The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
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J. Matern. Fetal. Neonatal. Med. · Oct 2011
Multicenter StudyItalia-Netherland PhD Program: the I.O. PhD Research Program.
In the framework of long-term scientific collaboration among the founder members coming from Holland and Italy there was a growing consensus to activate a philosophical doctorate (PhD) program, involving young Italian researchers in the field of perinatal medicine, neonatology and pediatrics. The aims were to promote excellence in research, offering to young Italian physicians the opportunity to maturate an International research experience leading to PhD degree, and to promote human and technological improvement energies in perinatal, neonatal and pediatrics research. Thus, an official collaboration among the Dutch Universities from Maastricht and Utrecht and the Italian Children's Hospital from Alessandria, has been activated on March 1st 2010, finalized to the PhD program. ⋯ Research topics included: perinatal asphyxia, aging and the origin of adulthood neurodegenerative disease, neuroprotective strategies, biochemical pulmonology, intrauterine growth retardation and perinatal teratology. To date, all projects have been approved by local Ethics Committee from the University/Hospital of origin of the candidates. Five manuscripts have been published and/or submitted to international Journals regarding pneumology, perinatal asphyxia and teratology, whilst about 60-70% of data regarding clinical studies have already been collected.
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J. Matern. Fetal. Neonatal. Med. · Oct 2011
ReviewEvidence-based platelet transfusion recommendations in neonates.
Even though for certain varieties of neonatal thrombocytopenia, intravenous immunoglobulin or corticosteroids are recommended as treatments, platelet transfusions represent the only specific therapy currently available for most thrombocytopenic neonates in NICUs. The majority of these NICU platelet transfusions, up to 98% in some recent reports, are given to prevent, rather than to treat, bleeding. The trigger limit of platelet count to prophylactically treat non-bleeding patients is generally arbitrary. ⋯ To increase benefits and safety, new widespread changes in platelet transfusion guidelines are necessary. New transfusion paradigms should not be based on reasoning alone, but on important experimental validation. The neonatologists would better accept them and more closely adhere to.