Parents of preterm-born children; sources of stress and worry and experiences with an early intervention programme - a qualitative study.

Background: Preterm-born children are at increased risk of adverse developmental outcomes, and their parents may experience increased stress levels. The Mother-Infant Transaction Program (MITP) is an early intervention that aims to enhance the parent-infant relationship and child development. The present study investigated differences in parents' experience of stress and concerns about caring for their preterm-born child according to whether they participated in the programme.

Early fetal binge alcohol exposure predicts high behavioral symptom scores in 5.5-year-old children.

Background: Fetal binge alcohol exposure has been associated with neurobehavioral and cognitive symptoms. This study explored whether binge drinking mainly before recognition of pregnancy predicted high symptom scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in 5.5-year-old children.

Effect of an early intervention programme on development of moderate and late preterm infants at 36 months: a randomized controlled study.

Unlabelled: Aim of the present study was to examine the long-term effect of an early intervention for preterm infants on cognitive, gross motor and behavioural outcomes at 36 months corrected age. One hundred and eighteen preterm infants born 2005-2006 with gestational age ≥ 30.0 and <36.

Metabolic acidosis mimicking diabetic ketoacidosis after use of calorie-free mineral water.

A previously healthy boy was admitted with fever, tachycardia, dyspnea, and was vomiting. A blood test showed a severe metabolic acidosis with pH 7.08 and an anion gap of 36 mmol/L.

Effects of early mother-infant intervention on outcomes in mothers and moderately and late preterm infants at age 1 year: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: There is a dearth of knowledge about the effects of early interaction-based interventions on parenting and infant communication skills in moderately and late preterm infants.

Aims: Assess in a RCT the effects of the Mother-Infant Transaction program (MITP) on maternal depression and stress, breastfeeding and mothers' perception of infant temperament; and MITP's impact on preterm infant communication skills at 12 months.

Methods: Mothers/preterm infants (30-36 weeks) were randomly assigned to MITP (intervention group) or standard care (control group).

Perfluorodecalin lavage of a longstanding lung atelectasis in a child with spinal muscle atrophy.

Objective: Persistent lung atelectasis is difficult to treat and perfluorochemical (PFC) liquid may be an option for bronchioalveolar lavage (BAL).

Case Report: A 4-year-old girl with spinal muscle atrophy was admitted in respiratory failure. On admission, the X-ray confirmed the persistence of total right-sided lung atelectasis, which had been present for 14 months.

Binge alcohol exposure once a week in early pregnancy predicts temperament and sleeping problems in the infant.

Background: Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause several cognitive and behavioral difficulties. Few studies have investigated the associations with infant temperament or sleeping patterns. Our aim was to study potential associations between early prenatal binge exposure and infant temperament and sleeping pattern.

Effect of early intervention on social interaction between mothers and preterm infants at 12 months of age: a randomized controlled trial.

In a randomized controlled trial at 12-months of age, the effect of the Mother Infant Transaction Program was tested on social interaction between mothers and moderately and late preterm infants with gestational age≥30.0 and <36 weeks. Ninety-three play sessions were videotaped and coded, 46 mothers-infants in the intervention group and 47 mothers-infants in the control group.

Feasibility of long-term continuous EEG monitoring during the first days of life in preterm infants: an automated quantification of the EEG activity.

Long-term EEG monitoring (LTM) with several electrodes could be a useful tool for surveillance of the brain during the first critical days of life. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of multichannel LTM for automated analysis of EEG activity from d 1 to 3 using eight electrodes. Premature infants (GA <31 wk; n = 48) were continuously monitored for 3 d.

Prototype hybrid systems for neonatal warming: in vitro comparisons to standard of care devices.

Preterm infants lack necessary thermoregulation. An ideal incubator should maintain a uniform and constant thermal environment. We compared the effectiveness of a supplemental heating blanket to improve the heating characteristics of two different incubator warming devices using assessment of their respective function alone as controls.

Maternal IgG anti-A and anti-B titres predict outcome in ABO-incompatibility in the neonate.

Aim: To evaluate predictors for risk of severe hyperbilirubinaemia and kernicterus in ABO-incompatible neonates with emphasize on maternal IgG anti-A/-B titres.

Methods: Blood group O women in labour at Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, were included in the years 2004-2006. Offspring with blood group A or B had direct antiglobulin test performed and IgG anti-A/-B levels measured in maternal plasma.

Cesarean section is associated with more frequent pneumothorax and respiratory problems in the neonate.

We have investigated whether the incidence of neonatal pneumothorax (NP), use of mechanical ventilation (MV) or Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) is increased in neonates delivered at term and preterm by cesarean section (CS). All deliveries at Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, during the period 2001-2005 (n=29,358) were included, among whom 5,957 were delivered by CS (20.3%).

[A newborn infant with hyperventilation].

Respiratory alkalosis is an early sign of urea cycle disorder. A high level of plasma ammonia will strengthen this suspicion. It is of great importance to transfer the infant as soon as possible to a unit capable of giving specific treatment with Na-benzoate, Na-phenylbutyrate, argininchloride and carglumic acid.

Bronchioalveolar lavage with perfluorochemical liquid during conventional ventilation.

Objective: Therapeutic approaches with bronchioalveolar lavage are currently used in infants with severe alveolar space-occupying material. In many circumstances, bronchioalveolar lavage has been performed in conjunction with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Case Report: A 2-month-old boy with severe respiratory failure requiring assisted ventilation did not respond to any conventional treatments, including surfactant.

Alcohol use before and during pregnancy: a population-based study.

Background: Few population-based studies have estimated alcohol consumption and binge drinking before and during pregnancy.

Methods: The study is a longitudinal questionnaire study. In Norway, virtually 100% attend an ultrasound screening at 17-18 weeks of pregnancy.

Alcohol consumption, smoking and breastfeeding in the first six months after delivery.

Aim: To study alcohol use and smoking after delivery, and to relate this to breastfeeding.

Methods: A longitudinal questionnaire study, representative of pregnant women in Oslo. Ninety-two per cent agreed to join the study.

Alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy comparing concurrent and retrospective reports.

Background: Reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy has proven to be higher when reported retrospectively during or after the pregnancy, compared with concurrent reports. In a longitudinal, population-based questionnaire study, we investigated whether these findings could be replicated.

Methods: A longitudinal, population-based questionnaire study.

Consistency of reported alcohol use by pregnant women: anonymous versus confidential questionnaires with item nonresponse differences.

Background: Self-report is the best method to attain information about moderate alcohol consumption. However, reported alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy is sensitive to response bias.

Methods: We compared identical questionnaires completed either confidentially or anonymously by pregnant women.

Blood pressure in the neonate: three non-invasive oscillometric pressure monitors compared with invasively measured blood pressure.

Aim: To compare blood pressure in neonates obtained from three different oscillometer blood pressure monitors (Dinamap, Criticare, Hewlett-Packard) with arterial blood pressure (Hewlett-Packard' invasive unit).

Study Design: A total of 32 randomized, non-invasive blood pressure series, each consisting of three measurements from each monitor, were obtained from 20 neonates (birthweight 531-4660 g). Each measurement was compared with the invasive pressure.

[Three special cases of pregnancy outcome to reflect about].

Background: Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAITP) may be a serious condition with prenatal intracranial haemorrhages. Our three cases of serious NAITP raise the question of whether pregnant women should be screened for thrombocyte type and then for HPA-1a antibodies if they are HPA-1bb positive.

Case Reports: We present three cases of severe NAITP in which screening and follow up of HPA-1a antibodies prevented serious sequelae in two of the siblings.

[Mother-to-child transmission of HIV].

Background: Modern treatment of HIV-positive women has reduced the rate of transmission of HIV to their children. The relative importance of different interventions is unclear. We have studied mother-to-child transmission from the start of the Norwegian epidemic in 1983 and up to the year 2000.