Leakage of isopropanol from port protectors used in neonatal care-Results from an in vitro study.

Background: To decrease contamination of needleless catheter hubs, caps or port protectors impregnated with isopropanol (IPA) have been developed and shown to be superior to other disinfection methods. The safety of the caps has been questioned, as they can be associated with alcohol leakage across the hub membrane.

Objectives: We evaluated the use of IPA caps and the scrub-the-hub method from the safety standpoint of possible alcohol leakage across the hub membrane.

[A new internationally harmonized Swedish basic medical education].

The Swedish Parliament and Government has recently sanctioned a new 6 year undergraduate medical degree leading directly to license, followed by a 12 month introduction to work as a certified doctor. The undergraduate education is internationally harmonized and the 23 learning outcomes address competence needs in future Swedish and international health-care. Particular attention is given to professional competence, critical thinking, team-work and health promotion.

Sepsis as a risk factor for neonatal morbidity in extremely preterm infants.

Aim: This study evaluated sepsis as a risk factor for neonatal morbidities and investigated the association between specific pathogens and neonatal morbidities.

Methods: This was a nationwide Swedish prospective cohort study, consisting of the 497 extremely premature children, who were born before 27 weeks of gestation between 2004 and 2007 and survived their first year of life. Neonatal sepsis was evaluated as a risk factor for neonatal morbidity using multiple logistic linear regression analyses.

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus trigger different interleukin-8 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in lung cells: implications for inflammatory complications following neonatal sepsis.

Aim: Staphylococci are a major contribution for neonatal sepsis, which is the main risk factor for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This study investigated the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in endothelial and respiratory cells from newborns exposed to staphylococci.

Methods: Human vascular endothelial cells and small airway epithelial cells were incubated with neonatal blood isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 14) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 14).

Diagnosis of neonatal sepsis by broad-range 16S real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Background: The standard diagnostic test (blood culture) for suspected neonatal sepsis has limitations in sensitivity and specificity, and 16S polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been suggested as a new diagnostic tool for neonatal sepsis.

Objectives: To develop and evaluate a new real-time PCR method for detection of bacterial DNA in blood samples collected from infants with suspected neonatal sepsis.

Methods: Immediately after blood culture, a study sample of 0.

Evolutionary-developmental perspectives on immune system interactions among the pregnant woman, placenta, and fetus, and responses to sexually transmitted infectious agents.

A balance has evolved over deep time between the various immune systems of the "triad" that is linked together for a short period: the pregnant woman, the fetus, and the placenta. This balance is affected by, and helps to determine, the immune responses to maternal infectious agents that may be transmitted to the fetus/infant transplacentally, intrapartum, or via breast milk. This review identifies newer evolutionary concepts and processes related particularly to the human placenta, innate and adaptive immune systems involved in tolerance, and in responses to sexually transmitted infectious (STI) agents that may be pathogenic to the fetus/infant at different gestational periods and in the first year of life.

Clinical signs and CRP values associated with blood culture results in neonates evaluated for suspected sepsis.

Aim: To identify which clinical signs at presentation are most predictive of sepsis subsequently confirmed by blood culture and to investigate whether the predictive power of the clinical signs varies by gestational age.

Methods: Among 401 newborn infants < 28 days of age with suspected sepsis, nine signs of sepsis and C-reactive protein (CRP) values were prospectively recorded. Logistic regression assessed the association of these signs and laboratory values with a subsequently confirmed diagnosis of sepsis by positive blood culture.

Increased prevalence of anti-gliadin antibodies and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies in children with cerebral palsy.

Aim And Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is any association between cerebral palsy (CP) and celiac disease (CD) in children.

Patients And Methods: Ninety children between 18 months and 18 years of age (median 9 years) with CP were included. Antibodies (IgA and IgG) against gliadin (AGA), endomysium (EMA), and tissue transglutaminase (tTG) were measured.

Real-time PCR of the 16S-rRNA gene in the diagnosis of neonatal bacteraemia.

Objective: To evaluate a real-time PCR assay for the diagnosis of neonatal bacteraemia.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred ninety-five plasma samples from 288 newborns with suspected neonatal sepsis were collected prospectively for the purpose of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based bacterial detection. A real-time PCR targeting the bacterial gene for 16S-rRNA gene combined with four specific probes designed to detect Gram-negative bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) was developed.

Maternal country of birth and previous pregnancies are associated with breast milk characteristics.

Populations in high infectious exposure countries are at low risk of some immune-mediated diseases such as Crohn's disease and allergy. This low risk is maintained upon immigration to an industrialized country, but the offspring of such immigrants have a higher immune-mediated disease risk than the indigenous population. We hypothesize that early life exposures in a developing country shape the maternal immune system, which could have implications for the offspring born in a developed country with a low infectious load.

Endothelial function in children with a history of premature prolonged rupture of membranes and bronchopulmonary dysplasia--a pilot study.

Aim: To investigate vascular function in children with a neonatal history of generalised inflammation indicated by premature prolonged rupture of membranes (PPROM) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Methods: Children born at View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Evaluating Emdogain and healing of replanted teeth using an intra-individual experimental-control study design.

The purpose of the present investigation was to use an intra-individual experimental-control study design to explore if application of Emdogain prior to re-plantation after a dry extra-alveolar period of 60 min would promote a favorable healing of the periodontal ligament cells. Ten patients, for whom already decisions had been taken to extract two maxillary premolars because of crowding, participated in the study. The teeth were extracted and endodontic treatment was performed extra orally.

Skin conductance compared to a combined behavioural and physiological pain measure in newborn infants.

Aim: To assess the ability of galvanic skin response (GSR) to differentiate between tactile and painful stimulation in newborn infants, and to compare this with the ability of the premature infant pain profile (PIPP).

Methods: Thirty-two healthy full-term infants undergoing routine blood sampling were recruited. In a randomized order they were subjected to tactile and painful stimulation.

Parental stress and toddler behaviour at age 18 months after pre-term birth.

Aim: To describe the parent's judgement of their own stress and the child's behaviour at 18 months after pre-term birth and if there are any correlations between these assessments, the morbidity in the neonatal period, the gestational age at birth and the occurrence of twin/triplet births.

Method: Twenty-one mothers and 19 fathers of pre-term infants answered two questionnaires, The Swedish Parenthood Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ) and The Toddler Behaviour Questionnaire (TBQ).

Results: Mothers scored somewhat higher than fathers concerning parental stress.

Teenage mothers -- a high-risk group for new unintended pregnancies.

Introduction: One of the targets of national health programs is to prevent unintended pregnancies, especially among teenagers. It is well established that these often lead to abortion. Preventive programs aimed at decreasing abortion rates should identify target groups at risk for unintended pregnancies.

Thirty-year electrocardiographic follow-up after repair of tetralogy of Fallot or atrial septal defect.

Background And Purpose: Knowledge about long-term electrocardiographic changes after surgery for congenital heart disease is limited.

Methods: Eleven patients with corrected tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) and 14 with corrected atrial septal defect (ASD) were followed up at 20 and 30 years after surgery.

Results: Approximately 50% of the ASD group developed prolonged QRS duration.

Delivery room decision-making for extremely preterm infants in Sweden.

Objective: To assess neonatologists' attitudes and practices regarding treatment of extremely preterm infants in the delivery room, particularly in response to parental wishes.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey of all neonatologists in Sweden registered with the Swedish Pediatric Society.

Results: The response rate was 71% (88 of 124 neonatologists).

Quality of care of the preterm infant--the parent and nurse perspective.

Aim: To study the subjective opinions about what is important in care at neonatal units and child health centres (CHCs) for premature newborns, and to compare these opinions with the care actually given.

Subjects: 21 mothers, 20 fathers and 15 nurses at the neonatal unit, and 21 mothers, 14 fathers and 18 nurses at CHCs.

Methods: A questionnaire on quality of Care from the Patient's Perspective was used.

Can cry in the newborn be used as an assessment of pain?

Unlabelled: Pain in the neonate is a complex subject. The assessment of pain should be simple and clinically usable. So far, the scales that have been used to assess pain are too time consuming and complex.

Views on neonatal care of newborns weighing less than 500 grams.

The limit of viability is intensely debated. Newborns below 500 g birthweight are often small for gestational age with an increased risk of short- and long-term mortality and morbidity. The level of given neonatal care must be individualized.

The role of endogenous opioids in mediating pain reduction by orally administered glucose among newborns.

Objective: It has been demonstrated clearly that sweet-tasting solutions given before a painful intervention can reduce pain among newborns. There is no fully accepted explanation for this effect, but activation of endogenous opioids has been suggested as a possible mechanism. The aim of this study was to obtain deeper knowledge of the underlying mechanism by investigating whether administration of an opioid antagonist would reduce the effect of orally administered glucose at heel stick among term newborns.

Defective neutrophil oxidative burst in preterm newborns on exposure to coagulase-negative staphylococci.

The neutrophil oxidative burst is a product of the regulated assembly of the multicomponent oxidase enzyme. Our aim was to compare the oxidative burst in term (n = 10) and preterm newborns <31 wk gestational age (n = 10) after stimulation with coagulase-negative staphylococci in vitro. Strains of Streptococcus epidermidis with different invasive and slime-producing properties, one strain of S.

Feeding and oral glucose--additive effects on pain reduction in newborns.

Aims: The aims of this study were to compare the pain reducing effect of oral glucose with that of being breast-fed shortly before venipuncture in newborns, and also the pain score and crying time with parents' assessment.

Design: Randomised, controlled trial.

Subjects: 120 full term newborns undergoing venipuncture randomly assigned to on of four groups: I, Breast-fed and 1-ml placebo; II, Breast-fed and 1-ml 30% glucose; III, Fasting and 1-ml placebo; and IV, Fasting and 1-ml 30% glucose.

From alienation to familiarity: experiences of mothers and fathers of preterm infants.

Background: The birth of a preterm infant has a long-term impact on both parents. Mothers report more stress and poor adjustment compared with fathers. Influencing factors, such as family situation and health status of the child, can support or weaken the coping ability of the parents.