Premature birth is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the pediatric population. Because their immune, gastrointestinal and nervous systems are not fully developed, preterm infants (<37 weeks of gestation) and especially very preterm infants (VPIs, <32 weeks of gestation) are more prone to infectious diseases, tissue damage and future neurodevelopmental impairment. The aim of this narrative review is to report the immaturity of VPI systems and examine the role of Human Breast Milk (HBM) in their development and protection against infectious diseases, inflammation and tissue damage. For this purpose, we searched and synthesized the data from the existing literature published in the English language. Studies revealed the significance of HBM and indicate HBM as the best dietary choice for VPIs.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common cause of respiratory illness in preterm newborns with high morbidity and mortality rates. At present, there are no early prognostic biomarkers that can be used in clinical practice to predict the development of BPD. In this review, we critically appraise evidence regarding the use of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) levels as a biomarker for BPD in neonates. Furthermore, we summarize studies assessing the feasibility of urinary NTproBNP levels as a non-invasive method to predict BPD in preterm infants. Multiple studies reported a strong association between NTproBNP serum levels and the onset of BPD. For urinary NTproBNP there is scarce evidence showing an association with BPD. Given the promising data obtained by preliminary studies, further assessment of this biomarker in both serum and urine is needed. Standardized reference values should be defined before conducting any further clinical studies.

The detection of NT-proBNP levels both in umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples and in serum samples collected from healthy term neonates during the neonatal period. A systematic review of relevant literature in accordance with PRISMA guidelines was conducted. For quality appraisal, the potential risk of bias was assessed using the BIOCROSS evaluation tool. The random-effects and fixed-effects models were used to calculate weighted mean differences with a corresponding 95% confidence interval. A total of forty (40) studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. After further examination, eighteen (18) studies (1738 participants) from the UCB sample group and fourteen (14) studies (393 participants) from the serum sample group were selected to perform a meta-analysis. Using the fixed-effects model, the mean intervals of NT-proBNP in UCB and serum samples were 492 pg/mL (95% CI: 480–503 pg/mL) and 1341 pg/mL (95% CI: 1286–1397 pg/mL), respectively. A higher concentration of ΝΤ-proBNP was observed in the serum sample group compared to the UCB samples (p < 0.001). We present the intervals of NT-proBNP in UCB and in the serum of healthy term neonates. The determination of the potential effect of perinatal factors on the biomarker’s reference range was also aimed.

Background/Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to correlate the factors influencing the onset and duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and breastfeeding (BF) rates at different time points in baby-friendly hospitals (BFHs) in Greece. Methods: This study was conducted from October 2020 to January 2022. The sample consisted of 1201 mothers with corresponding newborn births out of the total 7201 that took place during the same period. We used a questionnaire that the mothers answered during the first hour after birth, before being discharged from the maternity hospital, and at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th month of the infant’s life. The results were compared with the data of the national study from 2017 (concerning births from general maternity hospitals and not only from BFHs). Results: The EBF rate within 1 h after birth was 71.3%, which gradually declined to 21.2% in the 6th month. Between the two studies, differences were recorded in BF and EBF rates at the 6th and 4th month of the infants’ life, respectively, especially in mothers who are less likely to breastfeed (e.g., those without breastfeeding experience, those over 40 years old, etc.). Conclusion: This study showed that EBF and BF rates are higher in infants born in BFHs compared to non-BFHs both during their hospitalization in the first days of life and during the first 6 months of life. BFHs also play a decisive role in mothers who, due to their socio-economic profile, have lower chances of starting to breastfeed.

To identify the differences between the RSV and non-RSV bronchiolitis in hospitalized infants in a Greek tertiary pediatric unit and the possible risk factors related to severe forms of the illness. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional data analysis by reviewing medical records of patients that were hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis from 2012 to 2019. The patients with RSV bronchiolitis were found to require antibiotic treatment, IV fluids, adrenaline, and hypertonic saline inhalations more frequently than the non-RSV patients. They also required prolonged hospitalization, especially those that were admitted to PICU, and received oxygen therapy for longer periods. We searched risk factors for severe forms of the disease according to the need for admission to PICU, the supplemental oxygen and the extended length of hospital stay, concurrently. The patients with RSV bronchiolitis developed more severe illness in comparison with patients with bronchiolitis due to other respiratory viruses.