Alterations in the intestinal microbiota of preterm infants with neurodevelopmental impairments: a prospective cohort study / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the difference in intestinal microbiota between preterm infants with neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) and those without NDI.@*METHODS@#In this prospective cohort study, the preterm infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from September 1, 2019 to September 30, 2021 were enrolled as subjects. According to the assessment results of Gesell Developmental Scale at the corrected gestational age of 1.5-2 years, they were divided into two groups: normal (n=115) and NDI (n=100). Fecal samples were collected one day before discharge, one day before introducing solid food, and at the corrected gestational age of 1 year. High-throughput sequencing was used to compare the composition of intestinal microbiota between groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, the NDI group had a significantly higher Shannon diversity index at the corrected gestational age of 1 year (P<0.05). The principal coordinate analysis showed a significant difference in the composition of intestinal microbiota between the two groups one day before introducing solid food and at the corrected gestational age of 1 year (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the NDI group had a significantly higher abundance of Bifidobacterium in the intestine at all three time points, a significantly higher abundance of Enterococcus one day before introducing solid food and at the corrected gestational age of 1 year, and a significantly lower abundance of Akkermansia one day before introducing solid food (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#There are significant differences in the composition of intestinal microbiota between preterm infants with NDI and those without NDI. This study enriches the data on the characteristics of intestinal microbiota in preterm infants with NDI and provides reference for the microbiota therapy and intervention for NDI in preterm infants.

Long-term effects of liberal versus restricted red blood cell transfusions in extremely low birth weight infants: a meta analysis / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective:To systematically analyze the effects of liberal and restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategies on mortality and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) of extremely low birth weight infant (ELBWI).Methods:From the establishment of the databases to March 2021, randomized controlled trials on this subject published in English or Chinese from databases (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of science, Wanfang database, CNKI, VIP and CBM) were searched. The article selection process and data extraction were carried out by two independent investigators. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta analysis.Results:The literature search yielded 692 pertinent articles and 4 studies were selected for meta-analysis. 3 577 ELBWI were followed up until corrected age of 22~26 months. Meta-analysis showed that restrictive and liberal transfusion thresholds had no significant effects on severe adverse outcomes (mortality+NDI) ( RR=1.01, 95% CI 0.94~1.08, Z=0.24, P=0.81), mortality rate ( RR=1.10, 95% CI 0.94~1.29, Z=1.24, P=0.22), NDI ( RR=0.98, 95% CI 0.89~1.07, Z=0.46, P=0.65) and cerebral palsy ( RR=1.21, 95% CI 0.89~1.66, Z=1.21, P=0.23) for ELBWI. Conclusions:Restricted and liberal blood transfusion have similar long-term effects on mortality and NDI of ELBWI. This may provide certain reference value guiding clinical blood transfusion in ELBWI.

Early intervention impact on neurodevelopmental outcome of very preterm infants and VLBW infants at 1 year corrected age / 国际儿科学杂志

Objective To evaluate neurodevelopmental outcome of very preterm(gestational age ＜ 32 weeks) and very low birth weight infant (VLBWI) (weight ＜ 1 500 g) and to examine the effectiveness of an early intervention program till 12 months corrected age.Methods Seventy followed-up very preterms and VLB-WI in Jinan Maternity and Childcare Hospital were enrolled in this study from January 2012 to and were divided into two groups by birth weight.All infants received 20 items of behavioral neurological assessment at 1 to 12 months corrected age and tested mental and psychomotor development with the use of CDCC at 6,12 months corrected age.The preterms who were abnomal in the 20 items of behavioral neurological assessment would receive early intervention (including kinesitherapy, physiotherapy, cereal circulation therapeutic equipment) by physiotherapists and their parents who received an intervention program training and were strongly encouraged to participate in the intervention sessions.The intervention method was adjusted according to the neurological assessment.The SPSS statistical software package for Windows, version 15.0, was used to run Fisher's exact test and t-test on the data presented,and P value of less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.Results The average gestational age of infants was (30.4 ± 1.8) weeks,and average birth weight (1 463.7 ± 307.5) g.The incidence of extrauterine growth restriction was 57.1％ at first follow-up.The incidence of neurodevelpmental impairment NDI) and cerebral palsy tendency at 6 corrected months were 14.3％ ,8.6％ respectively.At 12 months corrected age,the incidence of NDI decreased to 2.9％ and cerebral palsy to 2.9％.There was significant difference in the incidence of NDI between 6 and 12 corrected months.There was no significant difference in the incidence of psychomotor developmental index ＜ 70, mental developmental index ＜ 70, NDI and cerebral palsy between the two groups.Conclusion The early intervention program can improve VLBWI neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months' corrected age and reduce the incidence of cerebral palsy.