Latent class growth analysis identified different trajectories in cognitive development of extremely low birthweight children.

Background: Recent longitudinal studies suggest stable cognitive development in preterm children, although with great individual variation. This prospective neurocognitive follow-up study of extremely low birthweight (ELBW, <1000 g) children aimed to characterise groups with different developmental trajectories from preschool to preteen age.

Methods: ELBW children (n=115) born in Finland in 1996-1997 participated in cognitive assessments at a median age of 5.

Preterm birth, neonatal therapies and the risk of childhood cancer.

Our aim was to study the impact of preterm birth and neonatal therapies on the risk of childhood cancer using a nationwide, registry-based, case-control design. Combining population-based data from Finnish Medical Birth Registry (MBR) and Finnish Cancer Registry, we identified a total of 2029 patients diagnosed with cancer under the age of 20 years and 10 103 age- and sex-matched controls over the years 1996 to 2014. Information on the prenatal and perinatal conditions was obtained from the MBR.

Analysis of neurodevelopmental outcomes of preadolescents born with extremely low weight revealed impairments in multiple developmental domains despite absence of cognitive impairment.

Background And Aims: Children with extremely low-birth weight (ELBW) have a high risk for cognitive, motor, and attention impairments and learning disabilities. Longitudinal follow-up studies to a later age are needed in order to increase understanding of the changes in neurodevelopmental trajectories in targeting timely intervention. The aims of this study were to investigate cognitive and motor outcomes, attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) behaviour, school performance, and overall outcomes in a national cohort of ELBW children at preadolescence, and minor neuromotor impairments in a subpopulation of these children and to compare the results with those of full-term controls.

Parents tend to underestimate cognitive deficits in 10- to 13-year-olds born with an extremely low birth weight.

Aim: This study determined the cognitive outcomes of Finnish children born with an extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and assessed the agreement between their neuropsychological assessment and how their parents evaluated their cognitive difficulties.

Methods: The study focused on 121 children from an ELBW cohort with a mean age of 11.6 years (range 10.

[Newborn infants treated with hypothermia therapy].

Perinatal asphyxia may lead to neurologic injury and death of the newborn infant. Hypothermia therapy seems to lower this risk. For the present retrospective study, the patient record data of both the mother and the child were collected for the newborn infants treated with hypothermia therapy in 2007-2010 in Helsinki University Central Hospital.

Could audiovisual training be used to improve cognition in extremely low birth weight children?

Aim: To study whether a dyslexia remediation programme, Audilex, improves cognition in extremely low birth (ELBW) children.

Methods: Six-year-old ELBW children were allocated to a 5-week training with Audilex or playing control computer games. Before and after intervention, auditory event-related brain potentials (ERP) to sound changes were recorded and reading related skills assessed.

[From preterm birth to adulthood].

Mortality among low birthweight infants has decreased and their neurological prognosis has improved over the recent decades. A major neurological impairment is, however, still found at preschool age in almost one fifth of those born with a birthweight of less than 1000 g. They often have difficulties in scholastic skills and become independent more slowly than their age-mates, but most of them will lead a normal adult life.

Neurocognitive test profiles of extremely low birth weight five-year-old children differ according to neuromotor status.

The neurocognitive outcome of children born with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) is highly variable due to the complexity of morbidity. So far, no study has compared comprehensive neuropsychological test profiles in groups with different neuromotor status. In a national cohort of ELBW children neuropsychological test profiles were assessed in 4 groups defined according to a neurological examination at 5 years of age: normal neuromotor status (N = 56), motor coordination problems (N = 32), multiple subtle neuromotor signs including both motor coordination problems and deviant reflexes (N = 20), and spastic diplegia (N = 12).

No improvement in outcome of nationwide extremely low birth weight infant populations between 1996-1997 and 1999-2000.

Objective: Our goal was to investigate whether outcome in extremely low birth weight infants changes over time in Finland.

Patients And Methods: All infants with a birth weight <1000 g born in Finland in 1996-1997 and 1999-2000 were included in the study. Perinatal and follow-up data were collected in a national extremely low birth weight infant research register.

Neurodevelopmental outcome at 5 years of age of a national cohort of extremely low birth weight infants who were born in 1996-1997.

Objective: Increasing survival of extremely low birth weight (ELBW; birth weight < 1000 g) infants raises a concern regarding the risks of adverse long-term outcome such as cognitive dysfunction. Few studies have reported long-term follow-up of representative regional cohorts. The objective of this study was to assess the 5-year outcome of a prospectively followed national ELBW infant cohort.

Economic costs of care in extremely low birthweight infants during the first 2 years of life.

Objective: To assess the 2-yr costs of extremely low birthweight infants' (ELBWIs; birthweight, < 1000 g) care in relation to birthweight, outcome, and the costs of normal birthweight infants.

Design: Cost data were obtained from care-giving hospitals and by a parental questionnaire. Outcome data from the perinatal and neonatal periods and from the first 2 yrs for both ELBWIs and control infants had been prospectively collected to a national ELBWI register.

A national two year follow up study of extremely low birthweight infants born in 1996-1997.

Objective: To study neurodevelopmental outcome in a two year cohort of extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants at 18 months corrected age, to compare the development of the ELBW infant subcohort with that of control children, and to find risk factors associated with unfavourable outcome.

Study Design: All 211 surviving ELBW infants (birth weight < 1000 g) born in Finland in 1996-1997 were included in a national survey. The ELBW infants (n = 78) who were born and followed in Helsinki University Hospital belonged to a regional subcohort and were compared with a control group of 75 full term infants.

Parental stress in families of 2 year old extremely low birthweight infants.

Objective: To compare the parental stress in the families of 2 year old extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants with that in control families, and to compare the stress of mothers with that of fathers.

Methods: The study population included all parents of ELBW infants (birth weight < 1000 g and gestational age at least 22 gestational weeks) born between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 1997 in Helsinki University Hospital and followed at the hospital's neuropaediatric department. The parents of full term, healthy infants born subsequent to each ELBW infant were eligible for the control group.

A national short-term follow-Up study of extremely low birth weight infants born in Finland in 1996-1997.

Objectives: The aims of this prospective nationwide investigation were to establish the birth rate, mortality, and morbidity of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants in Finland in 1996-1997, and to analyze risk factors associated with poor outcome.

Participants And Methods: The study population included all stillborn and live-born ELBW infants (birth weight: <1000 g; gestational age: at least 22 gestational weeks [GWs]), born in Finland between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1997. Surviving infants were followed until discharge or to the age corresponding with 40 GWs.

A syndrome with midface asymmetry, defective modelling of the skeleton, catch-up growth and truncal obesity.

We report follow-up from birth up to 16 years of age of a patient with a previously undescribed combination of dysmorphic features. These include: intrauterine growth retardation developing to normal adult stature with truncal obesity, asymmetry of the midface skeleton with severe orthodontic problems, brachydactyly of the hands and feet, wide medial phalanges of the fingers, partial soft tissue syndactyly, simian creases and normal mental development. We consider other differential diagnoses and suggest that the patient represents a hitherto undescribed syndrome.