Cerebellar haemorrhage and atrophy in infants born extremely preterm with intraventricular haemorrhage.

Aim: To investigate the impact of cerebellar haemorrhage (CBH) and atrophy in infants born extremely preterm with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) on neurodevelopment at 2 years of age.

Method: This retrospective case-control study included infants born at less than 28 weeks' gestation with IVH over a 10-year period. CBH, along with the assessment of cerebellar size, using magnetic resonance imaging, were studied.

Preterm Infants on Early Solid Foods and Neurodevelopmental Outcome-A Secondary Outcome Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

There are no evidence-based recommendations regarding the introduction of solid foods in preterm infants. The objective of this study was to investigate whether age at the introduction of solid foods affects neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study focuses on analyzing secondary outcomes from a prospective trial involving very low birth weight infants who were randomly assigned to either an early (10-12th week corrected age) or a late (16-18th week corrected age) complementary feeding group.

Neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhages: the potential of quantitative brainstem MRI.

Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to identify quantitative magnetic resonance imaging markers in the brainstem of preterm neonates with intraventricular hemorrhages. It delves into the intricate associations between quantitative brainstem magnetic resonance imaging metrics and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhage, aiming to elucidate potential relationships and their clinical implications.

Materials And Methods: Neuroimaging was performed on preterm neonates with intraventricular hemorrhage using a multi-dynamic multi-echo sequence to determine T1 relaxation time, T2 relaxation time, and proton density in specific brainstem regions.

Two-year neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely preterm-born children: The Austrian Preterm Outcome Study Group.

Aim: The current study determined the neurodevelopmental outcome of extremely preterm infants at 2 years of age.

Methods: All live-born infants 23-27 weeks of gestation born between 2011 and 2020 in Austria were included in a prospective registry. Neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of corrected age was assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant Development for both motor and cognitive scores, along with a neurological examination and an assessment of neurosensory function.

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Neurodevelopmental Outcome Prediction in Neonates Born Extremely Premature-An Exploratory Study.

Purpose: Neonates born at < 28 weeks of gestation are at risk for neurodevelopmental delay. The aim of this study was to identify quantitative MR-based metrics for the prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely preterm neonates.

Methods: T1-/T2-relaxation times (T1R/T2R), ADC, and fractional anisotropy (FA) of the left/right posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) and the brainstem were determined at term-equivalent ages in a sample of extremely preterm infants (n = 33).

Intrauterine Detection of Ureaplasma Species after Vaginal Colonization in Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcome.

Introduction: Intrauterine infection with Ureaplasma species (U.spp.) is mostly a result of vaginal colonization with subsequent ascending infection and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake during Complementary Feeding and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are vital for brain development, yet limited knowledge exists regarding PUFA intake during complementary feeding (CF) and its impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. This secondary analysis of a randomized intervention trial, aimed to investigate the association between dietary intake of total PUFAs, arachidonic acid (AA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during CF and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 and 24 months of corrected age (CA). Dietary intakes were assessed using monthly 3 day dietary protocols from 3 to 12 months CA.

The impact of pandemic restrictive visiting policies on infant wellbeing in a NICU.

Background: Given the countrywide lockdown in the first pandemic period and the respective Hospital restrictive policies, we aimed to investigate if the SARS-COV-2 pandemic was associated to a reduced parental presence in the NICU and in which form this had an impact on infant wellbeing.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study about altered NICUs parental presence (measured by number of visits and kangaroo care time) due to pandemic restrictive policies and its impact on infant wellbeing (measured through The Neonatal Pain Agitation and Sedation scale and nurses' descriptive documentation).

Results: Presence of both parents at the same time was significantly lower during pandemic.

Brain Biometry Reveals Impaired Brain Growth in Preterm Neonates with Intraventricular Hemorrhage.

Introduction: Preterm birth and cerebral hemorrhage have adverse effects on brain development. Alterations in regional brain size on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be assessed using 2D biometrical analysis, an easily applicable technique showing good correlation with 3D brain volumes.

Methods: This retrospective study included 74 preterm neonates with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) born <32+0 weeks of gestation between 2011 and 2019.

Pain and neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born very preterm.

Aim: To investigate the impact of the level of pain experienced by infants born preterm on neurodevelopmental outcomes during their stay in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Method: In this retrospective data analysis we included all surviving infants born preterm with a gestational age between 23 and 32 weeks from 2011 to 2015, who were assessed using the Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale and examined at 1 year of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. We excluded all infants who had suffered severe neurological morbidities and undergone surgical interventions.

A secondary Outcome Analysis of a Randomized Trial Using a Mixed Lipid Emulsion Containing Fish Oil in Infants with Extremely Low Birth Weight: Cognitive and Behavioral Outcome at Preschool Age.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a parenteral lipid emulsion containing fish oil compared with a soybean oil based-lipid emulsion on the cognitive outcome and behavior of preschool children with extremely low birth weight.

Study Design: This was a retrospective secondary outcome analysis of a randomized controlled trial performed between June 2012 and June 2015. Infants with extremely low birth weight received either a mixed (soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides, olive oil, fish oil) or a soybean oil-based lipid emulsion for parenteral nutrition.

Neonatal sepsis is associated with behavioral abnormalities in very low birthweight infants at preschool age.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate neonatal sepsis as potential risk factor for adverse behavioral outcome in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) at preschool age. Regardless of improvements in the obstetric and neonatal intensive care, preterm infants are still at high risk for behavioral problems later in life. The spectrum, origin and potential risk factors of these behavioral problems have not been well-defined.

Preterm Infants on Early Solid Foods and Iron Status in the First Year of Life-A Secondary Outcome Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction of solid foods and iron status in the first year of life of preterm infants are highly discussed topics. The aim of this study was to examine whether two timepoints of introduction of standardized solid foods in preterm infants have an impact on ferritin and other hematologic parameters important for iron status in the first year of life. This is a secondary outcome analysis of a prospective, randomized intervention trial in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants randomized to an early (10-12th week corrected age) or a late (16-18th week corrected age) complementary feeding group.

Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants with Cholestasis at 12 and 24 Months.

Introduction: The aims of the study were to describe the neurodevelopmental outcome of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC) and to assess whether PNAC is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome.

Methods: The study is a secondary analysis of controlled trial (June 2012-October 2017) on PNAC incidence in ELBW infants receiving two different parenteral lipid emulsions (mixed lipid emulsion containing fish oil vs. soybean oil-based).

A novel magnetic resonance imaging-based scoring system to predict outcome in neonates born preterm with intraventricular haemorrhage.

Aim: To create a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based scoring system specific to neonates born preterm with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), which could serve as a reliable prognostic indicator for later development and might allow for improved outcome prediction, individually-tailored parental counselling, and clinical decision-making.

Method: This retrospective, two-center observational cohort study included 103 infants born preterm with IVH (61 males, 42 females; median gestational age 26wks 6d), born between 2000 and 2016. Term-equivalent MRI was evaluated using a novel scoring system consisting of 11 items.

Considerable mortality and morbidity in neonates born below 500 gram.

Data evaluating mortality and morbidity in infants born ≤500 g are scarce and show wide variability. To support counselling and decision-making, we analysed neurodevelopmental outcome in all neonates ≤500 g birth weight. Retrospective analysis including preterm infants with a birth weight ≤500 g and a gestational age >22 weeks born at a single tertiary perinatal centre between 2010 and 2017.

Maternal Vaginal spp. Colonization in Early Pregnancy Is Associated with Adverse Short- and Long-Term Outcome of Very Preterm Infants.

Vaginal colonization with () spp. has been shown to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcome; however, data on neonatal outcome are scarce. The aim of the study was to investigate whether maternal vaginal colonization with spp.

Impact of Different Types of Nosocomial Infection on the Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Nosocomial infections (NIs) are important conditions associated with mortality and morbidity in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of NIs and the different subtypes on neurodevelopmental outcomes in a cohort of VLBWIs. VLBWIs born with a gestational age between 23 and 31 weeks in a level III neonatal center were enrolled.

Early life serum neurofilament dynamics predict neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants.

Background And Purpose: To determine whether neurofilament light chain (NfL), a promising serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker of neuroaxonal damage, predicts functional outcome in preterm infants with neonatal brain injury.

Methods: Our prospective observational study used a sensitive single-molecule array assay to measure serum and CSF NfL concentrations in preterm infants with moderate to severe peri/intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH). We determined temporal serum and CSF NfL profiles from the initial diagnosis of PIVH until term-equivalent age and their association with clinical and neurodevelopmental outcome until 2 years of age assessed by Bayley Scales of Infant Development (3rd edition).

A Randomized Trial of Parenteral Nutrition Using a Mixed Lipid Emulsion Containing Fish Oil in Infants of Extremely Low Birth Weight: Neurodevelopmental Outcome at 12 and 24 Months Corrected Age, A Secondary Outcome Analysis.

Objective: To examine whether parenteral nutrition using a mixed lipid emulsion containing fish oil improves the neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants.

Study Design: The study is a secondary outcome analysis of a double-blind randomized trial of 230 extremely low birth weight infants performed at a single level IV neonatal care unit (Medical University Vienna; June 2012 to June 2015). Participants received either a mixed lipid emulsion composed of soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil, or a soybean oil-based lipid emulsion for parenteral nutrition.

Long-term impact of systematic pain and sedation management on cognitive, motor, and behavioral outcomes of extremely preterm infants at preschool age.

Background: Providing optimal pain relief is a challenging task when caring for premature infants. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term cognitive, motor, and behavioral outcomes of preterm infants before and after the implementation of a pain and sedation protocol. In addition, we investigated whether the increased opiate administration resulting after the implementation process had an impact on these outcomes.

The Impact of Norms on the Outcome of Children Born Very-Preterm when Using the Bayley-III: Differences between US and German Norms.

Background: The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition (Bayley-III) are widely used to assess the development of children born preterm. However, it is still unclear whether US norms are adequate for use in other populations. In 2014, the German version of the Bayley-III with German norms was published.