Effectiveness of corticosteroids and epinephrine use in neonates for the first extubation attempt: A retrospective study.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the use of corticosteroids and epinephrine in neonates for the first extubation attempt and compared clinical characteristics of infants with successful and failed extubation events.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a single level III neonatal intensive care unit in Taiwan. The study included 215 infants born between 2020 and 2021 who had been intubated for more than 48 h before their first extubation attempt.

Neurodevelopment Outcomes in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants with Metabolic Bone Disease at 2 Years of Age.

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) predominantly affects preterm infants, particularly very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants weighing <1500 g. However, there are limited reports on MBD and neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for MBD and understand its impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of corrected age.

Reducing Medication Errors in Children's Hospitals.

Objectives: Knowledge of the prevalence and characteristics of medication errors in pediatric and neonatal patients is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and medication error characteristics in a pediatric hospital over 5 years and to determine whether serial error prevention programs to optimize a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system reduce error incidence.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medication errors documented between January 2015 and December 2019.

Relationship between Maternal Fever and Neonatal Sepsis: A Retrospective Study at a Medical Center.

Various risk factors are associated with neonatal sepsis; however, its relationship to maternal postpartum fever is unknown. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal postpartum fever and neonatal sepsis. Full-term and late preterm stable infants born from January 2019 to June 2021 and whose mothers developed intra- or post-partum fever were included in the study.

Survival of Hydrops Fetalis with and without Fetal Intervention.

Objectives: To investigate the survival rate of hydrops fetalis after fetal interventions and neonatal intensive care.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with hydrops fetalis from January 2009 to December 2019 at Changhua Christian Children's Hospital. All cases had abnormal fluid accumulation in at least two body compartments during pre- and postnatal examination.

Neurodevelopment of preterm infants with glucose and sodium abnormalities.

Background: Blood glucose and serum sodium abnormalities in very low birth weight infants may cause increased morbidity and mortality, but data regarding the long-term outcomes are limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between the peak and nadir blood glucose and serum sodium levels and neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants.

Methods: A single-center retrospective medical record of 284 infants with birth weight<1500 g born between February 1, 2011 and January 31, 2015 was reviewed.

Parenteral nutrition with fish oil-based lipid emulsion reduces the risk of cholestasis in preterm infants.

Objective: Preterm infants receive long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) for gastrointestinal immaturity. This study aimed to determine if mixed lipid emulsions containing fish oil decrease the incidence of PN-associated cholestasis by reducing oxidative stress and providing an anti-inflammatory effect.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 399 very low birth weight premature infants (gestational age ≤32 weeks) between January 2009 and November 2017 at a single neonatal intensive care unit.

Implementation of nutrition practice improves growth velocity and weight gain in premature infants ≤ 1250 grams.

Background: The concept of parental nutritional care for premature infants has been applied and advanced over the past decade. This study compared the clinical outcomes before and after nutrition practice (NP) implementation and evaluated the effects of implementation on growth velocity and weight gain in premature infants.

Methods: Descriptive data of premature infants (gestational age < 30 weeks; body weight ≤ 1250 g) born 4 years before and after NP implementation were retrospectively reviewed in a neonatal intensive care unit at a hospital in Taiwan.

Effects of fish oil-containing lipid emulsions on retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight infants.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of different types of parenteral emulsions on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (VLBW, birth body weight < 1500 g) infants by comparing fish oil-containing and soy-based parenteral emulsions.

Methods: Data of preterm infants with body weights below 1500 gm at birth and receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for a minimum of 7 days during the period between January 2009 and November 2017 were analyzed in this retrospective study. We compared clinical outcomes in two epochs using different lipid emulsions: epoch 1 (soybean-based lipid emulsions, January 2009-February 2014) versus epoch 2 (fish oil-containing lipid emulsions, January 2015-November 2017).

Intravenous fish oil containing lipid emulsion attenuates inflammatory cytokines and the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very premature infants: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Preterm infants have lower levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs). Supplementing very premature infants with intravenous lipid emulsions that fish oil, which is rich in n-3 LC-PUFAs, may decrease bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) by modulating inflammation and neonatal immune function.

Methods: Sixty very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants requiring ventilator support were randomized in a double-blind manner to 2 groups and received total parenteral nutrition with fish oil containing LE (intervention group, n = 30) or soybean oil containing LE (control group, n = 30) for 7 days.

Using Ultrasonography Measurements to Determine the Depth of the GB 21 Acupoint to Prevent Pneumothorax.

Introductions: Pneumothorax is the most frequent severe acupuncture-related adverse event occurring at the GB 21 acupoint. This study used ultrasonography (US) to measure the depth of the GB 21 acupoint in adults and assessed its applicability for ensuring safe acupuncture practices.

Materials And Methods: A US probe was used to measure the vertical depth from the skin to the pleural line of the apex of the lungs at the right and left GB 21 acupoints.

Correlates of Elevated Interleukin-6 and 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine Levels in Tracheal Aspirates from Very Low Birth Weight Infants Who Develop Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains the most common complication of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants, and inflammatory regulation plays a role in the development of the BPD. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has an important role in airway inflammation and therefore can be used as a marker of airway injury. The study aimed to compare the changes between IL-6 and oxidative stress marker with 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) from serum and tracheal aspiration (TA) in VLBW preterm infants following development of BPD.

Oral ibuprofen versus intravenous indomethacin for closure of patent ductus arteriosus in very low birth weight infants.

Background: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects and complications of pharmacologic closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) by intravenous indomethacin or oral ibuprofen in neonates weighing <1500 g at birth [very low birth weight (VLBW) infants].

Methods: This is a retrospective study of infants treated with intravenous indomethacin (0.2 mg/kg initially followed by two doses at 24-hour intervals) or oral ibuprofen (10 mg/kg initially followed an interval of 24 hours by two doses of 5 mg/kg) for symptomatic PDA in a neonatal intensive care unit at a medical center in Taiwan during the period of January 2005 to December 2010.

Changing clinical presentations and survival pattern in trisomy 18.

Background: The clinical presentations and survival patterns of infants with trisomy 18 have changed with increasing utilization of prenatal ultrasound and amniocentesis, and improvements in neonatal intensive care.

Methods: We obtained data on duration of survival, male to female ratio, and clinical details for patients with trisomy 18, and calculated the prevalence rate.

Results: We studied 31 consecutive trisomy 18 infants.

The therapeutic depth of abdominal acupuncture points approaches the safe depth in overweight and in older children.

Objectives: Few studies have reported on the relative ratio between the depths to which acupuncture needles are inserted in therapy (therapeutic depth) and safety depth (the distance from the surface of the skin of the acupoint to the transverse fascia). This ratio may be of clinical importance because it may have an impact on the safety and the therapeutic effectiveness of acupuncture.

Design: We retrospectively studied children aged 7 to 15 years who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) at our hospital during the period January 1997-March 2006.

Late-onset Enterobacter cloacae sepsis in very-low-birth-weight neonates: experience in a medical center.

Objective: The objective of this study was to review the early clinical profiles and outcomes of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates with late-onset sepsis caused by Enterobacter cloacae.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of VLBW neonates whose blood and/or cerebral spinal fluid yielded E. cloacae after 3 days of hospitalization in our neonatal intensive care unit.

Safe depth of abdominal acupoints in pediatric patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the depths to which acupuncture needles can be inserted safely (safe depth) in 12 abdominal acupoints in pediatric patients. This study also evaluates the variations in safe depth according to sex, age, body weight, and waist girth.

Design: We retrospectively studied computerized tomography (CT) images of pediatric patients aged 7-15 years who had undergone abdominal CT scans at our hospital from January 1997 to March 2006.

Exchange transfusion using peripheral vessels is safe and effective in newborn infants.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency and safety of exchange transfusion by using peripheral arteries and veins with that of conventional exchange transfusion via the umbilical vein in treating neonatal pathologic hyperbilirubinemia.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of all neonates who had undergone exchange transfusion at our institution from January 1995 to December 2006. Causes of jaundice, efficiency of exchange transfusion in lowering serum bilirubin concentrations, adverse events, and outcomes were recorded.

Mutations and new polymorphic changes in the TCOF1 gene of patients with oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum and Treacher-Collins syndrome.

Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum, the exact genetic predisposition of which has not yet been resolved, is characterized by varying degrees of the prevalently unilateral underdevelopment of craniofacial structures and spinal anomalies. Here, we analyzed four cases exhibiting multiple features of oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum and one case with Treacher-Collins syndrome. The cranium was analyzed using three-dimensional computed tomography, which reliably identifies craniofacial malformations.

Children's deep neck infections in central Taiwan.

Background: Deep neck infection (DNI) is an uncommon but severe disease in children. Few study have been reported detailing pediatric deep neck infection.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 52 cases of deep neck infection at Changhua Christian Hospital over a 10-year period was performed.

Persistent fifth aortic arch associated with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Background: Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion is frequently associated with conotruncal malformations and aortic arch anomalies. This study investigated the association of chromosome 22q11.

Absence of hypercoagulability in acute Kawasaki disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis syndrome with the striking feature of cardiovascular involvement. Endothelial cell (EC) damage has been suggested to predispose individuals to the development of coronary vascular disorders. When EC are perturbed, prethrombotic complications ensue.

Echovirus 11 sepsis in a neonate: report of one case.

Neonates infected with nonpolio enteroviruses are at high risk for developing significant illness, including sepsis-like illness, meningoencephalitis, myocarditis and/or hepatitis. Echoviruses and group B coxsackieviruses account for the majority of neonatal enterovirus infections. We reported a case of echovirus 11 infection in newborn associated with maternal infection.