Search

This multicenter study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a novel cranial remolding helmet (baby band2), which is completely custom-made based on the shape of an infant's cranium. The study included 224 full-term infants from moderate to very severe positional plagiocephaly in Japan. Cranial geometry was assessed before and after helmet therapy using a three-dimensional scanner, and changes in the cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) were analyzed. The CVAI improved significantly in all patients, with the most significant improvement observed in the most severely affected group [very severe group: −9.1, severe group: −6.6, moderate group: −4.4 (mean values), p < 0.001]. The group that started therapy before the age of 7 months showed greater improvement compared to those who started therapy at the age of 7 months or older; however, both groups demonstrated significant improvement (<7 months group: −6.6, ≥7 months group: −4.4 (mean values), p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in therapy efficacy between the centers (p = 0.402) and sex (p = 0.131). During the study period, helmet therapy did not lead to head circumference stunting, and the incidence of redness with baby band2 was five patients (2.2%). This study demonstrated that baby band2 is effective and safe for the therapy of positional plagiocephaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of the present study was to verify the speed and accuracy of fetal ultrasonic Doppler (fetal Doppler) in measuring heart rate of newborns at rest, including preterm, low‐birthweight infants, and its efficacy during neonatal resuscitation, including cases of neonatal asphyxia. Methods: A three‐lead electrocardiogram and fetal Doppler were used to measure resting heart rates in 100 newborns, including 48 preterm, low‐birthweight infants, at 0 to 72 h after birth. Times to display heart rate were compared between electrocardiogram and fetal Doppler by the Bland–Altman analysis and Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. The time required for the fetal Doppler to measure heart rate during neonatal resuscitation was also assessed. Results: In 100 newborns, the mean error of the resting heart rate in 1,293 measurement points was 0.07 beats/min. To display the heart rate, the fetal Doppler required a median time of 5 s, and electrocardiogram required a median time of 10 s (P < 0.001). During neonatal resuscitation, the heart rate was measured within 10 s in 18 of 21 cases (86%) and displayed with a median time of 5 s; this was measured in all neonatal asphyxia cases (9/9, 100%). Conclusions: Fetal Doppler can measure heart rate in newborns accurately and rapidly and is useful for evaluating heart rate not only at rest but also during neonatal resuscitation, especially in asphyxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) is a fatal complication of short bowel syndrome managed with parenteral nutrition. A clinical cohort study reported the usefulness of parenteral administration of fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids in improving IFALD; however, no biomarker has been developed as yet. The authors report the case of a preterm infant with IFALD complicated by extensive short bowel syndrome. Intravenous administration of omega-3 fatty acids were introduced using Omegaven®at the age of 4 mo for IFALD. The IFALD improved with an increase in Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/ Arachidonic acid (AA) ratio (from 0.08 to 1.99) 7 d after the intravenous treatment. It is important to administer omega-3 fatty acids intravenously at an early stage for IFALD associated with extensive short bowel syndrome. A low EPA/AA ratio may be a serum marker of disease activity in IFALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Unintended (off-target) transcript silencing is a critical problem associated with RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutic applications. This paper shows that the incorporation of appropriate alkyl linkers at the center of the sense strands can suppress the off-target effects induced by the sense strands without reducing the RNAi-inducing activity of the antisense strands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a case where a patient suffering from Alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (cc)because of novel insertion mutation of FOXF1 (Forkhead Box F1) which is a Protein Coding gene. ACD/MV is mentioned as rare congenital malformation in the newborns which results in severe respiratory distress and also pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract: Gray matter develops rapidly during the third trimester of pregnancy, which is a critical period for lipid deposition. We measured brain volume in term and late-preterm infants to determine if it is related to disabilities in late-preterm infants. In addition, we measured serum lipid concentrations to investigate the relationship between brain volume and lipid nutrition. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained in 16 late-preterm and 13 term infants. We measured cerebrum, gray matter, and white matter volumes. We performed serum cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and lipoprotein analyses in cord blood by high-performance liquid chromatography using gel permeation columns to assess lipid nutritional levels. The gray matter volume and percent cerebrum volume of gray matter were significantly smaller in late-preterm infants (p <0.001). Head circumference and cerebrum and white matter volume did not differ between the two groups. Gray matter volume correlated positively with gestational age (r =0.647, p <0.001), head circumference (r =0.688, p <0.001), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-TG levels (r =0.496, p =0.006). Late-preterm infants had a normal head circumference and a lower gray matter volume than term infants. Gestational age and head circumference were significantly associated with gray matter volume. Only HDL-TG levels were significantly associated with gray matter volume. HDL-TG might contribute to the transport of fatty acids and gray matter development during the postnatal period. Thus, delayed gray matter development may partly contribute to neurodevelopmental disabilities in late-preterm infants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We describe the synthesis and silencing activities of siRNA possessing N1 -[3,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]thymine (bt ) in their 3′-overhang regions. We found that an siRNA possessing bt in the 3′-overhang region was more effective than an siRNA with natural nucleosides and the siRNA possessing 1,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)benzene (b) without a nucleobase at the 3′-overhang region in in vitro experiment using HeLa cells system. Furthermore, the RNA possessing bt at its 3′-end was more resistant to nucleolytic hydrolysis by snake venom phosphodiesterase (a 3′-exonuclease) than the RNA possessing the natural nucleoside 2′-deoxythymidine at the 3′-end. Thus, the compound bt will be a novel 3′-overhang moiety that can enhance the silencing activity and nuclease-resistant property of siRNAs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]