The Incubator's Journal Club
The Incubator’s Journal Club is a weekly podcast dedicated to reviewing the latest evidence published in peer-reviewed journals in neonatology and perinatal medicine. Each episode breaks down important studies in newborn and perinatal care, with a clear focus on methodology, key findings, and real-world clinical impact. Designed for clinicians, nurses, and trainees, this series highlights research that meaningfully informs bedside practice and clinical decision-making. It is an efficient and reliable way to stay current with the most relevant and practice-changing evidence in neonatal care.
Episodes
151 episodes
#442 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Does combining EEG and MRI improve neurodevelopmental prognostication in preterm infants?
In this episode of Journal Club, we wrap up a marathon recording session with a deep dive into the world of neonatal neuroprognostication. Daphna reviews a systematic review and meta-analysis from Pediatric Neurology that evaluates whether comb...
#442 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Is a low Apgar score more concerning than a low umbilical pH in preemies?
Ben kicks things off with a major career update before we dive into a critical study from JAMA Network Open. We explore the predictive value of the five minute Apgar score when combined with umbilical artery pH in very preterm infants. While th...
#442 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Does 24 hour in house staffing decrease physician productivity metrics?
Is your NICU considering the shift to 24 hour in house attending coverage? In this episode of Journal Club, we explore a provocative brief communication from the Journal of Perinatology. Ben and Daphna discuss the impact of moving from home cal...
#442 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Does NIRS guided treatment improve clinical outcomes for extremely preterm infants?
In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna dive into the results of the NIRTURE trial, recently published in JAMA Network Open. Building on the lessons of SafeBoosC 3 , the NIRTURE investigators aimed to reduce the burden of cerebral hypox...
#434 - [Journal Club] - 📌 LISA and Caffeine Together: What Do the Two-Year Outcomes Actually Show?
In this Journal Club episode, Ben reviews a secondary analysis of the CALI trial, published in JAMA Network Open, examining two-year neurodevelopmental and pulmonary outcomes in preterm infants who received early caffeine combined with LISA ver...
#434 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Could Intranasal Breast Milk Be the Next Adjunct Therapy for HIE?
In this Journal Club episode, Daphna presents the F-NeoBright trial — a pilot feasibility and safety study out of Hungary exploring intranasal fresh breast milk administration in neonates with moderate to severe HIE undergoing therapeutic hypot...
#434 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Can Ultrasound Help Us Better Identify Surgical NEC?
In this Journal Club episode, Ben takes the lead and reviews a prospective cohort pilot study from the Archives of Disease in Childhood examining whether combining abdominal ultrasound with plain radiography can improve surgical risk stratifica...
#434 - [Journal Club] - 📌 AAP update on therapeutic hypothermia for neonates with HIE
In this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna dive into the American Academy of Pediatrics' February Clinical Report on Therapeutic Hypothermia for Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy. Daphna, who presented this paper at the Florida Neonata...
#431 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Can Retinal Images Predict BPD and Pulmonary Hypertension?
In this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna explore an exciting new frontier in neonatology: oculomics. Reviewing a recent paper from JAMA Ophthalmology, they discuss how deep learning models applied to routine ROP screening images can predict...
#431 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Rethinking the Link Between BPD Grades and Pulmonary Hypertension
In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a pivotal paper from the Journal of Pediatrics led by the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Network (PPHNet). The study explores invasive hemodynamic metrics and long-term outcomes in infant...
#431 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Should We Stop Routine Car Seat Testing for Preterm Infants?
In this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review a systematic review and meta-analysis from JAMA Network Open questioning the clinical value of predischarge car seat tolerance screening (CSTS). Driven by data suggesting that testing does not...
#431 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Prophylactic hydrocortisone to improve BPD-free survival?
In this Daily Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review a massive Swedish national cohort study from JAMA Network Open examining early prophylactic hydrocortisone in extremely preterm infants. They discuss the targeted regimens used, differen...
#410 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Should We Increase Caffeine Dosing for Extremely Preterm Infants?
In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective cohort study exploring the effects of higher caffeine maintenance dosing on BPD and neurodevelopmental outcomes. They discuss the transition from the standard CAP trial dose...
#410 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Does Drying Very Preterm Infants Before Wrapping Improve Normothermia?
In this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review the eye-opening results of the NeoDry Trial recently published in JAMA Network Open. They explore the clinical rationale of whether drying very preterm infants before applying a plastic wrap i...
#410 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Is Diazoxide Use Increasing for NICU Hypoglycemia?
In this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review a large cohort study from the Journal of Perinatology on the prevalence and safety of diazoxide in the NICU. With neonatal hypoglycemia seemingly on the rise, they discuss off-label use for tr...
#410 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Prophylactic Acetaminophen for PDA, Does Early Closure Improve Outcomes?
In this Journal Club episode, Ben and Daphna review the highly anticipated TREOCAPA trial results exploring the prophylactic use of acetaminophen for PDA closure in extremely preterm infants. They break down the study's tailored dosing regimens...
#399 - [Journal Club] - 📌 From Screening to Solution: Resolving Food Insecurity in Pediatrics
Ben and Daphna conclude Journal Club with a quality improvement study from Pediatrics titled "Improving Health-Related Social Needs Screening and Support Across a Pediatric Health Care System". The hosts discuss the successful implementation of...
#399 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Early Vitamin D: Can 800 IU Prevent BPD in Preterms?
Ben and Daphna review a randomized controlled trial published in The Journal of Pediatrics by Dr. Ariel Salas and colleagues at UAB. The study investigates whether early high-dose vitamin D supplementation (800 IU/day starting day 1) in extreme...
#399 - [Journal Club] - 📌 8 Days vs. 14 Days: Can We Shorten Antibiotics for Gram-Negative Sepsis?
In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective cohort study from Pediatrics examining antibiotic duration for uncomplicated Gram-negative bloodstream infections in the NICU. The study, a collaboration between Nationwide ...
#399 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Are We Compressing the Wrong Ventricle in Neonatal CPR?
In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a thought-provoking study from the Archives of Disease in Childhood titled "Chest Compression in Newborn Infants: What Anatomical Structures Are We Compressing?". The hosts explore the anat...
#396 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Cooling Late Preterms: Higher Mortality in 34-35 Weekers?
In this segment, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective study from the Hospital for Sick Children comparing outcomes of therapeutic hypothermia in late preterm (34-35 weeks) versus early term (36-37 weeks) infants. They discuss the significantly...
#396 - [Journal Club] - 📌 The 6-Fold Risk of NEC in Growth Restricted Infants
In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a prospective cohort study from the Journal of Perinatology that examines the care of neonates following in-utero growth restriction. The hosts unpack the critical distinction between Fetal...
#396 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Surfactant Thresholds: Is 40% FiO2 as Safe as 30%?
In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a non-inferiority trial from the European Journal of Pediatrics exploring surfactant administration thresholds in preterm neonates. The study, conducted in India, compares a 30% versus 40% ...
#396 - [Journal Club] - 📌 TORPIDO 30/60: Is Higher Initial Oxygen Safer for Preterm Infants?
In this episode of The Incubator, Ben and Daphna return from the Delphi Conference to dive back into Journal Club. They review the highly anticipated TORPIDO 30/60 trial published in JAMA, comparing initial oxygen concentrations of 30% versus 6...
#393 - [Journal Club] - 📌 Are We Too Busy? NICU Strain and Adverse Outcomes
In this episode of Journal Club, Ben and Daphna review a retrospective cohort study from the Journal of Perinatology examining the association between NICU capacity strain and neonatal outcomes. We discuss how high census and acuity on admissio...