Association of BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccination during pregnancy with postnatal outcomes in premature infants.

Aim: The effect of COVID-19 vaccine given during pregnancy on premature infants is unknown. This study aims to determine the association between maternal COVID-19 vaccine with postnatal outcome in premature infants.

Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective case-control study of infants born before 35 weeks gestation to mothers who received SARS-CoV-2 vaccine during pregnancy compared with infant born to non-vaccinated mothers.

"I'll Be There": Informal and Formal Support Systems and Mothers' Psychological Distress during NICU Hospitalization.

Mothers of infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at a high risk for psychological distress, which is of concern to health and social professionals due to the negative implications for mothers and infants. A model for explaining maternal psychological distress, consisting of intolerance to uncertainty and support from informal (spouse, family, and friends) and formal (medical staff) systems was examined. Data was collected from one of the largest NICUs in Israel; 129 mothers of 215 preterm infants completed self-report questionnaires regarding their background variables, intolerance to uncertainty, perceived informal support and perceived medical staff support.

The Clinical Significance of Extreme Leukocytosis among Newborns: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the clinical significance of extreme leukocytosis (>40,000 cells/µL) at birth among neonates.

Study Design: Data were retrospectively collected on 208 infants with leukocytosis >40,000 cells/µL and on matched normal controls as determined in complete blood counts obtained on the first day of life.

Results: There were no significant group differences in birth weight, Apgar's score, timing of respiratory support, hospitalization in special care units or rehospitalization during the first month of life.

Exposure to War Prior to Conception: Maternal Emotional Distress Forecasts Sex-Specific Child Behavior Problems.

Objectives: Exposure to maternal stress during the prenatal period adversely affects child outcomes. Recent investigations have shifted to an even earlier period, the preconception period, to better understand the role of this formative period in human health and disease. We investigated the links between maternal emotional distress following preconception exposure to war, and child outcomes at age 10.

Determinants of Staphylococcus aureus carriage in the developing infant nasal microbiome.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of healthcare- and community-associated infections and can be difficult to treat due to antimicrobial resistance. About 30% of individuals carry S. aureus asymptomatically in their nares, a risk factor for later infection, and interactions with other species in the nasal microbiome likely modulate its carriage.

Increased risk for early hypertriglyceridemia in small for gestational age preterm infants.

Small for gestational age preterm are at increased risk for future metabolic syndrome. Early indication for the disrupted metabolism may be found in the perinatal period. We aimed to evaluate whether small for gestational age preterm infants are at increased risk for hypertriglyceridemia when treated with lipid emulsions, and to investigate the association between triglyceride levels and morbidity.

The association between novel glucose indices in parturients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and clinically significant neonatal hypoglycemia.

The aim of this study was to determine the association between glucose control indices of parturient with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), treated with an insulin pump and utilizing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and clinically significant neonatal hypoglycemia. This was a retrospective cohort study which included 37 pregnant women with T1DM. All women were followed at a single tertiary center and had available CGM data.

Short-Term Neonatal Outcome among Term Infants after In-Utero Exposure to Beta Blockers.

Background: The need for postnatal monitoring of infants exposed to intrauterine beta blockers (BBs) has not been clearly defined.

Objectives: To evaluate infants exposed to intrauterine BBs in order to estimate the need for postnatal monitoring.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study comprised 153 term infants born to mothers who had been treated with BBs during pregnancy.

"Golden Hour" quality improvement intervention and short-term outcome among preterm infants.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a quality improvement intervention during the first hour of life ("Golden Hour") on short-term preterm neonatal outcome.

Study Design: A comprehensive protocol designed for initial stabilization and treatment of preterm infants that included cord blood sampling, use of a dedicated resuscitation room and improved team communication using Crew Resource Management tools. The infants admitted before and after implementation of the protocol were retrospectively compared in a matched case-control design.

Characteristics and severity of preeclampsia in young and elderly gravidas with hypertensive disease.

Introduction: Advanced maternal age (AMA) is associated with increased risk for preeclampsia, however, a paucity of data exists regarding the characteristics of the disease in this age group. Our aim was to compare the characteristics and severity of preeclampsia in older and younger gravidas.

Materials & Methods: A retrospective, small case control study of women diagnosed with preeclampsia in a single tertiary care center.

The Impact of Preterm Infants' Continuous Exposure to Breast Milk Odor on Stress Parameters: A Pilot Study.

Objective: This pilot study aimed to assess the effect of continuous exposure to the odor of own mothers' breast milk (BM) on the stress parameters of preterm infants.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen healthy preterm infants were included. Mean heart rate and salivary cortisol were measured over three consecutive time periods, each lasting 2 days: (1) preintervention (odor free); (2) intervention, during which a cotton pad soaked with 1.

Clinical evaluation of early acquisition of Staphylococcus aureus carriage by newborns.

Background: Little is known about neonatal Staphylococcus aureus carriage. Sites and clinical outcomes of S. aureus colonization during the first month of life were evaluated in this study.

Cumulative pain-related stress and developmental outcomes among low-risk preterm infants at one year corrected age.

Background: Extensive exposure of preterm infants to pain-related stress (PRS) at a time of physiological immaturity and rapid brain development may contribute to altered neurodevelopment.

Objective: To examine the relationship between early PRS and neurodevelopmental outcomes among low-risk very preterm infants at the age of one year corrected age (CA).

Methods: Participants included 107 infants born <32weeks gestational age (GA) and monitored prospectively at 12.

Risk factors for brain damage among preterm twins.

Aim: To evaluate the perinatal and postnatal risk factors for various brain pathologies among preterm twins.

Methods: Retrospective data of 104 twin pairs of which one of the siblings had evidence of abnormal head ultrasound (HUS) and its co-twin with normal HUS served as control.

Results: Abnormal HUS consisted of periventricular echodensities among 69 infants, intraventricular hemorrhage among 28 infants, cystic periventricular leukomalacia among 10 infants, and other parenchymal brain pathologies among 5 infants.

Short-Term Perinatal Outcome among Term Infants with Prenatal Diagnosis of Large Abdominal Circumference.

 Measuring fetal abdominal circumference (AC) prenatally is an effective tool for predicting neonatal weight and macrosomia. Data are lacking regarding the outcome of newborn infants with prenatal diagnosis of large AC.  The aim of this study was to evaluate early short-term neonatal outcome among term singleton newborn infants with prenatal diagnosis of large AC.

The use of short message services (SMS) to provide medical updating to parents in the NICU.

Objective: Premature delivery and prolonged hospitalization of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are very stressful for parents. As technology has advanced, short message services (SMS) have been used increasingly in the medical disciplines. To date, the use of SMS for updating patients and families regarding medical information has not been reported.

Risk factors and associated diseases among preterm infants with isolated lenticulostriate vasculopathy.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk factors and diseases associated with isolated lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV) among preterm infants.

Study Design: Medical records of 84 preterm infants (gestational age (GA) 25 to 34 weeks) with isolated LSV in a case-control retrospective study over a period of 6.5 years were reviewed and compared with matched control infants.

Pre-Conception War Exposure and Mother and Child Adjustment 4 Years Later.

Evidence is accumulating for the transgenerational effects of maternal stress on offspring. A particular increasing concern is the possible transgenerational effects of community exposure to war and terror. Here, 107 mothers that had been exposed to war, were assessed with their 3 year old children (52 % girls) who had been conceived after the end of the war, and thus never directly exposed to war.

Outcome of preterm infants born to overweight and obese mothers†.

Objectives: To evaluate perinatal morbidity and mortality among preterm neonates who were born to overweight and obese mothers compared to preterm neonates who were born to mothers with normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI).

Methods: Retrospective recordings of medical charts of 110 preterm infants born to overweight (n = 68) and obese (n = 42) mothers at gestational age (GA) 28-34 weeks, as well as 110 controls matched for GA and birth weight. All infants were born at the Sheba Medical Center between 2007 and 2014.

Risk factors for periventricular echodensities and outcomes in preterm infants.

Objectives: To determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes associated with transient and/or persistent periventricular echodensities (PVED) among preterm infants.

Methods: Medical records of preterm infants born at ≤ 32 weeks gestational age (GA) with PVED and no other brain pathology were reviewed and compared to matched control infants in a case-controlled retrospective study. Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 8-24 months corrected age were documented.

Factors Associated with Breast Milk Feeding of Very Preterm Infants from Birth to 6 Months Corrected Age.

Objectives: To investigate factors that may affect breast milk feeding (BMF) practices among very preterm infants.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included infants born before 32 weeks gestational age (GA) and monitored up to 6 months corrected age (CA). Feeding method was assessed at day 14 of life, 36 weeks GA, 6 weeks after home discharge, and 6 months CA.

Which Anthropometric Measure Best Correlates with Neonatal Fat Mass at Birth?

Objective Body composition provides additional information than weight alone. There is currently no accepted anthropometric measure of adiposity in infants, yet weight and length data allow calculations of a wide array of indices. The study objective was to identify the anthropometric index which best correlates with neonatal adiposity, by examining the associations between neonatal fat mass and several anthropometric indices of newborn infants.

Indication of Mild Hemolytic Reaction Among Preterm Infants With ABO Incompatibility.

Background: Among term infants, ABO incompatibility is a leading cause of hemolytic disease and neonatal jaundice. With respect to preterm infants, data are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and severity of ABO incompatibility hemolytic disease among preterm infants with respect to hemolytic and jaundice parameters.

Gestational weight gain and body mass indexes have an impact on the outcomes of diabetic mothers and infants.

Aim: This study evaluated mothers with diabetes to determine whether prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), BMI on delivery or gestational weight gain (GWG) had the greatest impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the medical charts of 634 full-term infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus not requiring insulin (n = 476), gestational diabetes mellitus requiring insulin (n = 140) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (n = 18). Data regarding maternal BMI before pregnancy and on delivery were recorded, as well as maternal and neonatal complications.