As coronavirus cases dwindle in Taiwan, baseball fans will be allowed back into stadiums on Friday evening, though with a cap on numbers.Taiwan's Central Epidemic ...

Up to 1,000 fans are allowed inside each stadium in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League

Turkey's professional soccer teams will begin playing in empty stadiums in June, the Turkish Football Federation president said Wednesday.

Taiwan will gradually ease restrictions on travel and sporting activities, with the island’s health minister saying efforts to control the coronavirus were paying off.The island – home to 23 million people – had reported just 440 cases and six deaths from Covid-19 as of Thursday, with no local transmission for close to a month.Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said that with very few new cases among people returning to the island from elsewhere, the authorities would allow Taiwanese stranded in…

Prague Daily Monitor

Some people are panicking, some people are fighting at the bulk retailers across the pond, some are getting haircuts in China with a meter distance between themselves and the barber. But what is actually going on here?

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Czech Development Agency

While as late as 1990 the WHO reported 116 deaths for every 1,000 births in Cambodia, the situation has now improved fourfold. This is credited to a Czech Development Agency project through which health care equipment and neonatal tools, including incubators, were provided to the Pediatric Hospital in Phnom Penh.

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Anand Gandhi revealed that before Irrfan Khan’s demise, he had been discussing a possible collaboration

Paulo Coelho praised Shah Rukh Khan for his recently released movie 'Kaamyaab'

Gulshan Grover spoke at length about the demise of Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor and its personal impact

Ashvin Kumar recently took a trip down memory lane and reminisced upon Irrfan Khan’s professionalism

Sridevi died on February 24, 2018 and Irrfan Khan passed away on April 29, 2020

Irrfan Khan shared the screen with Deepika in 'Piku'

Jennifer Aniston shares an interesting picture with fans

Shaniera has been trying to create awareness among the masses about the coronavirus pandemic

Taylor Swift performed songs from her latest album in September in Paris

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are taking the next step in their relationship

Emma Stone recently wore a wedding during a live chat with some other celebrities

Central banks have powerful tools to affect national economies but they are being challenged by innovative financial practices

A rules-based approach to monetary policy needs to be part of any discussion involving central bank policy.

A high level of external debt is linked with decreased economic growth but there are policy options that can help economies keep growing.

For many of Indonesia’s urban poor who work in the informal sector, social distancing is nearly impossible if they want to maintain their income. Two key policies can help.

Arizona-based company World View Enterprises says it has taken a major step towards launching commercial balloon flights to the edge of space, with a successful unmanned test flight that reached an altitude of about 23 miles. The company hopes to begin taking tourists to near space in 2016 with advanced technology it says will open up a new view of the Earth. Sharon Reich reports.

Ocean Outbreak unveils the little-known diseases wreaking havoc in the seas and the book does a first-rate job of inspiring readers at the same time

Just like our individual identity makes us unique, brand identity helps a business set itself apart from its competitors in the market. An organization’s brand design shapes a company and its products. We recently caught up with one of our savvy lead...

Tom Gauld’s science cartoons appear weekly in New Scientist. He explains how he gets his ideas as his latest collection, Department of Mind-Blowing Theories, hits the shelves

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair argued that the two major UK parties, Conservative and Labour, are 'peddling fantasies' ahead of the upcoming election.

First imagined in the 17th century, blimps borne aloft by nothing but nothing are finally ready for lift off, carrying goods and even passengers in gondolas in the clouds

With major sports leagues preparing for the eventuality of restarting behind closed doors amid the coronavirus pandemic, NBA commissioner Adam Silver reportedly took the concept to the next level on Friday.

Taiwan reopened baseball games to a limited number of fans on Friday for the first time since controls were imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus, part of government efforts to slowly allow normal life to resume.

With major sports leagues preparing for the eventuality of restarting behind closed doors amid the coronavirus pandemic, NBA commissioner Adam Silver reportedly took the concept to the next level on Friday.

Title: TV Breakups: When a Show Ends, Fans May 'Mourn'
Category: Health News
Created: 4/23/2011 11:01:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/25/2011 12:00:00 AM

Title: FDA OKs Meningitis Vaccine for Infants
Category: Health News
Created: 4/27/2011 11:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 12:00:00 AM

Title: Low-Income Mothers May Overfeed Their Infants
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2012 10:05:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2012 12:00:00 AM

Title: Health Tip: Holding Your Infant Skin to Skin
Category: Health News
Created: 5/2/2013 8:35:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2013 12:00:00 AM

Title: Nearly 700,000 Infant Rocking Sleepers Recalled Due to Infant Deaths
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: How One Very Ill Infant Survived COVID-19
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2020 12:00:00 AM

Diamond-Blackfan anemia: A genetic condition affecting the bone marrow that leads to anemia (low numbers of red blood cells) and often, birth defects. It affects five to 10 out of every million babies born in the U.S. A number of genetic mutations have been identified that can cause Diamond-Blackfan anemia, and it is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning that only one copy of the defective gene is needed to cause the disorder. In about 45% of cases, those affected inherit a defective gene from one parent. In the remaining cases, a new mutation (change in the gene) occurs in people who do not have the condition in their family.

Symptoms and signs of Diamond-Blackfan anemia usually are seen during the first year of life and relate to the anemia and shortage of oxygen delivery to tissues from the low numbers of red blood cells. These symptoms include pallor, fatigue, and weakness. People with this disorder are at increased risk for developing myelodysplastic syndrome, another bone marrow disorder, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and a type of bone cancer known as osteosarcoma. The birth defects that can accompany the bone marrow disorders are seen in about half of those affected and can vary in severity. Associated birth defects can include small head size (microcephaly); wide-set eyes (hypertelorism); droopy eyelids (ptosis); a low frontal hairline; a broad, flat bridge of the nose; small, low-set ears; and small lower jaw (micrognathia). Cleft palate and/or cleft lip may also be present. Slow growth, eye problems, and kidney problems are sometimes associated with the condition. Red blood cell transfusions and corticosteroid medications are the main treatments for Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Stem cell transplants have been performed successfully in some children with the condition.

Title: Kidney Dysplasia: In Infants and Children
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 5/22/2012 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/14/2020 12:00:00 AM

ABSTRACT

Each year, >180,000 infants become infected via mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV despite the availability of effective maternal antiretroviral treatments, underlining the need for a maternal HIV vaccine. We characterized 224 maternal HIV envelope (Env)-specific IgG monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) from seven nontransmitting and transmitting HIV-infected U.S. and Malawian mothers and examined their neutralization activities against nontransmitted autologous circulating viruses and infant-transmitted founder (infant-T/F) viruses. Only a small subset of maternal viruses, 3 of 72 (4%), were weakly neutralized by maternal linear V3 epitope-specific IgG MAbs, whereas 6 out of 6 (100%) infant-T/F viruses were neutralization resistant to these V3-specific IgG MAbs. We also show that maternal-plasma broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) responses targeting the V3 glycan supersite in a transmitting woman may have selected for an N332 V3 glycan neutralization-resistant infant-T/F virus. These data have important implications for bNAb-eliciting vaccines and passively administered bNAbs in the setting of MTCT.

IMPORTANCE Efforts to eliminate MTCT of HIV with antiretroviral therapy (ART) have met little success, with >180,000 infant infections each year worldwide. It is therefore likely that additional immunologic strategies that can synergize with ART will be required to eliminate MTCT of HIV. To this end, understanding the role of maternal HIV Env-specific IgG antibodies in the setting of MTCT is crucial. In this study, we found that maternal-plasma broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) responses can select for T/F viruses that initiate infection in infants. We propose that clinical trials testing the efficacy of single bNAb specificities should not include HIV-infected pregnant women, as a single bNAb might select for neutralization-resistant infant-T/F viruses.

ABSTRACT

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) may provide health benefits to infants partly by shaping the development of the early-life intestinal microbiota. In a randomized double-blinded controlled multicentric clinical trial, healthy term infants received either infant formula (control) or the same formula with two HMOs (2'-fucosyllactose and lacto-N-neotetraose; test) from enrollment (0 to 14 days) to 6 months. Then, all infants received the same follow-up formula without HMOs until 12 months of age. Breastfed infants (BF) served as a reference group. Stool microbiota at 3 and 12 months, analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, clustered into seven fecal community types (FCTs) with marked differences in total microbial abundances. Three of the four 12-month FCTs were likely precursors of the adult enterotypes. At 3 months, microbiota composition in the test group (n = 58) appeared closer to that of BF (n = 35) than control (n = 63) by microbiota alpha (within group) and beta (between groups) diversity analyses and distribution of FCTs. While bifidobacteriaceae dominated two FCTs, its abundance was significantly higher in one (FCT BiH for Bifidobacteriaceae at high abundance) than in the other (FCT Bi for Bifidobacteriaceae). HMO supplementation increased the number of infants with FCT BiH (predominant in BF) at the expense of FCT Bi (predominant in control). We explored the association of the FCTs with reported morbidities and medication use up to 12 months. Formula-fed infants with FCT BiH at 3 months were significantly less likely to require antibiotics during the first year than those with FCT Bi. Previously reported lower rates of infection-related medication use with HMOs may therefore be linked to gut microbiota community types. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration number NCT01715246.)

IMPORTANCE Human milk is the sole and recommended nutrition for the newborn infant and contains one of the largest constituents of diverse oligosaccharides, dubbed human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Preclinical and clinical association studies indicate that HMOs have multiple physiological functions largely mediated through the establishment of the gut microbiome. Until recently, HMOs were not available to investigate their role in randomized controlled intervention trials. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the effects of 2 HMOs on establishing microbiota in newborn infants. We provide a detailed description of the microbiota changes observed upon feeding a formula with 2 HMOs in comparison to breastfed reference infants' microbiota. Then, we associate the microbiota to long-term health as assessed by prescribed antibiotic use.

Background

Chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD), also called bronchopulmonary dysplasia, is a major consequence of preterm birth, but the role of the microbiome in its development remains unclear. Therefore, we assessed the progression of the bacterial community in ventilated preterm infants over time in the upper and lower airways, and assessed the gut–lung axis by comparing bacterial communities in the upper and lower airways with stool findings. Finally, we assessed whether the bacterial communities were associated with lung inflammation to suggest dysbiosis.

Ventilatory settings are critical in mechanically ventilated extremely preterm newborn infants due to the risk of ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI) and the subsequent development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) [1]. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) settings usually rely on blood gases, oxygen requirement, lung auscultation, evaluation of chest radiograph and assessment of the pressure/volume curves provided by ventilators. Studies of optimal PEEP settings in the surfactant-treated preterm infant in need of mechanical ventilation are limited and evidence-based clinical guidelines are sparse [2, 3]. A bedside method identifying the PEEP value that comprises maximal lung volume recruitment and minimising tissue overdistension could improve real-time optimisation of PEEP and potentially minimise the risk of VILI and BPD [4, 5].

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes that current data show that hospitals and accredited birth centers are the safest settings for birth in the United States. The AAP does not recommend planned home birth, which has been reported to be associated with a twofold to threefold increase in infant mortality in the United States. The AAP recognizes that women may choose to plan a home birth. This statement is intended to help pediatricians provide constructive, informed counsel to women considering home birth while retaining their role as child advocates and to summarize appropriate care for newborn infants born at home that is consistent with care provided for infants born in a medical care facility. Regardless of the circumstances of his or her birth, including location, every newborn infant deserves health care consistent with that highlighted in this statement, which is more completely described in other publications from the AAP, including Guidelines for Perinatal Care and the Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation. All health care clinicians and institutions should promote communications and understanding on the basis of professional interaction and mutual respect.

As the technical ability for genetic diagnosis continues to improve, an increasing number of diagnoses are made in infancy or as early as the neonatal period. Many of these diagnoses are known to be associated with developmental delay and intellectual disability, features that would not be clinically detectable at the time of diagnosis. Others may be associated with cognitive impairment, but the incidence and severity are yet to be fully described. These neonates and infants with genetic diagnoses therefore represent an emerging group of patients who are at high risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities. Although there are well-established developmental supports for high-risk infants, particularly preterm infants, after discharge from the NICU, programs specifically for infants with genetic diagnoses are rare. And although previous research has demonstrated the positive effect of early developmental interventions on outcomes among preterm infants, the impact of such supports for infants with genetic disorders who may be born term, remains to be understood. We therefore review the literature regarding existing developmental assessment and intervention approaches for children with genetic disorders, evaluating these in the context of current developmental supports postdischarge for preterm infants. Further research into the role of developmental support programs for early assessment and intervention in high-risk neonates diagnosed with rare genetic disorders is needed.

Does infant temperament predict adult personality and life-course patterns? To date, there is scant evidence examining relations between child temperament and adult outcomes, and extant research has relied on limited methods for measuring temperament such as maternal report. This prospective longitudinal study followed a cohort of infants (n = 165)...

Approximately half of all pediatric tracheostomies are performed in infants younger than 1 year. Most tracheostomies in patients in the NICU are performed in cases of chronic respiratory failure requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation or upper airway obstruction. With improvements in ventilation and management of long-term intubation, indications for tracheostomy and perioperative management in this population continue to evolve. Evidence-based protocols to guide routine postoperative care, prevent and manage tracheostomy emergencies including accidental decannulation and tube obstruction, and attempt elective decannulation are sparse. Clinician awareness of safe tracheostomy practices and larger, prospective studies in infants are needed to improve clinical care of this vulnerable population.