Early human development最新文献

{"title":"Effect of maternal depression and anxiety scores on the development of three-month-old babies through the assessment of general movements","authors":"Aynur Basaran ,&nbsp;Ozlem Dulger ,&nbsp;Mustafa Basaran","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106285","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Depression and anxiety symptoms are common during pregnancy, which poses significant risks not only for mothers but also babies. Exposure of the fetus to maternal distress during pregnancy can lead to impairments of the newborn's development that persist throughout their lives. The objective of this study is to investigate whether prenatal exposure to maternal depression and anxiety symptoms has an impact on the neurological status of infants by assessing the quality of general movements at 3 months of age.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this study, 101 uncomplicated pregnant patients who completed 36 weeks of gestation and their healthy newborns were analyzed. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait (STAI-T) questionnaires were used to assess mothers' distress. 3 months after the birth, general movements (GMs) assessments were conducted using video recordings of their babies. The scores of the questionnaires were compared between the infants grouped as “normal GMs” and “abnormal GMs”.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-six infants exhibited abnormal GMs, while 75 exhibited normal. There was a statistically significant difference in maternal BDI and STAI-T scores between infants exhibiting abnormal and normal GMs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our study revealed that a mother's higher anxiety and depression scores during the latter stages of pregnancy might negatively affect the early development of the newborn and this can be determined at 3 months of age by evaluating the quality of GMs. This highlights the importance of monitoring the distress experienced by the mother and the quality of GMs exhibited by newborns and taking preventative measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"206 ","pages":"Article 106285"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144068019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can general movements trajectories predict neurodevelopment as early as six months corrected age in very preterm infants?","authors":"Isadora Beghetti ,&nbsp;Sofia Spinedi ,&nbsp;Luigi Corvaglia ,&nbsp;Elena Zardi ,&nbsp;Vittoria Paoletti ,&nbsp;Ettore Benvenuti ,&nbsp;Arianna Rossi ,&nbsp;Benedetta Neri ,&nbsp;Mariagrazia Zuccarini ,&nbsp;Valentina Graziosi ,&nbsp;Caterina Verganti ,&nbsp;Alessandra Sansavini ,&nbsp;Arianna Aceti","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate whether prenatal and postnatal clinical variables, General Movements (GMs), and Hammersmith Neurological Examination (HNE) would predict developmental delay. at 6 months corrected age (CA) in preterm infants.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Infants born &lt;32 weeks gestational age or &lt;1500 g were enrolled in the first days of life and underwent neurodevelopmental follow-up until 6 months CA. Potential associations between motor, cognitive, and language development assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) at 6 months CA, and clinical variables, GMs at term equivalent age (TEA) and Fidgety period, HNE at TEA and 3 months CA, were investigated by Mann Whitney <em>U</em> test, chi-square test, Spearman correlation test, multiple logistic regression.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Ninety-eight infants were included. GMs anomalies at TEA predicted an increased risk of motor delay at 6 months CA, regardless of Fidgety quality at 3 months GA (GMs anomalies at TEA and pathological Fidgety, OR 16.05 [95 % CI 1.02–253.50]; GMs anomalies at TEA and normal Fidgety, OR 11.16 [95 % CI 1.18–105.31]). Despite several variables, including GMs, were associated to cognitive and language delay at 6 months CA (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05), none was found predictive at the multivariate analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>GMs at specific timepoints and GMs trajectories are predictive of early motor delay assessed as early as 6 months CA. Further research is needed to develop standardised protocols for neurodevelopmental longitudinal assessment and to investigate GMs trajectories and their integration with other predictors of neurodevelopment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"206 ","pages":"Article 106274"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143929497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Longitudinal assessments of motor performance and musculoskeletal abnormalities in preschool children with esophageal atresia","authors":"Unn Inger Møinichen ,&nbsp;Audun Mikkelsen ,&nbsp;Unn Lisbeth Jensen ,&nbsp;Kjersti Birketvedt ,&nbsp;Lars Mørkrid ,&nbsp;Hanneke IJsselstijn ,&nbsp;Ragnhild Emblem","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106273","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Children with esophageal atresia (EA) may have impaired motor performance and musculoskeletal abnormalities, but when and in whom these abnormalities develop is still unknown.</div></div><div><h3>Aims</h3><div>To study motor performance and musculoskeletal abnormalities from infancy to pre-school age, and to assess risk factors for poor motor performance at 24 and 48 months.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Prospective cohort study at 12, 24, and 48 months.</div></div><div><h3>Subjects</h3><div>Forty-six children with EA.</div></div><div><h3>Outcome measures</h3><div>Total and subtest scores and percentile ranks describing motor skills were obtained by using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) at 12 months, Peabody Developmental Motor Scale, Second Edition (PDMS-2) at 24 months, and Motor Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC-2) at 48 months. Muscle strength was measured by Grippit, and musculoskeletal abnormalities were clinically evaluated according to a standardized protocol.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The total median z-scores for AIMS, PDMS-2, and MABC-2 at group level were −0.571, −0.903, and −0.994 respectively, all significantly lower than in reference populations (p &lt; 0.001). The decrease in motor skills between 12 and 48 months may have biological importance and was significantly more frequent in patients with more neonatal morbidity, anastomotic complications, and reduced muscle strength. The number of patients with musculoskeletal abnormalities increased from 11 % to 59 % between 24 and 48 months, but was not related to motor performance.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Motor performance was low from infancy, reduced longitudinally, and related to neonatal morbidity in children with EA. Musculoskeletal abnormalities increased throughout childhood, but were not related to motor performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"206 ","pages":"Article 106273"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143929496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting neurodevelopment in very preterm infants using the Test of Infant Motor Performance","authors":"April E. Williamson ,&nbsp;Roslyn N. Boyd ,&nbsp;Robert S. Ware ,&nbsp;Mark D. Chatfield ,&nbsp;Judith L. Hough ,&nbsp;Paul B. Colditz ,&nbsp;Joanne M. George","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Infants born very preterm (VPT) are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments. The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) is an assessment used to evaluate an infant's gross motor skills, however, understanding of its predictive accuracy in VPT infants is limited.</div></div><div><h3>Aims</h3><div>To determine the accuracy of the TIMP assessed at term equivalent age (TEA), and 3 months corrected age (CA), to identify motor or cognitive impairment at 12 months CA in VPT infants.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This prospective observational cohort study recruited 202 infants born at &lt;31wks gestational age (GA). At TEA and 3 months CA the TIMP was performed. At 12 months CA the following neurodevelopmental assessments were conducted; Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), Neurological Sensory Motor Development Assessment (NSMDA) and Bayley Scale of Infant and Toddler Development 3rd edition (Bayley III).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The TIMP had higher specificity than sensitivity across all four outcome measures. Using a cut off-of ≤ -0.5 at TEA, TIMP z-scores demonstrated low sensitivity and specificity for motor outcomes on the NSMDA (sensitivity 61 %, specificity 50 %), AIMS (sensitivity 59 %, specificity 50 %) and Bayley III (sensitivity 56 %, specificity 51 %). Area under the curve analyses showed that the TIMP assessed at 3 months had greater accuracy than at TEA in identifying neurodevelopmental impairments at 12 months CA.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The TIMP assessed at TEA and 3 months CA correctly identified the majority of VPT infants without motor and cognitive impairments. However, it missed VPT infants who developed adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes by 12 months CA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"206 ","pages":"Article 106271"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143923676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fetal heart rate variability in relation to maternal physical activity and metabolic health","authors":"Volha Auchynnikava ,&nbsp;Lorenzo Semeia ,&nbsp;Katrin Sippel ,&nbsp;Julia Sbierski-Kind ,&nbsp;Andreas Fritsche ,&nbsp;Andreas L. Birkenfeld ,&nbsp;Jan Paluscke-Fröhlich ,&nbsp;Anna-Karin Wikström ,&nbsp;Hubert Preissl ,&nbsp;the PREG study group","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy may have a positive effect on the fetal cardiac maturation which is reflected in a decreasing resting heart rate and increasing heart rate variability (HRV). Different types of PA, for example during leisure or work time, have differential effects on HRV; however, this relationship has not yet been investigated in pregnancy. In our work, we related different types of PA during pregnancy with maternal and fetal HRV. We assessed the levels of PA in 95 pregnant women between 28 and 32 weeks of gestational age using the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire. Maternal and fetal heart rate and HRV were extracted from magnetocardiography recordings at rest, and maternal anthropometric and metabolic parameters were measured, such as fasting glucose and insulin levels, body mass index, and blood pressure. Pearson correlations were calculated between HRV, PA, and maternal parameters. Principal component analysis and generalized linear models were implemented to further investigate these relationships. Our findings indicate that habitual physical activity, whether during leisure or work, has no significant effect on maternal or fetal HRV at rest. However, leisure-time physical activity, unlike work-related activity, is associated with improved maternal insulin sensitivity. Additionally, our exploratory analyses revealed that lower HRV in both the mother and the fetus is associated with poorer maternal metabolic health quantified through higher fasting insulin levels, triglycerides, and adiposity. Finally, male fetuses showed higher HRV compared to females, highlighting the difference in cardiac development between the two biological sexes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"206 ","pages":"Article 106272"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New evidence supporting female protective effect in patients with congenital anomalies and neurodevelopmental disorders","authors":"Nela Maksimovic ,&nbsp;Tatjana Damnjanovic ,&nbsp;Biljana Jekic ,&nbsp;Ivana Novakovic ,&nbsp;Aleksandra Djuric-Zdravkovic ,&nbsp;Marija Dusanovic-Pjevic ,&nbsp;Milka Grk ,&nbsp;Milica Pesic ,&nbsp;Ana Djuranovic Uklein ,&nbsp;Milica Rasic ,&nbsp;Natasa Stojanovski ,&nbsp;Dijana Perovic","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106269","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106269","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The influence of chromosomal sex on human diseases is recognized but underresearched, particularly in diseases with early developmental origins. Copy number variations (CNVs) from sex chromosomes or autosomes, which cause different gene expressions, may influence the disease preferences in females and males. Chromosomal microarray is a standard method for detecting CNVs, with a diagnostic yield of approximately 15 % among patients with congenital anomalies and neurodevelopmental disorders, the primary indications for the analysis. Here, we explore sex disparities in phenotype prevalence and CNV detection rates in patients referred for chromosomal microarray to identify sex-biased traits and CNVs. Our cohort comprises 1412 patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.6 to 1. Despite being outnumbered, females are significantly more likely to receive a genetic diagnosis through this type of molecular karyotyping. Most of the patients have neurodevelopmental disorders with other comorbidities. Females have a higher frequency of comorbidities, but the difference in diagnostic yield is significant only in the groups with simpler phenotypes (≤2 comorbidities). Higher diagnostic yield is revealed for congenital heart disease, urogenital anomalies, and the autism spectrum group. All three categories show populational preponderance in males, supporting a higher threshold liability model in females.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 106269"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143883190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High altitude exposure and the birth prevalence of congenital anomalies in newborns with Down syndrome","authors":"Daniel Linares ,&nbsp;Beatriz Luna ,&nbsp;Edson Loayza ,&nbsp;Angela del Callejo ,&nbsp;Maria Garcia-Sejas ,&nbsp;Carlos Erostegui ,&nbsp;Gonzalo Taboada","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106270","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106270","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Individuals with Down syndrome are inherently predisposed to congenital anomalies due to a susceptible genotype that may interact with environmental factors. High-altitude exposure, in particular, has been linked to an increased risk of congenital heart disease. However, few studies have explored environmental risk factors for congenital anomalies in this population, and the specific impact of high altitude remains under-investigated. This study aimed to evaluate maternal and environmental risk factors, including high-altitude residence, on the prevalence of congenital anomalies in newborns with Down syndrome.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a cross-sectional study at two specialized genetic centers in Bolivia, including patients referred from various regions of the country. Data on clinical history and habitual residence were extracted from medical records to identify potential risk factors. The primary outcome was the presence of major congenital anomalies. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between risk factors and congenital anomalies.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 301 Down syndrome cases were included, of which 182 (60.5 %) presented with major congenital anomalies, with congenital heart disease and gastrointestinal anomalies being the most prevalent. Maternal age, high-altitude exposure, preeclampsia, and consanguinity were significantly associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies (all p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, stratified analysis revealed that high altitude was a significant risk factor for specific anomalies: patent ductus arteriosus (OR: 5.82, 95 % CI: [1.68–36.65], p = 0.02) and anorectal anomalies (OR: 5.29, 95 % CI: [1.52–33.45], p = 0.03).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our findings indicate that both maternal and environmental factors, particularly high-altitude exposure, play a crucial role in the development of congenital anomalies in newborns with Down syndrome. These results underscore the need for enhanced surveillance and tailored clinical management in high-risk populations, as well as further research into preventive strategies to mitigate these risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 106270"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143867788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perinatal asphyxia with no or mild hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy: Two-year neurodevelopmental outcome","authors":"Anna Tuiskula ,&nbsp;Susanna Stjerna ,&nbsp;Emma Saure ,&nbsp;Marjo Metsäranta ,&nbsp;Leena Haataja","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106266","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106266","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To characterize 2-year neurodevelopment of infants with perinatal asphyxia without hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or with mild HIE (HIE1) and analyse possible correlations with sex, brain MRI findings or early neurological examination.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Term infants with perinatal asphyxia and a control group were prospectively recruited from the neonatal units of Helsinki University Hospital in 2016–2020. The study cohort included infants with no or minor neurological symptoms during first 6 h after birth. Neurodevelopment was assessed using Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) at three months and at two years, Griffiths Scales of Child Development, 3rd edition (GMDS-III) and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Edition (BSID-III) at two years.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Study included 89 infants: 32 study cohort infants and 57 healthy controls. In the study cohort 1/32 and in the control group 0/57 of the infants showed significantly below normative mean cognitive score in BSID-III. Respective frequency of significantly below normative mean receptive language score were 2/32 and 0/57 and expressive language score 4/32 and 8/57. Females with perinatal asphyxia performed better in the language scores of GMDS-III and BSID-III. Children with asphyxia-related findings in brain MRI had statistically significantly lower total score, language and communication and foundations of learning subscore of GMDS-III.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Most infants with perinatal asphyxia without HIE or with HIE1 performed typically at two years. However, infants with asphyxia-related MRI findings showed lower cognitive and language scores. Our results suggest that female sex may be associated with a lower risk of any subtle effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 106266"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143883192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of muscle mass on neuropsychomotor development in newborns: A comparative analysis between preterm and full-term infants","authors":"Carolina Cristina dos Santos Camargo ,&nbsp;Débora Nunes Prata Anjos ,&nbsp;Etiene Farah Teixeira de Carvalho ,&nbsp;Eneida Yuri Suda ,&nbsp;Evelim Leal de Freitas Dantas Gomes","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106267","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106267","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Premature birth leads to structural and functional remodeling of multiple systems during a critical developmental period. There is an inversely proportional relationship between gestational age and the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment, as well as cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory diseases. Premature newborns exhibit delayed postnatal growth in the initial weeks of extrauterine life. Recent studies have shown that a period of rapid growth can significantly impact long-term health, with the disproportionate growth of lean mass being a contributing factor.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to correlate and assess the effect of skeletal muscle size and quality on motor performance in preterm newborns compared to full-term infants.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted at the neonatal unit of a public hospital. Ninety-four newborns were evaluated and divided into two groups: preterm newborns (PTNB, <em>n</em> = 47) and full-term newborns (FTNB, n = 47). Skeletal muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, and pennation angle of the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and biceps brachii were assessed using kinesiological ultrasound. Neuropsychomotor performance was evaluated using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) scale.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the FTNB group, the size of the lower limb muscles was significantly correlated with the TIMP score. In contrast, in the PTNB group, the size of both lower and upper limb muscles influenced the TIMP score. The PTNB group exhibited lower anthropometric measurements and showed delayed neuropsychomotor development as indicated by lower TIMP scores and <em>Z</em>-scores.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings demonstrate that, in addition to prematurity, skeletal muscle size plays a significant role in influencing motor performance in newborns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 106267"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143892239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of heart rate on systolic and diastolic time intervals and cardiac function in stable and sick preterm infants","authors":"Koert de Waal,&nbsp;Enrico Petoello,&nbsp;Edward Crendal,&nbsp;Nilkant Phad","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Diastolic function includes relaxation and filling of the heart and is dependent on heart rate (HR) and time spent in either systole (St) or diastole (Dt). The St/Dt ratio increases as HR increased and is a marker of overall cardiac function in children with heart failure. The aim of this study is to describe cardiac cycle events in preterm infants.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Cardiac ultrasounds of preterm infants &lt;32 weeks were retrospectively reviewed for cardiac cycle events from Tissue Doppler images and grouped by clinical indication of the scan as stable or as clinical deterioration with significant illness.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>412 scans in 201 preterm infants were analyzed. St/Dt ratio increased with increasing HR. St increased from 50 to 54 % of the cardiac cycle length with shortened diastolic duration. Isovolumetric contraction and relaxation remained unchanged at 9 and 12 % of the cardiac cycle respectively. Mean St, Dt and St/Dt ratio in stable infants were 195(19) msec, Dt 175(24) msec and 1.13 (0.16) respectively. Sick infants without cardiovascular medications showed a significantly shorter St and lower St/Dt ratio. Cardiovascular medications increased isovolumetric times, Dt, and early diastolic duration.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Reference values for cardiac cycle durations and St/Dt ratio are presented. Preterm hearts adapt to higher HR by shifting towards systole and shortened early diastole by optimising its force frequency relationship and enhanced relaxation. The St/Dt ratio was altered in preterm infants with significant illness. This simple ultrasound marker could be tested in further studies that investigate cardiovascular medications in preterm infants</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"205 ","pages":"Article 106268"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}