Evaluation of Transplacental Antibody Transfer in Pregnant Women Immunized with Different SARS-CoV-2 Homologous or Heterologous Schemes.

There is scarce information related to transplacental antibody transfer against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with different homologous and heterologous vaccination schemes. This study aimed to correlate the magnitude of transplacental transfer anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in different homologous and heterologous schemes. An observational cross-sectional study was developed to identify pregnant women vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. They were questioned about their immunization status; blood samples from the mother, umbilical cord during labor, and the newborn 72 h after birth were taken to measure anti-S1 and anti-S2 specific IgG antibodies for SARS-CoV-2. We recruited 104 women with a median age of 29 (SD 1.17). We found antibodies in all newborns with vaccinated mothers. Homologous BNT162b2 mRNA regimen had the highest mean (SD) antibody titers (AU/mL) in maternal (994.93 (3.08), p = 0.039), umbilical cord (1316.43 (2.79), p = 0.016), and newborn (1192.02 (3.55), p = 0.020) blood. The generalized linear model showed a positive effect over antibodies with at least one dose in maternal (ß = -1.1, p = 0.002) and newborn (ß= -0.717, p = 0.044) blood, and with two doses (ß = -0.684, p = 0.026) in umbilical cord blood. In conclusion, antibodies were detected in all vaccinated women and their newborns. Transfer of antibodies was found from the first dose, and the levels increased with the number of vaccine doses. Vaccination should be encouraged in pregnant women with any available scheme.

Outcomes of neonates born to women with Covid-19.

Not available.

A survey among healthcare professionals from seven countries reported diverse nutritional practices of late preterm infants.

AIM: To gain insight into nutritional practices and expected growth outcomes of infants born between 34 and 36 gestational weeks defined as late preterm infants (LPT). METHODS: An anonymous online survey among paediatricians and neonatologists from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan was conducted from March until October 2020. The questionnaire consisted of 40 questions on the nutritional management and expected growth outcomes of LPT in and after-hospital care. RESULTS: Healthcare professionals from low to high Human Development (HDI) countries (n = 322) and very high HDI countries (n = 169) participated in the survey. Human milk was the preferred feeding, resulting in an adequate growth of LPT (weight, length and occipitofrontal circumference), according to a majority of respondents (low to high HDI, 179/265, 68% vs. very high HDI, 73/143, 51%; p = 0.002). The expected growth outcome was higher after-hospital discharge. Less than half of healthcare professionals started enteral feeding during the 1st hour of life. Lactation difficulties, limited access to human milk fortifiers and donor human milk, especially among low to high HDI countries, were reported as major hurdles. CONCLUSION: Human milk is the first feeding choice for LPT. The diverse opinions on nutritional practices and expected growth outcomes among healthcare professionals indicate the necessity to develop general nutritional guidelines for LPT.

Ectopic liver within the umbilical cord in a very preterm infant from a multiple gestation.

A 29 weeks' gestational age newborn, the product of a multiple gestation, was found to have a round mass in the umbilical cord; the resected lesion was an ectopic liver tissue (3 × 2 cm). She also had an imperforated hymen; otherwise, no other abnormalities were seen. The infant survived. Some possible mechanisms that may be associated with an ectopic liver tissue are presented.