Hyper high haemoglobin content in red blood cells and erythropoietic transitions postnatally in infants of 22 to 26 weeks' gestation: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Blood cell populations, including red blood cells (RBC) unique to the extremely preterm (EPT) infant, are potentially lost due to frequent clinical blood sampling during neonatal intensive care. Currently, neonatal RBC population heterogeneity is not described by measurement of total haemoglobin or haematocrit. We therefore aimed to describe a subpopulation of large RBCs with hyper high haemoglobin content, >49 pg (Hyper-He) following EPT birth.

Modification of serum fatty acids in preterm infants by parenteral lipids and enteral docosahexaenoic acid/arachidonic acid: A secondary analysis of the Mega Donna Mega trial.

Background & Aim: Preterm infants risk deficits of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) that may contribute to morbidities and hamper neurodevelopment. We aimed to determine longitudinal serum fatty acid profiles in preterm infants and how the profiles are affected by enteral and parenteral lipid sources.

Methods: Cohort study analyzing fatty acid data from the Mega Donna Mega study, a randomized control trial with infants born <28 weeks of gestation (n = 204) receiving standard nutrition or daily enteral lipid supplementation with arachidonic acid (AA):docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (100:50 mg/kg/day).

The Dietary Inflammatory Index Is Associated with Subclinical Mastitis in Lactating European Women.

Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is an inflammatory state of the lactating mammary gland, which is asymptomatic and may have negative consequences for child growth. The objectives of this study were to: (1) test the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) and SCM and (2) assess the differences in nutrient intakes between women without SCM and those with SCM. One hundred and seventy-seven women with available data on human milk (HM) sodium potassium ratio (Na:K) and dietary intake data were included for analysis.

High Rate of Cytomegalovirus Detection in Cholestatic Preterm Infants.

To evaluate the prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in preterm infants with cholestasis. Preterm infants (<37 weeks gestational age) with cholestasis were tested for CMV DNA using Taqman PCR in blood cells from sedimented whole blood, plasma, and urine. Infants were regarded as positive for CMV if any sample was tested positive.

Effect of Enteral Lipid Supplement on Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Lack of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) after extremely preterm birth may contribute to preterm morbidity, including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Objective: To determine whether enteral supplementation with fatty acids from birth to 40 weeks' postmenstrual age reduces ROP in extremely preterm infants.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Mega Donna Mega trial, a randomized clinical trial, was a multicenter study performed at 3 university hospitals in Sweden from December 15, 2016, to December 15, 2019.

A prospective case-control study on miRNA circulating levels in subjects born small for gestational age (SGA) evaluated from childhood into young adulthood.

Objective: microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with metabolic risk have never been extensively investigated in SGA subjects. The aim of the current study was to evaluate miRNAs in SGA and AGA subjects and their relationships with the metabolic status and growth.

Design And Methods: A prospective longitudinal case-control study was performed in 23 SGA with postnatal catch-up growth and 27 AGA subjects evaluated at the age of 9 and 21 years.

Impact of maternal characteristics on human milk oligosaccharide composition over the first 4 months of lactation in a cohort of healthy European mothers.

Human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) composition varies among lactating mothers and changes during the course of lactation period. Interindividual variation is largely driven by fucosyltransferase (FUT2 and FUT3) polymorphisms resulting in 4 distinct milk groups. Little is known regarding whether maternal physiological status contributes to HMO variability.

Kidney volume, kidney function, and ambulatory blood pressure in children born extremely preterm with and without nephrocalcinosis.

Background: Reduced kidney volume (KV) following prematurity is a proxy for reduced nephron number and is associated with the development of hypertension and end-stage renal disease in adults. We investigated whether extreme prematurity affects KV, function, and blood pressure in school-aged children and if nephrocalcinosis (NC) developed during the neonatal period had additional effects.

Methods: We investigated 60 children at a mean age of 7.

Improved nutrition for extremely preterm infants - A population based observational study.

Background And Aims: Extremely preterm (EPT) infants are at high risk for malnutrition due to immaturity and medical complications and they often accumulate nutritional deficits and experience growth faltering during treatment at neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Enhanced intake of energy and protein during the first weeks of life improves weight gain and head circumference growth. The optimal nutritional strategy for these infants' health and long-term development remains unknown.

High prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in surgical intestinal specimens from infants with necrotizing enterocolitis and spontaneous intestinal perforation: A retrospective observational study.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe, often fatal gastrointestinal emergency that predominantly affects preterm infants, and there is evidence that neonatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may in some cases contribute to its pathogenesis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CMV in infants with NEC.

Study Design: Seventy intestinal specimens from 61 infants with NEC, spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP), or related surgical complications were collected at Karolinska University Hospital and Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.

Cytomegalovirus infection and neonatal outcome in extremely preterm infants after freezing of maternal milk.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection acquired from breast milk can cause serious illness in extremely preterm (EPT) infants (<28 weeks). Some neonatal centers freeze maternal milk (MM) to prevent CMV transmission; however, this practice is controversial. In this study, we assessed the CMV transmission rate and neonatal outcome in EPT infants after routine freezing of all MM.

Leptin may enhance hepatic insulin sensitivity in children and women born small for gestational age.

Objective: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Lipodystrophy leads to early type 2 diabetes and leptin reverses the metabolic consequences of the disease. Low IGF-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) can predict the development of type 2 diabetes.

Decreased heart rate variability in children born with low birth weight.

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with cardiovascular morbidity in adulthood. Imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has been implicated as a mechanism behind the developmental programming of cardiovascular function. We hypothesized that deviations in the ANS function are seen in children born with LBW.

Risk factors for acute respiratory morbidity in moderately preterm infants.

Background: Infants born preterm account for a substantial part of neonatal morbidity, with acute respiratory disorders being a dominating clinical problem. Whereas focus in recent studies has been on extremely and very preterm infants, less is known about contemporary rates and risk factors for acute respiratory morbidity in moderately and late preterm infants. The objective of this population-based Swedish study was to establish rates for different acute respiratory diseases in moderately preterm infants, and to identify maternal, obstetric and neonatal risk factors for the two most common diagnoses, transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

The European database for subspecialist training in neonatology - transparency achieved.

Background: The European Society for Neonatology (ESN) developed a curriculum for subspecialist training in Europe recommending standards for national neonatal training programmes. We speculate whether these official recommendations are widely accepted or used in practice.

Objectives: To characterize the variation in national neonatal training programmes, to enhance transparency, and to compare them to the ESN Curriculum.

Differences in insulin resistance markers between children born small for gestational age or born preterm appropriate for gestational age.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of prenatal or postnatal compromised environment on glucose homoeostasis in children born preterm and appropriate for gestational age or small for gestational age (SGA) at term.

Method: Seventy-seven children (median 9.9 years, range 8.

Neonatal morbidity in moderately preterm infants: a Swedish national population-based study.

Objective: To determine the gestational age (GA)-specific risks for neonatal morbidity and use of interventions in infants born at 30 to 34 completed gestational weeks.

Study Design: A population-based Swedish study including 6674 infants born during 2004-2008. Risks for neonatal morbidity and use of interventions were investigated with respect to GA and birth weight standard deviation scores.

Early hyperglycemia is a risk factor for death and white matter reduction in preterm infants.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether hyperglycemia during the first week of life in extremely preterm (EPT) infants was associated with increased mortality rates and with cerebral injury, as assessed with MRI of the brain, at term-equivalent age.

Methods: All 143 EPT infants (gestational ages of <27 weeks) who were born at Karolinska University Hospital between January 2004 and December 2006 and were alive at 24 hours were eligible. Of the 118 surviving infants, 24 were excluded for various reasons.

Expression of water and ion transporters in tracheal aspirates from neonates with respiratory distress.

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine whether neonatal respiratory distress is related to changes in water and ion transporter expression in lung epithelium.

Methods: The study included 32 neonates on mechanical ventilation: 6 patients with normal lung X-rays (control group), eight with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), eight with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), 10 with abnormal lung X-rays (mixed group). The protein abundance of water channel AQP5, epithelial sodium channel (ENaC; alpha-, beta- and gamma-ENaC) and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase alpha1 were examined in tracheal aspirates using semiquantitative immunoblotting.

Breastmilk handling routines for preterm infants in Sweden: a national cross-sectional study.

Background: In Sweden preterm infants born <32 gestational weeks are fed maternal breastmilk or, if not available, donor breastmilk. Nutritional and immunological composition of human milk is affected by processing and storage procedures. Additionally, freezing of breastmilk may reduce cytomegalovirus transmission.

Renal volume and function in school-age children born preterm or small for gestational age.

Impaired renal development during foetal life is a proposed mechanism for adult hypertension in people born small. Whether preterm birth contributes to such adverse development is still unclear. We investigated the selective contributions from foetal growth restriction or preterm birth to renal function and volume in children with low birth weight.

Transmission of cytomegalovirus to extremely preterm infants through breast milk.

Aim: To evaluate the rate and clinical expression of postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection transmitted through breast milk in extremely preterm infants.

Methods: Ten extremely preterm infants and their six mothers were included. Maternal CMV serology was determined.

Resuscitation and ventilation strategies for extremely preterm infants: a comparison study between two neonatal centers in Boston and Stockholm.

Aim: To evaluate if different resuscitation and ventilatory styles exist between two neonatal units, and if the less aggressive approach has a beneficiary effect on BPD outcome.

Method: Inborn infants delivered at a gestational age <28 weeks were retrospectively studied (Boston = 70 and Stockholm = 102). Data were collected from birth to discharge or to 40 weeks.