Reliability of Neurobehavioral Assessments from Birth to Term Equivalent Age in Preterm and Term Born Infants

Neurobehavioral assessments provide insight into the functional integrity of the developing brain and help guide early intervention for preterm (<37 weeks’ gestation) infants. In the context of shorter hospital stays, clinicians often need to assess preterm infants prior to term equivalent age. Few neurobehavioral assessments used in the preterm period have established interrater reliability. Aim: To evaluate the interrater reliability of the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE) and the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS), when used both preterm and at term (>36 weeks). Methods: Thirty-five preterm infants and 11 term controls were recruited. Five assessors double-scored the HNNE and NNNS administered either preterm or at term. A one-way random effects, absolute, single-measures interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to determine interrater reliability. Results: Interrater reliability for the HNNE was excellent (ICC > 0.74) for optimality scores, and good (ICC 0.60–0.74) to excellent for subtotal scores, except for ‘Tone Patterns’ (ICC 0.54). On the NNNS, interrater reliability was predominantly excellent for all items. Interrater agreement was generally excellent at both time points. Conclusions: Overall, the HNNE and NNNS neurobehavioral assessments demonstrated mostly excellent interrater reliability when used prior to term and at term.     

Vaginally Born Low-Risk Preterm Infants: Fetal Acidosis and Outcome at 6 Years of Age

ABSTRACT. In a population of vaginally born low-risk preterm infants fetal acidosis (scalp pH <7.20) was found in 50% (6 out of 12) of infants of 29–33 weeks' gestational age (Group I) and in 9% (2 of 22) infants of 34–36 weeks' gestational age (Group II). At 6–7 years of age the children underwent a neurodevelopmental examination including a Griffith test. Five out of 6 Group I infants with fetal acidosis and 10 out of 20 Group II infants without fetal acidosis had minor or moderate neurodevelopmental problems. On the Griffith test Group II infants scored below Group I with more coordination and fine motor problems on the tested subscales. Fetal acidosis was more common in very preterm infants but cannot be used per se as a reliable indicator of long-term outcome.     

Umbilical Cord Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Cortisol Levels in Preterm Infants Born to Pre-Eclamptic Mothers

ABSTRACT. The influence of early-onset pre-eclampsia upon the umbilical cord serum levels of Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was studied in fifty-one preterm infants not exposed prenatally to corticosteroids. Preterm infants born to pre-eclamptic mothers (group A) presented lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels than preterm infants born to non-pre-eclamptic mothers (group B). The umbilical cord serum levels of Cortisol were similar between both groups. It is suggested that the decrease in the cord serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in preterm infants of pre-eclamptic mothers plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the subnormal maternal urinary estriol excretion, and that the accelerated pulmonary and cerebral maturation of preterm infants born to pre-eclamptic mothers is not explained by an increased fetal serum Cortisol concentration.     

Difference in TcB Readings between Full Term Newborn Infants Born Vaginally and by Cesarean Section

ABSTRACT. We studied the influence of method of delivery on TcB readings at the forehead and sternum in full term neonates in the first week of life. Our present study demonstrated that TcB readings at the forehead and sternum of the infants delivered by cesarean section were significantly lower than readings from infants delivered vaginally without complications, from day 1 to day 7 of life (p<0.05). This is probably due to the decreased placental transfusion at cesarean section. The present study suggests that the degree of placental transfusion or time of cord clamping may be more influential than meconium passage or weight loss on serum bilirubin levels in the first week of life.     

Comparison of 15-Month Motor and 18-Month Neurological Outcomes of Term Infants with and without Motor Delays at 10-Months-of-Age

Fifteen-month motor outcomes and 18-month neurological outcomes of term infants with (Group 1, n + 18) and without (Group 2, n + 18) low scores on the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) at 10-months-of-age were compared. Their scores on the AIMS did not differ at 15-months. Infants in Group 1, however, obtained significantly lower scores on the locomotor skill area of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales at 15 months and walked an average of 2 months later than infants in Group 2. Nevertheless, infants in both groups were functioning within the range of normal at 15 months and had neurologically normal 18-month outcomes, as assessed by a pediatrician using the Neurological Examination of the Collaborative Perinatal Project, except for one child in Group 1 who was identified as “suspicious” because he was not yet walking. The results suggest that motor delays detected at 10-months will not necessarily persist. Pediatric therapists are encouraged to consider normal variations in both rate and pattern of early motor development when making judgements about the results of norm-referenced tests. Instituting a practice of serial assessments, rather than relying on the results of one assessment, will improve the accuracy of identification of infants who exhibit persistent motor delay.     

The Effects of Non-Nutritive Sucking and Pre-Feeding Oral Stimulation on Time to Achieve Independent Oral Feeding for Preterm Infants

Background:

The survival rates of preterm infants has increased over the last years, but oral feeding difficulties are the most common problems encountered by them

Objectives:

This study aimed at comparing the effects of non-nutritive sucking (NNS) and pre-feeding oral stimulation on feeding skills, length of hospital stay and weight gain of 26-32 weeks gestational age preterm infants in NICU, to determine the more effective intervention.

Patients and Methods:

Thirty-two preterm infants were assigned randomly into three groups. One intervention group received pre-feeding oral stimulation program and the other received non-nutritive sucking stimulation, while the control group received a sham intervention. Gestational age of infants was calculated during 1, 4 and 8 oral feeding and discharge time from NICU. The infants’ weights were measured weekly from birth and at discharge time.

Results:

Mean gestational age on 8 time oral feeding per day, in 3 groups was not significant (P = 0.282). Although NNS and pre-feeding oral stimulation groups has fulfilled this criterion 7.55 and 6.07 days sooner than the control group, respectively (a result which is of great clinical and economic importance), but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Weight gaining at discharge time in NNS group was significantly higher than control and pre-feeding oral stimulation groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

This study revealed that pre-feeding oral stimulation and NNS programs both were effective on oral feeding skills and weight gaining of the immature newborns. Yet, it seems that NNS program was more effective than pre-feeding oral stimulation on weight gaining.     

Studying Weak Central Coherence at Low Levels: Children with Autism do not Succumb to Visual Illusions. A Research Note

While anecdotal reports of abnormal perceptual experiences in autism abound, there have been to date no experimental studies showing fundamental perceptual peculiarities. The present paper reports results from a first study of low-level visual integration in autism. Twenty-five subjects with autism, 21 normal 7- and 8-year-olds, and 26 children with learning difficulties were asked to make simple judgements about six well-known visual illusions. Two conditions were used, in an attempt to explore group differences; standard two-dimensional black and white line drawings, and the same figures augmented with raised coloured lines. The subjects with autism were less likely to succumb to the two-dimensional illusions than were the other groups, and were less aided by the three-dimensional disembedded' condition. These striking results are discussed with reference to the 'central coherence' account of autism.     

Cerebral Blood Flow, PaCO2 Changes, and Visual Evoked Potentials in Mechanically Ventilated, Preterm Infants

ABSTRACT. Two estimations of global cerebral blood flow (CBF) using 133-Xenon clearance were done with an interval of about one hour in 16 mechanically ventilated, newborn infants, of less than 33 weeks gestational age. In eight infants CBF was estimated just before a change in ventilator settings, and again when the Pa_co2 was stable. In the remaining eight infants small spontaneous changes in Pa_co2 occurred. The CBF-CO₂ reactivity was similar in the two groups (+67%/kPa (95% confidence interval 13–146) and 52%/kPa (24–86)) and considerably higher than the CBF-CO₂ reactivity estimated from the interindividual variation of flow and Pa_co2 (+19%/kPa (4–36)). There were no significant relations between CBF and arterial blood pressure. Flash evoked potentials (VEP) were recorded during the 133-Xenon clearances in 8 of the infants. VEP showed no relation to changes in CBF, even when the blood flow rose from the lowest levels. CBF and VEP were obtained once in 9 other infants. Among the 17 infants, the latency of the first negative wave of the VEP was not related to the CBF level. Mean CBF in the 25 infants was 12.3 ml/100 g/min (range 4.3 to 18.9), mean Pa_co2 was 4.2 kPa (range 2.3 to 6.4). Thus, CBF-CO₂ reactivity appeared to be normal in these clinically stable, mechanically ventilated, preterm infants, suggesting that their low cerebral blood flow was well regulated. The absence of a relation of CBF with VEP suggested that cerebral blood flow was not critically decreased.     

Visual acuity and cognitive outcomes at 4 years of age in a double-blind, randomized trial of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid-supplemented infant formula

BACKGROUND: While there is a large body of data on the effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation of infant formula on visual and cognitive maturation during infancy, longterm visual and cognitive outcome data from randomized trials are scarce. AIM: To evaluate docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA)-supplementation of infant formula on visual and cognitive outcomes at 4 years of age. METHODS: Fifty-two of 79 healthy term infants who were enrolled in a single-center, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of DHA and ARA supplementation of infant formula were available for follow-up at 4 years of age. In addition, 32 breast-fed infants served as a "gold standard". Outcome measures were visual acuity and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence--Revised. RESULTS: At 4 years, the control formula group had poorer visual acuity than the breast-fed group; the DHA- and DHA+ARA-supplemented groups did not differ significantly from the breast-fed group. The control formula and DHA-supplemented groups had Verbal IQ scores poorer than the breast-fed group. CONCLUSION: DHA and ARA-supplementation of infant formula supports visual acuity and IQ maturation similar to that of breast-fed infants.     

Plasma Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine and DOPAC Levels in Preterm Infants Prior to and Immediately after a Sleep Ventilation Hypercarbia Test

ABSTRACT. The postnatal maturation and the adaptational ability of the sympathoadrenal system has been investigated in preterm neonates ( n =8), and in sick preterm neonates with respiratory disorders ( n = 10). Plasma levels of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and 3–4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were evaluated at rest during the first month of life, and following an inhalation of a 5% carbon dioxide—21% oxygen mixture for 10 min. During the first month of life the sick preterm neonates exhibited similar NE, E, and DOPAC plasma levels but higher DA amounts than healthy infants. Plasma DA levels were inversely correlated with the transcutaneous oxygen tension ( r = -0.636) indicating that hypoxemia was able to enhance the release of DA. Immediately following the hypercarbia test, there were no significant changes of plasma catecholamine levels in the sick preterms, but there was a significant increase of E plasma levels (+140%, p < 0.05) and a moderate elevation of NE and DA amounts in the healthy preterms. It is concluded that preterm neonates who have had respiratory disorders did not exhibit an immaturity of the sympathoadrenal system at rest, but had a defect in the release of E following hypercarbia exposure, which may be secondary to an alteration in chemoreceptor function and/or reduced catecholamine stores.