Predictors of the Outcome at 2 Years in Neonates With Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of neonates with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) develop long-term sequelae. The ability to accurately predict long-term outcomes as early as the neonatal period would help to provide for appropriate parental counseling and treatment indications. With this study, we aimed to identify neonatal predictive markers of cCMV long-term outcomes. METHODS: As this study's subjects, we chose neonates diagnosed with cCMV in 13 hospitals throughout France recruited from 2013 to 2017 and evaluated for at least 2 years with thorough clinical, audiology, and imaging evaluations and psychomotor development tests. RESULTS: A total of 253 neonates were included, and 3 were later excluded because of the identification of a genetic disorder. A total of 227 were followed up for 2 years: 187/227 (82%) and 34/227 (15%) were infected after a maternal primary or nonprimary infection, respectively, 91/227 (40%) were symptomatic at birth, and 44/227 (19%) had cCMV sequelae. Maternal primary infection in the first trimester was the strongest prognosis factor (odds ratio = 38.34 [95% confidence interval, 5.02-293], P < .001). A predictive model of no risk of sequelae at 2 years of age according to normal hearing loss at birth, normal cerebral ultrasound, and normal platelet count had 98% specificity, 69% sensitivity, and 0.89 area under the curve (95% confidence interval, 0.83-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: In the studied population, children with normal hearing at birth, normal platelet count at birth, and a normal cranial ultrasound had no risk of neurologic sequelae and a low risk of delayed unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The use of this model based on readily available neonatal markers should help clinicians establish a personalized care pathway for each cCMV neonate.

Mean 3D Dispersion for Automatic General Movement Assessment of Preterm Infants.

The General Movement assessment (GMA) is a validated assessment of brain maturation primarily based on the qualitative analysis of the complexity and the variation of spontaneous motor activity. The GMA can identify preterm infants presenting an early abnormal developmental trajectory before term-equivalent age, which permits a personalized early developmental intervention. However, GMA is time-consuming and relies on a qualitative analysis; these limitations restrict the implementation of GMA in clinical practice. In this study based on a validated dataset of 183 videos from 92 premature infants (54 males, 38 females) born <33 weeks of gestational age (GA) and acquired between 32 and 40 weeks of GA, we introduce the mean 3D dispersion (M3D) for objective quantification and classification of normal and abnormal GMA. Moreover, we have created a new 3D representation of skeleton joints which allows an objective comparison of spontaneous movements of infants of different ages and sizes. Preterm infants with normal versus abnormal GMA had a distinct M3D distribution (p <0.001). The M3D has shown a good classification performance for GMA (AUC=0.7723) and presented an accuracy of 74.1%, a sensitivity of 75.8%, and a specificity of 70.1% when using an M3D of 0.29 as a classification threshold.Clinical relevance- Our study paves the way for the development of quantitative analysis of GMA within the Neonatal Unit.

Cognitive Training for Visuospatial Processing in Children Aged 5½ to 6 Years Born Very Preterm With Working Memory Dysfunction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Compared with term-born peers, children born very preterm generally perform poorly in executive functions, particularly in working memory and inhibition. By taking advantage of neuroplasticity, computerized cognitive training of working memory in those children could improve visuospatial processing by boosting visual inhibition via working memory. Objective: To evaluate the long-term effect of cognitive working memory training on visuospatial processing in children aged 5½ to 6 years born very preterm who have working memory impairment. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter (18 French university hospitals), open-label randomized clinical trial with 2 parallel groups (EPIREMED) was conducted from November 2016 to April 2018, with the last follow-up during August 2019. Eligible children from the EPIPAGE 2 cohort were aged 5½ to 6 years, were born between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation, and had a global intelligence quotient greater than 70 and a working memory index less than 85. Data were analyzed from February to December 2020. Intervention: Children were randomized 1:1 to standard care management and a working memory cognitive training program (Cogmed software) for 8 weeks (25 sessions) (intervention) or to standard management (control). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the visuospatial index score from the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, 4th Edition. Secondary outcomes were working memory, intellectual functioning, executive and attention processes, language skills, behavior, quality of life, and schooling. Neurobehavioral assessments were performed at inclusion and after finishing training at 6 months (intermeditate assessment; secondary outcomes) and at 16 months (final assessment; primary outcome). Results: There were 169 children randomized, with a mean (SD) age of 5 years 11 months (2 months); 91 (54%) were female. Of the participants, 84 were in the intervention group (57 of whom [68%] completed at least 15 cognitive training sessions) and 85 were in the control group. The posttraining visuospatial index score was not different between groups at a mean (SD) of 3.0 (1.8) months (difference, -0.6 points; 95% CI, -4.7 to 3.5 points) or 12.9 (2.6) months (difference, 0.1 points; 95% CI, -5.4 to 5.1 points). The working memory index score in the intervention group significantly improved from baseline at the intermediate time point (difference, 4.7 points; 95% CI, 1.2-8.1 points), but this improvement was not maintained at the final assessment. Conclusions and Relevance: This randomized clinical trial found no lasting effect of a cognitive training program on visuospatial processing in children aged 5½ to 6 years with working memory disorders who were born very preterm. The findings suggest that this training has limited long-term benefits for improving executive function. Transient benefits seemed to be associated with the developmental state of executive functions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02757794.

Classification Performance of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Influence of Maternal Education Level.

(1) Background: The Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Third Edition (ASQ-3) is a parental screening questionnaire increasingly being used to evaluate the development of preterm children. We aimed to assess the classification performance of the ASQ-3 in preterm infant follow-up. (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included 185 children from the SEVE longitudinal cohort born <33 weeks of gestational age between November 2011 and January 2018, who had both an ASQ-3 score at 24 months of corrected age (CA) and a revised Brunet-Lézine (RBL) scale score at 30 months of CA. The ASQ-3 overall score and sub-scores were compared to the RBL developmental quotient (DQ) scores domain by domain. The diagnostic performance of the ASQ-3 was evaluated with the RBL as the reference method by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios. A multivariate analysis assessed the association between low maternal education level and incorrect evaluation with the ASQ-3. (3) Results: The ASQ-3 overall score had a specificity of 91%, a sensitivity of 34%, a positive likelihood ratio of 3.82, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.72. Low maternal education level was a major risk factor for incorrectly evaluating children with the ASQ-3 (odds ratio 4.16, 95% confidence interval 1.47-12.03; p < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: Regarding the low sensitivity and the impact of a low maternal education level on the classification performance of the ASQ-3, this parental questionnaire should not be used alone to follow the development of preterm children.

Why, when and how to assess autonomic nervous system maturation in neonatal care units: A practical overview.

The evaluation of the autonomic reactivity of newborns by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a simple and essential aid to identifying pathological situations of dysautonomia. Thanks to this relatively simple and reproducible analytic tool, the pediatrician can identify and target children at high risk of life-threatening events, i.e., those with insufficient intrinsic capacity for cardiorespiratory self-regulation, who should benefit from close cardiorespiratory monitoring. Different mathematical algorithms integrate delayed or real-time variations in the length of the RR interval to better understand the state of autonomic maturation of the newborn. HRV analysis, as a non-invasive tool for assessing autonomic balance, is essential to assess the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and, more specifically, parasympathetic/sympathetic balance. Despite many recognized diagnostic and therapeutic implications, its application to neonatal medicine is not yet well understood.

Impact of Early Hemoglobin Levels on Neurodevelopment Outcomes of Two-Year-Olds in Very Preterm Children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in very preterm infants, the hemoglobin (Hb) levels during the first 24 h and the neurodevelopment outcomes at 24 months of corrected age. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: We conducted a secondary analysis of the French national prospective and population-based cohort EPIPAGE-2. The eligible study participants were live-born singletons who were born before 32 weeks of gestational age, with early Hb levels who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The early Hb levels for an outcome survival at 24 months of corrected age without neurodevelopmental impairment were measured. The secondary outcomes were survival at discharge and without severe neonatal morbidity. RESULTS: Of the 2158 singletons of <32 weeks with mean early Hb levels of 15.4 (±2.4) g/dL, 1490 of the infants (69%) had a follow-up at two years of age. An early Hb of 15.2 g/dL is the minimum receiving operating characteristic curve at the 24 months risk-free level, but the area under the curve at 0.54 (close to 50%) indicates that this rate was not informative. In logistic regression, no association was found between early Hb levels and outcomes at two years of age (aOR 0.966; 95% CI [0.775-1.204]; p = 0.758) but rather there was a correlation found with severe morbidity (aOR 1.322; 95% CI [1.003-1.743]; p = 0.048). A risk stratification tree showed that male newborns of >26 weeks with Hb of <15.5 g/dL (n = 703) were associated with a poor outcome at 24 months (OR 1.9; CI: [1.5-2.4] p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Early low Hb levels are associated with major neonatal morbidities in VP singletons, but not with neurodevelopment outcomes at two years of age, except in male infants of >26 Weeks GA.

Clinical Value of Serial Quantitative Analysis of Cytomegalovirus DNA in Blood and Saliva Over the First 24 Months of Life in Congenital Infection: The French Cymepedia Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral load dynamics in blood and saliva during the first 2 years of life in symptomatic and asymptomatic infected infants and to identify whether these kinetics could have practical clinical implications. STUDY DESIGN: The Cymepedia cohort prospectively included 256 congenitally infected neonates followed for 2 years. Whole blood and saliva were collected at inclusion and months 4 and 12, and saliva at months 18 and 24. Real-time CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed, results expressed as log10 IU/mL in blood and in copies per milliliter in saliva. RESULTS: Viral load in saliva progressively decreased from 7.5 log10 at birth to 3.3 log10 at month 24. CMV PCR in saliva was positive in 100% and 96% of infants at 6 and 12 months, respectively. In the first month of life, neonatal saliva viral load of less than 5 log10 was related to a late CMV transplacental passage. Detection in blood was positive in 92% of neonates (147/159) in the first month of life. No viral load threshold values in blood or saliva could be associated with a high risk of sequelae. Neonatal blood viral load of less than 3 log10 IU/mL had a 100% negative predictive value for long-term sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Viral loads in blood and saliva by CMV PCR testing in congenital infection fall over the first 24 months. In this study of infants affected mainly after primary maternal infection during pregnancy, all salivary samples were positive in the first 6 months of life and sequelae were not seen in infants with neonatal blood viral load of less than 3 log10 IU/mL.

Factors associated with poor neurological outcome in children after abusive head trauma: A multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) remains the leading cause of brain injury in infants. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe a cohort of patients with AHT and identify early risk factors associated with poor neurological outcome. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Children under one year old admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of AHT were included. Neurological outcome was assessed by the Pediatric Overall Performance Category score (POPC) at discharge from the hospital and at two years of follow-up. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective study was conducted over 8 years (from January 2012 to December 2020). RESULTS: A total of 117 patients (mean age 4.3 (+/- 2.5) months, 61 % boys) from three PICUs were included. A total of 99 (85 %) patients completed a 2-year follow-up. Sixty-one (52 %) and 47 (40 %) children with AHT had a POPC (pediatric overall performance category) score ≥ 2 at discharge from ICU and discharge from hospital, respectively (meaning they had at least a moderate disability). Fifty-one (44 %) had a POPC score ≥ 2 at 2-year follow-up, including 19 patients (19 %) with severe disabilities. The main neurological disabilities were neurodevelopmental (n = 38, 35 %), hyperactivity disorder (n = 36, 33 %) and epilepsy (n = 34, 31 %). After analysis according to the hierarchical model, the occurrence of a cardiorespiratory arrest and a low Glasgow Coma Score at admission stand out as factors of poor neurological outcome. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the wide range of neurological disabilities in children with AHT. Early and multidisciplinary follow-up is crucial to limit the impact of neurological disability.

Heart Rate Variability Analysis to Evaluate Autonomic Nervous System Maturation in Neonates: An Expert Opinion.

While heart rate variability (HRV) is a relevant non-invasive tool to assess the autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning with recognized diagnostic and therapeutic implications, the lack of knowledge on its interest in neonatal medicine is certain. This review aims to briefly describe the algorithms used to decompose variations in the length of the RR interval and better understand the physiological autonomic maturation data of the newborn. Assessing newborns' autonomous reactivity can identify dysautonomia situations and discriminate children with a high risk of life-threatening events, which should benefit from cardiorespiratory monitoring at home. Targeted monitoring of HRV should provide an objective reflection of the newborn's intrinsic capacity for cardiorespiratory self-regulation.

Maturation of Arousals during Day and Night in Preterm Infants.

The objective of this study was to compare the maturation of spontaneous arousals during day and night sleep in preterm and term infants. From the Autonomic Baby Evaluation study, the sleep and arousal characteristics of 12 preterm (35.1 ± 2.1 weeks' gestational age, GA) and 21 term (39.8 ± 0.8 weeks GA) newborns were compared between diurnal and nocturnal sleep periods at birth (M0) and 6 months (M6) of age. Models were adjusted for time (night/day), maturation (M0/M6), prematurity (yes/no). We found that preterm infants had less active sleep (AS)% than term infants with maturation during both day and night sleep, which may reflect accelerated brain maturation secondary to stress or environmental exposure after birth. Moreover, there was a difference in arousal maturation during day and night sleep in the preterm infants, as shown previously for term infants, which suggests the emergence of a circadian rhythm during the earliest postnatal period. We also showed that compared to term infants, these moderate preterm infants had fewer total arousals and, more specifically, fewer arousals in AS during day and night sleep, exposing them to a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

Evaluation of Maturation in Preterm Infants Through an Ensemble Machine Learning Algorithm Using Physiological Signals.

This study was designed to test if heart rate variability (HRV) data from preterm and full-term infants could be used to estimate their functional maturational age (FMA), using a machine learning model. We propose that the FMA, and its deviation from the postmenstrual age (PMA) of the infants could inform physicians about the progress of the maturation of the infants. The HRV data was acquired from 50 healthy infants, born between 25 and 41 weeks of gestational age, who did not present any signs of abnormal maturation relative to their age group during the period of observation. The HRV features were used as input for a machine learning model that uses filtering and genetic algorithms for feature selection, and an ensemble machine learning (EML) algorithm, which combines linear and random forest regressions, to produce as output a FMA. Using HRV data, the FMA had a mean absolute error of 0.93 weeks, 95% CI [0.78, 1.08], compared to the PMA. These results demonstrate that HRV features of newborn infants can be used by an EML model to estimate their FMA. This method was also generalized using respiration rate variability (RRV) and bradycardia data, obtaining similar results. The FMA, predicted either by HRV, RRV or bradycardia, and its deviation from the true PMA of the infants, could be used as a surrogate measure of the maturational age of the infants, which could potentially be monitored non-invasively and in real-time in the setting of neonatal intensive care units.

Polyclonal expansion of TCR Vbeta 21.3+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is a hallmark of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Multiple Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a delayed and severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection that strikes previously healthy children. As MIS-C combines clinical features of Kawasaki disease and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), we aimed to compare the immunological profile of pediatric patients with these different conditions. We analyzed blood cytokine expression, and the T cell repertoire and phenotype in 36 MIS-C cases, which were compared to 16 KD, 58 TSS, and 42 COVID-19 cases. We observed an increase of serum inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α, IFNγ, CD25s, MCP1, IL-1RA) in MIS-C, TSS and KD, contrasting with low expression of HLA-DR in monocytes. We detected a specific expansion of activated T cells expressing the Vß21.3 T cell receptor ß chain variable region in both CD4 and CD8 subsets in 75% of MIS-C patients and not in any patient with TSS, KD, or acute COVID-19; this correlated with the cytokine storm detected. The T cell repertoire returned to baseline within weeks after MIS-C resolution. Vß21.3+ T cells from MIS-C patients expressed high levels of HLA-DR, CD38 and CX3CR1 but had weak responses to SARS-CoV-2 peptides in vitro. Consistently, the T cell expansion was not associated with specific classical HLA alleles. Thus, our data suggested that MIS-C is characterized by a polyclonal Vß21.3 T cell expansion not directed against SARS-CoV-2 antigenic peptides, which is not seen in KD, TSS and acute COVID-19.

Malignant pertussis in infants: factors associated with mortality in a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Malignant pertussis (MP) affects young infants and is characterized by respiratory distress, perpetual tachycardia and hyperleukocytosis up to 50 G/l, leading to multiple organ failure and death in 75% of cases. Leukodepletion may improve prognosis. A therapeutic strategy based on leukodepletion and extracorporeal life support (ECLS) according to different thresholds of leucocytes has been proposed by Rowlands and colleagues. We aimed at identifying factors associated with death and assess whether the respect of the Rowlands' strategy is associated with survival. METHODS: We reviewed all MP infants hospitalized in eight French pediatric intensive care units from January 2008 to November 2013. All infants younger than 3 months of age, admitted for respiratory distress with a diagnosis of pertussis and WBC count ≥ 50 G/l were recorded. Evolution of WBC was analyzed and an optimal threshold for WBC growth was obtained using the ROC-curve method. Clinical and biological characteristics of survivors and non-survivors were compared. Therapeutic management (leukodepletion and/or ECLS) was retrospectively assessed for compliance with Rowlands' algorithm (indication and timing of specific treatments). RESULTS: Twenty-three infants were included. Nine of 23 (40%) died: they presented more frequently cardiovascular failure (100% vs 36%, p = 0.003) and pulmonary hypertension (PHT; 100% vs 29%, p = 0.002) than survivors and the median [IQR] WBC growth was significantly faster among them (21.3 [9.7-28] G/l/day vs 5.9 [3.0-6.8] G/l/day, p = 0.007). WBC growth rate > 12 G/l/day and lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio < 1 were significantly associated with death (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). Ten infants (43%) underwent leukodepletion, and seven (30%) underwent ECLS. Management following Rowlands' strategy was associated with survival (100% vs 0%; p < 0.001, relative risk of death = 0.18, 95%-CI [0.05-0.64]). CONCLUSIONS: A fast leukocyte growth and leukocytosis with neutrophil predominance during acute pertussis infection were associated with death. These findings should prompt clinicians to closely monitor white blood cells in order to early identify infants at risk of fatal outcome during the course of malignant pertussis. Such an early signal in infants at high risk of death would increase feasibility of compliant care to Rowlands' strategy, with the expectation of a better survival.

Vigilance and sleepiness in nurses working 12-hr shifts and their coping strategies.

AIM: To describe the progression of vigilance and sleepiness over the shift and the coping strategies of nurses working 12-hr day or night shifts. BACKGROUND: The spread of 12-hr shift work in nursing raises the question of whether sufficient vigilance can be maintained to ensure quality of care. METHOD: 18 nurses working 12-hr shifts filled out a Karolinska Sleepiness Scale questionnaire and a Brief Psychomotor Vigilance Test, at the beginning of the shift and then every 3 hr. Coping strategies and quality of care were assessed on self-administered questionnaires, filled out at 3 hr, 6 hr, 9 hr and 12 hr after the start of the shift. RESULTS: The present investigation did not show significantly excessive sleepiness or vigilance impairment or poor self-perception of quality of work during 12-hr nursing work shifts, although Psychomotor Vigilance Test results gradually deteriorated slightly over duty time (from start to end of shift). Certain coping strategies were preferred such as 'having a nap' later in the night shift. CONCLUSION: Attention needs to be paid to the health status of nurses working 12-hr shifts, with regular medical monitoring by the occupational health service. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Coping strategies to maintain sufficient vigilance to ensure quality of care should be facilitated.

Perinatal inflammation is associated with social and motor impairments in preterm children without severe neonatal brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To test the association between exposure to perinatal inflammation - i.e. clinical chorioamnionitis or early-onset neonatal infection - in preterm children without severe neonatal brain injury and neurodevelopmental outcome at 30 months of corrected age (CA). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study from a French regional cohort of clinical follow-up (SEVE Network). PATIENTS: One hundred sixty-four surviving neonates without severe brain injury - namely, grade III and IV cerebral hemorrhage and cystic periventricular leukomalacia - and without late-onset neonatal inflammation exposure - namely, late-onset neonatal infection and necrotizing enterocolitis -, born at less than 33 weeks of gestational age from November 2011 to June 2015 and enrolled in the SEVE Network. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Global developmental quotient (DQ) score of the revised Brunet-Lézine scale and its four indices measured by the same neuropsychologist at 30 months of CA. RESULTS: After multivariate analysis, exposure to perinatal inflammation was not found significantly associated with a modification of the global DQ score (coefficient -1.7, 95% CI -4.8 to 1.3; p = 0.26). Exposure to perinatal inflammation was associated with a decrease of the gross motor function DQ score (coefficient -6.0, 95% CI -9.9 to -2.1; p < 0.01) and a decrease of the sociability DQ score (coefficient -5.1, 95% CI -9.2 to -0.9; p = 0.02). Language and visuospatial coordination DQ scores were not affected by exposure to perinatal inflammation. CONCLUSION: Exposure to perinatal inflammation in preterm children without severe neonatal brain injury is independently associated with decreased motor and social abilities at 30 months of CA.

Esophageal perforation in eosinophilic esophagitis: five cases in children.

Background and study aims Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune disease with increasing incidence. It is clinically defined by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and histologically by eosinophilic polynuclear cell infiltration of the esophageal mucosa. Symptoms are not specific and include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), dysphagia, vomiting or dietary blockages. Chronic inflammation of the mucosa may lead to narrowing of the esophageal lumen responsible for impactions. Extraction procedures can be complicated by dissection and perforation. Rare spontaneous ruptures of the esophagus known as Boerhaave syndrome are also possible. We report five cases of esophageal perforation in children with EoE, three with spontaneous rupture and two after an endoscopic procedure. The evolution was favorable under medical treatment.

National Variations in Recent Trends of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Rate in Western Europe.

OBJECTIVE: To study recent epidemiologic trends of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) in Western Europe. STUDY DESIGN: Annual national statistics of death causes for 14 Western European countries from 2005 to 2015 were analyzed. SUDI cases were defined as infants younger than 1 year with the underlying cause of death classified as "sudden infant death syndrome," "unknown/unattended/unspecified cause," or "accidental threats to breathing." Poisson regression models were used to study temporal trends of SUDI rates and source of variation. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2015, SUDI accounted for 15 617 deaths, for an SUDI rate of 34.9 per 100 000 live births. SUDI was the second most common cause of death after the neonatal period (22.2%) except in Belgium, Finland, France, and the UK, where it ranked first. The overall SUDI rate significantly decreased from 40.2 to 29.9 per 100 000, with a significant rate reduction experienced for 6 countries, no significant evolution for 7 countries, and a significant increase for Denmark. The sudden infant death syndrome/SUDI ratio was 56.7%, with a significant decrease from 64.9% to 49.7% during the study period, and ranged from 6.1% in Portugal to 97.8% in Ireland. We observed between-country variations in SUDI and sudden infant death syndrome sex ratios. CONCLUSIONS: In studied countries, SUDI decreased during the study period but remained a major cause of infant deaths, with marked between-country variations in rates, trends, and components. Standardization is needed to allow for comparing data to improve the implementation of risk-reduction strategies.

Ampicillin Treatment Increases Placental Interleukin-1 Beta Concentration and Polymorphonuclear Infiltration in Group B Streptococcus-Induced Chorioamnionitis: A Preclinical Study.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic therapy during preterm labor with intact membranes has been associated with an increased risk of neonatal death. OBJECTIVES: Using an established rat model of group B Streptococcus (GBS)-induced chorioamnionitis, we hypothesized that ampicillin treatment increases placental inflammation, as shown in other bacterial infections. METHODS: At gestational day 19, 19 Lewis dams were intraperitoneally (i.p.) inoculated by 108 CFU of ß-hemolytic serotype Ia GBS (strain #16955 susceptible to ampicillin). Dams were treated i.p. with either 200 mg/kg of ampicillin (n = 9) or 0.9% saline (n = 10) at 48 and 60 h post-GBS inoculation. Cesarean sections were performed 72 h post-GBS inoculation. RESULTS: Ampicillin treatment was associated with an increased number of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) infiltrating the decidua (mean 1,536 vs. 532 PMN/mm2; p < 0.001) and a higher placental concentration of IL-1ß (mean 26.4 vs. 7.9 pg/mg; p < 0.01) compared to saline-treated dams. These effects were observed in dams without GBS bacteremia. Conversely, ampicillin treatment was associated with a decreased placental concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in dams with GBS bacteremia. CONCLUSIONS: Ampicillin increases placental inflammation in a rat model of GBS-induced chorioamnionitis without bacteremia. This proinflammatory effect of ampicillin could be due to bacterial lysis. Our findings do not query the intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis against GBS disease. They pave the way for future preclinical studies combining anti-inflammatory treatments and antibiotic therapy for GBS-induced chorioamnionitis.

Baby cry recognition is independent of motherhood but improved by experience and exposure.

Neurobiological changes affecting new mothers are known to support the development of the mother-infant relationship (the 'maternal brain'). However, which aspects of parenting are actually mother-specific and which rely on general cognitive abilities remains debated. For example, refuting earlier findings, a recent study demonstrated that fathers identify their own baby from their cries just as well as mothers. Here we show that this performance is independent not only of sex, but also of parenthood status. We found that mothers' ability to recognize their newborn from their cries increased rapidly within few days postpartum, with highly multiparous mothers performing better. However, both male and female non-parents could similarly recognize an assigned baby, even after a very short exposure. As in mothers, both the initial amount of experimental exposure to the baby's cries (learning opportunity) and prior experience of caring for infants (auditory expertise) affected participants' performance. We thus suggest that, rather than being female-specific or motherhood-dependent, the ability to recognize a baby from their cries derives from general auditory and learning skills. By being available to non-parents of both sexes, it may contribute to the caregiving flexibility required for efficient cooperative breeding in humans.

Autonomic Cardiac Reactivity to Painful Procedures Under Hypnosis in Pediatric Emergencies: A Feasibility Study.

Pain sensation is characterized by abrupt changes in central nervous system activity producing autonomic reactivity. While clinical hypnosis has demonstrated its benefits for children in pain management, it is not clear whether hypnosis modulated autonomic pain response in children in clinical conditions. Here, we studied autonomic responses under hypnosis to sutures in pediatric emergencies. For that, 42 children (mean age: 6.5 years, range 1.5 to 13) were divided into two groups consecutively (hypnosis and control groups), according to their choice. Time-frequency analysis was applied on RR intervals (heart rate interbeat intervals, or RRI) to estimate parasympathetic reactivity based on high frequency power (HF) and the Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI®) and on sympathetic reactivity (low frequency power [LF]) and LF/HF ratio). We observed that RRI and LF/HF ratio varied according to suture and hypnosis (p < 0.05): RRI was higher and LF/HF ratio was lower during sutures in the hypnosis group in comparison to the control group whereas HF and ANI® increased only during hypnosis. To conclude, hypnosis in pediatric emergencies reduces sympathetic cardiac pain reactivity and could be a marker of pain relief under hypnosis, while parasympathetic activity seems to be a better marker of hypnosis.