Pediatrics
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Neurodevelopmental outcome of extremely low birth weight infants randomly assigned to restrictive or liberal hemoglobin thresholds for blood transfusion.
Extremely low birth weight infants frequently receive red cell transfusions. We sought to determine whether a restrictive versus liberal hemoglobin transfusion threshold results in differences in death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants. ⋯ Maintaining the hemoglobin of extremely low birth weight infants at these restrictive rather than liberal transfusion thresholds did not result in a statistically significant difference in combined death or severe adverse neurodevelopmental outcome.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Very early surfactant without mandatory ventilation in premature infants treated with early continuous positive airway pressure: a randomized, controlled trial.
Chronic lung disease is one of the most frequent and serious complications of premature birth. Because mechanical ventilation is a major risk factor for chronic lung disease, the early application of nasal continuous positive airway pressure has been used as a strategy for avoiding mechanical ventilation in premature infants. Surfactant therapy improves the short-term respiratory status of premature infants, but its use is traditionally limited to infants being mechanically ventilated. Administration of very early surfactant during a brief period of intubation to infants treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure may improve their outcome and further decrease the need for mechanical ventilation. ⋯ In premature infants treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure early after birth, the addition of very early surfactant therapy without mandatory ventilation decreased the need for subsequent mechanical ventilation, decreased the incidence of air-leak syndrome, and seemed to be safe. Reduction in the need for mechanical ventilation is an important outcome when medical resources are limited and may result in less chronic lung disease in both developed and developing countries.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Family burden after traumatic brain injury in children.
Traumatic brain injury has a substantial impact on caregivers. This study describes the burden experienced by caregivers of children with traumatic brain injury and examines the relationship between child functioning and family burden during the first year after injury. ⋯ Caregivers are more likely to report family burden problems when child functioning is poorer and health care needs are unmet. Improved identification and provision of services is a potentially modifiable factor that may decrease family burden after pediatric traumatic brain injury.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A pilot randomized, controlled trial of later treatment with a peptide-containing, synthetic surfactant for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Oxidant injury and lung inflammation in extremely premature infants are associated with the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Surfactant dysfunction resulting from these events may contribute to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Treatment with exogenous surfactant may decrease the incidence or severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We conducted a masked, multicenter, multinational, randomized, controlled, pilot study to estimate the effects of treating infants at high risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia with lucinactant, a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant, on safety during dosing and the incidence of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. ⋯ There were trends toward lower oxygen requirements and toward a lower incidence of mortality or bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age in infants who received the higher dose of lucinactant, and this warrants further investigation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Effect of bimonthly supplementation with oral cholecalciferol on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in HIV-infected children and adolescents.
Vitamin D insufficiency occurs commonly in HIV-infected youth in the United States. In light of the importance of vitamin D for skeletal and nonskeletal health, including innate immunity, developing methods for improving vitamin D status in HIV-infected children and adolescents is an important area of clinical research. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of administration of oral cholecalciferol, 100,000 IU every 2 months, and 1 g/day calcium on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, serum and urine calcium, and HIV disease progression during a 12-month period. ⋯ Administration of oral cholecalciferol to HIV-infected children and adolescents at a dosage of 100,000 IU every 2 months, together with 1 g/day calcium, is safe and results in significant increases in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations.