Clinical Research Progress of Abnormal Newborn and Infant Weight

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Neonatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2022) | Viewed by 9102

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
Interests: nutrition; diet; risk assessment; weight problems in lifespan; BMI

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Abnormal weight in newborns not only has important consequences during the following neonatal period but can also have a short- and long-term impact on the development of the infant. Intrauterine growth is mainly determined by genetic load. However, newborn weight can also be affected by the health status of the mother, pregnancy progression, and other environmental factors. Being small for gestational age (SGA) is associated with increased neonatal mortality and a greater risk of experiencing health problems (hypoglycaemia, hypothermia, asphyxiation, or immaturity). Further, another aspect, the increasing prevalence of macrosomia (large for gestational age (LGA), foetal overgrowth) seen in recent decades, exposes newborns to a higher risk of suffering respiratory and metabolic problems.

Even though SGA and LGA are not necessarily implicated in pathologies, their prevention is necessary in order to reduce the risk to which newborns and infants are exposed. In light of the aforementioned, the aim of this Special Issue in Children is to present advances in clinical research related to abnormal newborn weight. Reviews and original research studies are welcomed that consider novel approaches and identify gaps in our knowledge. Submissions are also encouraged that explore diagnostic approaches to the identification of affected foetuses and analyse the intrinsic and/or environmental risk factors involved with a view to preventing the emergence of this issue in newborns.

Dr. Celia Monteagudo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • abnormal newborn weight
  • fetal growth restriction
  • small for gestational age
  • low birth weight
  • large for gestational age
  • fetal overgrowth
  • macrosomia
  • pregnancy
  • newborn
  • weight
  • health

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

7 pages, 264 KiB  
Communication
Association between Maternal Factors, Preterm Birth, and Low Birth Weight of Chilean Singletons
by Alejandra Rodríguez-Fernández, Marcela Ruíz-De la Fuente, Ximena Sanhueza-Riquelme, Julio Parra-Flores, María Dolores Marrodán and Eduard Maury-Sintjago
Children 2022, 9(7), 967; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children9070967 - 28 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1271
Abstract
There has been an increase in preterm (PT) births in Western countries in recent years, which is associated with low-birthweight (LBW) children. The aim of this study was to determine the association between maternal factors and PT and LBW Chilean newborns. Methods: This [...] Read more.
There has been an increase in preterm (PT) births in Western countries in recent years, which is associated with low-birthweight (LBW) children. The aim of this study was to determine the association between maternal factors and PT and LBW Chilean newborns. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study of a national sample of 903,847 newborns and their mothers. The newborn gestational age, birth weight, maternal age, marital status, education, employment situation, and residence were analyzed. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied (α = 0.05) (STATA v.15). The prevalence was 6.8% and 5.0% for PT and LBW, respectively. The probability of the newborns being PT and LBW was 1.18 and 1.22 times if their mothers had <12 years of education and 1.38 and 1.29 times if the mothers were ≥35 years old, respectively. Mothers with <12 years education and ≥35 years were risk factors for PT and LBW newborns. Maternal educational attainment was a protective factor for the Chilean newborns, and a maternal age ≥35 years was a risk factor for PT and LBW. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Research Progress of Abnormal Newborn and Infant Weight)
8 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Association of Parental Factors and Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 Polymorphism with Intrauterine Growth Restriction
by Monica G. Hăşmăşanu, Sorana D. Bolboacă, Lucia Maria Procopciuc, Melinda Matyas, Ligia Blaga, Daniel Mureșan and Gabriela C. Zaharie
Children 2022, 9(5), 630; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children9050630 - 28 Apr 2022
Viewed by 1361
Abstract
Polymorphism of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is known to play a role in cell development. Only the paternal IGF2 copy is active, while the copy inherited from the mother is inactive. This study aimed to explore whether maternal and paternal factors influence [...] Read more.
Polymorphism of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is known to play a role in cell development. Only the paternal IGF2 copy is active, while the copy inherited from the mother is inactive. This study aimed to explore whether maternal and paternal factors influence IGF2 polymorphism in newborns with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) compared to appropriate for gestational age (AGA). A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted from June 2014 to November 2015 at the Neonatology, Gynecology 1 Clinic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The ApaI IGF2 genotypes and allele frequencies were similar in the IUGR and AGA groups (p-value > 0.10). The IUGR babies with a protective IGF2 genetic profile had significantly younger parents (a difference in the median age of 8 years for mothers and 9 years for fathers; p-value < 0.009). The IUGR babies had parents with lower birth weights than AGA babies (mothers’ medians: 2800 g vs. 3100 g; fathers’ medians: 3000 g vs. 3400 g; p-value < 0.02). In univariable regression analysis, the mother’s and father’s birth weight proved to be associated with IUGR. The father’s birth weight proved to be the only factor significantly associated with IUGR, independent of the mother’s birth weight or the presence of a protective IGF2 genetic profile (odd ratio = 0.998 [0.996 to 1.000], p-value = 0.032). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Research Progress of Abnormal Newborn and Infant Weight)
14 pages, 853 KiB  
Article
Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on the Fetal Growth Rate in Pregnancy Complicated by Fetal Growth Restriction
by Karolina Jakubiec-Wisniewska, Hubert Huras and Magdalena Kolak
Children 2022, 9(4), 549; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children9040549 - 12 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1800
Abstract
Background: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) increases the risk of intrauterine fetal death, infant death and complications in childhood, and diseases that appear in adulthood. Vitamin D may affect fetal vascular flow. The aim of the study was to check if the rate of [...] Read more.
Background: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) increases the risk of intrauterine fetal death, infant death and complications in childhood, and diseases that appear in adulthood. Vitamin D may affect fetal vascular flow. The aim of the study was to check if the rate of fetal growth in pregnant women with FGR differs depending on whether the patient was supplemented with vitamin D in the recommended dose of 2000 IU, not supplemented at all, or supplemented with vitamin D in low doses. Methods: Patients were divided into two groups: suboptimal vitamin D dosage and an accurate dosage of 2000 IU. Fetal growth progress was observed for 14 days. Results: Fetal weight was higher at the beginning, after 1 and 2 weeks of observation in the optimal vit. D group compared with the suboptimal group. The analysis was adjusted to the mother’s age, gestational week, and the number of pregnancies. Conclusions: Greater fetal weight gain can be observed in women with FGR (fetal growth restriction) who intake vitamin D at the recommended dose of 2000 IU compared with women with FGR and with a vitamin D intake dosage lower than 500 IU. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Research Progress of Abnormal Newborn and Infant Weight)
Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1844 KiB  
Article
Influence of Maternal Region of Birth on Placental Pathology of Babies Born Small
by Mindi Fernando, Nalin Choudhary, Beena Kumar, Natasha Juchkov, Kathryn Shearer, Stacey J. Ellery, Miranda Davies-Tuck and Atul Malhotra
Children 2022, 9(3), 388; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children9030388 - 10 Mar 2022
Viewed by 1800
Abstract
Background: Placental pathology is a common antecedent factor in infants born small for gestational age. Maternal region of birth can influence rates of SGA. Aims: To determine the association of maternal region of birth on placental pathology in babies that are born small, [...] Read more.
Background: Placental pathology is a common antecedent factor in infants born small for gestational age. Maternal region of birth can influence rates of SGA. Aims: To determine the association of maternal region of birth on placental pathology in babies that are born small, comparing a South Asian born population with Australia and New Zealand born women. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Monash Health, the largest public health service in Victoria. Mother-baby pairs above 34 weeks’ gestation and birth weight less than 10th centile born in 2016 were included. Placental pathology reports and medical records were reviewed. Statistical analyses of placental and selected neonatal outcomes data were performed. Results: Three hundred and eleven small for gestational age babies were included in this study, of which 171 were born to South Asian mothers and 140 to Australian and New Zealand mothers. There were no significant differences in gestational age at birth between the groups (38.7 (1.6) vs. 38.3 (1.7) weeks, p = 0.06). Placental pathology (macroscopic and microscopic) data comparisons showed no significant differences between the two groups (81% major abnormality in both groups). This was despite South Asian small for gestational age babies being less likely to require admission to a special care nursery or neonatal intensive care unit (35 vs. 41%, p = 0.05), or have a major congenital abnormality (2.3 vs. 4.3%, p = 0.04). Conclusion: In this observational study, maternal region of birth did not have an influence on placental pathology of babies born small, despite some differences in neonatal outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Research Progress of Abnormal Newborn and Infant Weight)
Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1130 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Timing of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis on Weight Velocity in Infants Affected by Severe Robin Sequence
by Zhe Mao, Ricardo Battaglino, Jiawei Zhou, Yingqiu Cui, Mayank Shrivastava, Gabriel Tian, Faezeh Sahebdel and Liang Ye
Children 2022, 9(3), 319; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children9030319 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2109
Abstract
Background: Impaired weight gain is prevalent in Robin Sequence (RS) newborns. Although mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) has been proven to improve oral feeding, its impact on postoperative weight gain remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore whether MDO can help [...] Read more.
Background: Impaired weight gain is prevalent in Robin Sequence (RS) newborns. Although mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) has been proven to improve oral feeding, its impact on postoperative weight gain remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore whether MDO can help RS babies reach a normal weight, as well as the effect of MDO timing on weight velocity. Methods: One hundred infants with severe RS and one hundred with normal controls met the inclusion criteria for the study. Included patients underwent MDO. Weights at different timing points were recorded and analyzed and compared to normal controls. Results: After the distractor removal weights of patients undergoing MDO at <1 month and 1–2 months were close to the normal control (6.81 ± 0.93 kg versus 7.18 ± 0.61 kg, p = 0.012, and 6.82 ± 0.98 kg versus 7.37 ± 0.75 kg, p = 0.033, respectively), the weights of patients undergoing MDO at 2–3 months and 3–4 months still lagged behind (7.56 ± 1.29 kg versus 8.20 ± 0.61 kg, p = 0.000206 and 7.36 ± 1.05 kg versus 8.25 ± 0.77 kg, p = 0.004, respectively). The weights of all RS infants undergoing MDO showed no significant difference compared to the controls when they aged to 1 year (9.34 ± 0.99 kg versus 9.55 ± 0.45 kg, p = 0.254 for MDO at <1 month; 9.12 ± 0.91 kg versus 9.33 ± 0.46 kg, p = 0.100 for MDO at 1 to 2 months; 9.38 ± 0.29 kg versus 9.83 ± 0.53 kg, p = 0.098 for MDO at 2 to 3 months; and 9.38 ± 0.29 kg versus 9.83 ± 0.53 kg, p = 0.098 for MDO at 3 to 4 months). Conclusion: The MDO procedure helped patients with severe RS to reach a normal weight; and MDO intervention was recommended at an early stage for early weight gain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Research Progress of Abnormal Newborn and Infant Weight)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop