Mediational models of maternal stress in neonatal intensive care units.

Background: Maternal stress in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is well acknowledged. However, there is currently no well-defined support at how to best assist mothers during their infants' hospitalization. Not only must they confront at the same time their infant's fragility, but also their own personal trials.

The Impact of Asymptomatic Congenital Cytomegalovirus on Adult Quality of Life.

Objective: Children born with asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection (AcCMV) have increased risk for hearing loss, which may affect their quality of life into adulthood. We aim to determine quality of life outcomes among adults who were identified at birth with AcCMV compared with controls, using the cohort of the Houston Congenital CMV Longitudinal Study.

Methods: Quality of life was determined using the self-reported Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI).

Inattention and Hyperactivity in Children with Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Congenital Cytomegalovirus.

Objectives: To explore the relationship between congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) and inattention and hyperactivity among school-aged children.

Methods: The Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition, parent- and self-report, was completed among children with symptomatic congenital CMV (ScCMV) (n = 36), asymptomatic congenital CMV (AcCMV) (n = 76), and controls (n = 29) enrolled in a longitudinal cohort. The proportions of children with ScCMV, AcCMV, and controls with Attention Problems or Hyperactivity T-scores ever ≥ 65 were compared.

Intelligence and Academic Achievement With Asymptomatic Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection.

Objectives: To examine intelligence, language, and academic achievement through 18 years of age among children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection identified through hospital-based newborn screening who were asymptomatic at birth compared with uninfected infants.

Methods: We used growth curve modeling to analyze trends in IQ (full-scale, verbal, and nonverbal intelligence), receptive and expressive vocabulary, and academic achievement in math and reading. Separate models were fit for each outcome, modeling the change in overall scores with increasing age for patients with normal hearing ( = 78) or with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) diagnosed by 2 years of age ( = 11) and controls ( = 40).

The association between brain injury, perioperative anesthetic exposure, and 12-month neurodevelopmental outcomes after neonatal cardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes are observed in up to 50% of infants after complex cardiac surgery. We sought to determine the association of perioperative anesthetic exposure with neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 12 months in neonates undergoing complex cardiac surgery and to determine the effect of brain injury determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of neonates undergoing complex cardiac surgery who had preoperative and 7-day postoperative brain MRI and 12-month neurodevelopmental testing with Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III).

Erythropoietin neuroprotection in neonatal cardiac surgery: a phase I/II safety and efficacy trial.

Objectives: Neonates undergoing complex congenital heart surgery have a significant incidence of neurologic problems. Erythropoietin has antiapoptotic, antiexcitatory, and anti-inflammatory properties to prevent neuronal cell death in animal models, and improves neurodevelopmental outcomes in full-term neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. We designed a prospective phase I/II trial of erythropoietin neuroprotection in neonatal cardiac surgery to assess safety and indicate efficacy.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes after regional cerebral perfusion with neuromonitoring for neonatal aortic arch reconstruction.

Background: In this study we report magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain injury and 12-month neurodevelopmental outcomes when regional cerebral perfusion (RCP) is used for neonatal aortic arch reconstruction.

Methods: Fifty-seven neonates receiving RCP during aortic arch reconstruction were enrolled in a prospective outcome study. RCP flows were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy and transcranial Doppler monitoring.

Changing expectations for neurological outcomes after the neonatal arterial switch operation.

Background: Expectations for outcomes after the neonatal arterial switch operation (ASO) continue to change. This cohort study describes neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 12 months after neonatal ASO, and analyzes both modifiable and nonmodifiable factors for association with adverse outcomes.

Methods: Patients who underwent an ASO (n=30) were enrolled in a prospective outcome study, with comprehensive clinical data collection during the first 12 months of life.

Effects of early maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on neuropsychological status and visual acuity at five years of age of breast-fed term infants.

Objective: We previously reported better psychomotor development at 30 months of age in infants whose mothers received a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6n-3) supplement for the first 4 months of lactation. We now assess neuropsychological and visual function of the same children at 5 years of age.

Study Design: Breastfeeding women were assigned to receive identical capsules containing either a high-DHA algal oil (∼200 mg/d of DHA) or a vegetable oil (containing no DHA) from delivery until 4 months postpartum.

Effects of maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on visual function and neurodevelopment in breastfed term infants.

Background: Normal brain and visual development is thought to require exogenous docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) intake, but the amount needed is debatable. Because the supplementation of breastfeeding mothers with DHA increases the DHA content of their infants' plasma lipids, we hypothesized that it might also improve brain or visual function in the infants.

Objective: The objective was to determine the effect of DHA supplementation of breastfeeding mothers on neurodevelopmental status and visual function in the recipient infant.

Differences in neuropsychological performance associated with ethnicity in children with HIV-1 infection: preliminary findings.

This study investigated the relationship between ethnicity (African American and European American) and neuropsychological performance in two specific neuropsychological domains (language and speed of information processing) in a group of HIV-1+ children. The Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised and the Rapid Color Naming subtest of the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing were administered to 5- to 7-year-old children (n = 22) as part of a comprehensive research or clinical protocol. African American children scored lower than European American children (p < .

Cognitive and adaptive behavior profiles of children with Angelman syndrome.

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by maternal deficiency of the UBE3A gene that encodes E6-AP ubiquitin-protein ligase. Expression of the UBE3A gene from the maternal chromosome is essential to prevent AS. AS is characterized by severe mental retardation, ataxia, and a defined behavioral pattern characterized mainly by happy/sociable disposition.

Concurrent and predictive validity of the cognitive adaptive test/clinical linguistic and auditory milestone scale (CAT/CLAMS) and the Mental Developmental Index of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

The Cognitive Adaptive Test/Clinical Linguistic and Auditory Milestone Scale (CAT/CLAMS) was designed for use by primary pediatric health care providers to identify children with developmental delays. This study assesses the concurrent and predictive validity of CAT/CLAMS developmental quotient (DQ) scores and the Mental Developmental Index (MDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development in healthy children without risk factors for developmental delay. Overall CAT/CLAMS DQ scores correlated significantly with Bayley MDI scores at both 12 (r = 0.