Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Acta Paediatr 2020 Jul 12. Epub 2020 Jul 12.

Warwick Medical School, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.

Aim: To identify how British Child Death Overview Panels (CDOP) and paediatric pathologists classify cause of death for sleep-related Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI). To determine compliance with national requirements for SUDI investigation.

Methods: Electronic survey of CDOPs and pathologists using three vignettes of SUDI cases illustrating: accidental asphyxia, typical Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and SIDS with co-sleeping. Read More

Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Liguria Centre, Department of Pediatric Emergency, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.

Acute bacterial meningitis in infants and newborns represents a medical emergency and a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Moraxella catarrhalis has been considered a microorganism with low pathogenic potential, and only in exceptional cases has it been found to cause meningitis in infants and immunocompetent people. We will now document an unusual case of an unexpected and sudden death of a 40-day-old infant due to acute meningitis from M. Read More

J Cardiol 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Division of Environmental Medicine and Population Sciences, Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.

Background: A better understanding of the epidemiology of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurring in nursery schools and kindergartens is indispensable to establish an evidence-based strategy for prevention and improved outcomes. This study aimed to describe the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of pediatric OHCAs that occurred in certified nursery schools and kindergartens.

Methods: Stop and Prevent cardIac aRrest, Injury, and Trauma in Schools (SPIRITS) is a study to construct and analyze a nationwide registry of pediatric OHCAs occurring in school settings in Japan. Read More

J Pediatr 2020 Jun 22. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

INSERM UMR 1181, Biostatistics, Biomathematics, Pharmacoepidemiology and Infectious Diseases, Versailles Saint Quentin University, Villejuif, France.

Objective: to study recent epidemiological trends of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) in Western Europe.

Study Design: Annual national statistics of death causes for 14 Western European countries from 2005 to 2015 were analyzed. SUDI cases were defined as infants younger than one year with the underlying cause of death classified as "sudden infant death syndrome" (SIDS), "unknown/unattended/unspecified cause" or "accidental threats to breathing". Read More

Front Neurosci 2020 5;14:524. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States.

The mammalian diving response (DR) is a remarkable behavior that was first formally studied by Laurence Irving and Per Scholander in the late 1930s. The DR is called such because it is most prominent in marine mammals such as seals, whales, and dolphins, but nevertheless is found in all mammals studied. It consists generally of breathing cessation (apnea), a dramatic slowing of heart rate (bradycardia), and an increase in peripheral vasoconstriction. Read More

Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2020 07;8(7):594-605

Academic Center For Thyroid Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background: Disordered thyroid hormone transport, due to mutations in the SLC16A2 gene encoding monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8), is characterised by intellectual and motor disability resulting from cerebral hypothyroidism and chronic peripheral thyrotoxicosis. We sought to systematically assess the phenotypic characteristics and natural history of patients with MCT8 deficiency.

Methods: We did an international, multicentre, cohort study, analysing retrospective data from Jan 1, 2003, to Dec 31, 2019, from patients with MCT8 deficiency followed up in 47 hospitals in 22 countries globally. Read More

Front Pediatr 2020 27;8:229. Epub 2020 May 27.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.

Pediatrics, among all the branches of medicine, is a sector not particularly affected by a high number of claims. Nevertheless, the economic value of the compensation is significantly high, for example, in cases of children who suffered multiple disabilities following perinatal lesions with a long life expectancy. In Italy, most of the claims for compensation concern surgical pathologies and infections. Read More

Inj Epidemiol 2020 Jun 12;7(Suppl 1):22. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Injury Prevention, Community Outreach, and Research, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA.

Background: Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is the leading cause of death in the post-neonatal period in the United States. In 2015, Connecticut (CT) passed legislation to reduce the number of SUIDs from hazardous sleep environments requiring birthing hospitals/centers provide anticipatory guidance on safe sleep to newborn caregivers before discharge. The objective of our study was to understand the barriers and facilitators for compliance with the safe sleep legislation by birthing hospitals and to determine the effect of this legislation on SUIDs associated with unsafe sleep environments. Read More

Inj Epidemiol 2020 Jun 12;7(Suppl 1):32. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, 30322, USA.

Background: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends infants should be Alone, on their Back, and in a clear Crib to combat relatively stagnant rates of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). These are referred to as the ABCs of safe sleep. Studies have shown these recommendations are not consistently followed in the hospital setting, but further investigation would determine how to improve the rate of adherence. Read More

Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2020 May 18;13(5):e008082. Epub 2020 May 18.

Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison (S.S. R.T.W.).

Background: Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in early life and has been implicated in ≈10% of sudden infant deaths and unexplained stillbirths. The purpose of our study was to use fetal magnetocardiography to characterize the electrophysiology and rhythm phenotypes of fetuses with de novo and inherited LQTS variants and identify risk factors for sudden death before birth.

Methods: We reviewed the fetal magnetocardiography database from the University of Wisconsin Biomagnetism Laboratory for fetuses with confirmed LQTS. Read More

Mol Genet Metab 2020 May 1. Epub 2020 May 1.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, United States of America. Electronic address:

The fatty acid oxidation enzyme long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) is expressed at high levels in human alveolar type II (ATII) cells in the lung. A common polymorphism causing an amino acid substitution (K333Q) was previously linked to a loss of LCAD antigen in the lung tissue in sudden infant death syndrome. However, the effects of the polymorphism on LCAD function has not been tested. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 04 23;17(8). Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a potential direct cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) among infants. Disparities in SHS exposure and SIDS deaths may be due to inconsistent communication among practitioners about SHS/SIDS risks. In order to assess current SHS/SIDS risks and communication practices and to identify areas of improvement, we conducted a survey of 316 obstetricians and gynecologists (ob/gyns) about the length of time spent having discussions, supplemental materials used, risks covered, cessation, and frequency of discussions. Read More

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2020 Jan;58(221):56-58

Department of Pediatrics, Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is a group of autosomal recessive disorders due to deficiencies of enzymes involved in steroidogenesis. The most common form is a 21-hydroxylase deficiency which can be classical or non-classical. The severe form also called Classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is usually detected after birth to infant period. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2020 Apr 18. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

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

Aim: This study aimed to systematically analyse the pregnancy, birth and demographic-related factors associated with age of death in sudden unexpected infant death (SUID).

Methods: Data were analysed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Cohort Linked Birth/Infant Death data set (2011-2013; 11 737 930 live births). SUID was defined as deaths from sudden infant death syndrome, ill-defined causes, or accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2020 Apr 13;20(1):156. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Department of Cardiology, General Hospital Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, Slovenia.

Background: Lower heart rate variability (HRV) in a newborn might represent a risk factor for unfavourable outcome, a longer recovery after illness, and a sudden infant death. Our aim was to determine whether the newborn's sleeping position is associated with HRV.

Methods: We performed a prospective clinical study in 46 hospitalized cardiorespiratory stable term newborns. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2020 Apr 1. Epub 2020 Apr 1.

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

Aim: To examine differences in the prevalence of risk factors for sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous infants.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of SUDI in Queensland during 2010-2014 examined exposure to SUDI risk factors, to identify factors accounting for higher SUDI mortality among Indigenous infants. A multistage algorithm was applied to linked data to determine Indigenous status. Read More

J Electrocardiol 2020 May - Jun;60:23-26. Epub 2020 Mar 18.

Center for Arrhythmia Care, Heart & Vascular Center, Pritzker School of Medicine of the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age that remains unexplained after death scene and medicolegal investigation, including a complete autopsy and clinical history review. The fatal event typically occurs during sleep and heart rhythm during the event is rarely documented. Large series which have utilized molecular autopsy show that long QT syndrome (LQTS) associated cardiac channel mutations contribute to between 5 and 10% of SIDS deaths. Read More

J Formos Med Assoc 2020 Mar 13. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Administration of National Health Insurance, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: To investigate the cumulative postnatal risk of pediatric sudden death (SD) for each neonate and the temporal/regional differences which are still unclear.

Methods: We established a birth cohort (2000-2014) from our national database and obtained reference data about the United States (US) from the national website.

Results: Among 3,097,277 live births, we identified 1661 children with SD (56. Read More

Circ Genom Precis Med 2020 Apr 13;13(2):e002731. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (D.J.C., D.J.T., S.M.D., M.J.A.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Background: Triadin knockout syndrome (TKOS) is a potentially lethal arrhythmia disorder caused by recessively inherited null variants in -encoded cardiac triadin. Despite its malignant phenotype, the prevalence of TKOS in sudden infant death syndrome and sudden unexplained death in the young is unknown.

Methods: Exome sequencing was performed on 599 sudden infant death syndrome and 258 sudden unexplained death in the young cases. Read More

Hosp Pediatr 2020 Apr 6;10(4):369-375. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Children's Hospital, Hershey, Pennsylvania;

In this article, we will review various aspects of long QT syndrome (LQTS) necessary for hospitalists who care for children, adolescents, and young adults who have known LQTS and also review presenting features that should make one consider LQTS as a cause of hospitalization. Pediatric hospitalists care for patients who have suffered near-drowning, unexplained motor vehicular accidents, brief resolved unexpected events, sudden infant death syndrome, recurrent miscarriages, syncope, or seizures. These common conditions can be clinical clues in patients harboring 1 of 16 LQTS genetic mutations. Read More

EClinicalMedicine 2020 Feb 20;19:100247. Epub 2020 Jan 20.

DM-STAT, Inc., One Salem Street, Suite 300, Malden, MA 02148, United States.

Background: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of postneonatal mortality. Although the rate has plateaued, any unexpected death of an infant is a family tragedy thus finding causes and contributors to risk remains a major public health concern. The primary objective of this investigation was to determine patterns of drinking and smoking during pregnancy that increase risk of SIDS. Read More

J Pediatr 2020 May 12;220:49-55.e2. Epub 2020 Feb 12.

AI For Good Research Lab, Microsoft, Redmond, WA.

Objectives: To assess the geographic variation of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and test if variation in geographic factors, such as state, latitude, and longitude, play a role in SUID risk across the US.

Study Design: We analyzed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Cohort Linked Birth/Infant Death dataset (2005-2010; 22 882 SUID cases, 25 305 837 live births, rate 0.90/1000). Read More

Compr Psychiatry 2020 Jan 11;98:152161. Epub 2020 Jan 11.

Center for Research on End-of-Life Care, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Background: Transitional objects provide security and symbolic connection with valued others when separated from them. Bereaved parents often keep, cherish and visit saved objects of their deceased child. This research examined the hypothesis that these objects behave as transitional objects of grief in bereaved mothers during three years following their infants' deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2020 Jan 21;20(1):27. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

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

Background: Globally, the incidence of sleep-related infant mortality declined dramatically following the first public health campaigns seen internationally in the 1990s to reduce the risks of sudden infant death. However, Australian Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) rates have plateaued with little change in incidence since 2004 despite two further public health safe sleep campaigns. This study aims to describe contemporary infant care practices employed by families related to the current public health SUDI prevention program. Read More

Health Soc Care Community 2020 May 17;28(3):891-902. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH.

The purpose of our study was to better understand why parents/caregivers might not practice safe sleep behaviours. In autumn 2016, we conducted 'pulse' interviews with 124 parents/caregivers of children under the age of one year at a variety of local community events, festivals and meetings in cities with high infant mortality rates around the Midwestern US state of Ohio. Through an inductive approach, pulse interviews were analysed using thematic coding and an iterative process which followed for further clarification of themes (Qualitative Research in Psychology, 2006, 3, 77; BMC Medical Research Methodology, 2013, 13, 117). Read More

Cureus 2019 Nov 5;11(11):e6076. Epub 2019 Nov 5.

Centro De Investigación En Ciencias De La Salud Anáhuac (CICSA), Facultad De Ciencias De La Salud, Universidad Anáhuac Mexico, Mexico City, MEX.

Introduction Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is a term that englobes the sudden and unexpected death of an infant less than 12 months, which can be explained by organic or traumatic causes, or that can't be explained such as cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Although many risk factors have been associated with this syndrome, one of the most widely associated and studied are incorrect sleeping techniques and practices. In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their safe-sleeping guidelines and sleeping environment recommendations and strategies to prevent SIDS. Read More

Pediatrics 2020 01 9;145(1). Epub 2019 Dec 9.

Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Pediatrics 2020 01 9;145(1). Epub 2019 Dec 9.

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

Objectives: In most recent studies, authors combine all cases of sudden infant death syndrome, other deaths from ill-defined or unknown causes, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed as a single population to analyze sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). Our aim with this study is to determine if there are statistically different subcategories of SUID that are based on the age of death of an infant.

Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional analysis, we analyzed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Birth Cohort Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set (2003-2013: 41 125 233 births and 37 624 SUIDs). Read More

J Pediatr 2020 Mar 18;218:11-15. Epub 2019 Nov 18.

Department of Pediatrics, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ.

Objective: To determine if implementation of skin-to-skin care and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) contributes to sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and asphyxia in the first 6 days after birth.

Study Design: Survey data were used to determine a correlation between BFHI and deaths from SUID and asphyxia among infants <7 days in the US and Massachusetts. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, implementation of BFHI was tracked from 2004-2016 and skin-to-skin care was tracked from 2007-2015. Read More

Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2020 03 13;274:103337. Epub 2019 Nov 13.

Department of Biology, School of Computer, Mathematics and Natural Sciences (SCMNS), Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, 21251, United States.

Infants who are born premature can have persistent apnea beyond term gestation, reemergence of apnea associated with inflammation during infancy, increased risk of sudden unexplained death, and sleep disorder breathing during infancy and childhood. The autonomic nervous system, particularly the central neural networks that control breathing and peripheral and central chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors that modulate the activity of the central respiratory network, are rapidly developing during the last trimester (22-37 weeks gestation) of fetal life. With advances in neonatology, in well-resourced, developed countries, infants born as young as 23 weeks gestation can survive. Read More

J Pediatr Nurs 2020 Jan - Feb;50:20-24. Epub 2019 Oct 29.

Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America; Section of Academic, Pediatrics, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States of America. Electronic address:

Purpose: Despite reductions in the rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) over the last 25 years, over 3000 infant deaths annually in the US are attributable to sleep-related causes. We aimed to improve safe sleep practice (SSP) adherence by healthcare providers working with infants admitted to an inpatient pediatric unit in an urban academic center specifically increasing compliance on five core SSP (supine, alone in the crib, no objects in crib, appropriate bundling, and flat crib).

Design And Methods: This Quality Improvement project evaluated a staff education intervention using a pre- and post-design. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2019 Dec 30;43(6):570-576. Epub 2019 Oct 30.

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

Objective: To investigate the under-identification of Indigenous infants in death records and examine the impact of a multi-stage algorithm on disparities in sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI).

Methods: Data on SUDI in Queensland between 2010 and 2014 were linked to birth and death registrations, health data, and child protection and coronial records. An algorithm was applied to cases of SUDI and population data to derive Indigenous status. Read More

Pediatrics 2019 11 21;144(5). Epub 2019 Oct 21.

Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Objectives: To examine prevalence of safe infant sleep practices and variation by sociodemographic, behavioral, and health care characteristics, including provider advice.

Methods: Using 2016 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data from 29 states, we examined maternal report of 4 safe sleep practices indicating how their infant usually slept: (1) back sleep position, (2) separate approved sleep surface, (3) room-sharing without bed-sharing, and (4) no soft objects or loose bedding as well as receipt of health care provider advice corresponding to each sleep practice.

Results: Most mothers reported usually placing their infants to sleep on their backs (78. Read More

Mol Genet Genomic Med 2019 11 27;7(11):e986. Epub 2019 Sep 27.

Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

Background: Supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) is one of the congenital cardiovascular diseases characterized by stenosis of the aorta. The stenotic lesions occur anywhere above the aortic valve in the aortic tree as well as pulmonary arteries and eventually leads to circulatory failure. The disease gene has been identified on the elastin gene (ELN) and two types of SVAS have been categorized; a familial type and an isolated type with the de novo mutation. Read More

Congenit Heart Dis 2019 Nov 18;14(6):901-923. Epub 2019 Sep 18.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Left main coronary artery ostial atresia (LMCAOA) is a rare congenital anomaly of the coronary arteries. The published literature regarding the current diagnostic and management recommendations are limited. We present three case series of LMCAOA from our institution, including one with a unique association with anomalous origin of left coronary artery (LCA) from pulmonary artery. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2019 Dec 4;178(12):1841-1847. Epub 2019 Sep 4.

Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.

This retrospective study aims at helping physicians select babies considered at risk for fatal events during sleep. It does so by describing the clinical features and outcome of worrying infants' behaviour during sleep, with the activation of an emergency medical service and/or emergency department, subsequently referred to the Centre for Paediatric Sleep Medicine and sudden infant death syndrome, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy. We analysed the medical records of infants < 12 months whose parents reported they had worrying behaviour during sleep in the period 1 January 2009- 31 December 2015. Read More

Cardiol Young 2019 Oct;29(10):1257-1263

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Introduction: The SCN5A gene is implicated in many arrhythmogenic and cardiomyopathic processes. We identified a novel SCN5A variant in a family with significant segregation in individuals affected with progressive sinus and atrioventricular nodal disease, atrial arrhythmia, dilated cardiomyopathy, and early sudden cardiac arrest.

Methods: A patient pedigree was created following the clinical evaluation of three affected individuals, two monozygotic twins and a paternal half-brother, which lead to the evaluation of a paternal half-sister (four siblings with the same father and three mothers) all of whom experienced varying degrees of atrial arrhythmias, conduction disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy in addition to a paternal history of unexplained death in his 50s with similar autopsy findings. Read More

S D Med 2019 Aug;72(8):349-353

Avera Research Institute, Center for Pediatric and Community Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Introduction: Safe sleep recommendations for infants have been evolving over the past three decades. It has been shown that physicians' recommendations strongly influence parents' choice of infant sleep position. However, the proportion of physicians and/or nurses giving infant sleep advice to parents is reportedly low. Read More

JAAPA 2019 09;32(9)

Genevieve DelRosario is the director of clinical education at the Saint Louis University PA program, a pediatric clinician for over 15 years, and past president of the Society for Physician Assistants in Pediatrics. The author has disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

Int J Legal Med 2019 Nov 27;133(6):1733-1742. Epub 2019 Aug 27.

Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) in young individuals is a devastating and tragic event often caused by an undiagnosed inherited cardiac disease. Although post-mortem genetic testing represents a promising tool to elucidate potential disease-causing mechanisms in such autopsy-negative death cases, a variant interpretation is still challenging, and functional consequences of identified sequence alterations often remain unclear. Recently, we have identified a novel heterozygous missense variant (N1774H) in the Na1. Read More

Pediatrics 2019 09;144(3)

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, St Louis University, St Louis, Missouri.

When a healthy infant dies suddenly and unexpectedly, it is critical to correctly determine if the death was caused by child abuse or neglect. Sudden unexpected infant deaths should be comprehensively investigated, ancillary tests and forensic procedures should be used to more-accurately identify the cause of death, and parents deserve to be approached in a nonaccusatory manner during the investigation. Missing a child abuse death can place other children at risk, and inappropriately approaching a sleep-related death as maltreatment can result in inappropriate criminal and protective services investigations. Read More

Inj Epidemiol 2019 29;6(Suppl 1):26. Epub 2019 May 29.

5Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA USA.

Background: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the ABCs of safe infant sleep (alone, back, clear crib) to combat the increasing rates of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID). It is unclear if these recommendations are followed for infants hospitalized in pediatric facilities after the newborn period. The objectives of this study were to assess baseline infant sleep behaviors at a tertiary care freestanding pediatric hospital and to evaluate the effectiveness of a hospital-based infant safe sleep program in improving adherence to safe sleep recommendations. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 07 18;9(7):e030026. Epub 2019 Jul 18.

Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Objectives: To investigate whether decreased otoacoustic emission (OAE) signal recordings in the right ear are associated with an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and to monitor any temporal changes in risk factors.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Setting: Telephone interviews with families recruited in England between July 2016 and October 2017 who experienced the unexpected death of a child <4 years old since 2008 and control families recruited from maternity wards in Bristol and Birmingham. Read More

Int J Legal Med 2020 May 17;134(3):1015-1021. Epub 2019 Jul 17.

Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA) and the School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Despite being widely used, few studies have assessed the utility of the San Diego definition of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate pathologists' application of the San Diego definition in all cases of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) that occurred in Queensland, Australia, between 2010 and 2014. Key coronial documents of 228 cases of SUDI were reviewed independently by three reviewers and classified according to the San Diego definition. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2019 Sep 11;178(9):1333-1342. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Nemours Cardiac Center, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Rd, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA.

Automated electrical defibrillator (AED) is critical in saving children who develop unexpected cardiac arrest (CA), but its diagnostic capacity is not fully acknowledged. Retrospective cohort study of patients with aborted sudden cardiac death (SCD) was performed. Twenty-five patients (14 males) aged 1. Read More

Acad Pediatr 2019 Sep - Oct;19(7):801-807. Epub 2019 Jun 26.

Department of Pediatrics (TD Burrell and BS Solomon), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md; Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy (EM McDonald, P Mahoney, W Shields, A Gielen, and BS Solomon), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md.

Objective: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a leading cause of mortality in infants, and pediatric providers can influence caregiver infant safe sleep practices. We described the content of safe sleep counseling by pediatric providers and examined pediatric provider and caregiver factors that may be related to the delivery of safe sleep counseling.

Methods: A sample of mothers and providers enrolled in the Safe Start Study, a randomized controlled trial assessing a safe sleep intervention, were audio-recorded during the 2-week well child visits (WCV) at a large urban pediatric practice in Baltimore, Maryland from October 2015 to April 2017. Read More

J Okla State Med Assoc 2018 Oct;111(8):762-766

Senior Pastor of Mt. Triumph Baptist Church and a member of the Infant Mortality Alliance, Oklahoma City, OK USA.

Importance: Oklahoma's infant mortality remains among the highest in the nation. Infant mortality rates are highest within the African American community. Physician and community partner efforts to decrease infant mortality are discussed to encourage more involvement in addressing infant mortality. Read More

Hosp Pediatr 2019 07;9(7):508-515

Sections of Pediatric Hospital Medicine and.

Background And Objectives: The American Academy of Pediatrics published guidelines for evaluation and management of lower-risk infants for a brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE). The guideline identified gaps in knowledge related to caregiver satisfaction, anxiety, and family-centered educational strategies to improve caregiver experience and patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to understand caregivers' experience with hospitalization for infants with BRUE, including their perception of the hospital stay, the diagnosis of BRUE, and their feelings toward the upcoming discharge from the hospital. Read More

J Pediatr 2019 09 20;212:224-227.e5. Epub 2019 Jun 20.

Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.

In a secondary analysis of publicly available data, the rate of sudden unexplained infant death in the first year exceeded the peak rates of the leading causes of injury death for youth (≤19 years of age). The absolute risk of sudden unexplained infant death exceeded age-specific risks of the major causes of child injury mortality regardless of race or ethnicity. Read More

Neurology 2019 07 19;93(3):e227-e236. Epub 2019 Jun 19.

From the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (C.V., F.H., D.F., O.D.), New York University School of Medicine, NY; Division of Neurology (E.D.), The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Epilepsy Center (B.D.M.), Gardner Neuroscience Institute, University of Cincinnati Health, OH; Department of Pediatrics (J.B.), University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center (D.H.), Division of Epidemiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.

Objective: To obtain medical records, family interviews, and death-related reports of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) cases to better understand SUDEP.

Methods: All cases referred to the North American SUDEP Registry (NASR) between October 2011 and June 2018 were reviewed; cause of death was determined by consensus review. Available medical records, death scene investigation reports, autopsy reports, and next-of-kin interviews were reviewed for all cases of SUDEP. Read More