Increased fetal brain perfusion and neonatal neurobehavioral performance in normally grown fetuses.

Objective: To explore the association between fetal cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and frontal brain perfusion at third trimester with neonatal neurobehavioral performance in normally grown fetuses.

Methods: CPR and frontal brain perfusion measured by fractional moving blood volume (FMBV) were assessed in 258 consecutive healthy fetuses at routine third trimester scan (32-35.6 weeks).

International adoption: assessment of adaptive and maladaptive behavior of adopted minors in Spain.

Research on adjustment of internationally adopted children indicates that, although they have adequate development, more emotional and behavioral problems are detected compared with nonadopted children. In this research, emotional and behavioral characteristics of a sample of 52 internationally adopted minors were examined with the BASC (Parent Rating Scales and Self-Report of Personality), comparing the outcomes with 44 nonadopted minors, all of them of ages between 6 and 11 years (mean age = 8.01 years).

Neurobehavioral outcomes in preterm, growth-restricted infants with and without prenatal advanced signs of brain-sparing.

Objective: To evaluate the neurobehavioral outcomes of preterm infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), with and without prenatal advanced brain-sparing.

Methods: A cohort of IUGR infants (birth weight < 10(th) percentile with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler) born before 34 weeks of gestation was compared with a control group of appropriate-for-gestational age infants matched for gestational age at delivery. MCA pulsatility index was determined in all cases within 72 hours before delivery.

Decreased regional brain volume and cognitive impairment in preterm children at low risk.

Objective: To investigate whether preterm children with low risk for neurodevelopmental deficits show long-term changes in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes compared with term children and to relate these changes to cognitive outcome.

Methods: MRI was used to evaluate 20 preterm children who were determined to be at low risk for neurodevelopmental deficits and were born between 30 and 34 weeks' gestational age without major neonatal morbidity or cerebral pathology in the neonatal period and 22 matched, term control subjects. Volumetric images were analyzed by means of voxel-based morphometry to identify regional cerebral alterations.

Neurobehavior in term, small-for-gestational age infants with normal placental function.

Objective: The goal was to evaluate the neurobehavioral outcomes of term, small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns with normal placental function.

Methods: A cohort of consecutive term SGA newborns with normal prenatal umbilical artery Doppler ultrasound findings was created and compared with a group of term infants with size appropriate for gestational age, who were sampled from our general neonatal population. Neonatal behavior was evaluated at corrected age of 40 +/- 1 weeks with the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale.