Newborn screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A two-year pilot study.

Objective: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked disorder resulting in progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, cardiomyopathy, and in late stages, cardiorespiratory impairment, and death. As treatments for DMD have expanded, a DMD newborn screening (NBS) pilot study was conducted in New York State to evaluate the feasibility and benefit of NBS for DMD and to provide an early pre-symptomatic diagnosis.

Methods: At participating hospitals, newborns were recruited to the pilot study, and consent was obtained to screen the newborn for DMD.

A Quality Improvement Project to Standardize Surfactant Delivery in the Era of Noninvasive Ventilation.

Introduction: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and surfactant both improve outcomes for premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome. However, prolonged trials of CPAP, as well as observation periods after intubation, may delay the administration of surfactant. Late surfactant treatment likely increases the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, which leads to significant morbidity and healthcare utilization.

Prevalence and Longevity of PTSD Symptoms Among Parents of NICU Infants Analyzed Across Gestational Age Categories.

. This study aims to investigate whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms exist >1 year after neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience and whether PTSD symptomatology differs across parents of infants of different gestational age categories. .

Variation in Neonate Swaddling Techniques.

Background: It is common practice for healthcare practitioners to swaddle infants in newborn nursery and neonatal intensive care unit settings. Despite the widespread use of this practice, the American Academy of Pediatrics neither bans nor recommends swaddling. To date, there has been no standard protocol developed for either healthcare professionals or parents to establish optimal swaddling techniques in terms of infant arm positioning, infant leg positioning, and tightness of wrap.

Parental Perception of Risk Associated With Their Premature Infant.

Background: Preterm birth has been linked to increased parental stress, depression, and anxiety. Although the rate of neonatal morbidity and mortality decreases with increasing gestational age, recent research has revealed that there is no threshold age for risk or parental concern.

Purpose: This study examines parental concern about medical and developmental outcomes of their premature infant.