Incidence and Outcome of CPAP Failure in Preterm Infants.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Data from clinical trials support the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for initial respiratory management in preterm infants, but there is concern regarding the potential failure of CPAP support. We aimed to examine the incidence and explore the outcomes of CPAP failure in Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network data from 2007 to 2013. METHODS: Data from inborn preterm infants managed on CPAP from the outset were analyzed in 2 gestational age ranges (25-28 and 29-32 completed weeks). Outcomes after CPAP failure (need for intubation <72 hours) were compared with those succeeding on CPAP using adjusted odds ratios (AORs). RESULTS: Within the cohort of 19 103 infants, 11 684 were initially managed on CPAP. Failure of CPAP occurred in 863 (43%) of 1989 infants commencing on CPAP at 25-28 weeks' gestation and 2061 (21%) of 9695 at 29-32 weeks. CPAP failure was associated with a substantially higher rate of pneumothorax, and a heightened risk of death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and other morbidities compared with those managed successfully on CPAP. The incidence of death or BPD was also increased: (25-28 weeks: 39% vs 20%, AOR 2.30, 99% confidence interval 1.71-3.10; 29-32 weeks: 12% vs 3.1%, AOR 3.62 [2.76-4.74]). The CPAP failure group had longer durations of respiratory support and hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP failure in preterm infants is associated with increased risk of mortality and major morbidities, including BPD. Strategies to promote successful CPAP application should be pursued vigorously.

Combination of CA125 and RECAF biomarkers for early detection of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer can be cured in up to 90% of cases if diagnosed early. CA125, the most studied ovarian cancer biomarker, exhibits poor sensitivity for detecting early disease stages and low specificity to malignancy. RECAF, the alpha-fetoprotein receptor, is a wide-spectrum oncofetal antigen with clinical potential for cancer diagnosis, screening, and monitoring. This study evaluated the performance of RECAF as a diagnostic tool and the sensitivity of a combination of RECAF and CA125 to detect early stages of ovarian cancer at a cutoff resulting in 100% specificity among healthy women. This retrospective case-control study was designed to measure the serum levels of RECAF and CA125 in normal individuals (n=106) and cancer patients stages I/II (RECAF, n=32; CA125, n=35) and III/IV (RECAF, n=49; CA125, n=51). A competitive chemiluminescence assay was developed to measure the circulating RECAF. To eliminate any false positives, we classified as positive any patient with a RECAF or a CA125 value higher than their respective 100% specificity cutoff. We have shown that RECAF discriminated cancer and healthy donors better than CA125, particularly in the early stages (AUC(RECAF)=0.96 and AUC(CA125)=0.805). CA125 sensitivity was lower in the early stages than in the advance stages; RECAF sensitivity was high at all stages. A combination of CA125 and RECAF detected three out of four early-stage patients, with no false positives. In conclusion, the combination of RECAF and CA125 serum values provides the specificity and the sensitivity necessary to screen for ovarian cancer and in particular, to detect early stages of the disease.

Providing PEEP during neonatal resuscitation: which device is best?

AIM: The study aims to compare three commonly used neonatal resuscitation devices, the Laerdal self-inflating bag with a positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) valve, a T-piece resuscitator (T-piece) and a flow-inflating bag to provide peak inflation pressure (PIP) and PEEP. METHODS: Participants were asked to use each device to give positive pressure ventilation to a modified neonatal mannequin via a face mask to achieve 40-60 inflations per minute, aiming for a PIP/PEEP of 30/5 cm H2O. A manometer was visible to participants with each device. PIP, PEEP, percentage leak at the face mask and expired tidal volume were measured using a hot-wire anemometer. We analysed 20 inflations from each participant for each device. RESULTS: Fifty participants provided PIP and PEEP with each device. The T-piece was the most accurate and consistent. The flow-inflating bag had the most variation. The leak was lowest with the self-inflating bag and PEEP and highest with the flow-inflating bag, but all had wide variation. CONCLUSION: Each device was able to provide PIP and PEEP when used appropriately. When compared with other resuscitation devices, the T-piece provided the most accurate and consistent PIP and PEEP.

Sustained inflations: comparing three neonatal resuscitation devices.

BACKGROUND: Some national resuscitation guidelines advocate using sustained initial inflations (2-3 s) for babies requiring resuscitation. Inflation times ≥10 s have been used for preterm infants. OBJECTIVES: This study examines the ability of operators of varying experience to provide a sustained inflation using three different manual ventilation devices. METHODS: We compared a self-inflating bag, a flow-inflating bag and a pressure-limited T-piece device. Fifty clinical staff members from five professional groups gave a sustained inflation with a target peak pressure of 30 cm H2O and target duration of 10 s to an internal leak-free manikin. We measured peak inflating pressure (PIP) and mean inflating pressure (MIP) during the sustained inflation, and the duration of inflating pressure (IP) >20 and 25 cm H2O. RESULTS: Median (IQR) duration of IP >25 cm H2O was: self-inflating bag 2.5 s (0.8-5.7), flow-inflating bag 10.6 s (8.4-12.9) and the T-piece 10.7 s (8.9-11.9). There was a weak correlation between experience using a self-inflating bag and longer inflation times (R = 0.290, p = 0.041). When compared with the T-piece, the flow-inflating bag had lower mean MIP (27.0 ± 1.8 vs. 28.8 ± 2.0 cm H2O) and higher mean PIP (32.3 ± 3.7 vs. 29.8 ± 1.8 cm H2O). There were no differences in performance between operator groups. CONCLUSION: The T-piece provided consistent PIP during a single 10 s sustained inflation with less variation in pressure compared with the flow-inflating bag. Sustained inflations >3 s were difficult to achieve with a self-inflating bag.

New aspects in the pathogenesis of enteropathic hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Shiga toxin (Stx) subtyping suggests that the clinical outcome of infections caused by Shiga toxin-producing ESCHERICHIA COLI (STEC) depends, in large part, on the STX genotype of the infecting strain. Whereas the presence of the STX2 or STX2C genotype is associated with the ability of STEC to cause the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), strains possessing STX2D or STX2E have been isolated from patients with less severe disease. In addition to the type of Stx, the level of Stx production might be critical for the pathogenicity of STEC. Control of Stx expression appears to be at the level of transcription. Injury to microvascular endothelial cells is the key event underlying the pathogenesis of HUS. We could show that in addition to Stx, STEC also produces other putative virulence factors, such as cytolethal distending toxin, which can contribute to the endothelial injury by interference with the cell cycle, which results in inhibition of cell proliferation and finally cell death.

Successful (?) therapy of hemolytic-uremic syndrome with factor H abnormality.

We report a patient with continuously recurring hemolytic-uremic syndrome due to factor H deficiency. First at the age of 3 months he showed signs of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and renal insufficiency, often recurring concomitantly with respiratory tract infections, despite weekly to twice weekly plasma substitution (20 ml/kg body weight). Now at the age of 3.5 years glomerular filtration rate is approximately 50 ml/min/1.73 m(2) and psychomotoric development is normal. Since factor H is mainly synthesized in the liver, hepatic transplantation has been proposed as curative treatment. Before justification of liver transplantation as the ultimate treatment for these patients, an international registry should be developed to optimize and standardize therapeutic alternatives.

Clinical course and the role of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection in the hemolytic-uremic syndrome in pediatric patients, 1997-2000, in Germany and Austria: a prospective study.

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is mainly associated with foodborne infections by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). From January 1997 through December 2000, 394 children with HUS were evaluated in a prospective multicenter surveillance study in Germany and Austria (incidences, 0.7/100,000 and 0.4/100,000 children <15 years old, respectively). Blood leukocytosis was associated with increased detection of STEC in stool cultures (P<.01) and a more severe disease course. Risk of death was associated with cerebral involvement (P<.01). Most strikingly, non-O157:H7 STEC were detected in 43% of stool cultures of patients with HUS: O26 was detected in 15%, sorbitol-fermenting O157:H(-) in 10%, O145 in 9%, O103 in 3%, and O111 in 43%. Patients with O157:H7 serotypes required dialysis for a longer time and had bloody diarrhea detected more frequently, compared with patients with non-O157:H7 serotypes (P<.05). This large study in children with HUS underlines the rising importance of non-O157:H7 serotypes, and, despite increased public awareness, the number of patients remained unchanged.