The Survey of Neonates in Pomerania: Design, Recruitment and Follow-Up of the Second Cohort, 2013-2017.

Background: The Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SNiP) is a birth cohort study conducted in Western Pomerania, Germany. SNiP-I recruited participants at birth between the years 2002 and 2008 (5801 inclusions). Since SNiP-I, population sociodemographic characteristics and the prevalence of early exposures, including overweight and gestational diabetes (GDM), have changed.

No detrimental effect on the hand microbiome of health care staff by frequent alcohol-based antisepsis.

Background: The importance of ethanol-based hand rubs (EBHRs) to prevent health care-associated infections is undisputed. However, there is a lack of meaningful data regarding the influence of EBHRs on skin microbiome.

Methods: Four nurses in a neonatal intensive care unit were included.

Impact of Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Underweight on Cord Blood Metabolome: An Analysis of the Population-Based Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SNiP).

Intrauterine growth restriction leads to an altered lipid and amino acid profile in the cord blood at the end of pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy underweight is an early risk factor for impaired fetal growth. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a pre-pregnancy body mass index (ppBMI) of <18.

Steroid Metabolomic Signature in Term and Preterm Infants.

Adrenal function is essential for survival and well-being of preterm babies. In addition to glucocorticoids, it has been hypothesized that C-steroids (DHEA-metabolites) from the fetal zone of the adrenal gland may play a role as endogenous neuroprotective steroids. In 39 term-born (≥37 weeks gestational age), 42 preterm (30-36 weeks) and 51 early preterm (<30 weeks) infants 38 steroid metabolites were quantified by GC-MS in 24-h urinary samples.

Development of a joint set of database parameters for the EU-ROP and Fight Childhood Blindness! ROP Registries.

Background/aims: The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is increasing and treatment options are expanding, often without accompanying safety data. We aimed to define a minimal, patient-centred data set that is feasible to collect in clinical practice and can be used collaboratively to track and compare outcomes of ROP treatment with a view to improving patient outcomes.

Methods: A multinational group of clinicians and a patient representative with expertise in ROP and registry development collaborated to develop a data set that focused on real-world parameters and outcomes that were patient centred, minimal and feasible to collect in routine clinical practice.

Association between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and offspring's outcomes at 9 to 15 years of age.

Objective: Maternal pre-pregnancy underweight, overweight and obesity might increase the risk for worse short- and long-term outcome in the offspring. There is a need for further study into the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and the combined outcome of physical development, state of health and social behavior in children.

Question: Is maternal pre-pregnancy BMI associated with the child outcome in terms of physical development, state of health and social behavior (school and leisure time behavior) at the age of 9 to 15 years?

Methods: In the population-based birth cohort study Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SNIP) children at the age 9-15 years and their families were re-examined by questionnaire-based follow-up.

Indomethacin Prophylaxis Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Extremely Preterm Infants Born in the Context of Amniotic Infection Syndrome.

Background: Amniotic infection syndrome (AIS) with perinatal inflammation may increase the susceptibility to intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm infants. Given its anti-inflammatory and ductus arteriosus constricting capacities, we hypothesized that prophylactic administration of indomethacin reduces the incidence, severity, and consequences of IVH in the context of perinatal inflammation.

Methods: We evaluated data of infants born between 2009 and 2020 of 22 + 0-25+6 weeks of gestation from 68 German Neonatal Network centers.

Antenatal Care and Health Behavior of Pregnant Women-An Evaluation of the Survey of Neonates in Pomerania.

Background: The German maternity guidelines require regular medical checkup (MC) during pregnancy as a measure of prevention. Socioeconomic factors such as education, profession, income and origin, but also age and parity may influence the preventive and health behavior of pregnant women. The aim was to investigate the influence of these factors on the participation rate in MC of pregnant women.

Preterm ETs Are Significantly Reduced Compared with Adults and Partially Reduced Compared with Term Infants.

The release of DNA by cells during extracellular trap (ET) formation is a defense function of neutrophils and monocytes. Neutrophil ET (NET) formation in term infants is reduced compared to adults. Objective: The aim was to quantify NET and monocyte ET (MET) release and the respective key enzymes myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE) in preterm infants.

Maternal socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and life dissatisfaction associated with a small for gestational age infant. The Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SNiP).

Purpose: The aim is to investigate the associations of the mother's socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and life satisfaction with the delivery of a small for gestational age (SGA) infant.

Methods: Data from 4598 participants of the population-based birth cohort study Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SniP) including comprehensive information on pregnancies, mothers, and their offspring in Western Pomerania, Germany were used in this study. The associations were analyzed using linear and logistic regression models.

Fetal Zone Steroids Show Discrete Effects on Hyperoxia-Induced Attenuation of Migration in Cultured Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells.

Cerebral oxygenation disturbances contribute to the pathogenesis of brain lesions in preterm infants with white matter damage. These children are at risk of developing long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities. Preterm birth is associated with sudden hormonal changes along with an untimely increase in oxygen tissue tension.

Fetal Zone Steroids and Estrogen Show Sex Specific Effects on Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells in Response to Oxidative Damage.

Oxygen causes white matter damage in preterm infants and male sex is a major risk factor for poor neurological outcome, which speculates the role of steroid hormones in sex-based differences. Preterm birth is accompanied by a drop in 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone along with increased levels of fetal zone steroids (FZS). We performed a sex-based analysis on the FZS concentration differences in urine samples collected from preterm and term infants.

The neuroendocrine effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and 17β-estradiol in the preterm hyperoxia infant model.

Preterm birth causes neurological deficits. Previously, we demonstrated that fetal zone steroids reduce hyperoxia-mediated cell death . In immature oligodendrocytes (OLN-93 cells), dehydroepiandrosterone + 17β-estradiol co-treatment had synergistic beneficial effects while signals were transduced through different receptors.

Impact of Gestational and Postmenstrual Age on Excretion of Fetal Zone Steroids in Preterm Infants Determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Context: Fetal zone steroids (FZSs) are excreted in high concentrations in preterm infants. Experimental data suggest protective effects of FZSs in models of neonatal disease.

Objective: We aimed to characterize the postnatal FZS metabolome of well preterm and term infants.

Maternal pre-pregnancy underweight as a risk factor for the offspring: Survey of Neonates in Pomerania.

Aim: The aim was to investigate socio-economic risk factors for maternal underweight before pregnancy and then associations of underweight with neonatal outcomes.

Methods: Data of 3401 mother-child dyads from the population-based birth cohort Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SNiP) were analysed.

Results: Bivariate analysis showed that underweighted mothers were younger, smoked more often, had a lower equivalent income and lower socio-economic status (employment status and/or educational level) compared to women with normal weight.

Impact of Storage Conditions on the Breast Milk Peptidome.

Human donor milk (HDM) provides appropriate nutrition and offers protective functions in preterm infants. The aim of the study is to examine the impact of different storage conditions on the stability of the human breast milk peptidome. HDM was directly frozen at -80 °C or stored at -20 °C (120 h), 4 °C (6 h), or room temperature (RT for 6 or 24 h).

Nup133 and ERα mediate the differential effects of hyperoxia-induced damage in male and female OPCs.

Background: Hyperoxia is a well-known cause of cerebral white matter injury in preterm infants with male sex being an independent and critical risk factor for poor neurodevelopmental outcome. Sex is therefore being widely considered as one of the major decisive factors for prognosis and treatment of these infants. But unfortunately, we still lack a clear view of the molecular mechanisms that lead to such a profound difference.

Sepsis related mortality of extremely low gestational age newborns after the introduction of colonization screening for multi-drug resistant organisms.

Background: In 2013 German infection surveillance guidelines recommended weekly colonization screening for multidrug-resistant (MDRO) or highly epidemic organisms for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and extended hygiene measures based on screening results. It remains a matter of debate whether screening is worth the effort. We therefore aimed to evaluate sepsis related outcomes before and after the guideline update.

Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SNiP): Study design and cohort update.

Background: The health status of newborns is a major concern for parents and medical personnel. Recent studies have provided increasing evidence that factors from the foetal and perinatal periods of life influence health later in life. The "Follow-up of the Survey of Neonates in Pomerania" (SNiP-I-Follow-up) is the first follow-up of the population-based birth cohort study, SNiP-I, established in north-east Germany.

Analyses of pathological cranial ultrasound findings in neonates that fall outside recent indication guidelines: results of a population-based birth cohort: survey of neonates in Pommerania (SNiP-study).

Background: Recent guidelines recommend a cranial ultrasound (CU) in neonates born at < 30 weeks gestation, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), or with a CU indication. Here, we addressed the need to extend these recommendations.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 5107 CUs acquired in the population-based Survey of Neonates in Pomerania, conducted in 2002 to 2008.

Functional analysis of granulocyte and monocyte subpopulations in neonates.

Background: Neonate immune cell functions lack full protection against pathogens. This could be either defect or protective mechanism against overshooting proinflammatory immune responses. We here analysed the function of classical, pro- and anti-inflammatory monocytes and granulocytes from neonates in comparison with adults to investigate if suppressed functions of subpopulations are causative for the unique neonatal immune status.

Cost analysis showed that feeding preterm infants with donor human milk was significantly more expensive than mother's milk or formula.

Aim: This study analysed the comparative cost of feeding donor human milk to preterm infants compared to mother's own milk and formula.

Methods: A document and process analysis and a time measurement study were carried out at the milk bank of the Level 1 Perinatal Center of the University Hospital of Greifswald, Germany, from April to June 2017. The cost analysis data were provided by the University's financial department.

Evaluation of neonatal and maternal morbidity in mothers with gestational diabetes: a population-based study.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most frequent complication during pregnancy. Untreated GDM is a severe threat to maternal and neonatal health. Based on recent evidence, up to 15% of all pregnancies may be affected by GDM.