Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the pattern and rate of motor skill acquisition among preterm infants from newborn to four months corrected age, in comparison with a group of full-term infants. Methods: Twelve healthy preterm infants (mean gestational age=33.6 weeks ± 1.25) and 10 healthy full-term infants (mean gestational age=39.1 weeks ± 0.73) participated in the study. These in...

Background Preterm birth significantly affects the neonates’ survival. It also increases the risk of neonatal complications, prolongs the hospitalization period, and imposes high costs on the public health system. This study is aimed to assess the risk factors of the preterm birth. Materials and Methods This case-control stud...

We assessed the risk of preterm birth according to the mother's place of origin in the context of a free and universal healthcare system. We analysed 75,292 newborn infants born between 2008-2011 in Alicante (Spain). The outcomes were: 1) very preterm (gestational age ≤ 32 weeks) and 2) moderate-to-late preterm (gestational age 33-37 weeks). Other variables: infant's gender, maternal age and or...

Chorioamnionitis increases the risk and severity of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn in preterm infants. Exposure of preterm fetal lambs to intra-amniotic (IA) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces chorioamnionitis, causes hypertrophy of pulmonary resistance arterioles, and alters expression of pulmonary vascular growth proteins. We investigated the cardiopulmonary and systemic hemod...

administration of antenatal corticosteroids to pregnant women with imminent delivery of a newborn at 24 to 34 weeks of gestation represents one of the most important advances in perinatal medicine in the past 25 years1,2. a single course of antenatal steroid has been associated with a decrease in acute neonatal systemic morbidity and mortality after preterm birth reducing the risk of respirator...

John Scott Haldane recognized that the administration of supplemental oxygen required titration in the individual. Although he made this observation in adults, it is equally applicable to the preterm newborn. But how, in practice, can the oxygen requirements in the preterm newborn be determined to avoid the consequences of too little and too much oxygen? Unfortunately, the current generation of...

Preterm newborns are challenged by an excessive oxidative burden, as a result of several perinatal stimuli, as intrauterine infections, resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and postnatal complications, in the presence of immature antioxidant capacities. "Oxygen radical disease of neonatology" comprises a wide range of conditions sharing a common pathway of pathogenesis and includes bronchopul...

BACKGROUND Efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to improve maternal and child health can be accelerated by addressing preterm birth and stillbirth. However, most global health stakeholders are unaware of the inextricable connections of these adverse pregnancy outcomes to maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH). Improved visibility of preterm births and stillbirths will h...

Introduction: The aim of study was to compare umbilical cord blood selenium levels in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and non RDS preterm babies.    Methods: Umbilical cord blood selenium levels of all preterm newborn born during a 6-month period were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups: RDS and non RDS. Selenium level was assessed by using electro-thermal atomic ab...