Early Identification Of Neonates Research Articles

Early identification of neonates at risk: Traits of newborn piglets with respect to survival

Despite technological changes and improved management, piglet mortality remains a problem for both production and welfare Most preweaning mortality occurs within the first 3 days after birth because of problems with adaptation and development. Thus, the purpose of our study was to determine the physiologic state of newborn pigs with respect to piglet survival. Data were collected from 1024 live-born piglets of 106 primiparous German Landrace sows to analyze relationships between farrowing traits, early postnatal vitality and blood chemistry, including immunity of piglets at birth. Surviving piglets were compared with those that died during the first 10 days of life. The survivors were significantly heavier at birth (P = 0.001), were born earlier in the birth order (P = 0 04), reached the udder and took in first colostral milk more quickly (P = 0 001) and had a smaller drop in rectal temperature 1 h after birth (P = 0 001) than dead. However, dead piglets had significantly higher blood levels of inorganic phosphorus (P = 0 0001), calcium (P = 0.04) and urea (P = 0.05), but a lower concentration of alpha 2-macroglobulin and lower lymphocyte proliferation indices in response to pokeweed mitogen (P = 0.05) Models fitted for discrimination between survivors and piglets that died included, in addition to birth weight and litter size, the foraging behavior of neonates (time from birth to first suckle) and their thermoregulatory capacity (rectal temperature 1 h after birth) in the first experimental unit, as well as prenursing biochemical measures (inorganic phosphorus, calcium and glucose) in the second experimental unit These ethophysiological and biochemical traits of early postnatal vitality are important determinants of maturity and development at birth Hence, breeding programs and perinatal housing and feeding conditions should ensure a high physiological maturity to improve mortality rates of neonates

Predicting Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Selection Criteria for Clinical Trials

Early identification of neonates in whom bronchopulmonary dysplasia is most likely to develop permits appropriate enrollment into clinical trials testing early intervention therapies for the prevention or treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Analysis of 160 neonatal intensive care unit survivors to 28 days revealed that supplemental oxygen requirement at 28 days could be predicted by a logistic regression including (1) birth weight, gestational age, 5-minute Apgar score, and peak inspiratory pressure at 12 hours for 12-hour-old neonates and (2) birth weight, gestational age, peak inspiratory pressure at 12 hours, and mean airway pressure at 10 days for 10-day-old neonates. These two regression analyses were applied prospectively to three new data sets totaling 238 neonates to test their predictive ability. Neonates were classified into low-, moderate-, or high-risk groups on the basis of their predicted probability of requiring oxygen supplementation at 28 days; low = probability of less than 25%, moderate = probability of 25% to 75%, and high = probability greater than 75%. Although these populations were demographically distinct from the original group, the regression analyses performed well. The regression analysis for 12 hours of age classified 125 neonates at low risk of whom 9% required supplemental oxygen at 28 days, and the regression analysis for 10 days classified 141 neonates at low risk of whom 7% required supplemental oxygen. The 12-hour regression analysis classified 80 neonates at moderate risk of whom 33% required supplemental oxygen at 28 days and the 10-day regression analysis classified 49 neonates at moderate risk of whom 24% required supplemental oxygen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)