Children born preterm display altered sensory processing, which may manifest as hyper‐ and/or hypo‐sensitivity to sensory information. In this vulnerable population, exposure to neonatal pain‐related stress is associated with altered stress regulation, as indexed by alterations in cortisol levels. It is unknown whether sensory processing behaviors are also affected by early life adversity, and whether dysregulated cortisol is related to sensory processing problems in preterm children. We examined relationships between neonatal pain‐related stress, sensory processing profiles and cortisol levels at age 4 years, and whether pathways were sex‐specific. In a longitudinal prospective cohort study, N = 146 infants born 24–32 weeks gestational age were recruited from BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; neonatal factors were collected from daily chart review. At age 4 years, saliva to assay cortisol was collected three times across cognitive assessment (pre‐test, during, end) and parents completed the Short Sensory Profile questionnaire. Using generalized linear modeling, independent of other neonatal factors, higher number of invasive procedures (pain/stress) was associated with more sensory processing problems (total, hypo‐ and hyper‐sensitivity) for girls only. After accounting for neonatal factors, greater cortisol output across the assessment was associated with more total sensory processing problems in girls only, and hypersensitivity to sensory input in both boys and girls. Findings suggest that in children born very preterm, how a child responds to sensory input and cortisol reactivity to stress are related but may have different precursors. Girls may be somewhat more susceptible to neonatal pain‐related stress exposure in relation to sensory processing at preschool age.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common dangerous gastrointestinal emergency in neonatology, especially in premature infants, which can cause serious problems. Objectives: This study was conducted to find out whether administration of probiotics could lead to prevention and/or treatment of NEC. Methods: 115 premature newborns weighting 750 -1500 g or less than 32 weeks' gestation were checked daily for NEC signs and weight gain and mean day of full feed achievement was recorded. Results: The incidence of NEC and C-reactive protein (CRP) rise showed a significant difference (P = 0.02) between the two (case and control) groups, but the difference regarding mean duration of oxygen therapy, TPN, full feeding achievement, and hospitalization was not significant. Conclusions: These results showed positive effects of probiotics on preventing and treating NEC, especially NEC grade 3 in ELBW and VLBW neonates.

This is the first report of association of SFTPB rs7316 polymorphism with RDS development in Iranian newborns. The current study suggests that GA <28-weeks is the most important factor in predisposition to RDS. Genetic background in terms of SP-B gene might be involved in predisposition to RDS in premature neonates.

Background Neonatal diabetes mellitus with hyperglycemia during the first 6 months of life is a rare disorder that can occur in all races and societies. Case presentation In this study, we introduced an Iranian (Persian) 65-day-old patient with neonatal diabetes mellitus with novel homozygous mutation in the pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1, PDX1, gene, which is also known as IPF1 gene, located in exon 2. This case was a newborn boy born in Vali-Asr Hospital, Tehran; he was diagnosed as having hyperglycemia on 28th day. Genetic analysis detected a homozygous mutation on PDX1 gene on chromosome 13. It is a novel homozygous mutation in the PDX1 gene (NM_000209.3), p.Phe167Val. This mutation was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. There was no evidence of agenesis of the pancreas. Conclusions We reported a case of neonatal diabetes mellitus due to novel homozygous mutation in the PDX1 gene without exocrine pancreas manifestations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13256-019-2149-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

This is the first report of association of SFTPC rs1124 polymorphism with RDS development in Iranian newborns. The current study suggests that GA <28-weeks is the most important factor in predisposition to RDS. AA genotype is also, a predisposing factor for the development of RDS in female preterm infants.