Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common morbidity complicating preterm birth. The soluble receptor for advanced glycosylated end-products (sRAGE) is impilicated in the development of various disease such as pulmonary diseases. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the perinatal factors associated with serum sRAGE levels at birth and to establish whether serum sRAGE levels at birth could be potential biomarkers for BPD. Methods: A total of 124 subjects included 84 preterm and 40 healthy infants were included in this study. Among 84 infants born at less than 32 weeks were categorized into BPD neonates (n=34) and non-BPD infants (n=50). The median serum sRAGE levels in cord blood were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: There were significant positive correlations between gestational age, birth weight, and serum sRAGE levels at birth. Among preterm infants born at less than 32 weeks, serum sRAGE levels at birth were significantly lower in infants with BPD than without. However, serum RAGE levels were not associated with severity of BPD. Conclusions: Serum sRAGE levels at birth were significantly correlated with BW and GA. Furthermore, serum sRAGE levels at birth could serve as a biomarker for predicting BPD, but not its severity.

Background: Globally, the incidence of allergic diseases is increasing along with cesarean delivery rates. Data regarding the association between cesarean delivery and allergic diseases are inconsistent. Here, we aimed to clarify the association between cesarean delivery and the development of asthma, atopic dermatitis, wheezing, and eczema. Methods: We used data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. The data included were those of 104,065 fetal records and their children. Information about the mode of delivery, asthma, atopic dermatitis, wheezing, and eczema was obtained from questionnaires and medical record transcripts. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between cesarean delivery and asthma, atopic dermatitis, wheezing, and eczema risk among infants at 1 year of age. Results: We included 74,639 subjects in this study, wherein 18.4% underwent cesarean deliveries. After adjusting for the perinatal, socioeconomic, and postnatal confounding factors, children born by cesarean delivery had no increased risk of developing asthma [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84–1.08], atopic dermatitis (95% CI, 0.92–1.13), wheezing (95% CI, 0.94–1.04), or eczema (95% CI, 0.94–1.05). Conclusions: This nationwide cohort study found no association between cesarean delivery and asthma, atopic dermatitis, wheezing, and eczema among infants at 1 year of age. However, further studies are needed to evaluate whether cesarean delivery plays a role in the development of allergic diseases.