Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a potential complication of prematurity, which lead to systemic inflammation and is associated with high rates of morbi-mortality, including poor neurodevelopment. The pathogenesis of NEC is not entirely understood, we know that there are factors that can act as triggers and others that can prevent it. Some are better known than others and more research is needed to reduce their incidence and prevalence in neonatal units. Furthermore, by decreasing the incidence of NEC, we could also reduce the incidence of other morbidities, which include the inflammation process as a part of their pathogenesis, like bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity.
This special issue is of particular interest in deepening the knowledge of more known factors that may affect NEC such as enteral feeding, breastfeeding, donor milk, probiotics, and others not so well known.
This Research Topic welcomes research on, but not limited to:
- Antenatal, perinatal and postnatal risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses).
- Antenatal, perinatal and postnatal protective factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses).
- Risk/protective factors for necrotizing enterocolitis associated mortality and co-morbidity (i.e. brain, lung, eye injury, growth impairment). (original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses).
- Original research both clinical and experimental or systematic reviews and meta-analyses, on any subject related to necrotizing enterocolitis pathogenesis, epidemiology (risk factors, prevention) and preventive strategies, including early diagnosis strategies and pathology. This includes, but not only, issues related to pre and perinatal factors, anemia, transfusions, feeding, milk, microbiome, antibiotic exposure, early hypoxemia, ischemia or inflammation, gut barrier function and dysfunction, the role of new or old but refined diagnostic techniques (US, NIRS, vital signs monitoring and AI, gastric residuals evaluations), etc.
Articles mainly based on treatment and short and long-term outcomes are beyond the scope of the proposed issue.
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a potential complication of prematurity, which lead to systemic inflammation and is associated with high rates of morbi-mortality, including poor neurodevelopment. The pathogenesis of NEC is not entirely understood, we know that there are factors that can act as triggers and others that can prevent it. Some are better known than others and more research is needed to reduce their incidence and prevalence in neonatal units. Furthermore, by decreasing the incidence of NEC, we could also reduce the incidence of other morbidities, which include the inflammation process as a part of their pathogenesis, like bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity.
This special issue is of particular interest in deepening the knowledge of more known factors that may affect NEC such as enteral feeding, breastfeeding, donor milk, probiotics, and others not so well known.
This Research Topic welcomes research on, but not limited to:
- Antenatal, perinatal and postnatal risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses).
- Antenatal, perinatal and postnatal protective factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses).
- Risk/protective factors for necrotizing enterocolitis associated mortality and co-morbidity (i.e. brain, lung, eye injury, growth impairment). (original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses).
- Original research both clinical and experimental or systematic reviews and meta-analyses, on any subject related to necrotizing enterocolitis pathogenesis, epidemiology (risk factors, prevention) and preventive strategies, including early diagnosis strategies and pathology. This includes, but not only, issues related to pre and perinatal factors, anemia, transfusions, feeding, milk, microbiome, antibiotic exposure, early hypoxemia, ischemia or inflammation, gut barrier function and dysfunction, the role of new or old but refined diagnostic techniques (US, NIRS, vital signs monitoring and AI, gastric residuals evaluations), etc.
Articles mainly based on treatment and short and long-term outcomes are beyond the scope of the proposed issue.