Analysis of Alternative Methods of Environmental Monitoring for Listeria in Food Production Facilities.

Validated alternative test methodologies may be used in place of culture-based methods recommended for environmental monitoring programs (EMPs) for Listeria in food production facilities. In order to help guide decisions on which testing method to use to simplify Listeria EMP implementation in food production facilities, alternative methods were compared to the culture-based method in actual EMPs for Listeria. Seventy-two samples collected from two facilities of souzai production businesses that use meat and meat products as ingredients, one facility of processed meat product production business, and one facility of processed meat product and souzai production business were applied to EMPs for Listeria using the culture-based method, 3M Molecular Detection System (MDS), and InSite L.

Sterilization efficacy of a new water-free breast milk pasteurizer.

Background: Breast milk, nature's optimum source of nutrition for infants, can contain undesirable microorganisms that cause severe morbidity. After an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli among neonates receiving breast milk donated by another mother in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), we were motivated to develop a high-grade breast milk pasteurizer (BMP) designed to thaw and pasteurize breast milk at 63°C for 30 min in a sealed bag without having to open the bag or immerse it in water.

Methods: Pre-existing bacteria and spiked cytomegalovirus (CMV) were measured pre- and post-pasteurization in frozen breast milk donated by mothers of children admitted to the NICU.

Immunosuppressive therapy before and during pregnancy may improve obstetric outcomes in pregnancy complicated by dermatomyositis with anti-MDA-5 antibody positivity: A case report.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is one of the most common autoimmune rheumatic diseases affecting women of childbearing age. Pregnancy may lead to exacerbation of DM, especially of DM with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene (MDA) 5 antibody positivity, leading to a poor obstetric outcome. Here, we report consecutive pregnancies complicated by DM with anti-MDA-5 antibodies.

Serum zinc and copper levels in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objectives: Zinc and copper are trace elements, but their reference values during the neonatal and infant periods are not clear. We aimed to determine the trend of serum zinc levels in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and compare serum zinc and serum copper levels at admission between small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and non-SGA infants.

Methods: From 406 patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from January 2009 to September 2012, 339 patients were included in this retrospective study.

Neonatal reticulocytes among preterm infants of small for gestational age.

Background: We previously reported that higher reticulocyte counts were observed in earlier preterm infants. Here we present an additional study that focused on reticulocyte counts among preterm infants of small for gestational age (SGA). To assess the relationship between SGA and perinatal variables during the early postnatal period.

New Roles for Albumin/Globulin Ratio in the Early-Onset Hyperbilirubinemia among Infants Born Weighing 1,000 to 2,499 Grams.

Introduction: Early-onset hyperbilirubinemia (EOH) is a clinical issue for premature infants. We predicted that EOH management would be improved by fast results from common laboratory tests. Total serum bilirubin (TSB) level and the albumin/globulin ratio may contribute to improving the management of EOH.

Red cell distribution width as a predictor for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common morbidity complicating preterm birth. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of the variation red blood cell size, could reflect oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in many diseases such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other diseases. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate perinatal factors affecting RDW and to validate whether RDW could be a potential biomarker for BPD.

Prenatal nicotine exposure affects cardiovascular function and growth of the developing fetus.

Aim: Effects of nicotine on fetal hemodynamics are not well known, especially in the first trimester fetus. We investigated the acute and chronic effects of nicotine on hemodynamics in pregnant mice and their fetuses using ultrasound. Postnatal health status including growth and hemodynamics was also examined.

Neonatal reticulocyte count during the early postnatal period.

Background: There are few reports on reticulocyte count during the early postnatal period, and its clinical significance is not well understood. To examine the relationships between neonatal reticulocyte count and other perinatal variables.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of neonatal infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Ohta Nishinouchi Hospital, Japan, between April 1, 2016 and July 31, 2019.

Delayed Birth-Related Femur Fracture after Cesarean Section: A Case Report.

 Birth-related femur fractures are rare. They have been reported following difficult delivery and are commonly diagnosed immediately after birth or on the following day. However, some birth-related femur fractures are diagnosed several days after birth.

Volumetric Analysis of Gallbladder in Extremely Premature Infants.

Background: We hypothesized that gallbladder (GB) volume is affected by serial changes during the early infancy period in extremely premature infants.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of extremely premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Fukushima City, Japan between January 2014 and December 2015. GB volume was measured by an abdominal ultrasound ellipsoid method between Day 0 and Day 56 after birth within 60 minutes before enteral feeding.

The Microbiome of the Lower Respiratory Tract in Premature Infants with and without Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

 We determined whether the bacteria in the lower respiratory tract (LRT) in extremely premature infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are different from those with nonsevere BPD.  We conducted a retrospective study of extremely premature infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Japan between April 2005 and March 2014. We screened for the bacterial colonization of the LRT using tracheobronchial aspirate fluid.

Fetal arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy with double mutations in TMEM43.

We herein describe a fetal case of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) with double mutations in transmembrane protein 43 (TMEM43). RV aneurysm and ventricular arrhythmia were detected during the fetal period. After birth, electrocardiogram showed frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVC) of left bundle branch block morphology and epsilon waves in the right-sided chest leads.

Ultrasonic findings of fetal axillary lymphangioma with intralesional hemorrhage.

We report a case of an axillary lymphangioma in a fetus delivered at 30 weeks' gestation with suspected intralesional hemorrhage based on the ultrasonic findings. In the ultrasonic examination at 15 weeks' gestation, the fetus was found to have a multilocular mass spreading from the axilla to the chest wall, which was diagnosed as an axillary lymphangioma. Chromosome analysis by amniocentesis showed a normal karyotype, and no other malformations were observed.

Five cases of congenital chylothorax treated by intrapleural minocycline.

Minocycline pleurodesis was performed on five infants with congenital chylothorax in our institutions. They could not achieve sufficient efficacy though they had received other conservative therapies. Four of the five cases obtained reduction of pleural effusion using the minocycline pleurodesis.

Evaluation of arterial catheter management in very preterm neonates: peripheral artery versus umbilical artery.

Objectives: To evaluate whether peripheral arterial catheter management is more effective than umbilical arterial management in very preterm neonates.

Methods: Thirty-eight very preterm neonates born in Fukushima Medical University Hospital between October 2008 and March 2010 were evaluated. A peripheral arterial catheter was inserted in 19 neonates (peripheral group) and an umbilical arterial catheter in the remaining 19 neonates (umbilical group).

Effect of the interval between onset of sustained fetal bradycardia and cesarean delivery on long-term neonatal neurologic prognosis.

Objective: To examine the effect of the interval between onset of sustained fetal bradycardia and cesarean delivery on long-term neonatal neurologic prognosis.

Method: A retrospective observational case-series performed with patients who had sudden-onset and sustained (<100 beats per minute) fetal bradycardia during labor. Fetal heart rate was monitored closely until cesarean delivery.

Patient-controlled epidural analgesia during labor using ropivacaine and fentanyl provides better maternal satisfaction with less local anesthetic requirement.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using ropivacaine and fentanyl provides better maternal satisfaction and less anesthetic requirement than conventional continuous epidural infusion (CEI) during labor, we studied 58 uncomplicated parturients (singleton, vertex presentation).

Methods: After establishing effective epidural analgesia with 11 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine, all parturients were randomly divided into one of two groups: the PCEA group (n = 29) or the CEI group (n = 29).