The Incubator

Send us a textIn this episode, Shelly-Ann, Ben, and Gabriel discuss the Newborn Toolkit with Dr. Joy Lawn, Dr. Mbozu Sipalo, and Lauren Allison from the Newborn Toolkit Team. They highlight the importance of newborn care, the challenges faced in providing adequate care globally, and the development of the Newborn Toolkit to address these challenges. Newborn Toolkit link - https://newborntoolkit.org/toolkitAs always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

In this episode, Dr. Steve Abman, Dr. Milenka Cuevas Guaman, and Dr. Laurie C. Eldredge from the BPD Collaborative delve into Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD). They discuss the importance of interdisciplinary care and collaboration in managing BPD, the impact of antenatal and postnatal factors on disease development, and the value of including patients and families in the work of the collaborative. They also highlight the launch of a parent support group and upcoming updates on the BPD Collaborative's meeting and website.

Send us a textIn this episode of The Incubator Podcast, hosts Ben and Daphna sit down with Tracy Warren, co-founder and CEO of Astarte Medical, to discuss the NICUtrition tool. They delve into how NICUtrition is tailored to improve nutritional outcomes in premature infants, its development journey, and real-world application insights. As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Send us a textIn the latest episode of the Incubator Podcast's Journal Club, the hosts, Ben and Daphna, delve into a detailed discussion of recent neonatology research.The Oscar Trial: Examined the efficacy of early ibuprofen treatment for large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in extremely preterm infants to improve outcomes like survival and severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The study, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial across 32 UK units, found no significant benefit of early ibuprofen treatment.Breastfeeding as a Protective Factor Against BPD: A retrospective study from the British Journal of Nutrition by José Uberos, focusing on the intake of mother's own milk, donor human milk, or preterm formula within the first two weeks of life in very low birth weight infants. It highlighted the benefits of mother's milk in reducing the odds of BPD and noted the importance of enteral nutrition in the development of BPD.Clinical Chorioamnionitis and Neurodevelopment: Drawn from the Epipage to cohort, the study found no significant association between clinical chorioamnionitis and neurodevelopmental disorders at five years of age for infants born between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation.Polyethylene Bags Before Cord Clamping: This randomized control trial published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood investigated whether placing very preterm infants in a polyethylene bag before cord clamping could ensure normothermia upon NICU admission. The trial concluded that there was no significant difference in the normothermia rates between those bagged before and after cord clamping.Marijuana Use and Breastfeeding: Survey results from a Pediatrics journal article showing variability in hospital practices regarding breastfeeding for mothers who use marijuana. It calls for more standardized, evidence-based practices to ensure healthcare equity.Platelet Transfusion and Neurodevelopmental Impairment: A JAMA Network Open study using data from the PEANUT trial, examining the association between platelet transfusion exposure and death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment at two years of age in extremely preterm children.Azithromycin During Routine Well Infant Visits: A study from Burkina Faso published in the New England Journal of Medicine tested the effectiveness of Azithromycin given during routine health care visits in preventing infant mortality. The results did not support the prophylactic use of Azithromycin for this purpose.Challenges in Managing Refractory Pain and Sedation in Infants: A review article from Frontiers in Pharmacology compiling guidelines and providing insights into the management of pain, sedation, and withdrawal in infants, including the issue of delirium in the NICU setting.EBNEO Commentary with Dr. Eugene How and Dr. Cami Martin on the study by Ariel Salas et al published in Pediatrics: Early human milk fortification in infants born extremely preterm: A randomised trial.  As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Send us a textAs always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Send us a textAs always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Send us a textAs always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Send us a textWelcome to “At the Bench” a new podcast in the Incubator network focusing on physician-scientists in neonatology, their research, and career journeys. This week, we start by interviewing Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Crouch, a neonatologist, neuroscientist, and vascular biologist at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Crouch’s lab takes a “Vascular-centric” perspective to neurodevelopment and studies how the blood vessels in the developing brain and spinal cord impact the growing neural cells, and vice versa. In part, this approach is inspired by germinal matrix hemorrhage, a devastating condition unfortunately common in the NICU that can cause cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and death. Early in Dr. Crouch’s training, a family she cared for in the NICU questioned the status quo in germinal matrix hemorrhage management. They asked why, in this era of modern medicine, their baby had no treatment options for this devastating and common condition. This anecdote highlights what has become a theme in her research: basic and translational science inspired by parents and patients. Her lab now focuses on defining the stages of vascular stem cells in the developing brain and understanding the mechanisms that regulate their functions, applying this knowledge to produce novel technologies and therapeutic strategies for different brain hemorrhages in neonatal and pediatric patients. This episode discusses the challenges and victories in Dr. Crouch’s journey, her mentors and their wisdom, and how we might create a future without germinal matrix hemorrhage for our premies and their families.As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Send us a textIn this episode of the incubator, Dr. Nora Colman, a pediatric critical care physician, and Sarah Walter, a registered architect and senior medical planner, delve into the intricacies of designing Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). They explore the impact of the built environment on neonatal care, emphasizing evidence-based design and the need for healthcare architecture to support patient outcomes. Discussions revolve around how elements like lighting, noise, and spatial design influence both the health of newborns and the efficiency of care. The episode underscores the importance of collaboration between healthcare professionals and architects in creating optimal NICU environments, with real-world examples and innovative approaches highlighted. As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!

Dr. Kunda Mutesu Kapembwa, a pediatrician and neonatologist in Zambia, discusses challenges in neonatology, treating TPN babies, creating nursing training programs, developing guidelines based on available resources, challenges of working in the public sector, and creating a nonprofit organization to disseminate information and provide training in neonatology.