Objective To observe the retinal function of infa nts with retinopat hy of prematurity (ROP). Methods A total of 78 infants (156 ey es) aged from 4-5 months underwent full-field flash electroretinogram (ERG) examination. The am p litude and implicit time of a-and b-wave of ERG were detected to evaluate the i nfants' retinal function. Seventy-eight infants (156 eyes) included 33 healthy a nd full-term infants (66 eyes), 25 healthy premature children (50 eyes), and 20 infants (40 eyes) with ROP. Results Obvious ERG waveforms were recorded in all the fullterm and healthy premature children. Amplitude of combined b-wave wa s 388.7 mu;V in full-term infants and 336.7 mu;V in healthy premature children, whi c h was 64.4% and 55.6% of that of the healthy adults respectively. In infants wit h ROP, ERG was nonrecordable in 20 eyes (50％); amplitude of combined b-wave was 183.8 mu;V in the other 20, whose implicit time delayed obviously compared with that of fullterm infants. The amplitude of ERG of healthy premature infants de c reased significantly compared with that of the full-term infants. Conclusions Retina keeps growing after birth. ERG of healthy full-term chi ldren is not as developed as those of adults. The progress of retinal maturation in infants with ROP is slower than that in the full-term infants. ERG examination is an effecti ve method in evaluating retinal function of infants with ROP.
Objective To investigate the degree of retinal developmen t in pret erm infants and compare the electroretinograms between preterm and fullterm in fants. Methods Flash electroretinogram (ERG) were obtained wit h contact lens el ectrodes in one eye from ten preterm infants (10 eyes) and twenty full-term inf a nts (20 eyes) in seven days after birth. The rod cell, cone cell, maximal combi nation, oscillatory potentials, and 30 Hz flicker responses were recorded. Results Compared with the full-term infants, the implicit time of rod cell respon s e (t=3.216，P=0.003) was longer and the amplitudes were lower (t=6.0 50，P=0.000) in the preterm infants; the difference of implicit time of maximal response was not significant (t=0.465，P=0.650; t=1.068，P=0.295), while th e amplitudes dec reased (t=6.584, P=0.000; t=6.649, P=0.000). The a- and b-wav e implicit time of cone response was not differed much between the two groups (t=0.077, P=0.939; t=0.935,P=0.358); the amplitudes was obvious lower in preterm group (t =3 .417，P=0.002；t=6.310，P=0.000); the difference of implicit t ime of 30 Hz flic ker betw een the two groups was not significant (t=3.745，P=0.001). The difference of b/a value of maximal combination response was not obvious between the two groups ( t=0.215, P=0.831). Conclusions The development of retinal function is slower in preterm infants than that in full-term ones．
ObjectiveTo measure and analyze the tortuosity of retinal veins in neonatal and premature infants quantitatively. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. The fundus images of the left eyes were selected from 30 healthy neonates and 30 premature infants without retinopathy of prematurity underwent RetCam screening. There were 16 premature infants with a history of oxygen inspiration. The tortuosity of superior temporal veins, inferior temporal veins, superior nasal veins, inferior nasal veins was measured separately using a self-developed computer program. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between tortuosity of retinal veins and birth weight, gestational age and correct gestational age. ResultsIn full-term neonatal infants, the vascular tortuosity of the nasal veins was significantly higher than the temporal veins (t=5.73, P < 0.01), while the superior veins and inferior veins showed no significant difference (t=0.39, P > 0.05). There was no correlation between vascular tortuosity of temporal (r=0.179, -0.175) or nasal veins (r=0.055, 0.345) with birth weight or gestational age (P > 0.05). In premature infants, the vascular tortuosity of the nasal veins was also significantly higher than the temporal veins (t=5.00, P < 0.01), no significant difference was found between the superior veins and inferior veins (t=0.39, P > 0.05). The vascular tortuosity of temporal veins of premature infants was negatively correlated with birth weight (r=-0.375, P < 0.05); however, no significant correlation was found with gestational age (r=-0.296, P > 0.05). The vascular tortuosity of the temporal retinal veins of premature infants with a history of oxygen inspiration was significantly higher than premature infants without a history of oxygen inspiration (t=2.517, P < 0.05), though no significant difference was found between the nasal veins (t=-0.261, P > 0.05). The vascular tortuosity of the temporal and nasal retinal veins of premature infants was both higher than neonate, but was not statistically significant (t=0.88, 1.50; P > 0.05). ConclusionsThe vascular tortuosity of the temporal veins was greater than the nasal veins in both full-term and premature infants, though no significant difference was found between superior and inferior veins. The vascular tortuosity of temporal veins of premature infants increased as birth weight decreased. The vascular tortuosity of the temporal retinal veins of premature infants with a history of oxygen inspiration was higher than premature infants without a history of oxygen inspiration.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of breastfeeding on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From June 2017 to December 2019, 1256 eyes of 628 premature infants who were born in Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital and were screened for ROP were included in the study. Among them, there were in 325 males (650 eyes) and 303 females (606 eyes). According to the feeding situation, premature infants were divided into breastfeeding (research) group and formula feeding (control) group, with 390 cases of 780 eyes and 238 cases of 476 eyes, respectively. The changes in the retina of the fundus of the two groups of premature infants during the observation period were compared. The qualitative data comparison between groups was performed by the χ2 test; the quantitative data comparison was performed by the two independent sample t test.ResultsThe sex ratio of premature infants in the study group and control group (χ2=0.217), birth weight (t=0.728), gestational age at birth (t=0.351), Apgar score at birth (t=0.816), oxygen inhalation time (t=0.427), were compared with the length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (t=1.580), the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05). Among the 390 cases in the study group, 108 cases (27.7%, 108/390) and 282 cases (72.3%, 282/390) were with or without ROP, respectively; in the 238 cases in the control group, 86 (36.1%, 86/238) were with ROP, 152 (63.9%, 152/238) cases were without ROP. There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of ROP between the two groups (χ2=4.934, P=0.026). Among the 108 cases of ROP in the study group, 50 (12.8%, 50/108), 35 (9.0%, 35/108), 23 (5.9%, 23/108) cases were in stage 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Among the 86 ROP cases in the control group, stages 1, 2 and 3 were 25 (10.5%, 25/86), 40 (16.8%, 40/86), and 21 (8.8%, 21/86), respectively. In the comparison of ROP staging between the two groups, the difference in stage 1 was not statistically significant (χ2=0.754, P＞0.05), and the difference in stage 2 and above was statistically significant (χ2=11.400, P＜0.05).ConclusionBreastfeeding may reduce the incidence and severity of ROP.
Kangaroo mother care has reduced mortality and morbidity in preterm and low birth weight infants and has many benefits, such as promoting breastfeeding. Based on the current evidence in China and internationally, we developed clinical practice guidelines for kangaroo mother care in preterm and low birth weight infants using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), and proposed 34 recommendations for 20 key questions. Our goal is to promote the appropriate implementation of kangaroo mother care in clinical practice.