Reaction times, learning, and executive functioning in adults born preterm.

Background: This study examines cognitive functioning in adults born across the range of prematurity with appropriate or small for gestational age (SGA) birth weight compared with full-term controls.

Methods: ESTER Preterm Birth Study participants without severe disabilities, comprising 133 early preterm (<34 weeks, 17% SGA), 241 late preterm (34 + 0-36 + 6 weeks, 13% SGA), and 348 full-term subjects, performed the Cogstate® test at a mean age of 23.3 (SD = 1.

Prenatal determinants of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence - Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 study.

Background: Lower levels of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are key risk factors of chronic adult diseases. Physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are predicted by birth weight, but the underlying parental and pregnancy-related factors remain largely unknown. We examined how prenatal determinants are associated with physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence.

Physical Fitness in Young Adults Born Preterm.

Background: Young adults born preterm have higher levels of cardiometabolic risk factors than their term-born peers. Muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness have important cardiometabolic and other health benefits. We assessed muscular, cardiorespiratory, and self-rated fitness in preterm-born young adults.

Cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults who were born preterm.

Adults who were born preterm with a very low birth weight have higher blood pressure and impaired glucose regulation later in life compared with those born at term. We investigated cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults who were born at any degree of prematurity in the Preterm Birth and Early Life Programming of Adult Health and Disease (ESTER) Study, a population-based cohort study of individuals born in 1985-1989 in Northern Finland. In 2009-2011, 3 groups underwent clinical examination: 134 participants born at less than 34 gestational weeks (early preterm), 242 born at 34-36 weeks (late preterm), and 344 born at 37 weeks or later (controls).

Cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents born preterm.

Background: Adolescents and adults born as small preterm infants show more pronounced risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Whether similar risks apply across all degrees of preterm birth is poorly known.

Methods: We studied the association between preterm birth and cardiovascular risk factors in 6642 16-year-old adolescents of the population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986.

Maternal preeclampsia and bone mineral density of the adult offspring.

Objective: Preterm birth at very low birthweight (<1500 g) is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and reduced bone mineral density in the adult offspring. Preeclampsia is a frequent cause of preterm birth and is also associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in the offspring. Whether it is associated with bone mineral density is not known.

PP083. Maternal pre-eclampsia and bone mineral density of the adult offspring.

Introduction: Preterm birth at very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500g) is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in the adult offspring. Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a frequent cause of preterm birth and is also associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in the offspring. Whether it is associated with BMD is not known.

Preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and subsequent hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of preeclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH) on subsequent hypothyroidism. Recent studies suggest that women with PE have increased risk for reduced thyroid function, but the association between PE and GH with overt hypothyroidism has not been examined. STUDY DESIGN: Two prospective population-based cohort studies, the Northern Finland Birth Cohorts 1966 and 1986, followed women who had PE (N=955), GH (N=1449) or were normotensive (N=13531) during pregnancy.

Offspring's blood pressure and metabolic phenotype after exposure to gestational hypertension in utero.

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of de novo hypertension in pregnancy, i.e. gestational (non-proteinuric) hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE), on the long-term metabolic outcome of the offspring.

Validation of the Hemo_Control instrument for determination of B-haemoglobin concentration in primary health care.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of a new portable haemoglobinometer, Hemo_Control (EKF-diagnostic, GmbH, Germany), which measures haemoglobin concentration in venous and capillary samples.

Method: The within series and between series imprecision of the Hemo_Control instrument were calculated after measuring the concentration of venous samples under standardized conditions; by experienced laboratory technicians in a hospital laboratory, and venous and capillary samples under conditions similar to where the instrument is intended for use; by personnel at two primary health care centres. The bias of the Hemo_Control instrument was calculated as the difference between its results and results obtained with a Coulter LH 750 instrument traceable to the ICSH reference method.

Prepregnancy overweight and gestational diabetes as determinants of subsequent diabetes and hypertension after 20-year follow-up.

Context: Overweight is a strong risk factor for gestational diabetes (GDM), and both states indicate increased risk for subsequent metabolic syndrome. Data separating effects of overweight and GDM on risk for metabolic diseases are limited.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate prepregnancy overweight and GDM as determinants of risk for subsequent diabetes and hypertension.

Low-grade, systemic inflammation in adolescents: association with early-life factors, gender, and lifestyle.

Low-grade, systemic inflammation is related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adults. The proinflammatory state tracks from adolescence to adulthood. Identifying correlates of inflammation in adolescents could provide opportunities to prevent cardiovascular disease in adulthood.