A Bayesian Reanalysis of the Overall and Sex-Disaggregated Results of the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-Analysis (NeOProM).

Data from the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis (NeOProM) indicate that targeting a higher (91-95%) versus lower (85-89%) pulse oximeter saturation (SpO) range may reduce mortality and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and increase retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Aiming to re-evaluate the strength of this evidence, we conducted a Bayesian reanalysis of the NeOProM data. We used Bayes factors (BFs) to evaluate the likelihood of the data under the combination of models assuming the presence vs.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is often associated with pulmonary vascular disease and secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH). The pathogenesis of BPD-associated PH (BPD-PH) is complex and involves prenatal and postnatal factors that disrupt pulmonary vascular development, and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a factor potentially associated with risk of BPD-PH that has been identified in very recent studies.

Objective: To explore the association of PDA with BPD-PH using a bayesian model-averaged (BMA) meta-analysis of studies.

Association of Funisitis with Short-Term Outcomes of Prematurity: A Frequentist and Bayesian Meta-Analysis.

The fetal systemic inflammatory response associated with intra-amniotic inflammation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of complications of preterm birth. Funisitis is the histologic equivalent of the fetal inflammatory response, whereas chorioamnionitis represents a maternal inflammatory response. We conducted a frequentist and Bayesian model average (BMA) meta-analysis of studies investigating the effects of funisitis on short-term outcomes of prematurity.

Sex Differences in Patent Ductus Arteriosus Incidence and Response to Pharmacological Treatment in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression.

A widely accepted concept in perinatal medicine is that boys are more susceptible than girls to complications of prematurity. However, whether this 'male disadvantage of prematurity' also involves persistent patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has been scarcely investigated. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on studies addressing sex differences in the risk of developing PDA among preterm infants.

Male Disadvantage in Oxidative Stress-Associated Complications of Prematurity: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression.

A widely accepted concept is that boys are more susceptible than girls to oxidative stress-related complications of prematurity, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). We aimed to quantify the effect size of this male disadvantage by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies exploring the association between sex and complications of prematurity. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs were calculated by a random-effects model.

Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations at Birth and Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Very and Extremely Preterm Infants.

Amino acids are increasingly recognized as bioactive molecules in numerous physiological and pathophysiological pathways. The non-essential amino acid glutamate is vasoactive in the rat ductus arteriosus (DA) and a decrease in its levels within the 1st days of life has been associated with the presence of patent DA (PDA) in extremely preterm infants. However, these findings have not been confirmed in other studies.

Tobacco Smoking During Pregnancy Is Associated With Increased Risk of Moderate/Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Epidemiological evidence and animal studies support that intrauterine exposure to tobacco smoke disturbs lung development and has a negative effect in the pulmonary health of the offspring. Individual studies suggest an association between fetal exposure to maternal smoking and risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). However, this association has not yet been systematically investigated.

Risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Associated With the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms C-2578A, C-607A, and α A-1902G: A Validation Study in a Prospective Multicenter Cohort.

The etiology of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is multifactorial and an underlying genetic predisposition to NEC is increasingly being recognized. A growing number of studies identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of selected genes with potential biological relevance in the development of NEC. However, few of these genetic studies have been replicated in validation cohorts.

Dutch Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses' Perceptions of Pulse Oximeter Saturation Target Limits for Preterm Infants.

Purpose: To conduct a national survey to assess practice, knowledge, barriers, and perceptions regarding oxygen saturation (SpO) target limits among Dutch neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses.

Design And Methods: Cross-sectional, web-based survey among 667 nurses from 9 level 3 Dutch NICUs. Part of the questions were based on a clinical scenario (28-weeks preterm infant, treated with CPAP, FiO 0.

Reliability and Validity of a Smartphone-Paired Pulse Oximeter for Screening of Critical Congenital Heart Defects in Newborns.

Background: Barriers to widespread implementation of pulse oximetry screening of critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) in newborns include increasing trends of out-of-hospital births and cost of equipment. In recent years, smartphone-compatible pulse oximeters have appeared on the market, but the validity of such devices in the setting of CCHD screening has not been evaluated.

Objectives: To compare the performance in CCHD screening of a smartphone-paired pulse oximeter (Masimo iSpO2-Rx™) and a hospital-grade pulse oximeter (Masimo Radical-7™).

Is the C242T Polymorphism of the CYBA Gene Linked with Oxidative Stress-Associated Complications of Prematurity?

The C242T polymorphism of CYBA (cytochrome B-245 alpha chain), the gene encoding the p22phox subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, has been linked to several conditions in which oxidative stress plays a pathogenic role. We investigated in a cohort of 451 preterm infants [gestational age (GA) ≤30 weeks] the association of the polymorphism with the risk of developing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis, patent ductus arteriosus, or intraventricular hemorrhage. We observed a significant association of the TT/CT genotype with RDS [odds ratio (OR) 2.

Pulse oximeter saturation target limits for preterm infants: a survey among European neonatal intensive care units.

Unlabelled: The optimum range of pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SpO) for preterm infants remains controversial. Between November 2015 and February 2016, we conducted a web-based survey aimed to investigate the current and former practices on SpO targets in European neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We obtained valid responses from 193 NICUs, treating 8590 newborns ≤28 weeks per year, across 27 countries.

Association between the p.Thr1406Asn polymorphism of the carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 gene and necrotizing enterocolitis: A prospective multicenter study.

The p.Thr1406Asn (rs1047891) polymorphism of the carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) gene has been linked to functional consequences affecting the downstream availability of the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine. L-arginine concentrations are decreased in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Plasma levels of dimethylarginines in preterm very low birth weight neonates: its relation with perinatal factors and short-term outcome.

Endogenously produced inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, in particular asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), are currently considered of importance in various disease states characterized by reduced NO availability. We investigated the association between plasma levels of ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), L-arginine, and citrulline and perinatal factors and outcome in 130 preterm (gestational age ≤ 30 weeks) very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1500 g) infants. Plasma samples were collected 6-12 h after birth.