Prolonged oligohydramnios and the adverse composite outcome of death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment at 3 years of age in infants born at 22-29 gestational weeks.

Objective: To investigate the association between prolonged oligohydramnios and a composite outcome of death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 3 years of age.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled infants born at 22-29 weeks of gestational age without major congenital anomalies. The patients were classified into three groups depending on the existence and duration of oligohydramnios: no/non-prolonged oligohydramnios (no or 0-7 days of oligohydramnios), prolonged oligohydramnios (8-14 days), and very prolonged oligohydramnios (> 14 days).

Predictability of the neurodevelopmental assessment based on the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development 2001 at 18-24 months of corrected age and 3 years of age in identifying cognitive impairment at 6 years of age in very preterm infants: A retrospective study at a Japanese tertiary center.

Background: It is unknown how accurately the current Japanese classification system for neurodevelopmental delay based on the assessment with the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development (KSPD) at toddlerhood and pre-school periods predicts cognitive impairment at school age.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled infants born at 22-29 weeks of gestational age. At 18-24 months of corrected age and 3 years of age, the patients were categorized according to the current Japanese criteria for neurodevelopmental delay based on their overall developmental quotient calculated using the KSPD-2001.

Handling of human milk to prevent acquired cytomegalovirus infection in Japanese neonatal intensive care units: The first nationwide survey.

Background: Human milk (HM) has been proven to provide immunological and nutritional advantages to neonates; however, acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can be associated with raw HM. In Japan, there are no standardized guidelines concerning HM handling. This cross-sectional survey was performed to reveal specific trends in HM handling in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Japan.

Association of hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 gene with the need of home oxygen therapy in premature Japanese infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has a lasting effect on the respiratory function of infants, imposing chronic health burdens. BPD is influenced by various prenatal, postnatal, and genetic factors. This study explored the connection between BPD and home oxygen therapy (HOT), and then we examined the association between HOT and a specific single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 () gene among premature Japanese infants.

The serum thioredoxin-1 levels are not associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity.

Background: We hypothesized that the serum TRX-1 in extremely preterm infants (EPIs) after birth was associated with the development of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: This single-centered retrospective study enrolled EPIs treated at our institution. Serum TRX-1 concentrations of the residual samples taken on admission, day 10-20 of life, and 36-40 weeks of postmenstrual age (PMA) were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Interventions for treating umbilical granuloma: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Introduction: The most frequent umbilical abnormality in infancy period is umbilical granuloma. Although umbilical granuloma treatment with silver nitrate is practised worldwide, silver nitrate cauterisation is high in cost and if silver nitrate comes into contact with healthy tissues, it might cause injury. This systematic review aims to look for evidence concerning the safety and efficacy of all interventions for treating umbilical granuloma in neonates.

An Extremely Preterm Infant Born at 23 Weeks' Gestation With an Interrupted Aortic Arch Complex: A Case Report.

We present a case of an infant male born at 23 weeks' gestation with an interrupted aortic arch (IAA) complex. We treated the patient with hypoxic gas ventilation to address developing systemic undercirculation in the acute postnatal phase. As the symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia evolved, hypoxic gas ventilation was no longer required to stabilize the hemodynamics.

Effect of Fentanyl for Preterm Infants on Mechanical Ventilation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Because excessive physical stress is harmful, reducing pain and discomfort in premature neonates during mechanical ventilation is a major challenge for physicians. There are no consensus and systematic review on the use of fentanyl, the most commonly used pain reliever in preterm neonates during mechanical ventilation. We aim to compare the benefits and harms of fentanyl versus placebo or no drug for preterm neonates receiving mechanical ventilation.

Changes in In-Hospital Survival and Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Extremely Preterm Infants: A Retrospective Study of a Japanese Tertiary Center.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to elucidate whether the survival and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely preterm infants have improved in a Japanese tertiary center with an active treatment policy for infants born at 22-23 weeks of gestation.

Study Design: This single-centered retrospective cohort study enrolled extremely preterm infants treated at Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, from 2003 to 2014. Patients with major congenital abnormalities were excluded.

Therapeutic response of iNO in preterm infants with hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Background: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been used as a rescue treatment for preterm infants with hypoxemic respiratory failure (HRF). However, its effectiveness remains debatable. Thus, in this study, we aimed to examine the impact of iNO therapy on HRF in extremely preterm infants.

Thioredoxin-1 Ameliorates Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy in Newborn Mice through Modulation of Proinflammatory and Angiogenic Factors.

Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) is an animal model for retinopathy of prematurity, which is a leading cause of blindness in children. Thioredoxin-1 (TRX) is a small redox protein that has cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties in response to oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of TRX on OIR in newborn mice.

Primitive Myxoid Mesenchymal Tumor of Infancy With Fatal Hemorrhage In Utero: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Primitive myxoid mesenchymal tumor of infancy (PMMTI) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma in childhood. We present the case of a newborn male who experienced a severe hemorrhage in utero from the tumor on the scalp. He died at the age of 24 hours owing to hemorrhagic shock.

Bedside Ultrasonography in Evaluating Mediastinum Leakage in an Extremely-Low-Birth-Weight Infant with Esophageal Perforation.

Esophageal perforation in premature infants is a life-threatening condition that requires prompt treatment. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is recommended for diagnosis. However, it is difficult to obtain CECT images in premature infants because of their unstable conditions.

Randomized Trial of Perfusion-Based Circulatory Management in Infants of Very Low Birth Weight.

Objective: To establish the superiority of blood flow (BF)-based circulatory management over conventional blood pressure (BP)-based management strategies used for preventing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in infants of very low birth weight (VLBW).

Study Design: We conducted a nonblinded, single-centered randomized trial with the aim to prevent IVH by managing BF. Infants with VLBW were assigned randomly to a BF-based group or BP-based (BP group) circulatory management group.

Cytomegalovirus-related sepsis-like syndrome in very premature infants in Japan.

Background: Very premature infants are at high risk of developing a symptomatic postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, such as CMV-related sepsis-like syndrome (CMV-SLS). To address the limited data regarding its clinical features, a nationwide survey of CMV-SLS was conducted.

Methods: A questionnaire regarding CMV status and the clinical outcomes of CMV-SLS was sent to centers with reported cases of CMV-SLS.

Severe Consumptive Coagulopathy in an Extremely-Low-Birth-Weight Infant with Intra-Abdominal Umbilical Vein Varix: A Case Report.

Recent studies have shown favorable outcomes for intra-abdominal umbilical vein varices (IUVVs) in term neonates who have no other complications. Little is known, however, about the prognosis of IUVVs in preterm neonates. We encountered a case of IUVV in an extremely low-birth-weight infant who developed severe consumptive coagulopathy after birth.

The Acylcarnitine Profile in Dried Blood Spots is Affected by Hematocrit: A Study of Newborn Screening Samples in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants.

Objective: The acylcarnitine profile is analyzed in dried blood spots (DBS) to screen for inborn errors of metabolism. Hematocrit (Ht) is known to affect the result of quantitative analyses of DBS samples; however, the effects of Ht on the acylcarnitine profiles in DBS have not been studied in actual samples from newborns.

Study Design: The acylcarnitine profiles in DBS for newborn screening tests and Ht levels of very-low-birth-weight infants were obtained from medical records.

The Relationship between Serum Total Bilirubin and Severity of Hypoxic Injury in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.

Introduction: Bilirubin has been found to be a natural antioxidant protecting the body from oxidative stress. This study aims to investigate the severity of neonatal hypoxic injury on bilirubin levels to clarify the physiological role of bilirubin.

Study Design: Using lactate as a biomarker for the severity of hypoxic injury, we retrospectively analyzed the association of admission lactate levels on serum total bilirubin (TB) levels following birth in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Acute Gastric Volvulus Successfully Treated by Endoscopic Reduction in a 6-Year-Old Girl and a Review of the Japanese Literature.

A previously healthy 6-year-old girl suddenly developed severe abdominal pain and nausea. She was diagnosed with acute gastric volvulus, and a nasogastric tube was inserted to decompress the stomach. The volvulus did not reduce spontaneously; therefore, we performed endoscopic reduction on day 3 and were able to treat her successfully.

[Significance of bortezomib and dexamethasone therapy for multiple myeloma showing a serum creatinine level above 2 mg/dl].

Here, we retrospectively assessed the reversibility of renal impairment and anti-myeloma effect of bortezomib and dexamethasone (BD therapy) for Japanese patients with multiple myeloma showing a serum creatinine level above 2 mg/dl. Improvement of renal impairment was observed in 6 of 7 patients following a median of 2.4 cycles of BD therapy.