The association of increased pre- and postnatal NO and PM exposure with the infant nasal microbiome composition and respiratory symptoms.

Background: Little is known about the mediating role of nasal microbiome on the association between pre- and postnatal air pollution exposure and subsequent respiratory morbidity in infancy. We aimed to examine the impact of air pollution on microbiome and respiratory symptoms, and whether microbiome mediates the association between air pollution and symptoms.

Methods: Nasal swabs from 270 infants in the prospective Basel-Bern Infant Lung Development cohort were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing.

Comparison of nasal microbiota between preterm and full-term infants in early life.

Background: The respiratory microbiota influences infant immune system maturation. Little is known about how perinatal, physiological, and environmental exposures impact the nasal microbiota in preterm infants after discharge, or nasal microbiota differences between preterm and healthy full-term infants.

Methods: Nasal swabs (from 136 preterm and 299 full-term infants at mean postmenstrual age of 45 weeks from the prospective Basel-Bern Infant Lung Development cohort) were analyzed by 16S-rRNA gene amplification and sequencing (Illumina MiSeq).

Early respiratory system reactance predicts respiratory outcomes in preterm infants: a retrospective, multicentre study.

Background: This multicentre, international, retrospective study aimed to investigate whether respiratory system reactance ( ) assessed by respiratory oscillometry on day 7 of life is associated with respiratory outcomes in preterm infants below 32 weeks gestational age (GA).

Methods: Sinusoidal pressure oscillations (2-5 cmHO peak-to-peak, 10 Hz) were superimposed on the positive end-expiratory pressure. We assessed the association of z-score with the duration of respiratory support using linear regression and with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) using logistic regression.

TOLLIP and MUC5B modulate the effect of ambient NO on respiratory symptoms in infancy.

Background: Current knowledge suggests that the gene region containing MUC5B and TOLLIP plays a role in airway defence and airway inflammation, and hence respiratory disease. It is also known that exposure to air pollution increases susceptibility to respiratory disease. We aimed to study whether the effect of air pollutants on the immune response and respiratory symptoms in infants may be modified by polymorphisms in MUC5B and TOLLIP genes.

Differences in autophagy marker levels at birth in preterm vs. term infants.

Background: Preterm infants are susceptible to oxidative stress and prone to respiratory diseases. Autophagy is an important defense mechanism against oxidative-stress-induced cell damage and involved in lung development and respiratory morbidity. We hypothesized that autophagy marker levels differ between preterm and term infants.

Vasoactive peptides as biomarkers for the prediction of retinopathy of prematurity.

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major complication in preterm infants. We assessed if plasma levels of midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) and C-terminal pro-endothelin-1 (CT-proET1) serve as early markers for subsequent ROP development in preterm infants <32 weeks gestation.

Methods: Prospective, two-centre, observational cohort study.

Antibiotics in pregnancy influence nasal microbiome and respiratory morbidity in infancy.

Background: The effects of prenatal antibiotic exposure on respiratory morbidity in infancy and the involved mechanisms are still poorly understood. We aimed to examine whether prenatal antibiotic exposure in the third trimester is associated with nasal microbiome and respiratory morbidity in infancy and at school age, and whether this association with respiratory morbidity is mediated by the nasal microbiome.

Methods: We performed 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (regions V3-V4) on nasal swabs obtained from 296 healthy term infants from the prospective Basel-Bern birth cohort (BILD) at age 4-6 weeks.

Trends in Outcomes of Major Intracerebral Haemorrhage in a National Cohort of Very Preterm Born Infants in Switzerland.

Background: Major brain lesions, such as grade 3 intraventricular haemorrhage (G3-IVH) and periventricular haemorrhagic infarction (PVHI) are among the main predictors for poor neurodevelopment in preterm infants. In the last decades advancements in neonatal care have led to a general decrease in adverse outcomes.

Aim: To assess trends of mortality and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in a recent Swiss cohort of very preterm infants with grade 3 intraventricular haemorrhage (G3-IVH) and periventricular haemorrhagic infarction (PVHI).

Oscillatory mechanics in very preterm infants on continuous positive airway pressure support: Reference values.

Objective: To create reference values for respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) measured by the forced oscillation technique (FOT) in nonintubated very preterm infants.

Design: Retrospective analysis of data collected as part of prospective observational studies in two centers.

Setting: Tertiary neonatal intensive care units.

Update on ventilatory management of extremely preterm infants-A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit perspective.

Extremely preterm infants commonly suffer from respiratory distress syndrome. Ventilatory management of these infants starts from birth and includes decisions such as timing of respiratory support in relation to umbilical cord management, oxygenation targets, and options of positive pressure support. The approach of early intubation and surfactant administration through an endotracheal tube has been challenged in recent years by primary noninvasive respiratory support and newer methods of surfactant administration via thin catheters.

Volumetric Capnography at 36 Weeks Postmenstrual Age and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Very Preterm Infants.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of volumetric capnography in spontaneously breathing very preterm infants at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and its association with clinical markers of lung disease including the duration of respiratory support and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Study Design: We obtained mainstream volumetric capnography measurements in 143 very preterm infants at 36 weeks PMA. BPD was categorized into no, mild, moderate, and severe according to the 2001 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute workshop report.

Multichannel esophageal signals to monitor respiratory rate in preterm infants.

Background: Apnea of prematurity cannot be reliably measured with current monitoring techniques. Instead, indirect parameters such as oxygen desaturation or bradycardia are captured. We propose a Kalman filter-based detection of respiration activity and hence apnea using multichannel esophageal signals in neonatal intensive care unit patients.

Right ventricular function and vasoactive peptides for early prediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Background: To assess the prognostic value of early echocardiographic indices of right ventricular function and vasoactive peptides for prediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death in very preterm infants.

Methods: Prospective study involving 294 very preterm infants (median [IQR] gestational age 28.4 [26.

Outcomes for Infants Born in Perinatal Centers Performing Fewer Surgical Ligations for Patent Ductus Arteriosus: A Swiss Population-Based Study.

Objective: To assess patent ductus arteriosus treatment variation between Swiss perinatal centers and to determine its effect on outcome in a population-based setting.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study of infants born less than 28 weeks of gestation between 2012 and 2017. Outcomes between surgically ligated and pharmacologically treated infants as well as infants born in centers performing ≤10% ligation ("low" group) and >10% ("high" group) were compared using logistic regression and 1:1 propensity score matching.

Invasive Group B Streptococcus Disease With Recurrence and in Multiples: Towards a Better Understanding of GBS Late-Onset Sepsis.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common intestinal colonizer during the neonatal period, but also may cause late-onset sepsis or meningitis in up to 0.5% of otherwise healthy colonized infants after day 3 of life. Transmission routes and risk factors of this late-onset form of invasive GBS disease (iGBS) are not fully understood.

Respiratory morbidity in preterm infants predicted by natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) and endothelin-1 (CT-proET-1).

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major complication in preterm infants <32 weeks. We aimed to assess whether plasma levels of mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) and C-terminal pro-endothelin-1 (CT-proET-1) predict respiratory morbidity.

Methods: This was a prospective, two-center, observational cohort study.

Mismatch response in preterm and asphyxic neonates: a functional electrophysiological investigation of attention and habituation.

Background And Aim: There is a lack of diagnostic tools for early risk stratification of cognitive outcome in infants born preterm and infants with asphyxia. Using auditory event-related potentials and mismatch response, we aimed to assess possible differences in early attention and learning, as a marker for brain maturation to subsequently improve the allocation of early neurodevelopmental support.

Study Design And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 22 very preterm infants (gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks), eight term infants with asphyxia and 35 healthy term infants.

The rhythm of a preterm neonate's life: ultradian oscillations of heart rate, body temperature and sleep cycles.

The objectives are to characterize oscillations of physiological functions such as heart rate and body temperature, as well as the sleep cycle from behavioral states in generally stable preterm neonates during the first 5 days of life. Heart rate, body temperature as well as behavioral states were collected during a daily 3-h observation interval in 65 preterm neonates within the first 5 days of life. Participants were born before 32 weeks of gestational age or had a birth weight below 1500 g; neonates with asphyxia, proven sepsis or malformation were excluded.

Multichannel Esophageal Heart Rate Monitoring of Preterm Infants.

Objective: Autonomic dysregulation in preterm infants requires continuous monitoring of vital signs such as heart rate over days to months. Unfortunately, common surface electrodes are prone to electrocardiography (ECG) signal artifacts and cause serious skin irritations during long-term use. In contrast, esophageal ECG is known to be very sensitive due to the proximity of electrodes and heart and insensitive to external influences.