Multi-level hypothalamic neuromodulation of self-regulation and cognition in preterm infants: Towards a control systems model.

Preterm infants, age-corrected for prematurity, score on average, 10 points lower on IQ tests than full-term infants tested at comparable ages. This review focuses on the potential contribution of the hypothalamus to cognitive neuro-regulatory development in preterm infants through its bidirectional neural connections with the prefrontal cortex and its neuroendocrine activity. It aims to clarify the central role of the hypothalamus in preterm high stress situations and in influencing cognitive development via its connectivity to the cerebral cortex.

Cue-based feeding and short-term health outcomes of premature infants in newborn intensive care units: a non-randomized trial.

Background: Feedings based on behavioral cues is a method relying on infants' behavioral expressions of readiness to feed. The objective of this interventional study was to determine the effect of cue-based feeding on the short-term health outcomes of preterm infants.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a historical or phase lag design.

Autism, spectrum or clusters? An EEG coherence study.

Background: Autism prevalence continues to grow, yet a universally agreed upon etiology is lacking despite manifold evidence of abnormalities especially in terms of genetics and epigenetics. The authors postulate that the broad definition of an omnibus 'spectrum disorder' may inhibit delineation of meaningful clinical correlations. This paper presents evidence that an objectively defined, EEG based brain measure may be helpful in illuminating the autism spectrum versus subgroups (clusters) question.

Physiological and emotional effects of pentatonic live music played for preterm neonates and their mothers in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Despite attempts to increase calmness in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), preterm neonates still experience stress. The question arises how to further promote the infants' wellbeing. Therefore, the immediate effects of pentatonic live music on preterm infants and their mothers were examined.

Iranian parent-staff communication and parental stress in the neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction: The birth of an infant requiring hospitalization in the neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) uniformly is reported to be stressful for parents and family members. This study aimed to determine parent-staff communication in the NICU and its relationship to parent stress.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred and three Iranian parents with preterm infants hospitalized in the NICU participated in this descriptive-correlational study.

The Effects of Kangaroo Care on the Sleep and Wake States of Preterm Infants.

Background: Developing interventions that improve deep sleep and quit awake is important to improve the quality of care that is provided to preterm infants.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of kangaroo care and in-arms-holding on the sleep and wake states of preterm infants.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was employed in 2011-2012.

A unique pattern of cortical connectivity characterizes patients with attention deficit disorders: a large electroencephalographic coherence study.

Background: Attentional disorders (ADD) feature decreased attention span, impulsivity, and over-activity interfering with successful lives. Childhood onset ADD frequently persists to adulthood. Etiology may be hereditary or disease associated.

Corticosteroid therapy in regressive autism: a retrospective study of effects on the Frequency Modulated Auditory Evoked Response (FMAER), language, and behavior.

Background: Up to a third of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) manifest regressive autism (R-ASD).They show normal early development followed by loss of language and social skills. Absent evidence-based therapies, anecdotal evidence suggests improvement following use of corticosteroids.

The relationship of Asperger's syndrome to autism: a preliminary EEG coherence study.

Background: It has long been debated whether Asperger's Syndrome (ASP) should be considered part of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) or whether it constitutes a unique entity. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-IV) differentiated ASP from high functioning autism. However, the new DSM-5 umbrellas ASP within ASD, thus eliminating the ASP diagnosis.

School-age effects of the newborn individualized developmental care and assessment program for preterm infants with intrauterine growth restriction: preliminary findings.

Background: The experience in the newborn intensive care nursery results in premature infants' neurobehavioral and neurophysiological dysfunction and poorer brain structure. Preterms with severe intrauterine growth restriction are doubly jeopardized given their compromised brains. The Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program improved outcome at early school-age for preterms with appropriate intrauterine growth.

The frequency modulated auditory evoked response (FMAER), a technical advance for study of childhood language disorders: cortical source localization and selected case studies.

Background: Language comprehension requires decoding of complex, rapidly changing speech streams. Detecting changes of frequency modulation (FM) within speech is hypothesized as essential for accurate phoneme detection, and thus, for spoken word comprehension. Despite past demonstration of FM auditory evoked response (FMAER) utility in language disorder investigations, it is seldom utilized clinically.

A stable pattern of EEG spectral coherence distinguishes children with autism from neuro-typical controls - a large case control study.

Background: The autism rate has recently increased to 1 in 100 children. Genetic studies demonstrate poorly understood complexity. Environmental factors apparently also play a role.

NIDCAP improves brain function and structure in preterm infants with severe intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: The effect of NIDCAP (Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program) was examined on the neurobehavioral, electrophysiological and neurostructural development of preterm infants with severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Study Design: A total of 30 infants, 27-33 weeks gestation, were randomized to control (C; N=17) or NIDCAP/experimental (E; N=13) care. Baseline health and demographics were assessed at intake; electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 35 and 42 weeks postmenstrual age; and health, growth and neurobehavior at 42 weeks and 9 months corrected age (9 months).

School Age Effects of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program for Medically Low-Risk Preterm Infants: Preliminary Findings.

Background: By school age, even low risk moderately preterm-born children show more neuro-cognitive deficits, underachievement, behavioral problems, and poor social adaptation than full-term peers.

Aim: To evaluate the outcomes at school-age for moderately preterm-born children (29-33 weeks gestational age), appropriate in growth for gestational age (AGA) and medically at low-risk, randomized to Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) or standard care in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. At school-age, the experimental (E) group will show better neuropsychological and neuro-electrophysiological function, as well as improved brain structure than the control (C) group.

The Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) with Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC): Comprehensive Care for Preterm Infants.

State-of-the-art Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICUs), instrumental in the survival of high-risk and ever-earlier-born preterm infants, often have costly human repercussions. The developmental sequelae of newborn intensive care are largely misunderstood. Developed countries eager to export their technologies must also transfer the knowledge-base that encompasses all high-risk and preterm infants' personhood as well as the neuro-essential importance of their parents.

Melatonin and mental capacities in newborn infants.

Objectives: To investigate the role of melatonin in the emergence of mental capacities in the newborn infant.

Study Design: Assessment of Preterm Infant Behavior examination was performed at 2 weeks post-term age for 39 (21 preterm and 18 term) infants. 6-Suphatoxymelatonin from nocturnal urine samples was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and the Mental Developmental Index, assessed by Bayley scales, was correlated at 4, 6, and 9 months' corrected age.

Is the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) effective for preterm infants with intrauterine growth restriction?

Objective: This study investigates the effectiveness of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) on neurobehavioral and electrophysiological functioning of preterm infants with severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Study Design: Thirty IUGR infants, 28 to 33 weeks gestational age, randomized to standard care (control/C=18), or NIDCAP (experimental/E=12), were assessed at 2 weeks corrected age (2wCA) and 9 months corrected age (9mCA) in regard to health, anthropometrics, and neurobehavior, and additionally at 2wCA in regard to electrophysiology (EEG).

Result: The two groups were comparable in health and anthropometrics at 2wCA and 9mCA.

[Developmental screening of preterms at an early stage postpartum].

Preterm infants are at high risk to develop neurological disorders. Therefore extensive follow-up programs with a combination of various instruments are needed for early detection of infants with major or minor developmental disorders and behavioral problems. The Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) is based on standardized observation protocols and provides a powerful method to assess behavior and brain development directly after birth, so can be used as an early screening instrument.

Individualized developmental care for a large sample of very preterm infants: health, neurobehaviour and neurophysiology.

Aim: To assess medical and neurodevelopmental effects of Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) for a large sample of very early-born infants.

Methods: One hundred and seven singleton inborn preterm infants, <29 weeks gestational age (GA), <1250 g birth weight, enrolled in three consecutive phases, were randomized within phase to NIDCAP (treatment, E) or standard care (C). Treatment extended from admission to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit to 2 weeks corrected age (wCA).

Effects of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) at age 8 years: preliminary data.

The current study reports the effects of NIDCAP (Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program) at 8 years of age for a randomized controlled trial of 38 very early born (< or =29 weeks postmenstrual age), high-risk preterm infants. It was hypothesized that the experimental group at school age in comparison with the control group would perform significantly better neuropsychologically and neuroelectrophysiologically. Twenty-two (11 control, 11 experimental) children of the original 38 (18 control, 20 experimental) participants were studied at school age with a detailed neuropsychological battery and with EEG spectral coherence measures.

Preemie abandonment? Multidisciplinary experts consider how to best meet preemies needs at "preterm infants: a collaborative approach to specialized care" roundtable.

In June 2006, the Institute of Medicine (LoM), released a comprehensive study, Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention. The report was a result of the IoM's efforts, in particular the Committee on Understanding Premature Birth and Assuring Healthy Outcomes, to better understand and prevent preterm birth and improve care for babies born prematurely. After its publication, a group of health care professionals came together in a roundtable session, "Preterm Infants: A Collaborative Approach to Specialized Care," to discuss the implications of the report.