Developmental coordination disorder in preterm children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to review the prevalence of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in individuals born preterm and systematically explore this prevalence according to gestational age and different assessment cut-offs and compare it to full-term peers. The eligibility criteria were observational and experimental studies reporting the prevalence of DCD in preterm individuals. A systematic search was performed in databases from inception until March 2022. Two independent reviewers performed the selection. Study quality assessment was performed using the checklists from Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Data analysis was performed on Excel and Review Manager Software 5.4. Among the 1774 studies identified, 32 matched the eligibility criteria. The pooled estimate rate of the DCD rate in preterm was 21% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.8-24.3). The estimate rates were higher as gestational age decreased, and preterm children are two times more likely to have DCD than their full-term peers risk ratio (RR) 2.2 (95% CI 1.77-2.79). The limitation was high heterogeneity between studies; the assessment tools, cut-off points and age at assessment were diverse. This study provided evidence that preterm children are at higher risk for DCD than full-term children, and the risks increased as gestational age decreased.

Maternal-fetal-neonatal microbiome and outcomes associated with prematurity.

Our understanding of the premature gut microbiome has increased rapidly in recent years. However, to advance this important topic we must further explore various aspects of the maternal microbiome, neonatal microbiota, and the opportunities for microbiome modulation. We invite authors to contribute research and clinical papers to the Collection "Maternal-fetal-neonatal microbiome and outcomes associated with prematurity".

Regional disparities in BCG vaccination coverage and tuberculosis incidence in infants among Brazilian states.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination and tuberculosis (TB) incidence in children under 1 year of age are critical public health indicators in Brazil. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic disrupted vaccination coverage (VC), potentially impacting TB incidence. Understanding regional disparities in VC and TB incidence can inform targeted interventions. We conducted an observational and ecological study using BCG vaccination data (2019-21) and TB incidence (2020-22) for all births in Brazil. Data were collected from public health databases, stratified by state, and analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics to explore VC and TB incidence. Between 2019 and 2021, average BCG VC was 79.59%, with significant variation among states (P < .001). Only four states achieved minimum recommended coverage (>90%). TB incidence varied significantly among states (P = .003). There was a notable decline in VC from 2019 (90.72%) to 2021 (78.67%) (P < .001). This study highlights regional disparities in BCG VC and TB incidence among Brazilian states. Lower VC post-pandemic may increase TB incidence, requiring targeted interventions in states with inadequate coverage. The findings underscore the importance of sustaining vaccination programs amidst public health crises and implementing strategies to enhance access and uptake.

Cytokine Levels in Neonates: Unveiling the Impact of Perinatal Inflammation on Prematurity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between variations in cytokine levels in the first 72 hours of life and prematurity. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective study, we examined the cytokine levels of 110 newborns in the first 72 hours of life. The participants were divided into two groups based on gestational age (66 very preterm and 44 term newborns), and cytokine levels (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, and IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], and transforming growth factor-ß [TGF-ß]) were evaluated. RESULTS: Premature newborns exhibited higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, while TNF-α and TGF-ß levels were lower comparing to term newborns. Even after adjusting for maternal and peripartum factors, the significant differences persisted. CONCLUSION: Our study underscores significant cytokine profile differences between full-term and very preterm newborns in early life. Elevated IL-6 and IL-8 levels in preterm infants suggest potential perinatal inflammation links to prematurity. KEY POINTS: · There is a direct association between cytokine levels and prematurity.. · Knowledge of the variation of cytokines in newborns enhances personalized interventions.. · Cytokine levels are early associated with gestational age.

Association between preterm infant size at 1 year and ADHD later in life: data from 1993 and 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohorts.

The objective of this study is to examine the association between preterm infants' size at 1 year and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessed categorically and dimensionally in childhood and adolescence. We studied infants born < 37 weeks' gestation from two Brazilian birth cohorts (n = 653). ADHD was evaluated using the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) interview at the age of 6 years in one cohort and by a structured interview according to DSM-5 criteria at 18 years in the other one. The presence of child attention difficulties was measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 6 and 11 years in the 2004 and 1993 cohorts, respectively. We estimated associations of weight, length, head circumference, and BMI z-scores at 1-year chronological age with ADHD using Poisson Regression Model; and with attention difficulties using Linear Regression, adjusting for covariates. Mean birth weight was 2500 g and gestational age was 34.5 weeks. The aggregated ADHD prevalence in the two cohorts was 2.7%, and the median score for attention difficulties was 3.0. We found that increased head circumference at 1 year was associated with a lower risk of ADHD diagnosis (RR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.4, 0.9; p = 0.04 per standard deviation difference) and with fewer dimensional attention symptoms. In sensitivity analysis with other mental disorders, head circumference was associated with depression, but not with anxiety. Our findings emphasize poor head growth in the first year of life as a potential determinant of attentional difficulties in the preterm infant population.

Development of a risk calculator to predict attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in very preterm/very low birth weight newborns.

BACKGROUND: Very preterm/very low birth weight (VP/VLBW) newborns can have lifelong morbidities, as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Clinicians have no markers to discriminate which among those individuals will develop later ADHD, based only on the clinical presentation at birth. Our aim was to develop an individualized risk calculator for ADHD in VP/VLBW newborns. METHODS: This retrospective prognostic study included a consecutive sample of all VP/VLBW children (gestational age <32 weeks and/or birth weight <1.5 kg) born between 2010 and 2012 from a clinical cohort in a Brazilian tertiary care hospital. Children were clinically assessed at 6 years of age for ADHD using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method was used for model-building. RESULTS: Ninety-six VP/VLBW children were assessed at 6 years of age (92% follow-up), of whom 32 (33%) were diagnosed with ADHD. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for ADHD prediction based on seven parameters (late-onset sepsis confirmed by blood culture, necrotizing enterocolitis, neonatal seizures, periventricular leukomalacia, respiratory distress syndrome, length of hospital stay, and number of maternal ADHD symptoms) was .875 (CI, 0.800-0.942, p < .001; AUC corrected for optimism with bootstrapping: .806), a performance that is comparable to other medical risk calculators. Compared to approaches that would offer early intervention to all, or intervention to none, the risk calculator will be more useful in selecting VP/VLBW newborns, with statistically significant net benefits at cost:benefits of around 1:2 to around 10:6 (range of ADHD risk thresholds of 32%-62%, respectively). It also showed specificity for ADHD compared to other prevalent child psychopathologies. CONCLUSIONS: The risk calculator showed good performance for early identification of VP/VLBW newborns at high risk of future ADHD diagnosis. External validity in population-based samples is needed to extend clinical usefulness.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Congenital Heart Disease in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants: An Observational Study From the Brazilian Neonatal Network Database.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of congenital heart disease and their outcomes in a Brazilian cohort of very low birth weight preterm infants. DESIGN: Post hoc analysis of data from the Brazilian Neonatal Network database, complemented by retrospective data from medical charts and a cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Twenty public tertiary-care university hospitals. PATIENTS: A total of 13,955 newborns weighing from 401 to 1,499 g and between 22 and 36 weeks of gestational age, born from 2010 to 2017. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of congenital heart disease was 2.45% (95% CI, 2.20-2.72%). In a multivariate regression analysis, risk factors associated with congenital heart disease were maternal diabetes (relative risk, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.11-2.20) and maternal age above 35 years (relative risk, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.73-2.51), whereas the protection factors were maternal hypertension (relative risk, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.43-0.69), congenital infection (relative risk, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.21-0.94), and multiple gestation (relative risk, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55-0.97). The pooled standardized mortality ratio in patients with congenital heart disease was 2.48 (95% CI, 2.22-2.80), which was significantly higher than in patients without congenital heart disease (2.08; 95% CI, 2.03-2.13). However, in multiple log-binomial regression analyses, only the presence of major congenital anomaly, gestational age (< 29 wk; relative risk, 2.32; 95% CI, 2.13-2.52), and Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology and Perinatal Extension II (> 20; relative risk, 3.76; 95% CI, 3.41-4.14) were independently associated with death, whereas the effect of congenital heart disease was spotted only when a conditional inference tree approach was used. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of congenital heart disease in this cohort of very low birth weight infants was higher and with higher mortality than in the general population of live births. The occurrence of a major congenital anomaly, gestational age (< 29 wk), and Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology and Perinatal Extension II (> 20) were significantly and independently associated with death, whereas the association of congenital heart disease and death was only evident when a major congenital anomaly was present.

Multivariate risk and clinical signs evaluations for early-onset sepsis on late preterm and term newborns and their economic impact.

There is an increasing evidence that strict evaluation of clinical signs is effective in detecting newborns at risk of early-onset sepsis (EOS) that require antibiotic therapy. In a retrospective case control design, we compared EOS antibiotic indication by clinical signs surveillance with multivariate risk analysis (EOSCalc), and estimate their costs. Newborns ≥ 34 weeks who received EOS antibiotics from June 2014 to December 2016 were studied. Were considered symptomatic those with three clinical signs within first 24 h or two signs and one risk factor present. Cost estimative was done using bottom-up hospital's perspective. Eight thousand three hundred twenty-one were born, 384 were included. Two hundred nineteen (57%) would receive antibiotics by EOSCalc and 64 (16.7%) by clinical signs (p < 0.001). All patients with blood cultures were detected and false-negatives were absent. Total cost was US$ 574,121, estimate US$ 415,576 by EOSCalc, and US$ 314,353 by clinical signs (p < 0.001).Conclusions: The use of EOSCalc and clinical signs surveillance seem to be safe and accurate methods in EOS management. Additionally, the two approaches have shown an economic advantage when compared with the hospital's current practice. What is Known: • EOSCalc is a useful method for screening of EOS in late preterm and term infants. • Presence of clinical signs and/or maternal risk factors are present newborns with EOS. What is New: • Rigorous observation of clinical signs is a more accurate method than EOSCalc to screen for EOS in late preterm and term newborns. • Rigorous observation of clinical signs is more economic than EOSCalc in managing EOS in late preterm and term neonates.

Outcome and Feasibility after 7 Years of Therapeutic Hypothermia in Southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the experience with a protocol of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in southern Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: Newborns with gestational age > 35 weeks with evidence of perinatal asphyxia plus moderate or severe encephalopathy were recruited between March 2011 and November 2017. Whole-body hypothermia for 72 hours, starting within the first 6 hours of life was used. Survivors underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalogram (EEG). The primary outcome was death during hospitalization and neurodevelopment assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (BSID III) at 12 months of age. RESULTS: A total of 72 newborns were treated (41 with moderate encephalopathy and 31 with severe encephalopathy), of whom 16 died. MRI was performed in 56 patients, and 24 presented some alterations. Fifty-three patients had an EEG: 11 normal, 20 mildly altered, 12 moderately altered, and 10 severely altered. Forty patients were evaluated through BSID III: 45% presented with some delay in neurodevelopment, 8 (20%) had motor retardation, 15 (37.5%) had language delay, and 13 (32.5%) had a delay in cognitive development. CONCLUSION: Mortality and adverse events were similar to those described in large randomized controlled trials. TH is a safe and an effective method of neurologic protection in asphyxiated newborns in a developing country when performed adequately.

Admission hypothermia, neonatal morbidity, and mortality: evaluation of a multicenter cohort of very low birth weight preterm infants according to relative performance of the center.

This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the association of admission hypothermia (AH) with death and/or major neonatal morbidities among very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants based on the relative performance of 20 centers of the Brazilian Network of Neonatal Research. This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data using the database registry of the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research. Center performance was defined by the relative mortality rate using conditional inference trees. A total of 4356 inborn singleton VLBW preterm infants born between January 2013 and December 2016 without malformations were included in this study. The centers were divided into two groups: G1 (with lower mortality rate) and G2 (with higher mortality rate). Crude and adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated by simple and multiple log-binomial regression models. An AH rate of 53.7% (19.8-93.3%) was significantly associated with early neonatal death in G1 (adjusted RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.09-1.84) and G2 (adjusted RR 1.29, 95%CI 1.01-1.65) and with in-hospital death in G1 (adjusted RR 1.29, 95%CI 1.07-1.58). AH was significantly associated with a lower frequency of necrotizing enterocolitis (adjusted RR 0.58, 95%CI 38-0.88) in G2.Conclusion: AH significantly associated with early neonatal death regardless of the hospital performance. In G2, an unexpected protective association between AH and necrotizing enterocolitis was found, whereas the other morbidities assessed were not significantly associated with AH. What is Known: • Admission hypothermia is associated with early neonatal death. • The association of admission hypothermia with major neonatal morbidities has not been fully established. What is New: • Admission hypothermia was significantly associated with early neonatal and in-hospital death in centers with the lowest relative mortality rates. • Admission hypothermia was not associated with major neonatal morbidities and with in-hospital death but was found to be a protective factor against necrotizing colitis in centers with the highest relative mortality rates.

Side Effects of Phototherapy on Neonates.

Phototherapy in neonates for treatment of pathological jaundice is an effective therapeutic tool that is widely used in neonatal units. Over the past years, a greater concern has emerged about the effects on the immune and inflammatory system and its potential genotoxic and side effects, especially the late ones, possibly associated with childhood diseases, showing that this treatment is not as harmless as previously believed. Numerous studies assessing these possible adverse effects of phototherapy on neonates have been published over the past years. Through this review, we seek to analyze what we know about the side effects of phototherapy in the neonatal period. The main causes of jaundice, phototherapy techniques, acute and late side effects, and effects on the immune and inflammatory system were reviewed. It was concluded that phototherapy is not a treatment free of side effects and further studies need to be conducted to elucidate its harmful effects on neonates.

Systemic Arterial Hypertension in Childhood: A Challenge Related to the Increasing Survival of Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and to identify possible early predictors of SAH at ages 2 and 4 years in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective cohort study including inborn children with birth weight (BW) <1,500 g. Arterial blood pressure measurements were performed at 2 and 4 years. Model 1 compared children with and those without SAH at age 4. Model 2 compared children who had SAH at ages 2 and 4 with the others. SAH was diagnosed if the systolic or/and diastolic pressures were above the 95th percentile. RESULTS: A total of 198 patients were included during the 5-year study period, of whom 56% had SAH at age 4. In model 1, white matter injury (WMI) and catch-up growth at age 2 were predictors of SAH at age 4. In model 2, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, WMI, catch-up growth at age 2, and BW were predictors of SAH at 2 and 4 years. SAH at age 2 was an independent risk factor for SAH at age 4. After a multivariate analysis of model 2, BW and catch-up growth were associated with SAH. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of SAH was high in VLBW infants; it was associated with low BW and catch-up growth at age 2.

The vaginal microbial communities of healthy expectant Brazilian mothers and its correlation with the newborn's gut colonization.

The female lower genital tract harbors a complex microbial community essential for homeostasis and health. During pregnancy, the female body undergoes unique hormonal changes that contribute to weight gain as well as modulations in immune function that can affect microbiota composition. Several studies have described the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women from the USA, Europe and Mexico. Here we expand our knowledge about the vaginal microbial communities during the third trimester to healthy expectant Brazilian mothers. Vaginal samples were collected from patients delivering at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil. Microbial DNA was isolated from samples and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using the PGM Ion Torrent. Brazilian pregnant women presented three distinct types of microbial community at the time of labor. Two microbial communities, Cluster 1 and Cluster 3, presented an overall dominance of Lactobacillus while Cluster 2 tended to present higher diversity and richness, with the presence of Pseudomonas, Prevotella and other vaginosis related bacteria. About half of the Brazilian mothers sampled here had dominance of L. iners. The proportion of mothers without dominance of any Lactobacillus was higher in Brazil (22%) compared to UK (2.4%) and USA, where this community type was not detected. The vaginal microbiota showed significant correlation with the composition of the babies' gut microbiota (p-value = 0.002 with a R2 of 15.8%). Mothers presenting different vaginal microbiota shared different microorganisms with their newborns, which would reflect on initial colonizers of the developing newborns' gut.

Early intervention program for very low birth weight preterm infants and their parents: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants are high risk for delayed neurodevelopment. The main goal is to develop a program of early intervention for very preterm infants that allows families to apply it continuously at home, and quantify the results of early parental stimulation on improvement of cognition and motor skills. METHODS: Randomized clinical Trial including inborn preterm infants with gestational age less than 32 weeks or birth weight less than 1500 g at 48 h after birth. Eligible for begin the intervention up to 7 days after birth. Study Protocol approved by the Brazilian national Committee of ethics in Research and by the institutional ethics committee. Intervention group (IG): skin-to skin care by mother (kangaroo care) plus tactile-kinesthetic stimulation by mothers from randomization until hospital discharge when they receive a program of early intervention with 10 parents' orientation and a total of 10 home visits independently of the standard evaluation and care that will be performed. Systematic early intervention program will be according to developmental milestones, anticipating in a month evolutionary step acquisition of motor and / or cognitive expected for corrected age. Active comparator with a Conventional Group (CG): standard care according to the routine care of the NICU and their needs in the follow up program. Neurodevelopment outcome with blinded evaluations in both groups between 12 and 18 months by Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development third edition and Alberta Motor Infant scale will be performed. All evaluations will be conducted in the presence of parents or caregivers in a safe room for the child move around during the evaluation. DISCUSSION: If we can show that a continuous and global early intervention at home performed by low income families is better than the standard care for very preterm infants, this kind of program may be applied elsewhere in the world. We received grants by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, DECIT, Cnpq and Health Ministry. Grand Challenges Brazil: All Children Thriving. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was restrospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov . in July 15 2016 ( NCT02835612 ).

Neurodevelopment and Growth of a Cohort of Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants Compared to Full-Term Infants in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the neurodevelopment and growth of very low birth weight (BW) preterm infants, at 8 and 18 months corrected age (CA), compared with full term in Brazil. METHODS: Prospective cohort study including 83 preterm infants with BW ≤ 1,500 g and gestational age ≤ 32 weeks, and 52 full-term control infants. Preterm infants free from significant sensory and motor disability, and from congenital anomalies were included. Alberta infant motor scale (AIMS) and Brunet-Lèzini scale (BLS) were used to evaluate the neurodevelopment at 8 and 18 months. Anthropometric measurements were collected to evaluate the growth in both age groups. RESULTS: At 8 months CA, preterm infants scored significantly lower in total AIMS score (p = 0.001). At 18 months, they scored significantly lower on the stand subscale from AIMS (p = 0.040) and exhibited poor psychomotor development in the BLS (p = 0.006). The nutritional status showed significant differences between the groups, in both age groups (p < 0.001). There were positive correlations between nutritional status and AIMS (r = 0.420; p < 0.001) and BLS (r = 0.456; p < 0.001) at 8 months, and between head circumference and BLS (r = 0.235; p < 0.05) at 8 months and AIMS (r = 0.258; p < 0.05) at 18 months. CONCLUSION: Very low BW preterm infants at 8 and 18 months CA showed significant differences in the neurodevelopment and growth pattern when compared with their full-term peers.

Association between Breast Milk and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Single Center Observational Study.

Introduction Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a frequent, long-term complication in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) newborns. Its etiology is multifactorial and the oxidative stress is one of its main causes. Breast milk (BM) reduces oxidative stress and provides antioxidant protection, therefore, BM may have a protective effect against BPD. Objectives This study aims to assess the possible protective effects of BM on BPD. Methods This is a cohort study including infants with a birth weight below 1,500 g and/or gestational age of less than 32 weeks, born between January 2011 and October 2014. BPD was defined as the need for supplementary oxygen for 28 days or more. Results The incidence of BPD was 29.1%. The median amount of BM received by the patients in the first 6 weeks of life was significantly higher in patients without BPD (10.8 mL/kg/day) than in those with BPD (2.3 mL/kg/day). The amount of BM received was inversely associated with the incidence of BPD, even after multivariate analysis. The cutoff point at which the protective effect emerged was an average amount of 7 mL/kg/day of BM during the first 42 days of life. Conclusion Feeding VLBW infants with BM is associated with a lower risk of developing BPD.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Placental Growth Factor Heterodimer Levels in Preterm Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is associated with changes in pulmonary angiogenesis. However, the role of the vascular endothelial growth factor/placental growth factor (VEGF/PlGF) heterodimer, an antiangiogenic factor, remains unknown in this disease. OBJECTIVE: To compare VEGF/PlGF levels in preterm infants with and without BPD. METHODS: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Preterm neonates with birth weight <2,000 g and gestational age ≤ 34 weeks were included. Exclusion criteria were: neonates transferred from other institutions after 72 hours of life; death before blood collection; presence of major congenital malformations, inborn errors of metabolism, and early sepsis; and mothers with multiple pregnancies, TORCH infections, HIV infection, or autoimmune diseases. BPD was defined as the need for oxygen therapy for a period equal to or greater than 28 days, accompanied by radiographic changes compatible with the disease. Blood was collected from neonates in the first 72 hours of life. VEGF/PlGF levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The chi-square test, t-test, Mann-Whitney test, analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for statistical analysis. Variables found to be significant in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients were included (19 with BPD, 43 without BPD, and 11 neonates who died in the first 28 days of life), with a mean (SD) gestational age of 30.32 (2.88) weeks and birth weight of 1,288 (462) g. Median VEGF/PlGF levels were higher in the groups with BPD and death in the first 28 days of life than in the group without BPD (16.46 [IQR, 12.19-44.57] and 20.64 [IQR, 13.39-50.22], respectively, vs. 9.14 [IQR, 0.02-20.64] pg/mL], p < 0.001). Higher VEGF/P1GF levels remained associated with BPD and death in the first 28 days of life in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Higher plasma VEGF/PlGF levels were found in preterm neonates with BPD and in those who died in the first 28 days of life, suggesting an important role of this substance in pulmonary vascular development.

Angiogenic and Antiangiogenic Factors in Preterm Neonates Born to Mothers with and without Preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors are altered in pregnant women with preeclampsia (PE), but the pattern of expression of these factors in their newborns remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to measure vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) levels in preterm neonates born to mothers with PE. METHODS: Neonates with birth weight<2,000 g and gestational age≤34 weeks were included and divided into the following two groups: born to mothers with PE and without PE. Blood was collected from neonates within the first 72 hours of life. VEGF and sFlt-1 levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: A total of 88 neonates were included (37 born to mothers with PE and 51 born to mothers without PE), with a mean gestational age of 29.12±2.96 weeks and birth weight of 1,223.80±417.48 g. In the multivariate analysis, VEGF was 80% lower and sFlt-1 was 13.48 times higher in the group with PE. sFlt-1 concentration was higher in neonates small for gestational age (SGA) than in those appropriate for gestational age. CONCLUSION: Higher sFlt-1 and lower VEGF levels in the group with PE, as well as higher sFlt-1 levels in SGA neonates, reflect a predominance of antiangiogenic mechanisms in PE and growth restriction.

Prevalence and risk factors for iron-deficiency anemia in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants at 1 year of corrected age.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency at 1 year of corrected age (CA) in preterm very-low-birth-weight infants, and to identify risk factors for iron-deficiency anemia. METHODS: A cohort of infants with birth weight <1500 g and gestational age <34 weeks on iron prophylaxis were followed up to 12 months' CA. Anemia diagnosis was based on hemoglobin <11 g/dl. Iron deficiency was defined by ferritin levels <10 µg/l, transferrin saturation <10% and mean corpuscular volume <80 fl. Neonatal data and feeding at 6 and 12 months' CA (breastfeeding and/or cow's milk or infant formula); hospitalizations during the first year and weight, head circumference, body mass index and length at 12 months' CA were analyzed. RESULTS: Prevalence of anemia in 310 participants was 26.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 21.8-31.6%] and of iron deficiency was 48% (95% CI 39.0-56.9%). Increased consumption of cow's milk at 6 months [relative risk (RR) 1.687; 95% CI 1.146-2.483], lower maternal age (RR 0.953; 95% CI 0.923-0.983), high number of pregnancies (RR 1.256; 95% CI 1.122-1.406) and being born small for gestational age (RR 1.578; 95% CI 1.068-2.331) were independently associated with anemia after adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of anemia is high at 1 year of CA. Dietary and environmental education strategies may help prevent anemia after discharge.

Comparison of the effectiveness of different high-flow devices in neonatal care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success rate of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy using an adapted obsolete mechanical ventilator (MV), Optiflow™ and Vapotherm™ in newborns (NBs). METHOD: This was a retrospective observational study conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The sample comprised NBs who underwent HFNC therapy due to ventilatory dysfunction, for weaning from non-invasive ventilation (NIV), or post-extubation. The three groups, stratified according to gestational age (GA) and birth weight, and corrected GA and weight at the beginning of HFNC use, were as follows: Optiflow ™, Vapotherm ™, and obsolete Mechanical Ventilator (MV) adapted for high flow therapy. Subsequently, the NBs were divided into a success group (SG) and a failure group (FG). HFNC success was defined as a therapy duration exceeding 72 h. RESULTS: A total of 209 NBs were evaluated, with 31.1 % using HFNC due to ventilatory dysfunction, 2.4 % after extubation, and 66.5 % after NIV weaning. HFNC success rate was observed in 90.9 % of the NBs, with no difference between equipment types (Vapotherm ™, Optiflow ™, and adapted VM). CONCLUSION: Different types of HFNC equipment are equally effective when used in neonatology for respiratory dysfunction, as a method of weaning from NIV and post-extubation. Adapted obsolete MV can be an alternative for HFCN therapy in resource-constrained settings.