A novel echocardiography method to assess upper body systemic blood flow in preterm infants and comparison with superior vena cava flow measurement.

Unlabelled: To evaluate feasibility, reproducibility, and prognostic value of a new echocardiographic method to assess systemic arterial blood flow directed to the upper part of the body (UBAF, upper body arterial flow) alternative to superior vena cava flow (SVCF) measurement. We performed echocardiographic evaluations in 106 infants in the first 2 days of life to obtain SVCF, left ventricle output (LVO), UBAF, and standard parameters of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) significance. UBAF was calculated by subtracting from LVO the aortic arch blood flow measured immediately distally to the origin of the left subclavian artery.

Normal values for superior vena cava flow in preterm neonates using a new echocardiographic approach.

Objective: Recently, a novel approach to imaging Superior Vena Cava (SVC) flow has been presented, showing better repeatability and better agreement with MRI-derived SVC flow measures. The objective was to establish normal values of SVC flow with the novel approach in the first 48 h of life.

Study Design: This was a prospective, observational study.

Strict glycaemic control in very low birthweight infants using a continuous glucose monitoring system: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a strict glycaemic control protocol using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in infants at high risk of dysglycaemia with the aim of reducing the number of dysglycaemic episodes.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Neonatal intensive care unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome.

Severe herpes virus 6 interstitial pneumonia in an infant with three variants in genes predisposing to lung disease.

Infections due to human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) are frequent during early childhood. Usually, they have a favorable clinical course. Conversely, HHV-6 congenital infections occur in about 1% of neonates and may present with more severe clinical pictures.

Neonatal lung ultrasonography score after surfactant in preterm infants: A prospective observational study.

Objective: To assess changes in neonatal lung ultrasonography score (nLUS) after surfactant administration in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Working Hypothesis: The reduction of nLUS score before (nLUSpre), 2 hours (nLUS2h), and 12 hours (nLUS12h) after surfactant administration to identify patients who will not need a second treatment.

Study Design And Setting: Prospective observational study in the tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.

Short therapy in a septic arthritis of the neonatal hip.

Septic arthritis (SA) is a serious joint infection associated with significant morbidity that can cause permanent damage with articular cartilage destruction, osteonecrosis and lifelong deformities if not diagnosed and treated promptly. In neonates, because of the paucity of signs and symptoms, SA is difficult to diagnose. The treatment for SA in children is empirical antibiotic for weeks, initially intravenously, and surgical (arthrotomy) in particular for the hip and shoulder because of the high risk of sequelae in these joints.

Fish oil-based lipid emulsion in the treatment of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis.

Background: Parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC) is a serious complication in preterm infants receiving prolonged parenteral nutrition. Soybean lipid emulsion (SLE) seems to have a role in its pathogenesis, whereas fish oil-based emulsion (FOLE) seems to be able to reverse cholestasis. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a FOLE in reversing PNAC.

Lung ultrasonography score versus chest X-ray score to predict surfactant administration in newborns with respiratory distress syndrome.

Objectives: We aim to verify the diagnostic accuracy of a lung ultrasonography (LUS) score to early predict the need for surfactant therapy in newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and to compare it with a chest X-ray score.

Methods: In this prospective diagnostic accuracy study we included all newborns admitted for respiratory distress and initially treated with nasal CPAP. LUS was performed within 2 h from nasal CPAP positioning and in any case before surfactant administration.

Continuous glucose monitoring in preterm infants: evaluation by a modified Clarke error grid.

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring using subcutaneous sensors has been validated in adults and children with diabetes, and was found to be useful in the management of glucose control. We aimed to assess feasibility and reliability of a new continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) in a population of preterm neonates using a Clarke error grid (CEG) specifically modified for preterm infants.

Methods: Preterm infants were recruited within 24 h from delivery.

Endothelial and platelet function in children with previous Kawasaki disease.

We investigated whether children with a previous Kawasaki disease (KD) have evidence of abnormal vascular and/or platelet function. We included 14 patients with previous KD and 14 matched controls. We assessed endothelial function by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), coronary microvascular function by coronary blood flow response (CBFR) to cold pressor test, and platelet reactivity by measuring monocyte-platelet aggregates (MPAs) and CD41-platelet expression by flow cytometry.