may depend on the local background mortality risk. We therefore aimed to quantify the risk-benefit ratios of different SpO target ranges in 10 tertiary newborn intensive care units (NICUs) in East Germany.

Effects of Liberal vs Restrictive Transfusion Thresholds on Survival and Neurocognitive Outcomes in Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Infants: The ETTNO Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Red blood cell transfusions are commonly administered to infants weighing less than 1000 g at birth. Evidence-based transfusion thresholds have not been established. Previous studies have suggested higher rates of cognitive impairment with restrictive transfusion thresholds.

Fecal calprotectin concentrations in premature infants have a lower limit and show postnatal and gestational age dependence.

Background: There is a need for reliable diagnostic biomarkers in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Whereas fecal calprotectin (fCP) has been reported to have insufficient sensitivity and specificity, no previous study has stratified for gestational and postnatal age.

Objective: We aimed to provide developmental specific fCP data in premature infants and to analyze its value in detecting intestinal distress and episodes of NEC.

Fatal outcome of herpes simplex virus type 1-induced necrotic hepatitis in a neonate.

In neonates, herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections can lead to severe diseases associated with high mortality. We report a 6-day-old girl who developed clinical signs of fulminant hepatic failure accompanied by infectious-toxic shock and disseminated coagulopathy secondary to HSV type 1 (HSV-1) infection. The diagnosis was performed postmortem by demonstration of HSV-1 DNA in liver tissue as well as by retrospective detection of HSV-specific antibodies.