Contextual risk and psychosocial profiles of opioid-using mothers: A mixed-methods study.

Introduction: There is an increase in cases of mothers using opioids during pregnancy in the United States but research investigating mothers' psychosocial environments along with individual variability among this high-risk group of women is scarce.

Methods: This mixed-methods study aims to examine the complex interplay of contextual risks and experiences of opioid-using mothers. A sample of 50 opioid-using biological mothers of infants diagnosed with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) were studied using a set of standardized and open-ended questions, along with medical records extraction.

Outcomes of a Quality Improvement Initiative to Prevent Unnecessary Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusions Among Extremely Low Birth-Weight Neonates.

Background: Extremely low birth-weight (ELBW) infants frequently receive packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions. Recent studies have shown that more restrictive PRBC transfusion guidelines limit donor exposure and reduce transfusion-related costs without any increase in adverse clinical outcomes.

Purpose: We developed and implemented an evidence-based PRBC transfusion guideline for ELBW infants treated in our unit and then measured provider adherence to this guideline.

Off-label use of inhaled nitric oxide after release of NIH consensus statement.

Background: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy is an off-label medication in infants <34 weeks' gestational age. In 2011, the National Institutes of Health released a statement discouraging routine iNO use in premature infants. The objective of this study was to describe utilization patterns of iNO in American NICUs in the years surrounding the release of the National Institutes of Health statement.

Application of a novel socioeconomic measure using individual housing data in asthma research: an exploratory study.

Background: A housing-based socioeconomic index (HOUSES) was previously developed to overcome an absence of socioeconomic status (SES) measures in common databases. HOUSES is associated with child health outcomes in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA, but generalisability to other geographic areas is unclear.

Aim: To assess whether HOUSES is associated with asthma outcomes outside Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA.

ADHD and learning disabilities in former late preterm infants: a population-based birth cohort.

Background And Objective: Previous studies suggest that former late preterm infants are at increased risk for learning and behavioral problems compared with term infants. These studies have primarily used referred clinical samples of children followed only until early school age. Our objective was to determine the cumulative incidence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities (LD) in former late preterm versus term infants in a population-based birth cohort.

Perceptions and practices of therapeutic hypothermia in American neonatal intensive care units.

Objective: In 2005, therapeutic hypothermia (TH) was used in few American neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) with great variability in practices. We hypothesized that TH would be used with greater frequency and uniformity today.

Study Design: We surveyed directors of 797 NICUs queried in our prior study to determine attitudes toward and practices of TH.