Insights into Risk: Exploring Retinopathy of Prematurity and Short-term Comorbidities in Moderate-to-Late Preterm Infants.

BACKGROUND: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and short-term comorbidity data moderate-to-late preterm (MLP) infants in Saudi Arabia are limited. AIM: The present study mainly aimed to identify ROP incidence and severity in MLP infants. The secondary objective was to explore whether moderate preterm infants are more prone to systemic short-term comorbidities compared to late preterm infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, a tertiary center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Two-hundred and sixty-eight MLP infants born with gestational ages (GAs) of 32 to 36 + 6 weeks were included. Births were classified as moderate preterm (GA 32 to 33 + 6 weeks) and late preterm (GA 34 to 36 + 6 weeks) and the two groups were compared with an independent t-test. RESULTS: ROP incidence was 1.5%; all cases were stage 1 and involved zone II or III. No patient had type 1 ROP requiring treatment. The short-term comorbidity incidence was high (76.1%) and included hyperbilirubinemia (n = 206, 76.7%), respiratory distress syndrome (n = 178, 66.4%), hypoglycemia (n = 32, 11.9%,), and transient tachypnea of newborn (n = 25, 9.3%). Moderate preterm infants were more likely to have lower birth weight (P < 0.001), any-stage ROP (P = 0.032), respiratory distress syndrome (P = 0.031), intraventricular hemorrhage (P = 0.038), and hyperbilirubinemia (P < 0.001) compared to the late preterm infants. CONCLUSIONS: Any-stage ROP incidence among MLP infants was low, with no type 1 ROP cases requiring treatment. Short-term comorbidity incidence was relatively high among the moderate preterm infants. Despite the low non-type 1 ROP incidence at our center, MLP infants require proper surveillance of systemic short-term comorbidities.

Anterior mandibular alveolar bone measurements between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals using cone-beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: An adequate alveolar facial bone thickness (FBT) and facial bone height (FBH) in the mandibular anterior region is essential for implant placement. However, the diabetic condition may affect FBT and FBH. The aim of the study is to compare the alveolar FBT and FBH in the anterior mandibular region of diabetic and non-diabetic individuals utilizing Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in dental clinics of Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 46 CBCT images belonging to the diabetic (n=23) and non-diabetic (n=23) individuals were obtained from the radiographic image database of the hospital. The alveolar FBT and FBH in the anterior mandibular region were measured directly on CBCT images using Galileos 3D Digital Imaging System in Sagittal and cross-sectional view. RESULTS: The comparison of mean FBT between non-diabetic and diabetic individuals in central incisors (0.96±0.25 vs. 0.79±0.24, p=0.025) and lateral incisors (1.00±0.23 vs. 0.78±0.17, p=0.001) showed a statistically significant difference. Similarly, the mean FBH between non-diabetic and diabetic individuals differed significantly in central (31.37.96±2.98 vs. 26.07±6.58, p=0.001) and lateral incisor (31.20±3.05 vs. 26.79±6.83, p=0.008) regions. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our study, non-diabetic individuals showed higher alveolar FBT and FBH levels than diabetic individuals. Hence, diabetic condition affects the alveolar FBT and FBH around the central and lateral incisor regions.