Simultaneous Bilateral Thoracoscopy During the Nuss Procedure is Safe, Effective, and Allows for Optimal Visualization of the Bar Passer Throughout the Substernal Dissection.

Purpose: Cardiac injury during the Nuss procedure is a rare risk that can lead to a catastrophic outcome. The specific aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of simultaneous bilateral thoracoscopy (SBT) compared to standard unilateral right thoracoscopy (RT) in children undergoing the Nuss procedure in order to mitigate that risk.

Methods: IRB approval was obtained to analyze data on children who underwent SBT and RT during the Nuss procedure.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Human and Mouse Canalicular Lungs in Fetal Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Background: The nitrofen model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is widely used in translational research. However, the molecular pathways associated with pulmonary hypoplasia in this model compared to the human CDH phenotype have not been well described. The aim of this study was to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEG) and signaling pathways in early stage fetal lungs in mouse and human CDH.

In vivo phenotyping of the microvasculature in necrotizing enterocolitis with multicontrast optical imaging.

Objective: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most prevalent gastrointestinal emergency in premature infants and is characterized by a dysfunctional gut microcirculation. Therefore, there is a dire need for in vivo methods to characterize NEC-induced changes in the structure and function of the gut microcirculation, that is, its vascular phenotype. Since in vivo gut imaging methods are often slow and employ a single-contrast mechanism, we developed a rapid multicontrast imaging technique and a novel analyses pipeline for phenotyping the gut microcirculation.

The administration of a pre-digested fat-enriched formula prevents necrotising enterocolitis-induced lung injury in mice.

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal disease of prematurity that typically develops after the administration of infant formula, suggesting a link between nutritional components and disease development. One of the most significant complications that develops in patients with NEC is severe lung injury. We have previously shown that the administration of a nutritional formula that is enriched in pre-digested Triacylglyceride that do not require lipase action can significantly reduce the severity of NEC in a mouse model.

Toll-like receptor 4-mediated enteric glia loss is critical for the development of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating disease of premature infants, whose pathogenesis remains incompletely understood, although activation of the Gram-negative bacterial receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on the intestinal epithelium plays a critical role. Patients with NEC typically display gastrointestinal dysmotility before systemic disease is manifest, suggesting that dysmotility could drive NEC development. Both intestinal motility and inflammation are governed by the enteric nervous system, a network of enteric neurons and glia.