Clinical data, neonatal neuroimaging, laboratory results, the histopathological features of the placenta and gastric smear within the first hour of delivery, were evaluated.\n\nResults: Cerebral palsy was detected in 11 out of 141 preterm newborns (7.8%). The incidence of silent histological chorioamnionitis was 33.6% (43 of 128 cases). Chorioamniontis was significantly associated with the risk of unexplained cerebral palsy (p = 0.024). There were also significant correlations between maternal genital

infections and chorioamnionitis (p = 0.005), and between maternal infections and a positive smear of neonatal gastric aspirates (p = 0.000). The rate of cesarean section was 67.4% (95 out of 141 deliveries), and elective cesarean section was performed in 68 cases.\n\nConclusion: Intrauterine exposure to maternal infection was associated with a marked increase in the risk of cerebral palsy in preterm infants. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All this website rights reserved.”
“Purpose. The authors reviewed chest radiographs Lonafarnib molecular weight (CXR) and thin-section computed tomography (CT) findings

of pulmonary complications in a selected population of 50 consecutive patients with severe novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) pneumonia who were seen at the Subintensive Respiratory Unit (UTSIR) and at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.\n\nMaterials and methods. CXR and CT findings of 50 patients who fulfilled the World Health Organisation (WHO) buy AR-13324 criteria for S-OIV infection were reviewed by four radiologists. The final study group of 50 patients was divided into two subgroups on the basis of clinical course: group 1 consisted of 42 patients requiring noninvasive

mechanical ventilation and admitted to the UTSIR; group 2 consisted of eight patients who required ICU admission and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or advanced mechanical ventilation from October 2009 to December 2009. All patients underwent CXR and thin-section multidetector CT (MDCT) scan; the initial and follow-up radiographs and CT scans were evaluated for the presentation and follow-up pattern (consolidation, ground-glass opacities, nodules, reticulation), distribution and extent of abnormality.\n\nResults. All patients had radiological signs of pulmonary involvement. Ground-glass opacity and consolidation, which was mainly peripheral, was the most frequent finding. In three patients, we report for the first time in viral pneumonia the reversed halo sign. Lesion extent was related to aggressiveness of the illness. More often, both lungs were involved (82%). Thoracic comorbidity was present in 18% of patients; 22% of patients was obese, and in this group, the clinical course was more aggressive than in the others with the same lesion extent at imaging. Furthermore, superinfection led to worsening of the clinical conditions.\n\nConclusions.