Utility of near infrared spectroscopy for the screening of the growth restricted fetus

A myriad of factors have been linked to increased risk for intrauterine growth restriction and the associated complications; the majority of which are based on observational statistics of demographics, socioeconomics and patient history. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of factors available that can appropriately address the underlying anatomy and physiology responsible for intrauterine growth restriction. To this point, it becomes necessary to use data acquisition modalities capable of addressing both the etiology and pathology in an effort to improve clinical management strategies. Near‐infrared spectroscopy, although not traditionally used in standard, clinical screening has proven valuable for risk assessment in a number of recent investigational studies. Simulations based on the current literature are presented to assess near infrared spectroscopy utility regarding the ability to distinguish between the normal fetus and the growth restricted fetus. Findings are presented for all simulated data as well as the equipment‐specific data derived from the NIRO‐100 system (Hamamatsu Photonics, Hamamatsu, Japan). Results suggest an overall sensitivity and specificity on the order of 62% and 58%, respectively, and NIRO‐100 sensitivity and specificity on the order of 85% and 92%, respectively.     

A case–control study to examine the association between breastfeeding during late pregnancy and risk of a small‐for‐gestational‐age birth in Lima,Peru

Excessive demands on maternal nutritional status may be a risk factor for poor birth outcomes. This study examined the association between breastfeeding during late pregnancy (≥28 weeks) and the risk of having a small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) newborn, using a matched case–control design (78 SGA cases: birthweight <10th percentile for gestational age; 150 non‐SGA controls: 50th percentile <birthweight <90th percentile for gestational age). Between March 2006 and April 2007, project midwives visited daily three government hospitals in Lima, Peru and identified cases and matched controls based on hospital, gestational age, and inter‐gestational period. Mothers were interviewed and clinical chart extractions were completed. Factors associated with risk of SGA were assessed by their adjusted odds ratios (aOR) from conditional logistic regression. Exposure to an overlap of breastfeeding during late pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of having a SGA newborn [aOR = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.10–3.30]. However, increased risk was associated with having a previous low‐birthweight birth (aOR = 6.53; 95% CI: 1.43–29.70) and a low intake of animal source foods (<25th percentile; aOR = 2.26; 95% CI: 1.01–5.04), and tended to be associated with being short (<150 cm; aOR = 2.05; 95% CI: 0.92–4.54). This study found no evidence to support the hypothesis that breastfeeding during late pregnancy increases the risk for SGA; however, studies with greater statistical power are needed to definitively examine this possible association and clarify whether there are other risks to the new baby, the toddler and the pregnant woman.     

Epidemiology of low birth weight in Ahmedabad

The study to elucidate epidemiological features of LBW (low birth weight) babies shows incidence of LBW to be 20·37%, out of 481 single births studied in 1982. 6·03% were small for gestational age (SGA). Of LBW babies 61·22% were born preterm (<37 weeks) as compared to 31·85% of normal babies. Of preterm babies 3·3% were SGA, while 7·69% of fullterm babies were SGA. SGA babies were found to be significantly related to parity, being most common in primi, and without antenatal care (ANC). Younger (15–25 years), shorter and primipara mothers were more likely to give birth to LBW babies. Of mothers giving birth to normal babies 85·52% had taken ANC, as compared to 67·34% giving birth to LBW babies. SGA was more common in mothers who had not taken ANC. Young, short and primipara mothers, who are prone to give birth to LBW babies should be detected early and brought under qualitative ANC.     

Optimal birth weight percentile cut‐offs in defining small‐ or large‐for‐gestational‐age

Aims: It remains questionable what birth weight for gestational age percentile cut‐offs should be used in defining clinically important poor or excessive foetal growth. We aimed to evaluate the optimal birth weight percentile cut‐offs for defining small‐ or large‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA or LGA). Methods: In a birth cohort‐based analysis of 17 979 120 non‐malformation singleton live births, U.S. 1995–2001, we assessed the optimal birth weight percentile cut‐offs for defining SGA and LGA. The 25th–75th percentile group served as the reference. Primary outcomes are the risk ratios (RR) of neonatal death and low 5‐min Apgar score (<4) comparing SGA or LGA versus the reference group. More than 2‐fold risk elevations were considered clinically significant. Results: The 15th birth weight cut‐off already identified SGA infants at more than 2‐fold risk of neonatal death at pre‐term, term or post‐term, except for extremely pre‐term births <28 weeks (continuous risk reductions over increasing birth weight percentiles). LGA was associated with a reduced risk of low 5‐min Apgar score at pre‐term, but an elevated risk at term and post‐term. The 97th cut‐off identified LGA infants at 2‐fold risk of low 5‐min Apgar at term. Conclusion: The commonly used 10th and 90th birth weight percentile cut‐offs for defining SGA and LGA respectively seem largely arbitrary. The 15th and 97th percentiles may be the optimal cut‐offs to define SGA and LGA respectively.     

Psychological development in children born with very low birth weight after severe intrauterine growth retardation: a 10-year follow-up study

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) and children having very low birth weight, less than 1500 g, are claimed to be at risk of developmental problems, even when obvious pathology and disability are absent. In this study, sensorimotor and cognitive development of 14 medically healthy, very-low-birth-weight and small-for-gestational-age children were investigated. The children were born at the Karolinska Hospital between 1979 and 1981. At the time of the assessment, the children were aged 8.7-11.2 years. The assessment instruments included the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, a modified version of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, as well as selected subtests from the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery and from the Southern California Tests of Sensory Integration. Information was also obtained from obstetric, neonatal and pediatric records, which included early developmental assessments. As a control group, 14 children were recruited and matched for age, sex and socio-economic background. The very-low-birth-weight-small-for-gestational-age group scored significantly lower on measures of visuospatial ability, non-verbal reasoning, strategy formation and gross-motor coordination. The group differences were largely attributable to the subnormal performance of eight of the very-low-birth-weight-small-for-gestational-age children. These children, who also tended to be born earliest (less than 33 weeks), had a high incidence of behavioral and educational problems. These findings are consistent with the view that the very preterm infant develops a different neurobehavioral organization than a full-term infant. Developmental deficits may become increasingly evident in the early school years.     

34 周以下适于胎龄及小于胎龄早产儿出生 2 周内 蛋白质、能量摄入及体质量变化

目的了解34周以下早产适于胎龄儿(AGA)和小于胎龄儿(SGA)生后蛋白质、能量摄入量以及体质量z评分的变化情况。方法回顾收集2012年1月至2014年12月入院的314例早产儿,比较268例AGA和46例SGA早产儿生后2周内蛋白质、能量摄入情况和体质量变化。结果 SGA组住院时间、肠外联合肠内营养时间、全肠内营养时间、达足量喂养时间均较AGA早产儿长,差异有统计学意义(P??0.05);SGA组生后第4、8、12天能量摄入量明显低于AGA组,SGA组生后第6、8天总蛋白质摄入量明显低于AGA组,差异均有统计学意义(P??0.05);SGA组日平均体质量增长量大于AGA组,差异有统计学意义(P??0.05);AGA组与SGA组生后2周内体质量z评分均逐渐远离中位水平,且SGA组2周时体质量z评分低于AGA组(P??0.05)。结论胎龄??34周的SGA早产儿恢复出生体质量后的生长速率快于AGA早产儿,存在一定的追赶生长;但SGA、AGA早产儿的生长均有待提高。     

IGF-1、IGFBP-3与极低出生体质量儿生后早期生长发育的关系

目的探讨胰岛素样生长因子1(IGF-1)、胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白3(IGFBP-3)与早产极低出生体质量儿(VLBW)生后早期生长的关系。方法根据胎龄和出生体质量,将32例VLBW新生儿分为小于胎龄儿(SGA)组和适于胎龄儿(AGA)组,给予相同的营养摄入量,监测两组出生时和生后第7、14、28天时的体质量、身长、头围和体质指数(BMI),并用放射免疫分析法检测相应日龄的血清IGF-1、IGFBP-3水平,计算IGF-1/IGFBP-3摩尔比率。结果两组VLBW新生儿在出生时及生后第7、14天的体质量、身长、头围、BMI差异均无统计学意义;至生后第28天时,SGA组的体质量、BMI均低于AGA组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。SGA组IGF-1、IGFBP-3、IGF-1/IGFBP-3以及AGA组IGF-1/IGFBP-3出生后随日龄变化的差异无统计学意义(P均0.05);但AGA组的IGF-1、IGFBP-3水平随日龄增长而升高,IGF-1于生后第14、28天时高于出生时水平,而IGFBP-3于生后第28天时高于出生时水平,差异有统计学意义(P均0.05)。生后第28天,SGA组IGF-1、IGFBP-3均低于AGA组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 SGA新生儿的IGF-1、IGFBP-3水平低于AGA,低水平的IGF-1、IGFBP-3可能会导致生长迟缓。     

Bone Mineral Content in Preterm Infants at Age 4 to 16

Using photon absorptiometry the forearm bone mineral content (BMC) was determined in 75 children aged 4 to 16, who all had a low birth weight. Forty-five of them were born preterm AGA (27 boys, 18 girls, mean weight 1580 g; range 920-2060 g) and 30 preterm SGA (17 boys, 13 girls, mean weight 1510; range 940-2130 g). The results were compared with a control group of children of the same age, and analyses of covariance with age, height and weight as the covariant factors were performed. The BMC, weight and height did not differ between the children born AGA or SGA. Irrespective of AGA or SGA, the BMC was significantly decreased in boys but the difference was less pronounced and less significant when height and weight were used as covariant factors. Boys who had been born preterm had a less BMC than the control boys for their age but the were also somewhat shorter and lighter than expected with regard to their age.     

General movements in healthy full term infants during the first week after birth

Background

The quality of general movements (GMs) is a widely used criterion to assess neurological dysfunction in young infants. It is unknown, however, whether the birth process influences the motor repertoire of healthy full term infants during the first week after birth.

Aims

To assess the quality of GMs and to determine the motor optimality score (OS) in healthy full term infants during the first week after birth and to evaluate the influence of the mode of delivery on GM quality.

Study design

Thirty-three healthy full term infants born either vaginally or after caesarean section (CS) under spinal anaesthesia were video recorded in the first week after birth in order to assess GM quality and to determine OS with Prechtl's method.

Results

Abnormal GMs were observed mainly on the early recordings: 86% on the day of birth (day 0), 94% on day 1, and 68% on day 2. On days 5 to 7 (day 5–7) all GMs were normal (P < .001). The OSs increased significantly from median 12 on day 0 to 18 on day 5–7 (P < .001). Monotonously slow movements were frequently seen during the first days but not on day 5–7 (P < .001). GM quality and OS did not differ between infants born by vaginal delivery or after CS under spinal anaesthesia.

Conclusions

Healthy full term infants often showed abnormal GM quality and lower OSs during the first week after birth, irrespective of the mode of delivery. GM quality normalised during subsequent days and was normal on day 5–7.