The Effect of Being Born Moderate-to-Late Preterm on Lung Function and Respiratory Morbidity at 9 to 10 Years of Age.

The effect of moderate-late preterm (MLP; 32 to 36 completed weeks' gestation) birth on childhood respiratory health is unclear. To assess the effect of being born MLP, compared with being born at term (≥37 completed weeks' gestation), on lung function and respiratory morbidity at 9-10 years of age. Prospective cohort of children born MLP or at term at the Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.

Systemic Postnatal Corticosteroids, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, and Survival Free of Cerebral Palsy.

Importance: Systemic postnatal corticosteroids have been shown to reduce rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in infants born preterm, but both corticosteroids and BPD are associated with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To describe how the association between systemic postnatal corticosteroids and survival free of cerebral palsy varies with the risk of BPD in infants born preterm, and if the association differs between dexamethasone and hydrocortisone, or with age at starting treatment.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This comparative effectiveness research used weighted meta-regression analysis of eligible randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of systemic postnatal corticosteroids reported from June 1989 through March 2022 that included rates of all of BPD, mortality, and cerebral palsy in neonatal intensive care units in 10 countries.

Neurodevelopment at Age 9 Years Among Children Born at 32 to 36 Weeks' Gestation.

Importance: Although children born moderate to late preterm (MLP; 32-36 weeks' gestation) have more neurodevelopmental problems compared with children born early term or later (≥37 weeks' gestation), detailed understanding of affected domains at school age is lacking. Little is known of risk factors for poorer development.

Objective: To examine whether being born MLP compared with being born early term or later is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 9 years and to describe factors associated with poorer neurodevelopment in children born MLP.

Executive function is associated with the development of math performance in children born at <30 weeks' gestation or <1250 g birthweight.

Objective: To describe associations between executive function (EF) domains (attentional control, information processing, cognitive flexibility, and goal setting) and concurrent math computation performance at age 7 and 13 years in children born <30 weeks' gestation or weighing <1,250 g, and second, to examine the impact of 7-year EF on math performance at 13 years.

Method: In a prospective, longitudinal cohort of children born <30 weeks' gestation or with a birthweight <1,250 g, assessment of EF and math performance was undertaken at 7 (n = 187) and 13 years (n = 174). Linear regression models were used to describe associations between EF domains with math performance at both time points, as well as to examine the impact of EF at 7 years on math performance at 13 years.

Trajectories of social outcomes in individuals born very preterm from childhood to adolescence.

Aim: To compare trajectories of social functioning in peer problems and prosocial behavior from 5 to 13 years between individuals born very preterm (VPT) and full-term (FT).

Methods: Participants were from the Victorian Infant Brain Study (VIBeS) longitudinal cohort, consisting of 224 individuals born VPT and 77 born FT recruited at birth. Social functioning was measured using the parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) peer problems and prosocial behavior subscales at 5, 7, and 13 years' corrected age.

Romantic and sexual relationships of young adults born very preterm: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Aim: To compare romantic and sexual relationships between adults born very preterm (VP; <32 weeks of gestation) or with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) and at term, and to evaluate potential biological and environmental explanatory factors among VP/VLBW participants.

Methods: This individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis included longitudinal studies assessing romantic and sexual relationships in adults (mean sample age ≥ 18 years) born VP/VLBW compared with term-born controls. Following PRISMA-IPD guidelines, 11 of the 13 identified cohorts provided IPD from 1606 VP/VLBW adults and 1659 term-born controls.

Twenty four-hour blood pressure and cognitive outcomes in adolescents born extremely preterm and at term.

Aim: To explore the impact of blood pressure on cognitive outcomes at 18 years of age in individuals born extremely preterm (<28 weeks' gestation) and at term (≥37 weeks' gestation).

Methods: Prospective longitudinal cohort comprising 136 young adults born extremely preterm and 120 matched term controls born in Victoria, Australia in 1991 and 1992. Using linear regression, we analysed the relationships between 24-h mean ambulatory blood pressure, systolic and diastolic hypertension with cognitive outcomes.

Improving accuracy of outcome prediction for infants born extremely preterm using a digital tool: Translating 'NIC-PREDICT' into clinical practice, the first steps.

Background: Many clinicians overestimate mortality and disability rates in infants born extremely preterm. We developed a digital tool ('NIC-PREDICT') that predicts infant mortality and survival with and without major disability in infants born 23-27 weeks' gestation.

Aims: To determine if clinicians could use NIC-PREDICT accurately, and if their perceptions of infant outcomes improved after its release in 2021.

Brain volume and neurodevelopment at 13 years following sepsis in very preterm infants.

Background: Associations of neonatal infection with brain growth and later neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm (VP) infants are unclear. This study aimed to assess associations of neonatal sepsis in VP infants with (1) brain growth from term-equivalent age to 13 years; and (2) 13-year brain volume and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Methods: 224 infants born VP ( < 30 weeks' gestation/<1250 g birthweight) were recruited.

Magnesium Sulfate Before Preterm Birth for Neuroprotection: An Updated Cochrane Systematic Review.

Objective: To systematically review the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of magnesium sulfate as a fetal neuroprotective agent when given to individuals at risk of preterm birth.

Data Sources: We searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register, ClinicalTrials.gov , the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (through March 17, 2023), and reference lists of relevant studies.

Predicting externalizing behaviors in typically developing toddlers at 24 months: Insights from parenting at 12 months.

Early observational assessment of parent and child behaviors may identify risk factors associated with the development of early child externalizing behaviors. This study aimed to examine factors associated with child externalizing behaviors at 24-months of age, including early maternal depression, family social risk and the parent-child relationship. Using a longitudinal design in 89 mother-child dyads (n = 43 female), maternal depressive symptoms and social risk were measured post-birth, and 12-months later parent-child interaction was assessed using the Emotional Availability Scales.

Magnesium sulphate for women at risk of preterm birth for neuroprotection of the fetus.

Background: Magnesium sulphate is a common therapy in perinatal care. Its benefits when given to women at risk of preterm birth for fetal neuroprotection (prevention of cerebral palsy for children) were shown in a 2009 Cochrane review. Internationally, use of magnesium sulphate for preterm cerebral palsy prevention is now recommended practice.

Parent screening questionnaires to detect cognitive and language delay at 2 years in high-risk infants: an analysis from the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study 2016-2017 cohort.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of two developmental screening questionnaires to detect cognitive or language delay, defined using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III), in children born extremely preterm (EP: <28 weeks' gestation) or extremely low birth weight (ELBW: <1000 g).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: State of Victoria, Australia.

Corticosteroids for the prevention and treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: an overview of systematic reviews.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains an important complication of prematurity. Pulmonary inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of BPD, explaining the rationale for investigating postnatal corticosteroids. Multiple systematic reviews (SRs) have summarised the evidence from numerous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating different aspects of administrating postnatal corticosteroids.

Updates to the Melbourne Children's Regional Infant Brain Software Package (M-CRIB-S).

The delineation of cortical areas on magnetic resonance images (MRI) is important for understanding the complexities of the developing human brain. The previous version of the Melbourne Children's Regional Infant Brain (M-CRIB-S) (Adamson et al. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 10, 2020) is a software package that performs whole-brain segmentation, cortical surface extraction and parcellation of the neonatal brain.

Relationships of Severity of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia with Adverse Neurodevelopmental Outcomes and Poor Respiratory Function at 7-8 Years of Age.

Objective: To clarify the relationships of 3 definitions of severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with adverse neurodevelopmental and respiratory outcomes at early school-age.

Study Design: Participants comprised 218 consecutive survivors to 7-8 years of age born either <28 weeks' gestation or weighing <1000 g in Victoria, Australia, in 2005. BPD was classified as none, grade 1 (mild), grade 2 (moderate), or grade 3 (severe), using 2 commonly accepted definitions: 1) Jobe2001, and 2) Higgins2018, and our own 3) Victorian Infant Collaborative Study (VICS) 2005, adapted from Jensen2019.

Associations between physical activity and development in preschool-aged children born <30 weeks' gestation: a cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the effect of physical activity (PA) on development (motor, cognitive, social-emotional) in children 4-5 years old born <30 weeks' gestation, and to describe subgroups of children at risk of low PA in this cohort.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

Patients: 123 children born <30 weeks were recruited at birth and assessed between 4 and 5 years' corrected age.

Neurosensory, cognitive and academic outcomes at 8 years in children born 22-23 weeks' gestation compared with more mature births.

Unlabelled: Despite providing intensive care to more infants born <24 weeks' gestation, data on school-age outcomes, critical for counselling and decision-making, are sparse.

Objective: To compare major neurosensory, cognitive and academic impairment among school-aged children born extremely preterm at 22-23 weeks' gestation (EP22-23) with those born 24-25 weeks (EP24-25), 26-27 weeks (EP26-27) and term (≥37 weeks).

Design: Three prospective longitudinal cohorts.

Early developmental intervention programmes provided post hospital discharge to prevent motor and cognitive impairment in preterm infants.

Background: Infants born preterm are at increased risk of cognitive and motor impairments compared with infants born at term. Early developmental interventions for preterm infants are targeted at the infant or the parent-infant relationship, or both, and may focus on different aspects of early development. They aim to improve developmental outcomes for these infants, but the long-term benefits remain unclear.

The Knowledge Translation of Early Cerebral Palsy (KiTE CP) Study: Implementing Screening Among a High-Risk Prospective Cohort of Australian Infants.

Objective: To describe the implementation of the international guidelines for the early diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) and engagement in the screening process in an Australian cohort of infants with neonatal risk factors for CP.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study of infants with neonatal risk factors recruited at <6 months corrected age from 11 sites in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, Australia. First, we implemented a multimodal knowledge translation strategy including barrier identification, technology integration, and special interest groups.

Transition to Adulthood for Extremely Preterm Survivors.

Objective: To compare transition into adulthood of survivors born extremely preterm (EP; <28 weeks' gestation) or extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) in the postsurfactant era with term-born controls.

Methods: Prospective longitudinal cohort study of all EP/ELBW survivors born in the State of Victoria, Australia between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 1992 and matched term-born controls. Outcomes include educational attainment, employment, financial status, romantic partnering, living arrangements, parenthood, physical health and mental health, risk-taking behaviors, life satisfaction, and interpersonal relationships at 25 years.