Growth and developmental outcomes of the extremely preterm infant

Objetive: To provide information for pediatricians and neonatologists to create realistic outcome expectations and thus help plan their actions. Sources of data: Searches were made of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and Lilacs databases. Summary of the findings: The assessment of growth and development over the first 2-3 years must adjust chronological age with respect of the degree of prematurity. There is special concern regarding the prognoses of small for gestational age preterm infants, and for those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Attention must be directed towards improving the nutrition of extremely low birth weight infants during their first years of life; these infants have high prevalence levels of failure to catch-up on growth, diseases and rehospitalizations during their first 2 years. They are frequently underweight and shorter than expected during early childhood, but delayed catch-up growth may occur between 8 and 14 years. Extremely low birth weight infants are at increased risk of neurological abnormalities and developmental delays during their first years of life. Educational, psychological, and behavioral problems are frequent during school years. Teenage and adult outcomes show that although some performance differences persist, social integration is not impaired. Conclusions: The growth and neurodevelopment of all ELBW infants must be carefully monitored after discharge, to ensure that children and their families receive adequate support and intervention to optimize prognoses. Copyright © 2005 by Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria.

Apert syndrome: Factors involved in the cognitive development

Apert syndrome is characterized by craniosynostosis, symmetric syndactyly and other systemic malformations, with mental retardation usually present. The objective of this study was to correlate brain malformations and timing for surgery with neuropsychological evaluation. We also tried to determine other relevant aspects involved in cognitive development of these patients such as social classification of families and parents' education. Eighteen patients with Apert syndrome were studied, whose ages were between 14 and 322 months. Brain abnormalities were observed in 55.6% of them. The intelligence quotient or developmental quotient values observed were between 45 and 108. Mental development was related to the quality of family environment and parents' education. Mental development was not correlated to brain malformation or age at time of operation. In conclusion, quality of family environment was the most significant factor directly involved in mental development of patients with Apert syndrome.

Information technology for development of small and medium-sized exporters in Latin America and East Asia

Includes bibliography

Development of eco-efficient and sustainable urban infrastructure in Asia and Latin America: eco-efficiency and sustainable infrastructure in the United States and Canada

Incluye bibliografía

E-commerce and export promotion policies for small- and medium-sized enterprises: East Asian and Latin American experiences

Includes bibliography

Export promotion policies in CARICOM: main issues, effects and implications

Includes bibliography

Trade and investment promotion between Asia-Pacific and Latin America: present position and future prospects

Includes bibliography

Is the Czech economy a success story?: the case of CzechInvest, the strategic promotion agency in Czech industrial restructuring

Includes Bibliography

Good practices in monitoring and reporting on the Millennium Development Goals: National lessons from Latin America

Includes bibliography

Caribbean tourism and agriculture: linking to enhance development and competitiveness

Includes bibliography

First Europe-Latin America Dialogue on Promotion of Energy Efficiency

Includes bibliography

ECLAC and the sustainable development of the energy sector: summary

Includes bibliography

Industrial policy and promotion of competitiveness

Includes bibliography

Export promotion policies in Central America

Includes bibliography

Quality management promotion to improve competitiveness

Includes bibliography