A Study of General Movement Assessment and Its Association With Neurodevelopmental Outcome at Age 12 to 15 Months Among Term Neonates With Hyperbilirubinemia.

BACKGROUND: To determine the association between optimality score at term age and age three to five months and neurodevelopmental outcome among neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. METHODS: Fifty infants with and without hyperbilirubinemia were enrolled. The motor repertoires of the infants were evaluated through general movement assessment (GMA) at term age and three to five months post-term. The association between the General Movement Optimality Score (GMOS), Motor Optimality Score (MOS), and Development Assessment Scale for Indian Infants (DASII) at age 12 to 15 months was also assessed. RESULTS: During term age, the median GMOS was significantly lower among infants in the study group when compared with the control group (40 [29 to 42] vs 42 [42 to 42], P < 0.001). However, at age three to five months, there was no significant difference between the groups. Significantly higher number of neonates had abnormal motor repertoire at term age and age three to five months in the study group when compared with the control group (18 [36%] vs 2 [4%], P = 0.001, at term age and 6 [12.2%] vs 1 [2%], P =0.04, at age three to five months). Among neonates with hyperbilirubinemia, the median GMOS and MOS were significantly lower at term age and age three to five months in infants with motor and mental developmental quotient scores <85 when compared with ≥85. CONCLUSIONS: GMA including GMOS and MOS performed in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia during the neonatal period and early infancy is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in the first year of life. GMA can help initiate early intervention in such neonates.

Direct Shoot From Root and True-to-Type Micropropagation of Limonium "Misty Blue" in Partially Immersed Culture on an Aluminum Mesh Raft.

Commercial plant tissue culture now primarily serves the ornamental horticulture industry. The main pillars of the commercial tissue culture business are scalability of production, cost reduction, limited labor involvement, high quality, and genetic homogeneity of propagated plants. Based on these requirements, the current protocol employs a partially immersed liquid culture medium supported by a flexible aluminum mesh raft with a wire stand to facilitate shoot organogenesis from the horizontally placed root explants and hold the plants upright for shoot multiplication and rooting of Limonium Misty Blue. It is a florist crop that is in high demand as both dried and fresh flower fillers in various floral decorations. The majority of cultivated Limonium or statice cultivars are heterozygous in nature and propagate commercially through in vitro propagation to cater to the huge demand for planting materials needed for flower production. This is the first protocol to describe direct shoot organogenesis from the roots in a liquid half-component of Murashige and Skoog's (1962) (MS) basal medium supplemented with 1.6 µM NAA and 1.1 µM BA. The regenerated shoots are multiplied and rooted at the same time on the raft in a MS-based liquid culture medium that included 0.44 µM BA and 1.07 µM NAA. In comparison to agar-gelled medium, plants cultured in liquid medium grow more quickly without any signs of hyperhydricity. In liquid medium, a clump of 4-5 shoots is formed from a single shoot explant within 4 weeks and are rooted simultaneously within 6 weeks. On average, seven explants may fit on each raft, so on average, 25 healthy plants are produced from a single bottle. The regenerated plants are easily hardened in the greenhouse, and using ISSR-based molecular markers, the genetic homogeneity of the randomly selected hardened plants can be determined.

Clinical decision thresholds for surfactant administration in preterm infants: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: The ideal threshold at which surfactant administration in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is most beneficial is contentious. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the optimal clinical criteria to guide surfactant administration in preterm neonates with RDS. Methods: The systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022309433). Medline, Embase, CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched from inception till 16th May 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. A Bayesian random effects network meta-analysis (NMA) evaluating 33 interventions was performed. The primary outcome was requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) within 7 days of life. Findings: 58 RCTs were included. In preterm neonates ≤30 weeks after adjusting for the confounding factor of modality of surfactant administration, an arterial alveolar oxygen tension ratio (aAO2) <0.36 (FiO2: 37-55%) was ranked the best threshold for decreasing the risk of IMV, very low certainty. Further, surfactant administration at an FiO2 40-45% possibly decreased mortality compared to rescue treatment when respiratory failure was diagnosed, certainty very low. The reasonable inference that could be drawn from these findings is that surfactant administration may be considered in preterm neonates of ≤30 weeks' with RDS requiring an FiO2 ≥ 40%. There was insufficient evidence for the comparison of FiO2 thresholds: 30% vs. 40%. The evidence was sparse for surfactant administration guided by lung ultrasound. For the sub-group >30 weeks, nebulized surfactant administration at an FiO2 < 30% possibly increased the risk of IMV compared to Intubate-Surfactant-Extubate at FiO2 < 30% and 40%, and less invasive surfactant administration at FiO2 40%, certainty very low. Interpretation: Surfactant administration may be considered in preterm neonates of ≤30 weeks' with RDS if the FiO2 requirement is ≥40%. Future trials are required comparing lower FiO2 thresholds of 30% vs. 40% and that guided by lung ultrasound. Funding: None.

Sonographic assessment of diaphragmatic thickness and excursion to predict CPAP failure in neonates below 34 weeks of gestation: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of sonographic assessment of diaphragmatic dimensions and excursions in predicting Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) failure in preterm neonates with respiratory distress. METHODS: Prospective cohort study among preterm neonates less than 34 weeks of gestation who were hemodynamically stable and either admitted with respiratory distress or who developed respiratory distress shortly after admission to the NICU and having Silverman-Anderson Score (SAS) ≥ 3/10 were included. We performed sonographic assessment of diaphragmatic dimensions and excursions before and one hour ±30 minutes after application of CPAP. 'CPAP failure' was defined as combined outcome of the need of surfactant and/or upgradation of respiratory support within first 72 hours after a trial of CPAP. Clinical parameters and diaphragmatic measurements were compared between CPAP failure and success groups. RESULTS: Of 62 participants, 20 (32%) failed CPAP. On binomial logistic regression (after adjustment for gestational age and birth weight), initial SAS, higher diaphragmatic excursion (both left and right, before and after CPAP application), lower left hemidiaphragm diaphragmatic thickness fraction (DTF) (before CPAP application) and lower right DTF (after CPAP application) were independent predictors of CPAP failure. However, the receiver-operating characteristics curves showed that excursions of right and left hemi-diaphragm both before and after CPAP application, had highest accuracies in predicting CPAP failure (AUC 0.84, 0.80 and 0.86, 0.78, respectively; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Diaphragmatic excursion can be a useful parameter to predict the failure of CPAP in preterm neonates with respiratory distress.

Design modification of surgical drill bit for final osteotomy site preparation towards improved bone-implant contact.

Implant stability significantly impacts accelerated osseointegration, leading to faster patient recovery. Both primary and secondary stability necessitates superior bone-implant contact influenced by the surgical tool required to prepare the final osteotomy site. Besides, excessive shearing and frictional forces generate heat causing local tissue necrosis. Hence, surgical procedure necessitates proper irrigation with water to minimize heat generation. Notably, the water irrigation system removes bone chips and osseous coagulums, which may help accelerate osseointegration and improve bone-implant contact. The inferior bone-implant contact and thermal necrosis at the osteotomy site are primarily responsible for poor osseointegration and eventual failure. Therefore, optimizing tool geometry is key to minimizing shear force, heat generation, and necrosis during final osteotomy site preparation. The present study explores modified drilling tool geometry, especially cutting edge for osteotomy site preparation. The mathematical modeling is used to find out ideal cutting-edge geometry that facilitates drilling under relatively less operational force (0.55-5.24 N) and torque (98.8-154.5 N-mm) with a significant reduction (28.78%-30.87%) in heat generation. Twenty-three conceivable designs were obtained using the mathematical model; however, only three have shown promising results in static structural FEM platforms. These drill bits are designed for the final drilling operation and need to be carried out during the final osteotomy site preparation.

Assessment of Change in Practice of Routine Tracheal Suctioning Approach of Non-Vigorous Infants Born through Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid: A Pragmatic Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Evidence outside Randomized Trials.

AIM: The 2015 recommendation of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation of no routine tracheal suctioning in non-vigorous neonates born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) was based on very low certainty of evidence (CoE) necessitating ongoing monitoring. The aim of this systematic review was to perform a meta-analysis of observational studies comparing the effect of implementing immediate resuscitation without routine tracheal suctioning versus with routine suctioning in neonates born through MSAF. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science were searched. Observational studies with a before-and-after design were included. Two authors extracted data independently. CoE based on GRADE recommendations was performed. RESULTS: 13 studies were included. Clinical benefit or harm could not be excluded for the composite primary outcome of mortality or requirement of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) (relative risk, 95% confidence interval: 0.74 [0.47-1.17]), and mortality (0.68 [0.42-1.11]). "Routine tracheal suctioning" epoch had possibly lesser risk of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) when compared to "no routine tracheal suctioning" epoch (0.68 [0.47-0.99]). "Routine tracheal suctioning" epoch also possibly had a lower risk of hospital admission for respiratory symptoms, requirement of non-invasive respiratory support, invasive mechanical ventilation, surfactant treatment, air leak, and low-flow oxygen therapy. Clinical benefit or harm could not be excluded for the outcome of mortality or ECMO among those diagnosed with MAS (1.09 [0.86-1.39]), but "routine tracheal suctioning" was possibly associated with lower risk of respiratory morbidities among those diagnosed with MAS. The CoE was very low for most of the outcomes evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the very low CoE for the outcomes evaluated, no definitive conclusions can be drawn warranting the need for additional studies.

Pre-feeding premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI) for transition from gavage to oral feeding: A randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To assess the performance of premature infant oral motor intervention for transition from gavage to full spoon feeding in preterm infants. METHODS: Preterm neonates born between 28 + 0-32 + 6 weeks gestation (n = 32) were randomised into an intervention group (premature infant oral motor intervention) for five minutes twice a day along with routine care (n = 16) and a control group (routine care, n = 16) once they reached a feed volume of at least 150 ml/kg/day administered by gavage method. The primary outcome measure was time (in days) to transition from gavage to full spoon feeds. RESULTS: The mean (SD) time to transition from gavage to full spoon feeds was attained significantly earlier in the intervention group than the control group (9.93 [5.83] vs 16.43 [10.46] days; mean difference, -6.5 days; 95% CI, -12.58 to -0.41). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the duration of hospital stay, rates of physiological stability, and culture positive sepsis. CONCLUSION: Premature infant oral motor intervention, as used in this specific population, significantly reduces the time to transition to full spoon feeds without increasing culture positive sepsis and physiological instability.

Placental Transfusion Strategies in Preterm Infants in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Placental transfusion strategies in preterm newborns have not been evaluated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The objective of this systematic review was to compare placental transfusion strategies in preterm newborns in LMICs, including delayed cord clamping (DCC) for various time intervals, DCC until cord pulsations stop, umbilical cord milking, and immediate cord clamping (ICC). METHODS: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and CENTRAL were searched from inception. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Two authors independently extracted data for Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis (NMA) if more than 3 interventions reported an outcome or a pairwise meta-analysis was utilized. RESULTS: Among newborns <34 weeks of gestation, NMA of 9 RCTs could not rule out benefit or harm for survival from DCC 30-60 s compared to ICC: relative risk (RR) (95% credible interval) 0.96 (0.78-1.12), moderate certainty, or any included strategy compared to each other (low to very low certainty). Among late preterm newborns, DCC 120 s might be associated with improved survival: RR (95% confidence interval) 1.11 (1.01-1.22), very low certainty. We could not detect differences in the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage grade > II and bronchopulmonary dysplasia for any included intervention (low to very low certainty). DCC 60 s and 120 s might improve the hematocrit level among all preterm newborns (very low certainty), and DCC 45 s may decrease the risk of receipt of inotropes among newborns <34 weeks of gestation (low certainty). CONCLUSIONS: In LMICs, DCC for 60 s and 120 s might improve hematocrit level in preterm newborns, and DCC for 45 s may decrease the risk of receipt of inotropes in newborns <34 weeks, with no conclusive effect on survival.

Barriers and enablers of breastfeeding in mother-newborn dyads in institutional settings during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study across seven government hospitals of Delhi, India.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted newborn care and breastfeeding practices across most healthcare facilities. We undertook this study to explore the barriers and enablers for newborn care and breastfeeding practices in hospitals in Delhi, India for recently delivered mother (RDM)-newborn dyads during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) and inductively design a "pathway of impaction" for informing mitigatory initiatives during the current and future pandemics, at least in the initial months. Materials and methods: We used an exploratory descriptive design (qualitative research method) and collected information from seven leading public health facilities in Delhi, India. We conducted separate interviews with the head and senior faculty from the Departments of Pediatrics/Neonatology (n = 12) and Obstetrics (n = 7), resident doctors (n = 14), nurses (labor room/maternity ward; n = 13), and RDMs (n = 45) across three profiles: (a) COVID-19-negative RDM with healthy newborn (n = 18), (b) COVID-19-positive RDM with healthy newborn (n = 19), and (c) COVID-19 positive RDM with sick newborn needing intensive care (n = 8) along with their care-giving family members (n = 39). We analyzed the data using grounded theory as the method and phenomenology as the philosophy of our research. Results: Anxiety among clients and providers, evolving evidence and advisories, separation of the COVID-positive RDM from her newborn at birth, providers' tendency to minimize contact duration and frequency with COVID-positive mothers, compromised counseling on breastfeeding, logistic difficulties in expression and transportation of COVID-positive mother's milk to her baby in the nursery, COVID restrictions, staff shortage and unavailable family support in wards and nursery, and inadequate infrastructure were identified as major barriers. Keeping the RDM-newborn together, harmonization of standard operating procedures between professional associations and within and between departments, strategic mobilization of resources, optimization of human resources, strengthening client-provider interaction, risk triaging, leveraging technology, and leadership-in-crisis-situations were notable enablers. Conclusion: The separation of the RDM and newborn led to a cascade of disruptions to newborn care and breastfeeding practices in the study institutions. Separating the newborn from the mother should be avoided during public health emergencies unless there is robust evidence favoring the same; routine institutional practices should be family centered.

Factors influencing road traffic accidents causing maxillofacial injuries in Nalgonda District: prospective survey of 366 cases.

BACKGROUND: Road traffic accidents are the leading etiological factor for maxillofacial trauma in India. The incidence of these accidents is impacted by various cultural, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors the understanding of which is paramount in assessing their importance in influencing the incidence of maxillofacial injuries. METHODS: Data was collected via a questionnaire from 366 patients who reported with maxillofacial injuries due to Road Traffic Accidents to the casualty and maxillofacial OPD at a tertiary center in the Nalgonda District over a five-year period. Data collected included patient details, type of vehicle involved, speed of the vehicle, type of accident, location of the accident, the seating of the patient, presence of alcohol influence, usage of helmet or seatbelt and the injuries sustained by the patient. Statistical analysis was done using Chi squared test. RESULTS: 88.5%of the patients were male and 87.4% of the cases were injured in RTA involving two-wheeler vehicles. (50.3%) of the accidents took place between 6 pm to 12 am. 41.5% of cases reported their speed at the time of the accident as 40- 60 kmph. 42% of accidents were reported as skid accidents. 70.29% of accidents on rural roads occurred at night (between 6 pm and 6 am) as opposed to 29.71% during the day. Only 4.37% of cases reported wearing seatbelts or helmets. 51.17% of the participants who were driving reported or were observed as being under the influence of alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: The poor conditions of the roads, the lack of use of protective measures while driving, and the high incidence of driving under the influence of alcohol were seen to be the most significant contributing factors to road traffic accidents causing maxillofacial injuries in the Nalgonda population.

Incidental diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma due to persistently elevated procalcitonin in a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Procalcitonin (Pct) is a common biomarker in clinical practice, especially in the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Although it is frequently used for the diagnosis and prognostication of bacterial infections or sepsis, it is also elevated in a few other conditions, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). CASE SUMMARY: A 43-year-old female presented with moderately severe COVID-19 pneumonia in April 2021. She gradually recovered clinically; however, despite normalization of other inflammatory markers, Pct levels remained persistently elevated. Further workup identified the cause as left lobe MTC with locoregional metastasis. Calcitonin levels were high, and carcinoembryonic antigen levels were normal. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy and neck dissection, which was followed by another radical neck dissection due to residual disease. Currently, she is doing well, nearly having completed her course of external beam radiotherapy with no recurrence. Pct is well documented as a screening tool for MTC, especially because of its stable nature compared to calcitonin in the community settings. It is important to keep in mind the differential diagnosis of MTC in patients with persistently elevated Pct levels despite normal levels of other acute phase reactants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from Asia of such an incidental diagnosis of MTC due to persistently elevated Pct levels in a patient with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. CONCLUSION: Persistently elevated Pct levels can occur in any pro-inflammatory state including infections, sepsis, or acute respiratory distress syndrome. In the current setting, SARS-CoV-2 infection is one such clinical scenario, and in rare situations of persistent elevation, MTC may need to be ruled out.

Somatic Embryogenesis of Anthurium andraeanum Linden., -A Tropical Florists' Plant.

The global floriculture market is expected to reach US$41.1 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 5% over the analysis period 2020-2027; on the year 2020, the recorded market value in this trade was US$29.2 billion. The florists mainly use Anthurium andraeanum flowers in fashionable bouquets and floral arrangements because of their beautiful, attractive bright colored eye-catching spathe, candle-like spadix, prolonged vase life, etc. The cut flower industry always seeks elite cultivars and new hybrids of A. andraeanum, that in turn depend on the availability of large numbers of clonal planting propagules. In vitro somatic embryogenesis is an important technique for large-scale clonal propagation, development of transgenic plants, creation of new variety by somaclonal variation, mutagenesis on in vitro plants, and germplasm preservation for future use. Here, we describe the protocol of somatic embryogenesis of Anthurium andraeanum cv. Cancan, an important commercial cultivated variety. The protocol has been optimized by using 4 different types of culture media which are used during embryogenic callus induction, multiplication of callus, induction of somatic embryogenesis, and maturation plus conversion of embryos into plantlets. The protocol outlines the detailed methods from mother plant procurement to hardening of micro plants that is ready to transfer in the field and it can be used for large-scale commercial propagation.

Diagnostic Utility of Cerebrospinal Fluid Procalcitonin in Neonatal Meningitis.

We aimed to study the diagnostic utility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) procalcitonin (PCT) in neonates with meningitis. All the neonates with sepsis who qualified for lumbar puncture were prospectively evaluated. The neonates were classified into Meningitis and No meningitis group based on predefined criteria. CSF PCT was estimated in these neonates along with cytological and biochemical parameters. A total of 113 neonates were included in the study with 29 in the meningitis group and 84 in the no meningitis group. The median PCT levels were higher in babies with meningitis as compared to those without meningitis [0.194 (0.034-0.534) in meningitis group vs. 0.012 (0.012-0.012) ng/ml in no meningitis group, p < 0.001]. The area under curve for CSF PCT was 0.867 (0.77-0.95) and at a cut-off level of 0.120 ng/ml CSF PCT had a sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 84% and positive and negative predictive likelihood ratios of 5.35 and 0.20, respectively for the diagnosis of meningitis. CSF PCT has a good diagnostic accuracy similar to other parameters in the diagnosis of neonatal meningitis and can be considered as an additional diagnostic marker particularly when CSF culture is negative and cytochemical analysis is inconclusive.

Interventions to Prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Preterm Neonates: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses.

IMPORTANCE: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has multifactorial etiology and long-term adverse consequences. An umbrella review enables the evaluation of multiple proposed interventions for the prevention of BPD. OBJECTIVE: To summarize and assess the certainty of evidence of interventions proposed to decrease the risk of BPD from published systematic reviews. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched from inception until November 9, 2020. STUDY SELECTION: Meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials comparing interventions in preterm neonates that included BPD as an outcome. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data extraction was performed in duplicate. Quality of systematic reviews was evaluated using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews version 2, and certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: (1) BPD or mortality at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA) and (2) BPD at 36 weeks' PMA. RESULTS: A total of 154 systematic reviews evaluating 251 comparisons were included, of which 110 (71.4%) were high-quality systematic reviews. High certainty of evidence from high-quality systematic reviews indicated that delivery room continuous positive airway pressure compared with intubation with or without routine surfactant (relative risk [RR], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.68-0.94]), early selective surfactant compared with delayed selective surfactant (RR, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.75-0.91]), early inhaled corticosteroids (RR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.75-0.99]), early systemic hydrocortisone (RR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.82-0.99]), avoiding endotracheal tube placement with delivery room continuous positive airway pressure and use of less invasive surfactant administration (RR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.82-0.99]), and volume-targeted compared with pressure-limited ventilation (RR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.59-0.89]) were associated with decreased risk of BPD or mortality at 36 weeks' PMA. Moderate to high certainty of evidence showed that inhaled nitric oxide, lower saturation targets (85%-89%), and vitamin A supplementation are associated with decreased risk of BPD at 36 weeks' PMA but not the competing outcome of BPD or mortality, indicating they may be associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A multipronged approach of delivery room continuous positive airway pressure, early selective surfactant administration with less invasive surfactant administration, early hydrocortisone prophylaxis in high-risk neonates, inhaled corticosteroids, and volume-targeted ventilation for preterm neonates requiring invasive ventilation may decrease the combined risk of BPD or mortality at 36 weeks' PMA.

Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid Following Arthrocentesis for Temporomandibular Joint Disc Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Injection of intra-articular medicaments is an accepted therapy for temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). This study compares the efficacy of arthrocentesis followed by platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as compared to hyaluronic acid (HA) injections for TMDs unresponsive to conservative therapy. PRP injection following arthrocentesis was hypothesized to be better compared to arthrocentesis alone or when combined with HA injection. Methods: Forty-seven patients with TMDs enrolled in an RCT were randomly assigned to three groups: Group A-PRP, Group B-HA or Group C-control group of arthrocentesis alone. Pre-operative evaluation and post-operative changes at 1-, 3-, 6-month intervals were assessed for improvement in pain, maximum mouth opening, joint sounds and excursive movements. Statistical significance was set at P value < 0.05. Results: Post-operative joint sounds were present in three out of 16 patients in Group A; six out of 15 patients in Group B and eight out of 16 patients in Group C at 6-month follow-up. For the remaining outcome variables, no statistical difference between groups was observed. Conclusion: Both medicaments produced significant clinical improvements when compared to the control group. When comparing PRP against HA, none showed superiority over the other.Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2019/01/017076.

A short-term follow-up study on breastfeeding practices, growth parameters and immunization practices among babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers in a tertiary care hospital.

We aimed to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate and routine follow-up practices including immunization. A total of 62 neonates born to COVID-19 positive mothers and an equal number of neonates born to COVID-19 negative mothers were prospectively evaluated for EBF rate and routine neonatal follow-up practices including delay (>7 days) in routine immunization at 3 months follow-up. We further tried to compare the results across two epochs (epoch 1, March-June 2020 and epoch 2, July-November 2020). There was significantly lesser number of babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers on EBF at 3 months of age when compared with the control group (45.1% vs. 96.7%, p = 0.00) as well it was significantly lesser in epoch 1 when compared with epoch 2 (16% vs. 74%, p = 0.00). Further, a significantly higher number of babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers had their routine immunization delayed with no significant difference across the epochs. There was no significant difference in growth parameters between babies born to COVID-19 positive mother when compared with the control group as well as across the epochs. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the EBF rates as well as hampered the routine immunization practices among babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers. Although such practices got improved after the implementation of evidence-based national guidelines, but it is still much below when compared with those born to COVID-19 negative mother.

Delivery room CPAP in improving outcomes of preterm neonates in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

AIM: To study the impact of delivery room continuous positive airway pressure (DRCPAP) on outcomes of preterm neonates in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) by comparing with interventions: oxygen supplementation, late DRCPAP, DRCPAP with sustained inflation, DRCPAP with surfactant and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). METHODS: Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, WOS and CINAHL searched. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Pair-wise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) were utilized. Primary outcome was receipt of IMV. RESULTS: Data from 11 of the 18 included studies (4 observational studies, 7 RCTs) enrolling 4210 preterm infants was synthesized. Moderate certainty of evidence (CoE) from NMA of RCTs comparing DRCPAP with surfactant administration versus DRCPAP alone suggested no decrease in subsequent receipt of IMV [Risk ratio (RR); 95% Credible Interval (CrI): 0.73; (0.34, 1.40)]. Very low CoE from observational studies comparing use of DRCPAP versus oxygen supplementation indicated a trend towards decreased IMV [RR; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.75; (0.56-1.00)]. Although moderate CoE from NMA evaluating DRCPAP versus oxygen supplementation showed a trend towards decreased receipt of surfactant, it did not reach statistical significance [RR; 95% CrI: 0.69; (0.44, 1.06)]. Moderate CoE from NMA indicated that none of the interventions, when compared with use of supplemental oxygen alone or with each other decreased mortality or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. LIMITATIONS: CoE was very low for primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Present evidence is not sufficient for use of DRCPAP, but also did not show harm. Since it seems unlikely that there are marked variations in patient physiology to explain the difference in efficacy between high income countries and LMICs, we suggest future research evaluating other barriers in improving the effectiveness of DRCPAP in LMICs.

Surfactant therapy in late preterm and term neonates with respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There are no evidence-based recommendations for surfactant use in late preterm (LPT) and term infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of surfactant in LPT and term infants with RDS. METHODS: Systematic review, meta-analysis and evidence grading. INTERVENTIONS: Surfactant therapy versus standard of care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality and requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). RESULTS: Of the 7970 titles and abstracts screened, 17 studies (16 observational studies and 1 randomised controlled trial (RCT)) were included. Of the LPT and term neonates with RDS, 46% (95% CI 40% to 51%) were treated with surfactant. We found moderate certainty of evidence (CoE) from observational studies evaluating infants supported with non-invasive respiratory support (NRS) or IMV that surfactant use may be associated with a decreased risk of mortality (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.64). Very low CoE from observational trials in which surfactant was administered at FiO2 >0.30-0.40 to infants on Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) indicated that surfactant did not decrease the risk of IMV (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.40 to 3.56). Very low to low CoE from the RCT and observational trials showed that surfactant use was associated with a significant decrease in risk of air leak, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), duration of IMV, NRS and hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence base on surfactant therapy in LPT and term infants with RDS indicates a potentially decreased risk of mortality, air leak, PPHN and duration of respiratory support. In view of the low to very low CoE and widely varying thresholds for deciding on surfactant replacement in the included studies, further trials are needed.

Microvillous inclusion disease as a cause of severe congenital diarrhea in a newborn.

Microvillous inclusion disease (MVID), also known as congenital microvillus atrophy remains an important differential diagnosis of intractable secretory diarrhea in neonatal period. The condition is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder with no sex predilection and more commonly reported in those tribes with consanguineous marriages. The pathognomonic electron microscopic findings includes villous atrophy with the formation of intracellular microvillous inclusions. Definite treatment includes either isolated small bowel or combined small bowel and liver transplantation. Herein, we are describing a case of intractable diarrhea in a preterm neonate with MVID phenotype presented on second day of life with intractable diarrhea. The diagnosis was established by classical electron microscopic findings in the intestinal biopsy sample.

Clinico-epidemiological profile and outcomes of babies with neural tube defects in a tertiary care center in Northern India.

INTRODUCTION: Neural tube defects constitute a major source of disability among children. Proper management requires accurate diagnosis, an assessment of the severity of the lesion, a decision whether intervention is warranted, the nature of the intervention, and educating the family of the need for lifelong medical care. But to do so, reliable data regarding presentation and outcome is very crucial. AIM OF THE STUDY: To discuss the clinical epidemiological profile and outcome of babies admitted with neural tube defects (NTDs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study was done by extracting data from case notes and follow-up files in Department of Neonatology, PGIMER and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi over a period from March 2015 to July 2020. RESULTS: A total of 25 babies were included in the study. Majority of babies were born to mother at a median age group of 24 (19-36) yrs and nearly one-third of them were illiterate. The history of maternal periconceptional folic acid intake was seen in only five babies (21%). Two third of babies were male (64%) and the median age at admission was at 9 (1-27) days of life. Majority of the cases were open types of NTDs with most common type being meningomyelocele (88%) followed by occipital encephalocele (12%) and there was one case of closed type of neural tube defect having lipomeningomyelocele (4%). The most common associated anomaly was hydrocephalus (76%) followed by Arnold chiari malformation (56%). Motor weakness in form of paraparesis or paraplegia was present in 21 (84%) babies and sensory deficit was present in 44% babies. Bowel and bladder dysfuntion was present in 48% of cases. Ventriculitis was the most common associated morbidity (38%). Meningomyelocele (MMC) repair was the most commonly performed primary surgery (33%) followed by Ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt repair (24%). Twelve babies (48%) were discharged while 2 (8%) expired and 11 (44%) babies left against medical advice. CONCLUSION: Neural tube defect is a congenital disorder with significant morbidity. The clinical severity of the NTDs and the uncertainty in their cause makes this a priority for further research. National policies for prevention, in utero diagnosis, and early surgical intervention are required for a better prognosis.