Gestión del capital venoso de los recién nacidos hospitalizados: catéter de línea media (CM) con técnica adaptada. Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Público de Chile / Venous capital management of hospitalized newborns: midline catheter (MC) with adapted technique. Neonatology Service, Chilean public hospital

INTRODUCCIÓN: El catéter midline o de línea media (CM) es un dispositivo de acceso vascular que mide de 6 a 20cm, con la punta del dispositivo ubicado en venas basílica, braquial o cefálica debajo del pliegue axilar. El catéter de línea media se caracteriza por ser un acceso confiable y proporcionar menores complicaciones que un catéter intravenoso periférico corto. Este tipo de dispositivo vascular se ha utilizado ampliamente en adultos, pero faltan estudios desarrollados en el área neonatal. OBJETIVO: fue describir las características de la utilización de catéter midline con técnica adaptada en recién nacidos hospitalizados con necesidad de terapia intravascular en un hospital público de Chile, durante 2 años de seguimiento. METODOLOGÍA: Investigación descriptiva y retrospectiva, estuvo orientada a la identificación de las variables relacionadas a: tiempo de permanencia, características de la terapia intravascular, sitio de inserción, complicaciones y causa de retiro. RESULTADOS: La muestra estuvo conformada por 163 usuarios entre 24 y 41 semanas de edad gestacional, peso de nacimiento en un rango de 500 y 4880 gramos. El 87,7% se retiró por término de tratamiento intravascular, mientras que el 12,3% del total de los CM presentó complicaciones. El promedio de rendimiento del CM fue de 7,99 días, el sitio de inserción más frecuente correspondió a extremidad superior derecha, mientras que su utilización estuvo dada principalmente para fleboterapia, antibióticos y nutrición parenteral periférica. CONCLUSIÓN: Se concluye que el CM con técnica adaptada en usuarios neonatales presenta una alta tasa de éxito para completar la terapia intravascular periférica y bajo porcentaje de complicaciones.

INTRODUCTION: The midline catheter (MC) is a vascular access device measuring 6 to 20cm, with the tip of the device located in the basilic, brachial or cephalic veins below the axillary crease. The midline catheter is characterized as a reliable access and provides fewer complications than a short peripheral intravenous catheter. This type of vascular device has been widely used in adults, but studies developed in the neonatal area are lacking. OBJECTIVE: to describe the characteristics of the use of midline catheter with adapted technique in hospitalized newborns in need of intravascular therapy in a public hospital in Chile, during 2 years of follow-up. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive and retrospective research was oriented to the identification of variables related to: length of stay, characteristics of intravascular therapy, site of insertion, complications and cause of withdrawal. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 163 users between 24 and 41 weeks of gestational age, birth weight in the range of 500 and 4880 grams. Eighty-seven point seven percent were withdrawn due to the end of intravascular treatment, while 12.3% of the total MC presented complications. The average MC performance was 7.99 days, the most frequent insertion site corresponded to the right upper extremity, while its use was mainly for phlebotherapy, antibiotics and peripheral parenteral parenteral nutrition. CONCLUSION: The MC with adapted technique in neonatal users presents a high success rate to complete peripheral intravascular therapy and a low percentage of complications.

Subsistema Chile crece contigo, antes y durante la pandemia COVID-19 / Chile Grows With You Subsystem, Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

La situación sanitaria creada por la COVID-19 obligó a tomar medidas según criterios autónomos y de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, como la suspensión de las prestaciones esenciales a la gestante y el recién nacido, que impactó directamente en el proceso de la gestación y el parto, el posparto y los primeros meses de vida del recién nacido. Con el objetivo de evaluar los principales indicadores en los servicios de obstetricia y neonatología de Chile se realizó un análisis de las fuentes secundarias del registro estadístico mensual de la visita guiada a maternidad, el acompañamiento en el preparto y parto, el contacto piel a piel con el recién nacido y los egresos hospitalarios con lactancia materna exclusiva y de los cuatro indicadores del subsistema Chile crece contigo que se aplican en los 29 servicios de salud existentes, entre 2019 y 2020. Como resultado, se observó un descenso considerable en todos, apenas la lactancia materna exclusiva fue la menos afectada al egreso de la maternidad. La pandemia también perjudicó a los procesos obstétricos y neonatales, por ende, a la triada madre, hijo y padre o persona significativa(AU)

The health situation created by COVID-19 forced measures to be taken by autonomous decisions and according to criteria of the World Health Organization, such as the suspension of essential benefits to pregnant women and newborns, which directly impacted the process of gestation and delivery, postpartum and the first months of life of the newborns. With the objective of evaluating the main indicators in the obstetrics and neonatology services of Chile, it was carried out between 2019 and 2020 an analysis of the secondary sources of the monthly statistical record of the guided visit to maternity, the accompaniment in the prepartum and delivery stages, the skin-to-skin contact with the newborn and the hospital discharges with exclusive breastfeeding, and of the four indicators of Chile grows with you subsystem that are applied in the 29 existing health services,. As a result, a considerable decrease was observed in all; only exclusive breastfeeding was the least affected at maternity discharge. The pandemic also harmed obstetric and neonatal processes, therefore, also to the mother, child and father triad or significant person(AU)

Nutrición, ganancia de peso y estado de estancia hospitalaria de los lactantes de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales que sin ser colocados en brazos de sus madres / Nutrition, weight gain and length of stay satatus of the Newborn Intensive Care Unit infants who without being placed in the arms of theirs mothers

Fundamentos: La mayoría de las muertes neonatales en el mundo ocurren en países de bajos y medianosingresos. Es posible prevenir al menos dos tercios de estas muertes con los enfoques correctos y la lechematerna. El objetivo fue examinar la nutrición, el estado de aumento de peso y la duración de la estancia delos bebés transferidos a la UCIN sin ser colocados en brazos de sus madres hasta el alta.Métodos: Un total de 100 bebés, 59% hombres y 41% mujeres, participaron en el estudio. Estos bebésfueron hospitalizados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales sin ser colocados en brazos de susmadres.Resultados: Mientras que el 54% de los pacientes fueron alimentados solo con leche materna, el 42% fueronalimentados con una combinación de leche materna y fórmula, el 4% de los pacientes que no tenían lechematerna fueron alimentados solo con fórmula. El peso medio al alta fue de 3201,5±406,8g y el tiempo mediode hospitalización fue de 4,07±1,76 días.Conclusiones: Los embarazos en edad temprana y avanzada, y los partos por cesárea en todos los grupos deedad lamentablemente aumentan el riesgo de complicaciones que pueden presentarse en la madre y el bebédespués del parto. El rápido aumento de peso del bebé con alimentos de fórmula no es un indicador de salud.La sociedad debe ser educada sobre la edad adecuada, la dieta adecuada y la superioridad indiscutible de laleche materna. (AU)

Background: Most neonatal deaths in the world occur in low- and middle-income countries. It is possible toprevent at least two thirds of these deaths with the right approaches and breast milk. The aim was toexamine the nutrition, weight gain status and length of stay of the infants transferred to the NICU withoutbeing placed in their mothers' arms until discharge.Methods: A total of 100 infants, 59% male and 41% female, participated in the study. These babies werehospitalized in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit without being placed on their mothers' arms.Results: While 54% of the patients were fed only with breast milk, 42% were mixed fed with a combination ofbreast milk and formula, 4% of the patients who did not have mother's milk were fed only with formula.Mean discharge weight was found to 3201.5±406.8g and mean hospitalization period was determined as 4.07± 1.76 days.Conclusions: Early and advanced age pregnancies and cesarean births in all age groups unfortunatelyincrease the risk of complications that may occur in the mother and baby after birth. The rapid weight gain ofthe baby with formula foods is not a health indicator. The society should be educated on the right age, theright diet and the indisputable superiority of breast milk. (AU)

Guía de recomendaciones para la atención de personas gestantes y recién nacidas: Dirigida a los establecimientos de salud de la Ciudad en el marco de la legislación vigente sobre la atención perinatal

Las siguientes recomendaciones se enmarcan dentro de La Ley Nacional 25.929 de Parto Humanizado y la ley 6365/20 de Parto respetado y atención perinatal, recientemente sancionada en la CABA, que establecen la regulación de los mecanismos y condiciones necesarias para asegurar el parto respetado, garantizando los derechos de las personas gestantes, antes, durante y después del parto, al igual que un nacimiento digno de las personas por nacer (art.1). Asimismo, la Resolución 171/2020 de la Subsecretaría de Atención Hospitalaria de la CABA, sobre consentimiento informado para trabajo de parto espontáneo, inducción, trabajo de parto o cesárea, trata sobre la implementación de acciones positivas tendientes a brindar una adecuada y oportuna información a las personas sobre los aspectos esenciales vinculados a su salud para que, con todas las herramientas brindadas, puedan tomar una decisión sobre los tratamientos médicos aconsejados, por imperio de la autonomía personal. El embarazo, el parto y el nacimiento son eventos o hechos fisiológicos, que en su gran mayoría no presentan complicaciones por lo que no deben ser entendidos como una situación patológica o de enfermedad. Desde esta mirada, se torna imprescindible recuperar el protagonismo de la persona gestante, para que en un contexto de respeto y comunicación efectiva por parte del equipo de salud, participe de manera activa en la toma de decisiones seguras e informadas, a fin eliminar las intervenciones innecesarias. (AU)

The newborn brain is sensitive to the communicative function of language.

Recent studies demonstrated neural systems in bilateral fronto-temporal brain areas in newborns specialized to extract linguistic structure from speech. We hypothesized that these mechanisms show additional sensitivity when identically structured different pseudowords are used communicatively in a turn-taking exchange by two speakers. In an fNIRS experiment newborns heard pseudowords sharing ABB repetition structure in three conditions: two voices turn-takingly exchanged different pseudowords (Communicative); the different pseudowords were produced by a (Single Speaker); two voices turn-takingly repeated identical pseudowords (Echoing). Here we show that left fronto-temporal regions (including Broca's area) responded more to the Communicative than the other conditions. The results demonstrate that newborns' left hemisphere brain areas show additional activation when various pseudowords sharing identical structure are exchanged in turn-taking alternation by two speakers. This indicates that language processing brain areas at birth are not only sensitive to the structure but to the functional use of language: communicative information transmission. Newborns appear to be equipped not only with innate systems to identify the structural properties of language but to identify its use, communication itself, that is, information exchange between third party social agents-even outside of the mother-infant dyad.

The impact of therapeutic hypothermia on peripheral blood cell in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Abstract The effect of hypothermia treatment on white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) values as an indicator of inflammation was evaluated in newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The study was performed that the before-therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and after-TH WBC, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes and NLR, LMR and PLR values of the complete blood cell count were retrospectively evaluated. The results of the patient group were compared with the results of healthy newborns. A total of 78 patients who underwent TH were evaluated in our study. Mean values before and after TH were NLR3.8/2.7, LMR 5.6/8.6, and PLR 60.3/67.1 respectively. A statistical significance was present for NLR values before and after TH in those with seizure in our study (4.15±2.95/3.01±2.54) but no statistical significance was found for LMR or PLR. In neonates with HIE, effect of TH on complete blood cell count and inflammatory mechanisms (mediated neutrophil and lymphocyte) may be minimal.

Olfactory sensory and perceptual evaluation in newborn infants: A systematic review.

Fetuses are able to process olfactory stimuli present in the womb and continue to show a preference for these odors for months after birth. Despite the accumulated knowledge about their early ability to perceive odors, there is a lack of validated scales for odor response in newborns. The evaluation of reactions of the olfactory system to environmental stimuli in infants has been defined by methodological theoretical approaches of experimental and clinical assessment tools. These approaches are mainly based on psychophysical approaches and predominantly use behavioral and physiological measures. Examples can be found in studies describing early abilities of newborn babies for behaviors or heart rate variability showing memory of maternal food preferences or mother's breast milk. This systematic review aimed to determine whether validated odor assessment tools can be feasibly used in studies. Particularly in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic and evidence of associated olfactory impairment resulting from SARS-COV-2 infection, the study is also motivated by the need for tools to assess olfactory function in neonates.

Pictorial review of the postmortem computed tomography in neonaticide cases.

Neonaticide is defined by the deliberate killing or homicide of a child within 24 h of its birth. In this context, three fundamental questions are generally asked of the forensic pathologist: what is the cause of death of the neonate? Was the child viable (i.e., what is the gestational age of the neonate)? Finally, was the neonate stillborn or liveborn?Postmortem imaging can help answer these questions by conducting (1) a complete lesional analysis of the body and the placenta, (2) an estimation of the gestational age by measuring the lengths of the diaphyseal long bones, and (3) an analysis of the aeration of the lungs and intestines. Using the details of 18 cases, we illustrate aspects of neonaticide cases in postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), offering detailed examples of notable postmortem changes and abnormalities, especially in the analysis of the pulmonary parenchyma. This article presents a useful iconography for the radiologist confronted with this rare yet complex forensic situation.

Three kinds of caesarean sections: the foetal/neonatal perspective.

In the age of hospital births, it is commonplace to contrast the vaginal route and the abdominal route as the basic classification. From the "point of view" of the foetus/neonate, we provide reasons to contrast "birth without labour" (that is birth by pre-labour caesarean section) and all the other vaginal and abdominal modes of birth. From a great diversity of theoretical reasons, one can anticipate that babies born by pre-labour caesarean sections are different from the others. We also provide reasons to popularize the concepts of "in labour non-emergency caesarean sections" and "planned in-labour caesarean sections".

Pharyngoesophageal motility reflex mechanisms in the human neonate: importance of integrative cross-systems physiology.

Swallowing is a critical function for survival and development in human neonates and requires cross-system coordination between neurological, airway, and digestive motility systems. Development of pharyngoesophageal motility is influenced by intra- and extrauterine development, pregnancy complications, and neonatal comorbidities. The primary role of these motility reflex mechanisms is to maintain aerodigestive homeostasis under basal and adaptive biological conditions including oral feeding, gastroesophageal reflux, and sleep. Failure may result in feeding difficulties, airway compromise, dysphagia, aspiration syndromes, and chronic eating difficulties requiring prolonged tube feeding. We review the integration of cross-systems physiology to describe the basis for physiological and pathophysiological neonatal aerodigestive functions.

Theoretical knowledge and skill retention 3 and 6 months after a European Newborn Life Support provider course.

INTRODUCTION: The European Resuscitation Council Newborn Life Support Course (ERC- NLS) aims at training healthcare professionals, involved in perinatal care, in order to intervene efficiently and promptly to assist transition or resuscitate neonates who require help at birth. However, limited data exists for the retention of the theoretical knowledge and practical skills provided by the course. This study aims to evaluate the degree of knowledge and skill retention 3 and 6 months after the ERC-NLS provider course. METHODS: This is a prospective study. Theoretical knowledge was evaluated using the ERC-approved NLS written test (50 True/False questions). Evaluation of technical skills included performance, on an Advanced Life Support neonatal maniquin (LAERDAL), of airway management, ventilation and support of circulation (21 detailed skills). The effect of certain factors on theoretical skill retention was also evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen (n = 116) participants were initially recruited in the study (12 males and 104 females). Theoretical knowledge was evaluated in 113 participants (3 participants missed follow-up appointments) and technical skills in 80 participants. The mean score for theoretical knowledge was 86.24% ± 5.3, 80.88% ± 7.43 and 80.04% ± 7.04 at baseline, at 3 and 6 months, respectively. This difference was significant among the three time points (baseline vs 3 months: p < 0.001; baseline vs 6 months: p < 0.001; 3 month's vs 6 months: p = 0.034). Although gender did not have an effect, doctors and participants of higher education yielded higher score of success. Regarding technical skills, 9 skills showed a continuous decline of performance from baseline to 6 months, while no difference existed for 12 skills. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals after the NLS provider course retain satisfactory levels of theoretical knowledge and technical skills even at 6 months post-training, although, there is a decline compared to baseline. Further research is needed in order to establish the proper time and type of refreshment course in order to improve outcomes.

Total body water in full-term and preterm newborns: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Total body water (TBW) is one component of fat-free mass and changes in TBW are influenced by fluid shifts (especially during transition to postnatal life), electrolyte balance and nutritional status. Normal values for term-born neonates and preterm infants at birth have not been defined in large cohorts, limiting investigation into its monitoring and use in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the evidence base for percentage of TBW in term-born infants, quantify the effect of prematurity on TBW at birth, and describe normal progression of TBW over time in preterm infants. METHODS: Systematic review of Medline, Web of Science Core Collection and EBSCO-CINAHL (January 1946 to January 2020). Included articles used dilutional methods to assess TBW. RESULTS: Searches identified 2349 articles of which 22 included data suitable for analysis. Mean TBW in term-born newborns was 73.8% (95% CI 72.47% to 75.06%, 15 studies, 433 infants). Meta-regression showed that TBW was higher in preterm infants (up to 90% at 26 weeks gestation, dropping to 75% at 36 weeks corrected gestation) and was negatively correlated with gestation at birth, falling 1.44% per week (95% CI 0.63% to 2.24%, 9 studies, 179 infants). Analysis of TBW over time during the ex utero growth of preterm infants was not possible due to paucity of data. CONCLUSION: This review defines the normal TBW percentage in term-born infants and confirms and quantifies previous findings that preterm infants have a higher TBW percentage.

The association between maternal and foetal factors with birth weight discordance in twins from Yucatan, Mexico.

Birth weight discordance (BWD) is not an uncommon event in twin pregnancies and can be associated with maternal and newborn characteristics. We aimed to analyse the association between maternal sociodemographic and newborn characteristics with BWD in twin infants born in Yucatan, Mexico, during 2008-2017 (n = 2091 pairs). BWD was calculated as the percentage of birth weight of the heavier twin. We defined three categories of BWD: concordant twins: <15%, mild-discordant: 15-24%, and severe discordant: ≥25%. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyse the association between maternal sociodemographic and newborn characteristics with BWD. Seventy-four percent (n = 1547) of twin pairs were classified as concordant, 17% (n = 356) met the criteria for mild-discordance and 9% (n = 188) for severe discordance. The odds for mild-discordance were significantly lower for mothers with medium level of education and in the highest quartile of total twin birth weight (TBW). Opposite-sex twin pairs showed increased odds for mild-discordance compared with same-sex pairs. The odds for severe discordance increased as mothers were in older age groups and decreased as TBW increased. Our rates of BWD are similar to those reported in populations from wealthier countries and maternal age and education, infants' sex, and TBW are associated with BWD.

Neonatal Brain Response to Deviant Auditory Stimuli and Relation to Maternal Trait Anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: Excessive response to unexpected or "deviant" stimuli during infancy and early childhood represents an early risk marker for anxiety disorders. However, research has yet to delineate the specific brain regions underlying the neonatal response to deviant stimuli near birth and the relation to risk for anxiety disorders. The authors used task-based functional MRI (fMRI) to delineate the neonatal response to deviant stimuli and its relationship to maternal trait anxiety. METHODS: The authors used fMRI to measure brain activity evoked by deviant auditory stimuli in 45 sleeping neonates (mean age, 27.8 days; 60% female; 64% African American). In 41 of the infants, neural response to deviant stimuli was examined in relation to maternal trait anxiety on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, a familial risk factor for offspring anxiety. RESULTS: Neonates manifested a robust and widespread neural response to deviant stimuli that resembles patterns found previously in adults. Higher maternal trait anxiety was related to higher responses within multiple brain regions, including the left and right anterior insula, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, and multiple areas within the anterior cingulate cortex. These areas overlap with brain regions previously linked to anxiety disorders and other psychiatric illnesses in adults. CONCLUSIONS: The neural architecture sensitive to deviant stimuli robustly functions in newborns. Excessive responsiveness of some circuitry components at birth may signal risk for anxiety and other psychiatric disorders.

Effect of amino acid infusion during cesarean delivery on newborn temperature: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The effect of maternal amino acid (AA) infusion before and during cesarean delivery on neonatal temperature remains unknown. We hypothesized that thermogenic effects of AA metabolism would help maintain body temperature of newborn babies and their mothers. METHODS: Seventy-six parturients scheduled for elective singleton term cesarean delivery were equally randomized to receive intravenous 200 ml of AA or placebo approximately 1 h before subarachnoid block (infusion rate:100 ml/h). The primary outcome was the newborn rectal temperature at 0, 5 and 10 min after birth. The secondary outcomes included the maternal rectal temperature at six time-points: T0 = before starting study solution infusion, T1 = 30 min after starting infusion, T2 = one hour after starting infusion, T3 = during spinal block, T4 = half an hour after spinal block, T5 = at the time of birth and T6 = at the end of infusion, as well as maternal thermal discomfort and shivering episodes. RESULTS: There were no differences in newborn temperature between the two groups at any of the time-points (intervention-time-interaction effect, P = 0.206). The newborn temperature (mean [95%CI] °C) at birth was 37.5 [37.43-37.66] in the AA and 37.4 [37.34-37.55] in the placebo group. It showed a significant (P < 0.001) downward trend at 5 and 10 min after birth (time effect) in both groups. One neonate in the AA and five in the placebo group were hypothermic (temperature < 36.5 °C) (P = 0.20). There was a significant difference in the maternal temperature at all time points between the two groups (Intervention-time interaction effect, P < 0.001). However, after adjustment for multiplicity, the difference was significant only at T6 (P = 0.001). The mean difference [95%CI] in temperature decline from baseline (T0) till the end of infusion (T6) between the two groups was - 0.39 [- 0.55;- 0.22] °C (P < 0.0001). Six mothers receiving placebo and none receiving AA developed hypothermia (temperature < 36 °C) (P = 0.025). Maternal thermal discomfort and shivering episodes were unaffected by AA therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this study, maternal AA infusion before and during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery did not influence the neonatal temperature within 10 min after birth. In addition, the maternal temperature was only maintained at two hours of AA infusion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.government, Identifier NCT02575170 . Registered on 10th April, 2015 - Retrospectively registered.

Heart rate during the first 24 hours in term-born infants.

OBJECTIVE: Heart rate (HR) is an important clinical parameter in newborn infants, but normal ranges are poorly defined. Our aim was to establish normal reference ranges and individual variations in HR as obtained by auscultation in healthy term-born infants during the first 24 hours of life. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Single hospital in Norway. METHODS: HR was assessed by auscultation for 30 s at 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours of age. Auscultation was validated against ECG recordings. SUBJECTS: Healthy term-born infants who were asleep or awake in a quiet resting state. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Construction of percentile curves for resting HR. RESULTS: The study included 953 infants. The 50th percentile was 126 beats per minute (bpm) at age 2 hours and thereafter 120-122 bpm. The respective 2nd and 98th percentiles were 102 (thereafter 96-100) bpm and 162 (thereafter 150-156) bpm. The mean HR was 5.6 bpm higher when awake than asleep, 4.9 bpm higher when on the mother's chest than in the cot, 1.6 bpm higher in girls than in boys, and increased by 0.5 bpm per 0.1°C increase in rectal temperature. Mode of delivery, meconium staining, birth weight and maternal smoking during pregnancy were of no significance. For each infant, HR varied considerably during the first 24 hours (intraclass correlation 0.21 (95% CI 0.18 to 0.24), coefficient of variation 9.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The HR percentiles allow for a scientifically based use of HR when assessing newborn infants born at term.

Future thermal regimes for epaulette sharks (Hemiscyllium ocellatum): growth and metabolic performance cease to be optimal.

Climate change is affecting thermal regimes globally, and organisms relying on their environment to regulate biological processes face unknown consequences. In ectotherms, temperature affects development rates, body condition, and performance. Embryonic stages may be the most vulnerable life history stages, especially for oviparous species already living at the warm edge of their distribution, as embryos cannot relocate during this developmental window. We reared 27 epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) embryos under average summer conditions (27 °C) or temperatures predicted for the middle and end of the twenty-first century with climate change (i.e., 29 and 31 °C) and tracked growth, development, and metabolic costs both in ovo and upon hatch. Rearing sharks at 31 °C impacted embryonic growth, yolk consumption, and metabolic rates. Upon hatch, 31 °C-reared sharks weighed significantly less than their 27 °C-reared counterparts and exhibited reduced metabolic performance. Many important growth and development traits in this species may peak after 27 °C and start to become negatively impacted nearing 31 °C. We hypothesize that 31 °C approximates the pejus temperature (i.e., temperatures at which performance of a trait begin to decline) for this species, which is alarming, given that this temperature range is well within ocean warming scenarios predicted for this species' distribution over the next century.

Consistency between Impedance Technique and Echocardiogram Hemodynamic Measurements in Neonates.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to validate impedance technique (IT) by investigating the agreement in cardiac output measurements performed by IT and echocardiography (ECHO). STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective observational study, including a total of 30 neonates who underwent hemodynamic measurements by IT and ECHO. To determine the agreement between both methods, we performed IT to measure stroke volume (SV-IT) and cardiac output (CO-IT) immediately before or after ECHO to measure SV (SV-ECHO) and CO (CO-ECHO). The precision and accuracy of the IT relative to ECHO were assessed. RESULTS: SV-ECHO and SV-IT were (4.45 ± 0.78) and (4.54 ± 0.81) mL, respectively. The bias and limits of agreement of SV-IT were 0.09 mL and ( -1.92 to 1.73) mL, respectively. The true precision of SV-IT was 27.3%. Furthermore, CO-ECHO and CO-IT were (0.62 ± 0.12) and (0.61 ± 0.12) L/min, respectively. The bias and LoA of CO-IT were 0.01L/min and (-0.33 to 0.31) L/min, respectively. The true precision of CO-IT was 28.3%. CONCLUSION: Agreement between the IT and ECHO in the cardiac output measurement appeared acceptable. However, the accuracy and precision of the IT approach should be further investigated using a larger sample.

Mycotoxin carry-over in breast milk and weight of infant in exclusively-breastfed infants.

The aim was to evaluate the levels of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) in human milk, and to investigate the relation between selected mycotoxin levels in breast milk and infantile growth in exclusively-breastfed infants under four months. Mycotoxin analysis was performed with commercial ELISA kits. Infants were weighed, and z scores of weight-for-age (WAZ) were calculated with WHO standards. The first quartile of the mycotoxin levels was classified in subgroups as low-level, the last quartile as high-level, and between them as middle-level. The subgroups of AFM1, OTA, and DON had similar infants' WAZ. When cases without maternal smoke exposure were selected and WAZ at birth, infant age, and gender were adjusted, higher infant WAZ on admission was detected in high-ZEN subgroup (p = 0.033). Further cohort studies in exclusively-breastfed infants and absence of maternal smoke exposure could clarify the effect of ZEN on infant growth.