Neonatal Seizure Management – Is the Timing of Treatment Critical?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the time to treatment of the first electrographic seizure on subsequent seizure burden; secondary aim was to describe overall seizure management in a large neonatal cohort. STUDY DESIGN: Newborns (36-44 weeks' gestation) requiring electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring recruited to two multicentre European studies were included. Infants who received anti-seizure medication exclusively after electrographic seizure onset, were grouped based on time to treatment of the first seizure: ASM within 1-hour, ASM between 1-2 hours and ASM after 2-hours. Outcomes measured were seizure burden, maximum seizure burden, status epilepticus, number of seizures and ASM dose over 24-hours following seizure onset. RESULTS: Out of 472 newborns recruited, 154(32.6%) infants had confirmed electrographic seizures. Sixty-nine infants were exclusively treated after onset of electrographic seizures: 21 infants received ASM within 1 hour, 15 infants between 1-2 hours and 33 infants after 2 hours of seizure onset. Significantly lower seizure burden and less seizures were noted in infants treated with ASM within 1 hour from seizure onset (p value=0.029 and 0.035, respectively). Overall, 258/472(54.7%) infants received ASM throughout the study period, of which 40 infants without electrographic seizures had treatment during EEG monitoring and 11 infants with electrographic seizures had no treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment of neonatal seizures may be time-critical, but more research is required to confirm this. We also need to improve neonatal seizure diagnosis and treatment

Effects of gestational age at birth on cognitive performance : a function of cognitive workload demands

Objective: Cognitive deficits have been inconsistently described for late or moderately preterm children but are consistently found in very preterm children. This study investigates the association between cognitive workload demands of tasks and cognitive performance in relation to gestational age at birth. Methods: Data were collected as part of a prospective geographically defined whole-population study of neonatal at-risk children in Southern Bavaria. At 8;5 years, n = 1326 children (gestation range: 23–41 weeks) were assessed with the K-ABC and a Mathematics Test. Results: Cognitive scores of preterm children decreased as cognitive workload demands of tasks increased. The relationship between gestation and task workload was curvilinear and more pronounced the higher the cognitive workload: GA2 (quadratic term) on low cognitive workload: R2 = .02, p<0.001; moderate cognitive workload: R2 = .09, p<0.001; and high cognitive workload tasks: R2 = .14, p<0.001. Specifically, disproportionally lower scores were found for very (<32 weeks gestation) and moderately (32–33 weeks gestation) preterm children the higher the cognitive workload of the tasks. Early biological factors such as gestation and neonatal complications explained more of the variance in high (12.5%) compared with moderate (8.1%) and low cognitive workload tasks (1.7%). Conclusions: The cognitive workload model may help to explain variations of findings on the relationship of gestational age with cognitive performance in the literature. The findings have implications for routine cognitive follow-up, educational intervention, and basic research into neuro-plasticity and brain reorganization after preterm birth

Global and Regional Differences in Brain Anatomy of Young Children Born Small for Gestational Age

In children who are born small for gestational age (SGA), an adverse intrauterine environment has led to underdevelopment of both the body and the brain. The delay in body growth is (partially) restored during the first two years in a majority of these children. In addition to a negative influence on these physical parameters, decreased levels of intelligence and cognitive impairments have been described in children born SGA. In this study, we used magnetic resonance imaging to examine brain anatomy in 4- to 7-year-old SGA children with and without complete bodily catch-up growth and compared them to healthy children born appropriate for gestational age. Our findings demonstrate that these children strongly differ on brain organisation when compared with healthy controls relating to both global and regional anatomical differences. Children born SGA displayed reduced cerebral and cerebellar grey and white matter volumes, smaller volumes of subcortical structures and reduced cortical surface area. Regional differences in prefrontal cortical thickness suggest a different development of the cerebral cortex. SGA children with bodily catch-up growth constitute an intermediate between those children without catch-up growth and healthy controls. Therefore, bodily catch-up growth in children born SGA does not implicate full catch-up growth of the brain

Accurate Learning with Few Atlases (ALFA): an algorithm for MRI neonatal brain extraction and comparison with 11 publicly available methods

Accurate whole-brain segmentation, or brain extraction, of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a critical first step in most neuroimage analysis pipelines. The majority of brain extraction algorithms have been developed and evaluated for adult data and their validity for neonatal brain extraction, which presents age-specific challenges for this task, has not been established. We developed a novel method for brain extraction of multi-modal neonatal brain MR images, named ALFA (Accurate Learning with Few Atlases). The method uses a new sparsity-based atlas selection strategy that requires a very limited number of atlases ‘uniformly’ distributed in the low-dimensional data space, combined with a machine learning based label fusion technique. The performance of the method for brain extraction from multi-modal data of 50 newborns is evaluated and compared with results obtained using eleven publicly available brain extraction methods. ALFA outperformed the eleven compared methods providing robust and accurate brain extraction results across different modalities. As ALFA can learn from partially labelled datasets, it can be used to segment large-scale datasets efficiently. ALFA could also be applied to other imaging modalities and other stages across the life course

Epigenomic profiling of preterm infants reveals DNA methylation differences at sites associated with neural function

DNA methylation (DNAm) plays a determining role in neural cell fate and provides a molecular link between early-life stress and neuropsychiatric disease. Preterm birth is a profound environmental stressor that is closely associated with alterations in connectivity of neural systems and long-term neuropsychiatric impairment. The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between preterm birth and DNAm, and to investigate factors that contribute to variance in DNAm. DNA was collected from preterm infants (birth<33 weeks gestation) and healthy controls (birth>37 weeks), and a genome-wide analysis of DNAm was performed; diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) data were acquired from the preterm group. The major fasciculi were segmented, and fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity and tract shape were calculated. Principal components (PC) analysis was used to investigate the contribution of MRI features and clinical variables to variance in DNAm. Differential methylation was found within 25 gene bodies and 58 promoters of protein-coding genes in preterm infants compared with controls; 10 of these have neural functions. Differences detected in the array were validated with pyrosequencing. Ninety-five percent of the variance in DNAm in preterm infants was explained by 23 PCs; corticospinal tract shape associated with 6th PC, and gender and early nutritional exposure associated with the 7th PC. Preterm birth is associated with alterations in the methylome at sites that influence neural development and function. Differential methylation analysis has identified several promising candidate genes for understanding the genetic/epigenetic basis of preterm brain injury

EEG discontinuity predicts cerebral tissue injury and adverse neurodevelopment in cooled newborns

<p><strong>Selected Abstracts of the 1st Congress of joint European Neonatal Societies (jENS 2015); Budapest (Hungary); September 16-20, 2015<br /></strong></p><p>ORGANIZING INSTITUTIONS<br />European Society for Neonatology (ESN), European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR), Union of European Neonatal &amp; Perinatal Societies (UENPS), European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI), with the local host of Hungarian Society of Perinatology and Obstetric Anesthesiology, Hungarian Society of Perinatology (MPT), supported by Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN), organizing secretariat MCA Scientific Events</p><p>PROGRAMME COMMITTEE<br />Artúr Beke (Hungarian Society), Morten Breindahl (ESN), Giuseppe Buonocore (UENPS), Pierre Gressens (ESPR), Silke Mader (EFCNI), Manuel Sánchez Luna (UENPS), Miklós Szabó (Hungarian Society of Perinatology), Luc Zimmermann (ESPR)</p><p> </p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Session “Brain &amp; Development”</strong></span></p><p>ABS 1. SEPARATE EFFECTS OF LOW PATERNAL AND MATERNAL EDUCATIONAL LEVEL ON RISK OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY IN 4-YEAR-OLD BOYS AND GIRLS • S. de Jong, M.R. Potijk, A.E. den Heijer, S.A. Reijneveld, A.F. Bos, J.M. Kerstjens</p><p>ABS 2. THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PATERNAL EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY IN PRETERM AND TERM-BORN CHILDREN AT AGE 4 • S. de Jong, J.M. Kerstjens, A.E. den Heijer, A.F. Bos, S.A. Reijneveld, M.R. Potijk</p><p>ABS 3. NEUROPROTECTION BY NEURONAL OVEREXPRESSION OF THE SMALL GTPase-Ras IN HYPEROXIA-INDUCED NEONATAL BRAIN INJURY • M. Serdar, K. Kempe, J. Herz, R. Herrmann, B.S. Reinboth, R. Heumann, A. Ehrkamp, U. Felderhoff-Mueser, I. Bendix</p><p>ABS 4. REFERENCE RANGES FOR CEREBRAL TISSUE OXYGEN INDEX (cTOI) IN NEONATES DURING IMMEDIATE NEONATAL TRANSITION AFTER BIRTH • N. Baik, B. Urlesberger, B. Schwaberger, G. Schmölzer, A. Avian, L. Mileder, G. Pichler</p><p>ABS 4. REFERENCE RANGES FOR CEREBRAL TISSUE OXYGEN INDEX (cTOI) IN NEONATES DURING IMMEDIATE NEONATAL TRANSITION AFTER BIRTH • N. Baik, B. Urlesberger, B. Schwaberger, G. Schmölzer, A. Avian, L. Mileder, G. Pichler</p><p>ABS 6. N-ACETYLCYSTEINE AMIDE (NACA) REDUCES CELL DEATH AFTER EXPOSURE TO OXIDATIVE STRESS IN A PORCINE EPITHELIAL-LIKE EMBRYONIC EFN-R KIDNEY CELL LINE • T. Benterud, S. Manueldas, L. Pankratov, R. Solberg, A. Nordgren, O.D. Saugstad, L.O. Baumbusch</p><p>ABS 7. MELATONIN-INDUCED IMMUNE CELL RESPONSES IN INFANTS WITH NEONATAL ENCEPHALOPATHY PRE AND POST THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA TREATMENT • S. Aslam, V. McEneaney, R.W.G. Watson, A. O’Neill, E.J. Molloy</p><p>ABS 8. BLOOD PRESSURE DURING THE IMMEDIATE NEONATES TRANSITION: IS THE MIDDLE ARTERY PRESSURE (MAP) RELEVANT FOR THE REGIONAL CEREBRAL OXYGENATION (crSO2)? • N. Baik, B. Urlesberger, B. Schwaberger, G. Schmölzer, A. Avian, G. Pichler</p><p>ABS 9. BETWEEN 1993 AND 2012: EVOLUTION OF CEREBRAL PALSY IN PRETERM CHILDREN • M. Bickle Graz, J. Schneider, A.C. Truttmann</p><p>ABS 10. N-ACETYLCYSTEINE AMIDE (NACA) MAY HAVE NEUROPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES AFTER PERINATAL ASPHYXIA • T. Benterud, L. Pankratov, R. Solberg, A. Nordgren, L.O. Baumbusch, O.D. Saugstad</p><p>ABS 11. BRAIN INTERSTITIAL PH CHANGES DURING THE SUBACUTE PHASE IN A NEWBORN PIGLET PERINATAL ASPHYXIA MODEL • J. Németh, G. Remzső, V. Tóth-Szűki, F. Domoki</p><p>ABS 12. NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF REMIFENTANIL ON EXCITOTOXIC-INDUCED BRAIN DAMAGE IN NEONATAL MICE • C. Chollat, F. Tourrel, M. Lecointre, Y. Ramdani, S. Marret, B. Gonzalez, S. Jégou</p><p>ABS 13. THE SafeBoosC II TRIAL: REDUCING CEREBRAL HYPOXIA WITHOUT CHANGING EARLY BIOMARKERS OF BRAIN INJURY • A.M. Plomgaard, W. van Oeveren, T.H. Petersen, T. Alderliesten, T. Austin, F. van Bel, M. Benders, O. Claris, E. Dempsey, A. Franz, M. Fumagalli, C. Gluud, C. Hagmann, S. Hyttel-Soerensen, P. Lemmers, A. Pellicer, G. Pic</p><p>ABS 14. PREDICTING WHITE MATTER DAMAGE BY EVALUATION OF THE LINEAR GROWTH RATE OF CORPUS CALLOSUM IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS • H. Huang, C. Chen, H. Chou, P. Tsao, W. Hsieh</p><p>ABS 15. REGIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING OF BILIRUBIN TOXICITY: HIPPOCAMPUS IS THE MOST SENSIBLE REGION • M. Dal Ben, C. Tiribelli, S. Gazzin</p><p>ABS 16. EFFICACY, SAFETY AND COMORBID EVENTS DURING TRANSPORT OF ASPHYXIATED NEWBORNS TO A TERTIARY CENTRE FOR THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA • N. Carreras, M. Alsina, G. Arca, M. León, A. García-Alix</p><p>ABS 17. BRAIN WHITE MATTER INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH NEONATAL SEIZURE AFTER ROTAVIRUS INFECTION • M.J. Kim, S.Y. Byun</p><p>ABS 18. NOVEL PLASMA AND CEREBROSPINAL FLUID BIOMARKERS OF HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IDENTIFIED BY MASS SPECTROMETRY • K.J. Kyng, A. Edhager, C.S. Andreassen, T.B. Henriksen, N. Gregersen, J. Palmfeldt</p><p>ABS 19. RISK OF HYPOCAPNIA IN ASPHYXIATED NEWBORNS TREATED WITH EARLY THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA • E. Szakmar, A. Jermendy, A. Nagy, A. Szell, A. Berenyi, B. Bundzsity, A. Cseko, G. Bokodi, D. Kelen, U. Meder, Zs. Somogyvari, M. Szabo</p><p>ABS 20. INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE IN INBORN AND OUTBORN INFANTS IN THIRD LEVEL HOSPITALS BEFORE 32 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY • D. Szpecht, M. Szymankiewicz, J. Gadzinowski</p><p>ABS 21. IMPAIRMENT OF OLIGODENDROGLIAL DEVELOPMENT IN VITRO AT 21% O2 IS ATTENUATED BY STABILIZATION OF HYPOXIA-INDUCIBLE FACTOR 1α • C. Brill, R. Herrmann, C. Bührer, T. Schmitz</p><p>ABS 22. BODY CORE TEMPERATURE: A NOVEL BIOMARKER FOR HYPOXIC-ISCHAEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY • D. Jayasinghe, L. Wilcox</p><p>ABS 23. APGAR SCORES PREDICT ENCEPHALOPATHY MORE THAN BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS • R. Jones, A. Heep, D. Odd</p><p>ABS 24. REFERENCE VALUES FOR THE NEUROPEPTIDE SECRETONEURIN IN HEALTHY TERM NEWBORNS • A. Schmid, M. Höck, A. Posod, M. Urbanek, R. Fischer-Colbrie, V. Neubauer, U. Kiechl-Kohlendorfer, E. Griesmaier</p><p>ABS 25. EFFECTS OF VENTILATION ON THE CEREBRAL CORTEX FOLLOWING INTRAUTERINE INFLAMMATION IN PRETERM LAMBS • A. Atik, B. Skiöld, S. Barton, J. Pearson, Q. Wu, V. Zahra, A. Moxham, S. Hooper, M. Tolcos, R. Galinsky, G. Polglase</p><p>ABS 26. CEREBRAL ULTRASOUND FINDINGS DURING THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA FOR NEONATAL HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY: VALIDATION OF A NEW CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM • A. Graca, J. Barreira, C. Santos, C. Moniz</p><p>ABS 27. A NEW TRANSLATIONAL MODEL OF PERINATAL ASPHYXIA REVEALS LASTING BEHAVIORAL DEFICITS • A. Kerenyi, E. Sipos, P. Bakos, K. Demeter, P. Pottyondi, J. Haller, M. Szabo, K. Kaila, E. Mikics, A. Denes, A. Fekete</p><p>ABS 28. EFFECT OF EARLY NUTRITION ON PRETERM CEREBRAL MATURATION AND BRAIN INJURY REFLECTED BY MR-IMAGING AT TERM • L. Beauport, J. Schneider, P. Hagmann, M. Faouzi, C.J. Fischer Fumeaux, A.C. Truttmann</p><p>ABS 29. NEURITE OUTGROWTH IN RESPONSE TO CEREBROSPINAL FLUID DERIVED FROM NEC-SENSITIVE PRETERM PIGS • J. Sun, S. Pankratova, D.E.W. Chatterton, P.T. Sangild</p><p>ABS 30. URINARY NEUTROPHIL GELATINASE-ASSOCIATED LIPOCALIN (NGAL) AFTER GLOBAL HYPOXIA-ISCHEMIA IN NEWBORN PIGLETS • H.T. Garberg, M.U. Huun, G. Dyrhaug, R. Solberg, O.D. Saugstad</p><p>ABS 31. CEREBRAL DEEP GREY MATTER ALKALOSIS IN BABIES WITH NEONATAL ENCEPHALOPATHY IS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED SEIZURE BURDEN • C. Uria-Avellanal, D. Price, M. Sokolska, S. Mitra, A. Bainbridge, X. Golay, N. Robertson</p><p>ABS 32. THE PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF NIRS DURING THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA IN TERM ASPHYXIATED NEWBORNS • P. Costa, A. Graça, I. Sampaio, C. Moniz</p><p>ABS 33. EEG DISCONTINUITY PREDICTS CEREBRAL TISSUE INJURY AND ADVERSE NEURODEVELOPMENT IN COOLED NEWBORNS • J. Dunne, D. Wertheim, P. Clarke, O. Kapellou, P. Chisholm, J. Boardman, D. Shah</p><p>ABS 34. A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF COOLING COMBINED WITH INHALED XENON FOR PERINATAL ASPHYXIAL ENCEPHALOPATHY WITH CEREBRAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE ENDPOINTS – THE TOBY-Xe TRIAL • D. Azzopardi, N. Robertson, A. Bainbridge, E. Cady, A. Deierl, G. Fagiolo, N. Franks, J. Griffiths, J. Hajnal, E. Juszczak, B. Kapetanakis, L. Linsell, M. Maze, O. Omar, B. Strohm, N. Tusor, A.D. Edwards</p><p>ABS 35. MULTIORGAN DYSFUNCTION IN NEWBORNS WITH HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IN THE HYPOTERMIA ERA • M. Alsina, A. Martin-Ancel, P. Alamillo, M. Leon, A Garcia-Alix</p><p>ABS 36. HYPOXIC-ISCHAEMIC BRAIN INJURY: DELIVERY BEFORE INTRAPARTUM EVENTS • D. Odd, A. Heep, K. Luyt, T. Draycott</p><p>ABS 37. IS NEONATAL ESTABLISHED HEARING LOSS PERMANENT IN NICU GRADUATES? • J. Kuiper, W. van Huffelen, R. Benard</p><p>ABS 38. SHOULD WE CORRECT FOR GESTATIONAL AGE WHEN ASSESSING DEVELOPMENT IN PRETERM-BORN CHILDREN? • N.H. van Dokkum, J.M. Kerstjens, D.M. van Maanen, A.F. de Winter, A.F. Bos, S.A. Reijneveld</p><p>ABS 39. NEUROCOGNITIVE DISABILITIES IN CHILDREN WITH MINOR NEUROLOGICAL DYSFUNCTION BORN VERY PRETERM • T. Kurpershoek, E. Potharst-Sirag, C. Aarnoudse-Moens, A. van Wassenaer-Leemhuis</p><p>ABS 40. 2 YEAR NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES FOLLOWING EXTREME PREMATURITY OR EXTREMELY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT IN NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM. BIRTH COHORT 2000-2008 • C. Forster, T. Crosby, J. Dorling</p><p>ABS 41. MONOCHORIONIC DIAMNIOTIC TWINS: A 2-YEAR DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME • E. Teixeira, M. Machado, L.M. Ferreira, F. Rodrigues, R. Henriques, E. Afonso</p><p>ABS 42. EPILEPSY IN CHILDREN BORN MODERATELY AND LATE PRETERM • M. Hirvonen, R. Ojala, P. Korhonen, P. Haataja, K. Eriksson, M. Gissler, T. Luukkaala, O. Tammela</p><p>ABS 43. SPATIAL LEARNING AND MEMORY IN PRETERM PIGS • A.D. Andersen, L. Langhorn, P.T. Sangild, T. Thymann</p><p>ABS 44. IS DELAYED NORMALISATION OF PLASMA LACTATE IN COOLED BABIES WITH HYPOXIC-ISCHAEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH A POOR OUTCOME? • N. Ide Bergamaschi, P. Clarke</p><p>ABS 45. HEAD GROWTH AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME AT 1 YEAR FOLLOWING FETAL GROWTH RESTRICTION • M. Boyle, R. Pinnamaneni, J. Unterscheider, F. Malone, N. McCallion, A. Foran</p><p>ABS 46. EEG SLEEP SLOW WAVE ACTIVITY AS A POTENTIAL MARKER OF LOAD-DEPENDENT DEFICITS IN EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS IN VERY PRETERM CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS • F. Wehrle, B. Latal, R. O’Gorman, C. Hagmann, R. Huber</p><p>ABS 47. EFFECT OF SHORTER DELAY TIME AFTER SUCROSE ADMINISTRATION TO REDUCE HEEL STICK RELATED PAIN IN NEWBORN INFANTS • N.J. Meesters, M. van Dijk, S.H.P. Simons</p><p>ABS 48. IS MANAGING PAIN A PAIN? NATIONAL SURVEY ON NEONATAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM • S. Bhayat, H. Gowda</p><p>ABS 49. INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-1 PROTEIN CONCENTRATION INCREASES PERINATALLY AND REMAINS HIGH POSTNATALLY IN LAMBS, MIRRORING THE PROFILE IN HUMANS FROM THE FOETUS TO THE ADOLESCENT • M. Dahl, D. Keefe, J.-K. Chung, N. Barton, R. Ward, K. Albertine</p><p>ABS 50. PRETERM INFANTS BORN WITH PRENATAL ABSENT OR REVERSED END-DIASTOLIC FLOW VELOCITY (AREDV) SHOW SIGNIFICANT LOWER BAYLEY III SCALES AT 2 YEARS – A MATCH CONTROL STUDY • C.N. Chen, H.C. Huang, C.Y. Chen, H.C. Chou, W.S. Hsieh, P.N. Tsao</p><p>ABS 51. OCCURRENCE OF ABNORMAL PLACENTAL HISTOLOGY FINDINGS IN TERM ASPHYXIATED INFANTS • A.I. Tóth, M. Szabó, Á. Nándor, E. Széll</p><p>ABS 52. THE ANTISECRETORY FACTOR IN PRETERM AND TERM PLACENTAS • A. Gustafsson, E. Fransson, A. Dubicke, S.A. Silfverdal, E. Jennische, S. Lange, K. Bohlin</p><p>ABS 53. PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO HYDROXYLATED POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS IS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL AND MOTOR DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS AT THE AGE OF 18 MONTHS • M. Ruel, A. Bos, S. Soechitram, L. Meijer, P. Sauer, S. Berghuis</p><p>ABS 54. DEVELOPMENT OF STRUCTURED REPORTING FOR MRI IMAGES OF NEONATES WITH PERINATAL ASPHYXIA • M. Kolossváry, A. Lakatos, Z. Bagyura, L.R. Kozák, M. Szabó, P. Maurovich-Horvat, G. Rudas</p><p>ABS 55. THE THERMAL SAFETY OF NEONATAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE BRAIN IMAGING AT 3.0 TESLA • P. Cawley, K. Few, R. Greenwood, P. Malcolm, G. Johnson, P. Lally, S. Thayyil, P. Clarke</p><p>ABS 56. STRUCTURED REPORTING IN HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY – BENEFICIAL FOR THE RADIOLOGIST AND THE CLINICIAN • A. Lakatos, M. Kolossvary, M. Szabo, M. Kiss, G. Gyebnar, Z. Bagyura, G. Rudas, L.R. Kozak</p><p>ABS 57. DIFFUSE OPTICAL IMAGING OF RESTING STATE FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN INFANTS • C.W. Lee, R.J. Cooper, L.A. Dempsey, M. Chalia, S. Brigadoi, N. Everdell, J.C. Hebden, T. Austin</p><p>ABS 58. IN VIVO ASSESSMENT OF CEREBRO-CEREBELLAR CONNECTIVITY IN THE DEVELOPING BRAIN USING HIGH ANGULAR RESOLUTION DIFFUSION IMAGING • K. Pieterman, D. Batalle, J. Dudink, D. Tournier, E. Hughes, N. Tusor, A.D. Edwards, F. Hoebeek, S.J. Counsell</p><p>ABS 59. TRIGEMINAL ODOURS RELEASED BY HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS ACTIVATE CORTICAL PAIN PROCESSING AREAS AND TRIGGER PAIN BEHAVIOUR IN PRETERM AND FULL TERM BORN INFANTS • J. Frie, M. Bartocci, H. Lagercrantz, P. Kuhn</p><p>ABS 60. PERSISTENT HYPOMETHYLATION OF THE PRETERM PIG INTESTINE • X. Pan, F. Gao, T. Thymann, P. Sangild</p><p>ABS 61. EEG BACKGROUND ACTIVITY AND SEIZURE BURDEN ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BRAIN INJURY ON MRI AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME IN FULL-TERM INFANTS WITH HYPOXIC-ISCHAEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY • L. Weeke, G. Boylan, R. Pressler, B. Hallberg, F. Groenendaal, L. de Vries</p><p>ABS 62. NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS AT 12 YEARS IN CHILDREN BORN AT &lt; 26 WEEKS’ GESTATION AFTER ACTIVE PERINATAL CARE • A. Farooqi, A. Holsti, B. Hägglöf, M. Adamsson, F. Serenius</p><p>ABS 63. PARENT AND NURSE PERSPECTIVES ON PARENTAL PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT IN 11 EUROPEAN NICUs • A. Axelin, S. Raiskila, B. Westrup, B. Silnes Tandberg, L. Lehtonen; SCENE research group</p><p>ABS 64. INCIDENCE OF FOCAL PRETERM BRAIN INJURY IN A DUTCH CENTER SPECIALIZED IN TREATMENT OF EXTREMELY PRETERM BIRTH • R. de Goederen, R. de Jonge, P. Govaert, M. Feijen-Roon, I. Reiss, J. Dudink</p><p>ABS 65. PREDICTION OF NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME IN INFANTS WITH INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE USING A FUNCTIONAL MRI SCORE • K. Goeral, G. Kasprian, C. Leeb, R. Fuiko, A. Berger, M. Olischar, K. Klebermass-Schrehof</p><p>ABS 66. SYSTEMIC HEMOLYSIS AND HYPEROXEMIA IN A RAT PUP MODEL; A NOVEL WAY OF MODELING EFFECTS OF CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS • Å. Jungner, S. Vallius, M. Gram, D. Ley</p><p>ABS 67. BRAIN INJURY AND NEUROLOGICAL DEFICITS IN DIFFERENT MODELS OF HYPOXIA-ISCHEMIA IN NEONATAL MICE • B.S. Reinboth, C. Köster, K. Strasser, I. Bendix, U. Felderhoff-Müser, J. Herz</p><p>ABS 68. COLD-INDUCIBLE RNA BINDING PROTEIN RBM3 PREVENTS ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM (ER) STRESS-INDUCED APOPTOSIS • X. Zhu, A. Zelmer, J. Kapfhammer, S. Wellmann</p><p>ABS 69. NEUROINFLAMMATION, A KEY FACTOR IN THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF PRETERM INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE: THE ROLE OF MICROGLIA CELLS AND HAPTOGLOBIN AS A FEASIBLE THERAPY • A. Agyemang, S. Vallius, D. Ley, M. Gram</p><p>ABS 70. FINGOLIMOD REDUCES NEONATAL WHITE MATTER DAMAGE AND LONG-TERM COGNITIVE DEFICITS • I. Bendix, M. Serdar, K. Kempe, J. Herz, K. Lumpe, B.S. Reinboth, S.V. Sizonenko, X. Hou, R. Herrmann, M. Hadamitzky, R. Heumann, M. Sifringer, Y.v.d. Looji, U. Felderhoff-Müser</p><p>ABS 71. NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME AFTER EARLY HIGH DOSE RECOMBINANT HUMAN ERYTHROPOIETIN IN VERY PRETERM INFANTS: RESULTS OF A RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL • G. Natalucci, B. Latal, B. Koller, C. Rüegger, B. Sick, L. Held, H.U. Bucher, J.C. Fauchère; on behalf of the ‘The Swiss EPO Neuroprotection Trial Group’</p><p>ABS 72. THE HEME AND RADICAL SCAVENGER α1-MICROGLOBULIN (A1M) CONFERS PROTECTION OF THE PERIVENTRICULAR WHITE MATTER FOLLOWING PRETERM INTRAVENTRICULAR HEMORRHAGE • S. Rutardottir, S. Sveinsdottir, S.R. Hansson, B. Åkerström, D. Ley, M. Gram</p><p>ABS 73. VALIDATION OF CEREBRAL NIRS OXIMETRY IN NEWBORN PIGLETS • M. Rasmussen, V. Eriksen, S. Hyttel-Sorensen, G. Greisen</p><p>ABS 74. BRAIN INJURY IN THE INTERNATIONAL MULTICENTRE RANDOMISED SafeBoosC PHASE II FEASIBILITY TRIAL: CRANIAL ULTRASOUND AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ASSESSMENTS • A.M. Plomgaard, C. Hagmann, T. Alderliesten, T. Austin, F. van Bel, O. Claris, E. Dempsey, A. Franz, M. Fumagalli, C. Gluud, G. Greisen, S. Hyttel-Soerensen, P. Lemmers, A. Pellicer, G. Pichler, M. Benders</p><p>ABS 75. DELAYED CORD CLAMPING AT BIRTH IMPROVES MOTOR SCORES AT 18 TO 22 MONTHS CORRECTED AGE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL • J. Mercer, D. Erickson-Owens, B. Vohr, R. Tucker, W. Oh, J. Padbury</p><p>ABS 76. VOICE OUTCOMES FOLLOWING VERY PRETERM BIRTH • S. Meldrum, K. Simmer, S. Vijayasekaran, N. French</p><p>ABS 77. TIMING OF AMPLITUDE-INTEGRATED ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY RECORDING FOR PREDICTION OF OUTCOME IN PREMATURE INFANTS • E. Ralser, V. Neubauer, U. Pupp-Peglow, U. Kiechl-Kohlendorfer, E. Griesmaier</p><p>ABS 78. BAYLEY SCALES OF INFANT AND TODDLER DEVELOPMENT (EDITION 3) IN A LOW RISK HEALTHY POPULATION • C. Ahearne, G. Hannon, M. Kiely, L. Kenny, J.O’B. Hourihane, D. Murray</p><p>ABS 79. EARLY POSTNATAL HYDROCORTISONE IMPAIRS CEREBELLAR GROWTH AND DELAYS NEONATAL AROUSAL IN PRETERM PIGS • A. Brunse, P. Worsøe, M. Birck, P. Sangild</p><p>ABS 80. ALTERED SLEEP SPINDLE ACTIVITY MAY REFLECT IMPAIRED THALAMOCORTICAL CONNECTIVITY IN VERY PRETERM CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS • F. Wehrle, B. Latal, R. O’Gorman, C. Hagmann, R. Huber</p><p>ABS 81. REGIONAL CEREBRAL OXYGENATION AS MEASURED BY NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (NIRS) IS RELATED TO NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME AT 2 YEARS OF AGE • T. Alderliesten, I.C. van Haastert, W. Baerts, N.E. van der Aa, L.S. de Vries, C. Koopman, F. van Bel, P.M.A. Lemmers</p><p>ABS 82. A 3D MAP OF ISCHEMIC STROKE FREQUENCY IN THE NEONATAL BRAIN • C. Stephan-Otto, G. Arca-Diaz, A. Garcia-Alix</p><p>ABS 83. CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AND INDICES OF FETAL CEREBRAL GROWTH IN A NATIONWIDE COHORT OF 931,174 LIVEBORN INFANTS • N.B. Matthiesen, T.B. Henriksen, J.W. Gaynor, P. Agergaard, C.C. Bach, V. Hjortdal, J.R. Ostergaard</p><p>ABS 84. CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE, PLACENTAL ANOMALIES AND INDICES OF FETAL GROWTH IN A NATIONWIDE COHORT OF 931,174 LIVEBORN INFANTS • N.B. Matthiesen, T.B. Henriksen, J.W. Gaynor, P. Agergaard, C.C. Bach, V. Hjortdal, J.R. Ostergaard</p><p>ABS 85. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIFFUSION TENSOR IMAGING AND FINE MOTOR FUNCTION IN YOUNG ADULTS BORN WITH VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT • K.A.I. Evensen, I.M. Husby, A. Olsen, J. Skranes, A.M. Brubakk, A.K. Håberg, L. Eikenes</p><p>ABS 86. INCIDENTAL FINDINGS ON ROUTINE MRI SCANS IN VLBW BABIES: SHOULD WE EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED? • M. Malova, A. Parodi, M. Severino, G. Morana, A. Rossi, A. Sannia, L.A. Ramenghi</p><p>ABS 87. NEUROIMAGING IN PRESUMED PERINATAL ARTERIAL ISCHEMIC STROKE AND RECOGNITION OF SPECIFIC NEURORADIOLOGICAL PATTERN: A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE • M. Bertamino, M. Severino, M. Di Rocco, A. Rossi, L. Ramenghi; Stroke Group* • *V. Capra, I. Ceccherini, M.E. Celle, C. Gandolfo, A.C. Molinari, A. Palmieri, M. Pavanello, P. Picco, S. Renna, A. Rossi, R. Ravazzolo</p><p>ABS 88. PUNCTATE WHITE MATTER LESIONS: CORRELATION TO GESTATIONAL AGE AND SWI APPEARANCE • M. Malova, A. Parodi, M. Severino, G. Morana, A. Sannia, A. Rossi, L.A. Ramenghi</p><p>ABS 89. PREDICTING SCHOOL-AGE COGNITIVE CAPACITIES FROM THE NEONATAL CONNECTOME IN PRETERM BORN CHILDREN • K. Keunen, M.J.N.L. Benders, A. Leemans, I.C. van Haastert, P.C. Fieret-Stam, L.H. Scholtens, M.A. Viergever, R.S. Kahn, F. Groenendaal, L.S. de Vries, M.P. van den Heuvel</p><p>ABS 90. CORPUS CALLOSUM-FASTIGIUM LENGTH; A NEW SONOGRAPHIC MARKER FOR PRETERM BRAIN GROWTH • J.A. Roelants, I.V. Koning, M.M.A. Raets, S.P. Willemsen, I.K.M. Reiss, M.J. Vermeulen, P. Govaerts, J. Dudink</p><p><br /><br /></p

Perinatal cortical growth and childhood neurocognitive abilities

Objective: This observational cohort study addressed the hypothesis that after preterm delivery brain growth between 24 and 44 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) is related to global neurocognitive ability in later childhood. Methods: Growth rates for cerebral volume and cortical surface area were estimated in 82 infants without focal brain lesions born before 30 weeks PMA by using 217 magnetic resonance images obtained between 24 and 44 weeks PMA. Abilities were assessed at 2 years using the Griffiths Mental Development Scale and at 6 years using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence–Revised (WPPSI-R), the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment (NEPSY), and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). Analysis was by generalized least-squares regression. Results: Mean test scores approximated population averages. Cortical growth was directly related to the Griffiths Developmental Quotient (DQ), the WPPSI-R full-scale IQ, and a NEPSY summary score but not the MABC score and in exploration of subtests to attention, planning, memory, language, and numeric and conceptual abilities but not motor skills. The mean (95% confidence interval) estimated reduction in cortical surface area at term corrected age associated with a 1 SD fall in test score was as follows: DQ 7.0 (5.8–8.5); IQ 6.0 (4.9–7.3); and NEPSY 9.1 (7.5–11.0) % · SD−1. Total brain volume growth was not correlated with any test score. Conclusions: The rate of cerebral cortical growth between 24 and 44 weeks PMA predicts global ability in later childhood, particularly complex cognitive functions but not motor functions. During late fetal life, brain growth is rapid, particularly in the cerebral cortex. In infants born preterm, the reduced growth of the cortical surface area relative to total brain volume correlates with lower postmenstrual age (PMA) at birth and a lower Griffiths Developmental Quotient (DQ) at 2 years of age.1 Preterm birth also leads to local changes in brain volume2 and perhaps to a reduction in total brain volume, although this is controversial.3,4 These data raised the hypothesis that brain growth in the perinatal period, particularly of the cerebral cortex, predicts later neurocognitive function in infants born preterm. To address this, we examined childhood abilities in a cohort of infants in whom growth of the cortical surface area and cerebral volume between 24 and 44 weeks PMA had been measured