Biomolecules in Preterm Infants: Role in Physiology, Disease and Therapies

Dear Colleagues,

Preterm birth affects over 15 million newborns each year and is the main contributor of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Complications of preterm birth is responsible for the death of approximately 1 million children each year and contributes to approximately 40% of all deaths under the age of five [1–3].

Importantly, rapid development in neonatal care has enabled the survival of an increasing number of infants born premature. Unfortunately, premature birth, and particularly extremely preterm birth (i.e., infants <28 weeks gestational age), is accompanied by a high risk for developing severe neonatal morbidity, such as intraventricular hemorrhage, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia [4].

Additional studies are needed to increase the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in normal development as well as pathophysiological processes and will be essential in developing therapeutic and preventive options to continue progress in the care of preterm/extremely preterm infants.

This Special Issue encourage submissions of original articles, reviews, and communications on any aspects of these topics. Basic research, in vitro and in vivo investigations, preclinical pharmacology studies, as well as clinical observational and intervention studies are welcome.

References:

1. Lawn, J.E.; Kinney, M.V.; Black, R.E.; Pitt, C.; Cousens, S.; Kerber, K.; Corbett, E.; Moran, A.C.; Morrissey, C.S.; Oestergaard, M.Z. Newborn survival: a multi-country analysis of a decade of change. Health Policy Plan 2012, 27 Suppl 3, 6–28, doi:10.1093/heapol/czs053.
2. Nour, N.M. Premature delivery and the millennium development goal. Rev Obstet Gynecol 2012, 5, 100–105.
3. Liu, L.; Oza, S.; Hogan, D.; Chu, Y.; Perin, J.; Zhu, J.; Lawn, J.E.; Cousens, S.; Mathers, C.; Black, R.E. Global, regional, and national causes of under-5 mortality in 2000-15: an updated systematic analysis with implications for the Sustainable Development Goals. Lancet 2016, 388, 3027–3035, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31593-8.
4. Norman, M.; Hallberg, B.; Abrahamsson, T.; Björklund, L.J.; Domellöf, M.; Farooqi, A.; Foyn Bruun, C.; Gadsboll, C.; Hellström-Westas, L.; Ingemansson, F.; et al. Association Between Year of Birth and 1-Year Survival Among Extremely Preterm Infants in Sweden During 2004-2007 and 2014-2016. JAMA 2019, 321, 1188–1199, doi:10.1001/jama.2019.2021.

Dr. Magnus Gram
Guest Editor

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• preterm birth
• extremely preterm birth
• neonatal mortality and morbidity
• biomolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids)
• molecular characterization
• pathophysiology
• therapeutic strategies
• pharmaceutical biomolecules