The Incubator

Send us a textIn this episode of The Incubator Journal Club, Ben and Daphna discuss several recent neonatology papers. They review a NEJM trial on nutritional support strategies for moderate to late preterm infants, finding no effects on time to full feeds or body composition at 4 months. Next, they discuss a study on umbilical cord blood cultures for early onset sepsis, noting good concordance with neonatal blood cultures. A Japanese retrospective study found erythropoietin use was associated with increased ROP risk but decreased NEC and mortality. However, the hosts caution about limitations in EPO dosage data and variation between centers. They then discuss a trial showing breast milk enemas reduce time to meconium evacuation and full feeds compared to saline enemas in preterm infants. A paper from Nationwide Children's reports good outcomes managing BPD without routine blood gases, potentially saving costs. Lastly, a study suggests transcutaneous bilirubinometry may safely monitor rebound hyperbilirubinemia after phototherapy. Throughout the discussion, Ben and Daphna provide insightful analysis of each study's strengths, limitations, and implications for practice. They also highlight their upcoming 3-year podcast anniversary, announcing a special giveaway and listener survey.  Support the showAs 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 textNutritional Support for Moderate-to-Late-Preterm Infants - A Randomized Trial. Alexander T, Asadi S, Meyer M, Harding JE, Jiang Y, Alsweiler JM, Muelbert M, Bloomfield FH; DIAMOND Trial Group.N Engl J Med. 2024 Apr 25;390(16):1493-1504. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2313942.PMID: 38657245 Clinical Trial. Support the showAs 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 textBreast Milk Enema and Meconium Evacuation Among Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Zheng L, Gai L, Wu Y, Kong C, Sun F, Gao J, Yuan W, Liu M, Jiang H, Tuo N, Yang F.JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Apr 1;7(4):e247145. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.7145.PMID: 38648060 Free article. Clinical Trial.Support the showAs 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 textEBNEO commentary: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)-To treat early or not with ibuprofen? Javed R, Gowda H.Acta Paediatr. 2024 Apr 30. doi: 10.1111/apa.17259. Online ahead of print.PMID: 38687140 No abstract available.Support the showAs 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 intimate chat with Leah, Isabella shares her experience of her baby Lily being born prematurely at 27 weeks and being admitted to the NICU. She talks about the initial shock and the unexpected journey of having a baby in the NICU. Isabella shares her daughter Lily's journey in the NICU, from surgery to feeding challenges and extended hospital stays. She emphasizes the importance of trusting your instincts as a parent. Isabella expresses gratitude for the medical staff and the lessons she learned about patience and acceptance. She shares her hope for other NICU families and offers words of wisdom for those currently in the NICU.Support the showAs 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 “At the Bench” in the Incubator podcast family, Dr. Donna Ferrero discusses her work on therapeutic hypothermia and neonatal brain injuries. She explains the development and implementation of therapeutic hypothermia as a treatment for brain injuries in newborns. Dr. Ferrero also explores the signaling pathways and early markers that can help identify patients who will respond well to hypothermia. She discusses the use of erythropoietin (EPO) and the results of the HEAL trial. Additionally, Dr. Ferrero highlights the importance of genetic variants and sex-specific differences in understanding and treating brain injuries. She also emphasizes the need for a multi-omics approach to better comprehend the complexity of brain injuries and develop personalized interventions. We also delve into the future of care for hypoxia ischemia and the importance of collaboration and career development for physician scientists. The value of collaboration with international researchers and the benefits of visiting other institutions and labs are highlighted. Tips for effective collaboration and overcoming challenges in career development are provided, along with insights into the role of leadership in advancing the field.Support the showAs 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 podcast, hosts Ben Courchia and Daphna Yasova Barbeau interview Professor Ola Didrik Saugstad, a pioneer in neonatology research from Norway. Professor Saugstad shares his journey of discovering hypoxanthine as a biochemical marker of asphyxia in newborns and his groundbreaking work on resuscitating babies with room air instead of 100% oxygen. He explains how his research challenged the long-standing dogma of using pure oxygen for resuscitation, despite initial skepticism from the medical community. Through his perseverance and collaboration with international researchers, Professor Saugstad's findings eventually led to a paradigm shift in neonatal resuscitation guidelines worldwide. He emphasizes the importance of being open to new ideas, conducting rigorous studies, and fostering teamwork in research. The conversation also touches on the challenges of conducting clinical trials in an era of increasing complexity and the need for ongoing international collaboration to address unanswered questions in neonatology, particularly regarding optimal oxygen use in preterm infants. Professor Saugstad's inspiring story highlights the impact that dedicated researchers can have on improving care for the most vulnerable patients. Support the showAs 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, Dr. Nkuranga and Dr. Hadfield discuss their journey into neonatology and their current roles in Rwanda's healthcare system. They also discuss the development of the Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program in Rwanda and the collaborations and stakeholder involvement that were required to establish the program. They also share their experiences of living and working in Rwanda, as well as the challenges of balancing work and family. The conversations concludes with advice for individuals in leadership positions and an invitation for collaborationEpisode address:  https://www.the-incubator.org/post/202-Global-Neo-Pod-Starting-a-Neonatal-Perinatal-Medicine-Fellowship-in-RwandaSupport the showAs 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 packed episode of The Incubator, Daphna and I dive into a diverse range topics. We start by discussing a compelling article on bilirubin encephalopathy, exploring the relationship between unbound bilirubin levels and the severity of acute bilirubin encephalopathy in late preterm and term infants. Next, we review a study on the long-term neurodevelopmental and respiratory outcomes of infants with varying grades of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), emphasizing the importance of considering BPD severity in follow-up studies. We then shift gears to discuss the impact of early milk expression on milk quantity in mothers of very preterm infants, highlighting the significance of pumping within the first six hours after birth. We also touch on a recent study investigating the potential link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the risk of autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability in children. Additionally, we explore the safety and potential neuroprotective effects of caffeine in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) undergoing therapeutic hypothermia. We also briefly mention studies on the association between time to regain birth weight and neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely preterm infants, as well as the use of vibratory stimulation to mitigate pain responses during skin-breaking procedures in neonates. Join us for this informative and wide-ranging discussion on the latest research in neonatal care. Support the showAs 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 Tech Tuesday podcast, Dr. Yamile C. Jackson, CEO of Nurtured by Design, shares her journey from an engineer to an innovator in the neonatal care space, inspired by her son Zach's premature birth and the challenges she faced in the NICU. Focused on improving the NICU experience for both infants and their families, Yamile developed the Zaky Hug and Zaki Zak, tools designed to provide comfort, support, and safety to hospitalized infants. The conversation dives deep into the concept of kangaroo care, its benefits for premature babies, and how Yamile’s products facilitate this essential practice. By blending personal narrative with practical innovation, the episode illuminates the power of parental touch and involvement in neonatal care, underscoring the need for hospitals to adopt more family-centered approaches. This inspiring story not only showcases Yamile's commitment to enhancing neonatal care but also encourages healthcare professionals to recognize the profound impact of integrating human elements into medical care. Support the showAs 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!