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Since gestational age (GA) is an important factor influencing the presence of specific microbiomes, we aimed to characterize the core microbiomes of preterm infants compared to full-term (FT) infants. This study investigated the differences in microbiota composition between very preterm (VP), moderate-to-late preterm (MLP), and FT neonates by examining the core microbiomes of a large cohort of Korean neonates. Meconium samples from 310 neonates with a GA range of 22–40 weeks were collected, and 16S rRNA analyses were performed; 97 samples were obtained from the FT, 59 from the VP, and 154 from the MLP group. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were the phylum-level core microbiomes. Infants born before 37 weeks showed a disruption in the core microbiomes. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was positively (r = 0.177, p = 0.002) correlated with GA, while that of Proteobacteria was negatively (r = −0.116, p = 0.040) correlated with GA. At the genus level, the relative abundances of Bacteroides and Prevotella were positively correlated with GA (r = 0.157, p = 0.006; r = 0.160, p = 0.005). The meconium of preterm infants exhibited significantly lower α-diversities than that of FT infants. β-diversities did not appear to differ between the groups. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of GA in shaping the early gut microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is commonly encountered morbidity which often occurs as up to 60% of extremely preterm infants born at < 29 weeks gestational age (GA). Purpose: This study aims to assess the clinical risk factors associated with PDA ligation among very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) and evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcomes of those who underwent PDA ligation. Methods: A total of 540 VLBWI were initially diagnosed with PDA in our 50-bed level IV NICU at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, between January 2015 and June 2023. Among these 540 VLBWI with PDA, only 221 had consistent hemodynamically significant (hs) PDA which required intervention including fluid restriction, medical treatment, or surgical ligation. In this study, only those 221 VLBWI with hsPDA who underwent neurodevelopmental assessment at corrected 18–24 months of age were included in this study analysis. Results: Out of 221 VLBWI diagnosed with hemodynamically significant (hs) PDA, 133 (60.2%) underwent PDA ligation, while the remaining 88 (39.8%) had their hs PDAs closed either medically or with fluid restriction. The mean gestational age and birth weight were significantly lower in PDA ligation group compared to no PDA ligation group (27.02 ± 2.17 vs. 27.98 ± 2.36, 907.31 ± 258.36 vs. 1006.07 ± 283.65, p = 0.001, 0.008). Resuscitation including intubation at delivery and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (grade ≥ 3) were significantly higher in PDA ligation group. The clinical outcomes in the PDA ligation group revealed significantly worse oucomes compared to the no PDA ligation group. Both resuscitation, including intubation at delivery, and IVH (grade ≥ 3), consistently exhibited an increased risk for PDA ligation in a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Concerning neurodevelopmental outcomes, infants who underwent PDA ligation demonstrated significantly lower cognitive scores. However, only IVH (grade ≥ 3) and PVL were consistently associated with an increased risk of abnormal neurodevelopment at the corrected age of 18–24 months. Conclusion: In our study, despite the consistent association between cognitive developmental delays in VLBWI who underwent PDA ligation, we observed that sicker and more vulnerable VLBWIs, specifically those experincing severe IVH, consistently exhibited an increased risk for both PDA ligation and abnormal neurodevelopment at the corrected age of 18–24 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) is associated with high mortality and an increased incidence of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. In this study, we aimed to compare the Intergrowth-21ST (IG-21ST) and Fenton charts in predicting long-term neurodevelopmental and anthropometric outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: Data were collected from 2649 VLBW infants registered in the Korean Neonatal Network born between 240/7 and 316/7 weeks of gestational age from January 2013 to December 2017. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 18–24 months of age, corrected for prematurity. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between EUGR and long-term outcomes. Results: Among the 2649 VLBW infants, 60.0% (1606/2649) and 36.9% (977/2649) were diagnosed as having EUGR defined by the Fenton chart (EUGRF) and by the IG-21ST chart (EUGRIG), respectively. The EUGRIG group exhibited a higher proportion of infants with cerebral palsy, neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI), and growth failure. In multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted for risk factors for long-term outcome, the EUGRIG group showed higher risk of cerebral palsy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–2.65), NDI (aOR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.71–2.55), and growth failure (aOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.16–2.13). Infants with EUGRF tended to develop NDI (aOR, 1.29; 95%CI, 1.03–1.63) and experience growth failure (aOR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.77–3.40). Conclusions: The IG-21ST chart demonstrated a more effective prediction of long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, whereas the Fenton chart may be more suitable for predicting growth failure at 18–24 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]