Study on the Effect of Early Oral Motor Intervention in Preterm Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Objective:To study the effective value of introducing the concept of early oral exercise in the process of nursing intervention for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU).Methods:96 cases of preterm infants diagnosed from January 2022 to August 2022 were selected and randomly divided into two groups:the general practice group(general nursing intervention),and the early practice group(early oral exercise intervention),and the effect of intervention on preterm infants in the two groups was observed.Results:After nursing care,the mean value of the non-nutritive sucking ability assessment(76.54±5.82),the mean value of the intellectual development degree assessment(104.57±8.45),the mean value of the psychomotor development degree assessment(102.33±6.74),and the mean value of behavioral neural reflexes ability assessment(38.71±2.40)in the early practice group were better than that as compared to the general practice group(P<0.05);the mean value of oral feeding start time of preterm infants in the early practice group(35.42±7.63)weeks,the mean value of all oral feeding time(34.12±5.28)weeks,and the mean time of hospital intervention(15.33±4.25)days were lesser than compared to those of the general practice group at 37.4±5.82 weeks,37.46±3.55 weeks,and 20.46±2.91 days,respectively(P<0.05);the rate of adverse reactions in preterm infants in the early practice group significantly lower than that of the general practice group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The introduction of the concept of early oral exercise intervention among NICU nurses improved the feeding effect,sucking ability of preterm infants,and intellectual development.Hence,early oral motor care should be popularized.

Gut microbiota in preterm infants receiving breast milk or mixed feeding

BACKGROUND Preterm birth is the leading cause of mortality in newborns,with very-low-birthweight infants usually experiencing several complications.Breast milk is considered the gold standard of nutrition,especially for preterm infants with delayed gut colonization,because it contains beneficial microorganisms,such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria.AIM To analyze the gut microbiota of breastfed preterm infants with a birth weight of 1500 g or less.METHODS An observational study was performed on preterm infants with up to 36.6 wk of gestation and a birth weight of 1500 g or less,born at the University Hospital Dr.JoséEleuterio González at Monterrey,Mexico.A total of 40 preterm neonates were classified into breast milk feeding(BM)and mixed feeding(MF)groups(21 in the BM group and 19 in the MF group),from October 2017 to June 2019.Fecal samples were collected before they were introduced to any feeding type.After full enteral feeding was achieved,the composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Numerical variables were compared using Student’s t-test or using the Mann–Whitney U test for nonparametric variables.Dominance,evenness,equitability,Margalef’s index,Fisher’s alpha,Chao-1 index,and Shannon’s diversity index were also calculated.RESULTS No significant differences were observed at the genus level between the groups.Class comparison indicated higher counts of Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria in the initial compared to the final sample of the BM group(P<0.011).In addition,higher counts of Gammaproteobacteria were detected in the final than in the initial sample(P=0.040).According to the Margalef index,Fisher’s alpha,and Chao-1 index,a decrease in species richness from the initial to the final sample,regardless of the feeding type,was observed(P<0.050).The four predominant phyla were Bacteroidetes,Actinobacteria,Firmicutes,and Proteobacteria,with Proteobacteria being the most abundant.However,no significant differences were observed between the initial and final samples at the phylum level.CONCLUSION Breastfeeding is associated with a decrease in Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria and an increase of Gammaproteobacteria,contributing to the literature of the gut microbiota structure of very low-birth-weight,preterm.

Transcatheter Closure vs.Surgical Ligation in Preterm Infants with Patent Ductus Arteriosus:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background:Persistent patent ductus arteriosus(pPDA)is a common condition in preterm infants.This metaanalysis aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure(TC)when compared to surgical ligation(SL)in preterm infants with pPDA.Methods:A literature search of Ovid Cochrane Library,Medline,Embase,Epub,Scopus,PMC Preprints,and ClinicalTrials.Gov was conducted from inception to May 06,2022.Eligible studies reported infants diagnosed with pPDA born at≤2000 g birth weight or at≤37 weeks’who underwent TC or SL as treatment.This review was registered in PROSPERO(CRD42022325944).Results:From 97 studies screened,8 studies met the eligibility criteria,with a total of 756 preterm infants undergoing either TC(n=366)or SL(n=390).Compared to TC,SL had higher mortality rates(OR=0.32,95%CI:0.16,0.66,I^(2)=0%).No difference was seen in post-procedural complication rate(OR=0.90,95%CI:0.18,4.44,I^(2)=79%),mean duration of post-procedural mechanical ventilation(MD=−2.21 days,95%CI:−4.88,0.47,I^(2)=60%),hospital stay length(MD=−8.30 days,95%CI:−17.03,0.44,I^(2)=0%)or neonatal intensive care unit stay length(MD=−3.50 days,95%CI:−10.27,3.27,I^(2)=0%).Conclusion:Our meta-analysis demonstrated TC as a viable alternative option in managing preterm infants with pPDA in the context of SL.Despite the promising trends demonstrated in this meta-analysis,further studies with larger sample size and controlled baseline characteristics are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TC and SL for preterm infants with pPDA.

Enhancing the role of nurses in breastfeeding preterm infants

The provision of breast milk and breastfeeding is recommended for preterm infants.Multidisciplinary cooperation is required to promote breastfeeding.Nurses play impor tant roles in breastfeeding preterm infants.First,nurses are strong advocates to help families be aware of the significance of breastfeeding.Second,nurses are educators providing technical and emotional support to pregnant and lying-in women.Third,nurses are coordinators in a multidisciplinary team.Nurses’unawareness of the impor tance of breastfeeding,knowledge deficit,and unsupportive lactation policy are barriers to breastfeeding promotion for preterm infants.It is therefore suggested that hospital administrators provide appropriate breastfeeding policies,set up posts,and ensure nurses’responsibilities in breastfeeding.Additionally,tailored training should be strengthened to improve nurses’knowledge and skills and thereby enable them to fully exer t their roles in the breastfeeding promotion of preterm infants.

Multi-center Study of Enteral Feeding Practices in Hospitalized Late Preterm Infants in China

Objective To investigate the current enteral feeding practices in hospitalized late preterm infants in the Beijing area of China. Methods A multi-center, cross-sectional study was conducted. Infants born after 34 weeks and before 37 weeks of gestation were enrolled from 25 hospitals in the Beijing area of China from October 2015 to October 2017. Data on enteral feeding practices were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 1,463 late preterm infants were enrolled, with a mean gestational age（GA） of 35.6（34.9, 36.1） weeks. The percentage of exclusive breastfeeding was 4.5% at the initiation of enteral feeding but increased to 14.4% at discharge. When human milk was not available, most infants（46.1%） were fed with preterm infant formula. The rate of exclusive human milk feeding in infants born at 34 weeks gestation was higher than at discharge（21.1% of infants born at 34 weeks＇ GA versus 12.1% of infants born at 35 weeks＇ GA versus 12.3% of infants born at 36 weeks＇ GA, P 〈 0.001）. Only 28.4% of late preterm infants achieved full enteral feeding at discharge, and only 19.2% achieved 120 kcal/（kg·d） by enteral feeding at discharge. Importantly, 40.5% of infants did not regain the birth weight at discharge. Conclusion Enteral feeding support of late preterm infants has not been standardized to achieve optimal growth. Moreover, the human milk feeding rate was low, and many late preterm infants did not achieve the goal of enteral feeding and failed to regain birth weight at the time of discharge. More aggressive enteral feedings protocols are needed to promote human milk feeding and optimize growth for late preterm infants.

Neurodevelopmental in Relation to Breastfeeding–Experiences among Hungarian Preterm Infants at 12 Months of Corrected Age:Empirical Study

Preterm and low birth weight infants are at higher risk of neurodevelopmental outcomes;breastfeeding offers sev-eral beneficial aspects for them.This study aimed to describe the average neurodevelopmental outcomes of pre-term infants and examine the associations between neurodevelopment and breastfeeding among Hungarian preterm infants at 12 months of corrected age.154 preterm infants with low birth weight(<2500 g)and their mothers were participated in this study.Bayley-III Screening Test(Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Develop-ment Screening Test,Third Edition)was administered to measure the cognitive,language and motor skills of infants;breastfeeding data was obtained through parental anamnesis.To analyze data,independent sample t-test or the Welch t-test,Mann-Whitney tests,Chi-square tests of independence and Spearman’s rank correlation test were used to.Concerning the risk of developmental delay,Receptive and Expressive language and Fine motor subscales were the lowest.Examination of the associations between breastfeeding and neurodevelopmental per-formance identified significantly higher cognitive(U=2047.5;P=0.023)andfine motor(U=2096.0;P=0.037)skills in infants who were breastfed.We found significant positive correlations between the duration of breastfeeding and cognitive,expressive language andfine motor skills.The study draws the attention to the importance of breastfeeding and early screening.Further research is required to examine the casual relationship between neurodevelopmental outcomes and breastfeeding.

Comparison of Respiratory Outcome between Sustained Lung Inflation and Intermittent Positive Ventilation in Preterm Infants Requiring Resuscitation at Birth

Background: Sustained lung inflation (SLI) would permit lung recruitment immediately after birth, improving lung mechanics and reducing the need for intubation and subsequent respiratory support in the neonatal intensive care unit among preterm infants. Aim of the Study: To assess the efficacy of initial sustained lung inflation compared to standard intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) in preterm infants who need resuscitation in delivery room. Methods: This was prospective randomized observational study that was conducted in the delivery room and NICU of A in shames University hospital from February 2019 to September 2019. The study included 115 preterm infants between 26 - 32 weeks of gestation who needed resuscitation at delivery room. The infants were randomly allocated into 2 groups;SLI group: included the preterm infants who received the SLI at initial inflation pressure of 25 cm H2O for 15 seconds using the Neopuff/T piece. IPPV group: preterm infants who received standard resuscitation;IPPV using the self-inflating bag. The heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), oxygen requirement, and intubation rate as well as need of surfactant in the delivery room were assessed. All cases were evaluated after admission to the NICU for the need of mechanical ventilation in the first 72 hours of life, death in delivery room or NICU and for bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death at 36 weeks post menstrual age (PMA). Results: The percentage of preterm infants who needed resuscitation was 25.5% from the total deliveries during the study period. 56.5% of them received SLI and 43.4% received conventional IPPV. There were no significant differences between the studied groups regarding gestational age, birth weight. Apgar score, heart rate, oxygen saturation was not significantly increased in the SLI group at fifth minutes of age. The percentage of infants who needed further resuscitation was 20% in SLI group and 12% in the IPPV group. There were no significant differences in need for surfactant, CPAP or ventilator among the studied groups. There were no significant differences in relation to complications as BPD, air leak or retinopathy and death between the two groups. Conclusion: This study showed that there was no advantage from use of SLI in delivery room using T-piece upon the conventional IPPV using self-inflating bag.

Motor Profile of Late Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review of the Last Decade

Motor development at late preterm infants has significant importance as it composes the picture of the severe evidences of motor impairments or other developmental difficulties. Early detection is crucial as early intervention is the unique immediate solution option to catch up the developmental milestones. Method: Α systematic search for scientific articles of the decade 2010-2020 investigating the motor profile of late preterm infants was conducted. Results: The search identified 9 studies, many of which highlighted the risk of motor and developmental delays even at 36 months of age. Conclusions: The stability of motor and developmental delays indicates the need of further investigation at a later age and intervention to avoid possible academic difficulties.

Ibuprofen treatment for patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants:a retrospective cohort study in a leading Chinese center

Objective There is a dilemma of ibuprofen treatment with patent ductus arteriosus(PDA)as to how and when to treat.We aimed to clarify this issue in very preterm infants(VPIs;<32 weeks).Methods:This retrospective study included 1659 VPIs who were diagnosed with PDA according to echocardiographic examinations and cardiovascular dysfunction scoring system(the CVD scoring).The VPIs were classified into six groups(A1,A2,A3,B1,B2,and B3)based on CVD scores(A,<3,and B,≥3),and treatment with ibuprofen for PDA(1,conservational management;2,early ibuprofen treatment;and 3,late ibuprofen treatment).Treatment was stopped when PDA was closed,CVD score was zero or PDA needed ligation.Results:VPIs with CVD scores<3 had most PDA closure without surgery,and early ibuprofen treatment did not significantly affect PDA closure.VPIs with CVD scores≥3 had some PDA closure after 2 courses of treatment,but closure rates decreased linearly with ibuprofen course(1^(st)75.2%,2^(nd)62.3%,3^(rd)50.0%,P<0.0001),and early ibuprofen treatment(group B2)did not increase PDA closure compared to late ibuprofen treatment(group B3).In these same infants,the longer they were in CVD scores≥3,the more the complications of preterm were increased(retinopathy of prematurity ROP 1^(st)16.5%,2^(nd)23.8%,3^(rd)29.6%,P=0.016;bronchopulmonary dysplasia BPD 1^(st)15.5%,2^(nd)26.7%,3^(rd)33.8%,P<0.0001;intraventricular hemorrhage IVH 1^(st)20.4%,2^(nd)32.4%,3^(rd)23.8%,P=0.015).Conclusion:Ibuprofen is suggested for PDA closure when the PDA reopens or has developed into the stage when the CVD score≥3.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale-Parent Form in parents of preterm infants

Background: The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS)-Parent Form shows satisfactory reli-ability and validity to assess the readiness of parents to take care of their children discharged from hospitals in Western countries. However, the reliability and validity of this instrument has not been evaluated in Chinese populations.Objectives: Evaluate the psychometric features of the RHDS-Parent Form among Chinese parents of preterm infants. Methods: The RHDS-Parent Form was translated into a Chinese version following an international in-strument translation guideline. A total of 168 parents with preterm infants were recruited from the neonatal intensive care units of two tertiary-level hospitals in China. The internal consistency of this measure was assessed using the Cronbach's a coefficient;confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the construct validity;and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to report the convergent validity. Results: The Chinese version of RHDS (C-RHDS)-Parent Form included 22 items with 4 subscales, ac-counting for 56.71% of the total variance. The C-RHDS-Parent Form and its subscales showed good reliability (Cronbach's a values 0.78-0.92). This measure and its subscales showed positive correlations with the score of Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale. Conclusion: The factor structure of C-RHDS-Parent Form is partially consistent with the original English version. Future studies are needed to explore the factors within this measure before it is widely used in Chinese clinical care settings.

Effects of Different Surfactant Administrations on Cerebral Autoregulation in Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

To treat respiratory distress syndrome,surfactant is currently delivered via less invasive surfactant administration（LISA） or INtubation SURfactant Extubation（INSURE）.The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the two delivery methods of surfactant on cerebral autoregulation.Near infrared spectroscopy monitoring was carried out to detect cerebral oxygen saturation（Sc O2）,and the mean arterial blood pressure（MABP） was simultaneously recorded.Of 44 preterm infants included,the surfactant was administrated to 22 via LISA and 22 via INSURE.The clinical characteristics,treatments and outcomes of the infants showed no significant differences between the two groups.The correlation coefficient of Sc O2 and MABP（rSc O2-MABP） 5 min before administration was similar in the two groups.During surfactant administration,rSc O2-MABP increased in both groups（0.44±0.10 to 0.54±0.12 in LISA,0.45±0.11 to 0.69±0.09 in INSURE）.In the first and second 5 min after instillation,rSc O2-MABP was not significantly different from baseline in the LISA group,but increased in the first 5 min after instillation（0.59±0.13,P=0.000 compared with the baseline in the same group） and recovered in the second 5 min after instillation（0.48±0.10,P=0.321） in the INSURE group.There were significant differences in the change rates of rSc O2-MABP between the two groups during and after surfactant administration.Our results suggest that cerebral autoregulation may be affected transiently by surfactant administration.The effect duration of LISA is shorter than that of INSURE（〈5 min in LISA vs.5–10 min in INSURE）.

Application of prolonging small feeding volumes early in life to prevent of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight preterm infants

Objective:To study the effects of prolonging small feeding volumes early in life on the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC)in very low birth weight(VLBW)preterm infants.Methods:A total of 128 VLBW infants who could not be breastfed were assigned into the experimental group(63 cases)and the control group(65 cases)using a random number table.The experiment group was fed 12 mL/(kg·d)on day 1 which was increased to 24 mL/(kg·d)for the first 10 study days.The control group was fed 12 mL/(kg·d)for the first 14e48 hours.Then,the feeding volume increased by 24-36 mL/(kg·d)up to 140e160 mL/(kg·d)and maintained until the 10th day after birth.The incidence of feeding intolerance and NEC,duration of hospitalization,time to full enteral feedings,incidence of intrahepatic cholestasis,and the levels of gastrin and motilin in serum were assessed.Results:The incidence of feeding intolerance was significantly lower in the experimental group compared with the control group(15.87% vs.33.84%).There was a significant reduction in the incidence of NEC between the experimental and control groups(7.9% vs.16% in the control group).Conclusion:A protocol that prolongs small feeding volumes early in life can reduce the incidence and severity of NEC,but still warrants further study.

Predictors of readiness for discharge in mothers of preterm infants: The role of stress, self-efficacy and perceived social support

Objective:To determine the predictive role of stress,self-efficacy,and perceived social support on readiness for discharge in mothers of preterm infants.Methods:The present cross-sectional,descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 120 mothers of preterm infants admitted to hospitals affiliated to Lorestan University of Medical Sciences,Iran in 2019.Participants were selected by a convenience sampling method and based on inclusion criteria.Data collection tools included the demographic questionnaire of mothers and infants,parent perceptions of their child's hospital discharge,parental stressor scale:neonatal intensive care unit,perceived maternal parenting,and multidimensional scale of perceived social support.Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and stepwise regression at the significance level of 0.05.Results:Infant behavior and appearance,situational belief,and family support achieved the highest mean score from parents'stress,self-efficacy,and perceived social support dimensions,respectively.There was a significant relationship between stress,self-efficacy,and perceived social support with readiness for discharge in mothers of preterm infants(P<0.001).The score of mothers'readiness for discharge decreased by 0.07 per 1-point increase in stress score,and the score of readiness for discharge in mothers of preterm infants rose by 0.35 and 0.43,respectively,for a unit increase in the scores of self-efficacy and perceived social support.Conclusions:Stress,self-efficacy,and perceived social support can be considered as predictors of readiness for discharge in mothers of preterm infants.It is suggested that nurses in neonatal intensive care units provide a better platform for the readiness for discharge in mothers of preterm infants by reducing stressors and increasing maternal self-efficacy and social support.

Neonatal Nutrition and Later Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight and Preterm Infants <32 Gestational Age at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Portugal

Premature infants, especially those born with less than 1500 g, often exhibit slow overall growth. Lack of early nutritional support is an important element. The present authors describe parenteral nutritional practices in a tertiary hospital and evaluate postnatal growth of preterm infants under 32 weeks of gestational age or with a birth weight < 1500 g. For population study, we examined 431 newborn files. Their median gestational age was 29.7 weeks. Of them, 25.4% were small for gestational age (SGA). 77.5% received parenteral nutrition (PN), 54.5% of which was provided on the first day. The average time was 14.7 days. The average weight gain by the 30th day was 425 g. At discharge, 37% were rd month 20% had their weight under P3, decreasing to 10% by the 12th month. Children who initiated PN in the first 24 hours of life had significantly better weight on the 30th day of their life (p th month of corrected age (p = 0.038). And they had better Body Mass Index (BMI) in the 3rd (p = 0.012) and 12th (p = 0.023) months. Despite better feeding practices, there is still significant failure in post natal growth. Early introduction of PN was associated with an improved weight gain, which suggests that nutrition that included amino acids may be critical during the first 24 hours of life.

Characteristics of home oxygen therapy for preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in China:results of a multicenter cohort

Background Home oxygen therapy(HOT)is indicated upon discharge in some preterm infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD).There is a lack of evidence-based consensus on the indication for HOT among these infants.Because wide variation in the institutional use of HOT exists,little is known about the role of regional social-economic level in the wide variation of HOT.Methods This was a secondary analysis of Chinese Neonatal Network(CHNN)data from January 1,2019 to December 31,2019.Infants at gestational ages<32 weeks,with a birth weight<1500 g,and with moderate or severe BPD who survived to discharge from tertiary hospitals located in 25 provinces were included in this study.Infants with major congenital anomalies and those who were discharged against medical advice were excluded.Results Of 1768 preterm infants with BPD,474 infants(26.8%)were discharged to home with oxygen.The proportion of HOT use in participating member hospitals varied from 0 to 89%,with five of 52 hospitals’observing proportions of HOT use that were significantly greater than expected,with 14 hospitals with observing proportions significantly less than expected,and with 33 hospitals with appropriate proportions.We noted a negative correlation between different performance groups of HOT and median GDP per capita(P=0.04).Conclusions The use of HOT varied across China and was negatively correlated with the levels of provincial economic levels.A local HOT guideline is needed to address the wide variation in HOT use with respect to different regional economic levels in countries like China.

Risk of asthma in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a systematic review and meta‑analysis

Background This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the available literature on the association between preterm infant bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)and pre-adulthood asthma.Methods Studies examining the association between BPD and asthma in children and adolescents were systematically reviewed,and a meta-analysis was conducted.We searched Scopus,Embase,Web of Science,PubMed,and Cochrane Library from the database inception to March 26,2022.The pooled odds ratio(OR)estimate was used in our meta-analysis to calculate the correlation between BPD and the probability of developing asthma before adulthood.Stata 12.0 was used to conduct the statistical analysis.Results The correlation between asthma and BPD in preterm newborns was examined in nine studies.We used a random effect model to pool the OR estimate.Our results indicated a marked increase in the risk of subsequent asthma in preterm infants with BPD[OR=1.73,95% confidence interval(CI)=1.43-2.09].Moreover,there was no obvious heterogeneity across the studies(P=0.617,I^(2)=0%).The pooled OR remained stable and ranged from 1.65(95%CI=1.35-2.01)to 1.78(95%CI=1.43-2.21).Regarding publication bias,the funnel plot for asthma risk did not reveal any noticeable asymmetry.We further performed Begg’s and Egger’s tests to quantitatively evaluate publication bias.There was no evidence of a publication bias for asthma risk(P>|Z|=0.602 for Begg’s test,and P>|t|=0.991 for Egger’s test).Conclusions Our findings indicate that preterm infants with BPD have a much higher risk of developing asthma in the future(OR=1.73,95%CI=1.43-2.09).Preterm infants with BPD may benefit from long-term follow-up.

Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The therapeutic effect of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus on necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC)in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants was controversial,and we aimed to explore the exact impact of the two probiotics.Methods The PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for studies published from January 1,2010 to February 28,2019.Results were combined with fixed-effect model or random-effect model with specific conditions.Sensitivity analysis was conducted by the trim-and-fill method,and the Begger's and Egger's test were used to measure publication bias.Results The meta-analysis included 16 original articles with 4632 very-low-birth-weight preterm infants.With respect to the intervention of Bifidobacterium,we estimated non-significant decrease in the morbidity of NEC with a risk ratio(RR)of 0.75[95%confidence internal(CI)0.56-1.01,P=0.06].Regarding the effect of Lactobacillus,there was no evidence of significant lower risk in the incidence of NEC(RR=0.67,95%CI 0.39-1.17,P=0.16).The use of mixture of probiotics(Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus)reduced the risk of NEC in the probiotics group(RR=0.45,95%CI 0.25-0.80,P=0.007).Conclusion The mixture of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus could prevent the morbidity of NEC in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants.But Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus alone did not show this effect.

Ursodeoxycholic acid prevention on cholestasis associated with total parenteral nutrition in preterm infants:a randomized trial

Background Preterm infants with long-term parenteral nutrition(PN)therapy are at risk for cholestasis associated with total parenteral nutrition(PNAC).This study examined the safety and efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA)in preventing PNAC in preterm infants.Our research aimed to investigate the prophylactic effect of preventive oral UDCA on PNAC in preterm infants.Methods We compared oral administration of UDCA prophylaxis with no prophylaxis in a randomized,open-label,proof-of-concept trial in preterm neonates with PN therapy.The low-birth-weight preterm infants(<1800 g)who were registered to the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)within 24 hours after birth were randomized.The main endpoint was the weekly values of direct bilirubin(DB)of neonates during the NICU stay.Results Eventually,a total of 102 preterm neonates from January 2021 to July 2021 were enrolled in this prospective study(42 in the UDCA group and 60 in the control group).Notably,the peak serum level of DB[13.0(12-16)vs.15.2(12.5-19.6)μmol/L,P<0.05]was significantly lower in the UDCA group than that in the control group without prevention.The peak serum level of total bilirubin(101.1±34 vs.116.5±28.7μmol/L,P<0.05)was also significantly lower in the UDCA group than in the control group.Furthermore,the proportion of patients who suffered from neonatal cholestasis(0.0%vs.11.7%,P<0.05)in the UDCA group was significantly lower.Conclusion UDCA prophylaxis is beneficial in preventing PNAC in NICU infants receiving prolonged PN.

Weaning preterm infants from continuous positive airway pressure: evidence for best practice

Background:Nasal continuous positive airway pressure(NCPAP)is frequently used in preterm infants.However,there is no consensus on when and how to wean them from NCPAP.Data sources:Based on recent publications,we have reviewed the criteria of readiness-to-wean and factors affecting weaning success.A special focus is placed on the methods of weaning from NCPAP in preterm infants.Results:Practical points of when and how to wean from NCPAP in preterm infants are explained.Preterm infants are ready to be weaned from NCPAP when they are stable on a low NCPAP pressure with no(or minimal)oxygen requirement.Methods used to wean from NCPAP include:sudden weaning of NCPAP,gradual decrease of NCPAP pressure,graded-time-off NCPAP(cycling),weaning to high or low flow nasal cannula,and a combination of these methods.The best strategy for weaning is yet to be determined.Cycling-off NCPAP increases the duration of NCPAP and length of hospital stay without beneficial effect on success of weaning.Gradual decrease of NCPAP pressure is more physiological and better tolerated than cycling-off NCPAP.Conclusion:Further studies are needed to reach a consensus regarding the optimal timing and the best method for weaning from NCPAP in preterm infants.

Recent Advances in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Protection and Therapy

For preterm infants, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is usually caused by abnormal lung development due to various factors during prenatal and postnatal process. One of the reasons for death and bad prognosis of preterm infants is to have BPD. Up to now, there are no unified strategies or drugs to treat BPD. In clinical, many intervention treatments have been applied to achieve BPD therapy, mainly including preterm protection, protective ventilation strategies, and delivery of corticosteroids, pulmonary vasodilators, and antioxidants. This review summarizes the current advances in BPD protection and treatment, and notes that gut microbiota and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be the promising strategy for protecting and treating BPD in the future.