Longitudinal analysis of urinary I-FABP in extremely preterm infants that develop necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background: Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) is an intestinal epithelial protein detectable in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The longitudinal behavior of I-FABP following NEC or its association with gastrointestinal or neurodevelopmental outcomes is unknown.

Methods: In this secondary analysis of the Preterm Erythropoietin Neuroprotection Trial, we compared infants with and without NEC.

Gastroschisis for the Gastroenterologist: Updates on Epidemiology, Management, and Outcomes.

Gastroschisis is a common congenital abdominal wall defect, likely influenced by environmental factors in utero, with increasing prevalence in the United States. Early detection of gastroschisis in utero has become the standard with improved prenatal care and screening. There are multiple surgical management techniques, though sutureless closure is being used more frequently.

Association of Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Its Timing with Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the association of surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and its timing, with the development and timing of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Study Design: This was a secondary data analysis of 7,483 preterm infants from the Postnatal Growth and Retinopathy of Prematurity Study. Associations between infants with surgical NEC, early-onset surgical NEC (8-28 days), and late-onset surgical NEC (over 28 days) with ROP were evaluated by using multivariable logistic regression models, controlling for birth weight, gestational age, small for gestational age status, chronic lung disease, intraventricular hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, patent ductus arteriosus, and periventricular leukomalacia.

Galectin-4 as a Novel Biomarker of Neonatal Intestinal Injury.

Background: Neonates are at risk of gastrointestinal emergencies including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP). Identifying biomarkers to aid in diagnosis is imperative. We hypothesized that circulating intestinal-specific protein concentrations would distinguish infants with intestinal injury from controls.

Intestinal dysbiosis and necrotizing enterocolitis: assessment for causality using Bradford Hill criteria.

In recent years, several studies have shown that premature infants who develop NEC frequently display enteric dysbiosis with increased Gram-negative bacteria for several days to weeks prior to NEC onset. The importance of these findings, for the possibility of a causal role of these bacteria in NEC pathogenesis, and for potential value of gut dysbiosis as a biomarker of NEC, is well-recognized. In this review, we present current evidence supporting the association between NEC in premature infants and enteric dysbiosis, and its evaluation using the Bradford Hill criteria for causality.