OBJECTIVE Very low birth weight (VLBW) is a significant issue in St. Louis, Missouri. Our study evaluated risk factors associated with VLBW in this predominantly urban community. METHODS From 2000 to 2009, birth and fetal death certificates were evaluated (n = 160, 189), and mortality rates were calculated for perinatal periods of risk. The Kitagawa method was used to explore fetoinfant morta...

BACKGROUND This study evaluated the benefit of Bifidobacterium bifidum OLB6378 (B. bifidum) in very low-birthweight (VLBW) infants (birthweight <1500 g) for the acceleration of enteral feeding. METHODS A cluster-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 19 hospitals, divided into two groups: the B group (n = 10 hospitals; B. bifidum given to infants within 48 h of bi...

Low birth weight (LBW<2500), very low birth weight (VLBW<1500), extremely low birth weight (ELBW<1500) infants are at high risk for growth failure that result in delayed development. Africa is a continent that presents high rates of children born with LBW, VLBW and ELBW particularly sub-Saharan Africa. To review the existing literature that explores the repercussions of LBW, VLBW and ELBW on gr...

Objectives. To assess the risk of very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) attributable to second trimester amniocentesis. Methods. Records of 4,877 consecutive amniocentesis, performed between 1997 and 2003, were analyzed. Only VLBW and ELBW in the study population (exposed) and in the control group (unexposed) were evaluated. Comparisons were made between the amnioce...

BACKGROUND Although 98% of mothers in our cohort initiated human milk (HM) provision for their very low-birthweight (VLBW) infants, fewer black infants received HM at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge than non-black infants. This study examined neighborhood structural factors associated with HM feeding at discharge to identify potential barriers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sociodemogra...

Thirty very low birthweight (VLBW) infants (mean gestational age 28.9 weeks; mean birthweight 1138 g) with symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were entered in a randomised double blind trial of indomethacin treatment. The mean age at diagnosis was 7.6 days and at entry to the trial 10.7 days. Before treatment for PDA the indomethacin and placebo groups were well matched for gestational a...

OBJECTIVES To assess growth outcomes of VLBW infants using different growth references and to validate the practice of age adjustment for prematurity in the growth assessment for VLBW infants. METHODS Longitudinal growth data of 514 VLBW infants from 4 to 36 months of adjusted age were analyzed separately based on chronological and adjusted age and by comparison with three growth references. ...

AIM To examine the relation between grade III-IV periventricular/intraventricular haemorrhage (PVH/IVH) and antenatal exposure to tocolytic treatment in very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants. STUDY DESIGN The study population consisted of 2794 infants from the Israel National VLBW Infant Database, of gestational age 24-32 weeks, who had a cranial ultrasound examination during the firs...

Aim—To examine the relation between grade III–IV periventricular/ intraventricular haemorrhage (PVH/IVH) and antenatal exposure to tocolytic treatment in very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants. Study design—The study population consisted of 2794 infants from the Israel National VLBW Infant Database, of gestational age 24–32 weeks, who had a cranial ultrasound examination during the first...