Burden of respiratory syncytial virus hospitalisation among infants born at 32-35 weeks' gestational age in the Northern Hemisphere: pooled analysis of seven studies.

To provide comprehensive information on the epidemiology and burden of respiratory syncytial virus hospitalisation (RSVH) in preterm infants, a pooled analysis was undertaken of seven multicentre, prospective, observational studies from across the Northern Hemisphere (2000-2014). Data from all 320-356 weeks' gestational age (wGA) infants without comorbidity were analysed. RSVH occurred in 534/14 504 (3.

Risk scoring tool to predict respiratory syncytial virus hospitalisation in premature infants.

Background: The objective was to develop a risk scoring tool which predicts respiratory syncytial virus hospitalisation (RSVH) in moderate-late preterm infants (32-35 weeks' gestational age) in the Northern Hemisphere.

Methods: Risk factors for RSVH were pooled from six observational studies of infants born 32 weeks and 0 days to 35 weeks and 6 days without comorbidity from 2000 to 2014. Of 13 475 infants, 484 had RSVH in the first year of life.

Burden of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Among 33-35 Weeks' Gestational Age Infants Born During Multiple Respiratory Syncytial Virus Seasons.

Background: Moderate-late preterm infants, 33-35 weeks' gestational age (wGA), are at increased risk for respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization (RSVH). The objective of this study is to quantify the burden of RSVH in moderate-late preterm infants.

Methods: A pooled analysis was conducted on RSVH from 7 prospective, observational studies in the Northern Hemisphere from 2000 to 2014.

Mental health outcomes at age 11 of very low birth weight infants in Ireland.

Unlabelled: Aim To compare mental health (MH) outcomes of and service use by children born under 1500 g in Ireland with a matched control group.

Method: Using a retrospective cohort design, semi-structured and standardised MH assessments were conducted with parents, teachers and youth.

Results: A total of 64 of 127 surviving children from a very low birth weight (VLBW) cohort from a National Maternity Hospital participated at a mean age of 11.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Preterm (32-36 Completed Weeks of Gestation) Risk Estimation Measure for RSV Hospitalization in Ireland: A Prospective Study.

Background: In several countries, respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis is offered to late preterm infants who are at escalated risk of respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization (RSVH). However, targeted prophylaxis should be informed by country-specific data. This study, which uniquely includes 36 weeks of gestational age (GA) infants, aims to establish the risk factors for RSVH in 32-36 weeks of GA infants in Ireland.

The positive role of breastfeeding on infant health during the first 6 weeks: findings from a prospective observational study based on maternal reports.

This study aimed to report on adverse infant and maternal clinical outcomes, and investigate the relationship between infant feeding practice and such adverse clinical outcomes in infants during the first 6 weeks postpartum. From an eligible sample of 450 mother-term infant pairs recruited from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin, 27.1% of infants (n=122) were maternally reported to have had an illness during the first 6 weeks that necessitated the provision of prescribed medication +/- general practitioner/paediatrician attendance +/- hospitalisation.

Maternal and infant nutritional supplementation practices in Ireland: implications for clinicians and policymakers.

This prospective Irish observational study examined maternal and infant nutritional supplement use. From an initial sample of 539 mothers recruited from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin (during 2004-2006), 450 eligible mothers were followed up at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Only 200 women (44.

Factors associated with duration of breastfeeding in ireland: potential areas for improvement.

There is a need to comprehensively examine why mothers in Ireland discontinue breastfeeding early and to explore the factors influencing duration of breastfeeding during the first 6 months postpartum. Findings from this study provide valuable direction for future strategies and interventions aimed at increasing breastfeeding duration rates in Ireland.

Maternal health behaviours during pregnancy in an Irish obstetric population and their associations with socio-demographic and infant characteristics.

Background/objectives: To examine the prevalence and combined occurrence of peri-conceptional folic acid (FA) supplement use, smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy in a sample of women in Dublin, and determine the factors associated with these health behaviours.

Subjects/methods: A prospective observational study (2004-2006) involving the recruitment of 491 pregnant women from antenatal clinics in a Dublin maternity hospital, with postpartum follow-up of 450 eligible mothers. Data on FA use, maternal smoking and alcohol consumption patterns during pregnancy were collected from the antenatal patient-administered questionnaire, which was completed by participants, and returned to the investigator on the day of recruitment.

Factors associated with weaning practices in term infants: a prospective observational study in Ireland.

The WHO (2001) recommends exclusive breast-feeding and delaying the introduction of solid foods to an infant's diet until 6 months postpartum. However, in many countries, this recommendation is followed by few mothers, and earlier weaning onto solids is a commonly reported global practice. Therefore, this prospective, observational study aimed to assess compliance with the WHO recommendation and examine weaning practices, including the timing of weaning of infants, and to investigate the factors that predict weaning at ≤ 12 weeks.

The prevalence and determinants of breast-feeding initiation and duration in a sample of women in Ireland.

Objective: To assess breast-feeding initiation and prevalence from birth to 6 months in a sample of mothers in Dublin, and to determine the factors associated with breast-feeding initiation and 'any' breast-feeding at 6 weeks in a sample of Irish-national mothers.

Design: This prospective cross-sectional study involved the recruitment of women during the antenatal period, with subsequent follow-up of mothers who delivered healthy, term singleton infants, at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum.

Setting: Participants were recruited from antenatal clinics in the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin.

Mediastinal and neck kaposiform hemangioendothelioma: report of three cases.

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma is an aggressive vascular tumor, named for its striking histologic resemblance to Kaposi sarcoma and locally invasive growth. Mortality is high, and ranges from 10% to 24% for all kaposiform hemangioendothelioma lesions, with a significantly higher mortality for deep soft-tissue or visceral lesions occurring in infants less than 6 months. Mediastinal and neck kaposiform hemangioendothelioma in particular merit special discussion, as involvement of these critical anatomic locations results in significant site-specific therapeutic challenges due to invasion of vital structures, inherent delays in establishing histopathologic confirmation, and difficulties in monitoring disease status.

Management of acute procedural pain in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Neonates experience pain and may be more sensitive to it. Our objective was to assess pain management strategies in Irish neonatal units. We performed a cross-sectional telephone survey of all twenty neonatal units in the Republic of Ireland.

Neonatal encephalopathy is associated with altered perinatal systemic neutrophil apoptosis.

Systemic hypoxia-ischemia at birth may alter the neonatal neutrophil phenotype. In this study, we evaluated alterations in perinatal neutrophil phenotype following systemic hypoxia-ischemia compared with normal controls. Neutrophils from adults (n = 15), normal newborns (n = 20), newborns requiring resuscitation at birth (n = 17), and their respective maternal samples were incubated alone or with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Effects of heat shock and hypoxia on neonatal neutrophil lipopolysaccharide responses: altered apoptosis, Toll-like receptor-4 and CD11b expression compared with adults.

Background: Dysfunctional inflammatory responses have been implicated in several neonatal inflammatory disorders following infection and hypoxia.

Objectives: We aimed to study the effects of in vitro hypoxia and heat shock (HS) on normal adult and newborn neutrophil migration (CD11b) and persistence (apoptosis) following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation.

Methods: The mechanism for altered LPS responses was assessed at the level of the LPS signalling receptors, Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), TLR-2 and CD14 expression in normal neonates and adults.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor have differential effects on neonatal and adult neutrophil survival and function.

Neutropenia is a common sequela of neonatal sepsis. Recent clinical trials have shown the beneficial effects of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) on outcome in this group, but the exact mechanism remains unknown. Neonates and mothers who were at high-risk for infection were recruited for cord blood sampling in a university tertiary referral maternity hospital.

Labor promotes neonatal neutrophil survival and lipopolysaccharide responsiveness.

Labor is a mild proinflammatory state that is associated with fetal leukocytosis. Elective cesarean section has been linked with increased neonatal morbidity, which may be partially immune mediated. We hypothesized that labor may alter neutrophil phenotype and thereby decrease neonatal complications.

Labor induces a maternal inflammatory response syndrome.

Objective: We studied the effect of labor on maternal neutrophil phenotype.

Study Design: Neutrophil apoptosis with inflammatory cytokines and the expression of CD11b, CD34 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were assessed with flow cytometry in women at uncomplicated vaginal delivery (VD), and elective cesarean section (ElCS) without labor, emergency cesarean section with (EmCSL+) or without (EmCSL-) labor.

Results: Spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis is delayed in maternal neutrophils after VD, EmCSL+ or EmCSL- versus ElCS.

Sex-specific alterations in neutrophil apoptosis: the role of estradiol and progesterone.

Women are conferred with greater immunologic and survival benefits compared to men. Female sex steroids contribute to this sexual dimorphism. Furthermore, during human pregnancy when female sex hormones are elevated, neutrophil apoptosis is delayed.

Outlook for the child with a cephalocele.

Specific information on the outcome for a child with a cephalocele can be difficult to find and interpret. To update outcome information for the child with a cephalocele, the investigators compared outcome of 34 infants from their institution with that of those in previously published series. For the infants from the investigators' institution, overall mortality was 29% and was confined to infants with posterior defects, which was consistent with other published series.

Electronic fetal heart monitoring, auscultation, and neonatal outcome.

In a large randomized, controlled study of fetal heart rate monitoring with either continuous electronic fetal heart monitoring or auscultation at specified intervals, only one pattern of deviation in the fetal heart rate correlated significantly with neonatal neurologic examinations at 0 to 48 hours and 72 hours to 1 week: late decelerations in stage 1 and in stage 2. Other variables from labor and delivery, specifically, duration of labor after hospital admission, failure of labor to progress, number of fetal scalp pH values, and presence of meconium were important predictors of neonatal outcome in the regression analyses. The fetal heart rate deviations did contribute significantly to the percent variance accounted for in the regression analyses with neonatal outcomes of Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes and serial neonatal neurologic examinations.