Comparison of Two Techniques of Superior Vena Cava Flow Measurement in Preterm Infants With Birth Weight <1,250 g in the Transitional Period-Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Superior Vena Cava (SVC) flow in neonates measured by the standard approach has been validated by different groups around the world. The modified SVC flow measurement technique was recently suggested. The aim of our study was to evaluate standard and modified technique of echocardiography SVC flow measurement in a cohort of extremely preterm neonates in the immediate postnatal period.

Low cardiac output measured by bioreactance and adverse outcome in preterm infants with birth weight less than 1250 g.

Background: Recently a new continuous non-invasive cardiac output measurement, bioreactance, has become available. Bioreactance measurement of cardiac output has been shown to correlate with left ventricular output detected by echocardiography in healthy term and preterm neonates.

Aims: Our aim was to correlate cardiac output measurements by bioreactance in the first 48 h of life with adverse outcomes attributable to hypoperfusion (peri/intraventricular haemorrhage (PIVH) and/or necrotising enterocolitis (NEC)) in the cohort of extremely preterm infants.

Central catheter removal timing and growth patterns in preterm infants.

Background: Early discontinuation of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) at 100 ml/kg/day of enteral feeds, compared with 140 ml/kg/day, led to significant delay in time to regain the birth weight in very low birth weight infants (birth weight < 1500 g, VLBW). Our aim was to compare the growth of infants in relation with timing of TPN discontinuation up to 2 years corrected gestational age (CGA).

Methods: Posttrial follow-up study using review of paper medical records.

Are antibiotics a risk factor for the development of necrotizing enterocolitis-case-control retrospective study.

Previous studies have identified numerous risk factors associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight (VLBW; birth weight less than 1500 g) infants. One of the potential pathophysiological contributors could be antibiotic therapy. Our aim was to explore the association between antibiotic exposure and NEC in VLBW infants.

Effect of Early Parenteral Nutrition Discontinuation on Time to Regain Birth Weight in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are used to administer parenteral nutrition (PN) in very low birth weight infants (VLBW; <1500 g). Clinicians try to optimize early nutrition but also minimize the risks associated with intravascular devices. The objective of this study was to examine the early nutrition impact of discontinuing PN at different enteral feed volumes in VLBW infants.

Immune Abnormalities in Patients With Single Ventricle Circulation Precede the Fontan Procedure.

Background: Immune abnormalities are common in Fontan patients with protein-losing enteropathy. Limited data exist on immune function of other patients with single ventricle circulation.

Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated immunologic characteristics of children with single ventricle circulation from neonatal age up to early post-Fontan period.

Spontaneous Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Infants ≤1500 g.

Objectives: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) remains a challenging issue in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, and its management varies widely. Our aim in this study was to document the natural course of ductus arteriosus in a cohort of VLBW infants who underwent conservative PDA management with no medical or surgical intervention.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted in 2 European level-3 neonatal units.

Noninvasive continuous cardiac output and cerebral perfusion monitoring in term infants with neonatal encephalopathy: assessment of feasibility and reliability.

BackgroundNoninvasive hemodynamic monitoring of infants with neonatal encephalopathy (NE) undergoing therapeutic hypothermia (TH) would be a potentially useful clinical tool. We aimed to assess the feasibility and reliability of noninvasive cardiac output monitoring (NICOM) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in this cohort.MethodsNICOM and NIRS were commenced to measure cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), blood pressure (BP), and cerebral regional oxygen saturations (SctO) during TH and rewarming.

A conservative treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in very low birth weight infants.

Background: Treatment of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the preterm infant remains contentious. There are numerous options of the PDA management from early targeted treatment, late (symptomatic) treatment to no treatment at all.

Aims: To evaluate a three different PDA management approaches in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

High flow nasal cannula versus NCPAP, duration to full oral feeds in preterm infants: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the time taken by preterm infants with evolving chronic lung disease to achieve full oral feeding when supported with humidified high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) or nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP).

Design: Single centre randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Level III neonatal intensive care unit at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Is routine transvaginal cervical length measurement cost-effective in a population where the risk of spontaneous preterm birth is low?

Introduction: A recent meta-analysis has suggested that routine measurement of the cervical length should be performed in conjunction with the anomaly scan to identify a group of women at increased risk of preterm delivery. We decided to investigate whether this recommendation is justifiable in a population where the risk of preterm birth is low.

Material And Methods: We reviewed 12 years of obstetric data from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital.

Fatal Primary Capillary Leak Syndrome in a Late Preterm Newborn.

Primary capillary leak syndrome is a rare disease of unknown etiology, characterized by episodes of vascular collapse and plasma extravasation, which may lead to multiple organ failure. Primary capillary leak is extremely rare in children. The authors report a case of a late preterm newborn with fatal capillary leak syndrome of unknown etiology, manifesting as hypotension unresponsive to treatment, extravasation leading to generalised edema, disseminated intravascular coagulation and finally, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

Inhaled nitric oxide in preterm infants with prolonged preterm rupture of the membranes: a case series.

The available evidence does not support the routine use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in the care of premature infants. We present a case series of 22 preterm infants born after prolonged preterm premature rupture of membranes and oligohydramnios with respiratory failure. Oxygenation index decreased significantly after commencement of iNO.

Late medical therapy of patent ductus arteriosus using intravenous paracetamol.

Objective: To investigate the effect of late treatment with intravenous paracetamol on patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure prior to possible PDA ligation.

Methods: A retrospective review of infants with a haemodynamically significant PDA, considered for PDA ligation and treated with intravenous paracetamol prior to possible ligation.

Results: Thirty six infants with a median gestation of 26.

Evaluation of lipid and glucose metabolism and cortisol and thyroid hormone levels in obese appropriate for gestational age (AGA) born and non-obese small for gestational age (SGA) born prepubertal Slovak children.

Aim: Obesity is the major determinant of metabolic syndrome. Being born small for gestational age (SGA) may be co-responsible. We aimed at evaluating the association between 1.

International survey on diagnosis and management of hypotension in extremely preterm babies.

Unlabelled: Hypotension is a commonly diagnosed and treated complication of extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGAN), but enormous variation in diagnosis, management and clinical practice has been documented. We sought to evaluate practice regarding the management of hypotension in ELGANs and developed a web-based questionnaire addressing diagnosis, intervention thresholds and modes of treatment of hypotension in ELGANs. We received 216 completed questionnaires from respondents in 38 countries.

The immune status in situ of recurrent tonsillitis and idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy.

Objective: To analyze the immune status in situ of tonsils of patients with recurrent tonsillitis (RT) and idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy (ITH) with the aim to discuss the indications of tonsillectomy (TE) and tonsillotomy (TT) in young children.

Methods: The histological and immunohistological study of tonsillar tissue of RT and ITH in correlation with immunological parameters in peripheral blood in 13 patients with RT and 16 patients with ITH.

Results: In the RT group, we found a higher degree of fibrosis with a higher density of memory lymphocytes (CD45R0+), B-lymphocytes (CD20+) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8+) in surface epithelium of tonsils compared to the ITH group (NS).

Nanoparticle size and surface charge determine effects of PAMAM dendrimers on human platelets in vitro.

Blood platelets are essential in maintaining hemostasis. Various materials can activate platelets and cause them to aggregate. Platelet aggregation in vitro is often used as a marker for materials' thrombogenic properties, and studying nanomaterial interaction with platelets is an important step toward understanding their hematocompatibility.

Carbon nanotubes activate store-operated calcium entry in human blood platelets.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known to potentiate arterial thrombosis in animal models, which raises serious safety issues concerning environmental or occupational exposure to CNTs and their use in various biomedical applications. We have shown previously that different CNTs, but not fullerene (nC60), induce the aggregation of human blood platelets. To date, however, a mechanism of potentially thrombogenic CNT-induced platelet activation has not been elucidated.

Carbon nanotubes activate blood platelets by inducing extracellular Ca2+ influx sensitive to calcium entry inhibitors.

To elucidate a mechanism of prothrombotic effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), we report here that multiwalled CNTs activate blood platelets by inducing extracellular Ca(2+) influx that could be inhibited by calcium channel blockers SKF 96365 and 2-APB. We also demonstrate platelet aggregating activity of different single-walled and multiwalled CNTs. In addition, we show that CNT-induced platelet activation is associated with a marked release of platelet membrane microparticles positive for the granular secretion markers CD62P and CD63.

A new case of ALG8 deficiency (CDG Ih).

Unlabelled: Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) represent an expanding group of inherited diseases. One of them, ALG8 deficiency (CDG Ih), leads to protein N-glycosylation defects caused by malfunction of glucosyltransferase 2 (Dol-P-Glc:Glc1-Man(9)-GlcNAc(2)-P-P-Dol glucosyltransferase) resulting in inefficient addition of the second glucose residue onto lipid-linked oligosaccharides. So far, only five patients have been described with ALG8 deficiency.

[Detection of chlamydia antibodies in non-standard biological fluids in women with fertility disorders].

Objective: Detection of IgA and IgG antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis in various biological materials in patients with fertility disorders.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty of Charles University and Faculty Hospital, Plzen.

[Penetration of cervical mucus by native and cryopreserved sperm--the Kremer test].

Objective: The penetration of native and cryopreserved human spermatozoa into cervical mucus--the Kremer's test.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Faculty, Charles University and Faculty Hospital, Plzen.