Neonatal intensive care units: is the level of utilization still paralleled by infant mortality?
We found no difference in infant mortality (odds ratio 1.0) among<2500 g newborns residing in regions characterized by a large difference in tertiary NICU utilization. Nevertheless, the limited sample size did not permit specific analyses of lower birthweight (e.g.<1500 g) newborns. Replication of such research in other settings based on larger samples is needed.
Maternal obesity is not only associated with maternal alterations in TH, but with accompanying neonatal changes. Because both maternal obesity and alterations in TH levels are associated with childhood obesity, based on these findings and our prior analyses in a nonhuman primate model, we propose that changes in fT3 levels in the offspring of obese mothers may be a potential molecular mediator of foetal overgrowth and childhood obesity.