First postnatal lactate blood levels on day 1 and outcome of preterm infants with gestational age <29 weeks.

Background: Serum lactate levels are used as biomarkers for perinatal asphyxia, while their value for outcome prediction in preterm infants is uncertain. It was the aim of this observational study to determine the association of the first postnatal serum-lactate levels on day 1 of life and short-term outcome in preterm infants less than 29 gestational weeks.

Methods: We analysed data in a population-based cohort of German Neonatal Network (GNN) preterm infants with available first postnatal lactate levels enrolled at 22-28 weeks of gestational age (GA) between 1st of April 2009 and 31st December 2020.

Early postnatal high-dose fat-soluble enteral vitamin A supplementation for moderate or severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death in extremely low birthweight infants (NeoVitaA): a multicentre, randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, investigator-initiated phase 3 trial.

Background: Vitamin A plays a key role in lung development, but there is no consensus regarding the optimal vitamin A dose and administration route in extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants. We aimed to assess whether early postnatal additional high-dose fat-soluble enteral vitamin A supplementation versus placebo would lower the rate of moderate or severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death in ELBW infants receiving recommended basic enteral vitamin A supplementation.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre, randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, investigator-initiated phase 3 trial conducted at 29 neonatal intensive care units in Austria and Germany assessed early high-dose enteral vitamin A supplementation (5000 international units [IU]/kg per day) or placebo (peanut oil) for 28 days in ELBW infants.

[SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnancy and Incidence of Congenital Malformations - is there a Correlation? Analysis of 8032 Pregnancies from the CRONOS Registry].

Background: Based on single case reports, the COVID-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS) registry, sponsored by the German Society for Perinatal Medicine (DGPM), investigated the likelihood that SARS-CoV-2 infections of the mother in (early) pregnancy cause embryopathies and/or fetopathies.

Material/methods: The CRONOS registry enrolled a total of 8032 women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy at more than 130 participating hospitals from April 2020 to February 2023. Both maternal and fetal data were documented and the anonymized multicenter data were analyzed.

Diagnostic Utility of Interleukin-6 in Early-Onset Sepsis among Term Newborns: Impact of Maternal Risk Factors and CRP Evaluation.

(1) Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels act as an early infection marker preceding C-reactive protein (CRP) elevation. This study seeks to analyze IL-6 behavior in suspected early-onset sepsis (EOS) cases among term newborns, comparing it to that of CRP and evaluating IL-6's diagnostic utility. We also aim to assess the impact of maternal risk factors on EOS in term newborns, quantifying their influence for informed decision making.

Application of Next-Generation Sequencing to Enterobacter Hormaechei Subspecies Analysis during a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Outbreak.

Introduction: The complex (ECC) species are potential neonatal pathogens, and ECC strains are among the most commonly encountered spp. associated with nosocomial bloodstream infections. Outbreaks caused by ECC can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in susceptible neonates.

Impact of premature birth on cardiopulmonary function in later life.

Unlabelled: Pulmonary function is reduced in children after preterm birth. The variety of subgroups ranges from early to late preterm births. Limitations in pulmonary function can be observed even after late preterm birth without signs of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and/or history of mechanical ventilation.

Premature birth associated with a favorable course in gestational alloimmune liver disease (GALD): A case report.

Gestational alloimmune liver disease (GALD) is a rare neonatal disorder with high mortality and morbidity. The patients come to caregivers' attention aged a few hours or days. The disease manifests as acute liver failure with or without siderosis.

Evaluating the Use of Neonatal Colonization Screening for Empiric Antibiotic Therapy of Sepsis and Pneumonia.

(1) Background: Since 2013, weekly screening for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative (MDRGN) bacteria has been performed in German neonatal intensive care units (NICU). National guidelines recommend considering these colonization analyses for antibiotic treatment regimens. Our retrospective single center study provides insight into the clinical dichotomy of bacterial colonization and infection rates in neonates.

Orofacial clefts alter early life oral microbiome maturation towards higher levels of potentially pathogenic species: A prospective observational study.

Orofacial clefts (OFC) present different phenotypes with a postnatal challenge for oral microbiota development. In order to investigate the impact of OFC on oral microbiota, smear samples from 15 neonates with OFC and 17 neonates without OFC were collected from two oral niches (tongue, cheek) at two time points, i.e.

Age-related Differences in Immune Reactions to SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Nucleocapsid Antigens.

Background/aim: The manifestation and severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections show a clear correlation to the age of a patient. The younger a person, the less likely the infection results in significant illness. To explore the immunological characteristics behind this phenomenon, we studied the course of SARS-CoV-2 infections in 11 households, including 8 children and 6 infants/neonates of women who got infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy.

Influence of Timing of Antenatal Corticosteroid Administration on Morbidity of Preterm Neonates.

Background/aim: We investigated the impact of the timing of antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) administration on the clinical outcome of preterm infants.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred and fifty-five preterm infants between 28+0 and 34+0 weeks of gestation were retrospectively assigned to one of two groups: In the first group, ACS was given within 7 days before birth; the second group, did not receive ACS during that period. The primary outcome parameter was respiratory failure (defined by need for continuous positive airway pressure or mechanical ventilation) due to grade 1-4 respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Early MDO with a Virtually Planned Distractor in a Neonate with Pierre Robin Sequence.

Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) is characterized by mandibular micrognathia, glossoptosis, and airway obstruction. We report a case of a female infant with PRS in combination with deletion of chromosome 4q and cardiac insufficiency due to an atrioventricular septum defect. The child was transferred to our center from a peripheral hospital with respiratory insufficiency.

A surrogate cell-based SARS-CoV-2 spike blocking assay.

To monitor infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and successful vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the kinetics of neutralizing or blocking anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers need to be assessed. Here, we report the development of a quick and inexpensive surrogate SARS-CoV-2 blocking assay (SUBA) using immobilized recombinant human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) and human cells expressing the native form of surface SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Spike protein-expressing cells bound to hACE2 in the absence or presence of blocking antibodies were quantified by measuring the optical density of cell-associated crystal violet in a spectrophotometer.

[Is the Quality Guideline of Care Delivery of Preterm and Mature Infants (QFR-RL) of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) a Quality Risk? - An Analysis of the Fulfillment Rate and the Consequences for Care Delivery to Other IC Patients and Imminent Premature Infants at a Regional Network of Perinatal Centers].

Background: The quality guideline for care delivery to preterm and mature infants (QFR-RL) places high demands on perinatal centers. In this analysis, the degree of fulfillment was determined. Additionally, care delivery to further patient groups and sufficient nursing staff capacity for care delivery to imminent preterm infants (FG) were evaluated.

Safety and immunogenicity of Fc-EDA, a recombinant ectodysplasin A1 replacement protein, in human subjects.

In X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, the most frequent ectodermal dysplasia, an inherited deficiency of the signalling protein ectodysplasin A1 (EDA1) impairs the development of the skin and its appendages, various eccrine glands, and dentition. The severe hypohidrosis common to X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia patients may lead to life-threatening hyperthermia, especially during hot weather or febrile illness. Fc-EDA, an EDA1 replacement protein known to prevent the disease in newborn animals, was tested in 2 clinical trials (human adults and neonates) and additionally administered under compassionate use to 3 infants in utero.

Childhood polyarteritis nodosa in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is an uncommon disorder of Fas-mediated apoptosis that results in impaired lymphocyte death and, therefore, disturbed immune homeostasis. Besides presentation with lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, patients with ALPS have a high incidence of autoimmune phenomena. To our knowledge, this is the first description of polyarteritis nodosa that includes numerous arterial aneurysms in a child with ALPS.

Plasticity of dendritic cell function in response to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).

Current evidence suggests that maturing dendritic cells (DCs) acquire a migratory phenotype to induce T cell responses in lymph nodes or a proinflammatory phenotype to condition the microenvironment at peripheral sites. We show that the interplay of PGE(2) and IFN-gamma generates a more complex pattern of mixed DC phenotypes in response to TLR stimulation. DCs activated by the TLR ligand R-848 in the presence of IFN-gamma and PGE(2) produced high levels of IL-12p70 and IL-23, started migration toward CCL19 within only 10 h, and still continued to secrete IL-12p70 without further restimulation following the migration step.

Efficient chemokine-dependent migration and primary and secondary IL-12 secretion by human dendritic cells stimulated through Toll-like receptors.

Recent findings have demonstrated the properties of cell migration and cytokine secretion to be mutually exclusive and linked them to different functional subpopulations of dendritic cells (DCs). We studied human monocyte-derived DCs after stimulation with peptidoglycan (PGN), poly(I:C), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and R848 (resiquimod) and found the resulting mature DCs to express CCR7, to migrate toward CCL19 and to be efficient primary interleukin (IL)-12 producers. Importantly, the potential for secondary production of large amounts of IL-12p70 in response to CD40 ligation was also preserved after stimulation by all Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands.

Functional characterization of monocyte-derived dendritic cells generated under serumfree culture conditions.

The culture of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) is typically performed in media containing human or fetal calf serum, supplements with the potential to influence the cells phenotype and their functional properties. Published clinical trails based on serumfree cultured DCs reported the use of the commercially available medium AIMV. In this study, we directly compared DCs generated in AIMV medium ("AIMV/sf-DCs") with DCs generated in RPMI supplemented with 2% human serum ("RPMI/HS-DCs") in functional assays of potential relevance for vaccine application.