Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2019 Apr 24. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

Department of cardiology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the experience using a percutaneous axillary artery approach for insertion of arterial ductal stents in patients with critical right ventricular outflow tract lesions at two tertiary pediatric cardiology centers.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus stenting is an accepted palliative alternative to BT shunts for neonates with critical right heart lesions. Access to tortuous ductus' may be challenging via the femoral artery, whereas the carotid artery presents a low risk of stroke. Read More

J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2019 Mar-Apr;24(2):134-137

Objective: Although acetaminophen has emerged as a therapeutic option for treating hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants, limited data exist on pharmacodynamics. The objective of this research is to report serum acetaminophen concentrations at steady state in infants treated with intravenous acetaminophen for PDA and to examine associations with clinical outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated all infants admitted during the study period who received intravenous acetaminophen for the treatment of PDA. Read More

Am J Med Genet A 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.

Char syndrome is characterized by persistent patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) associated with hand-skeletal abnormalities and distinctive facial dysmorphism. Pathogenic variants in the transcription factor gene TFAP2B have been shown to cause Char syndrome; however, there is significant phenotypic variability linked to variant location. Here, we report a pediatric patient with a novel de novo variant in the fifth exon of TFAP2B, c. Read More

Matern Health Neonatol Perinatol 2019 12;5. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

5Department of Mechanical Engineering, Koç Univeresity, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: Recent studies suggest that delayed cord clamping (DCC) is advantageous for achieving hemodynamic stability and improving oxygenation compared to the immediate cord clamping (ICC) during fetal-to-neonatal transition yet there is no quantitative information on hemodynamics and respiration, particularly for pre-term babies and fetal disease states. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the effects of ICC and DCC on hemodynamics and respiration of the newborn preterm infants in the presence of common vascular pathologies.

Methods: A computational lumped parameter model (LPM) of the placental and respiratory system of a fetus is developed to predict blood pressure, flow rates and oxygen saturation. Read More

Ethiop J Health Sci 2019 Mar;29(2):165-174

Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

Background: In developing countries, infants with Down syndrome and cardiac defect are at increased risk of dying. Congenital heart diseases occur in 40-50% of affected infants. Endocardial cushion defect accounts for the most. Read More

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2019 Apr 22:2150135118799635. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

1 Division of Cardiology, Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.

We report the case of a premature newborn diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta after spontaneous closure of ductus arteriosus who was successfully managed with prostaglandin E infusion until surgical repair could be performed. This case, together with a review of the literature, suggests an important role for prostaglandin in the management of coarctation even in the absence of a patent ductus arteriosus. The putative mechanism for the utility of prostaglandin infusion is that it may relieve the obstruction in neonates with severe coarctation by not only opening of the ductus but, in select cases, relaxing the ductal tissue encircling the aortic isthmus region. Read More

Echocardiography 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Masonic Children's Hospital, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Objectives: To report the usefulness of harmonic imaging in echocardiography to visualize and direct the implantation of the Medtronic micro vascular plug (MVP).

Background: Off label use of the MVP was reported for transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants. The device is poorly visible on fluoroscopy and echocardiography. Read More

Echocardiography 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.

Tetralogy of Fallot/Absent Pulmonary Valve (TOF/APV) has been classically associated with the absence of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We present a rare case of APV in TOF with a discontinuous left pulmonary artery (LPA) that was suspected during fetal echocardiogram. Postnatal echocardiogram confirmed the origin of a hypoplastic LPA from the PDA. Read More

Korean J Pediatr 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Hemodynamically significant preterm patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has been known to affect mortality, morbidities such as necrotizing enterocolitis, intra-ventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and adverse long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants, especially in very low birth weight infants. However, recent researches indicate that there is no consensus about the causal relationship between the PDA and neonatal outcomes, the benefit or lack of treatment, the factors guiding the need to treat, and about the optimal treatment strategies. Such uncertainty made the practice about preterm PDA vary between units, regions, and nations widely. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2019 Apr;12(4):e007232

The Cardiac Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (M.L.O., D.D., H.M.G., C.E.M., A.C.G.).

Background: In infants with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow, initial palliation with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stent or modified Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt have comparable mortality but discrepant length of stay, procedural complication rates and reintervention burdens, which may influence cost. The relative economic impact of these palliation strategies is unknown.

Methods And Results: Retrospective study of infants with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow palliated with PDA stent (n=104) or BT shunt (n=251) from 2008 to 2015 at 4 centers of the Congenital Catheterization Research Collaborative. Read More

J Res Med Sci 2019 25;24:13. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common disease in premature neonates, which could occur in up to 50% of the neonates weighting <1000 g. PDA might induce hemodynamic and respiratory disorders and increase mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of oral ibuprofen and a low dose of intravenous acetaminophen in the management of PDA. Read More

Respir Investig 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Lung phenotype was reported as a novel phenotype in patients with mutations in the filamin A gene (FLNA) in 2011. FLNA mutations can result in pulmonary hyperinflation during the neonatal period or early infancy with progressive respiratory failure, culminating in a diagnosis of FLNA-associated progressive lung disease, particularly if the patient has periventricular nodular heterotopia and cardiac complications, such as patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, and pulmonary hypertension. We report the first Japanese case of FLNA-associated progressive lung disease caused by a microdeletion in Xq28 encompassing the FLNA gene with a polymorphic inversion. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol 2019 Apr 15:1-2. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

b Department of Cardiology , University La Paz Hospital , Madrid , Spain.

JACC Cardiovasc Interv 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Division of Cardiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the method of procedural sedation and outcomes for congenital cardiac catheterization procedures.

Background: The safety of operator-directed sedation (ODS) in the pediatric/congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory has been questioned. To our knowledge, the relative safety of ODS versus general anesthesia (GA) in these cases has not to date been critically evaluated. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Clinical Science, Paediatrics, Umeå University, S-901 85, Umeå, Sweden.

Aim: We explored if fluid restriction in very low birth weight infants with a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus affected energy and protein intakes and growth.

Methods: Retrospectively, we identified 90 very low birth weight infants that were admitted to Umea University Hospital, Sweden, between 2009 and 2012: 42 with and 48 without haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus. Anthropometric, fluid, energy and protein intake data during the first 28 days of life were expressed as z-scores. Read More

Neonatology 2019 Apr 11;115(4):432-451. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Child Health, Queen's University Belfast and Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, United Kingdom.

As management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) advances, clinicians must continually revise their current practice. We report the fourth update of "European Guidelines for the Management of RDS" by a European panel of experienced neonatologists and an expert perinatal obstetrician based on available literature up to the end of 2018. Optimising outcome for babies with RDS includes prediction of risk of preterm delivery, need for appropriate maternal transfer to a perinatal centre and timely use of antenatal steroids. Read More

Arch Plast Surg 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Seattle Children's and Mary Bridge Children's Regional Cardiac Surgery Program, Tacoma, WA, USA.

Congenital absent sternum is a rare birth defect that requires early intervention for optimal long-term outcomes. Descriptions of the repair of absent sternum are limited to case reports, and no preferred method for management has been described. Herein, we describe the use of porcine acellular dermal matrix to reconstruct the sternum of an infant with sternal infection following attempted repair using synthetic mesh. Read More

Pediatr Res 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Radboud university medical center, Geert Grooteplein zuid 10, Postal code 804, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

The ductus arteriosus (DA) is probably the most intriguing vessel in postnatal hemodynamic transition. DA patency in utero is an active state, in which prostaglandin E (PGE) and nitric monoxide (NO), play an important role. Since the DA gets programmed for postnatal closure as gestation advances, in preterm infants the DA frequently remains patent (PDA). Read More

BMJ Paediatr Open 2019 14;3(1):e000333. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, AB, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Objective: Significant haemodynamic changes occur at delivery impacting organ blood flow distribution. We aimed to characterise Doppler indices patterns over time in three different organs (brain, gut and kidney) and test them as measures of vascular resistance.

Design: Observational cohort study. Read More

EuroIntervention 2019 Apr 5;14(18):e1880. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Narayana Hrudayalaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

EuroIntervention 2019 Apr 5;14(18):e1879. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Cardiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.

Cornea 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Ophthalmology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Purpose: Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by multiple systemic anomalies and unique facial characteristics. Here, we present the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of bilateral congenital corneal opacities as an early-onset ocular manifestation of KS associated with a KMT2D gene mutation.

Methods: The proband is a girl. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2019 Mar 24;19(3):85-88. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.

It is well known that patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in adults, especially in the elderly, differs from that in pediatric patients. A 68-year-old woman with a PDA with focal calcification at the aortic orifice of the ampulla with a minimum diameter of 4.0 mm and length of 14. Read More

Congenit Heart Dis 2019 Mar;14(2):311-316

Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.

Ligation of a hemodynamically significant ductus arteriosus results in significant changes in loading conditions which have predictable consequences. Postligation cardiac syndrome, defined as hypotension requiring inotropic support and failure of oxygenation and ventilation, may occur 6-12 hours following ligation due to left ventricular systolic and diastolic failure, respectively. Afterload is the primary driver of this decompensation. Read More

Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2019 Mar 31;24(1):68-70. Epub 2019 Mar 31.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.

Congenital rubella infection is a transplacental infection that can cause intrauterine growth retardation, cataracts, patent ductus arteriosus, hearing loss, microcephaly, thrombocytopenia, and severe fetal injury. It has been shown that type 1 diabetes mellitus develops in 12%-20% of patients with congenital rubella infection, and disorders in the oral glucose tolerance test is observed in 40% of patients. No biochemical or serological markers exist which could indicate that type 1 diabetes was caused by a congenital rubella infection. Read More

Am J Med Genet A 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.

Infants with trisomy 18 (T18) previously had a poor prognosis; however, the intensive care of these patients has markedly diversified the prognosis. We investigated the current situation of patients with T18, clarified factors for survival discharge, and surveyed actual home healthcare. A total of 117 patients with T18 admitted to nine institutions between 2000 and 2015 were retrospectively investigated. Read More

Pediatrics 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Hematology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Background And Objectives: Thrombocytopenia is associated with late closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). There are few studies evaluating platelet transfusions to treat PDA. We compared liberal platelet-transfusion criteria (to maintain a platelet count >100 000 per µL) versus standard criteria achieve earlier PDA closure among thrombocytopenic preterm neonates (<35 weeks' gestation) with hemodynamically significant PDA (hs-PDA) presenting within the first 2 weeks of life. Read More

Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2019 May 28;3(5):290-292. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2019 Mar;58(2):183-187

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University, Japan.

Objective: The goal of the study was to clarify the risk factors for pregnancy complicated with Eisenmenger syndrome (ES).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 15 patients with ES who were managed throughout pregnancy at one institution from 1982 to 2013. Cases associated with congenital heart diseases other than atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were excluded. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Mar 25:1-6. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

c Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine , Atatürk University , Erzurum , Turkey.

Objective: Patent ductus arteriosus is an important problem in preterms. We aimed to investigate the relation of patent ductus arteriosus with shunt index.

Methods: The preterm infants with a birth weight of ≤1500 g and/or gestational age of <30 weeks and an indication for umbilical artery and venous catheterization formed the study group. Read More

JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Background: Gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement is a long-term alternative to oral or nasogastric feeding for premature infants who cannot safely feed orally or need supplemental nutrition for adequate growth.

Methods: We compared daily weight changes for G-tube infants 14 and 30 days preplacement and postplacement, excluding the first 7 days post-G-tube insertion. Infants <37 weeks of gestation without major congenital anomalies and discharged from 327 United States neonatal intensive care units (2004-2013) were included. Read More

SAGE Open Med 2019 15;7:2050312119838417. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Department of Neonatology, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of non-invasive neurally adjusted ventilatory assist used after INtubation-SURfactant-Extubation in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study that included 15 inborn preterm infants at 28 (0/7) to 33 (6/7) weeks of gestation with respiratory distress syndrome in the period from April 2017 to October 2018. After INtubation-SURfactant-Extubation, infants underwent non-invasive neurally adjusted ventilatory assist. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Apr 4:1-10. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

a Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences , University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA.

Objective: To evaluate fetal and neonatal safety of early-onset long-term antenatal indomethacin treatment (LIT) for short cervix.

Methods: In this cohort study, women started LIT for short cervix (<25 mm) before completing 25 weeks. They followed a standardized regiment of oral indomethacin: 100 mg loading, 50 mg qid for 48 h, 25 mg qid until delivery or at 32 weeks gestational age (GA), whichever comes first. Read More

Neonatology 2019 03 20;115(4):348-354. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Neonatology Department, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Extrauterine growth restriction is common in the preterm infant, and it is associated with poor neurodevelopment. Nutrition plays an important role in postnatal growth, but growth is also influenced by other factors like co-morbidity, and, also, there might be sex differences.

Methods: This is a cohort study including preterm infants < 32 weeks at birth (n = 21,825) from the Spanish Neonatal Network database. Read More

Early Hum Dev 2019 04 11;131:75-80. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Division of Neonatology, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background And Aim: Predicting necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) might help in preventing its devastating consequences. We aimed to investigate whether early cerebral and intestinal tissue oxygen saturation (rSO) and fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE) predict the onset of NEC.

Study Design: Prospective observational case-control study. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Mar 12;14(1):55. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 15 Avenue J Crocq, B-1020 Laeken, Brussels, Belgium.

Background: A newborn was diagnosed by echocardiogram with an asymptomatic cardiac mass in the right ventricle after a systolic cardiac murmur was detected at birth.

Case Presentation: Nine days after birth, the newborn presented with three syncopal episodes and oxygen desaturation which required resuscitation. The mass induced a complete right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Read More

Nutr Hosp 2019 Apr;36(2):261-266

Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron.

Introduction: Background and objective: hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (HS-PDA) is associated with an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and worse enteral tolerance in preterm newborns (PN). An association has been demonstrated between brain natriuretic propeptide (proBNP) and HS-PDA. Our objective was to analyze the relationship between proBNP levels and enteral tolerance, NEC risk and weight gain in PN. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 03 13;3:CD012473. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Child Health Department, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK, FY3 8NR.

Background: Infantile colic is typically defined as full-force crying for at least three hours per day, on at least three days per week, for at least three weeks. Infantile colic affects a large number of infants and their families worldwide. Its symptoms are broad and general, and while not indicative of disease, may represent a serious underlying condition in a small percentage of infants who may need a medical assessment. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2019 Mar;7(5):562-571

Department of Structural Heart Disease, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.

Background: The off-label use of various devices has been reported for the transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (PmVSD) because of serious complications, such as heart block and tricuspid regurgitation (TR), associated with conventional ventricular septal defect devices. However, whether certain defects such as PmVSD with abnormally attached tricuspid are fit for interventional treatment is still disputable.

Aim: To explore the feasibility and safety of transcatheter closure of PmVSD with abnormally attached tricuspid chordae tendineae using an improved patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occluder. Read More

Children (Basel) 2019 Mar 8;6(3). Epub 2019 Mar 8.

McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Since the description of surgery for patent ductus arteriosus in late 1930s, an innumerable number of advances have taken place in the management of congenital heart defects (CHDs). In this review the current status of treatment of seven of the most common acyanotic CHDs was reviewed. The discussion included indications for, and timing of, intervention and methods of intervention. Read More

Khirurgiia (Mosk) 2019(2):5-12

Meshalkin National Medical Research Center of Healthcare Ministry of the Russian Federation, Novosibirsk, Russia.

Aim: To describe single-center evolution of the procedure and to evaluate the results of thoracoscopic clipping of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with diameter over 3,0 mm in term infants weighting over 4,0 kg.

Material And Methods: Thoracoscopic clipping of PDA has been performed in 140 patients for the period from March 2012 to March 2018 in Meshalkin National Medical Research Center. Mean age was 4. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(10):e14684

"Marie Curie" Emergency Children's Hospital, Constantin Brâncoveanu Avenue, Bucharest, Romania.

Closure of the atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are among the most frequent cardiac interventional procedures. This was a prospective study, which started together with the implementation of a national program of pediatric interventional cardiology in Romania. We used Cocoon devices in 83 consecutive cases from 92 implantations for ASD and PDA. Read More

Pediatr Int 2019 Mar 10. Epub 2019 Mar 10.

Department of Neonatology, Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital, Aomori, 030-8553, Japan.

Background: There is a high incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants of low gestational age who exhibit high-grade fluctuations in the perfusion waveform of the internal cerebral vein. This study investigated changes in the hemodynamic status of ELBW infants during initial strong fluctuations in the perfusion waveform of the internal cerebral vein.

Methods: We evaluated the perfusion waveform of the internal cerebral vein in 192 ELBW infants from birth, every 8 h for a total of 120 h. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Jun 25;285:103-107. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department for Pediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care, Medical Hospital of the University of Munich, LMU Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany.

Background: Stenting of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has been accepted as alternative option to surgical shunting to enable additional pulmonary blood flow or for palliation of patients with a truly duct-dependent pulmonary circulation. The procedure can be challenging given the variable and often tortuous anatomy of the PDA and various technical approaches are reported.

Objective: To report an alternative technique to treat tortuous ducts with microcatheter assistance and by transfemoral approach. Read More

J Perinatol 2019 May 8;39(5):599-607. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of drugs used to constrict patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in newborns < 28 weeks.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of the multi-center PDA-TOLERATE trial (NCT01958320). Infants with moderate-to-large PDAs were randomized 1:1 at 8. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019 Mar 5:1-8. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

c Servicio de Pediatría y Neonatología , Hospital Universitario La Fe , Valencia , Spain.

Background: Variability in clinical practice may influence morbidity and mortality in extremely preterm infants. We aimed to know if there are differences in survival and survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in extremely preterm infants in Spanish tertiary hospitals and the potential associated factors.

Methods: Fifteen hospitals from the SEN1500 network were studied. Read More

Kardiol Pol 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Neonatal and Intensive Care Department Medical University of Warsow.

Background: Both gestational and chronological age of the neonate may influence and impair normal function of the delicate and immature myocardium. The transition from foetal to neonatal circulation in preterm neonates is, however, poorly understood.

Aims: This study aimed to compare left ventricular systolic and diastolic function between premature neonates at expected term and term neonates during the postnatal cardiovascular transitional period. Read More

Mol Genet Genomic Med 2019 Mar 4:e612. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Histology Department, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.

Background: Several genes encoding transcription factors are known to be the primary cause of congenital heart disease. NKX2-5 and GATA4 were the first congenital heart disease-causing genes identified by linkage analysis. This study designed to study the association of five single-nucleotide variants of NKX2-5, GATA4, and TBX5 genes with sporadic nonsyndromic cases of a congenital cardiac septal defect in Egyptian children. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2019 May 28;178(5):755-761. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Neonatology, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, Avenida Ana de Viya 21, 11009, Cádiz, Spain.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a severe complication of prematurity that impacts survival and neurodevelopment. Currently, no early marker exists which could help clinicians identify which preterm infants will develop BPD. Given the evidence that NTproBNP is elevated in children with BPD, we hypothesized that it could be used as an early marker of BPD development. Read More