Krista Lauren Birnie

All Publications

• Failed endotracheal intubation and adverse outcomes among extremely low birth weight infants. Journal of perinatology Wallenstein, M. B., Birnie, K. L., Arain, Y. H., Yang, W., Yamada, N. K., Huffman, L. C., Palma, J. P., Chock, V. Y., Shaw, G. M., Stevenson, D. K. 2016; 36 (2): 112-115

  Abstract

  To quantify the importance of successful endotracheal intubation on the first attempt among extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants who require resuscitation after delivery.A retrospective chart review was conducted for all ELBW infants ⩽1000 g born between January 2007 and May 2014 at a level IV neonatal intensive care unit. Infants were included if intubation was attempted during the first 5 min of life or if intubation was attempted during the first 10 min of life with heart rate <100. The primary outcome was death or neurodevelopmental impairment. The association between successful intubation on the first attempt and the primary outcome was assessed using multivariable logistic regression with adjustment for birth weight, gestational age, gender and antenatal steroids.The study sample included 88 ELBW infants. Forty percent were intubated on the first attempt and 60% required multiple intubation attempts. Death or neurodevelopmental impairment occurred in 29% of infants intubated on the first attempt, compared with 53% of infants that required multiple attempts, adjusted odds ratio 0.4 (95% confidence interval 0.1 to 1.0), P<0.05.Successful intubation on the first attempt is associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes among ELBW infants. This study confirms the importance of rapid establishment of a stable airway in ELBW infants requiring resuscitation after birth and has implications for personnel selection and role assignment in the delivery room.Journal of Perinatology advance online publication, 5 November 2015; doi:10.1038/jp.2015.158.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/jp.2015.158

  View details for PubMedID 26540244

• Periconceptional changes in weight and risk of delivering offspring with conotruncal heart defects. Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology Carter, E. H., Carmichael, S. L., Birnie, K., Yang, W., Lammer, E. J., Shaw, G. M. 2015; 103 (10): 843-846

  Abstract

  Maternal nutritional status has been recognized as a contributor to conotruncal heart defects, but there is limited understanding of the specific nutrition-related factors involved. In this California case-control study of 296 conotruncal cases and 695 nonmalformed controls we explored whether weight loss during early pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of d-transposition of the great arteries (dTGA) and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) conotruncal defects.During telephone interviews women were asked whether they were dieting to lose weight or using weight loss remedies during 2 months before or 2 months after conception, and how much weight they gained or lost in the first 2 months of pregnancy or during the year before pregnancy.Odds ratios for dieting to lose weight and use of weight loss remedies for dTGA and TOF were not substantially elevated and all had confidence intervals that included 1.0. Mothers who had a loss of >5 lbs in the first 2 months of pregnancy as well as mothers who lost and gained >5 lbs in the first 2 months of pregnancy also did not show a significant increased risk of delivering case infants when compared with women with no weight change in the year before pregnancy.Given current recommendations about limited weight gain for obese pregnant women, these data indicate that dieting may not substantially increase a fetus' risk of having a conotruncal defect.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/bdra.23381

  View details for PubMedID 26033835

• Red Blood Cell Transfusion Is Not Associated with Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Review of Consecutive Transfusions in a Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS Wallenstein, M. B., Arain, Y. H., Birnie, K. L., Andrews, J., Palma, J. P., Benitz, W. E., Chock, V. Y. 2014; 165 (4): 678-682

  Abstract

  To explore the association between red blood cell transfusion and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in a neonatal intensive care unit with liberal transfusion practices.A retrospective cohort study was conducted for all infants weighing <1500 g who received at least 1 packed red blood cell transfusion between January 2008 and June 2013 in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. The primary outcome was NEC, defined as Bell stage II or greater. The temporal association of NEC and transfusion was assessed using multivariate Poisson regression.The study sample included 414 very low birth weight infants who received 2889 consecutive red blood cell transfusions. Twenty-four infants (5.8%) developed NEC. Four cases of NEC occurred within 48 hours of a previous transfusion event. Using multivariate Poisson regression, we did not find evidence of a temporal association between NEC and transfusion (P = .32).There was no association between NEC and red blood cell transfusion. Our results differ from previous studies and suggest that the association between NEC and transfusion may be contextual.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.06.012

  View details for Web of Science ID 000342694200009

• Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification identification of whole exon and single nucleotide deletions in the CFTR gene of Hispanic individuals with cystic fibrosis JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS Schrijver, I., Rappahahn, K., Pique, L., Kharrazi, M., Wong, L. 2008; 10 (4): 368-375

  Abstract

  A disparity between Caucasian and Hispanic mutation detection for cystic fibrosis continues to exist, although the carrier frequency is only moderately lower in Hispanics. We aimed to identify exonic rearrangements that remained undetected by conventional methods. In seven of 32 cystic fibrosis-affected self-identified Hispanics for whom only one or no mutations were identified by extensive molecular testing, exon deletions appeared to be present with a multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) assay. Two recurrent deletions (of exons 2-3 and exons 22-23) were identified in one and three patients, respectively (12.5%, 11.1% of unidentified alleles). Two apparently novel deletions (exons 6b and 20) were identified in three additional patients. Subsequent sequencing to characterize deletion breakpoints, however, identified single nucleotide deletions at the probe binding sites close to the ligation point. All resulted in false positive MLPA deletion signals. Interestingly, these mutations were not common in Caucasians, and one (935delA) was common in U.S. Hispanics. On examination of all probe binding sites, we identified a total of 76 reported mutations and five silent variants that immediately surrounded the MLPA ligation sites, with 22 occurring in non-Caucasians. These mutations are not all rare. Thus, apparent exon deletions by MLPA may indicate the presence of both large deletions and point mutations, with important implications for pan-ethnic MLPA testing in cystic fibrosis and other genetic conditions.

  View details for DOI 10.2353/jmoldx.2008.080004

  View details for Web of Science ID 000257262400013

  View details for PubMedID 18556774