Detection and analysis of plasma lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA profile in preterm birth with intraventricular hemorrhage.

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants and is strongly associated with adverse neurological outcomes. The incidence of severe IVH (grade 3 or 4) has persisted despite the overall decline in IVH. IVH has been attributed to changes in cerebral blood flow to the immature germinal matrix microvasculature.

Association between cortical thickness and cognitive ability in very preterm school-age children.

Very preterm children, born before 32 weeks of gestation, are at risk for impaired cognitive function, mediated by several risk factors. Cognitive impairment can be measured by various neurodevelopmental assessments and is closely associated with structural alterations of brain morphometry, such as cortical thickness. However, the association between structural alterations and high-order cognitive function remains unclear.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis (OHVIRA) Syndrome.

: Obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis (OHVIRA) syndrome, also known as Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome, is a rare syndrome characterized by the triad of uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis. Most cases of OHVIRA have been reported in adolescents or adults. Gartner duct cysts, including those manifesting as vaginal wall cysts, are also rare.

Altered functional connectivity in children born very preterm at school age.

Children born very preterm are at significant risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. This study sought to identify differences in cognitive function in children born very preterm compared to term-born controls and investigate alteration in white matter microstructure and functional connectivity (FC) based on tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and resting-state functional MRI, respectively. At 6 years of age, 36 children born very preterm (< 32 weeks' gestation) without major neurological disabilities and 26 term-born controls were tested using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th edition, and Child Behavior Checklist.

Severe protein C deficiency in a newborn caused by a homozygous pathogenic variant in the PROC gene: a case report.

Background: Severe protein C deficiency is a rare and inherited cause of thrombophilia in neonates. Protein C acts as an anticoagulant, and its deficiency results in vascular thrombosis. Herein, we report a case of protein C deficiency with a homozygous pathogenic variant in a term neonate, with good outcomes after proper treatment.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 18-24 Months of Corrected Age in Very Low Birth Weight Infants with Late-onset Sepsis.

Background: Preterm infants are prone to sepsis owing to their immature innate immunity and prolonged hospitalization. We aimed to evaluate the association between late-onset sepsis (LOS) during hospitalization and neurodevelopmental delay at 18-24 months of corrected age in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs), and to ascertain this association when adjusted for perinatal risk factors.

Methods: This is a population-based study of VLBWIs born at 23-32 weeks of gestation between January 2014 and December 2017 who were enrolled in the Korean Neonatal Network.

The Prediction of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Very Low Birth Weight Infants through Clinical Indicators within 1 Hour of Delivery.

Background: Despite the advances in neonatology, the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is increasing. It is important to prevent the development of BPD in the first place. The online BPD outcome estimator from National Institute of Children Health and Human Development and Neonatal Research Network is available.

The Clinical Usefulness of Predictive Models for Preterm Birth with Potential Benefits: A KOrean Preterm collaboratE Network (KOPEN) Registry-Linked Data-Based Cohort Study.

: Preterm birth is strongly associated with increasing mortality, incidence of disability, intensity of neonatal care required, and consequent costs. We examined the clinical utility of the potential preterm birth risk factors from admitted pregnant women with symptomatic preterm labor and developed prediction models to obtain information for prolonging pregnancies. This retrospective study included pregnant women registered with the KOrean Preterm collaboratE Network (KOPEN) who had symptomatic preterm labor, between 16 and 34 gestational weeks, in a tertiary care center from March to November 2016.

Influence of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy to pregnant inflammatory bowel disease women and their children's immunity.

Background/aims: The onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) usually occurs at young age, and therefore, women IBD patients experience pregnancy during their disease progression. Recently, the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) has been rapidly increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate pregnancy related outcomes in women with IBD who were treated with anti-TNF-α during pregnancy and immunity of their children.

Gestational age-specific sex difference in mortality and morbidities of preterm infants: A nationwide study.

This study aims to determine whether male sex has adverse effect on mortality and morbidities in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) <30 weeks of gestation and to ascertain this sex effect, stratified by gestational age, adjusting for perinatal risk factors. This is a population-based study from Korean Neonatal Network for VLBWI born at 23 and 29 weeks of gestation between January 2013 and December 2014. The primary outcome was gestation-specific sex difference in the occurrence of mortality, combined morbidities, and individual morbidity.

Functional variation of SHP-2 promoter is associated with preterm birth and delayed myelination and motor development in preterm infants.

Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine phosphatase that is highly expressed in hematopoietic cells and in the CNS and exerts opposite effects on signal transduction by exerting a neuroprotective or proapoptotic effect. Several mutations of SHP-2 have been found in children with myeloproliferative disorders or malignant leukemia, and some of these can affect brain development. In the present study, we aimed to identify and functionally characterize genetic variations in SHP-2 in 72 preterm and 58 full-term infants and to evaluate the effect of the variations on neurodevelopment in preterm infants.

Paternal involvement and early infant neurodevelopment: the mediation role of maternal parenting stress.

Background: Father-child interactions are associated with improved developmental outcomes among infants. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has addressed the effects of paternal involvement on the neurodevelopment of infants who are less than 6 months of age, and no study has reported how maternal parenting stress mediates the relationship between paternal involvement and infant neurodevelopment during early infancy. This study investigates the direct and indirect relationship between paternal involvement and infant neurodevelopment at 3-4 months of age.

Cerebellar Development in Preterm Infants at Term-Equivalent Age Is Impaired after Low-Grade Intraventricular Hemorrhage.

Objectives: To investigate cerebellar development in preterm infants at term-equivalent age compared with healthy full-term infants and to examine the effect of a low-grade intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) on cerebellar development.

Study Design: This study used 3T magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at 36-41 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA) in 72 preterm infants without severe brain injury and 16 full-term infants. Cerebellar volumes and DTI parameters of the cerebellar peduncles including fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivities were measured.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Post Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus among Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants in Korea.

Here, we aimed to evaluate the incidence and mortality of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) among very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in Korea and assess the associated factors of PHH. This cohort study used prospectively collected data from the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN). Among 2,386 VLBW infants in the KNN database born between January 2013 and June 2014, 63 infants who died without brain ultrasonography results were excluded.

Comparison of gastric and other bowel perforations in preterm infants: a review of 20 years' experience in a single institution.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to review the clinical presentation of preterm infants with gastrointestinal perforations and compare the clinical features of gastric perforation with other intestinal perforations.

Methods: The medical records of preterm neonates with pneumoperitoneum, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between January 1994 and December 2013, were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Twenty-one preterm infants underwent exploratory laparotomy to investigate the cause of the pneumoperitoneum.

Serial diffusion tensor images during infancy and their relationship to neuromotor outcomes in preterm infants.

Background: Even preterm infants with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results are at greater risk for neuromotor dysfunction.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare serial diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from preterm infants without apparent brain abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging with those from term controls and to investigate the white matter (WM) region associated with neuromotor outcomes.

Methods: We obtained serial DTIs from 21 preterm infants at term-equivalent age (TEA) and 1 year of corrected age.

The relationship between eosinophilia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants at less than 34 weeks' gestation.

Purpose: Eosinophilia is common in premature infants, and its incidence increases with a shorter gestation period. We investigated the clinical significance of eosinophilia in premature infants born at <34 weeks gestation.

Methods: We analyzed the medical records of premature infants born at <34 weeks gestation who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between January 2003 and September 2010.

Early aggressive nutrition enhances language development in very low-birthweight infants.

Background: Inadequate nutrition in very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants is known to be associated with growth failure and poor neurological outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association of early aggressive protein and energy intakes with weight gain and 18-month neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants.

Methods: A total of 90 infants among 129 infants who survived to discharge were included and divided into two groups (early aggressive nutrition [n = 52] vs conventional nutrition [n = 38]).

Oxidative stress and the antioxidant enzyme system in the developing brain.

Preterm infants are vulnerable to the oxidative stress due to the production of large amounts of free radicals, antioxidant system insufficiency, and immature oligodendroglial cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a pivotal role in the development of periventricular leukomalacia. The three most common ROS are superoxide (O2(•-)), hydroxyl radical (OH(•)), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

Altered microstructure of white matter except the corpus callosum is independent of prematurity.

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reflects the maturation of the brain microstructure. Although preterm infants are at significant risk for altered brain microstructure, it remains unclear whether this is affected by prematurity itself or other clinical factors.

Objectives: To investigate DTI parameters in preterm infants at a term-equivalent age (TEA) compared with healthy term infants and to assess the associations between DTI parameters and clinical factors that may affect brain development.

Respiratory viruses in neonates hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infections.

Background: The burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in neonates has not been clearly studied. The aims of this study were to determine the overall distribution of respiratory viruses in neonates hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infectiosns (ALRI) and to describe the clinical characteristics of RSV infections in these neonates.

Methods: From January 2009 through May 2010, neonates aged <1 month who were hospitalized with ALRI and did not have underlying disease were included in the study.

Clinical characteristics and genotypes of rotaviruses in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: There are few reports on the symptoms of rotavirus infections in neonates. This study aims to describe clinical signs of rotavirus infections among neonates, with a particular focus on preterm infants, and to show the distribution of genotypes in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at a regional NICU for 1 year.