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...

A number of previous studies have found that prenatal participation in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) improves birth outcomes, but only a few studies have provided cost-benefit analyses. The present study linked Medicaid and WIC data files to birth certificates for live births in North Carolina in 1988. Women who received Medicaid benefits and prena...

Fetal cocaine exposure may have differentially adverse effects on developmental outcomes of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. As part of a longitudinal study, 31 cocaine-positive very low birthweight infants, and age, race and socioeconomic status matched VLBW controls enrolled at birth were followed. Neonatal maternal-child interactions, concurrent maternal psychological characteristics and...

Hess (1934) in an extensive and careful study of the development of prematurely-born children (which he defines as weighing five and a half pounds or less at birth, irrespective of the duration of gestation) compares the weight of prematurely-born children at various age periods with that of their full-term siblings, and comes to the conclusion that the former consistently weigh less than the l...

Infants of very low birth weight (VLBW) are, for the most part, potentially normal at birth but, because of immaturity of structure and function of many organs, are at risk from death or permanent handicap. A recent survey of world literature suggested that the improvement in the outcome for these babies, which has occurred over the past ten years, was due to perinatal intensive care. To date, ...

OBJECTIVE We investigated whether the proportion of Black very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants treated by hospitals is associated with neonatal mortality for Black and White VLBW infants. METHODS We analyzed medical records linked to secondary data sources for 74050 Black and White VLBW infants (501 g to 1500 g) treated by 332 hospitals participating in the Vermont Oxford Network from 1995 to...

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of infants with very low birth weight (VLBW, i.e., weight less than 1,500 g) in Japan. However, the effect of VLBW on subsequent behavioral development and mental health remains unknown. Subjects enrolled were 57 individuals (13.4 ± 1.9 years old) with VLBW (VLBW group), including 23 small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants (i.e., the SGA...

OBJECTIVE Young adults who were born very preterm or with a very low birth weight remain at risk for physical and neurodevelopmental problems and lower academic achievement scores. Data, however, are scarce, hospital based, mostly done in small populations, and need additional confirmation. METHODS Infants who were born at < 32 weeks of gestation and/or with a birth weight of < 1500 g in The ...

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...

OBJECTIVE To examine social class inequalities in adverse perinatal events in Scotland between 1980 and 2000 and how these were influenced by other maternal risk factors. DESIGN Population based study using routine maternity discharge data. SETTING Scotland. PARTICIPANTS All women who gave birth to a live singleton baby in Scottish hospitals between 1980 and 2000 (n=1,282,172). MAIN OUT...