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Background There exists limited agreement on the recommendations for the treatment of transitional circulatory instability (TCI) in preterm neonatesObjective To compare the efficacy of various interventions used to treat TCIMethods Medline and Embase were searched from inception to 21st July 2023. Two authors extracted the data independently. A Bayesian random effects network meta-analysis was used. Recommendations were formulated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) framework.Interventions Dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine, hydrocortisone, vasopressin, milrinone, volume and placebo.Main outcome measures Mortality, major brain injury (MBI) (intraventricular haemorrhage > grade 2 or cystic periventricular leukomalacia), necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) ≥stage 2 and treatment response (as defined by the author).Results 15 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were included from the 1365 titles and abstracts screened. Clinical benefit or harm could not be ruled out for the critical outcome of mortality. For the outcome of MBI, epinephrine possibly decreased the risk when compared to dobutamine and milrinone (very low certainty). Epinephrine was possibly associated with a lesser risk of NEC when compared with dopamine, dobutamine, hydrocortisone and milrinone (very low certainty). Dopamine was possibly associated with a lesser risk of NEC when compared with dobutamine (very low certainty). Vasopressin possibly decreased the risk of NEC compared with dopamine, dobutamine, hydrocortisone and milrinone (very low certainty). Clinical benefit or harm could not be ruled out for the outcome response to treatment.Conclusions Epinephrine may be used as the first-line drug in preterm neonates with TCI, the evidence certainty being very low. We suggest future trials evaluating the management of TCI with an emphasis on objective criteria to define it.

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of parents of preterm babies and health-care providers related to human milk and human milk banking in a tertiary-care hospital in North India. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted on 280 samples (200 parents and 80 health-care providers) of neonatal units of a tertiary-care hospital in North India. Self-developed 25-item knowledge-related questionnaire and 15-item attitude scale was used for health-care providers. Whereas ten-item knowledge-related interview schedule and five-item open-ended attitude assessment tools were used for parents. The content validity index was more than 0.72 for all the tools. RESULTS: Among health-care providers, majority (93.3%) of doctors and nursing officers (80%) were aware of human milk banking, but they demonstrated lack of knowledge about the processing and safety of such milk. Majority of mothers (89.3%) and fathers (90%) reported that they don't have problem in accepting the breast milk from other mothers if provided by human milk bank, while others had certain concerns related to infection and religious/cultural beliefs. CONCLUSION: There is a need to spread public awareness about human milk and human milk banking to foster its acceptance. The health-care providers also need regular update to ensure adequate knowledge and acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) program was envisaged by the World Health Organization to overcome the mortality and morbidity caused by maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT). Although preventable by simple cost-effective practices like universal immunization, clean delivery practices, and healthy umbilical cord care, as of date MNT is still prevalent in 12 developing countries of Asia and Africa. Definitive approaches need to be microplanned by these countries to successfully accomplish the three stages of MNTE, ie, achieving, validating, and sustaining. Once a country achieves MNTE, this status is required to be validated and sustained according to the high-risk and low-risk categorization of the districts. The three-pronged strategies for achieving and sustaining MNTE include (a) rigorous immunization of women of reproductive age with tetanus toxoid-containing vaccines, (b) strengthening of clean delivery services for pregnant women, and (c) effective surveillance for MNT. Although the deadlines for achieving MNTE globally have been missed many times, yet there has been a significant progress to date as evident by 80% reduction in countries requiring validation for MNTE (59 countries in 1999 to 12 countries in 2020). Huge strides have been made in the overall coverage of two doses of tetanus toxoid (13.79% to 65.27%), neonates being protected at birth (12% to 88%), global coverage of third-dose DPT (more than doubled), and reduction of 88% estimated deaths due to NT in the last four decades. Identification of the most vulnerable populations, systematic planning at all levels of health care, involvement of local community support, tackling the implementation gap, strong political will, good financial support, and continued robust surveillance will go a long way in achieving MNTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study is to systematically synthesize the currently available literature on various modes of transmission (congenital, intrapartum, and postpartum), clinical features and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates.Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science until 9 June 2020. A combination of keywords and MeSH terms, such as COVID-19, coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, 2019-nCoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, neonates, newborn, infant, pregnancy, obstetrics, vertical transmission, maternal-foetal transmission and intrauterine transmission, were used in the search strategy. We included studies reporting neonatal outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 proven pregnancies or neonatal cases diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Results: Eighty-six publications (45 case series and 41 case reports) were included in this review. Forty-five case series reported 1992 pregnant women, of which 1125 (56.5%) gave birth to 1141 neonates. A total of 281 (25%) neonates were preterm, and caesarean section (66%) was the preferred mode of delivery. Forty-one case reports describe 43 mother-baby dyads of which 16 were preterm, 9 were low birth weight and 27 were born by caesarean section. Overall, 58 neonates were reported with SARS-CoV-2 infection (4 had a congenital infection), of which 29 (50%) were symptomatic (23 required ICU) with respiratory symptoms being the predominant manifestation (70%). No mortality was reported in SARS-CoV-2-positive neonates.Conclusion: The limited low-quality evidence suggests that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections in neonates is extremely low. Unlike children, most COVID-positive neonates were symptomatic and required intensive care. Postpartum acquisition was the commonest mode of infection in neonates, although a few cases of congenital infection have also been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, immunization practices of all age groups, especially routine childhood vaccines, have been interrupted. Immunization is considered an essential health activity, which needs to be resumed as early as possible. This pandemic has created several unique issues related to routine immunization of individual children at clinics, which needs to be addressed. In this communication, the Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP) of Indian Academy of Pediatrics addresses the common questions and issues related to SARS-CoV-2 and routine immunization services. This also includes the recommendations for routine immunization of SARS-CoV-2 suspect and positive children, and for the logistics to be followed for immunization services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The change in the hormonal levels during the three phases of menstrual cycle, namely, menstrual phase (hormonal withdrawal), proliferative phase (estrogen peak), and secretory phase (progesterone peak), influences the conduction velocities in the central auditory pathways. Variable findings of brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) have been reported during different phases of menstrual cycle by different researchers. Aim: To study the effect of different phases of menstrual cycle on BAER. Methodology: A prospective observational study on 80 audiometrically normal, healthy, eumenorrheic female students in age group of 18-24 years was done at a medical college of northern India. BAER was recorded across the three phases of the menstrual cycle, i.e., menstrual phase (day 1-3), proliferative phase (day 10-12), and secretory phase (day 20-22). Recordings of peak latencies, interpeak latencies, and amplitude of waves of BAER were taken and statistically analyzed. Results: In this study, significant decrease in the latencies of wave III, wave V, and interpeak latency I-III and a trend of decrease in latencies of wave I and interpeak latency I-V (which was statistically insignificant) were observed in proliferative (estrogen peak) phase as compared to menstrual and secretory phase. However, there was no statistically significant difference found in the amplitude of waves of BAER during all the three phases of menstrual cycle. Conclusion: The hormonal changes during different phases of menstrual cycle do seem to influence BAER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Tutor assessment is sometimes also considered as an exercise of power by the assessor over assesses. Student self-assessment is the process by which the students gather information about and reflect on their own learning and is considered to be a very important component of learning. Aim: The primary objective of this study was to analyze the impact of self-assessment by undergraduate medical students on their subsequent academic performance. The secondary objective was to obtain the perception of students and faculty about self-assessment as a tool for enhanced learning. Materials and Methods: The study was based on the evaluation of two theory tests consisting of both essay type and short answer questions, administered to students of the 1st year MBBS (n = 89). They self-assessed their performance after 3 days of the first test followed by marking of faculty and feedback. Then, a nonidentical theory test on the same topic with the same difficulty level was conducted after 7 days and assessed by the teachers. The feedback about the perception of students and faculty about this intervention was obtained. Results: Significant improvement in the academic performance after the process of self-assessment was observed (P < 0.001). There was a significantly positive correlation between student and teacher marking (r = 0.79). Both students and faculty perceived it to be helpful for developing self-directed learning skills. Conclusions: Self-assessment can increase the interest and motivation level of students for the subjects leading to enhanced learning and better academic performance, helping them in development of critical skills for analysis of their own work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thrombocytopenia is defined as platelet count less than 150×109/L, it has a greater incidence in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) compared to wards and its most common cause is increased platelet consumption. Aims: To investigate incidence of thrombocytopenia, platelet transfusions requirement, associated diseases and relationship between thrombocytopenia and mortality. Materials and Methods: Eleven months hospital records between October 2013 and August 2014 of the PICU in a tertiary care teaching hospital was investigated retrospectively and 275 critically ill children formed the sample. statistical analysis: Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used. Probability value (p-value) of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results were confirmed using א² test. Results: Out of 275 patients {168 males (61.09%) and 107 females (38.91%)}, 89 patients had thrombocytopenia. Out of these 89 patients, 43 patients (48.31%) had severe, 24 patients (27.91%) had moderate and 22 patients (24.72%) had mild thrombocytopenia. The 43 patients having severe thrombocytopenia received platelet transfusion and out of these 43 patients 24 (55.81%) received more than one transfusion and 18 (41.86%) of the transfused patients expired. Among thrombocytopaenic patients, Sepsis (25.84%) was the most common diagnosis followed by Pneumonia (19.10%), Meningitis (13.48%), Diabetic Ketoacidosis (5.62%), Enteric fever (7.86%), Tubercular Meningitis (3.37%), Infantile Tremor Syndrome (2.25%), Congenital heart disease (5.62%), Burns(3.37%), Brain Haemorrhage (2.25%%), Hepatic abscess (1.12%), Chronic Renal Failure (3.37%), Malaria (2.25%) and Hepatitis (4.49%). There is a statistically significant association between thrombocytopenia and mortality. A significant association was established between mortality in thrombocytopenic patients of sepsis. Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia is commonly associated with sepsis. Mortality rate is higher in thrombocytopenic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senior Loken Syndrome (SLS) is a rare genetic disorder having juvenile nephronophthisis and retinal degeneration progressing to blindness and end stage renal disease. The present case report is about two sisters who presented with decreased visual acuity and end stage renal disease. Both had decreased vision, pallor, deranged renal function test and chronic malnutrition. Investigations revealed anaemia, uraemia, raised creatinine, low Glomerular Filteration Rate (GFR). Ophthalmology examination revealed nystagmus, retinal examination depicted pale optic disc and pigmentary changes in the retina. Renal ultrasound showed grade III renal parenchymal changes and bilateral cortico-medullary cysts. These cases are presented to highlight the importance of timely recognition of renal derangement in patients with retinal disease to delay end stage renal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) III score is one of the widely used scoring systems to quantify critical illness in the pediatric age group. This study was carried out to find the association of PRISM III score with the outcome (discharge/mortality) and also hospital stay in survivors and nonsurvivors., Setting: The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital from January 2014 to June 2015., Materials and Methods: A total of 524 patients were admitted, and after excluding the patients who met the exclusion criteria, 486 patients were analyzed., Statistical Analysis: Logistic regression was used to find the association of variables under the PRISM III score with mortality. Linear regression was used to find the association of PRISM III score with length of stay., Results: Mortality was 31%; male: female ratio was 1.5:1. Maximum patients presented with respiratory system involvement (26.3%), and maximum mortality (20.3%) was observed in the patients with respiratory involvement. Discrimination by the model between mortality and survival was excellent (receiver operating characteristic curve [0.903]). Maximum risk of mortality was noticed in mechanically ventilated patients (odds ratio [OR]: 10.87) followed by lower systolic blood pressure (OR: 2.72), deranged prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time (OR: 1.50), deranged mental status (OR: 1.41), and tachycardia (OR: 1.37). Length of stay (LOS) in patients increased till PRISM III score of 25. Average LOS in survivors was 4.327 days which was not accounted by difference in PRISM III score between different patients. With each unit increase in PRISM III score, LOS increased by 5 h., Conclusions: PRISM III score has excellent capacity to discriminate between survival and mortality. PRISM III score can be used to predict LOS among survivors., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock.)