Project description:BackgroundRecent evidence supports a role of probiotics in preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.MethodsA systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the role of probiotics in preventing NEC in preterm infants, focusing on the differential effect of type of feeding, was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A random-effects model was used; a subgroup analysis on exclusively human milk (HM)-fed infants vs. infants receiving formula (alone or with HM) was performed.ResultsFifty-one trials were included (10,664 infants, 29 probiotic interventions); 31 studies (19 different probiotic regimens) were suitable for subgroup analysis according to feeding. In the overall analysis, Lactobacillus acidophilus LB revealed the most promising effect for reducing NEC risk (odds ratio (OR), 0.03; 95% credible intervals (CrIs), 0.00-0.21). The subgroup analysis showed that Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12/B94 was associated with a reduced risk of NEC stage ?2 in both feeding type populations, with a discrepancy in the relative effect size in favour of exclusively HM-fed infants (OR 0.04; 95% CrIs <0.01-0.49 vs. OR 0.32; 95% CrIs 0.10-0.36).ConclusionsB. lactis Bb-12/B94 could reduce NEC risk with a different size effect according to feeding type. Of note, most probiotic strains are evaluated in few trials and relatively small populations, and outcome data according to feeding type are not available for all RCTs. Further trials are needed to confirm the present findings.
Project description:BackgroundTopical treatment with sunflower seed oil (SSO) or Aquaphor® reduced sepsis and neonatal mortality in hospitalized preterm infants <33 weeks' gestational age in Bangladesh. We sought to determine whether the emollient treatments improved neurodevelopmental outcomes during early childhood.Methods497 infants were randomized to receive SSO, Aquaphor®, or neither through the neonatal period or hospital discharge. 159 infant survivors were enrolled in the longitudinal follow-up study using a validated Rapid Neurodevelopmental Assessment tool and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID II) administered at three-monthly intervals for the first year and thereafter at six-monthly intervals. Lowess smoothing was used to display neurodevelopmental status across multiple domains by age and treatment group, and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to compare treatment groups across age points.Results123 children completed at least one follow-up visit. Lowess graphs suggest that lower proportions of children who received massage with either SSO or Aquaphor® had neurodevelopmental delays than control infants in a composite outcome of disabilities. In GEE analysis, infants receiving SSO showed a significant protective effect on the development of fine motor skills [odds ratio (OR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-0.98, p=0.006]. The Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) in the BSID II showed significantly lower disability rates in the Aquaphor group (23.6%) compared to the control (55.2%) (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06-0.72, p=0.004).ConclusionsEmollient massage of very preterm, hospitalized newborn infants improved some child neurodevelopmental outcomes over the first 2 years of follow-up. Findings warrant further confirmatory research.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (98-04-21-03-2) under weblink https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00162747.
Project description:The benefits of emollients for eczematous dermatitis and psoriasis have been thought to be due to the improvements in epidermal function, including epidermal permeability barrier, stratum corneum hydration, and stratum corneum pH. We determined here whether emollient can direct inhibit cutaneous inflammation. Ear inflammation was induced by topical application of either 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). Either 1% hydrocortisone cream or the novel emollient was applied to the right ear of the mice 45 min and 2 hours after TPA or DNFB application. The untreated left ear served as untreated controls. Both ear weight and ear thickness were measured 24 hours after TPA and DNFB application. Topical applications of either hydrocortisone cream or emollient significantly decreased both ear thickness and ear weight in comparison to untreated controls. In DNFB model, hydrocortisone significantly lowered expression levels of mRNA for IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNFα, while the emollient markedly decreased expression levels of IL-1α and TNFα mRNA. In TPA model, both hydrocortisone and emollient significantly decreased expression levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα mRNA. In parallel, inflammatory infiltration was also reduced by topical applications of either hydrocortisone or emollient. These results demonstrate that this novel emollient can directly inhibit cutaneous inflammation in murine models of both acute irritant contact dermatitis and acute allergic contact dermatitis. However, whether this emollient could also alleviate eczematous dermatitis in humans remains to be explored.
Project description:BackgroundHead position during care may affect cerebral haemodynamics and contribute to the development of germinal matrix-intraventricular haemorrhage (GM-IVH) in very preterm infants. Turning the head toward one side may occlude jugular venous drainage while increasing intracranial pressure and cerebral blood volume. It is suggested that cerebral venous pressure is reduced and hydrostatic brain drainage improved if the infant is cared for in the supine 'head midline' position.ObjectivesTo assess whether head midline position is more effective than other head positions for preventing (or preventing extension) of GM-IVH in very preterm infants (< 32 weeks' gestation at birth).Search methodsWe used the standard search strategy of Cochrane Neonatal to search the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2019, Issue 9), MEDLINE via PubMed (1966 to 12 September 2019), Embase (1980 to 12 September 2019), and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL; 1982 to 12 September 2019). We searched clinical trials databases, conference proceedings, and reference lists of retrieved articles.Selection criteriaRandomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing caring for very preterm infants in a supine head midline position versus a prone or lateral decubitus position, or undertaking a strategy of regular position change, or having no prespecified position. We included trials enrolling infants with existing GM-IVH and planned to assess extension of haemorrhage in a subgroup of infants. We planned to analyse horizontal (flat) versus head elevated positions separately for all body positions.Data collection and analysisWe used standard methods of Cochrane Neonatal. For each of the included trials, two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. The primary outcomes were GM-IVH, severe IVH, and neonatal death. We evaluated treatment effects using a fixed-effect model with risk ratio (RR) for categorical data; and mean, standard deviation (SD), and mean difference (MD) for continuous data. We used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of evidence.Main resultsThree RCTs, with a total of 290 infants (either < 30 weeks' gestational age or < 1000 g body weight), met the inclusion criteria. Two trials compared supine midline head position versus head rotated 90° with the cot flat. One trial compared supine midline head position versus head rotated 90° with the bed tilted at 30°. We found no trials that compared supine versus prone midline head position. Meta-analysis of three trials (290 infants) did not show an effect on rates of GM-IVH (RR 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78 to 1.56; I² = 0%) and severe IVH (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.33; I² = 0%). Neonatal mortality (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.93; I² = 0%; RD -0.09, 95% CI -0.16 to -0.01) and mortality until hospital discharge (typical RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.90; I² = 0%; RD -0.10, 95% CI -0.18 to -0.02) were lower in the supine midline head position. The certainty of the evidence was very low for all outcomes because of limitations in study design and imprecision of estimates. We identified one ongoing study.Authors' conclusionsWe found few trial data on the effects of head midline position on GM-IVH in very preterm infants. Although meta-analyses suggest that mortality might be reduced, the certainty of the evidence is very low and it is unclear whether any effect is due to cot tilting (a co-intervention in one trial). Further high-quality RCTs would be needed to resolve this uncertainty.
Project description:To investigate the effect of emollient on atopic march in a murine model of chronic atopic dermatitis (AD). Mice were divided into 3 groups and treated with topical calcipotriol and ovalbumin alone or with a linoleic acid-ceramide-containing emollient. After 28 days, clinical, histological, and transcriptomic analyses were performed in skin lesions, lung and serum. Calcipotriol combined with ovalbumin induced a typical AD model with concomitant increased expression of Th2 and basophil-related genes in the lung. Compared to AD group, emollient group: 1) Skin: clinical severity and inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly reduced and transcriptomic analysis revealed significant downregulation of AD-related genes (286 of 1450 differentially expressed genes (DEGs)) including those related to innate inflammation (S100a8/a9, Il1b, Defb3/6, Mmp12), chemokines (Cxcl1/3, Ccl3/4) and barrier (Krt2/6b/80, Serpinb12, Lce3e, Sprr2). DEGs down-regulated by emollient were enriched in mitochondrial OXPHOS-related pathways, while up-regulated DEGs were mainly enriched in axon guidance, tight junctions, as shown by KEGG analyses. 2) Serum: total IgE and TSLP levels were significantly decreased, and IL-4 levels showed a decreasing tendency. 3) Lung: 187 of 275 upregulated DEGs were significantly downregulated in lung tissue including genes involved in cytokine and cytokine receptor interaction (Cxcl2/Cxcr2, Ccl2/3, Csf3r, etc.) and basophil activation (Mcpt8, Cd200r3, Ms4a2). Thus, topical emollient not only reduces skin inflammation and maintain skin barrier homeostasis by inhibiting the mitochondrial respiratory chain, but also limits systemic inflammation by decreasing TSLP and IgE levels. Moreover, it reduces respiratory chemokine production and basophil infiltration and activation, providing a molecular basis for blocking the atopic march.
Project description:BackgroundPreterm birth is a major health problem and contributes to more than 50% of the overall perinatal mortality. Preterm birth has multiple risk factors including cervical incompetence and multiple pregnancy. Different management strategies have been tried to prevent preterm birth, including cervical cerclage. Cervical cerclage is an invasive technique that needs anaesthesia and may be associated with complications. Moreover, there is still controversy regarding the efficacy and the group of patients that could benefit from this operation. Cervical pessary has been tried as a simple, non-invasive alternative that might replace the above invasive cervical stitch operation to prevent preterm birth.ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of cervical pessary for the prevention of preterm birth in women with risk factors for cervical incompetence.Search methodsWe searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (1 September 2012), Current Controlled Trials and the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (1 September 2012).Selection criteriaWe selected all published and unpublished randomised clinical trials comparing the use of cervical pessary with cervical cerclage or expectant management for prevention of preterm birth. We did not include quasi-randomised trials. Cluster-randomised or cross-over trials were not eligible for inclusion.Data collection and analysisTwo review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion.Main resultsThe review included one randomised controlled trial. The study included 385 pregnant women with a short cervix of 25 mm or less who were between 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy. The use of cervical pessary (192 women) was associated with a statistically significantly decrease in the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth less than 37 weeks' gestation compared with expectant management (22% versus 59 %; respectively, risk ratio (RR) 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27 to 0.49). Spontaneous preterm birth before 34 weeks was statistically significantly reduced in the pessary group (6% and 27% respectively, RR 0.24; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.43). Mean gestational age at delivery was 37.7 + 2 weeks in the pessary group and 34.9 + 4 weeks in the expectant group. Women in the pessary group used less tocolytics (RR 0.63; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.81) and corticosteroids (RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.54 to 0.81) than the expectant group. Vaginal discharge was more common in the pessary group (RR 2.18; 95% CI 1.87 to 2.54). Among the pessary group, 27 women needed pessary repositioning without removal and there was one case of pessary removal. Ninety-five per cent of women in the pessary group would recommend this intervention to other people. Neonatal paediatric care admission was reduced in the pessary group in comparison to the expectant group (RR 0.17; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.42).Authors' conclusionsThe review included only one well-designed randomised clinical trial that showed beneficial effect of cervical pessary in reducing preterm birth in women with a short cervix. There is a need for more trials in different settings (developed and developing countries), and with different risk factors including multiple pregnancy.
Project description:BackgroundEmollients are a mainstay of treatment in atopic dermatitis (AD), a disease distinguished by skin bacterial dysbiosis. However, changes in skin microbiota when emollients are used as a potential AD preventative measure in infants remain incompletely characterized.ResultsWe compared skin barrier parameters, AD development, and bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences of cheek, dorsal and volar forearm samples from 6-month-old infants with a family history of atopy randomized to receive emollients (n = 11) or no emollients (controls, n = 12). The emollient group had a lower skin pH than the control group. The number of bacterial taxa in the emollient group was higher than in the control group at all sites. The Streptococcus salivarius proportion was higher in the emollient versus control groups at all sites. S. salivarius proportion appeared higher in infants without AD compared to infants with AD. A decrease in S. salivarius abundance was further identified in a separate larger population of older children demonstrating an inverse correlation between AD severity at sampling sites and S. salivarius proportions.ConclusionsThe decreased skin pH and the increased proportion of S. salivarius after long-term emollient use in infants at risk for developing AD may contribute to the preventative effects of emollients in high-risk infants.