{"title":"Gastrointestinal (GI)-lung-brain axis","authors":"Catalina Bazacliu, Juan Carlos Roig, Josef Neu","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The GI tract-lung-brain axis refers to the communication network linking the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, and respiratory system. This axis is particularly significant in preterm neonates because their immune and nervous systems are undergoing rapid development and thus are susceptible to various conditions influenced by GI tract and lung microbiota that are key mediators in this axis. This communication network is connected via neural, hormonal, and immunological regulatory pathways, all of which are pivotal in disease pathogenesis and health. Here we provide a brief introduction to this axis along with interactive mechanisms and perturbations that can affect this system and the roles they play in health and disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 2","pages":"Article 101639"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144004451","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":"Human milk for preterm infants","authors":"Neena Modi","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101634","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101634","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The term “human milk” conceals important differences between that from an infant's own mother and that obtained from a person or persons who have donated or sold their breast milk. These include differences in nutritional content, and a wide range of non-nutritional components that promote immune, metabolic, and brain development and have evolved over the course of time to transmit biological information from mother to infant. Human milk feeding to preterm babies also encompasses elements such as processing and storage, differences between feeding expressed breast milk versus suckling at the breast, and societal and economic considerations. Current evidence of clinical effectiveness of donated or commercial human milk, and whether macro and micronutrient supplementation are required indicates considerable uncertainty and the possibility of harm. Preterm nutrition is an emotive subject, but important evidence gaps need to be recognised, acknowledged, and addressed if the care of very preterm babies is to improve through a strong evidence-base.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 2","pages":"Article 101634"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144038246","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":"Donor human milk pasteurization methods and the effect on milk components as they relate to Necrotizing enterocolitis","authors":"Laiken Price , Kelly A. Orgel , Misty Good","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101638","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101638","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an intestinal disease that predominantly occurs in preterm infants. While there are no definitive treatment options for NEC, the administration of human milk is protective against the development of NEC in preterm infants. However, human milk composition is highly dynamic, containing numerous bioactive components that can be affected by both maternal and perinatal factors. Furthermore, when maternal milk is unavailable, donor human milk, which goes through a rigorous preparation process including pooling and pasteurization, is used. The different pasteurization methods can have implications for the bioactive components of human milk. In this review, we explore the current literature surrounding the benefits of human milk in the prevention of NEC. We further review the bioactive components and the microbiome of human milk and the many factors that affect the diversity of milk content between human milk samples. Finally, we review the different methods of pasteurization and their effects on the components of human milk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 2","pages":"Article 101638"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144043209","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}
Shipra Jain , Belal N. Alshaikh , Seham Elmrayed , Tanis R. Fenton
{"title":"Short- and longer-term growth and development of fat mass in preterm infants","authors":"Shipra Jain , Belal N. Alshaikh , Seham Elmrayed , Tanis R. Fenton","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Preterm infants typically experience faster growth rates than term-born infants, often doubling their weight in six to eight weeks. However, many face challenges leading to growth faltering and suboptimal neurodevelopment. To achieve optimal growth, these infants often require fortified breastmilk or high-nutrient formula. While meeting nutrition and growth targets are essential, concerns arise about rapid postnatal growth during their catch-up phase, particularly regarding increased body fat at term-corrected age, possibly increasing their risk for obesity and chronic health conditions later. However, evidence suggests that although preterm infants may have higher body fat at term-corrected age, this difference diminishes by three months corrected age, aligning more closely with term-born infants. Systematic reviews of more than 20,000 individuals observed that small for gestational age preterm infants do not have higher adiposity in childhood and adulthood; rather, they exhibit lower body mass indexes, waist circumferences, similar body and visceral fat and blood pressure compared to their appropriate for gestational age preterm-born peers. Therefore, it is reassuring that promoting early growth in preterm infants does not necessitate a trade-off when it comes to supporting long-term metabolic outcomes versus neurodevelopment. Healthcare providers should encourage a responsive feeding approach, even in preterm infants, guided by infants' physiological needs, hunger and satiety once they exhibit feeding cues. This approach respects the child's developmental needs and encourages healthy eating habits, fostering positive parent-child feeding relationships, and ultimately allowing the child to grow and develop to their full potential without compromising their long-term health outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 2","pages":"Article 101636"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144081477","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":"Amino acids and protein for preterm infants: How much and for what?","authors":"William W. Hay","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Protein and amino acids derived from protein digestion in the gastrointestinal tract or from intravenous infusions are fundamental for normal metabolism, growth, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the fetus and the preterm infant of the same gestational age. Many studies support that at least 3.0–3.5 g/kg/day of protein or amino acids are needed to achieve normal nitrogen/protein balance and growth rates and the large fractional increase of lean mass in later gestation, either in the fetus or the preterm infant; this relationship is direct and linear. Faster growth rates in earlier gestation require more amino acids and protein than the late preterm or term infant. Protein synthesis and accretion also require sufficient energy, but above ∼120 kcal/kg/day, energy is largely diverted to fat production but not lean mass growth. Optimal IV amino acid solutions remain to be developed, and mature maternal milk and donor human milk require protein supplements to achieve appropriate protein balance and growth. Additional supplements of growth factors might augment increased protein intakes and fortifiers. While excess amino acid and/or protein intakes do not promote growth or development and might even be harmful, providing less than the amounts required guarantees poorer outcomes and should be avoided.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 2","pages":"Article 101633"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144064999","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":"Exclusive enteral nutrition in preterm infants: How early is too early?","authors":"Ariel A. Salas , Shalini Ojha","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101631","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101631","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the growing availability of maternal and donor milk, neonatal feeding practices are undergoing significant transformation. Increasingly, neonatal units are prioritizing exclusive enteral nutrition soon after birth, a shift that represents a substantial advance in neonatal care. However, critical questions remain regarding the implementation, safety, and long-term outcomes of this approach. This review consolidates the evidence supporting early and exclusive enteral nutrition, exploring its potential to redefine neonatal care practices, particularly in high-resource settings. By examining challenges such as variability in practices, resource constraints, and clinical decision-making during acute illness, this discussion aims to provide a roadmap for integrating these practices into routine care and advancing outcomes for preterm and vulnerable infants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 2","pages":"Article 101631"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144059076","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}
Nicholas D. Embleton , Chris H.P. van den Akker , Mark Johnson
{"title":"Parenteral nutrition for preterm infants: benefits and risks in 2025","authors":"Nicholas D. Embleton , Chris H.P. van den Akker , Mark Johnson","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parenteral nutrition (PN) has been a key component of neonatal care for preterm infants since the 1980's and provides macronutrients for growth, along with electrolytes, minerals, vitamins and trace elements. In this article we consider common issues with routine provision to very preterm infants including estimation of nutrient requirements, optimal starting doses of PN, rates of increase and maximum intakes. We consider monitoring strategies and outline common complications which may be serious and fatal. Finally, we consider risk-benefit ratios in different populations of preterm infants, and outline some of the major uncertainties in current practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 2","pages":"Article 101635"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144002872","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 value of thromboelastography to neonatology","authors":"Francesca Manzoni , Ludovica Raymo , Vittoria Carolina Bronzoni , Andrea Tomaselli , Stefano Ghirardello , Monica Fumagalli , Giacomo Cavallaro , Genny Raffaeli","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101610","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101610","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hemostatic derangements are common in critically ill and premature neonates. Nevertheless, hemostasis assessment in neonates is still challenging. The hemostatic system undergoes age-related physiological changes during its maturation and exhibits quantitative and qualitative differences between infants and adults. Conventional coagulation tests are mainly responsive to procoagulant factors, regardless of the contribution of cellular elements, anticoagulants and fibrinolytic contributors and, therefore, their role in predicting bleeding in neonatal acquired coagulopathy is somewhat limited. Viscoelastic coagulation tests offer a promising alternative, enabling a bedside and real-time assessment of the entire hemostatic process in short turn-around times with a limited amount of blood. These tests allow a targeted hemostatic monitoring and a tailored management of blood products and anticoagulation. The routine use of VCTs in the NICU remains limited, especially for premature infants, due to the lack of established normative ranges. In this review we will provide an overview of the main evidence related to the clinical application of viscoelastic monitoring in the neonatal setting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 1","pages":"Article 101610"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143532056","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":"A practical review of iron deficiency in pregnancy","authors":"Kimberly A. Moyle","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Iron deficiency is a highly prevalent nutritional deficiency and the most common cause of anemia worldwide. Pregnant individuals are particularly susceptible due to increased demands to support expanding maternal blood volume and fetal growth. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are associated with maternal and neonatal morbidity, including preterm birth, preeclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and low birth weight. Iron is essential to support the rapidly growing fetal brain. Maternal iron deficiency is linked to cognitive delays, motor impairment, and neuropsychiatric disease in the offspring with effects lasting beyond childhood. Despite its high prevalence and profound clinical implications, it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in pregnancy. This is potentiated by a lack of consensus regarding laboratory diagnosis and recommendations for screening and treatment. Here, we review the physiology, clinical implications, diagnosis, and treatment of iron deficiency in pregnancy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 1","pages":"Article 101611"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143617821","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":"Health and societal infant mortality burden of neonatal hemolytic disorders","authors":"Ramesh Vidavalur , Vinod K. Bhutani","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101620","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101620","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hemolytic disorders in neonates, once exceedingly common causes of infant mortality, have become increasingly rare and now largely non-fatal. Global advancements in neonatal care and deeper understanding of the mechanisms of neonatal hemolysis have significantly improved survival outcomes, particularly among those in high-income countries. However, regional disparities persist due to non-equitable healthcare access. Their long-lasting health consequences have been attributed to social, demographic factors that are most likely amenable to healthcare governance. In this review, we focus our attention to neonatal hemolytic disorders to i) analyze data resourced from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 report; ii) study the trends in infant mortality rates (IMR) as related to hemolytic disorders including its severe complication, extreme hyperbilirubinemia (EHB-IMR); iii) evaluate geospatial disparities among GBD super regions; and iv) examine these trends in relation to the socio-demographic index (SDI) of the countries that comprise the “super-regions”. From 1991 to 2021, global EHB-related IMR has declined significantly, from 73 to 25 per 100,000 live births. By 2021, EHB and kernicterus accounted for only 0.7 % of all under-five deaths. High-income countries have dramatically minimized hemolytic disease fatalities, but matched progress eludes regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The inverse relationship between SDI and EHB-IMR highlight these national disparities to manifest as slower decline in IMR. In order to achieve equitable healthcare access for all regions, an improved understanding of the societal risk factors would guide re-engineering solutions that are also empowered by audited resource utilization to evaluate remedial governance policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 1","pages":"Article 101620"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143568679","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}