Impaired picture sequencing ability in children with premature birth.

BACKGROUND: Children born preterm are at increased risk for executive dysfunction, which affects learning outcomes. Picture sequencing ability is considered as executive function (EF) that requires skills in working memory and organizing the pictures. Children born preterm might have difficulties in these skills. The present study aimed to develop practical Picture Sequencing test (PS test) and examine the sequencing ability in preterm children comparing with term children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The PS test was developed to assess the child's ability to arrange pictures into a sequence. It consisted of three conditions, which were daily activities, social interaction routines, and feeling expressions. Each story had four cartoon styles cards. The child had to rearrange picture cards into the correct sequence positions. Thirty preterm children aged five to six years with gestational ages of 32 weeks and birth weights of < 1,500 grams, and thirty-five term children matched age, gender child 's education, parental education, and socioeconomic status were performed the PS test. The total scores were compared between the preterm group and the term group. RESULTS: The PS test scores on the daily activities domain of the preterm and term group were 18 and 25 (p = 0.03), respectively. The scores on the social interaction routines domain ofthe preterm and term group were 20 and 28 (p = 0.01) and the scores on the feeling expression domain were 18.5 and25 (p = 0.03), respectively. There was no significant correlation between perinatal complications and the PS test scores. CONCLUSION: The preterm children with IQs in the average range showed impairment in sequencing ability compared with the term children. The results underline the need for follow-up care with more comprehensive assessment of EF.

Genetic polymorphisms in Thai neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.

AIM: Polymorphisms of the UGT1A1 gene, SLCO1B1 gene and GST gene have been associated with significant hyperbilirubinemia. We would like to determine whether the variation of UGT1A1 gene, SLCO1B1 gene and GST gene may play a significant role in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Thai infants. METHODS: Ninety-one study subjects (hyperbilirubinemic group) and 86 control subjects were studied. RESULTS: The cause of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia could not be identified in 64 infants (70.3%), ABO blood group incompatibility in 14.3% and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency in 8.8%. In the hyperbilirubinemic group, 23 of 91 (25.3%) infants demonstrated variant of UGT1A1 at nucleotides (nt) 211 as compared to 6 of 86 (7%) in the control group (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between groups in the variants UGT1A1 at nt 686, SLCO1B1 gene at nt 388, 463 and the GST gene. Male infants with G-6-PD deficiency were associated with hyperbilirubinemia (21.2% vs. 4.8% in the control group) with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.37 (p = 0.02). The relationship between G-6-PD and variant in UGT1A1 gene at nt 211 could not be determined. CONCLUSION: Thai infants with variant in the UGT1A1 at nt 211 or with G-6-PD deficiency are at higher risk for developing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.