Impact of Viral Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI) in Early Childhood (0-2 Years) on Lung Growth and Development and Lifelong Trajectories of Pulmonary Health: A National Institutes of Health (NIH) Workshop Summary.

Viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are ubiquitous in early life. They are disproportionately severe in infants and toddlers (0-2 years), leading to more than 100,000 hospitalizations in the United States per year. The recent relative resilience to severe Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) observed in young children is surprising.

Cerebral injury and retinopathy as risk factors for blindness in extremely preterm infants.

Objective: This study investigates whether and to what extent cerebral injury is associated with bilateral blindness in extremely preterm infants, which has been attributed mainly to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Design: Multicentre analysis of children born from 1994 to 2021 at gestational age 22 0/7 to 28 6/7 weeks with follow-up at 18-26 months. Logistic regression examined the adjusted association of bilateral blindness with severe ROP and/or cerebral injury among extremely preterm infants.

Biospecimens in the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study: Rationale and protocol.

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, a multi-site prospective longitudinal cohort study, will examine human brain, cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development beginning prenatally and planned through early childhood. The longitudinal collection of biological samples from over 7000 birthing parents and their children within the HBCD study enables research on pre- and postnatal exposures (e.g.

Biomimetic scaffold and 3D bioprinting in dental application: A review.

Biomimetic scaffold and 3D bioprinting technologies have emerged as promising avenues in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, offering innovative approaches to address the limitations of conventional tissue engineering methods. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements, challenges, and future prospects in the field of biomimetic scaffold fabrication and 3D bioprinting techniques.

Trends in sex differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes among extremely preterm infants.

Objective: To examine whether changes in survival without moderate or severe neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 18-26 months' corrected age from 1999 to 2018 differed between male and female infants.

Design: This retrospective cohort study used data from the NICHD Neonatal Research Network hospitals. Robust Poisson regression models were used to estimate adjusted relative risks (aRRs) and 95% CIs for survival without moderate or severe NDI between males and females.

Blood pressure control in pregnant patients with chronic hypertension and diabetes: should <130/80 be the target?

Background: The Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy Study demonstrated that a target blood pressure of <140/90 mm Hg during pregnancy is associated with improved perinatal outcomes. Outside of pregnancy, pharmacologic therapy for patients with diabetes and hypertension is adjusted to a target blood pressure of <130/80 mm Hg. During pregnancy, patients with both diabetes and chronic hypertension may also benefit from tighter control with a target blood pressure <130/80 mm Hg.

Kidney Health Monitoring in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates: A Modified Delphi Consensus Statement.

Importance: Kidney disease is common in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Despite the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in infants discharged from the NICU, neither evidence- nor expert-based recommendations exist to guide clinical care after discharge.

Objective: To develop recommendations for risk stratification and kidney health monitoring among infants after discharge from the NICU.

Effects of Antihypertensive Therapy During Pregnancy on Postpartum Blood Pressure Control.

Objective: To compare differences in postpartum blood pressure (BP) control (BP below 140/90 mm Hg) for participants with hypertension randomized to receive antihypertensive treatment compared with no treatment during pregnancy.

Methods: This study was a planned secondary analysis of a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial (The CHAP [Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy] trial). Pregnant participants with mild chronic hypertension (BP below 160/105 mm Hg) were randomized into two groups: active (antihypertensive treatment) or control (no treatment unless severe hypertension, BP 160/105 mm Hg or higher).

Risk Assessment of Cognitive Impairment at 2 Years of Age in Infants Born Extremely Preterm Using the INTERGROWTH-21st Growth Standards.

Objective: To assess the risk of cognitive impairment among infants born extremely preterm using the INTERGROWTH-21st standards.

Study Design: We analyzed anthropometric data at birth and 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) from infants born extremely preterm (24-26 weeks of gestation) admitted to US neonatal units between 2008 and 2018. To determine INTERGROWTH-21st z-score values that indicate an increased risk of cognitive impairment at 2 years of age (Bayley cognitive score <85), we employed classification and regression trees and redefined growth failure (weight, length, and head circumference z-scores at 36 weeks PMA) and growth faltering (weight, length, and head circumference z-score declines from birth to 36 weeks PMA).

A lactobacilli-based inhaled live biotherapeutic product attenuates pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease of prematurity. Exposure to noxious stimuli such as hyperoxia, volutrauma, and infection in infancy can have long-reaching impacts on lung health and predispose towards the development of conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood. BPD and COPD are both marked by lung tissue degradation, neutrophil influx, and decreased lung function.

Control of breathing in preterm infants on incubator oxygen or nasal cannula oxygen.

Background: Incubator oxygen may improve respiratory stability in preterm infants compared with nasal cannula oxygen.

Methods: Single center randomized trial of infants <29 weeks' gestation on supplemental oxygen at ≥32 weeks' postmenstrual age. Infants were crossed-over every 24 hours for 96 hours between incubator oxygen and nasal cannula ≤1.

Social Distancing During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Neonatal Mortality in the US.

Importance: Neonatal mortality is a major public health concern that was potentially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To prepare for future health crises, it is important to investigate whether COVID-19 pandemic-related interventions were associated with changes in neonatal mortality.

Objective: To investigate whether social distancing during the pandemic was associated with a higher neonatal mortality rate.

Optimal Timing of Delivery for Pregnant Individuals With Mild Chronic Hypertension.

Objective: To investigate the optimal gestational age to deliver pregnant people with chronic hypertension to improve perinatal outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a planned secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of chronic hypertension treatment to different blood pressure goals. Participants with term, singleton gestations were included.

Heart rate characteristics predict risk of mortality in preterm infants in low and high target oxygen saturation ranges.

Background: The Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis found that in infants <28 weeks gestational age, targeting an oxygen saturation ( ) range of 85-89% 91-95% resulted in lower rates of retinopathy of prematurity but increased mortality. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the heart rate characteristics index (HRCi) in assessing the dynamic risk of mortality among infants managed with low and high target ranges.

Methods: We linked the SUPPORT and HRCi datasets from one centre in which the randomised controlled trials overlapped.

FGF2 is secreted in extracellular vesicles from lung cells.

The 18-kDa isoform of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF/FGF2) lacks a conventional signal peptide sequence and is exported by a novel membrane-associated transport pathway. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized as mediators of intercellular communication in the lung, and our prior work demonstrates that EVs carry cargo that contributes to hyperoxic lung injury and are biomarkers for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We used primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE), pulmonary artery endothelial (HPAE), and fibroblast (HNF) cells to determine whether FGF2 was secreted in EVs.

Pregnancy Outcomes of Nifedipine Compared With Labetalol for Oral Treatment of Mild Chronic Hypertension.

Objective: To evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes by type of antihypertensive used in participants of the CHAP (Chronic Hypertension in Pregnancy) trial.

Methods: We conducted a planned secondary analysis of CHAP, an open-label, multicenter, randomized trial of antihypertensive treatment compared with standard care (no treatment unless severe hypertension developed) in pregnant patients with mild chronic hypertension (blood pressure 140-159/90-104 mm Hg before 20 weeks of gestation) and singleton pregnancies. We performed three comparisons based on medications prescribed at enrollment: labetalol compared with standard care, nifedipine compared with standard care, and labetalol compared with nifedipine.

Achieved oxygen saturations and risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia with pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants.

Objective: Characterisation of oxygen saturation (SpO)-related predictors that correspond with both bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH) development and survival status in infants with BPD-PH may improve patient outcomes. This investigation assessed whether (1) infants with BPD-PH compared with infants with BPD alone, and (2) BPD-PH non-survivors compared with BPD-PH survivors would (a) achieve lower SpO distributions, (b) have a higher fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO) exposure and (c) have a higher oxygen saturation index (OSI).

Design: Case-control study between infants with BPD-PH (cases) and BPD alone (controls) and by survival status within cases.

Genomic Differences between Spontaneous versus Indicated Extreme Preterm Birth.

Objective:  Extremely preterm infants are at high risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Extreme preterm birth (PTB) may result from spontaneous preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes or may be indicated due to preeclampsia, eclampsia, hypertension, or other causes. Our objective was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and biological pathways associated with spontaneous versus indicated extreme PTB using the neonatal genome.

A plasma-3D print combined platform with implications for reliable materiobiological screening.

Materiobiology is an emerging field focused on the physiochemical properties of biomaterials concerning biological outcomes which includes but is not limited to the biological responses and bioactivity of surface-modified biomaterials. Herein, we report a novel characterization platform for characterizing nanoparticle surface-modified 3D printed PLA scaffolds. We have introduced innovative design parameters that were practical for ubiquitous assays like those utilizing 96 and 24-well plates.

Mean Arterial Pressure and Neonatal Outcomes in Pregnancies Complicated by Mild Chronic Hypertension.

Objective: To estimate the association between mean arterial pressure during pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in participants with chronic hypertension using data from the CHAP (Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy) trial.

Methods: A secondary analysis of the CHAP trial, an open-label, multicenter randomized trial of antihypertensive treatment in pregnancy, was conducted. The CHAP trial enrolled participants with mild chronic hypertension (blood pressure [BP] 140-159/90-104 mm Hg) and singleton pregnancies less than 23 weeks of gestation, randomizing them to active treatment (maintained on antihypertensive therapy with a goal BP below 140/90 mm Hg) or standard treatment (control; antihypertensives withheld unless BP reached 160 mm Hg systolic BP or higher or 105 mm Hg diastolic BP or higher).

Highly comparative time series analysis of oxygen saturation and heart rate to predict respiratory outcomes in extremely preterm infants.

Highly comparative time series analysis (HCTSA) is a novel approach involving massive feature extraction using publicly available code from many disciplines. The Prematurity-Related Ventilatory Control (Pre-Vent) observational multicenter prospective study collected bedside monitor data from>700extremely preterm infants to identify physiologic features that predict respiratory outcomes..