The Incubator

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Our special guest, Dr. Paul Krushka, Chief Medical Officer for Gene DX, guides us through this fascinating journey, explaining how Gene DX is revolutionizing the medical world with advanced genetic testing. Hear about the impressive strides made in detecting rare genetic diseases using whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing. 
He enlightens us about the importance of understanding variants in genetic testing and how to easily order tests through GeneDx. Hear insights into the potentially game-changing Guardian Study. This collaborative effort amongst Columbia University, Illumina, and the New York State Department of Health could significantly shorten the diagnostic journey for many patients, bringing a new dawn in genetic testing. This episode is a must for anyone longing to understand the future of genomic testing.

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As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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Can you imagine the world of neonatal medicine from the lens of cutting-edge research and innovative practices? This week, we unpack the complexities of neonatal care, shining a light on the vital role of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing secondary kidney damage for infants with severe VUR. We review a landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, focusing on the use of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis for infants with severe vesicoureteral reflux. Not stopping there, we dissect the methodology, delve into the results, and ponder on the implications of this ground-breaking research.

We also enter the intriguing realm of neonatal sepsis and enteral feeding in very low birth weight infants. Using guidelines from pediatricians and nephrologists, we scrutinize perinatal risk factors and the captivating findings of a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. We explore the discrepancy between ordered vs administered enteral feeds, and the crucial need to include the entire NICU team to achieve better outcomes.

In the final chapters, we tackle the tough topic of neurodevelopmental outcomes following preterm birth and the associated challenges in prognosis delivery. You'll hear from recent paper discussing insightful views on delivering prognoses and balancing clinical and epidemiologic reasoning with clear communication. Join us as we weave through the intricate tapestry of neonatal care, illuminating the long-term consequences of extreme premature birth and exploring the perspectives of those with firsthand experience of prematurity. Tune in to this enlightening and educational journey into neonatal care on The Incubator.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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What if we told you that scores from a toddler could predict their IQ years later? Join us as we decode this intriguing hypothesis as we navigate the correlation between Bailey III composite scores at 18 to 22 months and the full scale IQ at six to seven years, particularly in children born extremely preterm. We examine how these early scores could be instrumental in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes and their relevance for individual children.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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Ben and Daphna are dissecting the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition's latest paper that digs into significant clinical questions regarding TPN use in the NICU for preterm infants. Join us as we put under the microscope topics like the initiation of parental nutrition, the optimum dosage of amino acids, and the impact of altering intralipid composition on growth outcomes. We're not just delivering information; we're assessing the robustness of these recommendations and the quality of evidence backing them up. 

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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!

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What if antibiotics aren't as necessary as we think for infants with high-grade Vesico-urideral Reflex (VUR)? That's the question we dissect in this thought-provoking episode. We dive into a recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine, which took a close look at the use of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent the first symptomatic UTI in infants with high-grade VUR. We'll unpack the methods used in this Phase 3 multi-centered prospective randomized open-label trial, walk you through the criteria for the trial, and explore how the primary and secondary outcomes were determined.

Did you know that about 70% of infants with high-grade VUR will never experience a UTI in their first two years? With this startling statistic in mind, we tackle the ongoing debate on whether to administer prophylaxis to infants with grade 3, 4, or 5 reflux. Hear us explore the evolving guidelines put forth by pediatricians and nephrologists and what this shifting perspective means for a system-wide approach to prophylaxis. This episode is a must-listen for healthcare professionals and parents alike who want to understand the risks and benefits of antibiotic prophylaxis in infants with high-grade VUR more comprehensively.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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!

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Ready to unlock the secrets of improving neonatal care in children's hospitals? Join us for this riveting episode where we sit down with Dr Jacqueline Evans, Dr Karna Murthy, and Dr Theresa Grover, esteemed members of the Children's Hospital Neonatal Consortium (CHNC). We traverse the inspiring journey of CHNC from its birth in 2006, its tireless efforts to better the care for newborns, and the many bridges it has built in the world of research and collaboration.

Our discussion covers CHNC focus groups, their explosive growth and the invaluable insights they offer on a wide spectrum of diagnoses. Understand the challenge of setting consortium priorities and how the Quality Improvement (QI) program developed by CHNC is transforming neonatal care. We also shed light on the CHNC's endeavor to cultivate a versatile database, a key tool for their members, and a treasure trove of neonatal data.

If the future of neonatology intrigues you, keep your headphones on as we delve into CHNC's collaborations, data visualization initiatives, and how they are inspiring the next generation of NICU fellows. We discuss the upcoming CHNC Symposium, a vibrant platform inviting a diverse audience to share data and thoughts on surgical neonates. Finally, we gaze into CHNC's future, discussing the potential of computer learning, AI capabilities, and the thrilling projects on their horizon. Join us on this enlightening journey with Dr Jacqueline Evans, Dr Karna Murthy, and Dr Theresa Grover, and discover the remarkable work of the CHNC.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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.

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What is the potential impact of delayed cord clamping on severe IVH and neurodevelopmental outcomes? We explore this and more in our latest episode. We kick things off with a deep dive into a riveting paper from the Archives of Disease in Childhood that scrutinizes the approaches to umbilical cord management and their effects on death and neurodevelopmental impairment. 

We also discuss the heterogeneity of treatment effects of hydrocortisone by risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death among extremely preterm infants in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network Trial with our EBNEO colleague Nic Bamat from CHOP. 

Join us as we welcome Dr. Rene Shellhass, co-author of the recent paper on neonatal seizures, to discuss the six PICO questions from the paper and their implications for the neonatal community. We take a hard look at the use of EEGs in diagnosing and managing neonatal seizures and the challenges involved. To wrap things up, we highlight the long term outcomes of the OPTMIST-A trial —a must-listen for anyone involved in neonatal care. We guarantee you'll walk away from this episode with a lot of valuable insights, thank you all for listening.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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 Fan Mail

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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 Fan Mail

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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 Fan Mail

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. 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!