Therapeutic hypothermia in neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: electrographic seizures and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of injury.

Objective: To evaluate the electrographic seizure burden in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with or without therapeutic hypothermia and stratified results by severity of HIE and severity of injury as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Study Design: Between 2007 and 2011, video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring was initiated in neonates with moderate to severe HIE. Seizure burden (in seconds) was calculated, and brain MRI scans were quantitatively scored.

Pomegranate juice and punicalagin attenuate oxidative stress and apoptosis in human placenta and in human placental trophoblasts.

The human placenta is key to pregnancy outcome, and the elevated oxidative stress present in many complicated pregnancies contributes to placental dysfunction and suboptimal pregnancy outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that pomegranate juice, which is rich in polyphenolic antioxidants, limits placental trophoblast injury in vivo and in vitro. Pregnant women with singleton pregnancies were randomized at 35∼38 wk gestation to 8 oz/day of pomegranate juice or apple juice (placebo) until the time of delivery.

Neonatal status epilepticus.

Seizures are more prevalent during the neonatal period than at any other time in the human lifespan. During early development, neonates are developmentally predisposed to excitatory neuronal activity increasing their susceptibility to seizures. Status epilepticus is poorly defined in this subpopulation with a lack of a consensus definition.

A pilot study of continuous limited-channel aEEG in term infants with encephalopathy.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy, feasibility, and impact of limited-channel amplitude integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) monitoring in encephalopathic infants.

Study Design: Encephalopathic infants were placed on limited-channel aEEG with a software-based seizure event detector for 72 hours. A 12-hour epoch of conventional EEG-video (cEEG) was simultaneously collected.

Anatomic changes and imaging in assessing brain injury in the term infant.

Encephalopathy from hypoxic-ischemic injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in term infants. MRI is the gold standard in evaluating the nature and extent of injury. Although imaging this population is challenging, important information can be obtained safely.

Imaging for diagnosis and treatment of cerebral palsy.

Neuroimaging, particularly with magnetic resonance techniques, can provide insight into the pattern and severity of cerebral injury underlying cerebral palsy providing a neuroanatomic understanding of the motor and related deficits. Early identification of injury before the establishment of marked motor deficits provides an opportunity for neuroprotection. Neuroimaging provides a robust manner for early delineation of the risk and nature of cerebral palsy that an infant may face.