Research on medication use in the neonatal intensive care unit

Introduction: Research on medication use aims at assessing how much of current pharmacotherapy is rational. In neonates, this is hampered by extensive off-label drug use and limited knowledge.

Areas covered: We report on medication use research and have conducted a systematic review of observational studies on medication use to provide an updated overview on characteristics, objectives, methods, and patterns in hospitalized neonates. Moreover, a review on aspects of medication use for opioids, anti-epileptics, gastric acid-related disorders and respiratory stimulants with emphasis on trends and impact of interventions is presented, illustrating how research on medication use can contribute to improved neonatal pharmacotherapy and more focused research. Medication use reports describe patterns and provide signals on irrational use, benchmarking, or can guide research priorities. Moreover, this may generate information on how neonatal health topics and their pharmacotherapy are handled over time or across regions.

Expert opinion: Research on medicine utilization is relevant, since it will inform us on aspects like trends, variability, or about the impact and pattern of implementation of guidelines in neonates. Further progress necessitates to merge datasets on medication use with clinical characteristics, and perinatal drug use remains an area in need of additional research.     

The infantile cutaneous microbiome: A review

Recent focus on the neonatal intestinal microbiome has advanced our knowledge of the complex interplay between the intestinal barrier, the developing immune system, and commensal and pathogenic organisms. Despite the parallel role of the infant skin in serving as both a barrier and an interface for priming the immune system, large gaps exist in our understanding of the infantile cutaneous microbiome. The skin microbiome changes and matures throughout infancy, becoming more diverse and developing the site specificity known to exist in adults. Delivery method initially determines the composition of the cutaneous microbiome, though this impact appears transient. Cutaneous microbes play a critical role in immune system development, particularly during the neonatal period, and microbes and immune cells have closely intertwined, reciprocal effects. The unique structure of newborn skin influences cutaneous microbial colonization and the development of dermatologic pathology. The development of the infantile skin barrier and cutaneous microbiome contributes to future skin pathology. Atopic dermatitis flares and seborrheic dermatitis have been linked to dysbiosis, while erythema toxicum neonatorum is an immune response to the establishment of normal bacterial skin flora. Physicians who care for infants should be aware of the impact of the infantile skin microbiome and its role in the development of pathology. A better understanding of the origin and evolution of the skin microbiome will lead to more effective prevention and treatment of pediatric skin disease.     

Monolateral hypoplasia of the motor vagal nuclei in a case of sudden infant death syndrome

During the development of motor vagal nuclei (MVN), the neuroblasts of the myeloencephalic basal plate migrate in the dorsolateral direction to form the dorsal motor vagal nucleus (DMVN) and ventrolaterally to form the ventral motor vagal nucleus (VMVN). Those neuroblasts that remain close to the median sulcus will form the hypoglossal nucleus. In support of the congenital origin of the alteration of the MVN in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), we report the case of an 8‐month‐old female child who was found dead in her cot. The neuropathological assessment revealed that the medullary triangle of the 4th ventricle floor was asymmetric, owing to the presence of three prominences to the left side of the median sulcus. The medial prominence corresponded to the hypoglossal nucleus, which showed a marked increase in the number of large neurons; the intermediate prominence corresponded to the DMVN whose large neurons were reduced and were recognizable mainly at the level of the medial fringe; the lateral prominence corresponded to the solitary nucleus. The left solitary tract showed a reduction of the transverse diameter. Also, the left VMVN showed marked reduction in the number of neurons. Inflammatory and astrocytic reactions were absent. We suggest that in SIDS cases the hypocellularity of the MVN and the increased number of neurons of the hypoglossal nucleus are intimately related, indicating a congenital alteration due to incomplete migration of the vagal neuroblasts with abnormality of the autonomic cardio‐respiratory control.     

婴儿母乳喂养与学龄前肥胖症关系的病例对照研究

①目的　探讨婴儿期母乳喂养行为与学龄前期单纯性肥胖症发生之间的关系。②方法　对 180 0名4～ 5岁儿童的婴儿期母乳喂养情况及其体质指数 (BMI)、发育情况等进行调查 ,分析母乳喂养类型和持续时间与学龄前肥胖症发生之间的关系。③结果　单因素分析发现 ,4个月内只喂母乳、主要喂母乳、母乳与配方奶量基本相同、主要喂配方奶、只喂配方奶者 4～ 5岁时肥胖发生率分别为 12 .6 3% ,13.0 4 % ,16 .98% ,18.18% ,30 .0 0 % ;儿童母乳喂养持续时间 0 ,<1,1～ 3,4～ 6 ,7～ 9,>9个月者 4～ 5岁时肥胖发生率分别为 2 9.4 1% ,30 .0 0 % ,33.33% ,17.2 4 % ,13.92 % ,12 .2 2 % .母乳喂养类型和持续时间不同的儿童学龄前期单纯性肥胖症发生率不同 ,差异有显著性 (χ2 =10 .4 0 7,P <0 .0 5 ;χ2 =2 0 .90 3,P <0 .0 0 1)。多因素Logistic回归分析发现 ,4个月内喂配方奶量越多 ,肥胖发生率越高 (OR =1.12 0 ) ;母乳喂养持续时间越长 ,肥胖发生率越低 (OR =0 .782 )。④结论　婴儿母乳喂养对学龄前期肥胖症的发生有预防作用 ;婴儿期应提倡母乳喂养 ,并尽可能延长母乳喂养时间至 9个月以上。     

脐血铅含量与婴儿神经行为发育的探讨

目的：了解广西地区儿童铅中毒状况，研究铅对婴儿神经发育的影响。方法：选择1020名婴儿，以脐血铅作为铅暴露示标，3月龄时在贝利（Bayley)婴儿发育表上以精神发育指数（MDI）和心理运动发育指数（PDI）为效应示标。结果：血铅≥0．48μmol/L的婴儿其MDI和PDI明显落后于相对低铅组，随着分界线的下移，两组间MDI和PDI差别渐趋缩小，当分界线为0.24μmol/L时，高、低铅组MDI和PDI已不存在统计学差异。结论：当血铅≥0.48μmol/L时，婴儿神经行为发育即可受到不利影响。     

妊娠合并肝内胆汁郁积症的围生儿结局57例分析

目的 探讨妊娠合并肝内胆汁郁积症（ICP）患者致围生儿不良结局的相关指标。方法 总结本院57例ICP患者的相关临床资料，将其与围生儿结局进行分组对照分析。结果 血清胆汁酸升高与围生儿不良结局关系不明显（P＞0.05)；血清转氨酶水平在产生围生儿不良结局组与未产生围生儿不良结局组之间有显著性差异（P＞0.01)；皮肤瘙痒持续时间大于3周组围生儿不良结局发生率与持续时间小于3周组有显著性差异（P＜0.05)；有、无NST基线变异消失组的围生儿不良结局发生率有极显著性差异（P＜0.01)。结论 血清转氨酶水平、皮肤瘙痒持续时间及NST基线变异是否消失是预示围生儿不良结局的相关指标。     

Partner- and partnership-related risk factors for preterm birth among low-income women in Lima,Peru

A woman's partner and the characteristics of their partnership can play an important role in the health of her pregnancy. Yet, with the notable exception of intimate partner violence, there has been little previous research addressing the associations between partner- or partnership-related factors and birth outcomes. This analysis tested the hypothesis that risk factors related specifically to partner or partnership characteristics increased the risk for preterm birth. Between 2003 and 2005, a total of 580 preterm cases (20–36 weeks gestational age at delivery) and 633 term controls (≥37 weeks) were selected from women delivering at an obstetric hospital in Lima, Peru. Each woman completed a confidential, structured interview and provided biological specimens within 48 h after delivery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess associations between partner and partnership characteristics and preterm birth. After adjustment for behavioral, demographic, and obstetric risk factors, ever having had a partner with a history of drug use (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.22–2.99), ever having had anal sex (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.07–1.84), having a current partner with a history of visiting prostitutes (aOR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.22–2.33), and perceiving one's current partner as a “womanizer” (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.02–1.77) were significantly associated with an elevated risk of preterm birth when tested in separate models. These four factors were then used to create a composite partnership risk score, which showed an increasing dose-response relationship with preterm birth risk (per additional partner risk factor: aOR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.16–1.49). These results highlight the importance of considering a broader set of risk factors for preterm birth, specifically those related to a woman's partner and partnership characteristics. Further research could clarify the specific mechanisms through which these partner and partnership characteristics may increase the risk of preterm birth.     

氨茶碱伍用纳洛酮治疗早产儿原发性呼吸暂停疗效观察(附46例临床报告)

目的观察氨茶碱伍用纳洛酮治疗早产儿原发性呼吸暂停的临床疗效。方法将112例早产儿随机分为两组,对照组(66例)和观察组(46例),对照组及观察组均应用氨茶碱治疗呼吸暂停,观察组加用纳洛酮,首次按0.1mg/kg静脉侧入,继之以0.1mg/kg,以0.03～0.05mg/(kg·h)速度静脉泵入,连用3d。比较两组原发性呼吸暂停的时间和发生次数、心率、经皮血氧饱和度等的差异。结果两组呼吸暂停次数为(1.6±0.9)次/dvs(3.0±1.7)次/d及日均积分(1.7±1.3)分vs(3.6±2.4)分,观察组均明显减少,P<0.001和P<0.05;呼吸暂停的时间(18.6±3.5)svs(20.2±3.9)s,观察组明显缩短;SpO2(81.0±10.6)%vs(75.4±8.9)%及心率(91.2±12.6)次/minvs(84.6±14.3)次/min,观察组下降程度明显减轻(P<0.05)。治疗组总有效率明显优于对照组(χ2=8.47,P<0.01)。结论氨茶碱伍用纳洛酮治疗早产儿原发性呼吸暂停疗效显著。