Apolipoprotein E, brain injury and neurodevelopmental outcome of children.

Apolipoprotein E plays an important role in neurodegenerative processes in adulthood, whereas its neurodevelopmental role is uncertain. We aimed to study the effect of apolipoprotein E on neurodevelopment in a cohort liable to neurodevelopmental changes. The cohort consisted of very preterm (<32 gestational weeks) and/or very low birth weight (<1500 g) children, and the longitudinal follow-up protocol included sequential cranial ultrasounds during infancy, brain magnetic resonance imaging at term-equivalent age, neurological and cognitive assessment (Mental Developmental Index) at the corrected age of 2 years and cognitive and neuropsychological assessments (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment) at the chronological age of 5 years.

Ventricular dilatation in relation to outcome at 2 years of age in very preterm infants: a prospective Finnish cohort study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the relation between ventricular dilatation at term and neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years corrected age in infants of very low birthweight (VLBW) or very low gestational age (VLGA).

Method: A total of 225 VLBW or VLGA infants (121 males, 104 female; mean birthweight 1133 g, SD 333 g; mean gestational age 29 wks, SD 2 wks 5d) born in Turku University Hospital were included. Ventricular-brain ratio and the widths of each lateral ventricular horn were determined using ultrasonography, and the volume of the ventricles was measured by magnetic resonance imaging at term.

Cognitive outcome at 2 years of age in Finnish infants with very low birth weight born between 2001 and 2006.

Aim: To study cognitive outcome of premature, very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in relation to parental education and neonatal data.

Methods: A regional cohort of 182 VLBW infants born between 2001 and 2006 was followed up. Brain ultrasounds (US) were examined serially until term age and brain magnetic resonance imaging at term age.

Brain and ventricles in very low birth weight infants at term: a comparison among head circumference, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship among the size of the lateral ventricles, head-circumference measure, and brain volumes. In addition, the association between ventricular dilatation and various brain lesions was defined.

Patients And Methods: A total of 257 preterm very low birth weight (< or =1500 g) infants who met the inclusion criteria were born in Turku University Central Hospital between 2001 and 2006.

Does placental inflammation relate to brain lesions and volume in preterm infants?

Objectives: To evaluate the association between histologic inflammation of placenta and brain findings in ultrasound examinations and regional brain volumes in magnetic resonance imaging in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) or in very preterm infants.

Study Design: VLBW or very preterm infants (n = 121) were categorized into 3 groups according to the most pathologic brain finding on ultrasound examinations until term. The brain magnetic resonance imaging performed at term was analyzed for regional brain volumes.