-
Biomedicines Sep 2023Early diagnosis of developmental delays is essential to providing early developmental care. The Münchener Funktionelle Entwicklungsdiagnostik (MFED) is a simple and...
Early diagnosis of developmental delays is essential to providing early developmental care. The Münchener Funktionelle Entwicklungsdiagnostik (MFED) is a simple and cost-effective tool for diagnosing the development of infants and young children. Nevertheless, the MFED has not been a well-studied part of current research. This retrospective cohort study aims to detect risk factors and assess the impact of developmental care during the first twelve months of life, using the MFED. Furthermore, it determines the MFED's predictive value by comparing results with an international gold standard, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID II). The study included 303 infants born between 2008-2013 in Rostock, Germany, with a birth weight of ≤1500 g and/or a gestational age of ≤32 weeks, who were evaluated with the MFED at twelve months of age. To ascertain the predictive value, 213 infants underwent BSID II assessment at 24 months of age. Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) were significantly associated with a higher risk of developmental delay across various domains. Post-discharge developmental care therapies did not indicate any clear beneficial effect on the infant's development. Nevertheless, some domains of MFED demonstrate predictive value, warranting increased attention for this diagnostic.
PubMed: 37893000
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102626 -
Cureus Sep 2023Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) are relatively common conditions in premature infants with low birth weight (VLBW). However, in...
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) are relatively common conditions in premature infants with low birth weight (VLBW). However, in the current literature, there are limited case reports of patients with concomitant NEC and PVL. We report a case of a premature female born at a gestational age of 25 weeks and five days who developed cystic intracranial lesions after emergent bowel resection due to NEC. Transcranial ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of cystic PVL in the right middle cerebral artery distribution. Several observational studies note the association between spontaneous intestinal perforation, surgical NEC, and the presence of cystic PVL. When infants are unresponsive to medical management for NEC, exploratory laparotomy with resection of the necrotic or perforated intestine is indicated. However, infants treated surgically have poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes than those with medical therapy. Pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants undergoing surgery involves dysfunctional cerebrovascular autoregulation (CAR), which is associated with harmful changes in cerebral perfusion that lead to neuronal injury. Ill preterm infants, such as those with NEC, cannot regulate cerebral perfusion appropriately, and impaired CAR may be present in more than half the preterm infants during laparotomy. Impaired CAR leads to poor cerebral perfusion that potentiates neuronal injury, such as PVL. This case also brings awareness to the need for adherence to screening practices for white matter injury in critical NICU patients through cost-effective transcranial ultrasound.
PubMed: 37885550
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45865 -
Cureus Sep 2023Background This study evaluates the long-term risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in infants with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) using the Modified Checklist for...
Background This study evaluates the long-term risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in infants with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) screening tool. Methods This retrospective cohort study compared IVH (exposed) infants across all gestational age groups with no-IVH (non-exposed) infants admitted to level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The M-CHAT-R/F screening tool was used to assess the ASD risk at 16-30 months of age. Discharge cranial ultrasound (CUS) findings also determined the ASD risk. Descriptive statistics comprised median and interquartile range for skewed continuous data and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Comparisons for non-ordinal categorical measures in bivariate analysis were carried out using the χ test or Fisher exact test. Results Of the 334 infants, 167 had IVH, and 167 had no IVH. High ASD risk (43% vs. 20%, p = 0.044) and cerebral palsy (19% vs. 5%, p = 0.004) were significantly associated with severe IVH. Infants with CUS findings of periventricular leukomalacia had 3.24 odds of developing high ASD risk (odds ratios/OR: 3.24, 95% confidence interval/CI: 0.73-14.34), and those with hydrocephalus needing ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt had 4.75 odds of developing high ASD risk (OR: 4.75, 95% CI: 0.73-30.69). Conclusion Severe IVH, but not mild IVH, increased the risk of ASD and cerebral palsy. This study demonstrates the need for timely screening for ASD in high-risk infants. Prompt detection leads to earlier treatment and better outcomes.
PubMed: 37868372
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45541 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2023Intubation-Surfactant-Extubation (InSurE) and less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) are alternative surfactant replacement therapy methods for reducing the...
Comparison of mortality and short-term outcomes between classic, intubation-surfactant-extubation, and less invasive surfactant administration methods of surfactant replacement therapy.
BACKGROUND
Intubation-Surfactant-Extubation (InSurE) and less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) are alternative surfactant replacement therapy methods for reducing the complications associated with invasive mechanical ventilation. This study aimed to compare the Classic, InSurE, and LISA methods in Very-Low-Birth-Weight infants (VLBWIs) in South Korea.
METHODS
The Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) enrolled VLBWIs born between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. They were analyzed retrospectively to compare the duration of respiratory support, length of hospitalization, mortality, and short-term outcomes of the three groups.
RESULTS
The duration of invasive ventilator support was shorter in the following order: InSurE (3.99 ± 11.93 days), LISA (8.78 ± 29.32 days), and the Classic group (22.36 ± 29.94 days) ( = 0.014, < 0.01) and InSurE had the shortest hospitalization (64.91 ± 24.07 days, < 0.05) although the results couldn't adjust for confounding factor because of irregular distribution. InSurE had the lower risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grade II-IV [odds ratio (OR) 0.524 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.287-0.956], = 0.035] than in the Classic group. Mortality was lower in the InSurE [OR 0.377 (95% CI: 0.146-0.978), = 0.045] and LISA [OR 0.296 (95% CI: 0.102-0.862), = 0.026] groups than in the Classic group. There was a reduced risk of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) [OR 0.691 (95% CI: 0.479-0.998, = 0.049), OR 0.544 (95% CI: 0.355-0.831, = 0.005), respectively], pulmonary hypertension [OR 0.350 (95% CI: 0.150-0.817, = 0.015), OR 0.276 (95% CI: 0.107-0.713, = 0.008), respectively], periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) [OR 0.382 (95% CI: 0.187-0.780, = 0.008), OR 0.246 (95% CI: 0.096-0.627, = 0.003), respectively], and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with treatment [OR 0.628 (95% CI: 0.454-0.868, = 0.005), OR 0.467 (95% CI: 0.313-0.696, < 0.001) respectively] in the InSurE and LISA groups compared to the Classic group.
CONCLUSION
InSurE showed the lowest duration of invasive ventilator support, length of hospitalization. InSurE and LISA exhibited reduced mortality and decreased risks of moderate to severe BPD, pulmonary hypertension, PVL, and PDA with treatment compared to the Classic group.
PubMed: 37780042
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1197607 -
Medicina Sep 2023Premature births are an important health indicator for a country. These children have a higher risk of mortality and morbidity. The main brain injuries in preterm... (Review)
Review
Premature births are an important health indicator for a country. These children have a higher risk of mortality and morbidity. The main brain injuries in preterm infants include white matter injuries, intracranial hemorrhages, and cerebellar injuries. These injuries can be detected through brain ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with MRI being the most sensitive technique. Perinatal brain injuries may have long-term consequences on the neurodevelopment of preterm infants, with an increased risk of cerebral palsy, cognitive, behavioral, sensory, and learning disorders, among others. It is key to implement prevention strategies and early intervention to reduce the negative consequences of brain injuries associated with prematurity. Key words: prematurity, periventricular leukomalacia, intracranial hemorrhage, neurodevelopmental disorders, cerebral palsy.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Child; Infant; Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Cerebral Palsy; Infant, Premature; Brain; Brain Injuries; Cerebellum
PubMed: 37714118
DOI: No ID Found -
Cureus Jul 2023Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common complication associated with extreme prematurity. Although several criteria defining severity were developed over...
INTRODUCTION
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common complication associated with extreme prematurity. Although several criteria defining severity were developed over time, there are a few studies describing the differences in BPD phenotype and neonatal morbidities and complications between severity groups. We aimed to describe these differences in BPD patients of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
METHODS
We conducted an observational retrospective cohort study through a medical record review over a five-year period. Participants were newborns admitted to an NICU who were diagnosed with BPD. We performed a descriptive statistical analysis of gestational complications and the use of antenatal corticosteroid therapy, birth-related data, and complications throughout the NICU stay, as well as the respiratory support used. We also compared different severity groups across these variables. The patients were divided into severe and non-severe BPD using the severity criteria of the 2001 NICHD/NHLBI/ORD consensus workshop.
RESULTS
A total of 101 newborns with BPD participated in the study and 73 had data on BPD severity. The median gestational age was 27 weeks, ranging from 23 to 32 weeks. Of these 73 newborns, 36 had mild BPD (49.3%), 10 had moderate BPD (13.7%), and 27 had severe BPD (37.0%). When comparing severe and non-severe BPD, we found that extreme prematurity, extremely low birth weight, and small size for gestational age were more frequent in the severe BPD group (-value=0.012, -value<0.001, and -value=0.012, respectively). Infants with severe BPD had a longer duration of invasive ventilation than those with mild or moderate BPD (-value<0.001). Late sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, severe brain injury, and retinopathy of prematurity were more frequent in severe BPD (-value=0.017, -value=0.045, -value=0.033, -value=0.003, respectively).
DISCUSSION
Previously published evidence describing causal links between BPD development and comorbidities exists but data on their impact on BPD severity are scarce. In our study, severe BPD seemed to be associated with a higher frequency of comorbidities and complications. Further studies are needed to ascertain the impact of each morbidity on the severity of BPD and if measures to prevent them could lead to potentially milder BPD disease.
PubMed: 37654925
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42720 -
Iranian Journal of Child Neurology 2023This study aimed to evaluate patients with focal seizures, their clinical manifestations, and their response to treatment, then compared the accuracy of...
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to evaluate patients with focal seizures, their clinical manifestations, and their response to treatment, then compared the accuracy of electroencephalography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to assess the cost-effectiveness of the latter.
MATERIALS & METHODS
After selecting the appropriate individuals, the authors obtained the data by clinically evaluating the cases and interviewing them or their caretaker(s) on admission and the six-month follow-up visit. The researchers then analyzed the obtained data.
RESULTS
Most cases (88.4%) had idiopathic seizures. A positive family history of seizures was observed in eight cases (5.4%). Respectively, the occipital, frontal, and temporal lobes showed the highest frequency of abnormalities on electroencephalography, while periventricular leukomalacia was the highest abnormal MRI finding (4.1%). However, in 87.8% of cases, this modality's results were normal. No recurrence of seizures was observed in 116 cases (78.9%) on the six-month follow-up visit, pointing towards an appropriate response to treatment.
CONCLUSION
While this study revealed that most had normal MRI, reporting an abnormality in electroencephalography was a more prevalent occurrence. This finding undermines the cost-effectiveness of the former modality, even though its importance in diagnosing the underlying abnormalities necessitates further studies regarding the subject at hand. Furthermore, the study of age groups showed that treatment response is less desirable in children under two years of age, suggesting more intense workups.
PubMed: 37637791
DOI: 10.22037/ijcn.v17i1.35856 -
Pediatric Neurology Nov 2023The development of the central nervous system can be directly disrupted by a variety of acquired factors, including infectious, inflammatory, hypoxic-ischemic, and toxic... (Review)
Review
The development of the central nervous system can be directly disrupted by a variety of acquired factors, including infectious, inflammatory, hypoxic-ischemic, and toxic insults. Influences external to the fetus also impact neurodevelopment, including placental health, maternal comorbidities, adverse experiences, environmental exposures, and social determinants of health. Acquired perinatal brain insults tend to affect the developing brain in a stage-specific manner that reflects the susceptible cell types, developmental processes, and risk factors present at the time of the insult. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and management of common acquired perinatal brain conditions. In the fetal brain, we divide insults based on trimester, and in the postnatal brain, we focus on common pathologies that have a presentation dependent on gestational age at birth: white matter injury and germinal matrix hemorrhage/intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in term infants. Although specific treatments for fetal and newborn brain disorders are currently limited, we emphasize therapies in preclinical or early clinical phases of the development pipeline. The growing number of novel cell type- and stage-specific emerging therapies suggests that in the near future we may have a dramatically improved ability to treat acquired perinatal brain disorders and to mitigate the associated neurodevelopmental consequences.
PubMed: 37625929
DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.08.001 -
Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Aug 2023Leukomalacia is a serious form of neonatal brain injury that often leads to neurodevelopmental impairment, and studies on neonatal leukomalacia and its long-term...
BACKGROUND
Leukomalacia is a serious form of neonatal brain injury that often leads to neurodevelopmental impairment, and studies on neonatal leukomalacia and its long-term outcomes are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical manifestations, imaging features, and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants and term infants with leukomalacia.
METHODS
Newborns diagnosed with leukomalacia by head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and who were admitted to intensive care units from January 2015 to June 2020 were enrolled. All infants were followed up to June 2022 (2-7 years old), and their neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated. The clinical data and long- term outcomes of preterm infants and term infants was analyzed by Chi-square tests.
RESULTS
A total of 218 surviving infants with leukomalacia including 114 preterm infants and 104 term infants completed the follow-up. The major typesof leukomalacia on MRI were periventricular leukomalacia in the preterm group and subcortical cystic leukomalacia in the term group, respectively (χ = 55.166; p < 0.001). When followed up to 2-7 years old, the incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment in the preterm group and term group was not significantly different (χ = 0.917; p = 0.338). However, the incidence of cerebral palsy (CP) in the preterm group was significantly higher (χ = 4.896; p = 0.027), while the incidence of intellectual disability (ID) (χ = 9.445; p = 0.002), epilepsy (EP) (χ = 23.049; p < 0.001), and CP combined with ID andEP (χ = 4.122; p = 0.042) was significantly lower than that in the term group.
CONCLUSIONS
Periventricular leukomalacia mainly occurred in preterm infants while subcortical cystic leukomalacia was commonly seen in term infants. Although the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of leukomalacia were both poor, preterm infants were more prone to CP, while term infants were more prone to ID, EP, and the combination of CP with ID and EP.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Infant; Humans; Child, Preschool; Child; Infant, Premature; Cohort Studies; Leukomalacia, Periventricular; Cerebral Palsy; Epilepsy
PubMed: 37550616
DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09489-7 -
Journal of Clinical Lipidology 2023Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder of bile acid synthesis that presents with varied and progressive symptomology. Early...
Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder of bile acid synthesis that presents with varied and progressive symptomology. Early treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) improves symptoms and slows degeneration. Patients with CTX are commonly recommended to discontinue CDCA treatment during pregnancy because of theoretical risks to the fetus, but patient and clinician concerns about the risks of stopping treatment cause uncertainty. Herein, we report the experiences and perspectives of two women with CTX from the time of diagnosis through pregnancy, as well as decisions regarding CDCA treatment during pregnancy. Before becoming pregnant, both women were concerned about potential risks to their newborns if they continued or stopped CDCA treatment during pregnancy. Reassurance from their CTX specialist was the primary factor in their decision to continue treatment during pregnancy. After pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, one gave birth to a healthy infant and the other gave birth to an infant later diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia. Neither experienced CDCA-related complications.
Topics: Humans; Female; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous; Chenodeoxycholic Acid; Xanthomatosis
PubMed: 37543441
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2023.07.002