OBJECTIVES We examined whether adults born preterm at very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) differ from term-born adults in autism-spectrum traits, and whether among VLBW adults, growth in infancy is associated with these traits. METHODS A total of 110 VLBW and 104 term-born adults of the Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient yielding total, soc...

OBJECTIVES Although children with very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) are at high risk for developmental impairments, we know little about the long-term effects of VLBW on families. This study examined long-term family outcomes and their stability over time. METHODS Participants were the families of 64 children with <750 g birth weight, 54 with 750-1499 g birth weight, and 66 term-born cont...

Myometrial contractions of labor result from an increase in myometrial activation and stimulation. Activation develops through the expression of contraction associated proteins (CAPs), including oxytocin receptors (OTR), connexin-43 (Cx-43), and prostaglandin F2 alpha, receptors (FP). Stimulation involves increases in contractile agonists including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2 a...

BACKGROUND In very-low-birth-weight infants IGF-I plays an important role in postnatal growth restriction and is probably also involved in growth restriction in childhood. We compared IGF-I and its relation to growth in early childhood in very-low-birth-weight infants and term appropriate for gestational age born infants. METHODS We included 41 very-low-birth-weight and 64 term infants. Anthr...

BACKGROUND Air pollution may be related to adverse birth outcomes. Exposure information from land-based monitoring stations often suffers from limited spatial coverage. Satellite data offer an alternative data source for exposure assessment. METHODS We used birth certificate data for births in Connecticut and Massachusetts, United States (2000-2006). Gestational exposure to PM2.5 was estimate...

BACKGROUND Pre-term and post-term births are major determinants of neonatal mortality, including short- and long-term morbidity. In developing countries, where pre-term and post-term births are disproportionately common, the magnitude and underlying causes are not well understood, and evidence is required to design appropriate interventions. This study measured the incidence and identified risk...

backgounds: a number of studies have focused on the effects of season of birth, as an environmental factor, on embryonic development. methods: in a retrospective descriptive work, heights (crown to heel), weights and head circumferences of the full term, normal, and singleton newborn infants in hamadan city (west of iran) were collected from their randomly selected files in fattemieh hospital d...

OBJECTIVE To analyze neonatal mortality determinants using multilevel logistic regression and classic hierarchical models. METHODS Cohort study including 138,407 live births with birth certificates and 1,134 neonatal deaths recorded in 2003, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. The Information System on Live Births and mortality records were linked for gathering information on ...

BACKGROUND Infant birth weight, which is classified into low birth weight, normal birth weight and macrosomia, is associated with short and long-term health consequences, such as neonatal mortality and chronic disease in life. Macrosomia and low birth weight are double burden problems in developing counties, such as Ethiopia, but the paucity of evidence has made it difficult to assess the exten...