Higher daily doses of caffeine lowered the incidence of moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disabilities in very low birth weight infants.

Aim: We determined the influence of cumulative dosing of caffeine citrate on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of low birth weight (VLBW) infants at 18-22 months of postmenstrual age.

Methods: This retrospective chart analysis was conducted at Detroit Medical Center, Michigan, USA. The 181 infants we included were born between January 2006 and December 2016, were less than 32 weeks of gestational age and weighed less than 1500 grams.

Clinical utility of transcutaneous bilirubinometer (TcB) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Objective: This is a comprehensive study designed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of transcutaneous bilirubinometry (TcB) in very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns of African American (AA) descent.

Methods: TcB was conducted at the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), temporal region and sternum within 2 h of total serum bilirubin (TSB) measurements in newborns born at ≤32 weeks' gestation prospectively. Average (AVG) TcB levels were also calculated.

Effects of maternal medication use on NGF and IL-6 levels in human breast milk.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal medications on nerve growth factor (NGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in human breast milk (HBM).

Methods: A total of 30 samples of HBM were collected after consent from consecutively born term newborns. NGF and IL-6 concentrations were analyzed using ELISA assays from R&D Systems.

Hyperglycemia is associated with poor outcome in newborn infants undergoing therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) improves survival and neurodevelopmental outcome in neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Both, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia are common in infants with HIE. The relationship between hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and immediate outcome has not been well described.

Effect of early caffeine on neurodevelopmental outcome of very low-birth weight newborns.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of early caffeine therapy started within the first 48 h of life on neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns.

Study Design: VLBW newborns received either caffeine therapy within first 48 h of life (Early group), after 3rd day of life (Late group) or no caffeine during first month of life as per clinical team. A cohort of these newborns (n = 160) who survived were evaluated using Bayley Scale of Infant Development III (BSID III) developmental testing between 18 and 22 months of corrected age.

SNAPPE II Score As a Predictor of Survival in Neonates with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: A Single Center Experience.

Introduction Prediction of mortality and morbidity in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is too complex for practical use and may not be accurate. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the CDH Study Group equation and Score of Neonatal Acute Physiology Perinatal Extension (SNAPPE) II score to predict short-term outcomes of newborns with CDH. Materials and Methods Fifty-two neonates were admitted with CDH at Children's Hospital of Michigan from November 2001 to July 2009.

Use of Raman spectroscopy to decrease time for identifying the species of Candida growth in cultures.

Background: The objective of this study is to establish Raman signatures from pure cultures of different Candida species using Raman Spectroscopy (RS) and use these signatures for rapid identification of unknown Candida species.

Methods: Pure cultures of five Candida species were evaluated using RS to build a limited signature library. 'Raman Processing' (RP) software was used for Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Differential Functional Analysis (DFA).

A comprehensive study of clinical biomarkers, use of inotropic medications and fluid resuscitation in newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated clinical outcomes in PPHN in relation to echocardiographic (EC) markers, score of neonatal acute physiology, perinatal extension, version II (SNAPPE II) scores, inotropic agent use, and the amount of fluid received as boluses. In this retrospective chart analysis of 98 neonates with PPHN born at >34 weeks' gestation, we compared two cohorts of newborns: those who received inhaled nitric oxide and mechanical ventilation only, and who survived to discharge (Group 1); and those who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or who died (Group 2).

Neonatal thyrotoxicosis presenting as persistent pulmonary hypertension.

Neonatal hyperthyroidism is a rare condition caused either by transplacental passage of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins from a mother with Graves' disease or by activating mutations of the thyrotropin receptors and α-subunit of G-protein. The clinical features may vary. We report a case of neonatal thyrotoxicosis in an infant born to a mother with Graves' disease, who presented with cardiorespiratory failure and persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN).

Effect of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction on endothelial progenitor cells in human umbilical cord blood.

Objectives: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) might play important roles in vascular homeostasis. This study evaluated the influence of prematurity, preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on the EPC population in human umbilical cord blood (CB).

Methods: CB was obtained from 19 preterm and 27 term deliveries.

Stable integration of recombinant adeno-associated virus vector genomes after transduction of murine hematopoietic stem cells.

We previously reported that among single-stranded adeno-associated virus (ssAAV) vectors, serotypes 1 through 5, ssAAV1 is the most efficient in transducing murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but viral second-strand DNA synthesis remains a rate-limiting step. Subsequently, using double-stranded, self-complementary AAV (scAAV) vectors, serotypes 7 through 10, we observed that scAAV7 vectors also transduce murine HSCs efficiently. In the present study, we used scAAV1 and scAAV7 shuttle vectors to transduce HSCs in a murine bone marrow serial transplant model in vivo, which allowed examination of the AAV proviral integration pattern in the mouse genome, as well as recovery and nucleotide sequence analyses of AAV-HSC DNA junction fragments.

Changes in neurotrophin levels in umbilical cord blood from infants with different gestational ages and clinical conditions.

Apoptotic neuronal loss may be responsible for altered brain development associated with prematurity and perinatal insults. Neurotrophins play crucial roles in protecting neurons from entering or progressing along an apoptotic pathway. The present study examined levels of neurotrophins in human umbilical cord blood from infants at different gestational ages and clinical conditions.