Axial Length and Ocular Development of Premature Infants without ROP

Purpose. To investigate the ocular parameters of premature infants without ROP at gestational age (GA) more than 28 weeks and their relationship with growth parameters. Methods. 76 preterm infants without ROP and 65 term infants were involved to undergo portable slit lamp, RetCam3, ultrasonic A-scan biometry, and cycloplegic streak examination at their 40 weeks’ postconceptional ages (PCA). Ocular parameters of infants’ right eye and growth parameters were used for analysis. Results. All the infants were examined at 40 weeks’ PCA. No significant difference was found between male and female in axial length of preterm infants (p = 0.993) and term infants (p=0.591). Significant differences were found in axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and vitreous depth (VD) between preterm and term infants. No significant correlation was found between AL and spherical equivalent in preterm infants’ group. In preterm group, AL was significantly correlated with gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), and head circumference (HC). Conclusions. Preterm infants had shorter AL, shallow ACD, thicker LT, and thinner VD compared to term infants. Refractive error in preterm infants at GA between 28 to 37 weeks was not related to axial length. Among all the growth parameters of preterm infants, GA, BW, and HC had effect on axial length.

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Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Otherwise Healthy Prematurely Born Infants: A Forgotten Majority

American Journal of Perinatology ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1637762 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (06) ◽

pp. 541-544 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bosco Paes

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Premature Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Burden Of Illness ◽

Hospital Costs ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Term Infants ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Syncytial Virus

AbstractHealthy, premature infants ≤35 weeks' gestational age (wGA) are universally recognized to be at an increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection imposes an additional burden of illness on these infants following hospitalization. Incurred morbidities relative to term infants include longer lengths of hospital stay, admission to intensive care, and need for oxygen and mechanical ventilation, all of which are associated with increased hospital costs. The highest morbidities are experienced by premature infants who are youngest (<3 months' chronological age) and are of lower gestational age. Short- and long-term follow-up indicates that healthy preterm infants both of lower gestational age and who are late preterm have obstructive lung function at baseline, which is further compromised by RSV-related infection during infancy. There is increasing evidence that childhood exposure to an episode of RSV infection may set the stage for an abnormal respiratory function trajectory, which, in adulthood, leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Healthy premature infants <32 wGA merit RSV prophylaxis based on existing data, whereas moderate- and high-risk preterm infants 32 to 35 wGA should be selectively and cost-effectively targeted for prophylaxis using validated risk scoring tools and country-specific thresholds for funding.

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The somatic growth pattern of preterm infants until term age

Paediatrica Indonesiana ◽

10.14238/pi49.1.2009.39-47 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

Ida Bagus Andhita ◽

Soetjianingsih Soetjianingsih ◽

I. Wayan Retayasa

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Premature Infants ◽

Growth Pattern ◽

Somatic Growth ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Term Infants ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Breastfed Infants ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

Background Pre term infants contribute substantially to neonatalmorbidity and mortality rates. Somatic growth is consideredto be an important indicator of an infant's health status. Themeasurement parameters include body weight (BW), body length(BL), head circumference (HC), and ponderal index (PI). Specificdata on the somatic growth pattern of preterm infants in Indonesiaare unavailable.Objectives To identify the somatic pattern of preterm infantsuntil term age and the influence of gender, nutrition, and nursingmethod on BW, BL, HC, and PI growth during the first week oflife.Methods We recruited premature infants born in Sanglah Hopsital,Denpasar, Bali, and collected data on BW, BL, HC, and PI>All data were presented as mean (SD) and plotted in curves.The relationships among several factors and the somatic growthparameters were analyzed with ANOV A. The level of significancewas set at P < 0.05.Results Among 100 infants, significant differences were detectedin the mean ofBW, BL, HC, and PI, particularly in early preterminfants. Breastfed infants had the highest values with BW 2199grams (SD 198), HC 31.4 em (SD 1.71), and PI 2.48 grams/cm 3(SD 0.36). Infants nursed with the kangaroo method had thehighest values of BW [2450 grams (SD 259)] and BL [48 em(SD 2.34)].Conclusion A significant difference was detected in somaticgrowth according to some parameters, particularly in the earlypreterm infants group. Thus, breast feeding and the kangaroomethod contribute to better somatic growth, and specifically BW.

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Umbilical Cord Blood Adiponectin, Leptin, Insulin, and Ghrelin in Premature Infants and Their Association With Birth Outcomes

Frontiers in Endocrinology ◽

10.3389/fendo.2021.738964 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Luyan Han ◽

Bo Li ◽

Xiaojing Xu ◽

Shufang Liu ◽

Zhenghong Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Cord Blood ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Umbilical Cord ◽

Fetal Growth ◽

Umbilical Cord Blood ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Metabolic Diseases ◽

Term Infants ◽

Preterm Group

BackgroundPremature/low-birth-weight infants are at significant risk of metabolic diseases in adulthood, which may be related to the levels of fetal adipokine. Here, we investigated the differences in the levels of umbilical cord blood adiponectin, leptin, insulin, and ghrelin in preterm and term infants and sought to elucidate the link between these hormones and fetal growth. We also evaluated the interrelationship among these metabolic hormones in both groups of newborns.MethodsA total of 149 mother–infant pairs (100 in the preterm group and 49 in the term group) were enrolled in the study. The preterm group was further subdivided according to birth weight (≤1,500, 1,501–2,000, 2,001–2,500, and >2,500 g), gestational age (<34 vs. ≥34 weeks), and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) vs. small for gestational age (SGA). The general condition of the mothers and the growth parameters of the newborns at birth were recorded.ResultsThe levels of adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin were lower in the preterm group than those in the term group (p < 0.05). In the preterm group, the leptin levels of infants with gestational age ≥34 weeks were significantly higher than those of infants with gestational age <34 weeks (mean ln leptin = 0.63 vs. 0.36 ng/ml, p = 0.009). The levels of adiponectin were lower in the SGA group than those in the AGA group (mean ln adiponectin = 2.26 vs. 2.84 µg/ml, p = 0.001), whereas those of ghrelin displayed the opposite trend (mean ln ghrelin = 6.29 vs. 5.71 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Leptin was significantly correlated with insulin both in preterm infants with birth weight (BW) >2,000 g and in term infants. Umbilical cord blood leptin was positively correlated with the BW, birth length, and head circumference of newborns (r = 0.460, 0.311, and 0.310, respectively, all p < 0.05), whereas ghrelin was negatively correlated with the same parameters (r = −0.372, −0.415, and −0.373, respectively, all p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe lack of maturation of adipose tissue and the gastrointestinal tract by the fetus due to prematurity is associated with changes in the levels of cord blood adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin. The dysregulation of these hormones in preterm infants may be a risk factor for fetal growth and future metabolic diseases.

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Feeding Performance in Preterm Infants and Full Term Infants at 40 Weeks Postmenstrual Age

Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society ◽

10.3126/jnps.v36i2.14621 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 136-140

Author(s):

Gunjan Gupta ◽

Kaniyanoor Venkatesan Vijay Kumar ◽

R. Anitha ◽

Binu Ninan

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Premature Infants ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Full Term ◽

Term Infants ◽

Feeding Performance ◽

New Born ◽

Neural Processes ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Innate Behaviour

Introduction: Feeding problems are commonly reported among preterm infants. As premature infants are born before adequate maturation, inadequate feeding capabilities are common among preterm infants. Feeding is an innate behaviour in a new born. Swallowing is evident in a foetus by 16th week of gestation (Tuchman, 1994). By 40th week of gestation, neural processes are expected to mature completely. Feeding is an innate behaviour in a new born. Swallowing is evident in a foetus by 16th week of gestation. By 40th week of gestation, neural processes are expected to mature completely. Since the premature infants are born before adequate maturation of the systems, it is not unusual for them to have inadequate feeding capabilities.Material and Methods: This study aimed to compare feeding performance in preterm (between 30 and 34 weeks GA) and full term infants at 40 weeks Post menstrual age. Seventy infants and their mothers served as participants. A close ended questionnaire documented the oral reflexes, oro-motor skills, oro-sensory skills and feeding history in infants.Results: Results were tabulated under feeding history, (viz; history of use of nasogastric feeding, duration of feeding, episodes of coughing/ choking and vomiting, fussing during feeding, noisy breathing) and oral skills. Significant difference in feeding behaviour was observed between the term and preterm infants at 40 weeks post menstrual age. Conclusion: Hence the need for Speech Language Pathologist to evaluate feeding behaviour at 40 weeks post menstrual age becomes necessary.

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Comparison of Feeding Behaviors in Term and Preterm Infants at Six Months Corrected Age

Jundishapur Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.32598/jsmj.20.2.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 140-149

Author(s):

Mohadese Gholamiyan Arefi ◽

◽

Nasrin Shahouzaei ◽

Zahra Esmaeili ◽

Aliye Abedini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Premature Infants ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

P Value ◽

Feeding Problems ◽

Speech And Language ◽

Feeding Behaviors ◽

Term Infants ◽

Significant Difference

Background and Objectives: This study compares feeding behaviors and problems of in term Infants and preterm infants at 6 months corrected age. Subjects and Methods The study was of observational-sectional type (descriptive and analytic) and sampling was one-step cluster probability of the available population in the form of the whole number. Feeding behaviors of 90 infants, including 60 term infants and 30 preterm infants, were assessed by speech and language pathologists through interviews with parents and recorded in a questionnaire. The information in this questionnaire includes feeding behaviors, feeding problems, feeding period, infant weight at 2, 4, 6 months and the age of the child to start complementary feeding, SPSS software version 24 was used to analyze the data. In all the present study, P-value less than 5% was considered as a significant level. Results The results showed that the two groups were significantly different in the mean score of feeding behavior (P= 0.001), feeding problems (P= 0.047) and weight gain (P<0.001). While in feeding duration (P= 0.53) and Frequency of feeding (P= 0.1) there was no significant difference. Of the 90 infants studied, more than 80% of them started feeding in the form of puree in the age group of 4-6 months. Conclusion Premature infants have more feeding problems and less weight gain than normal infants. It is recommended that the speech and language pathologist evaluate and intervene appropriately for oral skills and nutrition of premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

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STUDIES OF THE IMMUNOLOGY OF THE NEWBORN INFANT

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.12.2.151 ◽

1953 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 151-157

Author(s):

JOSEPH DANCIS ◽

JOHN J. OSBORN ◽

HANS W. KUNZ

Keyword(s):

Antibody Response ◽

Newborn Infant ◽

Premature Infants ◽

Single Injection ◽

Diphtheria Toxoid ◽

Birth Date ◽

Term Infants ◽

Normal Birth ◽

Significant Difference

The antibody response of premature infants immunized at birth with a single injection of diphtheria toxoid was compared to that of a group of term infants similarly immunized. No significant difference was demonstrated. A group of premature infants was immunized about the time that was estimated to be their normal birth date and the antibody response compared to that of term infants at birth. The performance of the premature infants was superior to that of the term infants. The significance of these findings is discussed.

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Reduction in Obstructive Breathing Events During Body Rocking: A Controlled Polygraphic Study in Preterm and Full-Term Infants

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.96.1.64 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 96 (1) ◽

pp. 64-68

Author(s):

J. Groswasser ◽

M. Sottiaux ◽

E. Rebuffat ◽

T. Simon ◽

M. Vandeweyer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eye Movement ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Upper Airway ◽

Periodic Breathing ◽

Full Term ◽

Rapid Eye Movement ◽

Term Infants ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apneas

Objective. To investigate the effect of body rocking on infant respiratory behavior during sleep. Methods. Eighteen infants with documented obstructive sleep apneas were studied. There were eight premature infants with persistent bradycardias and 10 infants born full-term, admitted after an idiopathic apparent life-threatening event. No cause for the obstructive apneas was found. The infants were recorded with polygraphic techniques during two successive nights. They were randomly assigned to a rocking or a nonrocking mattress. The conditions were reversed the following night, in a crossover design. Results. In both groups of infants, no significant difference was seen between the two consecutive nights for most of the variables studied: total sleep time, the proportion of non-rapid-eye-movement and rapid-eye-movement sleep, the number of arousals, the number and maximal duration of central apneas, the frequency of periodic breathing, the level of oxygen saturation, and heart rate. During the nonrocking nights, all infants had repeated obstructive breathing events. In seven of the eight preterm infants and in nine of the 10 full-term subjects, body rocking was associated with a significant decrease in the frequency of obstructive events. During rocking, in the preterm infants the obstructions fell from a median of 2.5 to 1.8 episodes per hour (P = .034). In the full-term infants, rocking reduced the obstructive events from a median of 1.5 obstructions per hour to 0.7 (P = .005). No difference was seen for the duration of the obstructive episodes. Conclusion. In preterm and full-term infants prone to obstructive sleep apneas, gentle side-to-side body rocking is associated with a significant decrease in the frequency of upper-airway obstructions.

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Influence of Ear Protectors on the Sleep of Preterm Newborns: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

Clinical Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/1054773818806171 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 260-267

Author(s):

Mônica Hiromi Sato ◽

Mavilde da Luz Gonçalves Pedreira ◽

Ariane Ferreira Machado Avelar ◽

Miriam Harumi Tsunemi ◽

Kelly Cristina Sbampato Calado Orsi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Total Sleep Time ◽

Sleep Time ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Controlled Clinical Study ◽

Preterm Newborns ◽

Current Weight

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of ear protectors on the sleep of preterm newborns during the “quiet” times in intermediate care nursery. This was a clinical, randomized, controlled crossover study conducted in two neonatal units in São Paulo, Brazil. The sample consisted of preterm infants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study. Polysomnography and unstructured observation were used for data collection. Twenty-four preterm infants with a mean gestational age of 33.2 weeks and current weight of 1.747 g were analyzed. There was no significant difference in the total sleep time of preterm infants with and without the use of ear protectors. Newborns with lower gestational age showed a significant reduction in total sleep time with the use of ear protectors ( p < .05). The use of ear protection did not increase the total sleep time for preterm infants.

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Breath-to-breath variability of exhaled CO2 as a marker of lung dysmaturity in infancy

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00372.2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 123 (6) ◽

pp. 1563-1570 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sotirios Fouzas ◽

Ilias Theodorakopoulos ◽

Edgar Delgado-Eckert ◽

Philipp Latzin ◽

Urs Frey

Keyword(s):

Lung Disease ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Chronic Lung Disease ◽

Tidal Breathing ◽

Term Infants ◽

Young Infants ◽

Postmenstrual Age ◽

Preterm Group ◽

Preterm Born ◽

The Relationship

The concept of diffusional screening implies that breath-to-breath variations in CO2 clearance, when related to the variability of breathing, may contain information on the quality and utilization of the available alveolar surface. We explored the validity of the above hypothesis in a cohort of young infants of comparable postmenstrual age but born at different stages of lung maturity, namely, in term-born infants ( n = 128), preterm-born infants without chronic lung disease of infancy (CLDI; n = 53), and preterm infants with moderate/severe CLDI ( n = 87). Exhaled CO2 volume (VE,CO2) and concentration (FE,CO2) were determined by volumetric capnography, whereas their variance was assessed by linear and nonlinear variability metrics. The relationship between relative breath-to-breath change of VE,CO2 (ΔVE,CO2) and the corresponding change of tidal volume (ΔVT) was also analyzed. Nonlinear FE,CO2 variability was lower in CLDI compared with term and non-CLDI preterm group ( P < 0.001 for both comparisons). In CLDI infants, most of the VE,CO2 variability was attributed to the variability of VT ( r2 = 0.749), whereas in term and healthy preterm infants this relationship was weaker ( r2 = 0.507 and 0.630, respectively). The ΔVE,CO2 − ΔVT slope was less steep in the CLDI group (1.06 ± 0.07) compared with non-CLDI preterm (1.16 ± 0.07; P < 0.001) and term infants (1.20 ± 0.10; P < 0.001), suggesting that the more dysmature the infant lung, the less efficiently it eliminates CO2 under tidal breathing conditions. We conclude that the temporal variation of CO2 clearance may be related to the degree of lung dysmaturity in early infancy. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Young infants exhibit appreciable breath-to-breath CO2 variability that can be quantified by nonlinear variability metrics and may reflect the degree of lung dysmaturity. In infants with moderate/severe chronic lung disease of infancy (CLDI), the variability of the exhaled CO2 is mainly driven by the variability of breathing, whereas in term-born and healthy preterm infants this relationship is less strong. The slope of the relative CO2-to-volume change is less steep in CLDI infants, suggesting that dysmature lungs are less efficient in eliminating CO2 under tidal breathing conditions.

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Pulse Oximetry Values in Very Preterm infants Asymtomatic at 34-36 weeks post menstrual age.

10.22541/au.160726775.54268285/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ignacio Oyarzún ◽

Marcela Diaz ◽

Paulina Toso ◽

Alejandra Zamorano ◽

Soledad Montes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulse Oximetry ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Premature Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Oxygen Therapy ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Multicentric Study ◽

Very Preterm Infants ◽

Very Preterm ◽

Postmenstrual Age

Background: Oxygen supplementation is an important component for preterm infants neonatal care. Pulse oximetry (SpO2) is essential to guide oxygen therapy. Evidence on SpO2 values in premature infants previous to discharge is limited. Objectives: To establish SpO2 values in asymptomatic premature infants at 34, 35, and 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Methods: Longitudinal, multicentric study. From May 2018 to May 2019 premature infants born ≤32 weeks gestational age, from three level III NICUs in Santiago, Chile (altitude 579mt), were enrolled. Healthy children without current apnea of prematurity were included. Continuous SpO2 was obtained with Masimo-Radical 7/8 (USA), averaging time 2-4 seconds. Results: 101 SpO2 recordings (n = 44, 33 and 24 at 34, 35 and 36 weeks PMA respectively) from 62 infants. Twenty eight (45%) male, median (range) gestational age at birth 30 (26-32) weeks, median (range) birth weight 1480 (785-2700) g. Oximetry variables for total recordings: mean SpO2, median (range) 96.9 (93.3-99.3); minimum SpO2, median (range) 74 (51-89); time of SpO2 <90%, median (range) 2% (0-10.6%); time of SpO2 <80%, median (range) 0.1% (0-1.3%); desaturation event by ≥4% (DI4) ≥ 0 and ≥ 10 seconds per sample hour, median (range) 45.2 (5.2-115) and median (range) 15 (3.5-62.5) respectively; desaturation event <80% (DI80), median (range) 0.58 (0-10.8). We found no differences between SpO2 values at different weeks PMA. Conclusions: We described SpO2 values in very preterm infants, asymptomatic at 34, 35 and 36 weeks PMA. These values could be used as a reference to guide oxygen therapy previous to discharge.

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