Maternal Sociodemographic Factors, Adiposity, and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Preterm Deliveries Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction: Preterm birth represents about 10% of all births in the United States and is known to be influenced by maternal factors, including pre-pregnancy adiposity, measured using BMI. Pre-pregnancy adiposity is influenced by environmental and sociodemographic factors. This exploratory analysis aimed to explore the complex relationship between pre-pregnancy adiposity, sociodemographic factors, and delivery outcomes among preterm deliveries.

Early Life Stress, DNA Methylation of NR3C1 and HSD11B2 , and Oral Feeding Skill Development in Preterm Infants : A Pilot Study.

Background: Early life stress exposure in preterm infants may alter DNA methylation of NR3C1 and HSD11B2 , disrupting neurobehaviors needed for oral feeding (PO) skill development.

Purpose: To (1) examine the feasibility of the study protocol; (2) describe early life stress, DNA methylation of NR3C1 and HSD11B2 , and PO skill development; and (3) explore the association between DNA methylation of NR3C1 and HSD11B2 and infant characteristics, early life stress, and PO skill development.

Method: We employed a longitudinal descriptive pilot study (N = 10).

Correction: Ruchaya et al. Transplantation of Skeletal Muscle-Derived Sca-1/PW1/Pax7 Interstitial Cells (PICs) Improves Cardiac Function and Attenuates Remodeling in Mice Subjected to Myocardial Infarction. , , 4050.

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Nosocomial Infections in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Nosocomial infections are relatively common in the NICU. These infections increase morbidity and mortality, particularly in the smallest and most fragile infants. The impact of these infections on long-term outcomes and health-care costs is devastating.

Neonatal serial creatinine levels as an adjunct biomarker in timing of fetal neurologic injury.

Objective: To investigate the rise and clearance of newborn creatinine in perinatal asphyxia as an adjunct biomarker to support or refute allegations of acute intrapartum asphyxia.

Study Design: In this retrospective chart review, newborns > 35 weeks gestational age were evaluated from closed medicolegal cases of confirmed perinatal asphyxia and reviewed for causation. Data collected included newborn demographic data, patterns of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, brain magnetic resonance imaging, Apgar scores, cord and initial newborn blood gases, and serial newborn creatinine levels during the first 96 h of life.

Neonatal Hypocalcemia: Common, Uncommon, and Rare Etiologies.

Calcium homeostasis in the neonatal period is a reflection of the transition from placental regulation to hormonal maturation in the newborn. Hypocalcemia occurring within the first 72 hours after birth, termed early-onset hypocalcemia (EOH), is more common and often asymptomatic. Hypocalcemia occurring beyond 72 hours of age is termed late-onset hypocalcemia (LOH).

Adrenergic control of skeletal muscle blood flow during chronic hypoxia in healthy males.

Sympathetic transduction is reduced following chronic high-altitude (HA) exposure; however, vascular α-adrenergic signaling, the primary mechanism mediating sympathetic vasoconstriction at sea level (SL), has not been examined at HA. In nine male lowlanders, we measured forearm blood flow (Doppler ultrasound) and calculated changes in vascular conductance (ΔFVC) during ) incremental intra-arterial infusion of phenylephrine to assess α-adrenergic receptor responsiveness and ) combined intra-arterial infusion of β-adrenergic and α-adrenergic antagonists propranolol and phentolamine (α-β-blockade) to assess adrenergic vascular restraint at rest and during exercise-induced sympathoexcitation (cycling; 60% peak power). Experiments were performed near SL (344 m) and after 3 wk at HA (4,383 m).

Transplantation of Skeletal Muscle-Derived Sca-1/PW1/Pax7 Interstitial Cells (PICs) Improves Cardiac Function and Attenuates Remodeling in Mice Subjected to Myocardial Infarction.

We have previously shown that skeletal muscle-derived Sca-1/PW1/Pax7 interstitial cells (PICs) are multi-potent and enhance endogenous repair and regeneration. Here, we investigated the regenerative potential of PICs following intramyocardial transplantation in mice subjected to an acute myocardial infarction (MI). MI was induced through the ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in 8-week old male C57BL/6 mice.

Scoping review of interventions to support families with preterm infants post-NICU discharge.

Background: A successful transition from the NICU to home is fundamental for the long-term health and well-being of preterm infants. Post-NICU discharge, parents may experience a lack of support and resources during the transition to home. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify post-NICU discharge interventions that may reduce parental stress and provide support to families with preterm infants.

Global REACH 2018: increased adrenergic restraint of blood flow preserves coupling of oxygen delivery and demand during exercise at high-altitude.

Chronic exposure to hypoxia (high-altitude, HA; >4000 m) attenuates the vasodilatory response to exercise and is associated with a persistent increase in basal sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). The mechanism(s) responsible for the reduced vasodilatation and exercise hyperaemia at HA remains unknown. We hypothesized that heightened adrenergic signalling restrains skeletal muscle blood flow during handgrip exercise in lowlanders acclimatizing to HA.

Global Reach 2018: sympathetic neural and hemodynamic responses to submaximal exercise in Andeans with and without chronic mountain sickness.

Andeans with chronic mountain sickness (CMS) and polycythemia have similar maximal oxygen uptakes to healthy Andeans. Therefore, this study aimed to explore potential adaptations in convective oxygen transport, with a specific focus on sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction of nonactive skeletal muscle. In Andeans with (CMS, = 7) and without (CMS, = 9) CMS, we measured components of convective oxygen delivery, hemodynamic (arterial blood pressure via intra-arterial catheter), and autonomic responses [muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA)] at rest and during steady-state submaximal cycling exercise [30% and 60% peak power output (PPO) for 5 min each].

Effects of Regular Long-Term Circuit Training (Once per Week) on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Previously Sedentary Adults.

The purpose of the study was (1) to investigate the effects of regular long-term circuit training (once per week) on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in sedentary adults and (2) to compare training progress with the effects of continued exercise participation by regularly active age-matched individuals. Ten sedentary, middle-aged (51 ± 6 years) individuals (sedentary group, SG) of both sexes performed 32 weeks (1 training session/week) of supervised circuit training and 10 weeks of self-managed training. Effects were compared to an age-matched group (51 ± 8 years; = 10) of regularly active individuals (active group, AG).

Intra-rater reliability of leg blood flow during dynamic exercise using Doppler ultrasound.

Developing an exercise model that resembles a traditional form of aerobic exercise and facilitates a complete simultaneous assessment of multiple parameters within the oxygen cascade is critically for understanding exercise intolerances in diseased populations. Measurement of muscle blood flow is a crucial component of such a model and previous studies have used invasive procedures to determine blood flow kinetics; however, this may not be appropriate in certain populations. Furthermore, current models utilizing Doppler ultrasound use isolated limb exercise and while these studies have provided useful data, the exercise model does not mimic the whole-body physiological response to continuous dynamic exercise.

Global REACH 2018: the adaptive phenotype to life with chronic mountain sickness and polycythaemia.

Key Points: Humans suffering from polycythaemia undergo multiple circulatory adaptations including changes in blood rheology and structural and functional vascular adaptations to maintain normal blood pressure and vascular shear stresses, despite high blood viscosity. During exercise, several circulatory adaptations are observed, especially involving adrenergic and non-adrenergic mechanisms within non-active and active skeletal muscle to maintain exercise capacity, which is not observed in animal models. Despite profound circulatory stress, i.

Acetaminophen Therapy for Persistent Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

Persistence of a left-to-right shunt caused by a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) leads to significant sequelae in extremely premature infants as a result of pulmonary overcirculation and systemic steal. Although timing and duration of treatment for a persistent clinically significant PDA differ among institutions, standard pharmacologic interventions are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs indomethacin and ibuprofen. Acetaminophen has emerged as an alternative to indomethacin and ibuprofen with less significant adverse effects, but there is no consensus regarding its use.

Reducing intracranial pressure by reducing central venous pressure: assessment of potential countermeasures to spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome.

Spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) involves unilateral or bilateral optic disc edema, widening of the optic nerve sheath, and posterior globe flattening. Owing to posterior globe flattening, it is hypothesized that microgravity causes a disproportionate change in intracranial pressure (ICP) relative to intraocular pressure. Countermeasures capable of reducing ICP include thigh cuffs and breathing against inspiratory resistance.

Whole body passive heating versus dynamic lower body exercise: a comparison of peripheral hemodynamic profiles.

Passive heating has emerged as a therapeutic intervention for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Like exercise, heating increases peripheral artery blood flow and shear rate, which is thought to be a primary mechanism underpinning endothelium-mediated vascular adaptation. However, few studies have compared the increase in arterial blood flow and shear rate between dynamic exercise and passive heating.

FIRS: Neonatal considerations.

Fetal Inflammatory Response Syndrome (FIRS) is the fetal counterpart of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) described in adults. When the fetus is directly exposed to inflammation of the fetal membranes or the placental-fetal circulation, and organs are adversely affected, the disorder is known as FIRS. This syndrome can significantly affect multiple organs with significant short and long term implications for the newborn.

Global Reach 2018 Heightened α-Adrenergic Signaling Impairs Endothelial Function During Chronic Exposure to Hypobaric Hypoxia.

Rationale: Chronic exposure to hypoxia is associated with elevated sympathetic nervous activity and reduced vascular function in lowlanders, and Andean highlanders suffering from excessive erythrocytosis (EE); however, the mechanistic link between chronically elevated sympathetic nervous activity and hypoxia-induced vascular dysfunction has not been determined.

Objective: To determine the impact of heightened sympathetic nervous activity on resistance artery endothelial-dependent dilation (EDD), and endothelial-independent dilation, in lowlanders and Andean highlanders with and without EE.

Methods And Results: We tested healthy lowlanders (n=9) at sea level (344 m) and following 14 to 21 days at high altitude (4300 m), and permanent Andean highlanders with (n=6) and without (n=9) EE at high altitude.

6-week High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) of the Lower Extremities Improves VO2max of the Upper Extremities.

High intensity interval training (HIIT) is widely used to improve VO. The purpose of this study was to examine if lower extremity HIIT resulted in improved maximal oxygen uptake (VO) and peak power output (PPO) of the upper extremities. Twenty healthy and trained participants (11 female and 9 male, VO 3160±1175 ml/min) underwent a 6-week HIIT program of the lower extremities on a cycle ergometer.