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Epidemiological studies have consistently shown a positive association between size at birth (i.e. birth weight or birth length) and height in children, adolescents and adults. To examine whether this association is explained by genetic or nongenetic (intra-uterine) factors, we investigated birth weight, birth length and height in 60 dizygotic and 68 monozygotic adolescent twin pairs still living with their parents. Birth weight of the twins was obtained from their mothers. Height was measured in a standardised way. The mean age was 17±1.7 years for the dizygotic twins and 16±1.8 years for the monozygotic twins. Both dizygotic and monozygotic twins with the lowest birth weight from each pair had a height that was lower compared to their co-twins with the highest birth weight (dizygotic twins: 172.2±7. .06], respectively). These associations were stronger in dizygotic than in monozygotic twins, but this difference was not statistically significant (for birth weight p = 0.4; and for birth length p = 0.6). However, genetic model fitting indicated that models incorporating a genetic source of the covariance gave a better description of the observed association of birth weight and length with height in later life than models not incorporating this genetic source. The results were similar for data on adult height after 12 years of follow-up in a subgroup of these twin pairs. These data suggest that the association between size at birth and height in later life is influenced by non-genetic intra-uterine and by genetic factors.

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Background: Infection is a leading cause of death among very low birth–weight (VLBW) infants in resource-limited settings. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) episodes among VLBW infants from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. The epidemiology, causative organisms and short-term outcomes were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to investigate for factors associated with development of HAI. Results: During the study period, 715 VLBW infants with suspected HAI were investigated, including 162/715 (22.7%) proven and 158/715 (22.1%) presumed HAI. Of the proven infections, 99/162 (61.1%) contained at least one Gram-negative organism per blood culture; 84/162 (51.9%) single Gram-negative organisms and 15/162 (9.3%) polymicrobial growth. Independent factors associated with development of any HAI included low gestational age, small for gestational age, indwelling central venous catheter and invasive ventilation. Compared with infants in whom HAI had been excluded, infants with HAI were more likely to be diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (5.6% vs. 23.1%; P < 0.001) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (1.0% vs. 4.4%; P = 0.007). Infants with any HAI also had a longer hospital stay [44 (25–65) vs. 38 (26–53) days; P < 0.001] and increased mortality [90/320 (28.1%) vs. 21/395 (5.3%); P < 0.001] compared with infants who did not develop HAI episodes. Conclusions: Proven and presumed HAI are a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality; further research is urgently needed to better understand potential targets for prevention and treatment of HAI in resource-limited neonatal units.

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