MRI (T1- and T2-weighed imaging) scans were obtained within the 4–7 days after birth [34 (link)–36 (link)] when the vital sign of the children was relatively stable. All infants were scanned with a 1.5-T Magnetom Avanto MRI system (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany), including MRI plain0 T1WI and T2WI scans. T1WI sequence parameters: RF pulse repetition time 585 ms, echo time 15 ms. T2WI sequence parameters: RF pulse repetition time 4000 ms, echo time 102 ms, a layer thickness of 4 mm, layer spacing of 0.4 mm, and field of view of 20 × 20 cm. All MRIs in this study were read independently by two radiologists who specialized in neuroimaging, and they discussed their findings together. The basal ganglia/watershed scores were determined as proposed by Barkovich et al. [37 (link)]: 0 = no abnormalities in the basal ganglia or cortex; 1 = an abnormal signal in the basal ganglia or thalamus; 2 = an abnormal signal in the cortex; 3 = an abnormal signal in the cortex and basal nuclei (basal ganglia or thalami); 4 = an abnormal signal in the entire cortex and basal nuclei. All images and qualitative scores were assessed by an experienced radiologist, who was blinded to the serum NSE levels and clinical data.
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