Trends in Outcomes for Neonates Born Very Preterm and Very Low Birth Weight in 11 High-Income Countries

Objective To evaluate outcome trends of neonates born very preterm in 11 high-income countries participating in the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes of neonates. Study design In a retrospective cohort study, we included 154 233 neonates admitted to 529 neonatal units between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, at 24(0/7) to 31(6/7) weeks of gestational age and birth weight <1500 g. Composite outcomes were in-hospital mortality or any of severe neurologic injury, treated retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); and same composite outcome excluding BPD. Secondary outcomes were mortality and individual morbidities. For each country, annual outcome trends and adjusted relative risks comparing epoch 2 (2012-2015) to epoch 1 (2007-2011) were analyzed. Results For composite outcome including BPD, the trend decreased in Canada and Israel but increased in Australia and New Zealand, Japan, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. For composite outcome excluding BPD, the trend decreased in all countries except Spain, Sweden, Tuscany, and the United Kingdom. The risk of composite outcome was lower in epoch 2 than epoch 1 in Canada (adjusted relative risks 0.78; 95% CI 0.74-0.82) only. The risk of composite outcome excluding BPD was significantly lower in epoch 2 compared with epoch 1 in Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Japan, and Switzerland. Mortality rates reduced in most countries in epoch 2. BPD rates increased significantly in all countries except Canada, Israel, Finland, and Tuscany. Conclusions In most countries, mortality decreased whereas BPD increased for neonates born very preterm

HOME RANGE RESPONSES OF WHITE-TAILED DEER TO CROP-PROTECTION FENCES

We studied the home ranges and activity patterns of 24 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in southwestern Wisconsin via radio-telemetry and visual observation to determine their response to single-strand electric crop-protection fences. Deer were allowed to establish feeding patterns in alfalfa fields during the spring green-up periods of 1986 and 1987. In mid-April of each year, 7 fences were constructed around selected 7-25 ha alfalfa fields to exclude deer from varying portions of their home ranges. No fences were constructed around alfalfa fields in one area. Fences were built around 50 and 100% of the alfalfa in 2 other areas. Deer movements were monitored in each of the 3 areas. Preliminary observations indicate that 1) marked and unmarked deer used alfalfa fields extensively from snowmelt to first cutting, 2) deer-use of alfalfa fields by deer decreased significantly (P\u3c0.05) after fences were installed in the 50 and 100% treatment areas. Conversely, deer in the 0% treatment area significantly (P\u3c0.05) increased their use of alfalfa fields after fences were installed, and 3) home ranges of deer in each of the treatment level areas decreased significantly (P\u3c0.05) in size after fences were installed. Deer limited their movements primarily to non-alfalfa areas within their pre-fencing home ranges. These results lend further support for the use of fences in deer damage control