PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the regulatory T cells in cord blood of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates with those of small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Umbilical cord blood was collected upon labor in 108 healthy full-term (between 37 and 41 gestational weeks) neonates, who were born between November 2010 and April 2012. Among them, 77 samples were obtained from AGA neonates, and 31 samples were obtained from SGA neonates. Regulatory T cells and lymphocyte subsets were determined using a flow cytometer. Student's t-test for independent samples was used to compare differences between AGA and SGA neonates. RESULTS: Regulatory T cells in cord blood were increased in the SGA group compared with normal controls (p=0.041). However, cytotoxic T cells in cord blood were significantly decreased in the SGA group compared with normal controls (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to compare the distribution of lymphocyte subsets including regulatory T cells in cord blood between AGA neonates and SGA neonates.
Biological Markers/metabolism ; Female ; Fetal Blood/*immunology ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn/*blood ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age/*blood ; Lymphocyte Count ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study serum gastrin levels in response to early minimal feeding in premature infants and evaluate the clinical effect of early minimal feeding.

METHODSPremature infants with critical score < or = 90 were randomly assigned into two groups: early minimal feeding group (n = 48), non-early minimal feeding group (n = 47). Other premature infants (n = 30) without any complications (critical score > 90) were assigned as normal control group. The premature infants in normal control group were fed with water at 6 h after birth, 1 - 2 ml/kg every time, after once or twice, they were fed with formula, increasing in the amount of formula gradually, until adequate. The premature infants in early minimal feeding group were fed with formula within 72 h after birth, 0.5 - 1 ml/kg, once every 3 h, the amount of formula was increased gradually, until adequate. The premature infants without early minimal feeding were not fed with formula until the illness was stable, the amount of formula was increased gradually until adequate. Situation of gastrointestinal feeding tolerance, growth and development, and clinical symptoms were observed and recorded for the three groups. Serum gastrin levels were monitored at 1, 3, 7 day after birth by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSSerum gastrin concentrations in the three groups elevated from 1 to 7 days. In early minimal feeding group [(82.4 +/- 24.5) ng/L] and non-early minimal feeding group [(87.0 +/- 40.2) ng/L], the concentrations were significantly higher than those in normal control group [(66.4 +/- 19.7) ng/L] at day 1 (F = 3.36, P < 0.05). At day 3 and 7, the concentrations in early minimal feeding group [(96.3 +/- 14.6) ng/L, (113.0 +/- 16.5) ng/L] were significantly higher than those in non-early minimal feeding group [(73.9 +/- 13.5) ng/L, (92.4 +/- 12.2) ng/L] (P < 0.05). There were significant differences among the three groups in infants with feeding intolerance (2/30, 5/48, 14/47), the period reached full enteral feeding [(20.6 +/- 5.7) d, (27.8 +/- 6.1) d, (39.5 +/- 4.7) d], and in number of hospital day [(29.0 +/- 4.6) d, (39.0 +/- 4.8) d, (48.0 +/- 5.6) d] (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between early minimal feeding group and non-early minimal feeding group in the weight gain three and four weeks after birth [(19.1 +/- 2.4) g/d, (11.9 +/- 3.3) g/d], the period reached birthweight [(19.8 +/- 4.2) d, (25.2 +/- 5.1) d] (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference among the three groups in the weight gain in one and two weeks after birth [(5.9 +/- 2.9) g/d vs. (5.0 +/- 2.1) g/d], the numbers of premature infants with infection, anemia, apnea, or hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONEarly minimal feeding in premature infants leads to secretion of gastrin, promotes the development of gastrointestine and may not be associated with occurrence of complications.

Birth Weight ; Enteral Nutrition ; methods ; Female ; Gastrins ; blood ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; growth & development ; Humans ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; blood ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Male

Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Feeding ; Diabetes Mellitus ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Insulin Resistance ; Pregnancy ; blood

OBJECTIVESTo investigate whether the association between low birth weight and increased risk of developing premature adrenarche, adrenal hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance is apparent in prepubertal girls born small for gestational age (SGA) and analyze when adrenarche occurs in SGA infants and normal birth weight girls.

METHODSThe study was performed in 39 prepubertal SGA girls with a mean age of 7.4 +/- 1.7 years and 42 prepubertal appropriate for gestational age (AGA) girls with a mean age of 7.4 +/- 1.7 years served as controls. All children were born at term and were prepubertal. Detailed physical examination was performed for all the children after 12 h of overnight fasting. Blood samples were taken for the measurement of fasting glucose (FPG), insulin (FIns), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), cortisol and estradiol concentrations. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by insulin sensitivity index [IAI = log(e) (FPG x FIns)].

RESULTThere was no premature adrenarche in SGA and AGA groups. Birth weight was significantly lower in SGA group (P < 0.001). Gestational age was similar in both groups. At the time of the study, the ages, body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, cortisol and estradiol did not significantly differ between the two groups. But body height and weight were significantly lower in the SGA group (P < 0.05 for both). The fasting plasma insulin in the SGA group was higher than that in AGA group (common logarithmic transformation: 1.076 +/- 0.041 vs. 1.050 +/- 0.051, P < 0.05). The insulin sensitivity index was not significantly different between the two groups (-4.0165 +/- 0.1761 vs. -3.9768 +/- 0.2314). The serum DHEAS was significantly higher in SGA children than in AGA children (common logarithmic transformation: 2.637 +/- 0.271 vs. 2.514 +/- 0.250, P < 0.05). From about age 7 the concentration of DHEAS had a gradual rise in AGA children. The time of DHEAS rise tended to be earlier in SGA children compared with AGA children.

CONCLUSIONSAdrenarche commences at approximately 7 years of age in AGA girls. The time of adrenarche tended to be earlier in SGA girls compared with AGA girls. There were adrenal hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinism in prepubertal girls born small for gestational age. But there was no insulin resistance as assessed by insulin sensitivity index.

Body Size ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Puberty ; physiology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the renal function of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants at the early stage after birth.

METHODSA total of 40 preterm SGA infants, 33 full-term SGA infants, 80 preterm appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants, and 33 full-term AGA infants were included in this study. The following indices were compared between the SGA infants and AGA infants within 48 hours after admission: blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood pressure, urine volume per body weight, and proteinuria.

RESULTSThe preterm SGA group had a significantly lower BUN level than the preterm AGA group (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in SCr level, eGFR, and blood pressure between the two groups (P>0.05). The full-term SGA group had a significantly higher SCr level and a significantly lower eGFR than the full-term AGA group (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in BUN level and blood pressure between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in urine volume per body weight between the preterm SGA and preterm AGA groups (P>0.05) and between the full-term SGA and full-term AGA groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of proteinuria between the preterm SGA and preterm AGA groups (P>0.05). Proteinuria was not present in the SGA full-term and AGA full-term groups.

CONCLUSIONSSCr and eGFR can be used as the diagnostic indices for early renal damage of SGA infants. The renal function is worse in full-term SGA infants than in full-term AGA infants.

Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; physiopathology ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; physiology ; Kidney ; physiology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo understand the association between the blood glucose levels of pregnant women in second trimester detected by 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the birth weight of neonates.

METHODSDemographic information collection and OGTT were conducted for 3 081 pregnant women at ≤14 gestational weeks and 24-28 gestational weeks respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done to identify the factors associated with the birth weight and the risks of large for gestational age (LGA) in three levels (FPG, OGTT-1 h and OGTT-2 h) of OGTT percentile group, multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between maternal glucose levels and neonate birth weight.

RESULTSPre-pregnancy obesity (24.0 kg/m2≤BMI<28.0 kg/m2) (OR=1.4, 95%CI:1.0-2.0, P=0.029) and gestational diabetes mellitus (OR=2.4,95% CI: 1.8-3.2, P<0.001) were the risk factors. Pre-pregnancy underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m2) (OR=1.6, 95%CI: 1.2-2.2, P=0.003), preeclampsia (OR=4.0, 95%CI: 1.9-8.4, P<0.001) increased the risk for small for gestational age (SGA). Multiple linear regression analysis showed neonate birth weight was positive correlated with maternal glucose levels (β were 91.99, 33.60, 32.00, respectively, P<0.001). Percentile groups of each OGTT level was linearly positive associated with increased mean value of neonate birth weight, and so with the risk of LGA.

CONCLUSIONSThere were positive correlations between maternal glucose levels and neonate birth weight. The risk of LGA increased with the maternal glucose levels, but there was no statistical association between SGA and maternal glucose levels. FPG level is one of the predictors of LGA. Active surveillance and control of maternal glucose level can effectively reduce the risk of LGA.

Birth Weight ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Logistic Models ; Obesity ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; blood ; Risk Factors ; Thinness

PURPOSE: We hypothesized that parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC) would be more severe in small for gestational age (SGA) compared with appropriate for gestational age (AGA) very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one VLBW infants were diagnosed as PNAC with exposure to parenteral nutrition with elevation of direct bilirubin > or =2 mg/dL for > or =14 days. Twenty-one SGA infants and 40 AGA infants matched for gestation were compared. RESULTS: Compared with AGA infants, PNAC in SGA infants was diagnosed earlier (25+/-7 days vs. 35+/-14 days, p=0.002) and persisted longer (62+/-36 days vs. 46+/-27 days, p=0.048). Severe PNAC, defined as persistent elevation of direct bilirubin > or =4 mg/dL for more than 1 month with elevation of liver enzymes, was more frequent in SGA than in AGA infants (61% vs. 35%, p=0.018). The serum total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels during the 13 weeks of life were significantly different in SGA compared with AGA infants. SGA infants had more frequent (76% vs. 50%, p=0.046), and persistent elevation of alanine aminotransferase. CONCLUSION: The clinical course of PNAC is more persistent and severe in SGA infants. Careful monitoring and treatment are required for SGA infants.
Bilirubin/blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholestasis/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature, Diseases/epidemiology/etiology ; *Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Liver/metabolism/physiopathology ; Male ; Parenteral Nutrition/*adverse effects

PURPOSE: To evaluate the merit of umbilical artery Doppler study as a predictive marker of perinatal outcome in preterm small for gestational age (SGA) infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 218 patients at 27 - 36 weeks of gestational age (GA) who received antenatal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry and delivered singleton infants with SGA. The ratio of peak-systolic to end-diastolic blood flow velocities (S/D) in the umbilical artery was measured in each patient. The patients were divided into 3 groups: the normal group with S/D ratios of less than 95th percentile (n = 134), elevated S/D ratio group of 95th or more percentile (n = 41), and those with absent/reversed end diastolic flow (n = 43). Maternal characteristics and neonatal outcomes of these groups were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS: The gestational age (GA) at the time of diagnosis of SGA, the mean GA at delivery, and the mean birth weight showed statistically significant difference among three groups (p < 0.001). Also, poor perinatal outcome was significantly increased in infants with abnormal S/D ratio (13.4% vs. 31.7% vs. 67.4%, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed umbilical artery Doppler study as a significant independent factor for prediction of poor perinatal outcome (odds ratio: 3.7, 95% confidence interval 1.4 - 9.5, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Antenatal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry is shown as a significantly efficient marker in predicting perinatal outcome in preterm SGA infants.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; *Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Multivariate Analysis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pregnancy ; *Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Doppler/*methods ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal/*methods ; Umbilical Arteries/*ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of different doses of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in the treatment of short stature in children born small for gestational age (SGA).

METHODSA total of 37 children with short stature born SGA were enrolled, and based on the dose of rhGH treatment, they were divided into low-dose rhGH group (0.1-0.15 IU/kg daily) and high-dose rhGH group (0.16-0.2 IU/kg daily). The changes in height standard deviation score (ΔHtSDS), height velocity (HV), serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and fasting blood glucose at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months after treatment were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSΔHtSDS and HV both increased after the treatment with high- and low-dose rhGH, but ΔHtSDS and HV in the high-dose rhGH group were significantly higher than in the low-dose rhGH group 9, 12 and 24 months after treatment (P<0.05). Both high- and low-dose rhGH treatment increased serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. Serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were positively correlated with HtSDS in both groups. One child each in the high- and low-dose rhGH groups experienced transient slight increase in fasting blood glucose (6.1 mmol/L). There were no cases of abnormal thyroid function.

CONCLUSIONSrhGH has good efficacy in the treatment of short stature in children born SGA, with few adverse events, and high-dose rhGH has some advantages over low-dose rhGH.

Body Height ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; blood ; drug therapy ; Human Growth Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use