Is it a safe practice to administer oxygen during uncomplicated delivery: a randomized controlled trial?

Background: Newborns exposed to oxygen suffer from an oxidative stress with significant alterations in the concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSSG).

Objective: To investigate the biological and clinical effects of oxygen administration to delivering mothers.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial on a cohort of delivering women (n=56) with an uncomplicated term pregnancy.

Tracheal colonization in preterm infants supported with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine endotracheal bacteriological status in premature infants who are supported by nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) without any history of tracheal intubation.

Methods: In this prospective study, we enrolled 60 premature infants with respiratory distress; of these, 30 were supported by CPAP without tracheal intubation, and 30 were intubated and mechanically ventilated. Infants were enrolled at a postnatal age of < 24 h.

Viability and neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from the umbilical cord following perinatal asphyxia.

Objective: Hypoxia-ischemia is the leading cause of neurological handicaps in newborns worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) collected from fresh cord blood of asphyxiated newborns have the potential to regenerate damaged neural tissues. The aim of this study was to examine the capacity for MSCs to differentiate into neural tissue that could subsequently be used for autologous transplantation.

Maternal asthma, race and low birth weight deliveries.

Background: Asthma during pregnancy may compromise the well-being of the fetus and potentially impact an infant's birth weight via different mechanisms.

Aims: 1) To assess the influence of asthma during pregnancy on the incidence of LBW outcomes in white non-Hispanic (WNH) and black non-Hispanic (BNH) women. 2) To identify other risk factors that affect low birth weight (LBW) (birth weight<2500g) outcomes among asthmatic women.

Nasal colonization among premature infants treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

We examined the relationship between the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and nasal colonization among low-birth-weight (LBW) infants. We prospectively cultured the nares of LBW infants on admission and weekly until hospital discharge. The modality of respiratory support during each culture was recorded.

Mortality in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a study of the United States National Database.

Objective: To examine the effect of regionalization of care on outcomes of neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Study Design: We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample and the 'Kids' database for the years 1997 to 2004. Infants with CDH were grouped based on whether they underwent surgical repair at the hospital of birth, or at another facility.

The role of complement in neurodevelopmental impairment following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Evidence has accumulated implicating complement activation in the pathogenesis of acute post-hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury in infants who develop hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). However, the relationship between complement activation and subsequent neurological impairment is not known. We tested the hypothesis that in human neonates, post-hypoxic-ischemic complement activation within the central nervous system is positively associated with the acquisition of subsequent neurodevelopmental abnormalities.

Ascorbic acid combined with ibuprofen in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Free oxygen radicals and proinflammatory cytokines are important causes for brain injury in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Our objectives were to test the hypothesis that a combination of antioxidants (ascorbic acid) and anti-inflammatory agents (ibuprofen) can ameliorate the brain injury in HIE and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes when given to term infants immediately after birth.

Study Design: In a prospective, randomized, double-blinded controlled trial, 60 asphyxiated term infants were assigned to one of two groups, intervention and control.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in neonates with perinatal asphyxia.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a polypeptide growth factor that is activated by tissue hypoxia. The role of VEGF in perinatal asphyxia in human neonates is yet to be clarified. In infants who develop moderate to severe acute hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) it is crucial to clearly understand physiologic and biochemical changes that accompany HIE before a novel treatment can be developed.

Randomized, controlled trial on tracheal colonization of ventilated infants: can gravity prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia?

Objective: The goal was to test the hypothesis that intubated infants positioned on their sides would be less likely to contract bacterial colonization in their tracheae, compared with those positioned supine.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial with 60 intubated infants; 30 infants were positioned supine (supine group), and 30 infants were maintained in the lateral position (lateral group). Tracheal aspirates were cultured and bacterial colony counts were recorded after 48 hours and after 5 days of mechanical ventilation.