Pediatrics Commons^™

An Inpatient Patient Safety Curriculum For Pediatric Residents., John Szymusiak, Michael D Fox, Catherine Polak, Kwonho Jeong, Doris Rubio, Stephanie Dewar, Andrew Urbach, Alda Maria Gonzaga

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Introduction: Patient safety is recognized as an important part of pediatric resident education. There is a lack of published safety curricula targeting pediatric residents. A local needs assessment showed that while residents felt safety was an important part of their current and future jobs, they did not feel prepared to apply safety principles to their future careers or participate in a root cause analysis (RCA).

Methods: This curriculum was delivered to senior-level pediatric and multiple-board residents during five monthly, hour-long, multidisciplinary sessions. Sessions covered systems-based thinking, terminology, the second victim phenomenon, RCA, and medication errors, while providing feedback on recent …

Prenatal Exposure To Methadone Or Buprenorphine: Early Childhood Developmental Outcomes., Karol Kaltenbach, Kevin E O'Grady, Sarah H. Heil, Amy L. Salisbury, Mara G. Coyle, Gabriele Fischer, Peter R. Martin, Susan Stine, Hendrée E. Jones

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Methadone and buprenorphine are recommended to treat opioid use disorders during pregnancy. However, the literature on the relationship between longer-term effects of prenatal exposure to these medications and childhood development is both spare and inconsistent.

METHODS: Participants were 96 children and their mothers who participated in MOTHER, a randomized controlled trial of opioid-agonist pharmacotherapy during pregnancy. The present study examined child growth parameters, cognition, language abilities, sensory processing, and temperament from 0 to 36 months of the child's life. Maternal perceptions of parenting stress, home environment, and addiction severity were also examined.

RESULTS: Tests of mean differences between children …

Age Related Diffusion And Tractography Changes In Typically Developing Pediatric Cervical And Thoracic Spinal Cord, Mahdi Alizadeh, Joshua Fisher, Sona Saksena, Phd, Yusra Sultan, Chris Conklin, Phd, Devon Middleton, Laura Krisa, Phd, Jürgen Finsterbusch, Adam Flanders, Scott H. Faro, M. J. Mulcahey, Feroze Mohamed, Phd

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Background and objective: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) are two techniques that can measure white matter integrity of the spinal cord. Recently, DTI indices have been shown to change with age. The purpose of this study is (a) to evaluate the maturational states of the entire pediatric spinal cord using DTI and DTT indices including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), mean length of white matter fiber tracts and tract density and (b) to analyze the DTI and DTT parameters along the entire spinal cord as a function of spinal cord levels and age. Method: A …

Consensus Guidelines For Newborn Screening, Diagnosis And Treatment Of Infantile Krabbe Disease., Jennifer M. Kwon, Dietrich Matern, Joanne Kurtzberg, Lawrence Wrabetz, Michael H. Gelb, David A. Wenger, Can Ficicioglu, Amy T. Waldman, Barbara K. Burton, Patrick V. Hopkins, Joseph J. Orsini

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Krabbe disease is a rare neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by deficiency of galactocerebrosidase. Patients with the infantile form of Krabbe disease can be treated at a presymptomatic stage with human stem cell transplantation which improves survival and clinical outcomes. However, without a family history, most cases of infantile Krabbe disease present after onset of symptoms and are ineligible for transplantation. In 2006, New York began screening newborns for Krabbe disease to identify presymptomatic cases. To ensure that those identified with infantile disease received timely treatment, New York public health and medical systems took steps to accurately diagnose and rapidly …

Fasoracetam In Adolescents With Adhd And Glutamatergic Gene Network Variants Disrupting Mglur Neurotransmitter Signaling., Josephine Elia, Grace Ungal, Charlly Kao, Alexander Ambrosini, Nilsa De Jesus-Rosario, Lene Larsen, Rosetta Chiavacci, Tiancheng Wang, Christine Kurian, Kanani Titchen, Brian Sykes, Sharon Hwang, Bhumi Kumar, Jacqueline Potts, Joshua Davis, Jeffrey Malatack, Emma Slattery, Ganesh Moorthy, Athena Zuppa, Andrew Weller, Enda Byrne, Yun R. Li, Walter K. Kraft, Hakon Hakonarson

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

The glutamatergic neurotransmitter system may play an important role in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This 5-week, open-label, single-blind, placebo-controlled study reports the safety, pharmacokinetics and responsiveness of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activator fasoracetam (NFC-1), in 30 adolescents, age 12-17 years with ADHD, harboring mutations in mGluR network genes. Mutation status was double-blinded. A single-dose pharmacokinetic profiling from 50-800 mg was followed by a single-blind placebo at week 1 and subsequent symptom-driven dose advancement up to 400 mg BID for 4 weeks. NFC-1 treatment resulted in significant improvement. Mean Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) and Severity (CGI-S) scores were, respectively, 3.79 …

Use Of Caudal Epidural Catheter In A Child With Cerebral Palsy With Prior Posterior Spine (T1-Sacrum) Fusion., Divya Dixit, Mary C. Theroux, Kirk W. Dabney, Freeman Miller

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Neonatal Safety Information Reported To The Fda During Drug Development Studies., Debbie Avant, Gerri Baer, Jason N. Moore, Panli Zheng, Alfred Sorbello, Ron Ariagno, Lynne Yao, Gilbert J. Burckart, Jian Wang

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Relatively few neonatal drug development studies have been conducted, but an increase is expected with the enactment of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA). Understanding the safety of drugs studied in neonates is complicated by the unique nature of the population and the level of illness. The objective of this study was to examine neonatal safety data submitted to the FDA in studies pursuant to the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) and the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA) between 1998 and 2015.

METHODS: FDA databases were searched for BPCA and/or PREA studies that enrolled …

Changes In The 2017 Pediatric Hypertension Clinical Guidelines., Bonita Falkner

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The clinical practice guidelines on diagnosis and management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents have been periodically modified and updated since the original publication in 1977.1 Since the last pediatric blood pressure guideline was published in 2004, known as the Fourth Report,2 the literature on child BP and hypertension has expanded considerably. There has been a recognized need to update the Fourth Report for several years. However, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) who sponsored previous pediatric BP guidelines announced that NHLBI would no longer sponsor development of new clinical guidelines.3 Subsequently, in 2014 the American …

Monitoring And Management Of Hypertension With Obesity In Adolescents., Bonita Falkner

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Largely due to the childhood obesity epidemic, there has been an increase in the prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents. Obesity associated hypertension is the most common hypertension phenotype among adolescents. Approximately 30% of obese adolescents have elevated blood pressure (BP) or hypertension. Updated definitions of elevated BP and hypertension in adolescents are now similar to definitions of BP status in adults. For adolescents ≥13 years of age, elevated BP is 120 to 129/Hypertension, stage 1, is ≥130 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg, and hypertension, stage 2, is ≥140/90 mm Hg. BP measurements over separate clinic visits are …

Renal Scar Formation And Kidney Function Following Antibiotic-Treated Murine Pyelonephritis., Patrick D. Olson, Lisa K. Mclellan, Alice Liu, Kelleigh L. Briden, Kristin M. Tiemann, Allyssa L. Daugherty, Keith A. Hruska, David A. Hunstad

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

We present a new preclinical model to study treatment, resolution and sequelae of severe ascending pyelonephritis. Urinary tract infection (UTI), primarily caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), is a common disease in children. Severe pyelonephritis is the primary cause of acquired renal scarring in childhood, which may eventually lead to hypertension and chronic kidney disease in a small but important fraction of patients. Preclinical modeling of UTI utilizes almost exclusively females, which (in most mouse strains) exhibit inherent resistance to severe ascending kidney infection; consequently, no existing preclinical model has assessed the consequences of recovery from pyelonephritis following antibiotic treatment. …

Hyperoxia Causes Mir-34a-Mediated Injury Via Angiopoietin-1 In Neonatal Lungs., Mansoor Syed, Pragnya Das, Aishwarya Pawar, Zubair H. Aghai, Anu Kaskinen, Zhen W. Zhuang, Namasivayam Ambalavanan, Gloria Pryhuber, Sture Andersson, Vineet Bhandari

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (HALI) is a key contributor to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in neonates, for which no specific preventive or therapeutic agent is available. Here we show that lung micro-RNA (miR)-34a levels are significantly increased in lungs of neonatal mice exposed to hyperoxia. Deletion or inhibition of miR-34a improves the pulmonary phenotype and BPD-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in BPD mouse models, which, conversely, is worsened by miR-34a overexpression. Administration of angiopoietin-1, which is one of the downstream targets of miR34a, is able to ameliorate the BPD pulmonary and PAH phenotypes. Using three independent cohorts of …

Characterization Of Pulmonary Metastases In Children With Hepatoblastoma Treated On Children's Oncology Group Protocol Ahep0731 (The Treatment Of Children With All Stages Of Hepatoblastoma): A Report From The Children's Oncology Group., Allison F. O'Neill, Alexander J. Towbin, Mark D. Krailo, Caihong Xia, Yun Gao, M. Beth Mccarville, Rebecka L. Meyers, Eugene D. Mcgahren, Greg M. Tiao, Stephen P. Dunn, Max R. Langham, Christopher B. Weldon, Milton J. Finegold, Sarangarajan Ranganathan, Wayne L. Furman, Marcio Malogolowkin, Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Howard M. Katzenstein

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Purpose To determine whether the pattern of lung nodules in children with metastatic hepatoblastoma (HB) correlates with outcome. Methods Thirty-two patients with metastatic HB were enrolled on Children's Oncology Group Protocol AHEP0731 and treated with vincristine and irinotecan (VI). Responders to VI received two additional cycles of VI intermixed with six cycles of cisplatin/fluorouracil/vincristine/doxorubicin (C5VD), and nonresponders received six cycles of C5VD alone. Patients were imaged after every two cycles and at the conclusion of therapy. All computed tomography scans and pathology reports were centrally reviewed, and information was collected regarding lung nodule number, size, laterality, timing of resolution, and …

Lung Rest During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation For Neonatal Respiratory Failure-Practice Variations And Outcomes., Deepthi Alapati, Zubair H. Aghai, Jobayer Hossain, Daniel R Dirnberger, Mark T. Ogino, Thomas H. Shaffer

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Describe practice variations in ventilator strategies used for lung rest during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure in neonates, and assess the potential impact of various lung rest strategies on the duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and the duration of mechanical ventilation after decannulation.

DATA SOURCES: Retrospective cohort analysis from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry database during the years 2008-2013.

STUDY SELECTION: All extracorporeal membrane oxygenation runs for infants less than or equal to 30 days of life for pulmonary reasons were included.

DATA EXTRACTION: Ventilator type and ventilator settings used for lung rest at 24 hours after …

The Effects Of C5-Substituted 2,4-Diaminoquinazolines On Selected Transcript Expression In Spinal Muscular Atrophy Cells., Cinsley Gentillon, Andrew J Connell, Ryan W Kirk, Matthew E R Butchbach

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

C5-substituted 2,4-diaminoquinazolines (2,4-DAQs) ameliorate disease severity in SMA mice. It is uncertain, however, that these compounds increase SMN protein levels in vivo even though they were identified as activators of the SMN2 promoter. These compounds also regulate the expression of other transcripts in neuroblastoma cells. In this study, we investigate the mechanism by which the 2,4-DAQs regulate the expression of SMN2 as well as other targets. D156844, D158872, D157161 and D157495 (RG3039) increased SMN2 promoter-driven reporter gene activity by at least 3-fold in NSC-34 cells. These compounds, however, did not significantly increase SMN2 mRNA levels in type II SMA fibroblasts …

Development Of Bone Targeting Drugs., Molly Stapleton, Kazuki Sawamoto, Carlos J. Alméciga-Díaz, William G. Mackenzie, Robert W. Mason, Tadao Orii, Shunji Tomatsu

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

The skeletal system, comprising bones, ligaments, cartilage and their connective tissues, is critical for the structure and support of the body. Diseases that affect the skeletal system can be difficult to treat, mainly because of the avascular cartilage region. Targeting drugs to the site of action can not only increase efficacy but also reduce toxicity. Bone-targeting drugs are designed with either of two general targeting moieties, aimed at the entire skeletal system or a specific cell type. Most bone-targeting drugs utilize an affinity to hydroxyapatite, a major component of the bone matrix that includes a high concentration of positively-charged Ca(2+). …

Buprenorphine For The Treatment Of The Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome., Walter K. Kraft, Susan C. Adeniyi-Jones, Inna Chervoneva, Jay S. Greenspan, Diane J. Abatemarco, Karol Kaltenbach, Michelle E. Ehrlich

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Background: Current pharmacologic treatment of the neonatal abstinence syndrome with morphine is associated with a lengthy duration of therapy and hospitalization. Buprenorphine may be more effective than morphine for this indication. Methods: In this single-site, double-blind, double-dummy clinical trial, we randomly assigned 63 term infants (≥37 weeks of gestation) who had been exposed to opioids in utero and who had signs of the neonatal abstinence syndrome to receive either sublingual buprenorphine or oral morphine. Infants with symptoms that were not controlled with the maximum dose of opioid were treated with adjunctive phenobarbital. The primary end point was the duration of …

Professional Practices, Training, And Funding Mechanisms: A Survey Of Pediatric Primary Care Psychologists, Kathryn W. Hoffses, Andrew R. Riley, Kathryn M. Menousek, Kriston B. Schellinger, Allison O. Grennan, Chrissy Cammarata, Jason L. Steadman

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

The integration of mental health services in primary care settings has expanded rapidly in recent years with psychologists being at the forefront of efforts to promote healthy behaviors, reduce disease, and care for behavioral, emotional, and developmental needs to promote overall health and well-being for children and families (Asarnow, Kolko, Miranda,&Kazak, 2017; Stancin& Perrin, 2014). While there are many psychologists working in pediatric primary care (PPC), little is known about the specific activities that these psychologists engage in, the training they receive, or funding mechanisms that support their work. This study sought to address this gap in the literature through …

Spotlight On The Integrated Primary Care Special Interest Group, Kathryn W. Hoffses, Andrew R. Riley, Kathryn M. Menousek, Kriston B. Schellinger, Allison O. Grennan, Chrissy Cammarata, Jason L. Steadman

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based Decision Support For Pediatric Rheumatology Reduces Diagnostic Errors., Michael M. Segal, Balu Athreya, Mary Beth F. Son, Irit Tirosh, Jonathan S. Hausmann, Elizabeth Yn. Ang, David Zurakowski, Lynn K. Feldman, Robert P. Sundel

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The number of trained specialists world-wide is insufficient to serve all children with pediatric rheumatologic disorders, even in the countries with robust medical resources. We evaluated the potential of diagnostic decision support software (DDSS) to alleviate this shortage by assessing the ability of such software to improve the diagnostic accuracy of non-specialists.

METHODS: Using vignettes of actual clinical cases, clinician testers generated a differential diagnosis before and after using diagnostic decision support software. The evaluation used the SimulConsult® DDSS tool, based on Bayesian pattern matching with temporal onset of each finding in each disease. The tool covered 5405 diseases …

Exploring The Feasibility Of Incorporating Sexual Education Into Routine Adolescent Office Visits, Holly A. Rankin, Alisa Losasso, Md, Beth I. Schwartz, Md

CwiC Posters

Preventative sexual education can reduce the negative health outcomes of sexual behavior in adolescent populations.1 The objective of this pilot study was to determine if sexual education can be delivered as a scripted five-minute module during a routine adolescent office visit in a manner that is non-disruptive of clinic flow and acceptable to both patients and providers.

• 85% of providers reported the intervention did not interrupt clinic flow

• 86% of patients reported the intervention to be appropriate and 92% of providers were satisfied overall with the intervention

These pilot data highlight that the incorporation of brief scripted sexual …

Differential Item Functioning In The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric Short Forms In A Sample Of Children And Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy., Wendy J. Coster, Pengsheng Ni, Mary D. Slavin, Pamela A. Kisala, Ratna Nandakumar, Mary Jane Mulcahey, David S. Tulsky, Alan M. Jette

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

AIM: The present study examined the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Mobility, Fatigue, and Pain Interference Short Forms (SFs) in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) for the presence of differential item functioning (DIF) relative to the original calibration sample.

METHOD: Using the Graded Response Model we compared item parameter estimates generated from a sample of 303 children and adolescents with CP (175 males, 128 females; mean age 15y 5mo) to parameter estimates from the PROMIS calibration sample, which served as the reference group. DIF was assessed in a two-step process using the item response theory-likelihood ratio-differential …

Exploring Patient And Family Satisfaction In Pediatric Neurological Surgery, Randa R. Barsoom, Todd A. Maugans, James F. Burrows, Paul Rosen

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Introduction Patient and family satisfaction during outpatient visits is correlated with a continuance of care and likelihood to recommend the practice to others. Additionally, patient-family satisfaction can determine the success of the practice and influence medical outcomes. Utilizing a well-validated surveys instrument, patient and family satisfaction can be explored in the office setting. Methods During a consecutive 36 month period, a standardized and validated patient satisfaction survey instrument was provided to the family members of patients who presented to two pediatric neurosurgery clinics associated with Nemours Children's Health System. The completed surveys were analyzed statistically to identify correlations between overall …

The Airway Microbiome At Birth., Charitharth Vivek Lal, Colm Travers, Zubair H. Aghai, Peter Eipers, Tamas Jilling, Brian Halloran, Waldemar A. Carlo, Jordan Keeley, Gabriel Rezonzew, Ranjit Kumar, Casey Morrow, Vineet Bhandari, Namasivayam Ambalavanan

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Alterations of pulmonary microbiome have been recognized in multiple respiratory disorders. It is critically important to ascertain if an airway microbiome exists at birth and if so, whether it is associated with subsequent lung disease. We found an established diverse and similar airway microbiome at birth in both preterm and term infants, which was more diverse and different from that of older preterm infants with established chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia). Consistent temporal dysbiotic changes in the airway microbiome were seen from birth to the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm infants. Genus Lactobacillus was decreased at birth in …

Postoperative Intussusception In 10-Year-Old Presenting As Decreased Intestinal Motility, Arielle Spellun, Loren Berman, Stephen Murphy

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Parental And Staff Perspectives Of Nicu Research Procedures., Christina Freibott, Ursula Guillen, Amy Mackley, Robert Locke

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on parental perception of infant participation in minimal risk and minor increase above minimal risk research focusing on the NICU population. The study objective was to assess parental and NICU staff perceptions concerning minimal risk and minor increase above minimal risk in the NICU setting.

METHODS: Parents of infants and NICU staff were presented with a combination of 4 infant scenarios and 5 hypothetical research procedures. These assessed participants' willingness to allow their infant to participate in research and their attitude towards obligation to assist future children. Linear and hierarchal linear models analyzed the association …

Childhood Psychosocial Determinants Of Cardiovascular Health, Samuel S. Gidding, Erica D. Sood

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Understanding risk and protective factors that impact cardiovascular health is of utmost importance. There is ample evidence that cardiovascular health begins in childhood, tracks over time, and is subject to adverse social influences. This paper reviews key studies examining the relations of psychosocial factors in childhood to cardiovascular health in adulthood. The existing literature provides evidence for both individual and cumulative effects of childhood psychosocial factors on adult cardiovascular health across the population, although the specific mechanisms underlying these relationships are not yet fully understood. This paper also includes a discussion of evidence-based strategies for prevention and treatment of childhood …

Unlocking The Doors To Patient Satisfaction In Pediatric Orthopaedics, Frederick B. Peng, Bs, James F. Burrows, Mba, Eric D. Shirley, Md, Paul Rosen, Md, Mph, Mmm

Department of Pediatrics Posters

Background

• Many hospitals continue to struggle to improve patient satisfaction as the identification of tangible quality improvement areas remains difficult
• Medicare hospital payments are linked to patient satisfaction and hospitals' HCAHPS scores, which has contributed to the growing influence of patient satisfaction measures
• Investigation into the major drivers of patient satisfaction in the pediatric clinical arena has not been thoroughly pursued
• To determine the main drivers of patient experience in pediatric orthopaedics, we performed an analysis of patient satisfaction surveys collected from outpatient pediatric orthopaedic practices at 5 locations in 3 states
• Hypothesis: the patient-physician relationship is the most important …

Prophylactic Methylprednisolone To Reduce Inflammation And Improve Outcomes From One Lung Ventilation In Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial., Mary C. Theroux, Alicia Olivant Fisher, Maria E. Rodriguez, Robert P. Brislin, Kirk W. Reichard, Suken A. Shah, Matt Mccoy, Melinda Brown, Kirk W. Dabney, William G. Mackenzie, Douglas A. Katz, Thomas H. Shaffer

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: One lung ventilation (OLV) results in inflammatory and mechanical injury, leading to intraoperative and postoperative complications in children. No interventions have been studied in children to minimize such injury.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that a single 2-mg·kg(-1) dose of methylprednisolone given 45-60 min prior to lung collapse would minimize injury from OLV and improve physiological stability.

METHODS: Twenty-eight children scheduled to undergo OLV were randomly assigned to receive 2 mg·kg(-1) methylprednisolone (MP) or normal saline (placebo group) prior to OLV. Anesthetic management was standardized, and data were collected for physiological stability (bronchospasm, respiratory resistance, and compliance). Plasma was assayed for …

Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections In Pediatric Intensive Care Units: Longitudinal Trends And Compliance With Bundle Strategies., Jeffrey D. Edwards, Carolyn T. Herzig, Hangsheng Liu, Monika Pogorzelska-Maziarz, Philip Zachariah, Andrew W. Dick, Lisa Saiman, Patricia W. Stone, E. Yoko Furuya

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND: Knowing the temporal trend central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates among U.S. pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), the current extent of central line bundle compliance, and the impact of compliance on rates is necessary to understand what has been accomplished and can be improved in CLABSI prevention.

METHODS: This is a longitudinal study of PICUs in National Healthcare Safety Network hospitals and a cross-sectional survey of directors and managers of infection prevention and control departments regarding PICU CLABSI prevention practices, including self-reported compliance with elements of central line bundles. Associations between 2011-2012 PICU CLABSI rates and infection prevention practices …

Compensatory Fetal Membrane Mechanisms Between Biglycan And Decorin In Inflammation., Luciana Batalha De Miranda De Araujo, Casie E Horgan, Abraham Aron, Renato V. Iozzo, Beatrice E Lechner

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes (PPROM) is associated with infection, and is one of the most common causes of preterm birth. Abnormal expression of biglycan and decorin, two extracellular matrix proteoglycans, leads to preterm birth and aberrant fetal membrane morphology and signaling in the mouse. In humans and mice, decorin dysregulation is associated with inflammation in PPROM. We therefore investigated the link between biglycan and decorin and inflammation in fetal membranes using mouse models of intraperitoneal Escherichia coli injections superimposed on genetic biglycan and decorin deficiencies. We assessed outcomes in vivo as well as in vitro using quantitative PCR, …