Background Although several studies have investigated the association between Bayley‐III results in infancy and future intellectual development, conclusions remain unclear. We used the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley‐III) at 3 years of age and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC‐IV) at 6 years of age to assess the neurodevelopment of very low birthweight infants. Methods We investigated the correlation between Bayley‐III's cognitive, language, and motor scores and the WISC‐IV's Full‐Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ). We also determined the optimal cut‐off value of Bayley‐III to enter the normal development zone (FSIQ ≥ 85). Results We found a strong correlation between the Bayley‐III and the FSIQ. Optimal cut‐off scores of the Bayley‐III to enter the normal range on the WISC‐IV were 95 for the cognitive scale, 89 for the language scale, and 91 for the motor development scale. Conclusions Although Bayley‐III scores strongly correlated with the WISC‐IV FSIQ, the lower normal limit of 85 on the Bayley‐III suggests a potential overestimation of development in children who were VLBW infants.

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Aim To evaluate the relationship between long‐term antenatal magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) administration and neonatal bone mineralization. Methods Infants born at 28–33 weeks of gestation (n = 163) were divided into three groups: long‐term Mg administration group (infants received antenatal MgSO4 for ≥40 days), short‐term Mg administration group (infants received antenatal MgSO4 for <40 days), and non‐Mg group. Serum calcium, phosphorus, Mg, and alkaline phosphatase were measured weekly up to 1 month of age, and the bone speed of sound (SOS) values were measured using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) at 1 week and 1 month after birth. Results In the long‐term Mg administration group, the serum calcium values were significantly lower, and the serum phosphorus, Mg, and alkaline phosphatase values were significantly higher than those in the non‐Mg group at birth. Although these biochemical differences disappeared around the age of 2 weeks, the SOS values of the long‐term Mg administration group were significantly lower than those of the non‐Mg group both at 1 week and 1 month after birth (p = 0.02 and <0.001, respectively). When less than 10th percentile of SOS values at 1 month after birth in the non‐Mg group was defined as poor bone mineralization, the cut‐off value for the duration of antenatal MgSO4 administration was 67 days. Conclusions Long‐term antenatal MgSO4 administration affects bone mineralization during the early neonatal period, but the clinically acceptable duration of the administration based on its effects of bone mineralization assessed with QUS might be longer than a few weeks.

Background Systemic hydrocortisone administration has been widely used in preterm infants who are at risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). However, the effects of hydrocortisone on cytokine profiles have not been examined. We aimed to investigate the effects of postnatal hydrocortisone treatment on serum cytokine levels in extremely preterm infants. Methods This is a retrospective study of 29 extremely preterm infants born at <28 weeks of gestational age. We obtained serum from blood samples collected during an early phase (5–20 days) and a late phase (28–60 days) after birth. We measured the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factors α and β, interleukin (IL)‐1β, and IL‐6), T‐helper (Th) 1 cytokines (interferon‐γ, IL‐2, and IL‐12p70), Th2 cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐10), Th17 cytokine IL‐17A, and chemokine IL‐8. The cytokine levels between the early and late phases were compared between infants who received postnatal hydrocortisone and those who did not. Results Thirteen infants (45%) received systemic hydrocortisone treatment at a median age of 15 days (IQR: 10.0–21.5) after birth due to respiratory deterioration. The percentage of BPD was higher in the steroid group than in the non‐steroid group (P = 0.008). The ratio of IL‐6 for the late‐to‐early phase was significantly lower in the steroid group than in the non‐steroid group (P = 0.04). The concentration of the other cytokines remained unchanged between the phases. Conclusions Although the postnatal hydrocortisone treatment provided for respiratory deterioration did not prevent the BPD development, hydrocortisone treatment might suppress IL‐6 overproduction in extremely preterm infants.

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