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Vitamin D deficiency in infants is widely prevalent. Most paediatric professional associations recommend routine vitamin D prophylaxis for infants. However, the optimal dose and duration of supplementation are still debated. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of different vitamin D supplementation regimens in term and late preterm neonates. For this systematic review and network meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Embase. Randomised and quasi-randomised clinical trials that evaluated any enteral vitamin D supplementation regimen initiated within 6 weeks of life were included. Two researchers independently extracted data on study characteristics and outcomes and assessed quality of included studies. A network meta-analysis with a Bayesian random-effects model was used for data synthesis. Certainty of evidence (CoE) was assessed using GRADE. Primary outcomes were mean serum vitamin D concentrations and the proportion of infants with vitamin D insufficiency (VDI). We included twenty-nine trials that evaluated fourteen different regimens of vitamin D supplementation. While all dosage regimens of ≥400 IU/d increased the mean 25(OH)D levels compared with no treatment, supplementation of ≤250 IU/d and 1400 IU/week did not. The CoE varied from very low to high. Low CoE indicated that 1600 IU/d, compared with lower dosages, reduced the proportion of infants with VDI. However, our results indicated that any dosage of ≥800 IU/d increased the risk of hypervitaminosis D and hypercalcaemia. Data on major clinical outcomes were sparse. Vitamin D supplementation of 400–600 IU/d may be the most effective and safest in infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Srivijayalakshmi. Ravichandran, Balakrishnan. Rajaiah, Rajendran. Karupanan, Thangaraj. Abiramalatha, Kannan. Gunasekaran, Shriram. Varadharajan, Srinivas. Ramakrishnan Most neonatal seizures are acute-provoked, and the common etiologies are hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), stroke, central [...]

Neonatal strokes constitute a major cause of pediatric mortality and morbidity. Neuroimaging helps in its diagnosis as well as prognostication. However, advanced imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), carries multiple challenges. Limited data exists in the literature on imaging-based predictors of neurological outcomes in neonatal stroke in the Indian population. In this study, we reviewed our available data on neonatal stroke patients between 2015 and 2020 for clinico-radiological patterns. During this period, 17 neonatal strokes were admitted and the majority were term births with a slight male preponderance. Seizures and encephalopathy were the most common presentation. Multiple maternal risk factors such as gestational diabetes, meconium-stained liquor, APLA syndrome, fever, deranged coagulation profile, oligohydramnios, cord prolapse, and non-progressive labor were seen. Cardiac abnormalities were seen in only less than half of these patients with the most common finding being atrial septal defects (ASD). Transcranial ultrasound was performed in eight neonates and the pick-up rate of ultrasound was poor. MR imaging showed large infarcts in 11 patients. The MCA territory was most commonly involved. Interestingly, five neonates had venous thrombosis with three showing it in addition to arterial thrombosis. Associated ictal, as well as Wallerian changes, were noted in 10. Although large territorial infarcts were the most common pattern, non-contrast MR angiography did not show major vessel occlusion in these cases. Outcomes were fairly good and only three patients had a residual motor deficit at 1 year. No recurrence of stroke was seen in any of the neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite decades of research, there is inadequate evidence on the etiological factors of brain injury in preterm infants.Objective: To study the perinatal risk factors for preterm brain injury and to assess their strength of association.Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included infants born at <32 weeks' gestation and had either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or cranial ultrasound (CUS) performed at term equivalent age. Significant brain injury was diagnosed based on Kidokoro global brain injury score was ≥4 in MRI or cystic periventricular leukomalacia in CUS.Results: Among the 698 infants, 48 had significant brain injury and 650 were taken as controls. In multiple logistic regression, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grade 3-4 [adjusted odds ratio, 92.892 (19.495-442.619)], culture-positive sepsis [4.162 (1.729-10.021)], prolonged ventilation [3.688 (1.087-12.510)], and small for gestational age (SGA) [2.645 (1.181-5.924] were associated with greater risk of preterm brain injury.Conclusion: Severe IVH, culture-positive sepsis, prolonged ventilation and SGA were significant risk factors for preterm brain injury with severe IVH being the most significant contributing factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]