Objectives-The purpose of this study was to reveal the correlation between superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow in the first 12 hours of life and the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm neonates.Methods-We conducted a prospective study. There were 104 preterm neonates included in our study. The SMA blood flow of each neonate was measured during the first 12 hours of life if the hemodynamic situation was stable. The results of Doppler ultrasound were confidential to the neonatologists and nurses. All of the demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed.Results-Among all of the demographics and comorbidities, the gestational age was related to the measurements of SMA blood flow. We conducted a singlefactor analysis of the occurrence of NEC, including the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity, time-averaged mean velocity, differential velocity (DV), resistive index, and pulsatility index. A higher PSV (median [interquartile range], 54.165 [42.423-68.463] versus 42.195 [34.278-48.553] cm/s; P = .027) and DV (median [interquartile range], 47.445 [35.010-60.043] versus 32. 565 [27.545-39.073] cm/s; P = .020) were significantly related to the risk of NEC. In the logistic analysis including gestational age, PSV, and DV, NEC was significantly associated with gestational age (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.644 [0.456-0.908]; P = .012) and DV (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.144 [1.058-1.237]; P < .01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the DV was 0.768, with sensitivity 0.875 and specificity 0.604. The cutoff value of the DV was 34.835 cm/s. Conclusions-From this single-center study, we can see the promising value of Doppler ultrasound for the prediction of NEC, but further research is needed.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between ultrasound findings and preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).Methods: Preterm infants with a gestation age of less than 28 weeks or birthweight less than 1,500 g admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the Chengdu Women's & Children's Central Hospital from June 2018 to June 2019 were enrolled in the study and divided into 2 groups: the BPD group and the non-BPD group. All clinical data and lung ultrasound were retrospectively analyzed.Results: A total of 81 neonates (gestational age =29.71±2.27 weeks; birth weight =1,189.5±184.5 g) were enrolled in our center. The regression analysis showed that gestational age [odds ratio (OR) =0.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is still a common complication in very premature infants. At present, there is no effective treatment for BPD. Glucocorticoids are drugs commonly used to prevent or treat BPD before and after birth. In very premature infants with high risk factors for BPD, early use of dexamethasone can reduce the rate of death and/or BPD but may cause long-term adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Hydrocortisone (HC), as an alternative drug to dexamethasone, has been increasingly used to prevent BPD. However, no study has reported the efficacy and safety of HC to treat early BPD diagnosed at postnatal day (PND) 28. Methods: This study protocol is for a multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial of low-dose HC in the treatment of early BPD. Early BPD infants will be randomly assigned to the HC treatment group or control group. Infants in the HC group will receive 0.5 mg/kg HC twice a day for 7 days and then 0.5 mg/kg HC once a day for 3 days. The control group will be given the same volume of placebo and no intervention on the basis of routine treatment. The primary outcome is survival without moderate or severe BPD at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. Secondary outcomes are the short-and long-term effects on growth, metabolism, neurodevelopment, and other possible complications. Discussion: This trial will determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose HC administration compared to placebo for the reduction of moderate or severe BPD at 36 weeks postmenstrual age in very preterm infants with early BPD.

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