[Academic achievement of children born with very low birth weights at the age of 10 years].

OBJECTIVE: The academic achievement in Japanese and arithmetic of children born with very low birth weights (VLBW) was examined by means of academic skill tests at the age of 10 years. METHODS: The participants were 14 VLBW children who could be followed up in our hospital at the age of 10 years, and 6 men and 8 women. They had a mean gestational age of 27 weeks and 6 days and a mean birth weight of 988 g. The tests of the fourth grade of Japanese and arithmetic were performed during the waiting time of outpatient. The results were compared with those in typical development (TD) children. RESULTS: Concerning the comprehension of Japanese, the correct answer rate as to the problems answered in their own word was 42.9 ± 51.4% in the VLBW children and 69.7 ± 46.3% in the TD children, respectively. The correct answer rate as to composition was 28.6 ± 46.9% in the VLBW children and 72.7 ± 44.9% in the TD children, respectively, that in the VLBW children being obviously low. The correct answer rate as to calculation laws of arithmetic was 55.4 ± 14.7% in the VLBW children and 66.3 ± 15.5% in the TD children, respectively. The sentence resolving as to arithmetic was 42.9 ± 50.4% in the VLBW children and 52.9 ± 50.1% in the TD children, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The VLBW children had difficulty in Japanese and arithmetic which required the sentence understanding, compared with the TD children.

Cognitive outcome of very-low-birthweight infants at 6 years of age.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the cognitive function in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWI) at 6 years of age and investigate significant factors during neonatal intensive care unit admission that affect cognitive outcomes. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-nine VLBWI (28.4 weeks, 1024 g), including 93 extremely low-birthweight (EL) infants whose birthweight was <1000 g (26.8 weeks, 759 g) and 96 very low-birthweight (VL) infants whose birthweight was 1000-1499 g (30.0 weeks, 1281 g), were enrolled. The cognitive function was measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children version 3, three IQ tests, four factor indices and 13 subtest scores. Regression analyses were performed to analyze the cognitive indices and clinical variables during neonatal intensive care unit admission. RESULTS: The full-scale IQ (FIQ) in the EL infants was 85.3 ± 13.4, which was significantly lower than the 91.8 ± 9.7 observed in the VL infants. The verbal IQ and performance IQ in the EL infants were also lower than those observed in the VL infants. The rate of difference between verbal IQ and performance IQ >14 was 20% in the EL infants and 22% in the VL infants. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant relation between FIQ and HC (P = 0.002) and FIQ and dexamethasone (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: In comparison with that observed in the VL infants, the intelligence quotient of the EL infants was inferior and exhibited more inter-individual variation. Intra-individual imbalances of the cognitive function were highly observed irrespective of the EL or VL status. Restriction of intrauterine brain growth and greater doses of dexamethasone may be harmful for subsequent cognitive outcomes.

Partial tandem duplication of MLL gene in acute myeloid leukemia with translocation (11;17)(q23;q12-21).

Translocation 11q23 and MLL gene rearrangements are commonly observed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in association with the myelomonocytic or monocytic feature. We describe a case involving a 15-year-old patient with AML characterized by leukemic cells exhibiting translocation (11;17)(q23;q12-21) and MLL gene rearrangement. No fusion partner gene of the MLL gene was identified, including RARalpha(17q12) or AF17 (17q21); however, a partial tandem duplication of the MLL exon 11/exon 10 was detected in leukemic cells via a 3'RACE method for detection of unknown partner genes. The patient has been in remission for more than 2 years without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Protein-losing gastroenteropathy and retinitis associated with cytomegalovirus infection in an immunocompetent infant: a case report.

UNLABELLED: A 6-week-old immunocompetent girl developed protein-losing gastroenteropathy (PLGE) and retinitis associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. At presentation, CMV antigenaemia (6 cells/46,000 white blood cells) and its DNA were detected in the patient's blood and in the mother's milk. Intravenous ganciclovir and gamma-globulin rapidly ameliorated all symptoms and CMV antigenaemia disappeared. No immunological defects were identified in this patient. To the best of our knowledge, this case involves the youngest known immunocompetent patient demonstrating CMV-induced PLGE and retinitis. CONCLUSION: breast-feeding by a cytomegalovirus-positive mother can be a primary cause of early onset cytomegalovirus infection in infants.