scholarly journals Preterm Birth Affects Early Motor Development in Pigs

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Vanden Hole ◽  
Miriam Ayuso ◽  
Peter Aerts ◽  
Steven Van Cruchten ◽  
Thomas Thymann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Gait Pattern ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Gestation Time ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
Normal Gestation ◽  
Age At Birth

Background: Preterm infants frequently show neuromotor dysfunctions, but it is not clear how reduced gestational age at birth may induce developmental coordination disorders. Advancing postnatal age, not only post-conceptional age, may determine neuromuscular development, and early interventions in preterm newborns may improve their later motor skills. An animal model of preterm birth that allows early postnatal detection of movement patterns may help to investigate this hypothesis.Methods: Using pigs as a model for moderately preterm infants, preterm (106-day gestation, equivalent to 90% of normal gestation time; n = 38) and term (115-day gestation, equivalent to 99% of normal gestation time; n = 20) individuals were delivered by cesarean section and artificially reared until postnatal day 19 (preweaning period). The neuromotor skills of piglets were documented using spatiotemporal gait analyses on video recordings of locomotion at self-selected speed at postnatal age 3, 4, 5, 8, and 18 days. Results were controlled for effects of body weight and sex.Results: Both preterm and term piglets reached mature neuromotor skills and performance between postnatal days 3–5. However, preterm pigs took shorter steps at a higher frequency, than term piglets, irrespective of their body size. Within preterm pigs, males and low birth weight individuals took the shortest steps, and with the highest frequency.Conclusion: Postnatal development of motor skills and gait characteristics in pigs delivered in late gestation may show similarity to the compromised development of gait pattern in preterm infants. Relative to term pigs, the postnatal delay in gait development in preterm pigs was only few days, that is, much shorter than the 10-day reduction in gestation length. This indicates rapid postnatal adaptation of gait pattern after reduced gestational age at birth. Early-life physical training and medical interventions may support both short- and long-term gait development after preterm birth in both pigs and infants.

scholarly journals Maternal biological age assessed in early pregnancy is associated with gestational age at birth

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva E. Lancaster ◽  
Dana M. Lapato ◽  
Colleen Jackson-Cook ◽  
Jerome F. Strauss ◽  
Roxann Roberson-Nay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Cellular Aging ◽  
Biological Age ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
Age At Birth

AbstractMaternal age is an established predictor of preterm birth independent of other recognized risk factors. The use of chronological age makes the assumption that individuals age at a similar rate. Therefore, it does not capture interindividual differences that may exist due to genetic background and environmental exposures. As a result, there is a need to identify biomarkers that more closely index the rate of cellular aging. One potential candidate is biological age (BA) estimated by the DNA methylome. This study investigated whether maternal BA, estimated in either early and/or late pregnancy, predicts gestational age at birth. BA was estimated from a genome-wide DNA methylation platform using the Horvath algorithm. Linear regression methods assessed the relationship between BA and pregnancy outcomes, including gestational age at birth and prenatal perceived stress, in a primary and replication cohort. Prenatal BA estimates from early pregnancy explained variance in gestational age at birth above and beyond the influence of other recognized preterm birth risk factors. Sensitivity analyses indicated that this signal was driven primarily by self-identified African American participants. This predictive relationship was sensitive to small variations in the BA estimation algorithm. Benefits and limitations of using BA in translational research and clinical applications for preterm birth are considered.

scholarly journals Preterm birth and risk of chronic kidney disease from childhood into mid-adulthood: national cohort study

BMJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. l1346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey Crump ◽  
Jan Sundquist ◽  
Marilyn A Winkleby ◽  
Kristina Sundquist
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Early Term ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
National Cohort ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
Age At Birth

Abstract Objective To investigate the relation between preterm birth (gestational age <37 weeks) and risk of CKD from childhood into mid-adulthood. Design National cohort study. Setting Sweden. Participants 4 186 615 singleton live births in Sweden during 1973-2014. Exposures Gestational age at birth, identified from nationwide birth records in the Swedish birth registry. Main outcome measures CKD, identified from nationwide inpatient and outpatient diagnoses through 2015 (maximum age 43 years). Cox regression was used to examine gestational age at birth and risk of CKD while adjusting for potential confounders, and co-sibling analyses assessed the influence of unmeasured shared familial (genetic or environmental) factors. Results 4305 (0.1%) participants had a diagnosis of CKD during 87.0 million person years of follow-up. Preterm birth and extremely preterm birth (<28 weeks) were associated with nearly twofold and threefold risks of CKD, respectively, from birth into mid-adulthood (adjusted hazard ratio 1.94, 95% confidence interval 1.74 to 2.16; P<0.001; 3.01, 1.67 to 5.45; P<0.001). An increased risk was observed even among those born at early term (37-38 weeks) (1.30, 1.20 to 1.40; P<0.001). The association between preterm birth and CKD was strongest at ages 0-9 years (5.09, 4.11 to 6.31; P<0.001), then weakened but remained increased at ages 10-19 years (1.97, 1.57 to 2.49; P<0.001) and 20-43 years (1.34, 1.15 to 1.57; P<0.001). These associations affected both males and females and did not seem to be related to shared genetic or environmental factors in families. Conclusions Preterm and early term birth are strong risk factors for the development of CKD from childhood into mid-adulthood. People born prematurely need long term follow-up for monitoring and preventive actions to preserve renal function across the life course.

scholarly journals Risk of hypertension into adulthood in persons born prematurely: a national cohort study

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (16) ◽  
pp. 1542-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey Crump ◽  
Jan Sundquist ◽  
Kristina Sundquist
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Extremely Preterm ◽  
National Cohort ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
Age At Birth

Abstract Aims Preterm birth has been associated with elevated blood pressure early in life; however, hypertension risks from childhood into adulthood remain unclear. We conducted a large population-based study to examine gestational age at birth in relation to hypertension risks from childhood into adulthood. Methods and results A national cohort study was conducted of all 4 193 069 singleton live births in Sweden during 1973–2014, who were followed up for hypertension identified from nationwide inpatient and outpatient (specialty and primary care) diagnoses from any health care encounters through 2015 (maximum age 43 years; median 22.5). Cox regression was used to examine gestational age at birth in relation to hypertension risk while adjusting for other perinatal and maternal factors, and co-sibling analyses assessed the potential influence of unmeasured shared familial (genetic and/or environmental) factors. In 86.8 million person-years of follow-up, 62 424 (1.5%) persons were identified with hypertension (median age 29.8 years at diagnosis). Adjusted hazard ratios for new-onset hypertension at ages 18–29 years associated with preterm (&lt;37 weeks) and extremely preterm (22–27 weeks) birth were 1.28 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.21–1.36] and 2.45 (1.82–3.31), respectively, and at ages 30–43 years were 1.25 (1.18–1.31) and 1.68 (1.12–2.53), respectively, compared with full-term birth (39–41 weeks). These associations affected males and females similarly and appeared substantially related to shared genetic or environmental factors in families. Conclusions In this large national cohort, preterm birth was associated with increased risk of hypertension into early adulthood. Persons born prematurely may need early preventive evaluation and long-term monitoring for the development of hypertension.

Effects of Antenatal Depression and Antidepressant Treatment on Gestational Age at Birth and Risk of Preterm Birth

2007 ◽  
Vol 164 (8) ◽  
pp. 1206-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Suri ◽  
Lori Altshuler ◽  
Gerhard Hellemann ◽  
Vivien K. Burt ◽  
Ana Aquino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Antidepressant Treatment ◽  
Antenatal Depression ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
Age At Birth

Infection and premature rupture of the membranes

1990 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Kyung Seo ◽  
James A McGregor ◽  
Janice I French
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
Premature Rupture ◽  
Neonatal Deaths ◽  
Financial Costs ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
Age At Birth

Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) and preterm birthPreterm birth remains a paramount problem in health care worldwide. In the USA, approximately 6–10% of births occur preterm.1–3Gestational age at birth is the most important determinant of an infant's morbidity and mortality. Preterm infants account for approximately 75% of neonatal deaths,3–5as well as incalculable direct and indirect financial costs and morbidity.6–9

scholarly journals Time to regain birth weight - a marker to predict the severity of retinopathy of prematurity?

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay Anvekar ◽  
Sam Athikarisamy ◽  
Shripada Rao ◽  
Andy Gill ◽  
Elizabeth Nathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽  
Oxygen Therapy ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
And Control ◽  
Type 1 Rop ◽  
Age At Birth

Abstract Background Poor weight gain in the first few weeks of life has been studied as a predictor of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Our aim was to assess whether time taken to regain birthweight (BW) be used as an additional marker to identify infants with type 1 ROP. Methods In this retrospective study, preterm infants (< 27 weeks gestational age at birth) born during the period from 1/1/2010–31/12/2015 at a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in Australia were included. Twenty-seven preterm infants with Type 1 ROP were identified. Controls (No ROP or ROP other than type 1) were matched with cases on gestational age at birth and BW (1:4 ratio). Data were collected from the database and medical records. Results The median (IQR) gestational age for Type 1 ROP and control groups were 24 (24–26) and 25 (24–26) weeks respectively and median (IQR) BW for Type 1 ROP and control groups were 675 (635–810) and 773 (666–884) grams respectively. Preterm infants with Type 1 ROP were more likely to be small for gestational age (SGA) (18.5% vs 3.7%, p = 0.015) and had increased weeks on oxygen therapy (median 11.9 vs 9.1, p = 0.028). Time to regain BW was longer in preterm infants with type 1 ROP than controls but did not reach statistical significance (median 9 vs 7 days, OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00–1.17, p = 0.059) adjusted for SGA and duration of oxygen therapy. The area under the curve from the time to regain BW model with adjustment for SGA and duration of oxygen therapy was 0.73 (95% CI 0.62–0.83). Conclusion We hypothesize that time to regain BW has potential to aid prediction of Type 1 ROP and this warrants further investigation in a larger prospective study.

scholarly journals Uterine distention as a factor in birth timing: retrospective nationwide cohort study in Sweden

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. e022929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Bacelis ◽  
Julius Juodakis ◽  
Kristina M Adams Waldorf ◽  
Verena Sengpiel ◽  
Louis J Muglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Large For Gestational Age ◽  
Maternal Height ◽  
Birth Timing ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
Age At Birth ◽  
Singleton Pregnancies

ObjectivesTo determine whether uterine distention is associated with human pregnancy duration in a non-invasive observational setting.DesignRetrospective cohort study modelling uterine distention by interaction between maternal height and uterine load.SettingThe study is based on the 1990–2013 population data from all delivery units in Sweden.ParticipantsUncomplicated first pregnancies of healthy Nordic-born mothers with spontaneous onset of labour. Pregnancies were classified as twin (n=2846) or singleton (n=527 868). Singleton pregnancies were further classified as carrying a large for gestational age fetus (LGA, n=24 286) or small for gestational age fetus (SGA, n=33 780).Outcome measuresStatistical interaction between maternal height and uterine load categories (twin vs singleton pregnancies, and LGA vs SGA singleton pregnancies), where the outcome is pregnancy duration.ResultsIn all models, statistically significant interaction was found. Mothers carrying twins had 2.9 times larger positive linear effect of maternal height on gestational age than mothers carrying singletons (interaction p=5e−14). Similarly, the effect of maternal height was strongly modulated by the fetal growth rate in singleton pregnancies: the effect size of maternal height on gestational age in LGA pregnancies was 2.1 times larger than that in SGA pregnancies (interaction p<1e−11). Preterm birth OR was 1.4 when the mother was short, and 2.8 when the fetus was extremely large for its gestational age; however, when both risk factors were present together, the OR for preterm birth was larger than expected, 10.2 (interaction p<0.0005).ConclusionsAcross all classes, maternal height was significantly associated with child’s gestational age at birth. Interestingly, in short-statured women with large uterine load (twins, LGA), spontaneous delivery occurred much earlier than expected. The interaction between maternal height, uterine load size and gestational age at birth strongly suggests the effect of uterine distention imposed by fetal growth on birth timing.

scholarly journals Nonphysiological anaemia of prematurity.

1978 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 855-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
C A Wardrop ◽  
B M Holland ◽  
K E Veale ◽  
J G Jones ◽  
O P Gray
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Clinical Consequence ◽  
Feeding Difficulties ◽  
High O2 ◽  
Anaemia Of Prematurity ◽  
Hb Concentration ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
Age At Birth

Clinical and haematological findings at the nadir of the refractory, early anaemia of prematurity were compared in a study of 95 preterm infants. 53% of 30 babies less than 32 weeks' gestational age at birth had abnormal clinical features resulting from anaemia at its nadir, with a combination of tachycardia, tachypnoea, dyspnoea and feeding difficulties, diminished activity, and pallor. The expression 'available oxygen', derived from the Hb concentration and Hb-O2 affinity, correlated more closely with clinical features of anaemia that did the Hb concentration alone. A formula is presented that predicts the 'available oxygen', provided the Hb concentration and post-conceptual age are known; this avoids the need for direct measurement of Hb-O2 affinity. Clinical anaemia is common in preterm infants with Hb concentrations of up to 10.5 g/dl, consequent on the high O2 affinity of fetal Hb. This is the first description of any common clinical consequence of high Hb-O2 affinity.

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