Pediatric Research最新文献

Introduction: Parental psychological distress (PD) (anxiety, depression, stress and post-traumatic stress syndrome) can adversely affect parents' own physical and mental health as well as their children's long-term health and development. Numerous studies have addressed PD in mothers of infants admitted to NICU, with interventions proposed, but few have addressed the impact on fathers or other family members. The present review examined systematic reviews that addressed PD in NICU and potential interventions.

Methods: A meta-review was performed by searching various databases between 2000 and May 2024.

Results: Fifty-four studies were included. The incidence of maternal PD varied depending on the screening tool used (13-93%), as did paternal PD (0.08-46%). The incidence of PD in sexual, racial and gender minorities, siblings, grandparents and those in lower-middle income countries is not known. Numerous screening tools were used with a wide variety of cut-off values. Various intervention programmes were evaluated and showed contradictory evidence regarding their effect on PD.

Discussion: Routine screening should be implemented together with a combination of interventional programmes, specifically family-centred interventions. More research is required for PD in siblings, sexual and gender minority parents as well as parents living in low middle income countries.

Impact statement: Psychological distress is high in NICU, affecting parents and siblings. Maternal psychological distress may have long lasting effects on infant health and differs from that of fathers, who require as much attention as mothers Little is known about emotional stress in siblings and sex and gender minority group peoples Few interventions showed conclusive effectiveness in reducing psychological distress with combination interventions showing more effectiveness than single interventions.

Background: To construct an asthma diagnostic scale for children under 6 years old.

Methods: An electronic medical record database was used to develop the scale. Item pool was established through literature survey and expert opinion. Items were screened and optimized by using the Delphi method, t-test, reactivity analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, factor analysis, reliability and validity test. The predictive probability of asthma was calculated using logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve. Another childhood asthma database was used to validated the scale.

Results: The asthma diagnostic scale for children under 6 years old included five dimensions: dimension 1 (shortness of breath, three concave sign, cyanosis, moist rale, heart rhythm, heart sound and dyspnea), dimension 2 (respiratory sound, cough, sputum), dimension 3 (frequency of wheezing, allergic rhinitis, history of allergy in one or both parents), dimension 4 (sex, wheezing, atopic dermatitis), and dimension 5 (reversible airflow, positive in vitro or in vivo allergy test). The Cronbach's α coefficients for the five dimensions were 0.846, 0.459, 0.019, 0.202, and 0.024. The area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were 0.737, 59.1%, and 81.2%. AUC, sensitivity, and specificity in the validation database were 0.614, 76.2%, and 46.7%.

Conclusion: The scale has significant diagnostic value for asthma in children under 6 years old.

Impact: 1. The aim of the study was to establish an asthma diagnosis scale for children younger than 6 years old. 2. Our study not only addresses the lack of diagnostic criteria of young children asthma, but also indicates the accuracy of the diagnostic scale. 3. The data may help to reduce the missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis rate of asthma, and improve the diagnostic accuracy of the disease, and thus reduces the harm of asthma to children's physical and mental health.

Background: Mothers of very premature newborns often have low milk supply. Systematic review has shown increased milk quantity with relaxation interventions. We hypothesised that a self-directed audio relaxation and lactation-specific visualisation would increase milk quantity after a very premature birth.

Methods: Unmasked, randomised, controlled trial, recruiting 132 participants in four United Kingdom neonatal units. Eligible women had given birth to one or two infants between 23+0 and 31+6 weeks of gestation. The intervention was a 12-min voice recording including breathing exercises, muscle relaxation and lactation-specific visualisation. Primary outcome was the highest 24-h breastmilk weight expressed on any of day 4, day 14 or day 21 after birth.

Results: Mean birth gestation was 27.8 weeks (SD 2.4), with 26% of participants giving birth under 26 weeks (34/132). Adjusted mean difference in primary outcome was 73.9 g (95% CI -61.7 to 209.5, p = 0.28). Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Index adjusted mean difference was -1.9 (-8.2 to 4.3, p = 0.54). The majority of relaxation group participants felt the intervention was relaxing (32/42, 76%).

Conclusions: There was no beneficial effect of this relaxation intervention on milk quantity. Mothers of very premature infants may value relaxation interventions but they are unlikely to have a large effect on milk quantity.

Impact: This randomised trial did not show a beneficial effect of a self-directed audio relaxation and visualisation on mothers' own milk quantity expressed after very preterm birth. Mothers of very and extremely preterm infants may value relaxation interventions, but they are unlikely to have a large effect on milk quantity. Prior systematic review of mixed populations has shown an increase in mothers' own milk quantity with relaxation interventions. Combining this study with existing meta-analysis could result in a new hypothesis that the lower the gestation at birth, the smaller the impact of relaxation on milk quantity.

Background: Preterm infants frequently require oxygen supplementation at birth. However, preterm lung is especially sensible to structural and functional damage caused by oxygen free radicals.

Methods: The adaptive mechanisms implied in the fetal-neonatal transition from a lower to a higher oxygen environment were evaluated in a murine model using a custom-designed oxy-chamber. Pregnant mice were randomly assigned to deliver in 14% (hypoxic preconditioning group) or 21% (normoxic group) oxygen environment. Eight hours after birth FiO₂ was increased to 100% for 60 min and then switched to 21% in both groups. A control group remained in 21% oxygen throughout the study.

Results: Mice in the normoxic group exhibited thinning of the alveolar septa, increased cell death, increased vascular damage, and decreased synthesis of pulmonary surfactant. However, lung histology, lamellar bodies microstructure, and surfactant integrity were preserved in the hypoxic preconditioning group after the hyperoxic insult.

Conclusion: Postnatal hyperoxia has detrimental effects on lung structure and function when preceded by normoxia compared to controls. However, postnatal hypoxic preconditioning mitigates lung damage caused by a hyperoxic insult.

Impact: Hypoxic preconditioning, implemented shortly after birth mitigates lung damage caused by postnatal supplemental oxygenation. The study introduces an experimental mice model to investigate the effects of hypoxic preconditioning and its effects on lung development. This model enables researchers to delve into the intricate processes involved in postnatal lung maturation. Our findings suggest that hypoxic preconditioning may reduce lung parenchymal damage and increase pulmonary surfactant synthesis in reoxygenation strategies during postnatal care.

Background: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is known for indicating adult brain injury, but the role of NfL in extremely preterm infants is less studied. This study examines the relationship between NfL and neurovascular morbidities in these infants.

Methods: A secondary analysis of the Mega Donna Mega trial was conducted on preterm infants <28 weeks gestational age (GA). The study measured NfL levels and proteomic profiles related to the blood-brain barrier in serum from birth to term-equivalent age, investigating the association of NfL with GA, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and blood-brain barrier proteins.

Results: Higher NfL levels were seen in the first month in infants with severe IVH and for those born <25 weeks GA (independent of ROP or IVH). Additionally, infants born at 25-27 weeks GA with high NfL were at increased risk of developing severe ROP (independent of IVH). NfL was significantly associated with the proteins CDH5, ITGB1, and JAM-A during the first month.

Conclusion: NfL surges after birth in extremely preterm infants, particularly in those with severe IVH and ROP, and in the most immature infants regardless of IVH or ROP severity. These findings suggest NfL as a potential predictor of neonatal morbidities, warranting further validation studies.

Impact statement: This study shows that higher NfL levels are related to neurovascular morbidities in extremely preterm infants. The degree of immaturity seems important as infants born <25 weeks gestational age exhibited high postnatal serum NfL levels irrespective of neurovascular morbidities. Our findings suggest a potential link between NfL and neurovascular morbidities possibly affected by a more permeable blood-brain barrier.

Background: A comprehensive understanding of vascular development in the human lung is still missing.

Methods: Therefore, samples of infant (n = 5, 26 days to 18 months postnatally) and adult (n = 5, 20 to 40 years) human lungs were subjected to unbiased stereological estimation of the total number of capillary loops. Serial sections were segmented to visualize the alveolar capillary network (ACN) in 3D.

Results: The number of capillary loops increased in parallel to lung volume from 26 days to 18 months, while in adults, it was not correlated to lung volume. In infant lungs, two capillary layers were separated by a connective tissue sheet with a growing number of interconnections. In adults, the mature ACN was almost, but not completely, single-layered. Here, the connective tissue was thinner but still centrally positioned, suggesting the persistence of interconnected parts of both layers of the previously double-layered ACN.

Conclusions: Small parts of the capillaries remain double-layered and seem to be grouped around the thin connective tissue sheet, suggesting a different mechanism of microvascular maturation than simple fusion of the two layers. These spots are a potential basis for further alveolarization after completion of bulk formation.

Impact: The 3D data offer a new conceptual approach to microvascular maturation of the lung. Microvascular maturation rather results from reduction than simple fusion of capillary fragments. Adult lungs maintain small double-layered capillary spots. These could offer a potential source of regeneration. The data are important to better understand normal and pathological lung development.

Background: Premature birth heightens neurodevelopmental risks, theorized to partly stem from altered sensory inputs and disrupted sleep patterns. Modifying the acoustic milieu through music intervention (MI) offers promise to improve neonatal comfort, reduce sleep disturbances, and stabilize physiological parameters. This study explores the impact of non-pharmacological MI on these health indicators within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Methods: A single-blinded RCT was conducted. Premature infants (34 > GA > 29 wks) were randomly assigned to either receive 8 min of daily MI or placebo for up to 15 days. Validated behavioral comfort scores were visually obtained by a blinded observer before and after intervention. Additionally, physiological signs (HR, RR, SatO2) were recorded. Differences between the groups were analyzed using χ² tests and t-tests.

Results: In total 56 preterm infants were included. After intervention, comfort levels increased significantly in the MI compared to placebo group (p = 0.000). Neonates receiving MI transitioned from wakefulness to a state of sleep significantly more compared to placebo (p = 0.002). Physiological parameters remained stable.

Conclusions: This study adds to existing literature demonstrating that a music intervention in a NICU setting can enhance comfort and sleep of premature infants without adversely affecting physiological parameters.

Impact: The study demonstrates that music interventions (MI) in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) setting can significantly increase comfort levels and positively impact the sleep of premature infants without negatively impacting their physiological parameters. This research increases evidence for non-pharmacological interventions, specifically music, as beneficial for the well-being of premature infants in NICU settings. It replicates and expands upon previous methodological designs, providing more robust evidence of MI's positive effects on this vulnerable population. The positive outcomes of music intervention could influence hospital policies by integrating non-pharmacological practices into standard neonatal care protocols to enhance developmental support for premature infants.

Background: Anti-MDA5 autoantibody-positive dermatomyositis (MDA5-DM) is associated with clinically amyopathic forms and rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD); however, data in children are limited. In this study, we described our cohort of anti-MDA5-positive juvenile DM (MDA5-JDM) from a tertiary care center in North India.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of children with MDA5-JDM who were diagnosed and followed up at our center and compared them with our anti-MDA5-negative cohort. We also compared the published literature on MDA5-DM with the juvenile cohort.

Results: Of 66 children with JDM who underwent testing for MSA, 10(15.5%) had anti-MDA5 positivity. The mean age at onset of clinical manifestations was 8.4 years; male: female ratio was 7:3. Five of nine patients who underwent screening HRCT chest had ILD; one amongst them had a fatal rapidly progressive disease. Children with MDA5-JDM had significantly more arthralgia/arthritis (p = 0.006) and ILD (p = 0.0005) compared to anti-MDA5 negative JDM in our cohort. While MDA5-DM had high rates of Raynaud's phenomenon (p = 0.04) and pulmonary involvement (p = 0.001), juvenile patients had a higher prevalence of constitutional symptoms (p = 0.01), skin manifestations (p = 0.003), arthritis (p = 0.001), and muscle weakness (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Arthritis and ILD are commonly seen with MDA5-JDM; however, the frequency of ILD and clinically amyopathic forms are less common compared to adult counterparts.

Impact: The frequency of anti-MDA5 antibodies in a North Indian cohort of JDM is much lower (15.5%) compared to adult studies in dermatomyositis from Southeast Asia (~25%). Incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and arthritis is high in anti-MDA5 autoantibody-positive JDM. Rates of a rapidly progressive form of ILD and clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis are much lower in children compared to adults with anti-MDA5-associated dermatomyositis.