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Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Introduction:  The U.K. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) specify the following indications for performing rectal biopsy to rule out Hirschsprung's disease (HSD): (1) passage of meconium > 48 hours; (2) constipation since first few weeks of life; (3) chronic abdominal distension with vomiting; (4) family history of HSD; and (5) faltering growth in addition to any other indication. Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2018 Dec 15;33(50):e318. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Psychiatry, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Background: In this prospective cohort study, we investigated the association between fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium as biomarkers of prenatal ethanol exposure and growth deficits, as birth outcomes, that constitute several of the key cardinal features of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Methods: A total of 157 meconium samples were collected from enrolled infants within 24 hours of birth, and nine FAEEs were quantified using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The relationships between cumulative concentrations of nine species of FAEEs in meconium and birth parameters of growth (age-sex-specific centiles of head circumference [HC], weight, and length) and respective and combined birth outcomes of growth deficits (HC ≤ 10th centile, weight ≤ 10th centile, and length ≤ 10th centile) were determined. Read More

J Proteome Res 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a complex multi-organ disorder that is among the most common fatal genetic diseases benefiting from therapeutic interventions early in life. Newborn screening (NBS) for pre-symptomatic detection of CF currently relies on a two-stage immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation panel algorithm that is sensitive, but not specific for identifying affected neonates with a low positive predictive value. For the first time, we report the discovery of a panel of CF-specific metabolites from a single 3. Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2018 Dec;56(12):929-932

Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China.

To survey the conduction and evaluate the effectiveness of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in China mainland. In a questionnaire-based survey, we retrospectively reviewed the application of ECMO in children's hospital and general hospital in China mainland to summarize and analyze the categories of diseases and prognosis of children treated with ECMO therapy. By December 31, 2017, a total of 23 hospitals using ECMO, including 22 tertiary referral hospitals and 1 secondary hospital, among which 16 were children's hospitals and 7 were general hospitals. Read More

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) 2018 Oct;64(10):928-935

Universidad de Concepción, Víctor Lamas 1290, casilla 160 C, Concepción, Región del Biobío, Chile.

Background: There is evidence of detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the stool of newborns and in the yeast that colonizes the oral cavity of this age group. However, there is a lack of research to confirm it. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 1;2018:5351010. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia.

Perinatal asphyxia is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in neonates. Perinatal asphyxia occurs in association with maternal, fetal, and maternofetal factors. However, the magnitude and associated factors of perinatal asphyxia are not well studied in Tigray, Ethiopia. Read More

Environ Int 2018 Nov 27;123:70-78. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (Fudan University), China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address:

Background: The association between antibiotic use during pregnancy and neonatal birth outcomes has received considerable attention. Most of the previous assessment of antibiotic exposure during pregnancy relied on questionnaires and clinical prescriptions, and very few studies examined pregnancy exposure to antibiotics using human biomonitoring data.

Objective: To explore the association between the cumulative exposure of antibiotics during the whole pregnancy and neonatal birth measurements using biomonitoring data of antibiotics in meconium. Read More

Trials 2018 Nov 27;19(1):657. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver disorder specific to pregnancy and presents with maternal pruritus, raised concentrations of serum bile acids and abnormal liver function tests. ICP is associated with increased rates of spontaneous and iatrogenic preterm labour, fetal hypoxia, meconium-stained amniotic fluid and intrauterine death. Some clinicians treat ICP with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) to improve maternal pruritus and biochemical abnormalities. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2019 Feb 16;14(2):235-237. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Square, Leicester LE1 5WW, United Kingdom.

Meconium pseudocyst (MPC) is a rare but well-known surgical condition due to prenatal bowel perforation. A case of MPC secondary to prenatal bowel perforation is presented. Massive ascites requiring peritoneal drainage and disappearance of prenatal intraperitoneal calcifications have not been previously reported in MPC. Read More

Pediatr Surg Int 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Division of General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Wood Building-Suite 5100, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the incidence of respiratory failure requiring ECMO in newborns with gastroschisis (GC), compare it to the incidence in the general population, review the surgical outcomes of newborns with GC requiring ECMO and compare them to newborns with GC not requiring ECMO.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of all neonatal admissions for GC from December 2010 to September 2015.

Main Results: 110 newborns with GC were admitted to our NICU between 12/2010 and 9/2015; 36 were term. Read More

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2018 Jul;2018:4889-4892

Anorectal manometry is a diagnostic technique used to investigate the correct mechanical performance of the internal anal sphincter (IAS). By distending the rectal ampulla while recording changes in the luminal pressure, this method allows for characterizing the anorectal reflex. It can also provide, indirectly, information about the electrical activity of the IAS. Read More

Harmful Algae 2018 Nov 7;79:53-57. Epub 2018 Jul 7.

The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965, United States.

Domoic acid (DA) is a neuroexcitotoxic amino acid that is naturally produced by some species of marine diatoms during harmful algal blooms (HABs). The toxin is transferred through the food web from plantivorous fish and shellfish to marine mammals resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Due to the timing and location of DA producing HABs, it is well documented that pregnant female California sea lions (CSL) are regularly exposed to DA through their diet thereby posing exposure risks to a neuroteratogen in developing fetuses. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2018 Oct 23. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Associate Director PremieR Clinic, Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1200 Everett Drive, ETNP 7504, 7th Floor North Pavilion, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018 Dec 26;231:180-187. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a poorly understood disease of the late second or third trimester of pregnancy, typically associated with rapid resolution following delivery. It is characterized by pruritis, elevated serum bile acids, and abnormal liver function tests and has been linked to stillbirth, meconium passage, respiratory distress syndrome and fetal asphyxial events. The incidence is highly variable, dependent both on the ethnic makeup of the population as well as the diagnostic criteria being used. Read More

Early Hum Dev 2018 Dec 28;127:90-95. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Dermatoglyphics alterations have been demonstrated to be an effective complement in the diagnosis of developmental disorders and a marker of prenatal stress. Several genetic and environmental factors can modify their morphology. Once defined, dermatoglyphics remain constant throughout life, being considered fossilized markers of the intrauterine development. Read More

Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018 Oct;52(10):1023-1028

Medical Research Center, the Affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Nanjing Medical University/Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing 210004, China.

This study was designed to identify the relative factors, bacteriological profile and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern of neonatal sepsis. A retrospective survey was conducted on the clinical information, pathogen identification and antibiotic sensitivity results of 425 newborns with neonatal sepsis admitted to Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from 2010 to 2017. Of the 425 positive blood-cultures, 148 (34. Read More

PLoS One 2018 2;13(11):e0205962. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Laboratory of Translational Pediatrics, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil.

The associations of Cesarean delivery with offspring metabolic and immune-mediated diseases are believed to derive from lack of mother-to-newborn transmission of specific microbes at birth. Bifidobacterium spp., in particular, has been hypothesized to play a health-promoting role, yet little is known about how delivery mode modifies colonization of the newborn by this group of microbes. Read More

Pediatrics 2018 Dec 1;142(6). Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor University Medical Center, Baylor Scott and White Health, and Pediatrix Medical Group, Dallas, Texas.

: media-1vid110.1542/5839992674001PEDS-VA_2018-1485 BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recently, the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) recommended against routine endotracheal suctioning of meconium-stained nonvigorous newborns but suggested resuscitation with positive pressure ventilation. Our purpose is to study the effects of this change in management. Read More

Pediatrics 2018 Dec 1;142(6). Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Neonatology, Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii

Environ Int 2018 Dec 29;121(Pt 2):1227-1234. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. Electronic address:

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a typical fetus development niches dysfunction and many toxic/nutrient elements have been associated with its onset and progression. However, the classic epidemiologic approach is regarded as "black-box epidemiology" and fails to elucidate these elements' biological roles on the damaged fetus developmental microenvironment.

Objective: We aimed to characterize the associations between meconium of multiple elements with GDM for illustrating their interruption effects on in-uterus microenvironment. Read More

Clin Chem 2018 Nov;64(11):1671-1672

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018 Oct 30;18(1):429. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Department of midwifery, College of medicine and health science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Background: Meconium stained amniotic fluid is one of the risk factors to increase the rate of perinatal morbidity and mortality both in developed and developing countries. Due to a multitude of factors associated with socioeconomic and quality of service, the ill effect of meconium stained amniotic fluid is even worse in developing countries. But very little information is known about the situation in Ethiopia, particularly the study area to design appropriate prevention strategies. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1872:199-209

MedTox Laboratories, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, St. Paul, MN, USA.

Meconium, the first stool of a newborn, can be analyzed to identify prenatal exposure to drugs of abuse. Meconium accumulates in a fetus during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy providing a wide window of exposure. Identification of in utero drug exposure is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of infants for dependency/withdrawal caused from the exposure. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1872:191-197

Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.

Drug testing commonly involves serum, blood, or urine. More recently, alternative specimens for drug testing have been increasingly used for clinical and forensic toxicology. Examples include oral fluid (saliva), hair, meconium, and umbilical cord tissue. Read More

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018 Oct 22. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 678 Haping Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150069, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China.

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is an avian oncogenic retrovirus that induces leukemia-like proliferative diseases in chickens. ALV infection can result in the development of immunological tolerance and persistent viremia. Since effective vaccines against ALV are not yet available, its current prevention primarily depends on detection and eradication to establish exogenous ALV-free poultry flocks. Read More

BMJ Open 2018 Oct 21;8(10):e022013. Epub 2018 Oct 21.

Sunderby Research Unit, Region Norrbotten, Luleå, Sweden.

Introduction: Prenatal and neonatal environmental factors, such as nutrition, microbes and toxicants, may affect health throughout life. Many diseases, such as allergy and impaired child development, may be programmed already in utero or during early infancy. Birth cohorts are important tools to study associations between early life exposure and disease risk. Read More

J Pediatr 2018 Oct 17. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy, Nashville, TN.

In a retrospective study of 501 neonates with potential in utero substance exposure, the drug detection performance of a commercially available umbilical cord tissue toxicology test was evaluated against a commercially available gold standard meconium toxicology test. Drugs detected in paired meconium and umbilical cord tissue samples were often discordant. Read More

J Perinatol 2018 Oct 19. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

BMJ Open 2018 Oct 17;8(10):e022499. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Faculty of Population Health Sciences, Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.

Objective: The use of herbal medicines for induction of labour (IOL) is common globally and yet its effects are not well understood. We assessed the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines for IOL.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature. Read More

PLoS One 2018 17;13(10):e0205695. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, SCU-CUHK, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P. R. China.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a high-risk pregnancy complication of great effect on the perinatal health of women and newborns, may cause changes of gut microbiota in mothers and further affect gut microbiota in newborns. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of mother GDM on newborns' gut microbiota. Meconium DNA was extracted from a total of 34 full-term and C-sectioned newborns, in which 20 newborns had mothers diagnosed with GDM, while 14 had unaffected mothers. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2018 Nov;98(9):Online

J Midwifery Womens Health 2018 Oct 16. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Introduction: Little is known about the relationship between distance from hospital services and the outcomes of planned home births. We examined whether greater driving distance from a hospital with continuous cesarean capability was associated with a higher risk of adverse neonatal outcome among individuals who were planning to give birth at home.

Methods: Using an intention-to-treat analysis, we conducted a population-based cohort study of 11,869 individuals who planned to give birth at home in Ontario, Canada, between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2015. Read More

Dis Aquat Organ 2018 Oct;131(1):1-11

PhD Program on Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU). Uberlândia, MG 38400-902, Brazil.

The Amazon river dolphin Inia geoffrensis and tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis are classified as Data Deficient species. Despite very limited knowledge on health and disease aspects of these species, the main threats to their conservation include incidental mortality in fishing gear, population fragmentation, habitat loss and environmental pollution. It is also suggested that underlying diseases may contribute to their mortality rates. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018 Dec 9;231:54-59. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Edirne, Turkey.

Objective: To investigate the associations of fetal colon-rectum diameters with labor and fetal distress or meconium passage in healthy pregnancies in the late 3rd trimester.

Study Design: A total of 162 healthy, singleton pregnant women at ≥36 weeks who were in the latent-phase of labor (n = 69) or those not in labor (n = 93, controls) at the time of ultrasound examination were enrolled. Fetal colon (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid) and rectum diameters, Doppler indices of materno-fetal vessels were measured. Read More

Front Pediatr 2018 25;6:263. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

ECMO therapy is worldwide declining in the neonatal population; hence, its therapeutic value is sometimes questioned. To report our experience with neonatal ECMO due to respiratory failure over a 28 year time period. Retrospective single center observational study including all neonates admitted to ECMO due to respiratory failure between 1989 and 2016 at Graz, Austria. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2018 Oct 14:1-11. Epub 2018 Oct 14.

g Department of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine , Singapore General Hospital , Singapore.

Objectives: To explore the incidence, etiologies, diagnostic methods, treatment options and outcomes in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) and to identify mortality risk factors in a study from six Asian countries.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with documented PPHN from seven centers in six Asian countries (Japan, Kuwait, India, Pakistan, Singapore, and Thailand) between 1 January, 2014 and 31 December, 2016, was performed.

Results: A total of 369 PPHN infants were identified. Read More

J Pak Med Assoc 2018 Jul;68(7):1014-1018

Department of Research, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the relationship between the colour of liquor and the trace of cardiotocography to see whether it is reactive or non-reactive..

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, Dar-ul-Sehat Hospital, Karachi from June 2015 to March 2016, and comprised women in labour who delivered singleton babies and had >37 weeks of gestation. Read More

Reprod Sci 2018 Oct 11:1933719118804411. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

1 Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.

The widely accepted dogma of intrauterine sterility and initial colonization of the newborn during birth has been blurred by recent observations of microbial presence in meconium, placenta, and amniotic fluid. Given the importance of a maternal-derived in utero infant seeding, it is crucial to exclude potential environmental or procedural contaminations and to assess fetal colonization before parturition. To this end, we analyzed sterilely collected intestinal tissues, placenta, and amniotic fluid from rodent fetuses and tissues from autoptic human fetuses. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2018 Oct 12:1-11. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

a Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty , Department of Perinatology , Istanbul University , Istanbul , Turkey.

Objective: To investigate the association between fetal left ventricular modified myocardial performance index (LMPI) and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). And to evaluate the value of LMPI in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes in ICP.

Study Design: In a cross-sectional case-control study, 40 women with ICP were compared with 40 gestational age-matched healthy controls. Read More

JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep 2018 Oct 5. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Department of Midwifery and Therapeutic Sciences, University College Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Objective: The objective of this review was to identify, assess and synthesize the best available evidence on the effects of induction prior to post-term on the mother and fetus. Maternal and fetal outcomes after routine labor induction in low-risk pregnancies at 41+0 to 41+6 gestational weeks (prior to post-term) were compared to routine labor induction at 42+0 to 42+6 gestational weeks (post-term).

Introduction: Induction of labor when a pregnancy exceeds 14 days past the estimated due date has long been used as an intervention to prevent adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. Read More

Pharmacol Res 2018 Nov 5;137:148-149. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Department of Pediatrics, "Vittore Buzzi" Children's Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Anim Reprod Sci 2018 Nov 28;198:160-166. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address:

Selection of sows for large litter size has adverse consequences including lesser and more variable birth weights, reduced piglet viability and greater peri- and post-natal piglet mortality. One approach to improve survival might be to feed caffeine to the sow, which improves piglet viability after induced farrowing, but has not been evaluated in sows which farrow naturally. Large White x Landrace sows were fed 0 (CON: n = 30) or 6 g/day caffeine (CAF: n = 34) with their daily feed from 3 days before expected parturition until farrowing. Read More

Gene 2019 Jan 3;683:12-17. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre, The Prince Charles Hospital, 4032, Queensland, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, 4029, Queensland, Australia; Lung Infection and Inflammation Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 4029, Queensland, Australia.

Background And Objective: Genetic modifiers contribute to variable disease phenotype in cystic fibrosis (CF). We explored the association between mutations in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene and disease severity in adults with CF.

Methods: HFE genotyping was performed in 163 adults with CF attending a single centre. Read More

Glob Health Sci Pract 2018 10 4;6(3):538-551. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.

Background: Helping Babies Breathe (HBB), a skills-based program in neonatal resuscitation for birth attendants in resource-limited settings, has been implemented in over 80 countries since 2010. Implementation studies of HBB incorporating low-dose high-frequency practice and quality improvement show substantial reductions in fresh stillbirth and first-day neonatal mortality. Revision of the program aimed to further augment provider and facilitator skills and address gaps in implementation with the goal of improving neonatal survival. Read More

Nutrients 2018 Oct 3;10(10). Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Department of Physiology, AZCOM, Midwestern University, 19555 N. 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA.

Genistein is a naturally occurring isoflavone found in soy. Genistein has been shown to increase the open probability of the most common cystic fibrosis (CF) disease-associated mutation, ∆F508-CFTR. Mice homozygous for the ∆F508 mutation are characterized with severe intestinal disease and require constant laxative treatment for survival. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2018 Oct 3. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.

Objectives:  Partial arterial pressure of oxygen/fraction of oxygen in inspired air (PaO/FiO) ratio has been used as a predictor of outcome in some neonatal conditions, but has not been used in meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). This study was conducted with the objective to study if the PaO/FiO ratio of < 200 at 6, 12, and 24 hours of life can predict mortality in neonates with MAS.

Study Design:  Two hundred neonates with MAS were included in the study. Read More

Pediatr Surg Int 2018 Nov 25;34(11):1171-1176. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Department of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL, USA.

Purpose: The treatment of gastroschisis (GS) using our collaborative clinical pathway, with immediate attempted abdominal closure and bowel irrigation with a mucolytic agent, was reviewed.

Methods: A retrospective review of the past 20 years of our clinical pathway was performed on neonates with GS repair at our institution. The clinical treatment includes attempted complete reduction of GS defect within 2 h of birth. Read More

Ther Clin Risk Manag 2018 11;14:1671-1675. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy,

Background/aim: Clinical data with respect to the impact of meconium on the risk of maternal hemorrhage are scarce. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine whether meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) represents a risk factor for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) after vaginal delivery in a large unselected population.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study evaluated 78,542 consecutive women who had a vaginal delivery between 24th and 44th weeks of gestation. Read More

Enferm Intensiva 2018 Sep 20. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales, Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, España.

Introduction: Delayed meconium expulsion is a cause of bowel obstruction in the extremely premature newborn (<28 WGE) weighing less than 1500g at birth.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of conservative treatment in the prevention of meconium obstruction in very-low-birt- weight preterm infants.

Method: Descriptive and retrospective study performed at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary level hospital. Read More