Implementation of Parenteral Nutrition Formulations with Increased Calcium and Phosphate Concentrations and Its Impact on Metabolic Bone Disease in Preterm Infants: A Retrospective Single-Centre Study.

Metabolic Bone Disease of Prematurity (MBDP) is common in extremely preterm infants (≤28 weeks gestation). Parenteral nutrition (PN) with higher calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) concentration started soon after birth may improve bone health in preterm infants. We compared the effect of two standard PN formulations on the incidence of MBDP and explored the predictive ability of biochemical markers for diagnosing MBDP.

Temperature probe placement in very preterm infants during delivery room stabilization: an open-label randomized trial.

Background: Variation in practice exists for temperature probe positioning during stabilization of very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation). We explored the influence of temperature probe sites on thermoregulation.

Methods: An open-label, stratified, balanced, parallel, randomized trial was conducted.

Role of a radiopaque agent and surveillance radiographs for peripherally inserted central catheters in newborn infants.

Background: Controversy exists regarding the use of a radiopaque agent to identify peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) tip positions in newborn infants and of serial radiography to monitor PICC tip migration.

Objective: To investigate the roles of (1) the injection of a radiopaque agent to identify PICC tip position and (2) the performance of weekly radiography to monitor PICC migration.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective single-centre cohort study included newborn infants who received a PICC between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2020.

Systemic postnatal corticosteroid use for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and its relationship to early neurodevelopment in extremely preterm infants.

Background: Systemic postnatal corticosteroid use in extremely preterm infants poses a risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study explores their use beyond seven days of age with early neurodevelopmental assessments during the fidgety period (9-20 weeks postterm age).

Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study included inborn extremely preterm infants from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018.

Reducing antibiotic use in asymptomatic term infants exposed to maternal chorioamnionitis: Predictive role of sepsis risk calculator.

Aim: The sepsis risk calculator (SRC) has been shown to reduce empirical antibiotic usage in neonates at risk of early-onset sepsis without increasing adverse clinical outcomes. However, its use for categorising and improving identification of at-risk neonates exposed to chorioamnionitis in the local population has not been reported. This study compares the management guided by the SRC to our unit's clinical practice of administering empirical antibiotics to all term neonates (born ≥37 weeks gestation), symptomatic and asymptomatic, who were exposed to chorioamnionitis, and evaluates the performance of the SRC in managing asymptomatic term neonates exposed to chorioamnionitis.

Improvement in thermoregulation outcomes following the implementation of a thermoregulation bundle for preterm infants.

Aim: Hypothermia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. A local audit revealed 60% preterm infants ≤32 weeks gestation and/or very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g) had an abnormal body temperature at admission. This study compares thermoregulatory outcomes before and after the implementation of a thermoregulation bundle in the birthing environment.

Asymptomatic full-term infants born to women with chorioamnionitis may not need routine antibiotics.

Aim: While infants with early-onset sepsis require antibiotics, there is little evidence to support their routine use in asymptomatic infants exposed to maternal chorioamnionitis. We aimed to ascertain the incidence of culture-proven sepsis in full-term infants exposed to chorioamnionitis and to determine whether asymptomatic infants need routine antibiotic treatment.

Methods: This study was retrospective.

Comparison of Dilapan-S and laminaria for cervical priming before surgical pregnancy termination at 17-22 weeks' gestation.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of three consecutive cohorts of women. All cohorts received a digoxin feticide injection on Day 1. Two cohorts were treated with laminaria, cohort A of 151 women over 1-2 days and cohort B of 52 women over 1-3 days, and cohort C of 151 women was treated with Dilapan-S over 1-3 days.

Comparison of four perioperative misoprostol regimens for surgical termination of first-trimester pregnancy.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of 4 different perioperative misoprostol regimens for surgical termination of first-trimester pregnancy.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the records of 4000 women (4 cohorts of 1000 each) who underwent surgical termination of pregnancy. The 4 cohorts received: no misoprostol; 200 microg of oral misoprostol 30 minutes preoperatively; 200 microg of sublingual misoprostol 30 minutes preoperatively; or 200 microg of oral misoprostol 3 hours preoperatively plus 200 microg of vaginal misoprostol postoperatively.