Impaired Cognitive Development Research Articles

Micronutrient Deficiency in Indian Diet

Micronutrient deficiency in the Indian diet poses a significant health challenge, impacting millions across the nation. The inadequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, zinc, vitamin A, and iodine, can lead to severe health issues, including anaemia, impaired cognitive development, and compromised immune function. One crucial factor contributing to micronutrient deficiency is soil pollution, which directly affects the nutritional content of vegetables and fruits. Soil pollution results from the presence of contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial waste, negatively impacting soil health and composition. As plants absorb nutrients from the soil, polluted soil leads to diminished nutrient uptake by crops, exacerbating the micronutrient deficiency in the food chain. The contamination of soil with heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium, can inhibit the absorption of essential minerals by plant roots. Consequently, vegetables and fruits grown in polluted soil may exhibit lower concentrations of vital micronutrients, even if individuals consume the same quantity of produce. This compromised nutritional quality directly contributes to the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in the Indian population. Addressing this issue necessitates a multi-faceted approach. Implementing sustainable agricultural practices, such as organic farming and soil remediation techniques, can help reduce soil pollution and enhance soil fertility. Additionally, promoting awareness about the importance of diversified diets and dietary supplements can empower communities to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Government initiatives, research collaborations, and public-private partnerships are essential to developing and implementing strategies that tackle both soil pollution and micronutrient deficiency in the Indian context, fostering a healthier and more resilient population. Keywords: Nutrients, Micronutrients, Indian diet, Vitamins, Supplements.

A Deep Learning Approach for Malnutrition Detection

The timely detection of malnutrition in children is of paramount importance, as it allows for early intervention and treatment. This proactive approach not only prevents further health deterioration but also fosters proper growth, minimizing the long-term consequences of malnutrition, such as stunted growth, impaired cognitive development, and increased vulnerability to diseases. Our work encompasses the creation of a new dataset comprising images of children in Healthy, Undernourished, Stunting, and Wasting categories. The core objective is to assess the deep learning model performance in classifying these children images. The experimentation is carried out by varying epochs, batch size, optimizers AdamW, Adamax, and RMSprop; and different values of the learning rate 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, and 0.0001 during model training. The model is trained on image dataset constructed by cleaning images generated by the stable diffusion model. The model is tested on randomly selected child images from websites. The model successfully classified two classes with 95% accuracy, 97.6% F1 score, precision 97.6%, and 97.6% recall with Adam optimizers, 0.0001 learning rate, and Batch size 4. Additionally, for the four-class categorization scenario, the study broadens the classification. The model achieved 88.87% accuracy, 90.3% recall, 90.2% precision, and an F1 score of 90% for four-class categorization with AdamW optimization, 0.0001 learning rate, and batch size 6. These results are satisfactory for prediction of malnutrition category in children.

IJCM_18A: A Cross-sectional study on prevalence of pregnancy related anxiety among antenatal mothers attending Rural Primary Health Center, Kancheepuram

Background: With declining rates of maternal mortality worldwide, its time to recognize the importance of addressing morbidity as well. When compared with general anxiety, pregnancy-related anxiety appears to be a stronger determinant for poor obstetric consequences. Complications include miscarriage, low birth weight, impaired cognitive and physical fetal development, and possibly death. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of pregnancy related anxiety with severity and the associated factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional on was conducted among 113 antenatal mothers attending antenatal clinic (Tuesdays)in Kundrathur Rural Primary Health Centre by consecutive sampling. Data was collected by interviewer administering a validated and structured questionnaire PRAQ R2(Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire Revised 2) and statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 25. Results: Among 113 antenatal mothers mean age was 25.19+4.2 years, 69.9% are primi gravida, 50.4% said that current pregnancy is planned. All of the mothers having complications in current pregnancy (22.1%) had pregnancy related anxiety. The mean scores of pregnancy related anxiety domains were 7.6 out of 15 for fear of giving birth, 4.9 out of 15 for concern of own appearance, and 10.9 out of 12 for worries about bearing a handicapped child. Nearly 89.4% of mothers have pregnancy-related anxiety with most of them having low severity anxiety (44.2%). The factors associated with pregnancy related anxiety (p < 0.05) were primi gravida and those in second and third trimester. Conclusion: A majority of the participants are experiencing pregnancy related anxiety with most of them having low severity anxiety worrying about outcome of birth. It’s predictors included Primigravida and those in second and third trimester. Pregnancy-related anxiety should be diagnosed early during routine antenatal mothers for better maternal and fetal outcomes

Effects of Iron-Fortified Foods on the Nutritional Status of Children Residing in Regions Vulnerable to Parasitic Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Parasitic infections (PIs) remain a public health concern among school-age children living in areas of greater socioeconomic vulnerability, especially in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. PIs can promote nutritional deficiencies, increasing the risk of anemia and impaired physical and cognitive development. Thus, fortified foods have been considered as a promising strategy for improving the nutritional status of children and preventing PI complications. This systematic review aimed to present the effects of iron-fortified foods for deworming and improving blood parameters in schoolchildren residing in areas that are vulnerable to PIs. This review is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines of randomized clinical trials addressing the use of fortified foods and micronutrients in children living in areas endemic for PIs. The PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify articles published between 2000 and 2020. A total of 153 records were retrieved from the databases, 10 of which were considered eligible for this study. On the basis of our analysis, most of the selected studies showed that the inclusion of fortified foods in the diet improved blood and infectious parameters. Therefore, fortified foods can be used as an important tool for controlling the adverse outcomes of PIs among children living in areas of greater vulnerability. However, more studies on this topic are needed to provide more evidence and consolidate strategies using iron-fortified food.

A Sustainable Approach to Combat Micronutrient Deficiencies and Ensure Global Food Security through Biofortification

Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in essential vitamins and minerals, pose a significant public health challenge, affecting over two billion people worldwide. These deficiencies contribute to various health issues, impaired cognitive development, and reduced productivity, ultimately hindering social and economic progress. Biofortification, a process of enhancing the nutritional content of staple crops through conventional breeding or genetic engineering, has emerged as a promising and sustainable approach to combat micronutrient deficiencies and ensure global food security. This review explores the potential of Biofortification as a cost-effective and sustainable solution to address hidden hunger and improve the nutritional status of vulnerable populations. Biofortification offers several advantages over traditional interventions, such as supplementation and food fortification. By targeting staple crops consumed by the majority of the population, Biofortification ensures a wide reach and sustained nutrient intake without requiring significant changes in dietary habits. Moreover, biofortified crops can be grown locally, reducing the reliance on external interventions and empowering farmers to improve their nutritional status and livelihoods. Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of bio fortified crops in increasing micronutrient intake and improving health outcomes. For instance, iron-biofortified pearl millet has been shown to increase iron absorption and reduce anemia prevalence in children, while zinc-biofortified wheat has improved zinc status and reduced stunting. Additionally, vitamin A-biofortified sweet potato and cassava have significantly increased vitamin A intake and reduced vitamin A deficiency in various populations.
 Despite the promising results, the success of Biofortification relies on several factors, including the development of nutrient-dense varieties, consumer acceptance, and effective dissemination strategies. Collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders is essential to scale up Biofortification efforts and ensure their long-term sustainability. By prioritizing Biofortification as a key strategy in combating micronutrient deficiencies, we can work towards a more nourished and food-secure world.

Understanding Postpartum Depression: A Comprehensive Review

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health concern affecting women worldwide, with implications for maternal well-being and infant development. This article provides a comprehensive overview of PPD, including its prevalence, risk factors, and impact on maternal-infant health outcomes. The prevalence of PPD varies across different countries, with recent studies indicating rates ranging from 10% to 23% among new mothers. Younger maternal age, history of mental health issues, lack of social support, and stressful life events are among the identified risk factors for developing PPD. Untreated PPD can have detrimental effects on both maternal and infant health. Mothers experiencing PPD may struggle with bonding with their infants, leading to disrupted attachment and compromised emotional regulation in infants. Furthermore, untreated PPD is associated with adverse outcomes such as impaired cognitive development in infants and an increased risk of behavioral and emotional difficulties in children. Early detection and intervention are crucial in addressing PPD and mitigating its impact. Healthcare providers play a vital role in recognizing PPD symptoms and providing appropriate support and treatment options to affected mothers. Screening programs aimed at identifying at-risk women during prenatal and postnatal care can help in timely intervention and support. In conclusion, understanding the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of PPD is essential for promoting maternal mental health and ensuring optimal outcomes for both mothers and infants. Efforts to increase awareness, improve screening practices, and enhance support services are critical in addressing this significant public health issue.

A Comprehensive Investigation into the Prevalence and Effects of Undernutrition among Children in Namibia: A Systematic Review

Undernutrition is a significant public health concern, impacting over 900 million people globally. It holds responsibility for the highest mortality rate among children and leaves enduring physiological effects. The purpose of this review is to determine the prevalence of undernourishment, investigate the consequences of undernutrition on health outcomes, particularly its influence on child development, and emphasize potential interventions and suggest policy recommendations to tackle the underlying causes and alleviate the effects of undernutrition in Namibia. Databases such as PubMed, OnePlus etc. To identify existing research studies (both qualitative and quantitative) and reports from organizations were used to identify relevant articles. In 2012, 28% of Namibians were underweight, 11% as overweight, and 7% as obese. The prevalence of undernutrition (as a percentage of the population) was reported at 17.1% in 2020 and 2021. Stunting has decreased from 29% to 23.7%. 12,711 children are said to have died in Namibia in the last five years. 43.1% of the adult population was stunted as a child. Data in the 2022 prevalence report shows that 7.1% of children under five years of age are affected, which is higher than the average for the African region (6.0%). Undernutrition poses potential consequences in children such as impaired physical and cognitive development, increased susceptibility to diseases, and overall reduced quality of life. There is a lack of recent online data on undernutrition prevalence in Namibia, which poses a challenge to grasp the current situation fully. Historical records and existing literature strongly suggest that undernutrition remains a pressing issue in the country.

The Father as a Dominant Figure in John McGahern’s The Dark

The aim of this article is to investigate the role of the father figure in John McGahern’s novel, The Dark. Accordingly, the researcher attempts to examine the relationships between fathers and sons, and the psychological impact of dominant father figures on their children. For the theoretical framework of the study, the researcher draws on the father/ child Relationship in psychology. The analytical approach is employed to analyse the father’s actions and attitudes towards his family members. Through a close reading of the text, the researcher reaches the conclusion that the father figure in the novel is portrayed as a dominant and oppressive force, leading to the protagonist’s psychological and emotional struggles.The concepts of dominant and oppressive forces are often discussed in various fields, including sociology, politics, and cultural studies. These terms are used to describe power dynamics and the ways in which certain individuals, groups, or institutions exert control over others. The presence of a dominant father figure can significantly shape the identity and development of the characters, especially if the narrative unfolds within a family context. The expectations, values, and behaviours imposed by the dominant father can influence how individuals perceive themselves and their roles in the world. This impact might lead to internal conflicts and struggles for autonomy. Psychological abuse has been linked with negative outcomes such as impaired emotional, social, and cognitive development, including helplessness, aggression, emotional unresponsiveness and neuroticism (Black et al., 2001)

Indoor air pollution prevention practices and associated factors among household mothers in Olenchiti town, Oromia, Ethiopia.

Most households in low- and middle-income countries still cook using solid fuels in poorly ventilated dwellings. Indoor air pollution causes various health problems, like pneumonia, lung cancer, stillbirth, low birth weight, impaired cognitive development, and cataracts. Nevertheless, a few evidences are available in Africa, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of indoor air pollution prevention practices and associated factors among household mothers in Olenchiti town, Oromia, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Four hundred twenty mothers were randomly selected by systematic random sampling. Data was collected through an interview and observation checklist. The collected data entered into Epi-Info version 7.2.5 was cleaned, edited, and then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings. Binary logistic regression was computed to analyze the effect of each variable on the outcome variable. Model adequacy fitness was checked with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The multicollinearity of independent variables was checked with the variance inflation factor. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and P -value <0.05 was used as cutoff points to declare significance in the final model. The overall good practices of mothers towards the prevention of indoor air pollution was 188 (45.0%). Mothers who had under-five children (AOR = 0.49, 95%CI (0.31-0.76), mothers in grade 9-12 (AOR = 0.51, 95%CI (0.28-0.92)) were significantly associated with indoor air pollution prevention practices. The overall good practices of mothers towards indoor air pollution were low compared to different findings. Under-five children and educational status were significantly associated with indoor air pollution prevention practices in the final model. Therefore, the high school curriculums should include indoor air pollution topics.

Minimum acceptable diet and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Jig-Jiga, Somali region, eastern Ethiopia, 2022

BackgroundThe minimum acceptable diet is the proportion of children aged 6–23 months who consumed the minimum meal frequency and minimum dietary diversity during the previous day or night. The minimum acceptable diet assesses both micronutrient adequacy and the quantity of food consumed during the previous day or night. Inappropriate infant and young child feeding practices during this period result in significant threats to child health through impaired cognitive development. Therefore, this study aims to assess the minimum acceptable diet and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Jig-Jiga, Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Jig-Jiga town. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 536 children aged 6–23 months with their mothers. Data were collected using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi-data 3.1. The data were cleaned and analyzed using SPSS v20. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done, and model fitness was checked and tested by the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test. The results of the adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals and P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultThe overall prevalence of a minimum acceptable diet was 47.2% (95% CI: 43.1–51.6). Occupation of fathers (AOR = 0.5, 95%CI: 0.3–0.8), child age of 6–11 months (AOR = 3.6, 95%CI: 1.7–7.7), age of the mother 15–24 years (AOR = 7.6, 95%CI: 1.5–38.146), 25–34 years (AOR = 5.56, 95%CI: 1.17–26.325), mothers who had only one under-five child (AOR = 2.1, 95%CI: 1.298–3.471), and media as a source of information (AOR = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.061–0.433) were associated with the minimum acceptable diet.ConclusionThis study showed that the prevalence of a minimum acceptable diet was low. Factors associated with a minimum acceptable diet included the father’s occupation, the child’s age, the mother’s age, having one under-five child, and the media as a source of information. Therefore, interventional strategies that focus on family planning and advocacy for infant and young child feeding are required to improve the provision of a minimum acceptable diet.

Impaired Neurodevelopment in Children with 5q-SMA - 2 Years After Newborn Screening.

Numerous studies have consistently found that reduced SMN protein expression does not severely affect cognitive function in SMA patients. However, the average intelligence quotient of SMA patients has ranged above to below average in different studies. The cognitive development of SMA patients identified through newborn screening remains largely unknown. 40 of 47 eligible SMA patients (23 females/17 males) from 39 families identified through newborn screening between January 2018 and December 2020 underwent developmental testing using Bayley III (BSID) after the 2 years of age. The mean age was 29.25 months (23-42 months). 17 patients had 2, 11 patients had 3 and 12 patients had ≥4 copies of SMN2. cognitive scale: mean 94.55 (SD 24.01); language scale: mean 86.09 (SD 26.41); motor scale: 81.28 (SD 28.07). Overall, the cognitive scales show that 14 children were below average, 20 children were average and 6 children were above average. 10/14 children with below average scores had 2 SMN2 copies. The post-hoc pairwise comparisons showed that the cognition main scale was significantly more sensitive to the number of SMN2 copies than the motor main scale of the BSID (MΔ= 10.27, p = 0.014). There is also evidence that cognition scored higher than the language main scale (MΔ= 7.11, p = 0.090). The impaired cognitive development of SMA children with 2 SMN2 copies, despite early initiation of therapy, underscores the critical role of the SMN protein in the early stages of brain development.

Socio-economic and spatial inequalities in animal sources of iron-rich foods consumption among children 6-23 months old in Ethiopia: A decomposition analysis.

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia in young children which can lead to long-term health consequences such as reduced immunity, impaired cognitive development, and school performance. As children experience rapid growth, they require a greater supply of iron from iron-rich foods to support their development. In addition to the low consumption of iron-rich foods in low- and lower-middle-income countries, there are also regional and socio-economic disparities. This study aimed to assess contributing factors of wealth-related inequality and geographic variations in animal sources of iron-rich food consumption among children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia. We used data from the Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Surveys (EMDHS) 2019, a national survey conducted using stratified sampling techniques. A total of 1,461 children of age 6-23 months were included in the study. Iron-rich animal sources of food consumption were regarded when parents/caregivers reported that a child took at least one of the four food items identified as iron-rich food: 1) eggs, 2) meat (beef, lamb, goat, or chicken), 3) fresh or dried fish or shellfish, and 4) organs meat such as heart or liver. Concentration indices and curves were used to assess wealth-related inequalities. A Wagstaff decomposition analysis was applied to identify the contributing factors for wealth-related inequality of iron-rich animal source foods consumption. We estimated the elasticity of wealth-related inequality for a percentage change in socioeconomic variables. A spatial analysis was then used to map the significant cluster areas of iron-rich animal source food consumption among children in Ethiopia. The proportion of children who were given iron-rich animal-source foods in Ethiopia is 24.2% (95% CI: 22.1%, 26.5%), with figures ranging from 0.3% in Dire Dawa to 37.8% in the Oromia region. Children in poor households disproportionately consume less iron-rich animal-source foods than those in wealthy households, leading to a pro-rich wealth concentration index (C) = 0.25 (95% CI: 0.12, 0.37). The decomposition model explained approximately 70% of the estimated socio-economic inequality. About 21% of the wealth-related inequalities in iron-rich animal source food consumption in children can be explained by having primary or above education status of women. Mother's antenatal care (ANC) visits (14.6%), living in the large central and metropolitan regions (12%), household wealth index (10%), and being in the older age group (12-23 months) (2.4%) also contribute to the wealth-related inequalities. Regions such as Afar, Eastern parts of Amhara, and Somali were geographic clusters with low iron-rich animal source food consumption. There is a low level of iron-rich animal source food consumption among children, and it is disproportionately concentrated in the rich households (pro-rich distribution) in Ethiopia. Maternal educational status, having ANC visits, children being in the older age group (12-23 months), and living in large central and metropolitan regions were significant contributors to these wealth-related inequalities in iron-rich animal source foods consumption. Certain parts of Ethiopia such as, Afar, Eastern parts of Amhara, and Somali should be considered priority areas for nutritional interventions to increase children's iron-rich animal source foods consumption.

Unveiling Mysteries in Congenital Diseases: A Case Report of Williams-Beuren Syndrome

Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder closely associated with cardiovascular malformations, distinctive facial features, impaired cognitive ability, abnormal growth and development, endocrine dysfunction, and other related systems. In patients with WBS, the presence of cardiovascular malformations often necessitates genetic testing. This testing not only confirms the diagnosis but also facilitates the identification of associated syndromic features. Early and accurate diagnosis through genetic testing is instrumental for guiding further investigations, and initiating targeted therapies and support services. Such proactive management can substantially improve prognosis and quality of life for patients with WBS. Although surgery remains the most effective approach for repairing cardiovascular malformations, its implementation entails notable surgical risks. Clinicians should prioritize the identification and diagnosis of WBS, and strive to develop an effective management model involving collaboration among hospitals, families, and society. Here, we presented a case report of a patient with WBS and congenital heart disease, to contribute to a deeper understanding of this condition.

High doses of a national preschool program are associated with the long-term mitigation of adverse outcomes in cognitive development and life satisfaction among children who experience early stunting: a multi-site longitudinal study in Vietnam.

Stunting (low height-for-age) is a marker of cumulative developmental disadvantage that can also contribute to impaired cognitive development and poor psychological wellbeing. Several interventions designed to preserve stunted children's developmental potential through increasing their cognitive stimulation have proven to be effective. However, their resource-intensive nature limits their sustainability and scalability in the low-and middle-income countries in which 98% of stunted children live. The current study had three aims: to identify the domains of developmental disadvantage associated with stunting at 5 years of age in the Vietnamese context; to examine the relationship between Vietnamese children's stunting status at 5 years of age, the dose of the national preschool program they received, and their cognitive skills and psychological well-being at 4 ages; and to determine whether some doses of the national preschool program were associated with the mitigation of adverse cognitive and wellbeing outcomes among stunted children. The Young Lives Study in Vietnam (n = 2,000; 31 sites) provided archival data that allowed calculation of the approximate dose (in hours) of the preschool program received by children, and longitudinal data on children's growth (1, 5, 8, 12, and 15 years), receptive vocabulary (5, 8, 12 and 15 years), reading skills, mathematics skills and life satisfaction (each at 8, 12, and 15 years). Stunting at 5 years of age was associated with diverse aspects of financial and social disadvantage, greater exposure to health risks, lower preventive health care, and constraints on maternal care. Scores for all cognitive variables at all ages were positively associated with preschool dose and negatively associated with stunted growth at 5 years of age. That is, effects associated with stunting and preschool dose at 5 years of age continued to be found during the subsequent 10 years. High doses of preschool education (3,000 h or more) were associated with the mitigation of adverse outcomes for most cognitive variables at most ages. The current findings raise the possibility that generic preschool programs delivered at high dose may provide a scalable and sustainable intervention to support the life opportunities of children who experience early stunting.

Vitamin Deficiency Detection Using Image Processing

Abstract: This research paper introduces an innovative Web application that utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify vitamin deficiencies in individuals by analyzing images of specific body organs. This novel approach eliminates the need for costly laboratory tests, enabling users to detect potential vitamin deficiencies without requiring blood samples. Users can easily capture photos of their eyes, lips, tongue, and nails, and the application will analyze these images to identify possible deficiencies. Furthermore, the application provides a list of recommended nutritional sources to address the identified deficiency and outlines potential associated complications. The AI software has been meticulously trained to accurately distinguish and classify vitamin deficiencies by analyzing images of these specific body parts, which exhibit distinct symptoms when the body experiences nutritional deficits. Additionally, healthcare professionals can contribute to and validate visual data from their patients, enhancing the application's accuracy and expanding its detection capabilities. This application serves as a valuable tool in addressing the global issue of insufficient nutritional awareness, ultimately assisting healthcare workers in delivering more precise diagnoses. Vitamins are essential components of our diet, and their deficiency can lead to a range of health problems. The primary objective of this AI system is to identify vitamin deficiencies at an early stage, helping to prevent severe consequences such as infectious diseases, anemia, maternal mortality, and impaired cognitive and physical development

Pendampingan Pembuatan Soft Candy Semangka, Nutrisi Halal Pemenuhan Zat Besi Sebagai Upaya Pencegahan Stunting

Prevalence of stunting in children in Indonesia at the national level is around 37%. Various efforts are made to reduce and prevent the incidence of stunting, one of the efforts to overcome this is the fulfillment of nutrition in children. one of the efforts to overcome this is the fulfillment of nutrition in children. One of One of the micronutrients that is important for child growth is iron. Lack of iron deficiency can cause stunting and impaired cognitive development in children. children. Iron is found in many foods, including watermelon. At Some people dislike the consumption of fruit directly. This becomes a challenge in itself where there needs to be an effort to process watermelon fruit into a dosage form that is favored by children, namely soft candy. One of one of the main ingredients for making soft candy is gelatin which needs to be considered its halalness. Therefore, there is assistance in making watermelon soft candy as halal nutrition to meet the iron needs of children as an effort to prevent stunting in MT Annisa, MT Annisa, MT Annisa, MT Annisa, MT Annisa. to prevent stunting in MT Annisa, Madiun City. The method in this activity begins with a pretest, then socialization and workshops, and ends with a posttest. The pretest results showed that only 9.09%, while the posttest results were 54.55% of residents who understood the knowledge and process of making halal watermelon soft candy for making halal watermelon soft candy for stunting prevention nutrition. This shows an increase in community knowledge after attending socialization and workshop looks different.

A single-center observational study on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with tuberous sclerosis complex

BackgroundTuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare multisystem disorder caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 gene. More than 90% of patients with TSC develop neurological and/or neuropsychiatric manifestations. The aim of the present study was to determine the developmental and cognitive long-term outcomes of pediatric TSC patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional, monocenter study included pediatric TSC patients who received multidisciplinary long-term care with a last visit between 2005 and 2019. Neurological manifestations and cognitive development (BSID, K-ABC) were analyzed in relation to age and type of mutation.ResultsThirty-five patients aged 13.5 ± 7.8 years were included in the study. Diagnosis was confirmed genetically in 65.7% of patients (TSC1, 26.1%; TSC2, 65.2%; NMI, 8.7%). Mean age at diagnosis was 1.3 ± 3.5 years; 74.3% of the patients had been diagnosed within the first year of life due to seizures (62.9%) or/and cardiac rhabdomyomas (28.6%). The most common TSC manifestations included structural brain lesions (cortical tubers, 91.4%; subependymal nodules, 82.9%), epilepsy (85.7%), and cardiac rhabdomyomas (62.9%). Mean age at seizure onset was 1.5 ± 2.3 years, with onset in 80.0% of patients within the first two years of life. Infantile spasms, which were the first seizure type in 23.3% of the patients, developed earlier (0.6 ± 0.4 years) than focal seizures (1.8 ± 2.5 years). Refractory epilepsy was present in 21 (70.0%) patients, mild or severe intellectual impairment in 66.6%, and autism spectrum disorders in 11.4%. Severe cognitive impairment (33.3%) was significantly associated with epilepsy type and age at seizure onset (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe results emphasized the phenotypic variability of pediatric-onset TSC and the high rate of neurological and neuropsychiatric morbidity. Early-onset refractory epilepsy was associated with impaired cognitive development. Children of all ages with TSC require multidisciplinary long-term care and individual early-intervention programs.

Real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification for the detection of Giardia duodenalis in fecal specimens

IntroductionGiardiasis is a leading cause of subacute or chronic diarrhoea and is frequently associated with impaired physical, cognitive and psychosocial development, especially in children. The diagnosis relies mainly on the microscopic evaluation of stool specimens that have a low sensitivity. In contrast, molecular advancements like the polymerase chain reaction and Real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (Real-time LAMP) are promising techniques and reportedly have better diagnostic characteristics. MethodsWe have evaluated the performance of Real-time LAMP for detecting Giardia in ninety stool specimens compared to microscopy and nested PCR. ResultsA total of 35 fecal samples were detected positive by microscopy, 41 by nested PCR and 43 by real-time LAMP. Microscopy and nested PCR detected 33, microscopy and real-time LAMP detected 35, and nested PCR and real-time LAMP detected 41 positive samples. ConclusionThe real-time LAMP assay was found suitable for the rapid and accurate detection of G. duodenalis with a better sensitivity in comparison to nested PCR and microscopy. Furthermore, besides being sensitive and rapid, LAMP had the advantage of an adequate rapid turn-around time of eleven to 15 ​min as compared to 5 ​h of nested PCR.

Suplementasi Makanan Tambahan Tinggi Protein Hewani, Kalsium Dan Zinc Pada Anak Umur 6-24 Bulan Sebagai Upaya Peningkatan Panjang Badan Anak

The results of the 2021 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia that stunting prevalence in five-year-old children is 24.4%. Children who are stunted until the age of 5 years will be difficult to overcome so it will continue into adulthood and can increase the risk of offspring with low birth weight. Stunting will cause long-term impacts, namely impaired physical, mental, intellectual, and cognitive development. This research method used an experimental design by providing food in the form of 50,0 g of nuggets every day for 6 weeks as high supplements in animal protein, calcium,and zinc. The subjects of this research were children aged 6-24 months, the subjects were randomly assigned. The number of samples based on the calculation of the sample size was 30 children. The results showed that before the intervention was given to the treatment subjects, the average height was 79,6 ± 4,8 cm and after the treatment was given, the average height was 80,01±4,9 cm. Based on the results of the paired t-test there was a significant difference in height of 0,41 ± 0,26 cm (p = 0,000). For initial body weight or before being given treatment to the treatment subjects, there was an average body weight of 10,1 ± 1,5 kg and after being given treatment, the average body weight was 10,3±1,5 kg, there was no difference (p = 0,082) of body weight after being given supplementation. As a suggestion, it is necessary to develop a more varied form of food so that all age groups of infants and children can consume high supplements in animal protein, calcium and zinc.&#x0D; &#x0D;

Maternal adverse childhood experiences on child growth and development in rural Pakistan: An observational cohort study.

Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have significant impacts on the next generation with links to negative birth outcomes, impaired cognitive development, and increased socioemotional problems in children. However, not all types or levels of adversity are similarly deleterious and research from diverse contexts is needed to better understand why and how intergenerational transmission of adversity occurs. We examined the role of maternal ACEs on children's growth, cognitive, and socioemotional development at 36 months postpartum in rural Pakistan. We used data from 877 mother-child dyads in the Bachpan Cohort, a birth cohort study. Maternal ACEs were captured using an adapted version of the ACE-International Questionnaire. Outcomes at 36 months of age included child growth using the WHO growth z-scores, fine motor and receptive language development assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, and socioemotional and behavioral development measured with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Socioemotional and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. To estimate the associations between maternal ACEs and child outcomes, we used multivariable generalized linear models with inverse probability weights to account for sampling and loss to follow-up. Over half of mothers in our sample (58%) experienced at least one ACE. Emotional abuse, physical abuse, and emotional neglect were the most commonly reported ACEs. We found null relationships between the number of maternal ACEs and child growth. Maternal ACEs were associated with higher fine motor and receptive language development and worse socioemotional and behavioral outcomes. Maternal ACE domains had similarly varying relationships with child outcomes. Our findings highlight the complexity of intergenerational associations between maternal ACEs and children's growth and development. Further work is necessary to examine these relationships across cultural contexts and identify moderating factors to mitigate potential negative intergenerational effects.