Feeding Choice Research Articles

Genetic Variation in Trophic Avoidance Behaviour Shows Fruit Flies are Generally Attracted to Bacterial Substrates.

Pathogen avoidance behaviours are often assumed to be an adaptive host defence. However, there is limited experimental data on heritable, intrapopulation phenotypic variation for avoidance, a strong prerequisite for adaptive responses to selection. We investigated trophic pathogen avoidance in 122 inbred Drosophila melanogaster lines, and in a derived outbred population. Using the FlyPAD system, we tracked the feeding choice that flies made between substrates that were either clean or contained a bacterial pathogen. We uncovered significant, but weakly heritable variation in the preference index amongst fly lines. However, instead of avoidance, most lines demonstrated a preference for substrates containing several bacterial pathogens, showing avoidance only for extremely high bacterial concentrations. Bacterial preference was not associated with susceptibility to infection and was retained in flies with disrupted immune signalling. Phenotype-genotype association analysis indicated several novel genes (CG2321, CG2006, and ptp99A) associated with increased preference for the bacterial substrate, while the amino-acid transporter sobremesa was associated with greater aversion. Given the known fitness benefits of consuming high-protein diets, our results suggest that bacterial attraction may instead reflect a dietary preference for protein over carbohydrate. More work quantifying intrapopulation variation in avoidance behaviours is needed to fully assess its importance in host-pathogen evolutionary ecology.

Preterm infant attachment is independent of breast milk intake during neonatal care

Background Following preterm birth, breast milk feeding is recommended because it confers broad health benefits to preterm infants. Breast milk has been suggested to promote secure attachment in infancy, but this is uncertain. Elucidating the relationship between breast milk intake and infant attachment is crucial for supporting parents of preterm infants to make feeding choices and providing accurate counselling when breast milk is not available. We aimed to investigate if breast milk exposure during neonatal care associates with attachment outcomes derived from infants’ responses to the Still-Face Paradigm (SFP) at nine months of age. Methods We studied 77 preterm (< 33 weeks’ gestation) and 71 term infants. Preterm infant feeding data were collected from birth until hospital discharge. Infant responses to the SFP were videocoded at nine months corrected age. Infants’ distress, fretfulness, attentiveness to caregivers and attachment classification were compared between preterm infants who received exclusive breast milk for ≥ 75% of inpatient days, those who received exclusive breast milk for < 75% of inpatient days, and term infants. Milk intake thresholds were chosen based on our previous work demonstrating positive associations between breast milk intake and MRI markers of brain maturation. Results There were no significant differences in infant distress, fretfulness, attentiveness to caregivers (p-values > 0.19), or in the odds of secure versus insecure attachment classification (relative risk ratio = 0.57–0.89, p-values = 1.00) between preterm infants with high or low breast milk exposure, or term comparators. Conclusions Attachment outcomes at nine months were similar between term and preterm infants, and breast milk exposure did not associate with attachment in the preterm group. Although breast milk feeding has clear benefits, these findings may alleviate some of the pressures experienced by parents who are unable to provide breast milk for infants cared for in the neonatal unit.

HIV postnatal prophylaxis and infant feeding policies vary across Europe: results of a Penta survey.

This survey was conducted to describe current European postnatal prophylaxis (PNP) and infant feeding policies with the aim of informing future harmonized guidelines. A total of 32 senior clinicians with relevant expertise, working in 20 countries within the European Region, were invited to complete a REDCap questionnaire between July and September 2023. Twenty-three of the 32 invited paediatricians responded, representing 16/20 countries. There were multiple respondents from the same country for Italy (n = 5), the UK (n = 2), Germany (n = 2) and France (n = 2). All countries use risk stratification to guide PNP regimen selection. Nine out of 16 countries reported three risk categories, six out of 16 reported two, and one country reported differences in categorization. Criteria used to stratify risk varied between and within countries. For the lowest risk category, the PNP regimen reported ranged from no PNP to up to four weeks of one drug; the drug of choice reported was zidovudine, apart from one country which reported nevirapine. For the highest risk category, the most common regimen was zidovudine/lamivudine/nevirapine (20/23 respondents); regimen duration varied from twoto six weeks with variation in recommended dosing. Guidelines support breastfeeding for infants born to people living with HIV in eight out of 16 countries; in the other eight, guidelines do not support/specify. Guidelines and practice for PNP and infant feeding vary substantially across Europe and within some countries, reflecting the lack of robust evidence. Effort is needed to align policies and practice to reflect up-to-date knowledge to ensure the vertical transmission risk is minimized and unnecessary infant HIV testing and PNP avoided, while simultaneously supporting families to make informed decisions on infant feeding choice.

Infant feeding knowledge among women living with HIV and their interaction with healthcare providers in a high-income setting: a longitudinal mixed methods study

BackgroundRecent changes in the infant feeding guidelines for women living with HIV from high-income countries recommend a more supportive approach focusing on shared decision-making. Limited information is available on the infant feeding knowledge of women living with HIV and how healthcare providers engage with them in this context. This multicenter, longitudinal, mixed methods study aims to get a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of infant feeding knowledge among women living with HIV of Nordic and non-Nordic origin living in Nordic countries, and their interaction with healthcare providers regarding infant feeding planning.MethodsPregnant women living with HIV in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden were recruited in 2019–2020. The Positive Attitudes Concerning Infant Feeding (PACIFY) questionnaire was completed in the 3rd trimester (T1), three (T2), and six (T3) months postpartum. Women who completed the quantitative survey were also invited to participate in qualitative semi-structured interviews at T1 and T3. Results from the survey and interviews were brought together through merging to assess for concordance, complementarity, expansion, or discordance between the datasets and to draw meta-inferences.ResultsIn total, 44 women living with HIV completed the survey, of whom 31 also participated in the interviews. The merged analyses identified two overarching domains: Knowledge about breastfeeding in the U = U era and Communications with healthcare providers. The women expressed confusion about breastfeeding in the context of undetectable equals untransmittable (U = U). Women of Nordic origin were more unsure about whether breastfeeding was possible in the context of U = U than women of non-Nordic origin. Increased postpartum monitoring with monthly testing of the mother was not seen as a barrier to breastfeeding, but concerns were found regarding infant testing and infant ART exposure. Infant feeding discussions with healthcare providers were welcome but could also question whether breastfeeding was feasible, and many participants highlighted a need for more information.ConclusionsHealthcare providers caring for women living with HIV must have up-to-date knowledge of HIV transmission risks during breastfeeding and engage in shared decision-making to optimally support infant feeding choices.

Pigs Can Detect Multiple Amino Acid Deficiencies in a Choice Feeding Setting

BackgroundIt is unknown whether pigs can detect deficiencies in multiple amino acids (AAs) and consequently change their feed choice. ObjectivesWe investigated whether pigs compensate for a diet deficient in 3 AAs (Thr, Trp, and Val) by selecting multiple diets and whether this compensation is affected by the supplemented AA concentration. MethodsPair-housed 5-wk-old pigs (n = 96) were exposed to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) AA-adequate: offered a low-protein (LP) diet adequate in AA for growth (LP+); 2) AA-deficient: offered LP diet deficient in Thr, Trp, and Val by 20% (LP–); 3) 2-choice between LP+ and LP–; and 4) 4-choice between LP– and 3 diets supplemented with Thr, Trp, Val at +40% (n = 12 pens/treatment) from d0 to d21 (phase 1). From d21 to d28, AA concentration of supplemented diets increased to +60% (phase 2). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain (ADG) were recorded. ResultsDietary treatment did not affect ADFI and ADG in phase 1 (P > 0.05). In phase 2, ADFI and ADG were higher in AA-adequate and 2-choice treatments than in AA-deficient treatment with 4-choice in between (P < 0.05). In both phases, Thr, Trp, and Val intake was lower in AA-deficient treatment than in other treatments. For the 2-choice treatment, consumption of LP– was higher than LP+ in both phases (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001). Four-choice treatment consumed more LP– and Trp-supplemented than Thr- and Val-supplemented diets in phase 1 (P < 0.001); in phase 2, consumption of the Trp-supplemented diet was the highest (P < 0.01). ConclusionsPigs can detect multiple AA deficiencies and compensate by consuming AA-supplemented diets. In a 2-choice setting, pigs proportionally decrease consumption of a supplemented diet with increased dietary AA concentration. However, when given the choice between individual AA-supplemented diets, pigs proportionally decrease consumption of a highly concentrated Val diet and increase preference for a highly concentrated Trp diet.

Navigating dementia feeding decisions in Asia: a mixed methods study of caregivers.

Tube feeding is discouraged among older adults with advanced dementia; nevertheless, caregivers often find feeding decisions challenging to navigate. This study aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of tube feeding among community-dwelling older adults with advanced dementia in Singapore and its relationship to older adult quality of life (QoL) and caregiver psychological distress. We use a convergent mixed-methods design, synthesising analysis of qualitative caregiver interviews (n= 25) and two-year prospective, longitudinal cohort survey data (n= 215, 1018 observations). Findings from the qualitative interviews revealed caregivers' expectations of reduced QoL for older adults with feeding tubes and their own distress related to making feeding decisions and fears prompting plans to tube-feed. Sixteen percent of community-dwelling older adults with advanced dementia relied on feeding tubes during the two-year study period. Adjusting for potential confounding and using instrumental variables estimation, tube feeding was associated with reduced older adult QoL (P< .05) and increased caregiver anxiety and depression (P< .10). Consistent with expert guidelines, we found that tube feeding was associated with significantly reduced QOL among older adults living with dementia and increased distress among caregivers relative to those of older adults without feeding tubes. Despite caregivers' recognition of reduced QOL associated with older adult use of feeding tubes, many expressed angst related to feeding choices. Our findings suggest the need for decision tools to support caregivers in making informed decisions concordant with their values.

Understanding infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices among Muslim mothers/caregivers: A qualitative study in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines

BackgroundThe study focused on understanding infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF) among Muslim mothers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines.ObjectiveRecognizing the cultural and religious sensitivities associated with these practices, the research aimed to identify influencing factors and assess the influence of advertisements on maternal decisions regarding infants' and children's diets.MethodsA total of 74 Muslim mothers with infants 6-23 months old were recruited and participated in the focus group discussions (FGD). Ten FGD sessions were conducted in Maguindanao Province, Philippines from July to August 2021. Verbatim transcriptions of audio-recorded discussions were transcribed into Microsoft Word files and QSR NVivo version 12 was used in the coding and analysis of the transcripts.ResultsMothers exhibited limited awareness of such important complementary feeding issues as preferring fruits and vegetables while avoiding junk food as chips. IYCF information came primarily from health workers and other mothers - their own mothers, mothers-in-law, and midwives. Television commercials were identified as particularly influential in shaping maternal feeding decisions.ConclusionsThere was a diversity of breastfeeding practices and limited knowledge, especially of complementary feeding among these Muslim mothers. Both traditional beliefs and marketing were said to influence feeding choices. This underscores the need for culturally-sensitive interventions and targeted educational initiatives to enhance maternal knowledge and advocate for optimal infant feeding practices within Muslim communities, as well as regulation of the marketing of commercial infant foods.

PSIV-26 Extent of use of supplemental feeding in beef cattle operations across the Southeast: A report of the regional survey

Abstract With input costs on the rise, researchers and producers, alike, are seeking alternative management strategies for profitable and sustainable beef production. Studies suggest that supplemental feed provided to grazing cattle may be used to offset some of the cost. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the extent of supplemental feeding programs in the southeastern US and which feeds may be used in these programs. Thus, the objective of this study was to better understand supplemental feeding practices and choices among beef producers in the southeastern US. To address this objective, a 24-question survey was distributed through Extension and commodity organizations to beef producers across the Southeast. This survey received 118 complete responses. The majority of respondents operated cow-calf production systems (65.6%) on either tall fescue or bermudagrass pastures (32.7 and 28.0%, respectively). Approximately 88% of these producers employed some type of supplemental feeding strategy, but there is no clear decision on whether commodity or byproduct feedstuffs were preferred. The leading commodity used was corn (61.4%), while common byproducts included whole cottonseed, corn gluten feed, and soybean hulls (17.1, 16.6, and 14.4%, respectively). At the end of the survey, the participants were asked to submit a sample of their byproduct supplements to have a nutritive analysis completed to better understand what nutritional components the products they are feeding contain and how they may vary from place to place. Some of the products that were sent in include whole cottonseed, cotton byproduct, corn gluten meal, distillers grain, chicken litter, and others. The nutritional test being run on these samples included crude protein and fiber analysis. The crude protein of the samples received ranged from 13.3% to 30.3% with an average of 21.5%. The fiber profile received ranged from 45.5% to 76.3% with an average of 59.9%. With the information recorded from these tests, recommendations can be provided on different feeding methods in both commercial settings as well as research settings.

Close Relations, Practitioners or Social Networks: What Affects the Selection of Infant Formula Products?

This study examines which factors influence the preferences of mothers seeking advice on the use of infant formula in feeding practices. The effects of their close social circle, medical professionals and social network forums on feeding choices were evaluated. Data were collected from 638 questionnaires from mothers and were statistically analyzed. Our findings suggest that age may influence the preference to seek advice from a close social circle over consulting with medical professionals (p-value = 0.019 < 0.05). The educational level and the number of children impact the preferences of using infant formula over combining it with breastfeeding (p-value = 0.000 < 0.05 and p-value = 0.004 < 0.05, respectively). The research contributes to the understanding of the complex interplay between various demographic and socioeconomic factors and the decision-making process of mothers based on multiple social and digital sources of influence. The research presents valuable insights for healthcare policymakers and professionals in supporting mothers and providing them with up-to-date information. Feeding information can be distributed through all the communication channels that were examined in this study to benefit different socio-economic groups and to contribute to the well-being of infants in the long-run.

Factors affecting infant feeding choices with a focus on barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in Western Jamaica: a qualitative study

BackgroundDespite the many benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to infants and mothers, only 33% of Jamaican infants are exclusively breastfed up to the recommend six months. This study was conducted to identify factors affecting mothers’ feeding choices focusing on barriers to exclusive breastfeeding of infants six weeks to less than six months old.MethodsA qualitative study consisting of four focus group discussion sessions was conducted among 22 mothers attending postnatal clinics in western Jamaica from May to August 2016. The transcripts were coded by three independent coders and content analysis conducted to generate themes.ResultsFour themes were identified namely, perceived advantages of breastfeeding centered mainly on the benefits of breastfeeding for the infant and mother, perceived barriers of breastfeeding highlighting physical pain and fatigue, supplementing culturally acceptable complementary foods and herbal remedies, and cultural norms including perception of how breastfeeding affects a woman’s body, societal sources of breastfeeding information, satiation of infants, and family and other support. Mothers overwhelmingly agreed that breastfeeding was inexpensive, allowed them to bond with their infants and was good for the overall health and intellectual development of the infants. They identified painful nipples, engorged breasts, lack of sleep, physical exhaustion and pressure to return to work as barriers to breastfeeding. Mothers named a number of complementary foods, such as pumpkin, carrots, potato, banana, and chocho (Chayote), that were culturally accepted for feeding infants in Jamaica and discussed herbs that were considered to aid in infants’ nutrition and overall health. Other cultural factors that were noted to influence exclusive breastfeeding were mothers feeling that breastfeeding would help their bodies, especially their bellies, go back to their pre-maternity figure, sources of breastfeeding information in the society including the internet, belief that breast milk alone does not satisfy babies, and family and other support.ConclusionMothers in this study identified unique challenges to exclusive breastfeeding that if addressed, would help to increase exclusive breastfeeding so that the World Health Organization’s exclusive breastfeeding recommendations can be achieved.

Practices for introducing complementary foods in Taiwan: A nationwide survey from 2013 to 2016

Background/purposeIntroducing complementary foods to infants is a critical stage in their healthy growth and development process. In this study, we analyzed the feeding habits and choices of caregivers in Taiwan during this essential transition period. MethodsData from the 2013–2016 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan were analyzed. Using a multistage stratified sampling technique, we collected data through questionnaires on the feeding practices, challenges, and information sources associated with complementary feeding. We also investigated the timing of introducing various foods. Certain feeding indicators recommended by the World Health Organization were modified and used for analysis. ResultsAmong 439 caregivers of infants aged 2–24 months, complementary feeding typically began at 5 months, and it primarily began with cereals and pureed foods. At 6–8 months of age, 98.29% of the infants received these foods. Only 48.39% of infants aged 6–24 months consumed eggs or flesh foods. Among the primary challenges for caregivers were concerns regarding infants’ adaptation to new foods (38.2%), refusal of foods by infants (37.1%), and uncertainty regarding which foods to introduce (11.4%). The main sources of information were friends and family (46.9%), the Internet (46.5%), and baby care books (35.6%). Notably, approximately 51% of the respondents used commercial baby foods. ConclusionIn Taiwan, although the majority of infants begin complementary feeding on time, the introduction of eggs and flesh foods is typically delayed. Given the growing reliance on the Internet in the modern age, accurate feeding information should be disseminated online.

Women’s and Partners’ Experiences With a Closed-loop Insulin Delivery System to Manage Type 1 Diabetes in the Postpartum Period

ObjectivesClosed-loop insulin delivery has the potential to offer women with type 1 diabetes a break from intense diabetes self-care efforts postpartum. Our aim in this study was to explore the views and opinions of hybrid closed-loop users and their partners in the first 24 weeks postpartum. MethodsThis qualitative study was embedded in a controlled study of women with type 1 diabetes randomized to closed-loop insulin delivery (MiniMed™ 670G or 770G) or sensor-augmented pump use for 1 to 11 weeks 6 days postpartum, with all on closed-loop delivery from 12 to 24 weeks postpartum. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 study participants and their partners at 12 and 24 weeks postpartum. Thematic analyses were used to examine participants’ and partners’ experiences. ResultsParticipants’ positive perceptions of closed-loop use related to reduced hypoglycemia, in contrast to previous experiences with nonautomated insulin delivery. These perceptions were balanced against frustrations with the system, allowing blood glucose levels to be higher than desired. Closed-loop use did not influence infant feeding choice, but infant feeding and care impacted participants’ diabetes management. Partners expressed uncertainty about the closed loop taking away control from participants who were highly skilled with diabetes self-management. ConclusionsParticipants reported that closed-loop insulin delivery resulted in less time spent in hypoglycemia when compared with the previously used nonautomated delivery. Yet, participants desired a greater understanding of the workings of the closed-loop algorithm. Our study provides potential users with realistic expectations about the experience with the MiniMed 670G or 770G closed-loop system in the postpartum period.

Bioactive peptides inhibit feeding activity in the grey garden slug, Deroceras reticulatum.

The grey garden slug (Deroceras reticulatum) is considered the most damaging slug pest in global agriculture. Control methods primarily rely on chemical pesticides, which pose environmental risks and potential hazards to human health. There is a need for sustainable management alternatives such as biologically-based slug control options. However, the efficacy of nonchemical measures for controlling pest slug populations remains limited, particularly in the context of variable outdoor conditions. Neuropeptides and their corresponding receptors have been proposed as promising biological targets for the development of new pest management strategies. A total of 23 bioactive peptides belonging to the PRX family, previously identified from the grey garden slug, D. reticulatum, were injected into or fed to this species. The detrimental effects of these peptides, including a reduction in body weight and an inhibition of feeding activity, were evaluated in feeding choice tests with D. reticulatum. Furthermore, the bioactive peptide formulated with a lipid particle demonstrated a feeding deterrent effect. One of the myomodulin (MM) peptides, APPLPRY, demonstrated a significant reduction in feeding activity, resulting in a reduction in slug weight or mortality in just 30 min. The results represent the first evidence of a bioactive peptide having detrimental effects on D. reticulatum including causing feeding deterrent for this slug pest. The in vivo results provide insights into the potential development of active ingredients for managing slugs in the field. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dog and owner demographics impact dietary choices in Dog Aging Project cohort.

To describe the demographic factors of owners and their dogs associated with owner feeding choices and the regularity with which those diets were fed to a US-based population of dogs. This cross-sectional analysis examined 40,367 initial survey responses from US dog owners participating in the Dog Aging Project. The surveys were collected from January 2, 2020, to December 31, 2022, and included primary and secondary diet component types and dog and owner demographic variables. Each demographic variable was compared across diet type choices with a χ2 test of independence. Most owners (82%) fed a commercially prepared extruded dry diet (kibble) as the primary diet component. Most owners (89%) reported that they fed their dogs a consistent diet over time. Owner demographic factors (income, education level) were less correlated with difference in diet choices than dog demographic factors (size, neuter status, purebred status, activity level), but owner age did correlate with choice: younger owners tended to feed kibble more compared to older owners. Home-cooked diets were most often consumed by small (< 30-lb) dogs, purebred dogs in poorer health status, and dogs with owners aged 45 years or older. Raw diets were more commonly fed to purebred, intact, and highly active dogs. Ten percent of service dogs were reportedly fed a raw diet of some sort. Demographic variables are associated with statistically significant differences in diet types selected. Nutrition studies examining health outcomes associated with the feeding of different diet types should account for these factors during design or analysis in order to avoid bias. An epidemiological tool, the directed acyclic graph, is presented. This information will help clinicians in their discussions with clients about pet nutrition.

Longitudinal assessment of sleep and fatigue according to baby feeding method in postpartum women: a prospective observational study

BackgroundPoor subjective sleep quality, depressive symptoms and fatigue occur frequently in postpartum. However, the dynamics of their respective associations from prepartum throughout the maternity period in function of baby feeding method have not been fully elucidated.MethodsProspective, longitudinal study using validated questionnaires probing for sleep quality, insomnia, fatigue and depressive symptoms at 35–37 weeks of gestation and at 2, 8 and 12 weeks postpartum in the obstetric departments of two Flemish hospitals. Somers’d ordinal correlation was used for correlations between the results of questionnaires (ratio variables) and the feeding method variable (an ordinal variable); T tests (normal data) or Mann Whitney (non normal data) tests for equality of means; ordinal regression (‘Proportional odds model’) to investigate the predictive value of parameters at one moment on the feeding method choice at a later moment; logistic regression to investigate the predictive value of parameters on later change of feeding method.Results188 women indicating a choice for either bottle or breastfeeding in prepartum (27–35 weeks’ gestation) were included. Higher fatigue assessed through the Fatigue Severity Scale within late pregnancy was moderately associated with primary bottle feeding choice. Fatigue decreased at early and late postpartum in bottle feeding (-0.38 ± 1.04; p = .110 and − 0.31 ± 1.01; p = .642 respectively), but remained unchanged from late pregnancy through early and late postpartum in breastfeeding (0.04 ± 1.21; p = .110 and − 0.27 ± 0.96; p = .642 respectively), resulting in similar fatigue in both feeding methods in early through late postpartum. There were no differences in sleep quality or insomnia symptoms at all time points. Presence of postpartum depressive symptoms were associated with early switching to bottle feeding (Somers’ d correlation 0.11 (p = .021).ConclusionsFatigue and depressive symptoms are inversely associated with breastfeeding initiation or maintenance and influence feeding method dynamics.

Https://scibasejournals.org/scibase-human-nutrition-and-food-science.html

Background: Breastfeeding is recognized as the ideal feeding choice for early and later-life health benefits to the child by providing proper nutrition and protection from infections, diarrhea, diseases and building healthy maternal infant attachment. The objective of this review is to examine the various breastfeeding support regulations and their impacts on infant health, with a view to identifying best practices and potential policy enhancements.

From Breastfeeding to Support in Mothers' Feeding Choices: A Key Role in the Prevention of Postpartum Depression?

The postpartum period represents a critical phase of profound transition for women. This timeframe encompasses the physical recuperation associated with childbirth, the intricate psychosocial adjustments inherent in assuming the role of motherhood and also important alterations in steroid and peptide hormones. Hence, as women navigate the reconfiguration of relationships and strive to address the diverse needs of their infants and family members, they concurrently grapple with dramatic transformations which are characteristic of the postpartum phase. In fact, relevant prevalence ranges are reported for maternity blues, a mild condition characterized by self-limited and transient depressive symptoms, but also a well-established risk factor for more serious postpartum mood disorders, such as depression (PPD), with an incidence of 10-15%. Unlike in the US, at the European level, there are no concrete recommendations for the routine integration of the assessment of the mother's emotional state by healthcare professionals, with a considerable risk of underdiagnosing or undertreating these conditions. In this regard, there is a growing body of scientific evidence on the important role of breastfeeding in reducing the risk of PPD and also of the importance of mothers' compliance with this practice. Indeed, sucking the baby regulates the circadian rhythm of the HPA axis and, together with the action of prolactin, the stress response is decreased. In addition, other positive consequences of breastfeeding, which are inversely correlated with the onset of PPD, include the regulation of sleep and waking patterns for mother and baby, the improvement of the mother's self-efficacy and her emotional involvement. It should also be considered that the request for support for breastfeeding can often conceal a request for support for motherhood itself and for the mother's emotional well-being. It therefore emerges that the personnel involved in primary pediatric care to provide adequate support in the transition to motherhood must support mothers in their breastfeeding choices, whether breastfeeding or formula feeding, so that each choice is made conscientiously and serenely. Therefore, neonatal feeding assumes a decisive role, since if, on the one hand, it regulates specific neurohormonal pathways that are protective for maternal emotional well-being (breastfeeding), on the other hand, support in mothers' breastfeeding choices, even in the case of formula feeding, means validating their being mothers in the absence of judgement and counteracting any feelings of inadequacy, conditions that are inversely correlated to DPP.

Incidence of Photosensitization in Husbandry Animals: A Meta-Study on the Effects of Feed Diversity and Feed Choice

As this is a meta-study, we examined whether plant species diversity in the feed and the possibility of feed choice would influence the number of cases of photosensitization in farm animals. We evaluated 110 scientific references which described 172 cases of photosensitization worldwide, mainly in husbandry animals between 1926 and 2022. More than 50% of the cases occurred in South America and Australia. Among the animal species, sheep and cattle were statistically overrepresented. A total of 35 organisms were revealed to be phototoxic: 24 herbs, 2 grasses, 7 woody species, and 2 kinds of fungi. Animals developed mainly secondary photosensitization due to fresh feed (71.8%) of normal quality (88.1%), indicating that the phototoxic agents are from liver-toxic plants such as the grass Brachiaria and the herb Froelichia. Horses fell ill chiefly with primary photosensitization due to directly acting phototoxic agents of plant species such as the herbs Medicago and Pastinaca, both in fresh and conserved feed. Goats manage to avoid phototoxic plants under both high and low feed diversity if they still have free choice between plant species. High feed diversity reduced the incidence 2.4-fold, while enabled selection possibility even reduced it 7.5-fold. Since the lack of choice between forage plants was revealed to be the main cause of photosensitization, this knowledge could be used to prevent the disease in livestock.

Production of Joper Chickens with Commercial Feed and Free Choice feeding

Production of Joper Chickens with Commercial Feed and Free Choice feeding

Volatile Semiochemicals Emitted by Beauveria bassiana Modulate Larval Feeding Behavior and Food Choice Preference in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus that parasitizes and kills insects. The role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by B. bassiana acting as semiochemicals during its interaction with lepidopterans is poorly explored. Here, we studied the effect of VOCs from B. bassiana and 3-methylbutanol (as a single compound) on the feeding behavior of L2 larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda in sorghum plants. Additionally, we assessed whether fungal VOCs induce chemical modifications in the plants that affect larval food preferences. Metabolomic profiling of plant tissues was performed by mass spectrometry and bioassays in a dual-choice olfactometer. The results showed that the larval feeding behavior was affected by the B. bassiana strain AI2, showing that the insect response is strain-specific. Furthermore, 80 µg of 3-methylbutanol affected the number of bites. The larval feeding choice was dependent on the background context. Fragment spectra and a matching precursor ion mass of 165.882 m/z enabled the putative identification of 4-coumaric acid in sorghum leaves exposed to fungal VOCs, which may be associated with larval deterrent responses. These results provide valuable insights into the bipartite interaction of B. bassiana with lepidopterans through VOC emission, with the plant as a mediator of the interaction.