title: Postnatal "speed of sound" decline in preterm infants: an exploratory study.
abstract: "Speed of sound" (SOS), measured by quantitative ultrasound, is a noninvasive method of assessing bone status. At expected term and 1, 2, and 3 months of corrected age, bone status and body fat mass were assessed by quantitative ultrasound and by an air-displacement system in 53 preterm infants to explore whether longitudinal changes in bone health were influenced by body fat mass. SOS decreased within the first month of corrected age. Body fat mass increased significantly. No correlation between SOS and body fat mass was found. SOS was not influenced by changes in body fat mass. The decline in SOS may be ascribed to bone structure factors.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Institute of Pediatrics and Neonatology, University Medical School, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milano, Italy. roggero@unimi.it
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roggero
authors.forename: Maria Lorella
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Giannì
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orsi
authors.forename: Pasqua
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piemontese
authors.forename: Orsola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Puricelli
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000367:Age Factors; D015519:Bone Density; D001846:Bone Development; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D014463:Ultrasonography