2024
Pain/Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants
Zhao T, Chang X, Biswas S, Balsbaugh J, Liddle J, Chen M, Matson A, Alder N, Cong X. Pain/Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants. Developmental Neuroscience 2024, 46: 341-352. PMID: 38286121, PMCID: PMC11284246, DOI: 10.1159/000536509.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeonatal intensive care unitPreterm premature rupture of membranesNICU Network Neurobehavioral ScalePost-menstrual ageNeurodevelopmental outcomesPreterm infantsNeurobehavioral outcomesNeonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral ScaleNeonatal intensive care unit hospitalizationPremature rupture of membranesWeeks post-menstrual agePreterm premature ruptureRupture of membranesAssociated with neurobehavioral outcomesAssociated with protein levelsAdverse neurodevelopmental outcomesBuccal swabsOptimal neurodevelopmental outcomesProspective cohort studyIntensive care unitEvaluate protein expression levelsNeurobehavioral ScaleClinical characteristicsPretermMitochondrial function-related proteins
2023
Health disparities in preterm births
Brown J, Chang X, Matson A, Lainwala S, Chen M, Cong X, Casavant S. Health disparities in preterm births. Frontiers In Public Health 2023, 11: 1275776. PMID: 38162611, PMCID: PMC10757361, DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1275776.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPreterm birth rateNeonatal intensive care unitPreterm infantsPreterm birthNon-Hispanic white (WNeonatal Infant Stressor ScaleBirth rateClinical treatment informationHealth disparitiesImprove social determinants of healthIntensive care unitSocial determinants of healthOutcome inequalityDeterminants of healthImprove social determinantsElectronic health recordsNeurodevelopmental outcomesPretermHospital stayAdverse health outcomesAnthropometric measurementsLifesaving procedureLife course approachCross-sectional analysisCare unitThe Impact of Early Life Experiences and Gut Microbiota on Neurobehavioral Development in Preterm Infants: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Chen J, Li H, Zhao T, Chen K, Chen M, Sun Z, Xu W, Maas K, Lester B, Cong X. The Impact of Early Life Experiences and Gut Microbiota on Neurobehavioral Development in Preterm Infants: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Microorganisms 2023, 11: 814. PMID: 36985387, PMCID: PMC10056840, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030814.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeonatal intensive care unitNeonatal neurobehavioral scaleNeonatal intensive care unit hospitalizationOperational taxonomic unitsPreterm infantsPost-menstrual ageNeurobehavioral developmentGut microbiotaNeonatal intensive care unit admissionWeeks of post-menstrual ageFifty-five infantsDaily stool samplesIntensive care unitLongitudinal cohort studyImpact of early life experiencesNeurobehavioral ScalePretermPostnatal dayClinical featuresCohort studyEarly life experiencesStool samplesCare unitNeurobehavioral outcomesInfantsInvisible voices: experiences and perceptions of mothers and grandmothers caring for newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome
Lao A, Li T, Battaglia S, Berry J, Artigas V, Cong X. Invisible voices: experiences and perceptions of mothers and grandmothers caring for newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Interdisciplinary Nursing Research 2023, 2: 4-12. DOI: 10.1097/nr9.0000000000000011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHealth care providersCare providersOpioid use disorderNeonatal abstinence syndromeThematic content analysis approachHealth care staffQualitative narrative dataQualtrics online survey softwareContent analysis approachCross-sectional studyConvenience sampling methodOnline survey softwarePerceptions of mothersCare staffIncreased health risksQualitative componentQuantitative survey dataLack of knowledgeNewborn hospitalizationAbstinence syndromeIntensive care unitNarrative dataPrimary outcomeSurvey questionsCare
2022
Trends of fecal calprotectin levels and associations with early life experience in preterm infants
Xu W, Zhang Y, Zhao W, Chen J, Maas K, Hussain N, Henderson W, Cong X. Trends of fecal calprotectin levels and associations with early life experience in preterm infants. Interdisciplinary Nursing Research 2022, 1: 36-42. PMID: 36590866, PMCID: PMC9766919, DOI: 10.1097/nr9.0000000000000006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeonatal intensive care unitFecal calprotectin levelsPreterm infantsMother's own milkFecal calprotectinFCP levelsFCP concentrationsNeonatal intensive care unit hospitalizationBiomarker of mucosal inflammationPainful proceduresMaturation of immune systemImmune systemChronic pain proceduresInfluence immune activationHigher severity of illness scoresNoninvasive surrogate biomarkerAcute painful proceduresPediatric gastrointestinal disordersSeverity of illness scoresImmature immune systemIntensive care unitChildren's medical centerNon-white raceNICU hospitalizationCalprotectin levelsNurses’ experiences of caring for preterm infants in pain: A meta-ethnography
Zhao T, Starkweather A, Matson A, Lainwala S, Xu W, Cong X. Nurses’ experiences of caring for preterm infants in pain: A meta-ethnography. International Journal Of Nursing Sciences 2022, 9: 533-541. PMID: 36285076, PMCID: PMC9587390, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2022.09.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCare of preterm infantsNeonatal intensive care unitMeta-ethnographyPreterm infantsNurses' experiencesUnrelieved painPain assessmentLived experience of nursesConsequences of unrelieved painPain managementCritical Appraisal Skills ProgrammeExperiences of nursesAppraisal Skills ProgrammeQualitative dataImprove pain managementEffective pain managementLack of trainingNurse participantsNursing perspectiveNurses' understandingLiterature quality evaluationNursing researchNursesIntensive care unitSkills ProgrammeConducting Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Research During a Pandemic
Nist M, Casavant S, Dail R, Everhart K, Sealschott S, Cong X. Conducting Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Research During a Pandemic. Nursing Research 2022, 71: 147-152. PMID: 35212498, PMCID: PMC8881673, DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000564.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitIntensive care unitNurse scientistsCare unitHospital visitation restrictionsIntensive care unit researchVulnerable patient populationResearch studiesContinuation of research activitiesVisitation restrictionsPublic health crisisVisitor restrictionsParticipant recruitmentStudy participantsElectronic consentPresence of parentsPatient populationData collectionHealth crisisNational lockdownCoronavirus pandemicBarriersNursesCreative solutionsPandemic
2021
Multi-Omics Analysis on Neurodevelopment in Preterm Neonates
Casavant S, Chen J, Xu W, Lainwala S, Matson A, Chen M, Starkweather A, Maas K, Cong X. Multi-Omics Analysis on Neurodevelopment in Preterm Neonates. Nursing Research 2021, 70: 462-468. PMID: 34380978, PMCID: PMC8563389, DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000548.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPreterm infantsIntensive care unitNecrotizing enterocolitisFeeding intoleranceNeurodevelopmental impairmentNeonatal intensive care unit periodAdverse outcomesHost genetic variationIntestinal microbiomePreterm infants born <Care unitNeonatal intensive care unitInfants born <Weeks gestational ageGut microbiomeIntensive care unit periodFollow-up visitRegulation of intestinal healthPreterm neonatesGestational agePotential adverse outcomesNeurodevelopmental outcomesPain sensitivityPretermMulti-omics analysisPilot Study of Absolute Telomere Lengths in Preterm Infants
Casavant S, Li H, Reese B, Chen M, Cong X. Pilot Study of Absolute Telomere Lengths in Preterm Infants. Nursing Research 2021, 70: 481-486. PMID: 34173371, PMCID: PMC8563375, DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000535.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitPreterm infantsSample of preterm infantsAbsolute telomere lengthIncreased risk of neurodevelopmental disordersTelomere lengthAssociated with epigenetic alterationsRisk of neurodevelopmental disordersAssociated with painIntensive care unitPreterm infant samplesTime of dischargeBorn pretermInfant demographicsStudy of adultsAntibiotic usePretermPolymerase chain reactionPilot studyQuantitative polymerase chain reactionIncreased riskPainful proceduresShorter telomere lengthCare unitEpigenetic alterationsPositive Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care on Long-Term Breastfeeding Rates, Growth, and Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants
Wang Y, Zhao T, Zhang Y, Li S, Cong X. Positive Effects of Kangaroo Mother Care on Long-Term Breastfeeding Rates, Growth, and Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants. Breastfeeding Medicine 2021, 16: 282-291. PMID: 33533688, DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2020.0358.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitKangaroo mother careEffect of kangaroo mother careKangaroo mother care groupKMC infantsPositive effects of kangaroo mother careChinese NICUsControl groupPreterm infant-mother dyadsMonths of corrected ageMother careImpact of Kangaroo Mother CareBreastfeeding outcomesNeonatal behavioral neurological assessmentChinese preterm infantsMonths of CAKangaroo mother care practiceLong-term breastfeeding ratesPreterm infant healthBehavioral neurological assessmentInfant feeding regimensBody weightIntensive care unitRandomized controlled studyPhysical growthBehavioral and neuroanatomical outcomes following altered serotonin expression in a hypoxic-ischemic injury neonate rodent model.
Casavant S, Li H, Cong X, Starkweather A, Moore J, Rosenkrantz T, Fitch R. Behavioral and neuroanatomical outcomes following altered serotonin expression in a hypoxic-ischemic injury neonate rodent model. Journal Of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine 2021, 14: 353-360. PMID: 33164949, DOI: 10.3233/npm-200418.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitNeonatal rodent modelHypoxic-ischemicSLC6A4 methylationRodent modelsNeuroanatomical outcomesSSRI-treated subjectsWistar rat pupsSerotonin transporter proteinIntensive care unitIncreased incidence of autism spectrum disorderChronic SSRIBehavioral tasksHI injuryHemorrhagic eventsRat pupsIncidence of autism spectrum disordersSerotonin expressionSerotonin levelsPresence of injuryAssociated with methylationSSRIsTreated subjectsSham groupIncreased incidence
2020
Log-contrast regression with functional compositional predictors: Linking preterm infants’ gut microbiome trajectories to neurobehavioral outcome
Sun Z, Xu W, Cong X, Li G, Chen K. Log-contrast regression with functional compositional predictors: Linking preterm infants’ gut microbiome trajectories to neurobehavioral outcome. The Annals Of Applied Statistics 2020, 14: 1535-1556. PMID: 34163544, PMCID: PMC8218926, DOI: 10.1214/20-aoas1357.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeonatal intensive care unitPreterm infantsNeurobehavioral outcomesPreterm infant studyWeeks of post-menstrual ageVery preterm neonatesPost-menstrual ageIntensive care unitInfant studiesMicrobiome markersIdentified microbiome markersStressful early life experiencesBrain-gut axisPreterm neonatesPostnatal ageInfant fecal samplesPretermInfant neurodevelopmentInfant's first monthCare unitPostnatal stagesInfantsGut microbiome compositionEstimated time dynamicsFirst month
2019
Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative study
Yang Y, Brandon D, Lu H, Cong X. Breastfeeding experiences and perspectives on support among Chinese mothers separated from their hospitalized preterm infants: a qualitative study. International Breastfeeding Journal 2019, 14: 45. PMID: 31695726, PMCID: PMC6824106, DOI: 10.1186/s13006-019-0242-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitPreterm infantsHospitalized preterm infantsMothers of preterm infantsMaternal-infant separationHigh-risk infantsExpressed breast milkIntensive care unitBreastfeeding experienceMother-infant attachmentCare unitBreast milkInfantsBreastfeedingMilk supplyPretermDescriptive studyMothersConclusionsThe studyMethodsA qualitative descriptive studyChinese mothersHealth professional supportNeonatesDifficulties mothersBabiesAssociations between preterm infant stress, epigenetic alteration, telomere length and neurodevelopmental outcomes: A systematic review
Casavant S, Cong X, Moore J, Starkweather A. Associations between preterm infant stress, epigenetic alteration, telomere length and neurodevelopmental outcomes: A systematic review. Early Human Development 2019, 131: 63-74. PMID: 30870624, DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.03.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAngiomotinsBrain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorEpigenesis, GeneticHumansInfant, NewbornInfant, PrematureInsulin-Like Growth Factor IIIntensive Care Units, NeonatalIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsMembrane ProteinsMicrofilament ProteinsNeurodevelopmental DisordersNF-KappaB Inhibitor alphaReceptors, GlucocorticoidStress, PhysiologicalTacrolimus Binding ProteinsTelomereConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitPreterm infantsEpigenetic alterationsAssociated with increased riskLong-term outcome measuresTelomere erosionIntensive care unitBorn pretermTelomere lengthPreterm birthNeurodevelopmental outcomesPretermDisease entityPainful proceduresCare unitPreferred Reporting ItemsInfant stressHuman studiesLife-saving careTherapeutic interventionsOutcome measuresPsychiatric diseasesEarly detectionSystematic reviewReporting ItemsAllostatic Load and Biomarkers of Stress in the Preterm Infant: An Integrative Review
Casavant S, Cong X, Fitch R, Moore J, Rosenkrantz T, Starkweather A. Allostatic Load and Biomarkers of Stress in the Preterm Infant: An Integrative Review. Biological Research For Nursing 2019, 21: 210-223. PMID: 30654634, DOI: 10.1177/1099800418824415.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitPreterm infantsLong-term outcome measuresMarkers of oxidative stressIntensive care unitBorn pretermNociceptive inputNonnoxious stimuliBrain-gut-microbiome axisPretermPainful proceduresCare unitHuman studiesInclusion criteriaLife-saving careTherapeutic interventionsInfantsOutcome measuresEarly detectionTime pointsBiomarkersActivation of stress responsesCortisol levelsOxidative stressSystematic search
2017
Increase in Oxytocin From Skin-to-Skin Contact Enhances Development of Parent–Infant Relationship
Vittner D, McGrath J, Robinson J, Lawhon G, Cusson R, Eisenfeld L, Walsh S, Young E, Cong X. Increase in Oxytocin From Skin-to-Skin Contact Enhances Development of Parent–Infant Relationship. Biological Research For Nursing 2017, 20: 54-62. PMID: 29017336, DOI: 10.1177/1099800417735633.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSkin-to-skin contactNeonatal intensive care unitStable preterm infantsOT levelsSkin-to-skinParent-infant contactIntensive care unitRandomized crossover studySC levelsPreterm infantsHigher OT levelsCrossover studyOT releaseParental OTParental anxiety scoresDay 1Care unitSalivary cortisolPre-SSCInfant stressInfantsPost-SSCParent-infant interactionOxytocinSaliva samplesThe impact of cumulative pain/stress on neurobehavioral development of preterm infants in the NICU
Cong X, Wu J, Vittner D, Xu W, Hussain N, Galvin S, Fitzsimons M, McGrath J, Henderson W. The impact of cumulative pain/stress on neurobehavioral development of preterm infants in the NICU. Early Human Development 2017, 108: 9-16. PMID: 28343092, PMCID: PMC5444300, DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2017.03.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitPreterm infantsNeurobehavioral outcomesNeurobehavioral development of preterm infantsOutcomes of preterm infantsDevelopment of preterm infantsSkin-to-skin holdingVulnerable preterm infantsIntensive care unitProspective exploratory studyInfant developmental outcomesNeurodevelopmental outcomesAltered neurodevelopmentNeurobehavioral developmentCare unitNeuroprotective strategiesInfantsAssociated with habituationAcute eventPretermEarly lifeOutcomesNeurodevelopmentDevelopmental outcomesCumulative timeInfluence of Feeding Type on Gut Microbiome Development in Hospitalized Preterm Infants
Cong X, Judge M, Xu W, Diallo A, Janton S, Brownell E, Maas K, Graf J. Influence of Feeding Type on Gut Microbiome Development in Hospitalized Preterm Infants. Nursing Research 2017, 66: 123-133. PMID: 28252573, PMCID: PMC5334772, DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000208.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGut microbial colonizationMother's own milkPreterm infantsGut microbiomeMicrobial diversityDiversity of gut microbiomeFeeding typeGut microbial diversityGut microbiome developmentGut microbiome compositionMicrobial community patternsAbundance of EnterobacterialesIncreased microbial diversityDevelopment of preterm infantsAbundance of ClostridialesNeonatal intensive care unitBirth gestational ageStable preterm infantsRRNA genePostnatal day 0Community patternsMicrobiome compositionIntensive care unitMicrobial patternsMicrobiome developmentFKBP5 genotype and early life stress exposure predict neurobehavioral outcomes for preterm infants
D'Agata A, Walsh S, Vittner D, Cong X, McGrath J, Young E. FKBP5 genotype and early life stress exposure predict neurobehavioral outcomes for preterm infants. Developmental Psychobiology 2017, 59: 410-418. PMID: 28247564, DOI: 10.1002/dev.21507.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitNeurobehavioral outcomesNeonatal intensive care unit stressNeonatal intensive care unit careFKBP5 genotypeIntensive care unitEarly life stress exposureStress response-associated genesGenetic susceptibility to stressInfant neurobehavioral developmentPreterm infantsImpact of genetic variationNeurodevelopmental impairmentResponse-associated genesLife stress exposureNeurobehavioral developmentCare unitEnvironmental risk factorsRisk factorsInfant problemsAssociated with neurobehavioral outcomesStatistical analysisPretermSusceptibility to stressStress exposureUNPACKING THE BURDEN OF CARE FOR INFANTS IN THE NICU
D'Agata A, Sanders M, Grasso D, Young E, Cong X, Mcgrath J. UNPACKING THE BURDEN OF CARE FOR INFANTS IN THE NICU. Infant Mental Health Journal 2017, 38: 306-317. PMID: 28236329, DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21636.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal intensive care unitNeonatal intensive care unit infantsLong-term outcomesIntensive care unitNewborn periodPainful medical proceduresCare unitNeuroprotective strategiesInfantsPreverbal stage of developmentClinical articlesEarly lifeInfant experienceMedical proceduresAdverse childhood eventsMedical traumaStages of development