Maternal dietary fatty acid composition and newborn epigenetic aging-a geometric framework approach.

Background: Maternal nutrition is associated with epigenetic and cardiometabolic risk factors in offspring. Research in humans has primarily focused on assessing the impact of individual nutrients.

Objectives: We sought to assess the collective impact of maternal dietary MUFAs, PUFAs, and SFAs on epigenetic aging and cardiometabolic risk markers in healthy newborn infants using a geometric framework approach.

Maternal Dietary Carbohydrate Intake and Newborn Aortic Wall Thickness.

Evidence from animal models indicates that maternal diet during pregnancy affects offspring cardiometabolic health. Improving carbohydrate quality during high-risk pregnancies reduces aortic intima-medial thickness; a marker for early atherosclerosis; in the infant offspring. We sought to determine whether maternal carbohydrate quantity and quality are associated with newborn aortic intima-medial thickness in healthy pregnancies.

Cardiac and vascular health in late preterm infants.

Adults who were born preterm are at increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in later life. Infants born late preterm are the majority of preterm births; however, the effect of late preterm on risk of cardiovascular disease is unclear. The objective of this study was to assess whether vascular health and cardiac autonomic control differ in a group of late preterm newborn infants compared to a group of term-born infants.

Epigenetic aging in newborns: role of maternal diet.

Background: Epigenetic aging is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality and may be a mechanistic link between early-life exposures, such as maternal dietary characteristics during pregnancy, and risk of adult disease.

Objectives: We sought to determine the early-life risk factors for newborn epigenetic aging, specifically maternal dietary macronutrient intake, and whether epigenetic aging is associated with cardiovascular health markers in the newborn.

Methods: Epigenetic age acceleration of 169 newborns was measured from saliva using the Horvath age calculator.

Influence of maternal and placental factors on newborn body composition.

Aim: The objective of this study was to assess whether maternal characteristics, placental size or histological chorioamnionitis was associated with newborn body composition. Furthermore, we sought to determine whether placental weight may mediate the association between maternal pre-pregnancy weight and age with newborn body composition.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Increased α-Linolenic Acid Intake during Pregnancy is Associated with Higher Offspring Birth Weight.

Background: The amount and type of fat in the maternal diet during pregnancy are important contributors to fetal growth. The importance of plant-based omega-3 fatty acid (α-linolenic acid, ALA) intake in fetal growth has not been previously examined.

Objective: We sought to determine the association of maternal ALA intake during pregnancy with birth weight and body composition of the offspring.

Preterm Infant Outcomes after Randomization to Initial Resuscitation with FiO 0.21 or 1.0.

Objective: To determine rates of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 2 years corrected age (primary outcome) in children <32 weeks' gestation randomized to initial resuscitation with a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO) value of 0.21 or 1.0.

Body Fatness and Cardiovascular Health in Newborn Infants.

Birth weight is associated with cardiovascular disease, with those at both ends of the spectrum at increased risk. However, birth weight is a crude surrogate of fetal growth. Measures of body composition may more accurately identify high risk infants.

Noninvasive assessment of autonomic function in human neonates born at the extremes of fetal growth spectrum.

Birth weight is associated with adult cardiovascular disease, such that those at both ends of the spectrum are at increased risk. This may be driven in part by modification to autonomic control, a mechanistic contributor to hypertension. However, birth weight is a relatively crude surrogate of fetal growth; and newborn body composition may more accurately identify the "at risk" infant.

Antibiotics at the time of removal of central venous catheter to reduce morbidity and mortality in newborn infants.

Background: Late-onset sepsis is associated with increased rates of mortality and morbidity in newborn infants, in addition to poorer long-term developmental outcomes and increased length of stay and hospital costs. Central line-associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) is the most common cause of late-onset sepsis in hospitalised infants, and prevention of CLABSI is a key objective in neonatal care. Increased frequency of CLABSI around the time of removal of central venous catheters (CVCs) has been reported, and use of antibiotics at the time of removal may reduce the incidence and impact of late-onset sepsis in vulnerable newborn infants.

Cronobacter sakazakii Infection from Expressed Breast Milk, Australia.

Cronobacter sakazakii neonatal infections are often epidemiologically linked to the consumption of contaminated powdered infant formula. We describe a case resulting from consumption of contaminated expressed breast milk, as confirmed by whole-genome sequencing. This case highlights potential risks associated with storage and acquisition of expressed breast milk.

Quantity and Quality of Carbohydrate Intake during Pregnancy, Newborn Body Fatness and Cardiac Autonomic Control: Conferred Cardiovascular Risk?

The fetal environment has an important influence on health and disease over the life course. Maternal nutritional status during pregnancy is potentially a powerful contributor to the intrauterine environment, and may alter offspring physiology and later life cardio-metabolic risk. Putative early life markers of cardio-metabolic risk include newborn body fatness and cardiac autonomic control.

Targeted Oxygen in the Resuscitation of Preterm Infants, a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background And Objectives: Lower concentrations of oxygen (O) (≤30%) are recommended for preterm resuscitation to avoid oxidative injury and cerebral ischemia. Effects on long-term outcomes are uncertain. We aimed to determine the effects of using room air (RA) or 100% O on the combined risk of death and disability at 2 years in infants <32 weeks' gestation.

Impact of a Central Line Infection Prevention Bundle in Newborn Infants.

OBJECTIVE To compare central line use and central line-associated bloodstream infection in newborn infants before and after the introduction of a central line infection prevention bundle in order to determine the effectiveness of the bundle and to identify areas for further improvement. DESIGN Retrospective cohort analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTING Level 5 neonatal intensive care unit in Sydney, Australia.