Burden and severity of children's hospitalizations by respiratory syncytial virus in Portugal, 2015-2018.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in young children and is of considerable burden on healthcare systems. Our study aimed to evaluate ALRI hospitalizations related to RSV in children in Portugal.

Methods: We reviewed hospitalizations potentially related to RSV in children aged <5 years from 2015 to 2018, using anonymized administrative data covering all public hospital discharges in mainland Portugal.

Influence of Human Milk on Very Preterms' Gut Microbiota and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity.

The FEEDMI Study (NCT03663556) evaluated the influence of infant feeding (mother's own milk (MOM), donor human milk (DHM) and formula) on the fecal microbiota composition and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in extremely and very preterm infants (≤32 gestational weeks). In this observational study, preterm infants were recruited within the first 24 h after birth. Meconium and fecal samples were collected at four time points (between the 2nd and the 26th postnatal days.

Use of Therapeutic Hypothermia in Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Sudden and unexpected postnatal collapse is a rare event with potentially dramatic consequences. Intervention approaches are limited, but hypothermia has been considered after postnatal collapse. The aim of this study was to analyse sudden and unexpected postnatal collapse cases that underwent therapeutic hypothermia in the five Portuguese hypothermia centres.

Does Fetal Growth Adequacy Affect the Nutritional Composition of Mothers' Milk?: A Historical Cohort Study.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the association between intrauterine growth of preterm infants and energy and macronutrient contents in their mothers' milk.

Study Design: A historical cohort of mothers of preterm infants was assessed according to offspring's intrauterine growth. Fetal growth restriction (FGR) was defined as small-for-gestational age or appropriate for gestational age with fetal growth deceleration.

Extremely preterm neonates have more in meconium than very preterm neonates - the microbial colonization hypothesis.

Growing evidence suggests that maternal microbiota can influence the neonates' gut colonization. However, the mechanisms of vertical bacterial transmission remain poorly defined. We believed that the first colonizers of the newborn come from the mother's gut and vagina during pregnancy and that this is independent of the mode of delivery.

Vocal responsiveness of preterm infants to maternal infant-directed speaking and singing during skin-to-skin contact (Kangaroo Care) in the NICU.

Unlabelled: Vocalizations of full-term newborns occur in a short latency time during the neonatal period. Contingent response time of preterm babies is still unknown. An increase of preterm babies' vocalizations following exposure to parental speech was also observed.

FEEDMI: A Study Protocol to Determine the Influence of Infant-Feeding on Very-Preterm-Infant's Gut Microbiota.

Background: Preterm infants are especially vulnerable to gut microbiota disruption and dysbiosis since their early gut microbiota is less abundant and diverse. Several factors may influence infants' gut microbiota, such as the mother's diet, mode of delivery, antibiotic exposure, and type of feeding.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the factors associated with very-preterm neonate's intestinal microbiota, namely: (1) type of infant-feeding (breast milk, donor human milk with or without bovine protein-based fortifier, and preterm formula); (2) maternal diet; and (3) mode of delivery.

[Conditions for neonatal resuscitation in Portuguese delivery rooms: a national survey (2009)].

Introduction: In Portugal, since 1989, the rates of maternal, perinatal and neonatal mortality present a significant decrease, after the implemented perinatal network. The continuous assessment of the existing conditions at the different levels of perinatal care is essential to identify deviations from normality and may allow the optimization of quality of care.

Objectives: To obtain information on and to evaluate the conditions and practices of neonatal resuscitation at the Portuguese delivery rooms, in order to propose measures for improvement of neonatal care.

Vitamin A in prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains one of the most serious challenges in the care of the very preterm infants, affecting approximately one-quarter of infants born < 1500g birth weight and 30% < 1000g. Oxygen toxicity may contribute to its pathogenesis. Vitamin A concentrations are lower in BPD infants which may result in a reduction of the antioxidant protection.

Vitamin A in Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains one of the most serious challenges in the care of the very preterm infants, affecting approximately one-quarter of infants born <1500g birth weight and 30% <1000g. Oxygen toxicity may contribute to its pathogenesis. Vitamin A concentrations are lower in BPD infants which may result in a reduction of the antioxidant protection.

Neonatal hyperglycaemia: a challenging diagnosis.

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is a very rare disorder occurring between 1:400 000 and 1:500 000 live births and, until recently, little was known about this disease. The authors report a case of transient NDM in a 2-day-old female infant admitted in an intensive care unit with a blood glucose level greater than 400 mg/dl, glycosuria, ketonuria and with no evidence of autoimmunity. Treatment with insulin was necessary until the 51st day of life and many difficulties were found in the management of metabolic control because of the need for tiny quantities of insulin.

Neonatal morbi-mortality in very low birth weight in Europe: the Portuguese experience.

The aim of this study was to access evolution in care of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants after the implementation of a regionalization policy in Portugal. The data of the National Portuguese Network of VLBW infants are analyzed concerning mortality, morbidity, and quality of regionalization. A total of 12,826 VLBW infants born from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2008 were enrolled, with a prevalence of 0.