Young adult reflections on life experiences following preterm birth: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Background: Increasingly, preterm-born children are entering adulthood as survival at earlier gestational ages improves. However, there is little understanding of the lived experience in preterm-born adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted including young adults from a regional birth cohort of infants born <33 weeks in Western Australia.

Plant-Derived Substances for Prevention of Necrotising Enterocolitis: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies.

Inflammation, oxidative injury, and gut dysbiosis play an important role in the pathogenesis of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Plant-derived substances have historically been used as therapeutic agents due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. We aimed to review pre-clinical evidence for plant-derived substances in the prevention and treatment of NEC.

Causes of and Modifiable Factors Contributing to Neonatal Deaths at Dora Nginza Hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Dora Nginza Hospital (DNH) has a neonatal mortality rate higher than global and national averages. In 2015 to 2016 the neonatal mortality rate in South Africa was 18.1/1000 live births compared with 31.

HIV exposure and neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight infants in a low-middle income setting: a prospective cohort study.

Neurodevelopmental impairment is common in premature infants. We aimed to describe neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants at 12 months postmenstrual age (PMA) and correlated with maternal HIV status. A single-centre, prospective cohort study was conducted from 1 June 2017 to 31 January 2019 with follow-up to 12 months.

IL-6 Predicts Poor Early Post-Natal Growth in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants in a Low-Middle Income Setting.

Background: Extra-uterine growth restriction (EUGR) is common in preterms and may be associated with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Objective: Describe postnatal growth in a cohort of very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants and determine the association of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in umbilical cord blood with growth at 40 weeks and 12 months postmenstrual age (PMA).

Methods: Single-centre, prospective cohort study conducted from 1 June 2017 to 31 January 2019 with follow-up to 31 March 2020.

Umbilical cord interleukin-6 predicts outcome in very low birthweight infants in a high HIV-burden setting: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: South Africa has a double burden of high neonatal mortality and maternal HIV prevalence. Common to both is a proinflammatory in utero and perinatal milieu. The aim of this study was to determine cytokine profiles in HIV exposed (HE) and HIV unexposed (HU) very low birthweight (VLBW) infants and to determine whether these were associated with predischarge outcomes.

Serum 1,3-βD-Glucan assay in the diagnosis of invasive fungal disease in neonates.

Invasive fungal disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonate. The current study aims to assess the 1, 3-βD-Glucan (BG) assay in a prospective analysis in neonates with suspected fungaemia. A multicentre, prospective cohort study was conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa.