Associations between VEGF isoforms and impending retinopathy of prematurity.

Background/objective: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is the main driver of angiogenesis during neurodevelopment (i.e., brain and retina).

Feasibility of neonatal haemoglobin A1C as a biomarker for retinopathy of prematurity.

Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a potentially serious eye disorder affecting very preterm infants. Non-proliferative ROP (NP-ROP), also known as Early Stage ROP, is characterized by deficient retinal angiogenesis. Proliferative ROP (P-ROP), also known as Late Stage ROP, is characterized by pathologic angiogenesis.

The association between high levels of luteinizing hormone and proliferative retinopathy of prematurity in female preterm infants.

Background: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), generally considered reproductive hormones, have potent proangiogenic properties. Both of these hormones and their joint receptor (CG/LH receptor) are found in the human eye. We hypothesized that an excess of these hormones is associated with proliferative retinopathy of prematurity (P-ROP).

Demonstrating a Linear Relationship Between Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Luteinizing Hormone in Kidney Cortex Extracts.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) helps to control angiogenesis and vascular permeability in the kidney. Renal disorders, such as diabetic nephropathy, are associated with VEGF dysregulation in the kidney. The factors that govern VEGF under physiologic conditions in the kidney are not well-understood.

The postnatal presence of human chorionic gonadotropin in preterm infants and its potential inverse association with retinopathy of prematurity.

Background: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are pro-angiogenic gonadotropic hormones, which classically target the reproductive organs. However, hCG, LH, and their shared CG/LH receptor are also present in the human eye. The possibility that a deficiency of these hormones may be involved in the pathogenesis of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) during its early non-proliferative phase has not been explored.

The potential effect of human chorionic gonadotropin on vasoproliferative disorders of the immature retina.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is known to be a powerful vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-regulating hormone. It stimulates vascularization of the gravid uterus by upregulating VEGF expression. In the body, hCG activates the same receptor as luteinizing hormone (LH).

Elimination of Signaling by the Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Reduces Ocular VEGF and Retinal Vascularization during Mouse Eye Development.

Unlabelled: Purpose/Aim: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) dysregulation is implicated in the pathogenesis of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Identifying the factors that contribute to VEGF regulation during normal retinal vascularization is the key to ROP prevention. Currently, physiologic hypoxia is thought to be responsible for retinal VEGF regulation in utero.

Confirmation of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in Living Human Vitreous and the Effect of LH Receptor Reduction on Murine Electroretinogram.

Luteinizing hormone (LH), produced in the anterior pituitary, has been detected in cadaver eyes and LH receptors (LHRs) have been identified in the retina, with the highest density in cone photoreceptors. Our aim was to confirm the presence of LH in the living, human eye as well as to examine the potential impact of a reduction in LHR signaling on visual processing. Vitreous samples were collected from 40 patients (23 diabetics, 17 non-diabetics) who were undergoing vitrectomies for various indications.

Vitreous Levels of Luteinizing Hormone and VEGF are Strongly Correlated in Healthy Mammalian Eyes.

Unlabelled: Purpose/Aim: Luteinizing hormone (LH) is known to function as a key regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in reproductive organs. In recent years, LH has also been detected in human vitreous and LH receptors have been identified in human retina. This study was aimed to investigate a potential correlation between LH and VEGF levels in healthy mammalian eyes to provide supporting evidence of LH's potential involvement in intraocular VEGF regulation.

Pretreatment with Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Protects the Neonatal Brain against the Effects of Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury.

Introduction: Though the human fetus is exposed to placentally derived human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) throughout gestation, the role of hCG on the fetal brain is unknown. Review of the available literature appears to indicate that groups of women with higher mean levels of hCG during pregnancy tend to have offspring with lower cerebral palsy (CP) risk. Given that newborn cerebral injury often precedes the development of CP, we aimed to determine whether hCG may protect against the neurodegenerative effects of neonatal brain injury.

Ventriculomegaly in very-low-birthweight infants with Down syndrome.

Aim: The prevalence of Down syndrome in infants with fetal ventriculomegaly is 5% to 10%; however, the converse, the prevalence of cerebral ventriculomegaly in live-born infants with Down syndrome, is not well established. Because cranial ultrasounds are performed on most very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants (birthweight <1500g), our aim was to examine ultrasound abnormalities of VLBW infants to determine prevalence of ventriculomegaly and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in VLBW infants with Down syndrome, and whether VLBW infants with Down syndrome are at higher risk for cranial ultrasound abnormalities, compared with the already elevated risk in other VLBW infants.

Method: This study comprised retrospective analysis of data from Pediatrix BabySteps Clinical Data Warehouse.

Postnatal corticosteroids and risk of retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: To investigate the association between postnatal steroids and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in neonates born with birth weights at the limit of viability (<500 g).

Methods: Data from the Pediatrix BabySteps Clinical Warehouse were retrospectively reviewed. The study population consisted of 1,472 neonates with birth weights of <500 g who were discharged alive from 167 NICUs between 1996 and 2013.

Trisomy 21 and Risk of Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Background And Objectives: Trisomy 21 is known to decrease the risk of several (nonocular) angiogenic-mediated diseases. The objective of this study was to determine whether trisomy 21 can also be shown to be significantly protective against ocular angiogenic-mediated disorders such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of deidentified data from the Pediatrix BabySteps Clinical Warehouse.

Partner's Perspective on Long-term Sexual Dysfunction After Prostate Cancer Treatment.

Objective: Prostate cancer is the most common type of male cancer in the United States and the negative effect of prostate cancer treatment on sexual function has been well documented. The objective of this study was to examine the long-term impact of sexual dysfunction on spouses or partners of prostate cancer survivors.

Methods: A total of 742 spouses of prostate cancer survivors was mailed surveys by the Michigan Public Health Institute, of which 379 were returned (51%).

Autism spectrum disorder is associated with ventricular enlargement in a low birth weight population.

Objective: To determine the relation of neonatal cranial ultrasound abnormalities to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in low birth weight (LBW) adult survivors, a population at increased ASD risk.

Study Design: This is a secondary analysis of a prospectively-followed regional birth cohort of 1105 LBW infants systematically screened for perinatal brain injury with cranial ultrasound in the first week of life and later assessed for ASD using a two-stage process [screening at age 16 years (n = 623) followed by diagnostic assessment at age 21 years of a systematically selected subgroup of those screened (n = 189)]; 14 cases of ASD were identified. For this analysis, cranial ultrasound abnormalities were defined as ventricular enlargement (indicative of diffuse white matter injury), parenchymal lesions (indicative of focal white matter injury), and isolated germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage.

Association between transient hypothyroxinaemia of prematurity and adult autism spectrum disorder in a low-birthweight cohort: an exploratory study.

Background: Transient hypothyroxinaemia of prematurity (THOP) is associated with increased risk of cerebral palsy and lower IQ in low-birthweight infants. This study explores whether THOP is also associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Methods: This secondary analysis uses data from a birth cohort of newborns weighing 500 -2000 g (n = 1105) who were followed to age 21 years, when they were assessed for ASD in the second of a two-stage process.

Does medical insurance type (private vs public) influence the physician's decision to perform Caesarean delivery?

Introduction: US data reveal a Caesarean rate discrepancy between insured and uninsured patients, with the C-section rate highest among the privately insured. The data have prompted concern that financial incentives associated with insurance status might influence American physicians' decisions to perform Caesarean deliveries.

Objective: To determine whether differences in medical risk factors account for the apparent Caesarean rate discrepancy between Medicaid and privately insured patients in Michigan, USA.

The effect of gestational age on symptom severity in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Between 2006 and 2010, two research-validated instruments, Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) were filled out online by 4,188 mothers of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children, aged 4-21, as part of voluntary parental participation in a large web-based registry. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis (adjusted for child's sex, ability to verbalize, categorical IQ score, and fetal growth rate) demonstrated significantly higher SCQ and SRS scores for ASD children of both preterm (<37 weeks) and post-term (>42 weeks) gestational age (GA) compared to ASD children of normal GA, thus indicating that both preterm and post-term children manifest increased ASD symptomatology. Normal GA at birth appears to mitigate the severity of autistic social impairment in ASD children.

Fourth nerve palsy, homonymous hemianopia, and hemisensory deficit caused by a proximal posterior cerebral artery aneurysm.

A 21-year-old man developed an ipsilateral fourth nerve palsy, contralateral hemianopia, and contralateral hemisensory deficit as manifestations of a proximal right posterior cerebral artery aneurysm. This unusual constellation of signs reflects the involvement of the structures that run in the ambient cistern. The fourth nerve palsy and homonymous hemianopia are attributed to compression by the aneurysm.