The Effect of Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses' Attitudes Towards Palliative Care on Death Anxiety and Burnout: An Analytic Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to determined the effect of neonatal intensive care nurses' attitudes towards palliative care on death anxiety and burnout. This was an analytic cross-sectional study conducted with 215 neonatal intensive care nurses working a children's hospital with Turkey's largest NICU bed capacity. The mean Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale total score was 3.04 ± 0.78, and the mean scores of the organization, resources, and clinician subscales were 3.16 ± 0.86, 2.87 ± 0.80, and 3.10 ± 0.97, respectively. The participants' mean Death Anxiety Scale score was 57.65 ± 21.46, and the mean Burnout Inventory score was 39.21 ± 17.61. The organization subscale explained 17% of the variance in death anxiety, and the organization and resources subscales explained 31% of the variance in burnout. Neonatal intensive care nurses' palliative care attitudes are moderate; they face obstacles in providing and improving their attitudes in this field. The high level of obstacles increases nurses' death anxiety and burnout.

Zinc Supplementation in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Preterm infants have high zinc (Zn) requirements and are generally believed to be in a negative Zn balance in the early period of life. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of high-dose Zn supplementation in very low birth weight (VLBW: infants with birth weight < 1.5 kg) infants on feeding intolerance and development of mortality and/or morbidities including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis (LOS). STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective randomized trial. VLBW preterm infants with gestational age of <32 weeks were randomly allocated on the seventh day of life to receive extra amount of supplemental Zn along with the enteral feedings (9 + 3 mg), besides regular low-dose supplementation (3 mg), from enrollment until discharge. Outcome measures were feeding intolerance, NEC (stage ≥ 2), LOS, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 195 infants (97 from study group and 98 from control group) were analyzed. A total of 46 (47.4%) infants in the study group and 64 (65.3%) infants in the control group ended up with feeding intolerance (p = 0.012). NEC was observed in 11 infants (11.2%) in the control group and only 1 infant (1%) in the study group (p = 0.003). There was a negative correlation between high-dose Zn supplementation and number of culture-proven LOS episodes (p = 0.041). This significance was also present for clinical sepsis, being higher in the control group (p = 0.029). No relationship between high-dose Zn supplementation and mortality and other morbidities (hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, and severe intraventricular hemorrhage) was observed. CONCLUSION: Zn supplementation for VLBW infants is found to be effective to decrease feeding intolerance, NEC, and LOS episodes in this vulnerable population. Current data support the supplementation of VLBW infants with higher than regular dose of Zn. KEY POINTS: · Higher dose of Zn supplementation is shown to be a beneficial intervention in VLBW infants.. · Zn may decrease feeding intolerance, sepsis or NEC.. · Higher than regular dose of Zn seems to be safe..

Comparison of Assist/Control Ventilation with and without Volume Guarantee in Term or Near-Term Infants.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the effects of volume guarantee (VG) combined with assist/control (AC) ventilation to AC alone on hypocarbia episodes and extubation success in infants born at or near term. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, infants >34 weeks of gestation at birth, who were born in our hospital supported by synchronized, time-cycled, pressure limited, assist/control ventilation (AC) or assist-controlled VG mechanical ventilation (AC + VG) were included. After admission, infants received either AC or VG + AC using by Leoni Plus ventilator. The ventilation mode was left to the clinician. In the AC group, peak airway pressure was set clinically. In the VG + AC group, desired tidal volume was set at 5 mL/kg, with the ventilator adjusting peak inspiratory pressure to deliver this volume. The study was completed once the patient extubated. RESULTS: There were 35 patients in each group. Incidence of hypocarbia was lower in the VG + AC compared with AC (%17.1 and 22.8%, respectively) but statistically not significant. Out-of-range partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) levels were lower in the VG + AC group and it reached borderline statistical significance (p = 0.06). The median extubation time was 70 (42-110) hours in the VG + AC group, 89.5 (48.5-115.5) hours in the AC group, and it did not differ between groups (p = 0.47). CONCLUSION: We found combining AC and VG ventilation compared with AC ventilation alone yielded similar hypocarbia episodes and extubation time for infants of >34 gestational weeks with borderline significance lower out-of-range PCO2 incidence. KEY POINTS: · Underlying lung pathology requiring mechanical ventilation support in term infant is heterogeneous.. · VG ventilation compared with conventional modes yielded similar hypocarbia episodes in term infants.. · Combining VG ventilation lead to borderline significance lower out-of-range PCO2 incidence..

Dolor y variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca en recién nacidos prematuros que recibieron surfactante: un estudio piloto / Neonatal pain and heart rate variability in preterm infants treated with surfactant: a pilot study

Objetivo. Evaluar la percepción del dolor de recién nacidos prematuros a quienes se les administró surfactante mediante diferentes técnicas, utilizando la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca (VFC).Métodos. Se aleatorizó a los recién nacidos que requirieron tratamiento con surfactante por SDR a los grupos INSURE o MIST. El análisis de la VFC se realizó con la tecnología NIPE para evaluar el componente parasimpático del sistema nervioso autónomo de los recién nacidos. Se registró la VFC antes, durante y después de administrar el surfactante. La evaluación del dolor se determinó con la escala PIPP. Resultados. Se incluyó a 14 recién nacidos en el estudio. Los grupos tenían características demográficas similares. Los puntajes de la escala PIPP no difirieron entre los grupos INSURE y MIST (p = 0,05). Se observó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la mediana de la VFC durante la administración del surfactante entre los grupos INSURE y MIST (52 frente a 56, p = 0,03). El análisis de la VFC fue similar entre los grupos antes y después de administrar el surfactante.Conclusión. La administración de surfactante mediante la técnica MIST podría ser más cómoda para los recién nacidos prematuros con SDR. No obstante, es necesario realizar otros estudios con series más importantes.

Objective. We aimed to assess the pain perception of preterm infants treated with different surfactant administration techniques by using heart rate variability (HRV).Methods. Preterm infants who required surfactant therapy for RDS were randomized to INSURE or MIST groups. HRV analysis was performed by Newborn Infant Parasympathetic Evaluation monitor. HRV was recorded before, during and after surfactant administration. Pain assessment was determined by Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) score.Results. Fourteen infants were enrolled in the study. Demographic characteristics of the groups were similar. PIPP scores did not differ between INSURE and MIST groups (p = 0.05). Statistically significant difference in median HRV during surfactant administration was observed between INSURE and MIST groups (52 vs. 56, p = 0.03). HRV analysis was similar between groups before and after surfactant administration. Conclusion. Surfactant administration with MIST technique might be more comfortable for preterm infants with RDS. However further studies with larger series are needed.

Neonatal pain and heart rate variability in preterm infants treated with surfactant: a pilot study. / Dolor y variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca en recién nacidos prematuros que recibieron surfactante: un estudio piloto.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the pain perception of preterm infants treated with different surfactant administration techniques by using heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: Preterm infants who required surfactant therapy for RDS were randomized to INSURE or MIST groups. HRV analysis was performed by Newborn Infant Parasympathetic Evaluation monitor. HRV was recorded before, during and after surfactant administration. Pain assessment was determined by Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) score. RESULTS: Fourteen infants were enrolled in the study. Demographic characteristics of the groups were similar. PIPP scores did not differ between INSURE and MIST groups (p = 0.05). Statistically significant difference in median HRV during surfactant administration was observed between INSURE and MIST groups (52 vs. 56, p = 0.03). HRV analysis was similar between groups before and after surfactant administration. CONCLUSION: Surfactant administration with MIST technique might be more comfortable for preterm infants with RDS. However further studies with larger series are needed.

Objetivo. Evaluar la percepción del dolor de recién nacidos prematuros a quienes se les administró surfactante mediante diferentes técnicas, utilizando la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca (VFC). Métodos. Se aleatorizó a los recién nacidos que requirieron tratamiento con surfactante por SDR a los grupos INSURE o MIST. El análisis de la VFC se realizó con la tecnología NIPE para evaluar el componente parasimpático del sistema nervioso autónomo de los recién nacidos. Se registró la VFC antes, durante y después de administrar el surfactante. La evaluación del dolor se determinó con la escala PIPP. Resultados. Se incluyó a 14 recién nacidos en el estudio. Los grupos tenían características demográficas similares. Los puntajes de la escala PIPP no difirieron entre los grupos INSURE y MIST (p = 0,05). Se observó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la mediana de la VFC durante la administración del surfactante entre los grupos INSURE y MIST (52 frente a 56, p = 0,03). El análisis de la VFC fue similar entre los grupos antes y después de administrar el surfactante. Conclusión. La administración de surfactante mediante la técnica MIST podría ser más cómoda para los recién nacidos prematuros con SDR. No obstante, es necesario realizar otros estudios con series más importantes.

Oxidative stress and genetic and epidemiologic determinants of oxidant injury in childhood asthma.

BACKGROUND: The factors contributing to the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in asthma are incompletely understood. OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with oxidative stress including asthma severity and the genotype of the antioxidant enzymes. METHODS: A total of 196 children with mild asthma, 116 children with moderate-severe asthma, and 2 healthy control groups (187 and 68 children) were included in the study. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde were measured as the indicator of oxidative stress, and reduced glutathione levels as the indicator of antioxidant defense. Children were genotyped for null variants of glutathione S transferase (GST) T1 and GSTM1, and ile105val variant of GSTP1. Risk factors were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Systemic levels of malondialdehyde increased and reduced glutathione levels decreased significantly from healthy controls to patients with mild asthma and then to patients with moderate-severe asthma (P < .001 for each). Multivariate logistic regression identified asthma and asthma severity as independent factors associated with oxidative stress (odds ratio between 17 and 56; P < .001). Children with asthma with GSTP1 val/val genotype had higher malondialdehyde and lower glutathione levels compared with other genotypes (P = .023 and P = .014, respectively). GSTP1 val/val genotype was independently associated with asthma severity (odds ratio, 4.210; 95% CI, 1.581-11.214; P = .004). CONCLUSION: Our study indicates the presence of a strong oxidative stress in children with asthma that increases with the severity of the disease. In this population, val/val genotype at GSTP1 ile105val locus may be an important factor in determining the degree of oxidant injury. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Children with asthma with val/val genotype at GSTP1 ile105val locus may be good candidates for supplemental antioxidant therapy.