Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Death Stud 2021 Jun 8:1-11. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Role confusion is a prominent constituent symptom of Prolonged Grief Disorder in parents after their infants die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). We interviewed 31 parents of SIDS infants 2-5 years post-loss examining the parental role before death, at the time of loss, and in bereavement. Thematic analysis found disruption of the role and re-imagined responsibilities for their child's physical security, emotional security, and meaning. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2021 May 27. Epub 2021 May 27.

Department of Pediatrics, Allergy and Pulmonary Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Infants born before 32 weeks gestational age and receiving respiratory support at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) are diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This label suggests that their need for supplemental oxygen (O ) is primarily due to acquired dysplasia of airways and airspaces, and that the supplemental O is treating residual parenchymal lung disease. However, emerging evidence suggests that immature ventilatory control may also contribute to the need for supplemental O at 36 weeks PMA. Read More

Acta Cardiol Sin 2021 May;37(3):296-304

Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and Medical College, National Taiwan University, Taiwan e Administration of National Health Insurance, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: The epidemiology of pediatric potentially sudden death (SD) events and the rescue rate remain unclear.

Methods: We established a birth cohort (2000-2014) from a national database 2000-2015.

Results: Of 3,097,277 live births, we identified 3126 children (56. Read More

Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2021 May 5:10499091211015913. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA.

Background: Parents often suffer reduced mental health after their child's death; however, the trajectory and risk factors are not well described.

Objective: Describe the change in complicated grief, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms among parents between 6 and 13 months after their child's death in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and factors associated with 13-month symptoms.

Methods: Parents whose children died in 1 of 8 PICUs affiliated with the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network completed surveys 6 and 13 months after their child's death. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 04 16;18(8). Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Center for Research for Infant Birth and Survival (CRIBS), Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine-Wichita, University of Kansas, Wichita, KS 67208, USA.

Sleep-related infant deaths, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), are the number one cause of death in infants between 28 days and one year of life. Nearly half of families experiencing a sleep-related infant death in Kansas were involved with the Department of Children and Families Child Protective Services (CPS), making CPS staff a priority for safe sleep training. This study assessed the impact of the two-day Kansas Infant Death and SIDS (KIDS) Network Safe Sleep Instructor (SSI) train-the-trainer program on CPS staffs' knowledge of the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations. Read More

Pediatrics 2021 May;147(5)

Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Background: Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) represents a broad group of explained and unexplained infant deaths (<1 year old). Explaining why SUID occurs is critical to understanding etiology and prevention. Death certificate data cannot differentiate explained from unexplained SUID cases nor describe the surrounding circumstances. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021 Apr 26;21(1):326. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and newborns is scarce. The objective of this study is to analyse clinical and epidemiological characteristics of a cohort of women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and their newborns exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during gestation.

Methods: Multicentric observational study of Spanish hospitals from the GESNEO-COVD cohort, participants in RECLIP (Spanish Network of Paediatric Clinical Assays). Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021 04 8;4:CD012866. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Newborn Health Knowledge Centre, WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Research in Newborn Care, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.

Background: There is great global variation in the sleeping arrangements for healthy newborn infants. Bed sharing is a type of sleeping practice in which the sleeping surface (e.g. Read More

Front Neurol 2021 10;12:636668. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.

Pre-natal exposures to nicotine and alcohol are known risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of post-neonatal infant mortality. Here, we present data on nicotinic receptor binding, as determined by I-epibatidine receptor autoradiography, in the brainstems of infants dying of SIDS and of other known causes of death collected from the Safe Passage Study, a prospective, multicenter study with clinical sites in Cape Town, South Africa and 5 United States sites, including 2 American Indian Reservations. We examined 15 pons and medulla regions related to cardiovascular control and arousal in infants dying of SIDS ( = 12) and infants dying from known causes ( = 20, 10 pre-discharge from time of birth, 10 post-discharge). Read More

BMJ Paediatr Open 2021 24;5(1):e000972. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, Australia.

Objective: To investigate primary infant caregiver awareness of the current national public health safe sleep messages and the associations of awareness with care practices.

Design And Setting: A cross-sectional survey in Queensland, Australia. All families with live babies birthed during April-May 2017 were eligible. Read More

J Perinatol 2021 Mar 12. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA.

This narrative review provides a broad perspective on immature control of breathing, which is universal in infants born premature. The degree of immaturity and severity of clinical symptoms are inversely correlated with gestational age. This immaturity presents as prolonged apneas with associated bradycardia or desaturation, or brief respiratory pauses, periodic breathing, and intermittent hypoxia. Read More

Appl Clin Genet 2021 15;14:61-76. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

Robert's Program for Sudden Unexpected Death in Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Sudden Infant Death syndrome (SIDS) is a diagnosis of exclusion. Decades of research have made steady gains in understanding plausible mechanisms of terminal events. Current evidence suggests SIDS includes heterogeneous biological conditions, such as metabolic, cardiac, neurologic, respiratory, and infectious conditions. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2021 06 15;110(6):1711-1712. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

Department of Family Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.

MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs 2021 Feb 8. Epub 2021 Feb 8.

Dr. Tatiana M. Anderson is a PhD Fellow, Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA. The author can be reached via email at Juan M. Lavista Ferres is the General Manager, AI for Good Research Lab, Microsoft, Redmond, WA. Dr. Jan-Marino Ramirez is a Professor and Director for the Center for Integrative Brain Research, Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA. Edwin A. Mitchell is an Emeritus Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Abstract: Background: The sudden collapse of an apparently healthy newborn, or sudden unexpected postnatal collapse (SUPC) is fatal in about half of cases. Epidemiological characteristics of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) in the first week of life differ from those in the postperinatal age group (7-365 days).Aim: To describe the characteristics of SUPC resulting in neonatal death. Read More

Epilepsia 2021 Mar 14;62(3):570-582. Epub 2021 Feb 14.

Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.

Although seizures are common in children, they are often overlooked as a potential cause of death. Febrile and nonfebrile seizures can be fatal in children with or without an epilepsy diagnosis and may go unrecognized by parents or physicians. Sudden unexpected infant deaths, sudden unexplained death in childhood, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy share clinical, neuropathological, and genetic features, including male predominance, unwitnessed deaths, death during sleep, discovery in the prone position, hippocampal abnormalities, and variants in genes regulating cardiac and neuronal excitability. Read More

Trends Neurosci 2021 03 3;44(3):167-169. Epub 2021 Feb 3.

Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Shi et al. recently identified a brainstem peptidergic circuit in mice that is activated at birth and stabilizes breathing during the transition from the intra-utero environment to air breathing. This network remains important for maintaining stable breathing and respiratory homeostasis throughout development, and deficiencies in this network may be linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Jan 25;11(1):2161. Epub 2021 Jan 25.

Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.

The effect of altitude on the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been reported previously, but with conflicting findings. We aimed to examine whether the risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) varies with altitude in the United States. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Cohort Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set for births between 2005 and 2010 were examined. Read More

Chemosphere 2021 May 31;271:129515. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.

The association between air pollution and infant mortality has been inconsistently reported. A few studies have estimated short-term effects of air pollution on infants' health. This population-based case-control study aimed to examine the potential effects of air pollution on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the post-neonatal period in Taiwan during 1997-2002. Read More

Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed 2021 Jan 12. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

West of Scotland Genetics Service, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.

Rev Chil Pediatr 2020 Aug 23;91(4):529-535. Epub 2020 Aug 23.

Departamento de Cardiología y Enfermedades Respiratorias del Niño, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Introduction: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, through the implementation of the "Back to Sleep (BTS)" campaign, the supine sleeping position for infant sleeping since it prevents to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Objective: To describe the sleeping position of a group of infants and the risk factors associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Subjects And Method: Prospective pilot study, including infants < 45 days of life in well-child care visits at a medical center. Read More

J Perinatol 2021 Feb 18;41(2):212-219. Epub 2020 Dec 18.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.

Background: Wisconsin has the highest Black infant mortality rate (IMR) in the nation.

Objective: Evaluate factors associated with racial inequity in IMR in Wisconsin.

Study Design: Births/deaths/IMR for Black and White infants from 2011 to 2016 were obtained from the Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health system, stratified by gestational age (GA), and compared using direct adjustment method. Read More

Soc Sci Med 2021 01 6;269:113585. Epub 2020 Dec 6.

Department of Pediatrics University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Despite public awareness campaigns, some parents continue to engage in infant sleep practices that are considered risky by health experts, such as bedsharing or placing their infants on their stomachs. This study examines the role their social networks play in shaping parents' responsiveness to new information and/or suggestions about how they should place their infants for sleep, paying attention to the respective effects of health professionals and their close interpersonal ties. We collected data from a sample of 323 new mothers in Washington, D. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2021 06 22;110(6):1835-1841. Epub 2020 Dec 22.

Department of Paediatrics, University of Gothenburg, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Aim: Many countries lack monitoring of infant sleep practices, despite associations with sudden infant death. We studied sleep positions, bed-sharing and breastfeeding in a new birth cohort.

Methods: Data were obtained from a prospective, population-based cohort study of children born in western Sweden in 2018. Read More

J Perinatol 2020 Dec 7. Epub 2020 Dec 7.

Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.

Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators to adherence to safe sleep practices (SSP) among mothers of preterm infants using qualitative methodology.

Design: We conducted 23 in-depth interviews in English or Spanish with mothers of preterm infants who were recently discharged from four hospitals, utilizing a grounded-theory approach and framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (attitudes, perceived control, social norms).

Results: For attitudes, mothers' fear about their infants' vulnerable preterm state related to suffocation, apnea of prematurity, and reflux influenced infant sleep practices. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2021 05 8;110(5):1498-1504. Epub 2020 Dec 8.

Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Aim: To determine which factors are associated with sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) by time of day.

Methods: Data were analysed from the National Fatality Review Case Reporting System (2006-2015). Out of 20 005 SUID deaths in 37 states, 12 191 (60. Read More

Cureus 2020 Oct 25;12(10):e11155. Epub 2020 Oct 25.

Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, SAU.

Background Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden unexpected death of an infant, even after conducting thorough investigations and autopsy. SIDS is related to several factors, such as baby's position and presence of pillows, blankets and objects in the crib. The implementation of safe sleep recommendations in the inpatient setting is unknown and there is a scarcity of available data. Read More

J Clin Transl Sci 2019 Dec 19;4(5):451-456. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.

Introduction: Sudden unexpected infant death is the leading cause of infant mortality with black: white infant mortality remaining at 2:1 for the last decade. Smartphone technology provides a convenient and accessible tool for injury prevention anticipatory guidance among at-risk communities.

Materials And Methods: A convenience sample of pregnant teen mothers who own a smartphone. Read More

Neurology 2021 02 18;96(5):e719-e731. Epub 2020 Nov 18.

From the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine (M.P.K., K.G., M.W., R.A.B., A.T.), Department of Pediatrics (M.P.K., D.J.L., R.A.B., A.T.), Health Analytics Unit (J.F., A.M.), and Department of Radiology (A.V.), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; and Department of Neurology (M.P.K., D.J.L., R.B., R.D.-A.), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Objective: To determine the association between the extent of diffusion restriction and T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) injury on brain MRI and outcomes after pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods: Diffusion restriction and T2/FLAIR injury were described according to the pediatric MRI modification of the Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (modsASPECTS) for children from 2005 to 2013 who had an MRI within 14 days of OHCA. The primary outcome was unfavorable neurologic outcome defined as ≥1 change in Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) from baseline resulting in a hospital discharge PCPC score 3, 4, 5, or 6. Read More

Front Public Health 2020 20;8:563573. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Paramedicine, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) is a leading cause of preventable infant mortality and strongly associated with social adversity. While this has been noted over many decades, most previous studies have used single economic markers in social disadvantage analyses. To date there have been no previous attempts to analyze the cumulative effect of multiple adversities in combination on SUDI risk. Read More