Early light reduction for preventing retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight infants

BackgroundRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a complex condition of the developing retinal blood vessels and is one of the leading causes of preventable childhood blindness. Several risk factors for ROP have been studied over the past 50 years. Among them, general immaturity (low birth weight and low gestational age) and prolonged oxygen therapy have been consistently related to disease onset. However, it is understood that the progression of the disease is multifactorial and may be associated with others risk factors, such as multiple gestation, apnoea, intracranial haemorrhage, anaemia, sepsis, prolonged mechanical ventilation, multiple transfusions and light exposure. Furthermore, the precise role of these individual factors in the development of the disease has not yet been well established.ObjectivesTo determine whether the reduction of early environmental light exposure reduces the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) or poor ROP outcomes among very low birth weight infants.Search methodsWe searched the following databases: the Cochrane Neonatal Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, HealthSTAR, Science Citation Index Database, CANCERLIT, the Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials and www.clinicaltrials.gov. We also searched previous reviews including cross-references, abstracts, conference and symposia proceedings, and contacted expert informants. This search was updated in October 2012.Selection criteriaRandomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials that reduced light exposure to premature infants within the first seven days following birth were considered for this review. We also considered cluster-randomised controlled trials.Data collection and analysisData on clinical outcomes including any acute ROP and poor ROP outcome were extracted by both review authors independently and consensus reached. We conducted data analysis according to the standards of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group.Main resultsData from four randomised trials with a total of 897 participants failed to show any reduction in acute ROP or poor ROP outcome with the reduction of ambient light to premature infants' retinas. The overall methodological quality of the included studies was about evenly split between those in which the classification was unclear and those in which the studies were categorised as low risk of bias. There was no report on the secondary outcomes considered in this review: quality of life measures; and time of exposure to oxygen.Authors' conclusionsThe evidence shows that bright light is not the cause of retinopathy of prematurity and that the reduction of exposure of the retinas of premature infants to light has no effect on the incidence of the disease.

Hypothermia and Early Neonatal Mortality in Preterm Infants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Physiological Parameters in Neonatal Lambs of the Bergamasca Breed

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Profissionais de UTI neonatal e alimentação de recém-nascidos com uso de copo

Purpose: Cup feeding is an alternative technique of infant feeding when the infant is not being breastfed. Healthcare providers should have experience with the cup feeding technique in order to feed safely an infant. Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify the practices and the feeding cup techniques currently being used by healthcare NICU professionals, and to explore the opinions and beliefs of health professionals regarding to feeding cup. Methods: Twelve NICU nursing assistant were interviewed. Results: Most of the professionals interviewed were able to properly execute the feeding cup technique. The main problem observed was the improper positioning of the cup while using the technique. Most of them were ‘pouring’ the milk into the infant’s mouth. Thus, the participants interviewed expressed doubts about the technique and denied having been trained for this procedure in routine work at NICU. Nevertheless, all the participants were interested to learn more about the technique. Conclusion: In general,, all the professionals interviewed were able to properly execute the feeding cup technique. The questions and concerns presented by the professionals reassure the need for research and educational activities in order to educate health professionals about the correct use of feeding cup technique to assure a safe alternative feeding for infants.

Exposição neonatal a drogas ototóxicas e possíveis alterações auditivas

Introduction: Scientific evidence indicates that neonatal exposure to ototoxic drugs cause hearing loss in newborns. Objective: To characterize the use of ototoxic antibiotics in newborns (NB), treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and evaluate possible hearing modifications. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative approach, using data from medical records of infants who were at some time in the NICU and used antibiotics, including ototoxic, from January to June 2004 as much as 2010, and the data were compared and analyzed. Parents/guardians of infants born in 2004 were contacted and applied a questionnaire containing questions about the children’s hearing. These children were submitted to audiological evaluation. Results: There was significant reduction in the time of use, the amount of antibiotics prescribed to newborns and Vancomycin prescription in 2010 compared to 2004. The hearing tests of 13 born in 2004 showed: sensorineural hearing loss in only 2 (one with moderate hearing loss and descending configuration in pure tone audiometry and the other with bilateral cochlear impairment); audiometric thresholds within the normal range in 11 patients, and the presence of otoacoustic emissions in 9. In Evoked Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) no changes were observed. Conclusion: The reduction in the time of use, the amount and types of antibiotics observed may be related to the adoption of a Protocol in 2008, by the service. In contrast, auditory alterations may be related to a neonatal exposure to antibiotics in 2004.

Characterization of the clonal profile of MRSA isolated in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units of a University Hospital

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Cord blood cytokine levels in focal early-onset neonatal infection after preterm premature rupture of membranes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Isoeritrólise neonatal eqüina

Equine neonatal isoerythrolysis is a neonatal foals’ illness. Results from the incompatibility of blood type between the foal and the mare and mediated by maternal antibody absorbed by the colostrum against foal’s red blood cells. Characterized by a type ll hypersensitivity reaction, where the exhibition of the organism to a strange antigen, that it takes the sensitization of the lymphocytes B that after the removal of the antigens by the reticule-endothelial system the production of immunoglobulin is decreased, with the formation of cellular immunological will cause the occurrence of the illness in foal of sensitized mares. The most important clinical signs are severe anemia and jaundice, and this illness should be differentiated of other as: hemolysis induced by bacterial toxins, diseases of the hepatobiliary system, disseminated intravascular coagulation and incompatibility in blood transfusions. Like the sensitization happens during the previous incompatible foal’s birth, most cases occur in foals of multiparous mares. However during the first pregnancy the mare can generate a foal with neonatal 7 isoerythrolysis if she have developed placental anomaly in the beginning of the pregnancy which blood cells in her circulation

Itinerário terapêutico de mães de crianças que foram a óbito no período neonatal em município do interior paulista

Pós-graduação em Enfermagem - FMB

Auditory brainstem response in term and preterm infants with neonatal complications: the importance of the sequential evaluation

Introduction Literature data are not conclusive as to the influence of neonatal complications in the maturational process of the auditory system observed by auditory brainstem response (ABR) in infants at term and preterm. Objectives Check the real influence of the neonatal complications in infants by the sequential auditory evaluation. Methods Historical cohort study in a tertiary referral center. A total of 114 neonates met inclusion criteria: treatment at the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Program of the local hospital; at least one risk indicator for hearing loss; presence in both evaluations (the first one after hospital discharge from the neonatal unit and the second one at 6 months old); all latencies in ABR and transient otoacoustic emissions present in both ears. Results The complications that most influenced the ABR findings were Apgar scores less than 6 at 5 minutes, gestational age, intensive care unit stay, peri-intraventricular hemorrhage, and mechanical ventilation. Conclusion Sequential auditory evaluation is necessary in premature and term newborns with risk indicators for hearing loss to correctly identify injuries in the auditory pathway.

There is no difference in nitric oxide metabolites and neonatal outcome between premature infants born to pre-eclamptic and those born to normotensive women

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Neonatal anoxia in rats: hippocampal cellular and subcellular changes related to cell death and spatial memory

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Detection of oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the neonatal and pediatric units of a brazilian teaching hospital

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)