Temporal patterns of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in a newborn piglet model of perinatal asphyxia.

Perinatal asphyxia is a severe medical condition resulting from oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) at the time of birth, causing worldwide approximately 680,000 newborn deaths every year. Better prediction of severity of damages including early biomarkers is highly demanded. Elevated levels of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in blood have been reported for a range of different diseases and conditions, including cancer and prematurity.

N-Acetylcysteine Amide Exerts Possible Neuroprotective Effects in Newborn Pigs after Perinatal Asphyxia.

Background: Perinatal asphyxia and ensuing reoxygenation change the antioxidant capacity of cells and organs.

Objectives: To analyze the neuroprotective effect of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) after perinatal hypoxia-reoxygenation with an emphasis on proinflammatory cytokines and the transcription factor NF-κB in the prefrontal cortex of neonatal pigs.

Methods: Twenty-nine newborn pigs, aged 12-36 h, were subjected to global hypoxia and hypercapnia.

Perinatal Asphyxia May Influence the Level of Beta-Amyloid (1-42) in Cerebrospinal Fluid: An Experimental Study on Newborn Pigs.

Objective: Total tau (T-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-Tau) and Beta-Amyloid 1-42 (AB42) in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) are useful biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of these and other CSF biomarkers (T-tau, p-Tau, AB42, S100B and NSE), during hypoxia-reoxygenation in a newborn pig model.

Design: Thirty newborn pigs were included in a study of moderate or severe hypoxia.

Cesarean section is associated with more frequent pneumothorax and respiratory problems in the neonate.

We have investigated whether the incidence of neonatal pneumothorax (NP), use of mechanical ventilation (MV) or Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) is increased in neonates delivered at term and preterm by cesarean section (CS). All deliveries at Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, during the period 2001-2005 (n=29,358) were included, among whom 5,957 were delivered by CS (20.3%).