Cardiovascular function in children who had chronic lung disease of prematurity.

Objectives: Although increased pulmonary arterial pressure is common in infancy in preterm infants who develop chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD), it is unknown if the increase persists into childhood. We, therefore, assessed if 8-12-year-old children with documented CLD in infancy had evidence of right ventricular dysfunction or pulmonary arterial hypertension at rest or in response to acute hypoxia when compared to preterm and term-born controls.

Methods: We studied 90 children: 60 born at ≤32 weeks of gestation (28 with CLD and 32 preterm controls), and 30 term-born controls.

Tidal breathing in preterm infants receiving and weaning from continuous positive airway pressure.

Objective: To compare tidal breathing on different continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices and pressures and to serially measure tidal breathing during weaning off CPAP using electromagnetic inductive plethysmography.

Study Design: Using electromagnetic inductive plethysmography, tidal breathing was measured in 29 preterm infants receiving CPAP, gestational age 28 ± 2 weeks. Variable-flow nasal CPAP (nCPAP), bubble CPAP (bCPAP) at pressures of 5, 7, and 9 cmH2O, nasal bi-level positive airway pressure (nBiPAP) system at pressures of 5, 7/5, and 9/5 cmH2O, and unsupported breathing were studied.

Electromagnetic inductance plethysmography to measure tidal breathing in preterm and term infants.

Tidal breathing measurements which provide a non-invasive measure of lung function in preterm and term infants are particularly useful to guide respiratory support. We used a new technique of electromagnetic inductance plethysmography (EIP) to measure tidal breathing in infants between 32 and 42 weeks postconceptional age (PCA). Tidal breathing was measured in 49 healthy spontaneously breathing infants between 32 and 42 weeks PCA.

Which clinical features distinguish inflicted from non-inflicted brain injury? A systematic review.

Aim: A systematic review of the scientific literature to define clinical indicators distinguishing inflicted (iBI) from non-inflicted brain injury (niBI).

Methods: An all language literature search of 20 electronic databases, websites, references and bibliographies from 1970-2008 was carried out. Relevant studies were independently reviewed by two trained reviewers, with a third review where required.