Comparative analysis of foetal and neonatal growth curves.

Introduction: Our aim was to determine which foetal or neonatal growth curves discriminate the probability of dying of newborns with low birth weight for their gestational age (small for gestational age, SGA) and sex (weight < 10th percentile) and to establish the curves that are presumably most useful for monitoring growth through age 10 years.

Material And Methods: The analysis included every neonate (15 122) managed in our hospital (2013-2022) and all neonates born preterm before 32 weeks (6913) registered in the SEN1500 database (2019-2022). We considered most useful those curves with the highest likelihood ratio (LR) for dying with or without a history of SGA in each subgroup of gestational ages.

Global disease burden of and risk factors for acute lower respiratory infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus in preterm infants and young children in 2019: a systematic review and meta-analysis of aggregated and individual participant data.

Background: Infants and young children born prematurely are at high risk of severe acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In this study, we aimed to assess the global disease burden of and risk factors for RSV-associated ALRI in infants and young children born before 37 weeks of gestation.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of aggregated data from studies published between Jan 1, 1995, and Dec 31, 2021, identified from MEDLINE, Embase, and Global Health, and individual participant data shared by the Respiratory Virus Global Epidemiology Network on respiratory infectious diseases.

Morbidity and Mortality of Very-Low-Birthweight Twin Infants according to Their Sex and the Sex of the Co-Twin: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: The concept of male disadvantage regarding the prognosis of premature newborns was introduced more than half a century ago, and it has been corroborated over time. However, the influence of the sex of one twin on the outcomes of the other has yielded contradictory results.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine if, in twin pregnancies of VLBW infants, the outcomes of one twin are modified by the sex of the co-twin.

Effectiveness of a probiotic combination on the neurodevelopment of the very premature infant.

Probiotics have shown a benefit in reducing necrotising enterocolitis in the premature infant, however the study of their effect on premature neonates' neurodevelopment is limited. The aim of our study was to elucidate whether the effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum NCDO 2203 combined with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDO 1748 could positively impact the neurodevelopment of the preterm neonates. Quasi-experimental comparative study with a combined treatment of probiotics in premature infants < 32 weeks and < 1500 g birth weight, cared for at a level III neonatal unit.

The role of human milk feeds on inotrope use in newborn infants with sepsis.

Background: Regarding neonatal hypotension, there is no certainty as to whether inotrope properties are beneficial or whether they may be harmful. However, given that the antioxidant content of human milk plays a compensatory role in neonatal sepsis and that human milk feeding has direct effects in modulating the cardiovascular function of sick neonates, this research hypothesized that human milk feeds might predict lower requirements of vasopressors in the management of neonatal septic shock.

Method: Between January 2002 and December 2017, all late preterm and full-term infants attending a neonatal intensive care unit, with clinical and laboratory findings of bacterial or viral sepsis, were identified in a retrospective study.

Correction: Prediction of mortality in very low birth weight neonates in Spain.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Relevance of enteroviruses in neonatal meningitis.

Introduction: Enterovirus (EV) infections are the most frequent infections in the neonatal period and in many cases lead to hospital admission of the newborn (NB). The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of EV in the etiology of neonatal meningitis and to define the clinical characteristics of newborns with EV meningitis.

Material And Method: Retrospective observational cohort study.

Identifying the research, advocacy, policy and implementation needs for the prevention and management of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection in low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction: The high burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in young children disproportionately occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The PROUD (Preventing RespiratOry syncytial virUs in unDerdeveloped countries) Taskforce of 24 RSV worldwide experts assessed key needs for RSV prevention in LMICs, including vaccine and newer preventive measures.

Methods: A global, survey-based study was undertaken in 2021.

Survival and Survival without Major Morbidity Seem to Be Consistently Better throughout Gestational Age in 24- to 30-Week Gestational Age Very-Low-Birth-Weight Female Infants Compared to Males.

Introduction: Several studies showed advantages in outcomes for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) female infants. It has been suggested that recent advances in perinatal care might have benefited boys relatively more than girls, making differences disappear.

Objectives: The aims of the study were (1) to determine if sex differences in survival and survival without morbidity in VLBW infants are still present in the context of more advanced perinatal care and (2) to know whether these differences are consistent throughout gestational age (GA).

Factors Associated with Survival and Survival without Major Morbidity in Very Preterm Infants in Two Neonatal Networks: SEN1500 and NEOCOSUR.

Introduction: Very low-birth weight (VLBW) infants represent a high-risk population for morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period. Variability in practices and outcomes between centers has been acknowledged. Multicenter benchmarking studies are useful to detect areas of improvement and constitute an interesting research tool.

Feasibility of umbilical cord blood as a source of red blood cell transfusion in preterm infants.

Background: Preterm infants born earlier than 32 weeks of gestational age (GA) often need red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, which have been associated with an increased incidence of complications of prematurity, due to changes in tissue oxygenation. Transfusion of umbilical cord blood (UCB) could be beneficial for this group. The aims of this study were: (i) to determine the RBC transfusion needs in infants <32 weeks in Hospital Clinic of Barcelona; (ii) to identify the target GA group that would benefit most from UCB transfusion; and (iii) to assess the current availability of UCB as a potential source of RBC transfusion for these premature infants in our tertiary referral blood bank.

Prediction of mortality in very low birth weight neonates in Spain.

Objective: Predictive models for preterm infant mortality have been developed internationally, albeit not valid for all populations. This study aimed to develop and validate different mortality predictive models, using Spanish data, to be applicable to centers with similar morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Infants born alive, admitted to NICU (BW<1500 g or GA<30 w), and registered in the SEN1500 database, were included.

Fortifier selection and dosage enables control of breast milk osmolarity.

Background: Human breast milk (BM) fortification is required to feed preterm newborns with less than 32 weeks of gestation. However, addition of fortifiers increases osmolarity and osmolarity values higher than 450 mOsm/kg may be related to gastrointestinal pathology. Hence, fortifier selection and dosage are key to achieve optimal feeding.

Extrauterine growth restriction in very preterm infant: etiology, diagnosis, and 2-year follow-up.

In very-preterm small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, long-term postnatal growth is confused with extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR). We aimed to document EUGR in SGA infants and in non-SGA infants ("true-EUGR") and its relationship with fetal, maternal, and neonatal etiological factors. Four hundred seventy-nine very-preterm infants (< 32 weeks) born between 2003 and 2014 and attending the follow-up clinic were included.

Intercenter variability and factors associated with survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm newborns.

Variability in clinical practice may influence morbidity and mortality in extremely preterm infants. We aimed to know if there are differences in survival and survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in extremely preterm infants in Spanish tertiary hospitals and the potential associated factors. Fifteen hospitals from the SEN1500 network were studied.

Adherence to the neonatal resuscitation algorithm for preterm infants in a tertiary hospital in Spain.

Background: There is evidence that delivery room resuscitation of very preterm infants often deviates from internationally recommended guidelines. There were no published data in Spain regarding the quality of neonatal resuscitation. Therefore, we decided to evaluate resuscitation team adherence to neonatal resuscitation guidelines after birth in very preterm infants.

Past, Present and Future Approaches to the Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Children.

Introduction: The REGAL (RSV Evidence - A Geographical Archive of the Literature) series has provided a comprehensive review of the published evidence in the field of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Western countries over the last 20 years. This seventh and final publication covers the past, present and future approaches to the prevention and treatment of RSV infection among infants and children.

Methods: A systematic review was undertaken of publications between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2017 across PubMed, Embase and The Cochrane Library.

Monitoring the Postnatal Growth of Preterm Infants: A Paradigm Change.

There is no consensus regarding how the growth of preterm infants should be monitored or what constitutes their ideal pattern of growth, especially after term-corrected age. The concept that the growth of preterm infants should match that of healthy fetuses is not substantiated by data and, in practice, is seldom attained, particularly for very preterm infants. Hence, by hospital discharge, many preterm infants are classified as postnatal growth-restricted.

Variations in the number of births by day of the week, and morbidity and mortality in very-low-birth-weight infants.

Objective: To know the distribution of births of very low birth weight infants by day of the week, and whether this distribution affects the morbidity and mortality in this group of patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively in the Spanish SEN1500 network (2002-2011). Outborn infants, patients with major congenital anomalies, and those who died in the delivery room were excluded.

[Intestinal cystic duplication. Case report].

Intestinal cystic duplications are rare congenital anomalies, with an estimated incidence of approximately 1:4500 autopsies. The etiopathogenesis is uncertain. These duplications are cystic, tubular or diverticular structures lined with gastrointestinal mucosa.

Can cerebellar and brainstem apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values predict neuromotor outcome in term neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with hypothermia?

Background And Purpose: To determine the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in specific infratentorial brain structures during the first week of life and its relation with neuromotor outcome for Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in term neonates with and without whole-body hypothermia (TH).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 45 MRI studies performed in the first week of life of term neonates born between 2010 and 2013 at Boston Children's Hospital. Selected cases were classified into three groups: 1) HIE neonates who underwent TH, 2) HIE normothermics (TN), and 3) controls.

Defining the Incidence and Associated Morbidity and Mortality of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Among Children with Chronic Diseases.

Introduction: REGAL (RSV Evidence-a Geographical Archive of the Literature) has provided a comprehensive review of the published evidence in the field of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Western countries over the last 20 years. This review covers the risk and burden of RSV infection in children with underlying medical conditions or chronic diseases (excluding prematurity and congenital heart disease).

Methods: A systematic review of publications between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2015 across PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.