0000000000141388
AUTHOR
Gabriella D'angelo
From Neonatal Intensive Care to Neurocritical Care: Is It Still a Mirage? The Sicilian Multicenter Project
Background. Neonatal brain injury (NBI) can lead to a significant neurological disability or even death. After decades of intense efforts to improve neonatal intensive care and survival of critically ill newborns, the focus today is an improved long-term neurological outcome through brain-focused care. The goal of neuroprotection in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is the prevention of new or worsening NBI in premature and term newborns. As a result, the neonatal neurocritical care unit (NNCU) has been emerging as a model of care to decrease NBI and improve the long-term neurodevelopment in critically ill neonates. Purpose. Neurocritical care (NCC) Sicilian project includes three aca…
Role of oxidative stress in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome
Respiratory distress syndrome is the commonest respiratory disorder in preterm infants. Although it is well known that preterm birth has a key role, the mechanisms of lung injury have not been fully elucidated. The pathogenesis of this neonatal condition is based on the rapid formation of the oxygen reactive species, which surpasses the detoxification capacity of anti-oxidative defense system. The high reactivity of free radical leads to damage to a variety of molecules and may induce respiratory cell death. There is evidence that the oxidative stress involved in the physiopathology of this disease, is particularly related to oxygen supplementation, mechanical ventilation, inflammation/infe…
Preterm birth: seven-year retrospective study in a single centre population
Preterm birth is a health and social problem, considered the leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. It is associated with higher rates of neurodevelopmental morbidity, sensorineural impairments and other complications. The aim of the study was to describe the incidence and the major risk factors associated with preterm birth. METHODS: We performed a single center, observational and retrospective Cohort study in the Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital "G. Martino", Messina. Clinical records of all pregnant women who delivered from 1st January 2010 to 31 of December 2016 were collected. RESULTS: In the 7 years considered, a total of 7954 pregnant women were inc…
Current status of laboratory and imaging diagnosis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis
Abstract Necrotizing enterocolitis continues to be a devastating disease process for very low birth weight infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The aetiology and pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis are not definitively understood. It is known that necrotizing enterocolitis is secondary to a complex interaction of multiple factors that results in mucosal damage, which leads to intestinal ischemia and necrosis. Advances in neonatal care, including resuscitation and ventilation support technology, have seen increased survival rates among premature neonates and a concomitant detection in the incidence of this intestinal disease. Diagnosis can be difficult, and identifying infants at …
High mobility group box 1 and markers of oxidative stress in human cord blood.
Background Parturition induces considerable oxidative stress and many inflammatory mediators, such as high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), are involved from the beginning of the pregnancy to birth. The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum cord blood concentration of diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), and HMGB1 to investigate the perinatal oxidative status of neonates and correlation with mode of delivery, as well as the influence of labor. Methods The subjects consisted of 214 neonates delivered at University Hospital "G. Martino", Messina, in a 6 months period. Venous blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord after cord s…
Ketogenic diet for infants with epilepsy: A literature review.
Abstract The ketogenic diet (KD) is an established, nonpharmacological treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Actually, KD and its variants have been shown to be elective and resolute for patients with glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) deficiency. The aim of this review was to study the use of KD and its variants in infancy, including the neonatal age, and demonstrate the safety and efficacy of this treatment in patients with the age of 0–23 months affected by DRE already subjected to pharmacological approach attempts. A literature search was conducted using PubMed as the medical database source. We used the age limit of 0–23 months, and we considered only articles published between …