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 levels
2021
Pilot 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 alterations
2019
Associations 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
2018
Neonatal Pain Perceptions and Current Practice
Perry M, Tan Z, Chen J, Weidig T, Xu W, Cong X. Neonatal Pain Perceptions and Current Practice. Critical Care Nursing Clinics Of North America 2018, 30: 549-561. PMID: 30447813, PMCID: PMC6570422, DOI: 10.1016/j.cnc.2018.07.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeonatal painHypersensitivity to painful stimuliAssessment of neonatal painEfficacy of analgesiaPoorly treated painImmature nervous systemPain perceptionPainful stimuliPharmacological treatmentNeonatesPainPainful proceduresLong-term consequencesNervous systemNonpharmacological treatmentsNonpharmacological interventionsTreatmentNegative long-term consequencesAnalgesia
2015
Maternal and Paternal Knowledge and Perceptions Regarding Infant Pain in the NICU
Vazquez V, Cong X, DeJong A. Maternal and Paternal Knowledge and Perceptions Regarding Infant Pain in the NICU. Neonatal Network The Journal Of Neonatal Nursing 2015, 34: 337-344. PMID: 26803015, DOI: 10.1891/0730-0832.34.6.337.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfant painInfant pain managementPain managementInfant corrected ageSelf-efficacyCorrected ageParental knowledgeInvestigate parental knowledgeModerate to high self-efficacyResearcher-developed questionnairePainPainful proceduresHigher self-efficacyNICUPerceptions of self-efficacyInfantsParents' perceptionsAdequate knowledgeAgePaternal knowledgeSatisfactionParents
2011
Kangaroo Care and Behavioral and Physiologic Pain Responses in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Twins: A Case Study
Cong X, Cusson R, Hussain N, Zhang D, Kelly S. Kangaroo Care and Behavioral and Physiologic Pain Responses in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Twins: A Case Study. Pain Management Nursing 2011, 13: 127-138. PMID: 22929600, DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2010.10.035.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPreterm Infant Pain ProfilePhysiological pain responsesHeel stickPain responseKangaroo careInfant BVery-low-birth-weightPainful proceduresGestational age twinsIncidence of apneaLF/HF ratioSympathetic-parasympathetic balanceHeart rate variability indicesPreterm infantsIncubator careLow-frequency powerPain ProfilePain scoresHigh-frequency powerCrying timeBradycardia episodesBaseline levelsInfantsPretermIC conditions
2009
Kangaroo Care modifies preterm infant heart rate variability in response to heel stick pain: Pilot study
Cong X, Ludington-Hoe S, McCain G, Fu P. Kangaroo Care modifies preterm infant heart rate variability in response to heel stick pain: Pilot study. Early Human Development 2009, 85: 561-567. PMID: 19505775, PMCID: PMC2742959, DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2009.05.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHeel stick painKangaroo careHeel stickPreterm infantsIncubator careHeart rate variabilityPainful proceduresNeonatal intensive care unitMother-infant skin-to-skin contactSkin-to-skin contactWeeks gestational ageInfant heart rate variabilityDays postnatal ageLF/HF ratioInfant behavioral stateResponse to painIntensive care unitHeart rate variability differencesEffects of KCResponses to painful proceduresRate variabilityGestational ageInfant painPostnatal ageHeel warming