Intravenous immunoglobulin
Chen et al. tested the hypothesis that high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) might have an immunomodulatory effect in rat pups subjected to hypoxic–ischemic injury. They observed anatomical and functional improvements in the IVIG-treated pups that correlated with decreased amounts of C3b complement fragments in the injured brain hemisphere.
Delayed puberty
Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism can be caused by an insufficient number of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons. Känsäkoski and colleagues investigated the involvement of SEMA3A and SEMA7A in the disorder.
See Mutation screening of SEMA3A and SEMA7A in patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
Cardiac dysfunction
Fouzas and coinvestigators evaluated the effect of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on cardiovascular adaptation to extrauterine life. As compared with appropriate-for-gestational-age newborns, IUGR infants appear to present alterations in cardiac morphology and subclinical myocardial dysfunction that may result in a unique pattern of cardiovascular adaptation.
See Neonatal cardiac dysfunction in intrauterine growth restriction
Neurodevelopmental delay
Because the latest edition of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development yields higher scores than the previous version, there is uncertainty about how to classify moderate to severe neurodevelopmental delay. Johnson and colleagues administered the two editions to 185 extremely-preterm infants and assessed the differences in results.
See Using the Bayley-III to assess neurodevelopmental delay: which cut-off should be used?
Human milk glycobiology
The field of human milk glycobiology is progressing rapidly, with important implications for health. The Special Article by Newburg and Grave discusses gaps in our current understanding and identifies opportunities for further research.
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Editor’s Focus. Pediatr Res 75, 583 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2014.36
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2014.36