Progesterone as a Neuroprotective Agent in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy: A Systematic Review.

Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) in the newborn baby is a major contributor to neonatal mortality and morbidity across the world. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the current standard treatment for moderate to severe HIE, but not all babies benefit. Potential neuroprotective actions of progesterone (PROG) include anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects and reduction of energy depletion, tissue/cellular oedema, and excitotoxicity.

Serological follow-up of infants born to mothers with positive syphilis serology - real-world experiences.

The 2008 UK syphilis guideline recommends infants born to women with any positive syphilis serology be followed up until both treponemal and nontreponemal tests are negative to exclude congenital syphilis, whereas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommend using only nontreponemal tests. Historically, we had low infant follow-up rates with no coherent pathways. We initiated a change in multidisciplinary team practice of infant testing for syphilis in 2011 and evaluated the results before and after by retrospective review of testing of infants born to women with positive syphilis serology between 2005 and 2012.

The effect of parenteral lipid emulsions on pulmonary hemodynamics and eicosanoid metabolites in preterm infants: a pilot study.

Background: Soy-based intravenous fat emulsion (IVFE) is known to cause a rise in pulmonary artery pressure in the preterm infant, thought to be mediated through eicosanoid metabolites of linoleic acid. We compared the effect of soy-based IVFE and an olive-oil-based IVFE containing less than half the content of linoleic acid on pulmonary artery pressure and eicosanoid metabolites in preterm infants receiving parenteral nutrition.

Methods: In this pilot study at a regional neonatal intensive care unit (ICU), infants received either a soy-based or olive-oil-based IVFE as part of an otherwise identical feeding protocol.

The management of respiratory distress in the moderately preterm newborn infant.

Respiratory distress in a moderately preterm baby often presents diagnostic and management challenges to the attending paediatrician. Many of these babies will require little or no intervention, but it is known that early intervention in babies with acute respiratory distress often prevents further complications. Most current research evidence relates to extremely preterm newborns, yet moderately preterm infants are numerically far more common.

Posterior fossa abnormalities seen on magnetic resonance brain imaging in a cohort of newborn infants.

Objective: To describe the nature and frequency of posterior fossa (PF) lesions in infants who underwent magnetic resonance (MR) brain imaging in the neonatal period and to correlate with cranial ultrasound (CUS) findings and clinical outcome.

Study Design: A retrospective review of all neonatal MR brain imaging from 1996 to 2001 (n=558). MR images, CUS and case notes were reviewed in infants with PF abnormality.