Studies have documented differences in dyadic sensitivity between mothers of preterm (<37 weeks' gestation) and term born children, but findings are inconsistent and studies often include small and heterogeneous samples. It is not known to what extent variations in maternal sensitivity are associated with preterm birth across the full spectrum of gestational age.

Congenital anomaly of kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) is one of the most common congenital anomalies, occurring in over 1 % of live births and accounting for 40-50 % of chronic kidney failure cases in children. The prevalence of CAKUT was multifaceted and varies widely. This study aimed to report the latest evidence of incidence, trends, and risk factors associated with the incidence of CAKUT.

Neonatal medicine has advanced significantly over the past few decades, leading to improved survival rates for infants born extremely preterm (EP). Being born extremely preterm increases the risk of various long-term health issues and impairments that may affect an individual's well-being and success in life. As these individuals now reach adulthood, we have limited knowledge of outcomes based on their personal experiences.

Lactate and digit ratio (2D:4D) have been linked to sports performance, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. 2D:4D is strongly and positively associated with lactate during exercise across a range of running speeds in men. This study aimed to consider the relationship between 2D:4D and lactate in women during an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test.

This study aimed to determine the effect of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and its severity on neurological examination at equivalent to full term and the development of gross motor skills prior to the acquisition of independent walking in very preterm and/or very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants.

In severe cases of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm neonates, surgery may be the only option for survival. However, the consequences of active treatment are not always in the infant's best interest, urging parents and physicians to consider palliative care as an alternative. This study aims to identify key factors parents prioritize when making this decision, as a preliminary step towards developing a decision support tool.

Infants born with congenital anomalies requiring surgery are at greater risk of developmental delays. Early screening tools are needed to identify infants who would benefit from early intervention. This study aimed to investigate the concurrent predictive validity of the General Movements Assessment (GMA), Motor Optimality Score - Revised (MOS-R), Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) and Bayley-III in identifying infants at risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

To determine the prenatal progression and long-term outcome of fetal bilateral hyperechogenic kidneys (HK).

Historically, low referral rates of 3-4 % have been reported from Singapore primary health care. Early identification of and intervention for developmental delays and autism enable achievement of optimal outcomes. An enhanced developmental screening (EDS) programme was introduced in primary care to improve identification of developmental delays and autism for children aged 18 and 30 months. This study evaluated prevalence of positive screening for developmental delays/autism at 18 months, identified associated socio-demographic risk factors and studied the correlation between primary care screening tools with outcomes following tertiary care assessments.

Adults born preterm face greater social, cognitive, mental and physical challenges in adulthood than their full term born peers according to longitudinal studies. In contrast, little is known about the lived experiences of adults born preterm.

To comprehensively assess the prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of preterm-associated developmental intellectual disability (PDID) in children and adolescents born preterm (CABP) from 1990 to 2021.

This study aims to identify initial clinical and echocardiographic markers in preterm infants which may predict failure of medical therapy to close a high-risk patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

During the first pandemic lockdown restrictive regulations were implemented in hospitals. Parents of preterm babies were particularly affected due to a long hospital stay. The aim of this study is to investigate how pandemic regulations during the first lockdown impacted the birth and perinatal experiences of parents of preterm babies.

During a global recall of the sole human milk fortifier (HMF) available in Singapore, our centre identified an alternative strategy through partial fortification using a high caloric preterm formula to mitigate malnutrition in very low birthweight preterm infants. Adequate growth was observed and there were no reported adverse events.

Older gestational age (GA) has been associated with more favourable cognitive outcomes in preterm children. Recent evidence suggests this may also apply to term-born children. This study aims to examine the association between GA and early neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born at term in China and the UK.

The purpose of this study was to determine the independent association between placental inflammation and the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This retrospective cohort study included 591 neonates born with a gestational age (GA) ≤32 weeks and/or a birthweight (BW) ≤1500 g. Clinical data were retrospectively collected, and placentas were reexamined for acute (e.g. chorioamnionitis and funisitis) and chronic placental inflammation (e.g. chorioamnionitis, villitis of unknown etiology and chronic deciduitis). Severe acute chorioamnionitis was defined as the presence of confluent polymorphonuclear leukocytes or subchorionic microabscesses. Outcomes explored were GA, BW, small for gestational age (SGA), mechanical ventilation duration, postnatal corticosteroids, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and ROP. Acute histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis were associated with lower GA, lower SGA rates, increased duration of mechanical ventilation and increased ROP rates, while chronic chorioamnionitis and villitis were associated with higher GA and increased SGA rates. BW was significantly lower in neonates with chronic deciduitis. Subanalysis of placentas without maternal and fetal vascular malperfusion also showed increased rates of severe acute chorioamnionitis (42 % vs. 21 %), funisitis (61 % vs. 35 %) in neonates with ROP. Multivariable regression analysis revealed two placental inflammatory factors to be independently associated with ROP: severe acute chorioamnionitis (OR 2.1; 95 % CI 1.1-3.8) and funisitis (OR 1.7; 95 % CI 1.0-2.9). Structured placental evaluation of the presence of severe acute chorioamnionitis and funisitis is valuable in predicting the development of ROP. This increased risk of ROP development could be integrated into the neonatal treatment approach of high-risk neonates in a very early stage in order to reduce ROP.

Olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4) gene polymorphisms have been associated with variations in inflammatory responses and the severity of infections. This study aimed to investigate the association between OLFM4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs17552047 and rs1891944 and severe outcomes in preterm neonatal sepsis.

Monochorionic twin pregnancies, characterized by a shared placenta and unique vascular architecture, face significantly elevated risks of perinatal complications compared to dichorionic and singleton pregnancies. This review examines the pathophysiology, cardiovascular, and neurological adaptations in three primary complications of monochorionic pregnancies: Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), Selective Fetal Growth Restriction (sFGR), and Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence (TAPS). TTTS disrupts hemodynamic balance, leading to distinct cardiac dysfunctions and increased neurodevelopmental injury (NDI). In sFGR, unequal placental sharing induces cardiovascular and neurological disparities between twins, while TAPS causes chronic anaemia and polycythemia with associated risks of brain injury. Advances in fetal therapy, such as fetoscopic laser surgery, have significantly improved survival, yet long-term sequelae remain concerning. This review emphasizes the importance of specialised prenatal care, multidisciplinary management, and comprehensive postnatal follow-up to mitigate adverse outcomes. The findings call for further research into the mechanisms of fetal adaptation and injury, aiming to refine diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.

Ethnic and racial disparities in neonatal outcomes have been well-documented, including higher risk of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the only approved treatment for infants with moderate to severe HIE and previous studies have shown mixed results regarding the impact of timing of initiation of TH on outcomes. These studies often include both inborn and outborn neonates and few minority patients.

Although delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) is universally recommended, implementation has been difficult in caesarean deliveries. The study objective was to test if extra-uterine placental transfusion (delivering the placenta before cord clamping) to facilitate intact-cord stabilisation could be a feasible and safe alternative to DCC (≥ 1 min) for moderately preterm to term infants with caesarean delivery in regional anaesthesia and their mothers.

The 2D:4D ratio, a marker of the prenatal testosterone-estrogen balance, is defined as the proportion of the second to fourth finger lengths, with lower values indicating greater testosterone exposure. Studies demonstrated that this exposure affects chondrocyte activity and function during secondary ossification. Considering that the os trigonum is an unfused secondary ossification center, investigating the relationship between hormonal balance and os trigonum could provide valuable insights as etiopathogenesis.