This thesis describes the results of the Leiden Follow-Up Project on Prematurity (LFUPP): a prospective study in three health regions in the Netherlands, which included all live born infants with... Show moreThis thesis describes the results of the Leiden Follow-Up Project on Prematurity (LFUPP): a prospective study in three health regions in the Netherlands, which included all live born infants with gestational age (GA) <32 weeks, born in 1996/1997. Mortality, neonatal morbidity and the neurological examination as well as mental and psychomotor development according to the BSID I are described until the corrected age of 2 years. Special attention is paid to the infants with GA <27 weeks and the ethics of maintaining these extremely preterm infants. Growth (length, weight and head circumference) until 2 years of age is compared with the Dutch reference group. The influence of preterm growth restraint is compared with the influence of intrauterine growth restriction. The development and respiratory status at 2 years of age in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia are described. Finally, a comparison was made between the outcome of 2 cohorts, POPS (1983) and LFUPP (1996/1997) at time of hospital discharge and at 2 years of age. Show less
In the Naturales Quaestiones, the Roman philosopher Seneca discusses several natural phenomena in different books. These books are introduced and concluded by mainly moralizing prefaces and... Show moreIn the Naturales Quaestiones, the Roman philosopher Seneca discusses several natural phenomena in different books. These books are introduced and concluded by mainly moralizing prefaces and epilogues. Scholars disagree about the question how, and to what extent, the different parts of the work are related to each other. In my dissertation, I have adduced material that had not yet been used for the understanding of the Naturales Quaestiones. Thus, I have studied the literary conventions of antiquity concerning prefaces, and concluded, among other things, that in certain genres it was possible to write a preface that was unconnected to the work that followed. I have also placed the Naturales Quaestiones in the context of the discussion about the moral relevance of the study of nature in antiquity. The main part of my dissertation is devoted to a study of the text of the prefaces and epilogues: in my opinion, these texts, which often have a repetitive character, should be understood in the context of Seneca's moral philosophy. For instance, in the preface to his discussion of earthquakes, Seneca emphasizes that earthquakes may happen at any moment or place: this insight is supposed to strengthen man against his fear of dying in an earthquake. Show less
