Neonatal Disease: From Pathophysiology to Current and Emerging Therapeutic Approaches (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Biology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 5339

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In light of the remarkable advancements in perinatal and neonatal care, we have witnessed a significant reduction in neonatal and infant mortality rates. Yet, challenges persist, as some infants grapple with neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and other complications despite receiving standard treatments. While fetal therapy, cell therapy, therapeutic medical gases, and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have emerged as promising avenues for addressing neonatal diseases, there remains a pressing need for a deeper comprehension of the underlying pathophysiology and the development of novel treatment modalities tailored to this intricate landscape.

We invite distinguished researchers to contribute their original research and comprehensive review articles that delve into the recent breakthroughs in understanding the pathophysiology of neonatal diseases. Additionally, we are eager to receive submissions that shed light on innovative therapeutic approaches and their profound impact on the well-being of afflicted children. We also extend an invitation to researchers exploring the molecular mechanisms underpinning pharmacological interventions in neonatal care.

We earnestly seek original, high-quality contributions that have not been previously published elsewhere nor are currently under review by other esteemed journals or peer-reviewed conferences. Your expertise and insights will undoubtedly enrich the discourse surrounding neonatal healthcare and ultimately pave the way for improved outcomes in neonatal medicine.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and fostering a platform for exchanging knowledge that will undoubtedly shape the future of neonatal care.

Dr. Fumihiko Namba
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fetal therapy
  • neonatal diseases
  • pathophysiology
  • innovative therapeutic approaches

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 849 KiB  
Article
Fetal Hemoglobin as a Predictive Biomarker for Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study in Portugal
by Mariza Fevereiro-Martins, Laura Aguiar, Ângela Inácio, Carlos Cardoso, Ana Carolina Santos, Carlos Marques-Neves, Hercília Guimarães, Rui Pinto and Manuel Bicho
Biomedicines 2025, 13(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13010110 - 6 Jan 2025
Viewed by 947
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of vision impairment in preterm infants, with its pathogenesis linked to oxygen exposure. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, commonly performed in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), reduce fetal hemoglobin (HbF) fraction, altering oxygen dynamics [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of vision impairment in preterm infants, with its pathogenesis linked to oxygen exposure. Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, commonly performed in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), reduce fetal hemoglobin (HbF) fraction, altering oxygen dynamics and potentially contributing to ROP. We aimed to investigate the relationship between RBC transfusions, HbF percentage, and ROP, evaluating HbF as a potential predictive biomarker. Methods: A multicenter, prospective study was conducted across eight Portuguese NICUs, involving infants born at <32 weeks gestational age (GA) or <1500 g. ROP staging followed the International Classification of ROP (ICROP2). Clinical data were collected during hospitalization, and HbF fractions were measured from blood samples in the first four weeks of life using standardized methods. Infants were stratified by ROP presence and treatment requirement. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 28.0, with p < 0.05. Results: Eighty-two infants (mean GA: 28.1 ± 2.1 weeks, birth weight: 1055.8 ± 258.3 g) were included. Among them, 29 (35.4%) presented ROP and 4 (4.9%) required treatment. Infants with ROP had more RBC transfusions and lower HbF percentages than those without ROP (p < 0.05). Lower HbF was associated with more RBC transfusions (p < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed a higher ROP risk in infants with reduced HbF (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Low HbF percentage in the first four weeks of life may increase ROP risk in preterm infants. HbF could serve as a biomarker for ROP prediction. Interventions preserving HbF may reduce ROP risk. Further studies are needed to validate HbF as a biomarker and refine prevention strategies. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 13088 KiB  
Article
Structural Disruption of Cilia and Increased Cytoplasmic Tubulin in Biliary Atresia—An Exploratory Study Focusing on Early Postoperative Prognosis Following Portoenterostomy
by Patrícia Quelhas, Rui Oliveira, Carlos Kieling, Sandra Vieira and Jorge dos Santos
Biomedicines 2025, 13(1), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13010087 - 1 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1077
Abstract
Introduction: Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive hepatobiliary disease in infants, leading to liver failure and the need for transplantation. While its etiopathogenesis remains unclear, recent studies suggest primary cilia (PC) disruption plays a role. This study investigates correlations between PC and cytoplasmic [...] Read more.
Introduction: Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive hepatobiliary disease in infants, leading to liver failure and the need for transplantation. While its etiopathogenesis remains unclear, recent studies suggest primary cilia (PC) disruption plays a role. This study investigates correlations between PC and cytoplasmic tubulin (TUBA4A) alterations with hypoxia in patients with the isolated form of BA, focusing on native liver survival. Methods: Using qualitative and quantitative digital image analysis of immunofluorescence-stained liver samples, we assessed PC and TUBA4A features correlating these findings with HIF-1α nuclear positivity, clinical–laboratory data, and early native liver survival. Liver samples from fourteen BA patients and six controls with another liver disease were analyzed by digital image analysis, with data evaluated using Spearman’s correlation and independent t-tests. Results: HIF-1α positivity in cholangiocytes was observed in 42.8% of BA patients. While the PC ratio per biliary structure (cilia ratio status, CRs) was similar between BA patients and controls, PC length was decreased in BA patients. Cytoplasmic TUBA4A levels were elevated in BA patients. CRs positively correlated with lower cytoplasmic TUBA4A expression and was higher in patients without HIF-1α nuclear positivity. Reduced cilia length correlated with higher bilirubin levels at portoenterostomy. Predictors of early poor prognosis (death or need for transplantation until 1 year of life) included HIF-1α positivity, elevated direct bilirubin levels, decreased cilia length, PC bending, and increased TUBA4A expression. Conclusions: Reduced PC length, PC bending, and increased intensity of cytoplasmic TUBA4A expression occur in the isolated BA clinical type and negatively impact the early prognosis after post-portoenterostomy. These findings suggest the existence of a disruption in the tubulin transport between cytoplasm and PC. The detrimental effect of HIF-1alpha pathway activation over early native liver survival was confirmed, although independently from PC or cytoplasmic tubulin features. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1022 KiB  
Article
Early Transpyloric Tube Feeding in Preventing Adverse Respiratory Events in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants
by Shinya Tanaka, Fumihiko Namba, Ken Nagaya, Naohiro Yonemoto, Shinya Hirano, Itaru Yanagihara, Hiroyuki Kitajima and Masanori Fujimura
Biomedicines 2024, 12(12), 2799; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122799 - 10 Dec 2024
Viewed by 990
Abstract
Background: It has been demonstrated that aspiration during endotracheal intubation in preterm infants with gastroesophageal reflux is a contributing factor in the worsening of lung diseases and the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study aims to compare the safety and efficacy of [...] Read more.
Background: It has been demonstrated that aspiration during endotracheal intubation in preterm infants with gastroesophageal reflux is a contributing factor in the worsening of lung diseases and the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study aims to compare the safety and efficacy of early transpyloric (TP) tube feeding with that of nasogastric (NG) tube feeding in relation to BPD. Methods: The study population consisted of 39 extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) with mechanical ventilation and an enteral feeding volume of 50 mL/kg/day, which were randomly assigned to different groups based on the method of tube feeding. The primary outcome was the incidence of adverse events. Results: The hazard ratio for primary adverse events was significantly lower in the TP group. The TP group had a median time of 34 days (range 24–85) and the NG group 24 days (range 13–70). In general, neither group exhibited severe intestinal complications or poor growth. Conclusions: Early TP tube feeding may be a safer alternative method of NG tube feeding for intubated ELBWIs and has been shown to reduce the frequency of adverse respiratory events. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 1832 KiB  
Review
Insights into the Global and Mexican Context of Placental-Derived Pregnancy Complications
by Erika Chavira-Suárez
Biomedicines 2025, 13(3), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13030595 - 1 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1532
Abstract
Placental-derived pregnancy complications encompass a range of disorders that hinder optimal fetal development, significantly impacting maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Key conditions include placental insufficiency, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction (FGR) or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), fetal overgrowth, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which [...] Read more.
Placental-derived pregnancy complications encompass a range of disorders that hinder optimal fetal development, significantly impacting maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Key conditions include placental insufficiency, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction (FGR) or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), fetal overgrowth, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which together contribute to a heightened risk of preterm birth, perinatal mortality, and long-term developmental challenges in affected infants. These complications are particularly notable because they generate approximately 80% of pregnancy disorders and pose significant public health concerns across diverse global contexts. Their management continues to face challenges, including a lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria and varied implementation of care standards. While imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Doppler ultrasound have emerged as critical tools in clinical assessment, disparities in access to such technologies exacerbate existing inequalities in maternal and fetal health outcomes. Maternal and pregnancy care is a broad range of services aimed at promoting the well-being of women throughout the perinatal period. However, access to these services is often limited by economic, geographical, and sociocultural barriers, particularly for marginalized groups and women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The implementation of targeted interventions designed to address specific obstacles faced by disadvantaged populations is a crucial component of bridging the gap in health equity in maternal care. Public health authorities and policymakers strive to develop evidence-based strategies that address the interplay between healthcare access, socioeconomic factors, and effective interventions in order to mitigate the adverse effects of placental-derived pregnancy complications. Continued research and data collection are essential to inform future policies and practices to improve outcomes for mothers and infants. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop