{"title":"Expression of BCL-2 and Laminin in Rectosigmoid Hirschsprung Disease: Correlations with Hirschsprung-Associated Enterocolitis.","authors":"Merve Dede, Fatih Celik, Ebrucan Bulut, Rumeysa Fatma Balaban, Nuseybe Huriyet, Ufuk Unal, Nesrin Ugras, Gulsah Cecener, Irfan Kiristioglu","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-03994-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-03994-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hirschsprung disease (HD) involves aganglionosis of the intestinal segment, with unclear etiology and challenging histopathological identification. The etiology of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) remains elusive. This study aims to explore the potential roles of Laminin and BCL-2 in the etiology of HD and HAEC by examining their expression levels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Tissues from 20 Rectosigmoid Hirschsprung patients (10 with and 10 without postoperative HAEC) and 10 controls were analyzed retrospectively. Protein expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry, mRNA levels were measured using Real-Time PCR, and DNA mutations were found using Sanger Sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>BCL-2 immunohistochemistry indicated decreased expression in HD patients' aganglionic tissues compared to ganglionic tissues (p ≤ 0.001). BCL-2 mRNA expression was significantly lower in HD patients' tissues than in controls (p < 0.0001). Laminin immunohistochemistry revealed significant positive staining in ganglionic tissues, with most aganglionic tissues negative and some mildly positive (p < 0.016). There was no significant association between BCL-2, Laminin, and HAEC (p > 0.05). DNA sequencing discovered a novel BCL-2 gene mutation in HD patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>BCL-2 and Laminin immunohistochemistry can differentiate ganglionic and aganglionic tissues. Reduced BCL-2 mRNA expression in HD patients indicates a disease that affects the whole gut. More research is needed on the new BCL-2 gene mutations.</p><p><strong>Impact statement: </strong>This is the first study to examine the correlation between BCL-2 and Laminin expression changes and enterocolitis developing in HD. It is a previously unreported contribution to the literature that BCL-2 mRNA expression was lower than expected in all intestinal tissues of HD patients, including the intestinal tissues considered to be healthy. Mutagenic changes have been detected in the BCL-2 gene of some HD patients. A definitive novel mutation, which has not been reported in the literature before, was detected in one patient.</p>","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144005655","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":"Science, faith and belief in pediatric animal models.","authors":"Per T Sangild","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-04036-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04036-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Impact statement: </strong>Antibiotic treatment may affect gut microbiota development with adverse effects on immune responses in the gut and other internal organs, like the lung. Animal models help to uncover mechanisms and consequences of antibiotic treatment, but direct translation of animal results to infants and children is often difficult. Objective scientific knowledge from both animal and human studies may need to be combined with more subjective faith convictions, to reach the commonly agreed beliefs that inform clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144036793","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}
Katie McBain, Dorothea Dumuid, Ashleigh Shipton, Susan A Clifford, Timothy Olds, Melissa Wake
{"title":"A scoping review of adult NCD-relevant phenotypes measured in today's large child cohort studies.","authors":"Katie McBain, Dorothea Dumuid, Ashleigh Shipton, Susan A Clifford, Timothy Olds, Melissa Wake","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-04056-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04056-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Child cohort studies are important resources that can inform strategies to prevent adult noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Technological advances now enable direct measurement of NCD-relevant phenotypes at large scale. Across contemporary large child cohorts, we aimed to provide the first comprehensive map of NCD-relevant phenotype measurement and gaps.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We included cohorts with >8000 child participants that were recruiting in whole or part after 2010 and measuring phenotypes relevant to ten high-burden NCDs. Our database and gray literature search identified 15 cohort studies for inclusion. Details on phenotype measurement (methods, age, location) are presented in an online, searchable inventory.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All 15 cohorts measure body size or composition. Most cohorts measure aspects of cardiovascular health (n = 10) and neurocognition (n = 9). Fewer measure musculoskeletal phenotypes (n = 6), pulmonary function (n = 6), vision (n = 6) and glucose (n = 4). Only two cohorts measure hearing or kidney function.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Today's childhood cohorts are not measuring some phenotypes important to global burden of disease, notably kidney function and hearing. Given the rarity of very large contemporary child cohorts, cross-cohort coordination will be required if all major NCD precursors are to be adequately represented for future benefit.</p><p><strong>Impact: </strong>This scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of NCD-relevant phenotype measurement across large, modern child cohort studies. This review has identified measurement gaps in important areas that may obviate steps to prevent and detect NCDs with high global disease burden. Findings may inform planning of collaborative projects and future data collection to address measurement gaps for greatest future benefit.</p>","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144047633","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}
Philipp Steinbauer, Julia Kühnl, Karin Pichler, Sophie Stummer, Katrin Klebermass-Schrehof, Philipp Deindl, Claudia Lindtner, Monika Olischar, Sophia Brandstetter, Renate Fuiko, Angelika Berger, Vito Giordano
{"title":"Cognitive, motor, and behavioral outcomes in preterm infants exposed to opioids.","authors":"Philipp Steinbauer, Julia Kühnl, Karin Pichler, Sophie Stummer, Katrin Klebermass-Schrehof, Philipp Deindl, Claudia Lindtner, Monika Olischar, Sophia Brandstetter, Renate Fuiko, Angelika Berger, Vito Giordano","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-04048-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04048-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Preterm infants undergo multiple painful procedures, which may negatively affect neurodevelopment. Proper pain management, including opioid use, is essential. This study aimed to determine the impact of opioid administration in very and extremely preterm infants on cognitive, motor, and behavioral outcomes at the corrected age of 3 years.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective, single-center study included preterm infants born between 23 and 32 weeks of gestation, admitted to the Medical University of Vienna between 2011 and 2017. Follow-up data were collected at 3 years corrected age. Primary outcomes included behavioral outcomes assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and cognitive and motor outcomes using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 333 preterm infants were included, with 214 in the non-opioid group (no exposure to opioids) and 119 in the opioid-group (exposure to opioids). Significant differences in cognitive and motor scores were observed between the groups (92.5 (85.5-98.5) vs 88 (79-94) and 85 (76-96) vs 76 (67-85), both p = 0.001). Behavioral outcomes were within the normal range in both groups, although higher depressive scores were noted in the opioid group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cumulative opioid exposure in neonatal care may negatively impact cognitive and motor development but did not significantly affect overall behavioral outcomes.</p><p><strong>Impact: </strong>Our findings suggest that cumulative opioid exposure in the NICU does not significantly influence overall behavioral problems at the age of 3 years. However, it poses a risk for altered cognitive and motor development. This study highlights the distinct effects of opioid exposure on motor development and cognitive outcomes, while offering a nuanced perspective on behavioral outcomes, filling gaps in understanding the long-term neurodevelopmental consequences in preterm infants. The findings emphasize the need for careful management of opioid administration in NICU settings, balancing pain relief with potential long-term neurodevelopmental risks, while also underscoring the role of confounding factors such as IVH in shaping developmental trajectories.</p>","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144034812","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}
Pornchada Srisinghasongkram, Pon Trairatvorakul, Michael Maes, Weerasak Chonchaiya
{"title":"Early screen media multitasking associated with executive function problems in preschool-age children.","authors":"Pornchada Srisinghasongkram, Pon Trairatvorakul, Michael Maes, Weerasak Chonchaiya","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-04053-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04053-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Screen media multitasking (SMM), or using ≥2 screens simultaneously, is associated with child behavioral problems, but its effects on executive function (EF) in younger children remain unclear. This study investigated the association between SMM exposure before age 3 and EF problems in children aged 3 and 4.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Healthy children were followed from 6 months to 4 years, collecting data on SMM exposure (minutes for each visit, prolonged exposure in years, and time points from 6 months to 3 years), mother-child interaction, positive parenting, and cognitive development. EF was assessed at ages 3 and 4. Direct and indirect associations were analyzed using path modeling.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 280 participants (46.8% boys), increased SMM duration at ages 1-3 was associated with prolonged and repeated SMM exposure from 6 months to 3 years, which was correlated with EF problems and lower cognition at age 3. Positive parenting and strong mother-child interaction were associated with lower EF problems. At age 4, EF problems were associated with male sex, earlier EF problems, and lower cognition.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Greater, prolonged, and repeated SMM exposure before age 3 was associated with EF problems in preschoolers. Reducing SMM and promoting positive parenting may help prevent early EF impairments.</p><p><strong>Impact: </strong>Longer durations of screen media multitasking (SMM) in minutes at ages 1, 2, and 3 were directly associated with prolonged exposure (measured in years) and repeated exposure at multiple time points from 6 months to 3 years of age. This pattern of SMM exposure was associated with higher difficulties in executive function (EF) and lower cognitive ability in preschoolers. Reducing SMM exposure and fostering strong mother-child interactions, along with positive parenting practices, may help prevent EF impairments in early childhood.</p>","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144047528","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}
Ann-Cathrine Neukamm, Mirja Quante, Christian F Poets, Renée A Shellhaas
{"title":"The impact of sleep in high-risk infants.","authors":"Ann-Cathrine Neukamm, Mirja Quante, Christian F Poets, Renée A Shellhaas","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-04049-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04049-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Most of an infant's day is devoted to sleep - and normal sleep is vital to normal brain development. Sleep disruptions may impair overall health, well-being, and neurodevelopment. Disruptors of sleep and circadian health, such as noise, light, respiratory support, and clinical interventions, are highly prevalent in hospital and nursing care facilities. These factors particularly affect infants who already have an increased risk of sleep disorders and their consequences due to an underlying disease. Preterm infants and infants with disorders such as neonatal abstinence syndrome, craniofacial malformations, congenital heart disease, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, Chiari-malformation/myelomeningocele, congenital musculoskeletal disease, and Down syndrome are all at high risk for impaired development of sleep-wake cycling and for sleep-disordered breathing. Since abnormal sleep is a potentially treatable risk factor for impaired neurodevelopment, there is an urgent need for effective monitoring, timely interventions, and treatment strategies to improve sleep physiology and thereby optimize overall neurodevelopment in these high-risk populations. IMPACT: Healthy sleep plays a fundamental role in normal infant brain development. Many factors can disrupt sleep during a hospital stay. This is particularly important for infants who have an increased risk of sleep disorders due to neonatal disorders such as prematurity, congenital heart disease, or Chiari malformation. Sleep protective strategies are readily available and need to be systematically implemented into hospital care.</p>","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144031380","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}
Saikumar Matcha, Jaya Shree Dilli Batcha, Arun Prasath Raju, Bhim Bahadur Chaudhari, Sudheer Moorkoth, Surulivelrajan Mallayasamy, Leslie E Lewis
{"title":"Precision dosing of amikacin in term neonates using pharmacometric approach.","authors":"Saikumar Matcha, Jaya Shree Dilli Batcha, Arun Prasath Raju, Bhim Bahadur Chaudhari, Sudheer Moorkoth, Surulivelrajan Mallayasamy, Leslie E Lewis","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-04044-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41390-025-04044-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maintaining amikacin concentrations within a specific therapeutic window is crucial to avoid sub-therapeutic or toxic levels. This study aimed to design a dosing nomogram for amikacin in neonates using a Population Pharmacokinetic (PopPK) modeling approach.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PopPK model was developed using 101 amikacin concentrations from 80 neonates and validated using model diagnostics, and empirical Bayesian forecasting was performed. Pharmacokinetic profiles were simulated for virtual subjects with a range of covariates to identify suitable dosage regimens. Dosage regimens with the highest probability for the target group were selected to design the dosing nomogram.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A two-compartment PK model best described the study data. Body weight (WT), serum creatinine (SCR), and post-natal age (PNA) affected the clearance of amikacin. The model predictions are with less than 15% absolute prediction error. WT and SCR were divided into five groups each, with each group repeated for every week of PNA for four weeks for dosing nomogram development.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A PopPK model was developed and successfully-predicted concentrations in the study population. This model was used to develop a nomogram considering significant covariates like WT, SCR, and PNA. The proposed dosing nomogram can assist clinicians in developing individualized dosage regimens.</p><p><strong>Impact: </strong>Population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) models for amikacin in term neonates were developed using clinical data from an Indian clinical setting and successfully-predicted the amikacin concentrations for the study population. Pharmacokinetic simulations with virtual subjects were used to calculate the probability of target attainment for different dosing regimens. The proposed dosing nomogram can potentially assist clinicians in designing optimal amikacin dosage regimens for neonates.</p>","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143992985","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}
Mi-Yun Hsueh, Mei-Jy Jeng, Chia-Sui Chou, Chia-Wei Chang, Ciao-Ting Zou
{"title":"Prolonged early-life antibiotic exposure alters gut microbiota but does not exacerbate lung injury in a rat pup model.","authors":"Mi-Yun Hsueh, Mei-Jy Jeng, Chia-Sui Chou, Chia-Wei Chang, Ciao-Ting Zou","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-03924-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-03924-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early antibiotic exposure may disrupt gut microbiome and affect the gut-lung axis. We examined the impact of prolonged antibiotic exposure during early life on growth and subsequent acute lung injury (ALI) in a rat pup model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-four 7-day-old rat pups were divided into Control, Antibiotics (Anti), Lung injury (LI), and Antibiotics-Lung Injury (Anti-LI) groups. The Anti and Anti-LI groups received oral Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid from 7 to 40 days old, while Control and LI groups received sham water. ALI was induced in LI and Anti-LI groups with intratracheally administered lipopolysaccharide at 41 days old; all were sacrificed at 42 days old. Fecal bacterial sequencing, serum cytokine analysis, and pulmonary histological examination were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Control and LI groups showed better weight gain from day 19 compared to Anti and Anti-LI groups. Anti and Anti-ALI groups exhibited decreased fecal microbial diversity (P < 0.05) and reduced Firmicutes abundance (P < 0.05) versus Control and LI groups. No significant difference in ALI severity was found between antibiotic-treated and non-treated groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Prolonged early-life antibiotic exposure in this rat pup model significantly reduced gut microbiota diversity and exhibited a non-significant trend toward lower weight gain, without exacerbating the severity of subsequent LPS-induced ALI.</p><p><strong>Impact: </strong>Prolonged early-life antibiotic exposure decreased gut microbial diversity in rat pups. Antibiotics-exposed groups exhibited a trend of reduced weight gain compared to controls, although the difference was not statistically significant. Despite the observed alterations in the gut microbiota, there were no significant differences in the severity of subsequent acute lung injury between the groups with and without prolonged antibiotic exposure. The study findings advocate for a more judicious use of antibiotics in neonates, emphasizing that appropriate antibiotic stewardship is critical for preserving gut health and may also support growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144016927","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":"Family reflections: a legacy of hope: advancing research for osteosarcoma in memory of Zach Sobiech.","authors":"Elizabeth Allen","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-03991-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-03991-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144016412","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}
Marie Camerota, Francisco Xavier Castellanos, Brian S Carter, Jennifer Check, Jennifer Helderman, Julie A Hofheimer, Elisabeth C McGowan, Charles R Neal, Steven L Pastyrnak, Lynne M Smith, Thomas Michael O'Shea, Carmen J Marsit, Barry M Lester
{"title":"Attention problems in children born very preterm: evidence from a performance-based measure.","authors":"Marie Camerota, Francisco Xavier Castellanos, Brian S Carter, Jennifer Check, Jennifer Helderman, Julie A Hofheimer, Elisabeth C McGowan, Charles R Neal, Steven L Pastyrnak, Lynne M Smith, Thomas Michael O'Shea, Carmen J Marsit, Barry M Lester","doi":"10.1038/s41390-025-04050-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04050-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Children born very preterm (VPT) are at high risk for attention problems. This study's purpose was to describe the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) assessment in children born VPT, including rates of clinically elevated scores, change over time, and associations between K-CPT scores and parent reported attention problems.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We studied 305 children from a multi-site study of children born VPT who completed at least one K-CPT assessment at age 5, 6, and/or 7 years. Parent-reported ADHD symptoms and diagnosis were also collected. We calculated K-CPT completion rates, mean scores, and rates of clinically elevated scores at each timepoint. Linear mixed models examined change over time in K-CPT scores. Correlations and generalized linear models investigated associations between K-CPT scores and ADHD symptoms and diagnoses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>K-CPT scores showed expected age-related improvements from age 5-7, with significant intra- and inter-individual variability. Up to 1/3 of children had clinically elevated attention problems and another 1/3 had subclinical elevations. K-CPT scores were modestly correlated with parent-rated ADHD symptoms and children with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis performed worse on nearly all K-CPT metrics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Performance-based measures like the K-CPT can be useful for research and clinical practice in VPT populations.</p><p><strong>Impact: </strong>Attention problems are a specific area of weakness for children born very preterm. Performance-based tests of attention have benefits and drawbacks compared to parent report measures yet are understudied in this population. We examined one performance-based measure (the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test [K-CPT]) in 305 children born very preterm. We observed improving task scores from age 5-7 years with significant intra- and inter-individual variability, a sizable proportion of children with clinically and subclinically elevated scores, and modest associations between K-CPT scores and parent reported attention problems. The K-CPT could be a useful clinical and research tool in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":19829,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144005218","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}