Article
Environmental Sciences
Hao-Hsuan Lin, Chau-Ren Jung, Chuan-Yao Lin, Ya-Chu Chang, Chia-Yun Hsieh, Pei-Chuan Hsu, Bao-Ru Chuang, Bing-Fang Hwang
Summary: This study investigated the association between airborne heavy metals exposure and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a large birth cohort of 168,062 infants. The results showed a positive association between postnatal exposure to mercury (Hg) and ASD, with a higher risk during 10-25 weeks after birth. In addition, the risk of ASD associated with exposure to arsenic (As) and Hg in infants with low birth weight was significantly higher compared to infants with normal birth weight.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Noa Ofek Shlomai, Brian Reichman, Inna Zaslavsky-Paltiel, Liat Lerner-Geva, Smadar Eventov-Friedman
Summary: This study aimed to assess postnatal growth in infants with and without major neonatal morbidities. The results showed that despite advances in neonatal care, postnatal growth remains a challenge in very low birth weight infants, particularly those with major neonatal morbidities.
Article
Pediatrics
Dustin D. Flannery, Erik A. Jensen, Lauren A. Tomlinson, Yinxi Yu, Gui-Shuang Ying, Gil Binenbaum
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the association between sepsis and postnatal weight growth in infants born with low birth weight or preterm gestational ages. Infants with sepsis showed similar early weight growth trajectories to those without sepsis, but experienced significant deficits in weight that became apparent several weeks after the onset of sepsis.
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD-FETAL AND NEONATAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Ting Wang, Yanbo Lu, Junhua Wu, Beirong Yu
Summary: Intestinal fungi play a crucial role in the intestinal microecology and immunity development of preterm infants. This study reveals that the composition and dynamics of gut fungi in very low birth weight infants undergo significant changes during the first 2 months of life, potentially affecting their intestinal metabolic function.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Dustin D. Flannery, Erika M. Edwards, Karen M. Puopolo, Jeffrey D. Horbar
Summary: This study investigated the epidemiology and microbiology of early-onset sepsis (EOS) among very preterm infants from 2018 to 2019. The findings revealed an incidence rate of 13.5 per 1000 very preterm births, with Escherichia coli and group B Streptococcus being the most common pathogens. Infected infants had longer hospital stays and lower survival rates, emphasizing the need for novel preventive strategies.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jingyuan Xiao, Yu Gao, Yongfu Yu, Gunnar Toft, Yawei Zhang, Jiajun Luo, Yuntian Xia, Katarzyna Chawarska, Jorn Olsen, Jiong Li, Zeyan Liew
Summary: Offspring of parents born with adverse characteristics had an elevated risk for ASD, with parents born very preterm potentially doubling the risk for their children. Parental social-mental and offspring perinatal factors may explain a portion of this risk.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Dustin D. Flannery, Erika M. Edwards, Sarah A. Coggins, Jeffrey D. Horbar, Karen M. Puopolo
Summary: This study examines the epidemiology, microbiology, and outcomes of late-onset sepsis among very preterm infants in the United States. The findings reveal a significant proportion of infants suffering from late-onset sepsis, particularly those born at the lowest gestational ages. Infected infants have higher mortality rates and survivors are at increased risk of technology-dependent chronic morbidities.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Priscila Kelly da Silva Bezerra do Nascimento, David Franciole Oliveira Silva, Tassia Louise Sousa Augusto de Morais, Adriana Augusto de Rezende
Summary: This review aimed to summarize scientific evidence on the relationship between zinc status and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents. A total of 52 studies were included, with 19 studies showing lower zinc concentrations in the ASD group. However, overall, there was no significant difference in zinc concentrations between children and adolescents with ASD compared to controls. More prospective studies with greater methodological rigor are needed to further characterize this relationship.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qinchuan Shi, Jingjing Zhang, Chong Fan, Aixia Zhang, Zhu Zhu, Yingying Tian
Summary: This study systematically evaluated the risk factors of hypothermia in very low/extremely low birth weight infants. Factors including body weight, failure to keep warm in time, neonatal resuscitation, gestational age, premature rupture of membranes, maternal combined complications, cesarean section, antenatal steroids, multiple birth, small for gestational age, 1 min Apgar score, and 5 min Apgar score were identified. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and intervention of hypothermia in VLBW/ELBW infants.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Elsa Garcia Gonzalez, Montserrat Izquierdo Renau, Victoria Aldecoa-Bilbao, Alba Verges Castells, Carlota Rovira Zurriaga, Isabel Iglesias Platas
Summary: After matching for birth weight z-scores with non-CA newborns, the study found that histological CA did not affect the postnatal growth of very preterm infants.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Miriam Martini, Inge Merkelbach, Sander Begeer
Summary: Pre- and post-term children have an increased risk of autism, but there are no phenotypical differences across gestational age groups. The risk of autism is particularly high for post-term children, highlighting the need for further investigation into the relationship between gestational age and autism.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2023)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Zeyar T. Htun, Elizabeth Schulz, Riddhi K. Desai, Jaime L. Marasch, Christopher C. McPherson, Lucy D. Mastrandrea, Alan H. Jobe, Rita M. Ryan
Summary: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease commonly affecting extremely preterm infants. In addition to mechanical ventilation and oxygen requirements, perinatal events may also stimulate the inflammatory cascade before delivery. Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone and hydrocortisone have proven effective for preventing and managing BPD due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Maria J. Ayoub, Laura Keegan, Helen Tager-Flusberg, Simone V. Gill
Summary: Research suggests that neuroimaging can reliably identify structural and functional differences between autistic and non-autistic brains at an early stage. Neuroimaging methods can also be used to predict ASD diagnosis among high-risk infants and their developmental outcomes in later stages.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Shijun Li, Ziyang Tang, Nanxin Jin, Qiansu Yang, Gang Liu, Tiefang Liu, Jianxing Hu, Sijun Liu, Ping Wang, Jingru Hao, Zhiqiang Zhang, Xiaojing Zhang, Jinfeng Li, Xin Wang, Zhenzhen Li, Yi Wang, Baijian Yang, Lin Ma
Summary: This study developed a deep learning-based approach to identify brain differences between individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typical development (TD) using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study detected nine brain areas that differed significantly between ASD and TD. This research provides a new computer-aided technique for helping physicians diagnose and screen children at risk of ASD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEURAL SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Kathryn Walton, Meghan McGee, Julie Sato, Nicole Law, Kathryn E. Hopperton, Nicole Bando, Alex Kiss, Sharon L. Unger, Deborah L. O'Connora
Summary: This study compared the dietary patterns and body composition of very low birth weight (VLBW) children with poor social-emotional functioning to those with typical functioning. The results showed that poor social-emotional functioning was positively associated with higher fruit juice intake and energy intake. Children with poor social-emotional functioning were more likely to have a limited food repertoire but less likely to exceed dietary fat recommendations. Overall diet quality and body composition did not differ between the two groups. Diet counselling is important to improve the nutrition of VLBW children and mitigate chronic disease risk.
APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY NUTRITION AND METABOLISM
(2022)