Aromatherapy as an adjunctive therapy for neonatal abstinence syndrome: A pilot study.

Objective: To determine if aromatherapy added to the current standard of care for opioid withdrawal syndrome decreases hospitali-zation and need for opioid replacement in neonates.

Design: Nonblinded, randomized control trial.

Setting: Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Care-by-parent model as a tool for reduction of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in neonates exposed to buprenorphine maintenance therapy in-utero.

To determine if a structured care-by-parent (CBP) protocol is associated with a reduction in diagnosis of treatment-requiring Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS). We performed a pilot retrospective, case control study of pregnant women enrolled in a comprehensive prenatal care program for opioid-dependent patients during which they received buprenorphine for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Patients who participated in the CBP program actively roomed-in with their infants even after maternal hospital discharge while infants continued to be monitored for development of treatment-requiring NOWS.

Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in preterm infants with pulmonary colonization with Ureaplasma.

Background: A link between pulmonary Ureaplasma spp. colonization in premature infants and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) exists and could possibly contribute to systemic inflammation.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed from July 2006 to July 2007 where very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants were screened at birth.

Pulmonary function outcomes in bronchopulmonary dysplasia through childhood and into adulthood: implications for primary care.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) results from prematurity and surfactant deficiency with contributing factors from barotrauma, volutrauma, and oxygen toxicity from supportive mechanical ventilation care and infection. These factors result in chronic inflammation with recurring cycles of lung damage and repair that impair alveolarisation and vascularisation in developing infant lungs. With advancement in the understanding of its pathophysiology and resulting therapy, BPD has evolved into a different disorder which has been coined the 'new' BPD.

Use of azithromycin for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.

Objective: Since preventive therapies for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are limited we treated preterm infants with azithromycin to decrease the incidence of BPD.

Methods: Infants less than 1,250 g birth weight were randomized to azithromycin or placebo within 12 hr of beginning mechanical ventilation and within 72 hr of birth. The treatment group received azithromycin 10 mg/kg/day for 7 days followed by 5 mg/kg/day for a maximum of 6 weeks.

Acyclovir use in sick infants.

Background: Infantile herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) infection remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is often difficult in this population, where a specific pattern of clinical and laboratory signs are lacking. This often results in unnecessary treatment of infants with empiric acyclovir.

Pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) refers to a heterogeneous group of lung disorders in infants that is commonly associated with prematurity and surfactant deficiency. BPD results from the complex interplay between impairments in the premature lung such as surfactant deficiency, perinatal insults such as infection, and damage resulting from supportive care of the infant due to barotrauma or volutrauma from mechanical ventilation and oxygen toxicity from supplemental oxygen administration. These factors result in chronic inflammation in the infant lung with recurring cycles of lung damage and repair that may impair alveolarization and vascularization in the developing lungs.

Novel animal model for teaching chest tube placement.

Background: The number of procedures available to pediatric residency trainees is few in number and patient size leaves little margin for error. Artificial simulation labs have not been developed for neonatal chest tubes. Use of live animal models is coming under increased scrutiny and is expensive.

Azithromycin protects against hyperoxic lung injury in neonatal rats.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a pulmonary disorder that causes significant morbidity and mortality in premature infants. BPD is pathologically characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and mucosal necrosis, which leads to emphysematous coalescence of alveoli. We tested the hypothesis that azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, would decrease the severity of lung injury in an animal model of BPD.

Azithromycin in the extremely low birth weight infant for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a pilot study.

Background: Azithromycin reduces the severity of illness in patients with inflammatory lung disease such as cystic fibrosis and diffuse panbronchiolitis. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a pulmonary disorder which causes significant morbidity and mortality in premature infants. BPD is pathologically characterized by inflammation, fibrosis and impaired alveolar development.

Neonatal research and the validity of informed consent obtained in the perinatal period.

Background: Consent for participation in clinical research is considered valid if it is informed, understood, and voluntary. In the case of minors, parents give permission for their child to participate in research studies after being presented with all information needed to make an informed decision. Although informed consent is a vital component of clinical research, there is little information evaluating its validity in neonatal intensive-care populations.