Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rory J. Heath, Susanna Klevebro, Thomas R. Wood
Summary: The N3 and N6 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are essential for proper neurodevelopment in early life. This review suggests that feed comprising 0.3% DHA and 0.6% AA may be associated with more positive neurodevelopmental outcomes in premature infants compared to LCPUFA-deplete feed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Anastasis Georgoulas, Laura Jones, Maria Pureza Laudiano-Dray, Judith Meek, Lorenzo Fabrizi, Kimberley Whitehead
Summary: In this study of 175 infants, unique regulation of sleep-wake states was observed, with particularly long durations of active sleep. Stress and nociception were found to impact sleep durations, especially in preterm infants, highlighting the importance of environmental interventions in promoting healthy sleep patterns.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Cristina Ciupitu-Plath, Franziska Tietz, Jana Herzberg
Summary: Standardized instruments for assessing the needs of parents with premature babies in NICUs have been identified and validated for clinical and research settings. Further research is needed to evaluate the benefits and usability of standardized parental needs assessment in NICU environments. Consistent use of validated needs assessment tools is recommended to facilitate targeted psychosocial and educational interventions for parents in the NICU.
PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING
(2021)
Article
Anesthesiology
Mario Lavanga, Bieke Bollen, Alexander Caicedo, Anneleen Dereymaeker, Katrien Jansen, Els Ortibus, Sabine Van Huffel, Gunnar Naulaers
Summary: Preterm infants show higher levels of discontinuity in EEG and heart rate variability when exposed to high levels of procedural pain in the NICU, ultimately impacting physiological development. This impact is more pronounced in preterm infants with lower gestational ages.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Thomas R. Wood, Pratik Parikh, Bryan A. Comstock, Janessa B. Law, Theo K. Bammler, Karl C. Kuban, Dennis E. Mayock, Patrick J. Heagerty, Sandra Juul
Summary: In extremely preterm infants, elevated baseline Epo levels were associated with increased risk of death or severe disability. Epo appeared to mitigate the association between elevated IL-6 levels and lower BSID-III scores. Additionally, elevated Tau concentrations at baseline, day 7 and day 14 were associated with worse cognitive, motor, and language skills at two years of age.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Robert D. D. Roghair, Tarah T. T. Colaizy, Baiba Steinbrekera, Reka A. Vass, Erica Hsu, Daniel Dagle, Trassanee Chatmethakul
Summary: Leptin deficiency in preterm infants is associated with adverse cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Supplementation of leptin can improve developmental assessment scores, particularly in males. Further research is needed to investigate the effects of neonatal leptin supplementation on long-term outcomes in preterm infants.
Review
Pediatrics
Versieri Oliveira de Almeida, Renan Augusto Pereira, Sergio Luis Amantea, Claudia Ramos Rhoden, Mauricio Obal Colvero
Summary: An integrative review was conducted to explore the relationship between oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers in cord blood of premature newborns and the prognosis of diseases in the neonatal period. The findings indicate that oxidative stress is positively associated with the development of prematurity-related diseases, including intrauterine growth restriction, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and others. The analysis of oxidative stress and antioxidants in cord blood may provide valuable insights into the prognosis of certain pathologies.
JORNAL DE PEDIATRIA
(2022)
Review
Pediatrics
Silvia Guiducci, Leonardo Meggiolaro, Anna Righetto, Marco Piccoli, Eugenio Baraldi, Alfonso Galderisi
Summary: Glucose impairment is common in preterm infants, but the impact of early neonatal hyperglycemia on long-term neurodevelopment is still controversial. This review examines current evidence and finds an association between hyperglycemia and neurological delay in the first two years of life, especially for motor functions.
Article
Pediatrics
Mary Anne J. Ryan, Sean R. Mathieson, Vicki Livingstone, Marc Paul O'Sullivan, Eugene M. Dempsey, Geraldine B. Boylan
Summary: This prospective observational study examines the nocturnal sleep architecture of healthy moderate to late preterm infants at 36 weeks post menstrual age. The study finds that sleep state architecture is dependent on birth GA, with infants born at lower GA having less active sleep and more quiet sleep. These findings may have implications for the neurodevelopment of the infants.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
David B. Healy, Benjamin Campbell-Green, Vicki Livingstone, C. Anthony Ryan, R. Paul Ross, Catherine Stanton, Eugene M. Dempsey
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined outcome of death and/or severe grade necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in very preterm infants before and after the introduction of routine supplementation with Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotics. The results showed a reduction in the composite outcome of severe grade NEC and/or death after the introduction of routine administration of probiotics.
Article
Pediatrics
Christine Manich Bech Baggesgaard, Anja Poulsen, Kia Hee Schultz Dungu, Lotte Jensen, Hanna Rahimi, Lise Aunsholt, Stine Lund
Summary: This study investigated the timeliness of childhood vaccinations in preterm infants in Denmark and identified factors influencing delayed vaccination. The results showed that most preterm infants received the first vaccination on time, but the timeliness decreased with subsequent vaccinations. Therefore, efforts should be made to educate healthcare personnel and parents to ensure timely vaccination.
Article
Neurosciences
Alex M. Pagnozzi, Liza van Eijk, Kerstin Pannek, Roslyn N. Boyd, Susmita Saha, Joanne George, Samudragupta Bora, DanaKai Bradford, Michael Fahey, Michael Ditchfield, Atul Malhotra, Helen Liley, Paul B. Colditz, Stephen Rose, Jurgen Fripp
Summary: Infants born very preterm face neurodevelopmental challenges and early identification through clinical assessment and MRI can enable targeted interventions. This study used a prospective cohort of preterm infants and identified early MRI biomarkers for neurodevelopmental outcomes using advanced imaging techniques. The results demonstrated the utility of MRI prior to term equivalent age for predicting outcomes and initiating early interventions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chong Liu, Carmen Messerlian, Ying-Jun Chen, Vicente Mustieles, Li-Li Huang, Yang Sun, Yan-Ling Deng, Ying-Hui Cheng, Jing Liu, A-Mei Liu, Wen-Qing Lu, Yi-Xin Wang
Summary: The study revealed that exposure to high levels of disinfection by-products during specific trimesters of pregnancy can lead to impaired neonatal neurodevelopment, especially in male infants and mothers aged 25 or older. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Raheleh Faramarzi, Azadeh Darabi, Maryam Emadzadeh, Gholamali Maamouri, Reyhane Rezvani
Summary: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants in the NICU. By recalling the mentioned infants in 2021, the study assessed the neurodevelopmental outcomes using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, and found that prolonged hospital stays and longer duration of oxygen therapy were associated with developmental impairments in different domains.
EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Kendell R. German, Sandra E. Juul
Summary: Iron plays a critical role in brain development, with deficiencies potentially leading to permanent alterations in brain structure and function. Children with perinatal iron deficiency may experience delayed nerve conduction speeds, disrupted sleep patterns, motor deficits, and other issues.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Merida Rodriguez-Lopez, Carlos Vergara-Sanchez, Fatima Crispi, Ivan Leonardo Cepeda
Summary: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been consistently linked to cardiovascular disease risk. However, the specific changes observed are inconsistent across studies. Heterogeneity in exposure, outcome, and co-variables should be carefully considered in analysis, as well as postnatal effect modifications.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Rhandi Christensen, Vann Chau, Anne Synnes, Ruth E. Grunau, Steven P. Miller
Summary: Neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm twins are more strongly influenced by environmental factors than genetics. Discordant twin pairs, born earlier with more perinatal morbidities, become more similar in cognitive and language outcomes over time, possibly reflecting the positive impact of early intervention programs or home environment.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Thiviya Selvanathan, Ting Guo, Eddie Kwan, Vann Chau, Rollin Brant, Anne R. Synnes, Ruth E. Grunau, Steven P. Miller
Summary: Small birth head circumference is associated with poorer neurodevelopment outcomes, while small head circumference at discharge is linked to lower scores in motor, cognitive, and language assessments in children with small birth head circumference. Head circumference strongly correlates with total cerebral volume at term-equivalent age, but total cerebral volume is not associated with developmental outcomes.
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD-FETAL AND NEONATAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Anne R. Synnes, Julie Petrie, Ruth E. Grunau, Paige Church, Edmond Kelly, Diane Moddemann, Xiang Ye, Shoo K. Lee, Karel O'Brien
Summary: According to this study, FICare did not have a significant impact on cognitive and language delay in very preterm infants, but did show improvements in motor development.
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD-FETAL AND NEONATAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Christopher McPherson, Ruth E. Grunau
Summary: Chronic pain and agitation in neonates can affect brain development. Oral sweet-tasting solutions should be used carefully to alleviate behavioral responses to mild pain, with the understanding that long-term effects are unknown. Rapid-acting opioids are recommended for premedication in non-emergent endotracheal intubations. Continuous low-dose morphine or dexmedetomidine can be considered for preterm or term neonates experiencing stress during mechanical ventilation or therapeutic hypothermia. Further research is needed on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and efficacy of pharmacological agents for managing mild, moderate, and chronic pain and stress in neonates.
CLINICS IN PERINATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Mia A. Mclean, Olivia C. Scoten, Wayne Yu, Xiang Y. Ye, Julie Petrie, Paige T. Church, Amuchou S. Soraisham, Lucia S. Mirea, Joanne Weinberg, Anne R. Synnes, Karel O'Brien, Ruth E. Grunau
Summary: The study evaluates whether implementing Family Integrated Care (FICare) in the neonatal intensive care unit has a positive impact on the physiological and psychological well-being of premature infants and their mothers. The results indicate that FICare lowers maternal physiological stress and improves child behavior.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Min Sheng, Ting Guo, Connor Mabbott, Vann Chau, Anne Synnes, Linda S. de Vries, Ruth E. Grunau, Steven P. Miller
Summary: This study evaluated the relationship between ventricular volume and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born very preterm. The results showed that ventricular size at birth was associated with cognitive and motor outcomes at 4.5 years, suggesting abnormal white matter maturation in the setting of enlarged ventricular size.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Emma G. Duerden, Mia A. Mclean, Cecil Chau, Ting Guo, Margot Mackay, Vann Chau, Anne Synnes, Steven P. Miller, Ruth E. Grunau
Summary: This study found that in extremely preterm neonates born between 24-28 weeks' gestational age, more invasive procedures were associated with poorer sensory processing. Additionally, in the overall cohort, fewer sensory processing problems were correlated with greater thalamic growth between birth and term-equivalent age.
EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthias W. Wagner, Delvin So, Ting Guo, Lauren Erdman, Min Sheng, S. Ufkes, Ruth E. Grunau, Anne Synnes, Helen M. Branson, Vann Chau, Manohar M. Shroff, Birgit B. Ertl-Wagner, Steven P. Miller
Summary: This study aims to predict adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm neonates. By using brain MRI and extracting radiomic features, it was found that radiomic features outperformed clinical variables in predicting motor outcomes, and combining the two improved predictive performance.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Natalie Hoi-Man Chan, Anne Synnes, Ruth E. Grunau, Lindsay Colby, Julie Petrie, Tracy Elfring, Lindsay Richter, Leonora Hendson, Rudaina Banihani, Thuy Mai Luu
Summary: Preterm infants are at risk for language delay, and exposure to multiple languages is associated with lower language scores. Primary language at home has a weaker impact on language development.
Article
Neurosciences
Jillian Vinall Miller, Vann Chau, Anne Synnes, Steven P. Miller, Ruth E. Grunau
Summary: This study suggests that supportive maternal behavior can buffer the association between early brain dysmaturation and cognitive and language performance, providing an opportunity to promote optimal neurodevelopment in children born very preterm.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mia A. McLean, Olivia C. Scoten, Cecil M. Y. Chau, Anne Synnes, Steven P. Miller, Ruth E. Grunau
Summary: The study investigates the association between neonatal pain-related stress and the development of internalizing behaviors in children born very preterm. It also examines whether supportive parenting behaviors and lower parenting stress can attenuate this association.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Noha Gomaa, Chaini Konwar, Nicole Gladish, Stephanie H. Au-Young, Ting Guo, Min Sheng, Sarah M. Merrill, Edmond Kelly, Vann Chau, Helen M. Branson, Linh G. Ly, Emma G. Duerden, Ruth E. Grunau, Michael S. Kobor, Steven P. Miller
Summary: This cohort study of very preterm neonates suggests that biological aging may be associated with impaired brain growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The associations between epigenetic aging and adverse neonatal brain health warrant further attention.
Article
Psychiatry
Sarah M. Hutchison, Ursula Brain, Ruth E. Grunau, Boris Kuzeljevic, Mike Irvine, Louise C. Masse, Tim F. Oberlander
Summary: Prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants is associated with increased internalising and anxious behaviours in young children, but it is unclear whether this association persists into early adolescence. Furthermore, the contribution of in utero SSRI exposure versus underlying maternal mood to these associations is not well established.
Article
Pediatrics
Thiviya Selvanathan, Pearl Zaki, Mia A. McLean, Stephanie H. Au-Young, Cecil M. Y. Chau, Vann Chau, Anne R. Synnes, Linh G. Ly, Edmond Kelly, Ruth E. Grunau, Steven P. Miller
Summary: We assessed variability of analgesic use across three tertiary neonatal intensive care units accounting for early-life pain, and determined whether analgesia exposure modifies associations between early-life pain and neurodevelopment.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)