Postnatal Conditions Research Articles

SOME POTENTIAL PREREQUISITES FOR THE FORMATION OF THE GUT MICROBIOTA IN PREMATURE BABIES: PART III

Abnormal microbial colonization of the gut from birth in newborns aff ects growth, development, and health, leading to short- and long-term adverse eff ects. The microbiota of preterm infants diff ers from that of term infants. This is because preterm infants and their mothers have more complicated prenatal and postnatal health conditions and anatomically- functional immaturity of organs and systems depending on gestational age. Maternal conditions, antibiotics, type of feeding, and use of probiotics can signifi cantly aff ect the gut microbiota of preterm infants in the early neonatal period; however, these eff ects decrease with age. Although some factors and processes are diffi cult to intervene or avoid, understanding the potential factors and determinants will help to develop timely strategies to promote a healthy gut microbiota in preterm infants. This review discusses potential determinants of gut microbial colonization in preterm infants, the underlying mechanisms, and recommendations for addressing adverse eff ects.

Effect of gestational naural pasture allowance on muscle development of lambs

To study the effects of gestational undernutrition induced by a lower natural pasture allowance on myogenesis and meat production in lambs, two experiments were carried out. In the first, Corriedale sheep were fed contrasting natural pasture allowances (23 days before conception until gestation day 122) and myogenesis was evaluated in 70-day-old fetuses and newborns. In the second, similar ewes were fed with contrasting natural pasture allowances (day 30 of gestation until parturition) and the productive performance, quantity and quality of meat and muscular characteristics in 200-day-old lambs were evaluated. A lower pasture allownace affected fetal myogenesis (fewer secondary fibers) and was associated with reduced mitotic and myoblastic fusion activity in some muscles. In newborns, maternal undernutrition affected muscle histology, fibrillar biological and contractile properties (MyHC-I and GLUT-4). Likewise, undernutrition strongly reduced muscle IGF-1 and could compromise neonatal hypertrophic compensation. On the other hand, maternal undernutrition from day 30 to parturition affected growth, carcass quality and muscle weights at 200 days, although these effects were mainly sex-dependent, with males being the most affected. Maternal undernutrition affected fibrillar composition (greater oxidative activity) in all muscles at 200 days. Biochemical and meat quality characteristics were also affected, although these effects depended on both muscle and sex. In summary, a lower gestational pasture allowance negatively affected fetal myogenesis and neonatal muscle characteristics (worse hypertrophic capacities), and induced fetal programming effects on muscle mass and muscle characteristics at 200 days. This implies that, regardless of postnatal conditions, intrauterine alterations induce muscular changes, which may be related to the ability to grow and the quality of the meat produced. Likewise, our results highlight the importance of considering the sex of the animal and the muscle when studying these effects.

SOME POTENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE GUT MICROBIOTA IN PRETERM INFANTS: PART 1

Abnormal microbial colonization of the gut from birth in newborns aff ects growth, development, and health, leading to short- and long-term adverse eff ects. The microbiota of preterm infants diff ers from that of term ones. This is because preterm infants and their mothers have more complicated prenatal and postnatal health conditions and anatomically- functional immaturity of organs and systems depending on gestational age. Maternal conditions, antibiotics, type of feeding, and use of probiotics can signifi cantly aff ect the gut microbiota of preterm infants in the early neonatal period; however, these eff ects decrease with age. Although some factors and processes are diffi cult to intervene or avoid, understanding the potential factors and determinants will help to develop timely strategies to promote a healthy gut microbiota in preterm infants. This review discusses potential determinants of gut microbial colonization in preterm infants,the underlying mechanisms, and recommendations for addressing adverse eff ects.

Embryonic methionine triggers post-natal developmental programming in Japanese quail

Embryonic development is one of the most sensitive and critical stages when maternal effects may influence the offspring’s phenotype. In birds and other oviparous species, embryonic development is confined to the eggs, therefore females must deposit resources into the eggs to prepare the offspring for the prevailing post-natal conditions. However, the mechanisms of such phenotypic adjustments remain poorly understood. We simulated a maternal nutritional transfer by injecting 1 mg of l-methionine solution into Japanese quail eggs before the onset of incubation. The increase in early methionine concentration in eggs activated the insulin/insulin-like signalling and mechanistic target of rapamycin (IIS/mTOR) signalling pathways and affected post-natal developmental trajectories. Chicks from methionine-supplemented eggs had higher expression of liver IGF1 and mTOR genes at hatching but were similar in size, and the phenotypic effects of increased growth became apparent only a week later and remained up to three weeks. Circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and expression of ribosomal protein serine 6 kinase 1 (RPS6K1), the mTOR downstream effector, were elevated only three weeks after hatching. These results show that specific nutritional cues may have phenotypic programming effects by sequentially activating specific nutrient-sensing pathways and achieving transgenerational phenotypic plasticity.

Emergency medical team interventions in Poland during out-of-hospital deliveries: A retrospective analysis.

Emergency medical teams are a crucial component of healthcare systems, routinely providing essential care to pregnant patients in various situations. To evaluate the rate and outcomes of out-of-hospital deliveries attended by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Poland and identify areas for improvement in the care provided by emergency medical teams. This retrospective study was based on 41,335 EMS emergency calls to women in advanced pregnancy, of which 879 births were delivered directly by medical teams between January 2018 and December 2022. Data were obtained from the Polish National Monitoring Center for Emergency Medical Services, encompassing all EMS interventions in Poland. The study involved 879 EMS team interventions for pregnant women, with an average patient age of 29.87 years. Most patients were in their 2nd pregnancy (28.26%) and delivering for the 2nd time (25.77%). The postnatal condition of newborns, assessed using the Apgar score, was missing in 408 cases (46.52%) due to incorrect completion of documentation. Emergency Medical Services teams, predominantly P-type (basic) teams, handled 69.78% of deliveries, while S-type (specialist) teams were involved in 30.22% of cases. Medical procedures often performed during childbirth included manual assistance in spontaneous delivery, pulse oximetry, physical examination, examination of systemic blood pressure, obtaining peripheral intravenous access, and gynecological examination. Given the rate of encountered cases and the gaps identified in medical documentation, there is merit in potentially implementing a dedicated form to be completed by medical teams when caring for a pregnant patient. Ongoing training and enhancements in the range of assistance provided to the mother and newborn are imperative for ensuring appropriate care.

Early developmental carry-over effects on exploratory behaviour and DNA methylation in wild great tits (Parus major).

Adverse, postnatal conditions experienced during development are known to induce lingering effects on morphology, behaviour, reproduction and survival. Despite the importance of early developmental stress for shaping the adult phenotype, it is largely unknown which molecular mechanisms allow for the induction and maintenance of such phenotypic effects once the early environmental conditions are released. Here we aimed to investigate whether lasting early developmental phenotypic changes are associated with post-developmental DNA methylation changes. We used a cross-foster and brood size experiment in great tit (Parus major) nestlings, which induced post-fledging effects on biometric measures and exploratory behaviour, a validated personality trait. We investigated whether these post-fledging effects are associated with DNA methylation levels of CpG sites in erythrocyte DNA. Individuals raised in enlarged broods caught up on their developmental delay after reaching independence and became more explorative as days since fledging passed, while the exploratory scores of individuals that were raised in reduced broods remained stable. Although we previously found that brood enlargement hardly affected the pre-fledging methylation levels, we found 420 CpG sites that were differentially methylated between fledged individuals that were raised in small versus large sized broods. A considerable number of the affected CpG sites were located in or near genes involved in metabolism, growth, behaviour and cognition. Since the biological functions of these genes line up with the observed post-fledging phenotypic effects of brood size, our results suggest that DNA methylation provides organisms the opportunity to modulate their condition once the environmental conditions allow it. In conclusion, this study shows that nutritional stress imposed by enlarged brood size during early development associates with variation in DNA methylation later in life. We propose that treatment-associated DNA methylation differences may arise in relation to pre- or post-fledging phenotypic changes, rather than that they are directly induced by the environment during early development.

Associations of pelvic floor dysfunction and postnatal mental health: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Background Postpartum mental health conditions are common and can have devastating effects for both mother and infant. Adverse birth outcomes increase the risk of postnatal mental health conditions. Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a common adverse pregnancy outcome that may be a risk factor for postnatal mental health conditions. There are many studies reporting associations between PFD and postnatal mental health conditions, but no reports have synthesised the current literature as it relates to pregnancy and the postpartum period. Methods A research librarian conducted systematic literature searches using terms concerning PFD, postnatal mental health conditions, and pregnancy. Searches were conducted within PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Scopus. Two reviewers independently rated each study for inclusion and study quality. No studies were excluded based on quality. Results A total of 47 studies were included for review. Articles addressed sexual dysfunction (n = 11), incontinence (n = 21), perineal laceration (n = 13), pelvic organ prolapse (n = 2), and general pelvic floor symptoms (n = 2) and associations with postnatal mental health conditions. Two articles addressed more than one type of PFD. The majority (44 studies) reported associations between PFD and adverse postnatal mental health conditions. Discussion Most studies included for review found consistent associations between PFD and adverse mental health conditions. Healthcare providers should screen for PFD and postnatal mental health conditions early in the postpartum period. Future research should investigate whether the treatment of PFD can modify the associations between PFD and postnatal mental health conditions.

Prenatal, neonatal and postnatal factors and the developmental defects of dental enamel.

To estimate the prevalence of developmental defects in dental enamel and its possible association with prenatal, neonatal and postnatal conditions in six-year-old schoolchildren in a southern Brazilian municipality. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 655 six-year-old schoolchildren. Sociodemographic and health data were collected through interviews with mothers and children's oral examinations at schools. Multivariate analyses were performed using Poisson regression with robust estimator. The prevalence of developmental defects of enamel was 44.0%. Demarcated opacities were the most prevalent, followed by diffuse opacities. Late pregnancy, maternal schooling less than eight years, female gender and child's white skin color were independently associated with the prevalence of demarcated opacities. The prevalence of developmental defects in dental enamel was 44.0%. Late pregnancy, maternal schooling less than eight years, female gender and child's white skin color were associated with the prevalences.

COMPARATIVE CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTH STATUS IN CHILDREN RESIDING IN ENVIRONMENTALLY POLLUTED AREA EXPOSED TO CHEMICAL FACTORS

Introduction. Prolonged residence of children in polluted environments significantly impairs their health, primarily due to the presence of chemical reagents (sulphur compounds). These chemical reagents induce nonspecific, polysystemic syndromes that affect the gastrointestinal, urinary, and immune systems, thus warranting the formation of risk groups to facilitate individual assessment, prevention, and treatment. This study aims at investigating the health status of children residing in an area affected by environmental contamination from sulphur chemicals. Material and Methods. The study employed general clinical analyses, ultrasound scanning, and medical and statistical analysis to examine 88 children. The sample included 56 children residing in an environment that is highly polluted with sulphur compounds and 32 children in a control group living in a conditionally clean environment. The participants were assessed by medical specialists including paediatricians, gastroenterologists, nephrologists, neurologists, ophthalmologists, immunologists, pulmonologists and dentists. Objective medical examinations were conducted using instrumental methods, including ultrasound diagnostics of internal organs and the thyroid gland, as well as echocardiography and densitometry. The statistical processing of the findings obtained was carried out by using the "Statistica 5.0" application program package and the standard statistical analysis (Excel 2010). The reliability in the examined groups of children was calculated according to the Student's criterion and was considered significant at p<0.01.
 Results. Assessment of the clinical health status of 88 children was performed based on their primary medical records (form 112-o), complaints, medical history, diseases, age parameters, and laboratory indicators. The main group demonstrated statistically significant changes with a probability of p<0.01. Children aged 13 to 16 years were more prevalent in the first group (30.4% versus 15.6%) and experienced significantly higher complaint frequency (p<0.01) than the control group. This suggests non-specific manifestations of general intoxication and environmental maladaptation in children. Several detrimental factors were found to reduce the overall response of the children's bodies within the main group (р<0.01), which serve as a premorbid background. These factors include the frequency of ante- and postnatal conditions such as preeclampsia during the first and second half of pregnancy, early artificial feeding, frequent acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and atopic history of dermatitis. A spectrum of sickness was discovered during the analysis of the clinical health state of the main group with a probability of p<0.01. This includes chronic ailments of the gastroduodenal region (64.2% as opposed to 37.5%), biliary tract dyskinesia (32.1% - 18, 8%), dysmetabolic nephropathy (46.4% compared to 25.0%) and vegetative-vascular dystonia (46.4% and 15.6%). These findings indicate a decline in the body's immunological reactivity. Conclusions. The study reveals a significant decrease in the health status of children residing in an ecologically polluted environment with chemical sulfur compounds, compared to those dwelling in a clean environment (p<0.01). Chronic conditions affecting the gastroduodenal region, dysmetabolic nephropathy, vegetative-vascular dystonia, recurrent colds, chronic tonsillitis, and dental caries were detected in the main study group. These conditions significantly (p<0.01) imply the development of ecopathological syndromes, the creation of at-risk groups, and the need for preventive methods. Technical abbreviations will be explained when first used. Identified alterations in the clinical status of the assessed children with xenobiotic intoxication syndromes necessitate the establishment of at-risk groups, the pre-emptive avoidance and management of detected ecopathology.

Early-life environmental effects on mitochondrial aerobic metabolism: a brood size manipulation in wild great tits.

In avian species, the number of chicks in the nest and subsequent sibling competition for food are major components of the offspring's early-life environment. A large brood size is known to affect chick's growth, leading in some cases to long-lasting effects for the offspring, such as a decrease in size at fledgling and in survival after fledging. An important pathway underlying different growth patterns could be the variation in offspring mitochondrial metabolism through its central role in converting energy. Here, we performed a brood size manipulation in great tits (Parus major) to unravel its impact on offspring's mitochondrial metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in red blood cells. We investigated the effects of brood size on chicks' growth and survival, and tested for long-lasting effects on juvenile mitochondrial metabolism and phenotype. As expected, chicks raised in reduced broods had a higher body mass compared to enlarged and control groups. However, mitochondrial metabolism and ROS production were not significantly affected by the treatment either at chick or juvenile stages. Interestingly, chicks raised in very small broods were smaller in size and had higher mitochondrial metabolic rates. The nest of rearing had a significant effect on nestling mitochondrial metabolism. The contribution of the rearing environment in determining offspring mitochondrial metabolism emphasizes the plasticity of mitochondrial metabolism in regards to the nest environment. This study opens new avenues regarding the implication of postnatal environmental conditions in shaping the offspring's early-life mitochondrial metabolism.

Early-life droughts and cognitive performance among children in rural India

Abstract Introduction Organisms adapt to prenatal conditions in a way that prepares for similar postnatal circumstances. Fetal programming research has identified associations between various prenatal shocks and numerous health outcomes, yet the role of the postnatal environment for effect manifestation remains understudied. This is the first study to investigate the interplay of pre- and postnatal environmental conditions for cognitive health among school-aged children. We focus on nutrition, a cognitive health risk factor in both pre- and postnatal life. Methods Data from the 2007-2018 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) on 5-16-year-olds from rural India (N = 4,589,590) were linked to University of Delaware rainfall data. As rural India heavily depends on rainfed agriculture, we exploit droughts - i.e. rainfall below the 20th percentile of the district-specific mean - as a quasi-experiment for nutritional shocks. Drought exposure is assigned based on birth year. We first test if prenatal drought exposure is associated with test scores, and then interact prenatal exposure with exposure in the first years of life, while controlling for household, district, birth year, and interview year. Results Our results show that prenatal drought exposure is associated with lower scores in math and reading, and a lower probability of being on track in school, particularly among 11-16 year-olds. Droughts in the first few years after birth, too, are associated with poorer scores. However, this effect is alleviated among adolescents who had previously experienced a drought prenatally. Conclusions Prenatal exposure to suboptimal conditions might mitigate the effects of similar shocks in early postnatal life for cognitive health. Future research on interactions between such pre- and postnatal factors is needed, e.g. to gain insights for resilience-building in face of the climate crisis. Key messages • The occurrence of droughts during the prenatal phase, as well as during the first few years after birth, lead Indian adolescents to perform worse in school. • Prenatal circumstances prepare for postnatal ones. This explains our finding that the effects of droughts after birth are alleviated among those who had already been prenatally drought-exposed.

Evaluation of the Relationship between Stress Level During Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression as the Pandemic Ends

Pregnancy is a life process that progresses with biological, physiological, and psychosocial changes. Especially the challenging factors during the pandemic caused pregnant women to experience more stress than expected. Postpartum depression is one of the important mental health problems that follow giving birth. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between postpartum depression and stress levels during the pregnancy, in a period in which the effects of the pandemic decreased. Our study was conducted on 102 persons with a mean age of 25.8±4.5. The data collection process was carried out using a survey under the supervision of the researchers. The survey consisted of two-stages. In the first stage, the sociodemographic characteristics of the people were questioned, and the Pregnancy Stress Assessment Scale (PSAS) was applied. In the second stage, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was applied. PSAS mean score was 97.0±23.7 and SPDS mean score was 8.07±5.55. Pregnant women who have chronic diseases had a higher stress level (p=0.011). EPDS mean score was significantly higher in the group whose pregnancy ended in abortion (p=0.001). The pandemic has been a source of great concern for women in the postpartum period. However, we think these worries must have been decreased with the normalization process. In our study, no relationship was found between postpartum depression and stress level of pregnancy. It was observed that the postpartum psychological state was mostly affected by the postnatal health conditions of the mother and the baby. Closely monitoring the mother's mental health after birth and supporting the mother from medical personnel will help the mother to protect her mental health.

The MothersBabies Study, an Australian Prospective Cohort Study Analyzing the Microbiome in the Preconception and Perinatal Period to Determine Risk of Adverse Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Child-Related Health Outcomes: Study Protocol.

The microbiome has emerged as a key determinant of human health and reproduction, with recent evidence suggesting a dysbiotic microbiome is implicated in adverse perinatal health outcomes. The existing research has been limited by the sample collection and timing, cohort design, sample design, and lack of data on the preconception microbiome. This prospective, longitudinal cohort study will recruit 2000 Australian women, in order to fully explore the role of the microbiome in the development of adverse perinatal outcomes. Participants are enrolled for a maximum of 7 years, from 1 year preconception, through to 5 years postpartum. Assessment occurs every three months until pregnancy occurs, then during Trimester 1 (5 + 0-12 + 6 weeks gestation), Trimester 2 (20 + 0-24 + 6 weeks gestation), Trimester 3 (32 + 0-36 + 6 weeks gestation), and postpartum at 1 week, 2 months, 6 months, and then annually from 1 to 5 years. At each assessment, maternal participants self-collect oral, skin, vaginal, urine, and stool samples. Oral, skin, urine, and stool samples will be collected from children. Blood samples will be obtained from maternal participants who can access a study collection center. The measurements taken will include anthropometric, blood pressure, heart rate, and serum hormonal and metabolic parameters. Validated self-report questionnaires will be administered to assess diet, physical activity, mental health, and child developmental milestones. Medications, medical, surgical, obstetric history, the impact of COVID-19, living environments, and pregnancy and child health outcomes will be recorded. Multiomic bioinformatic and statistical analyses will assess the association between participants who developed high-risk and low-risk pregnancies, adverse postnatal conditions, and/or childhood disease, and their microbiome for the different sample types.

Prevalence and factors associated with undernutrition among children under the age of five years in Benin.

Benin ranks as one of the countries in the world with an alarmingly high prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight in children under five years. However, limited studies have examined the factors associated with the prevalence of these undernutrition indicators among children under five years in the country. This study aimed to fill this research gap by examining the prevalence rates and factors associated with stunting, wasting, and underweight among this specific population of interest. This quantitative study utilised data from the most recent Benin Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) conducted in 2017-18. The survey employed a nationally representative cross-sectional design and utilised a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique to select participants. The study included a sample of 13,589 children under the age of five years. The main analytical approach employed was binary logistic regression, which was used to explore the associations between undernutrition (the combined outcome variable representing stunting, wasting, and underweight) and various socio-demographic factors. The combined prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under five years in Benin during the 2017-18 survey period was 14.95%. Several factors were significantly associated with these indicators of undernutrition, including female gender (AOR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.59-0.85), birth weight of 4.1 kg and over (AOR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.14-0.48), multiple births (AOR = 3.22, 95% CI = 2.11-4.91), and a child's experience of diarrhoea (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.40-2.20). Furthermore, the prevalence of these undernutrition indicators was higher among children whose mothers had lower levels of education (AOR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.01-0.42) and were unmarried (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.49-0.93). This present study confirms that undernutrition rates are elevated in Benin and are closely linked to perinatal factors such as birth weights and multiple births, postnatal health conditions including diarrheal episodes, and socio-demographic determinants such as a child's gender, maternal education level, and marital status. Therefore, there is the need to consider specific modifiable factors, such as low birth weight, episodes of child diarrhoea, and maternal education as priority targets for child nutrition interventions in Benin.

Violence and Post-National Costa Rican Identity in Limón Reggae

Anacristina Rossi’s novels have received critical attention relating to their presentation of pan-Caribbean identity and other challenges to the mythical national identity of the tico. Building on scholarship by Manizal and Kearns, I argue that Limón Reggae presents a representation of the post-national community and that the violent conditions that mark the protagonist’s life not only debunk the national myth of a peaceful Costa Rica, but also comment on the impossibility of belonging in the post-national community. The pain that the protagonist experiences as a result of her interpersonal relationships reflects the difficulty of forming a community after the bounds of the nation have become less defined by globalization, even to individuals who come from groups not traditionally included in the definition of a Costa Rican citizen, such as the protagonist. With the breakdown of categories of affiliation across lines of geography, race, language, and class, the protagonist is able to move easily between places and groups, but her encounters with ‘others’ are complicated by the post-national condition.

The genetics of autism and steroid-related traits in prenatal and postnatal life.

Autism likelihood is a largely heritable trait. Autism prevalence has a skewed sex ratio, with males being diagnosed more often than females. Steroid hormones play a mediating role in this, as indicated by studies of both prenatal biology and postnatal medical conditions in autistic men and women. It is currently unclear if the genetics of steroid regulation or production interact with the genetic liability for autism. To address this, two studies were conducted using publicly available datasets, which focused respectively on rare genetic variants linked to autism and neurodevelopmental conditions (study 1) and common genetic variants (study 2) for autism. In Study 1 an enrichment analysis was conducted, between autism-related genes (SFARI database) and genes that are differentially expressed (FDR<0.1) between male and female placentas, in 1st trimester chorionic villi samples of viable pregnancies (n=39). In Study 2 summary statistics of genome wide association studies (GWAS) were used to investigate the genetic correlation between autism and bioactive testosterone, estradiol and postnatal PlGF levels, as well as steroid-related conditions such as polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS), age of menarche, and androgenic alopecia. Genetic correlation was calculated based on LD Score regression and results were corrected for multiple testing with FDR. In Study 1, there was significant enrichment of X-linked autism genes in male-biased placental genes, independently of gene length (n=5 genes, p<0.001). In Study 2, common genetic variance associated with autism did not correlate to the genetics for the postnatal levels of testosterone, estradiol or PlGF, but was associated with the genotypes associated with early age of menarche in females (b=-0.109, FDR-q=0.004) and protection from androgenic alopecia for males (b=-0.135, FDR-q=0.007). The rare genetic variants associated with autism appear to interact with placental sex differences, while the common genetic variants associated with autism appear to be involved in the regulation of steroid-related traits. These lines of evidence indicate that the likelihood for autism is partly linked to factors mediating physiological sex differences throughout development.

EBNEO commentary: Early amino acids in extremely preterm infants and neurodisability at 2 years.

Preterm infants require nutritional support immediately after birth to prevent catabolism and support normal growth, often in the setting of increased energy requirements due to postnatal environmental conditions and critical illness. Observational studies in preterm infants have shown that there is a positive association between protein intake in the first month of life, short-term growth outcomes at NICU discharge1 and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.2, 3 However, a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials found that preterm infants with higher intake of parenteral amino acids demonstrated improved postnatal growth but did not show improvement in neurodevelopmental outcomes compared with infants who received lower intake of amino acids.4 Despite evidence for the benefit of early protein delivery on growth in the preterm infant, there are still many questions about the optimal dosing regimen of parenteral amino acids, including starting dose, maximal intake dose, timing and speed of increase in delivery. For example, there have been small, randomised controlled trials that have raised concerns for adverse effects from high-dose (>3 g/kg/day) parenteral amino acids advanced rapidly in the first week of life, including smaller head circumference at NICU discharge5, 6 and reduced growth through the first 2 years of life.7 In this multicenter, double-blind, randomised control trial, extremely low-birth-weight infants who received higher parenteral amino acid intake in the first 5 days of life (3.4 ± 0.6 vs 2.6 ± 0.6 g/kg/day) did not have improved survival without neurodevelopmental impairment at 2 years of corrected gestational age. In fact, higher amino acid intake was associated with higher rates of moderate-to-severe neurodisability than neonates who received lower amino acid intake. Although increased protein intake was associated with improved growth in the first month of life, there were no differences in growth at 2 years old. This study was adequately powered and is the largest study to date to test for differences in neurodevelopmental outcome as a result of amino acid dose in the first week of life. The investigators provided a difference of 0.8 g/kg per day of protein between groups, thus isolating its effect over other components of parenteral nutrition. Limitations included that additional amino acids were only administered for 5 days; it is unclear whether prolonged supplementation would change outcomes. Outcomes at 2 years old weakly predict outcomes in school-aged children. Plasma amino acid concentrations were not reported, but are critical to determine whether current paediatric amino acid solutions are adequate for preterm infants. In summary, increasing parenteral amino acid intake via the umbilical arterial catheter for 5 days after birth does not improve neurodevelopmental outcomes or growth at 2 years in preterm infants; higher protein intake may be associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition recommends that preterm infants should not receive more than 3.5 g/kg/day of parenteral amino acids unless administered in a clinical trial.8 This study supports that recommendation; clinicians should be cautious of excessive parenteral protein administration to preterm infants especially in the first 5 days of life. URL LINK: https://ebneo.org/ebneo-commentary-early-amino-acids-and-nd-outcomes/ None. None.

PERSEPSI TENTANG RELAKTASI DARI IBU YANG TELAH MELAKUKAN RELAKTASI di SAMPANG – INDONESIA: Studi Fenomenologi Deskriptif

Background: Most of the breastfeeding problems such as relactation experience stem from the psychological condition of the women who experience it. Those stress conditions affect the brain loci that control the perception of health. Perception’s problem is a very broad and complex. Therefore, interesting to understanding about perceptions of relactation experiences in women who failed to provide exclusive breastfeeding through qualitative methods.&#x0D; Method: The research was conducted using descriptive phenomenology on 10 informants through semi-structural interviews.&#x0D; Result: Seven themes obtained namely (a) Knowledge about Breastfeeding (b) Support obtained during breastfeeding (c) Role of health workers in the breastfeeding process (d) Postnatal psychological condition (e) Mother's Breastfeeding History (g) The role of social media and relations in the breastfeeding process (h) Implementation of Early Initiation of Breastfeeding (IMD) in the delivery place.&#x0D; Discussion: Various components have mutual implications for the relactation have done such as due to a lack of knowledge about breastfeeding and the existence of self-perceptions about postpartum psychological conditions which tend to be moody. The view that the mother had previously breastfed and was considered to have more knowledge was a trigger for women to feel safer when following their mother. In addition, self-perception also has implications for self-confidence to breastfeed. The closest environment and the most frequent contact, namely health workers, how the nuclear family supports women physically and mentally after childbirth, the implementation of IMD in the delivery center, and access to breastfeeding information through social media have implications for the success of relactation.

Mitochondrial function declines with age within individuals but is not linked to the pattern of growth or mortality risk in zebra finch.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered a highly conserved hallmark of ageing. However, most of the studies in both model and non-model organisms are cross-sectional in design; therefore, little is known, at the individual level, on how mitochondrial function changes with age, its link to early developmental conditions or its relationship with survival. Here we manipulated the postnatal growth in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) via dietary modification that induced accelerated growth without changing adult body size. In the same individuals, we examined blood cells mitochondrial functioning (mainly erythrocytes) when they were young (ca. 36 weeks) and again in mid-aged (ca. 91 weeks) adulthood. Mitochondrial function was strongly influenced by age but not by postnatal growth conditions. Across all groups, within individual ROUTINE respiration, OXPHOS and OXPHOS coupling efficiency significantly declined with age, while LEAK respiration increased. However, we found no link between mitochondrial function and the probability of survival into relatively old age (ca. 4 years). Our results suggest that the association between accelerated growth and reduced longevity, evident in this as in other species, is not attributable to age-related changes in any of the measured mitochondrial function traits.

Short-active gestational photoperiod reduces effortful choice behavior in mice, partial normalization by d-amphetamine.

Seasonal birth patterns consistently implicate winter gestation as a risk factor for several psychiatric conditions. We recently demonstrated that short-active (SA; 19:5 light:dark)-i.e., "winter-like"-photoperiod exposure across gestation and early life (E0-P28) induces psychiatrically relevant behavioral abnormalities in adult mice, including reduced immobility in the forced swim test (FST) and effortful amotivation. It is unknown, however, whether these effects were driven primarily by prenatal or postnatal mechanisms, and whether perinatal SA photoperiod would similarly reduce effort expenditure in a task relevant to everyday decision-making. We first tested male and female mice exposed to either gestational (E0-P0) or postnatal (E0-P28) SA photoperiod in the FST to determine whether the previously observed alteration was driven primarily by prenatal versus postnatal photoperiod. We then assessed whether SA gestational photoperiod reduces effortful choice behavior in the cross-species effort-based decision-making task (EBDMT) and whether any such deficit could be remediated by d-amphetamine (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg, i.p.). Mice exposed to prenatal, but not postnatal, SA photoperiod exhibited reduced FST immobility relative to controls and also demonstrated condition-dependently reduced preference for high-effort/high-reward versus low-effort/low-reward contingencies in the EBDMT. This effortful choice deficit was normalized by 0.1 mg/kg amphetamine. These data: (1) suggest a greater contribution of gestational versus postnatal light conditions to the behavioral effects of perinatal SA photoperiod; and (2) implicate altered dopamine signaling in the behavioral phenotype of the SA-born mouse and possibly in the etiology of winter gestation-associated cases of psychiatric disease.