Milk intake is inversely related to body mass index and body fat in girls

Dairy foods comprise a range of products with varying nutritional content. The intake of dairy products (DPs) has been shown to have beneficial effects on body weight and body fat. This study aimed to examine the independent association between DP intake, body mass index (BMI), and percentage body fat (%BF) in adolescents. A cross-sectional, school-based study was conducted with 1,001 adolescents (418 boys), ages 15–18 years, from the Azorean Archipelago, Portugal. Anthropometric measurements were recorded (weight and height), and %BF was assessed using bioelectric impedance analysis. Adolescent food intake was measured using a self-administered, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed separately for girls and boys, and separate multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate the association between total DP, milk, yogurt, and cheese intake, BMI, and %BF, adjusting for potential confounders. For boys and girls, respectively, total DP consumption was 2.6 ± 1.9 and 2.9 ± 2.5 servings/day (P = 0.004), while milk consumption was 1.7 ± 1.4 and 2.0 ± 1.7 servings/day (P = 0.001), yogurt consumption was 0.5 ± 0.6 and 0.4 ± 0.7 servings/day (P = 0.247), and cheese consumption was 0.4 ± 0.6 and 0.5 ± 0.8 servings/day (P = 0.081). After adjusting for age, birth weight, energy intake, protein, total fat, sugar, dietary fiber, total calcium intake, low-energy reporters, parental education, pubertal stage, and physical activity, only milk intake was negatively associated with BMI and %BF in girls (respectively, girls: β = −0.167, P = 0.013; boys: β = −0.019, P = 0.824 and girls: β = −0.143, P = 0.030; boys: β = −0.051, P = 0.548). Conclusion: We found an inverse association between milk intake and both BMI and %BF only in girls.

COMPARISON OF A COMMERCIAL ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY WITH PLAQUE REDUCTION NEUTRALIZATION FOR MATERNAL AND INFANT MEASLES ANTIBODY MEASUREMENT

The most practicable assay for measurement of measles IgG (mIgG) in large numbers of sera is an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). To assess how EIA results would agree with those by the gold standard method of plaque reduction neutralization (PRN) we compared the results from the two methods in 43 pairs of maternal and umbilical cord sera, and sera from the corresponding infants when aged 11 - 14 months. In maternal-cord sera, the differences between mean antibody levels by EIA or PRN were not statistically significant, though in individual sera, differences could be large. However, agreement was less good for infants sera, in which levels of mIgG were very low. The conclusions of a study of transplacental transport of mIgG would not be affected by the use of either technique. When studying waning immunity in infants, PRN should be the method of choice, while results from studies using EIA should be interpreted with caution.

Pasteurization of human milk to prevent transmission of Chagas disease

Although admittedly transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi infection through breastfeeding is a rare event, it involves serious risks. To test the effectiveness of pasteurization in preventing this mode of infection, three sets of samples of human milk were tested: a - contaminated with T. cruzi and pasteurized; b - contaminated with T. cruzi and non-pasteurized; c - non-contaminated and pasteurized. Samples from all sets were orally and intraperitoneally administered to 90 BALB/c mice. The animals inoculated with contaminated, non-pasteurized samples, got the infection. Controls and the animals inoculated with contaminated and pasteurized milk were not infected. The hypothesis was accepted that pasteurization inactivates T. cruzi trypomastigotes.

Microwave treatment of human milk to prevent transmission of Chagas disease

It is recognized that breast feeding is an alternative means of transmission of Chagas disease. However, thermal treatment of milk can prevent this occurrence. As domestic microwave ovens are becoming commonplace, the efficacy of microwave thermal treatment in inactivating Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes in human milk was tested. Human milk samples infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes (Y strain) from laboratory-infected mice, were heated to 63 °C in a domestic microwave oven (2 450 MHz, 700 W). Microscopical and serological examinations demonstrated that none of the animals inoculated orally or intraperitoneally with infected milk which had been treated, got the infection, while those inoculated with untreated, infected milk, became infected. It was concluded that the simple treatment prescribed, which can easily be done at home, was effective in inactivating T. cruzi trypomastigotes contained in human milk.

In Vitro Methods for Specific IgE Detection on Cow’s Milk Allergy

Background: A new method for determining serum specific IgE (IMMULITE“ 2000 3gAllergy) has recently become available. Objective: To evaluate the clinical performance of IMMULITE 2000 in the diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy compared with that of UniCAP“. Additionally, we verified the behavior of both methods at two diagnostic decision points proposed by other authors. Methods: The study population consisted of 31 children with cow’s milk allergy (group A) and a control group of 19 atopic children without food allergy(group B). A blood sample from each child was tested using both methods and the results were compared. Results: In group A, the values for cow’s milk IgE ranged from 0.35 kU/L (the lowest common detection limit) to above 100 kU/L. In group B, the values were less than 1.1 kU/L for IMMULITE 2000 and less than 1.6 kU/L for UniCAP. An agreement of 90 % in IgE classes was obtained. Both methods demonstrated exactly the same diagnostic performance(sensitivity: 100 %; specificity: 78.9 %; negative predictive value: 100%; positive predictive value: 84.6%;efficiency: 90.2 %). The evaluation of the two methods at the two different decision points proposed in the literature showed a better positive predictive value with UniCAP, but we obtained equivalent performance with IMMULITE 2000 by choosing higher cutoff values. Conclusions: We conclude that IMMULITE 2000 is as effective as UniCAP in the diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy. Both methods can be used to obtain site-specific decision points that are population, age and disease dependent.

Digit Ratio (2D:4D) in Newborns: Influences of Prenatal Testosterone and Maternal Environment

Introduction: The 2D:4D digit ratio is sexually-dimorphic, probably due to testosterone action through the perinatal period. We characterize the 2D:4D ratio in newborn (NB) infants, in between the pre- and postnatal surges of testosterone, and relate it to the mother's 2D:4D and to testosterone levels in the amniotic fluid (AF). Subjects and methods: Testosterone was assayed in samples of maternal plasma and AF collected at amniocentesis. Shortly after birth, 106 NBs and their mothers were measured for 2D:4D ratio. Results: NB males had lower mean 2D:4D ratios than females but this dimorphism was significant only for the left hand (males: 0.927; females: 0.950; p=0.004). Mothers who had sons had lower 2D:4D ratios than those who had daughters and the mother's 2D:4D were higher than those of NBs regardless of sex. Both hands of NB females were negatively correlated with AF testosterone and positively correlated with the mother's 2D:4D, but males showed no significant associations. Maternal plasma testosterone also showed a negative weak correlation with NB's digit ratio in both sexes. Conclusions: Sexual dimorphism at birth was only significant for the left hand, in contrast with reports of greater right hand dimorphism, suggesting that postnatal testosterone is determinant for 2D:4D stabilization. The lower 2D:4D ratios in mothers who had sons support claims that hormone levels in parents are influential for determining their children's sex. NB female's digit ratio, but not males', was associated to the level of AF testosterone. The mother's 2D:4D ratios were positively correlated with their daughters' 2D:4D, but the same was not observed for male NBs, suggesting that prenatal testosterone levels in male fetus lead their 2D:4D ratios to stray from their mothers' with high individual variability.

Diagnosis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in an Infant Undergoing Milk Oral Immunotherapy - A Case Report

Although the standard of care for cow’s milk (CM) allergy is strict food avoidance, oral immunotherapy (OIT) is being widely investigated as an alternative management option in certain cases. Immediate adverse reactions to OIT have been described, but its long-term effects are much less often reported. We present the case of a girl diagnosed with IgE-mediated CM allergy that was proposed for our CM OIT protocol at the age of 3 years. The first sessions (dose escalation up to 5 ml) were well tolerated, however eight hours after her daily morning dose of 5ml CM the child developed late episodes of vomiting. No other symptoms, particularly immediately after CM ingestion, were reported. These episodes became progressively worse and on the third day she presented mild dehydration and blood eosinophilia. After OIT interruption, a progressive clinical improvement was observed. An esophageal endoscopy was performed, showing signs of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) with peak 20 eosinophils/hpf. After treatment with topical swallowed fluticasone (500 mcg bid) and a CM-free diet for 4 months, the child was asymptomatic and endoscopy and biopsy findings were normal. The long-term effects of milk OIT are still in part unknown. We hypothesize that eosinophilic esophagitis may have been a consequence of OIT in this case. The findings seem to indicate that food allergy may play a role in the pathogenesis of esophageal eosinophilia and stress the importance of a well programmed long-term follow-up of patients that have undergone milk OIT.

Family occurrence of schistosomal hepatosplenomegaly and maternal effect

In this paper we present a study of members of 265 nuclear families, aged six or more. This study is based of family heredograms, and takes into account the clinical form ofschistosomiasis observed before treatment with oxamniquine. The probability of occurrence of two or more cases ofhepatosplenomegaly is low, notwithstanding the fact that it was observed in 38 families. Even less frequent is the occurrence of three or more cases observed in 17 families (P=0.002). The concentration of the hepatosplenic form was higher among siblings than it was among mothers and children, or fathers and children. It was found to be not significant between husband (father) and wife (mother). These observations reinforce the evidence for the presence of a genetic component in susceptibility to the hepatosplenic form of the disease. In cases in which the mother was hepatosplenic there was a higher incidence of hepatosplenic children; the relative risk was a least five times higher than in those in which the father was the affected member (the maternal effect). In cases where both members were affected by the hepatointestinal form, the risk to the filial generation was similar to that of the population in general. Thus, in the process towards severe forms of Schistosomiasis mansoni, pre and post natal factors might be involved.

Busca retrospectiva da transmissão maternal da infecção chagásica em pacientes na fase crônica

Avaliamos a transmissão maternal do Trypanosoma cruzi em 278 filhos de 145 mães com a doença crônica causada por esse protozoário, nascidos após o estabelecimento do diagnóstico materno. Usamos, nas mães e nos filhos, provas sorológicas como base do objetivo do estudo. Verificamos que ocorreram apenas duas veiculações pela modalidade citada (2/278 = 0,7%). Como houve amamentação, não foi possível diferenciar, nesses casos, a transmissão congênita da adquirida pelo leite, mas, de qualquer forma, processou-se transmissão maternal, que constitui uma das modalidades alternativas de infecção pelo Trypanosoma cruzi. A metodologia empregada é mais uma dentre as diversas propostas para aquilatar a prevalência desse tipo de propagação do Trypanosoma cruzi. Ao lado da constatação fundamental, registramos fatos relacionados com a gestação, parto, puerpério, abortamento, prematuridade, nati-neomortalidade e aleitamento materno, que podem representar subsídios para melhores interpretações sobre o assunto.

Chagas' disease: study of congenital transmission in cases of acute maternal infection

We studied three pregnant women with acute chagasic infection. Two patients, infected in the third trimester of pregnancy, had uninfected children. The third patient, infected earlier, had an infected newborn. These results encourage research on risk factors of transmission and on medical decisions concerning pregnant women with acute Chagas' disease.

Unraveling maternal and fetal genetic factors protecting from Pregnancy Associated Malaria in the mouse

Malaria is one of the most devastating diseases in the world. In Plasmodium endemic regions, pregnant women are among the most vulnerable groups. Pregnancy Associated Malaria (PAM) threatens both maternal and foetal lives. Despite differences between human and mouse placentas PAM mouse models recapitulate key pathological features of human PAM. Here we describe new PAM models of mid gestation infection in the C57BL/6 mouse.(...)

Barreiras e estímulos ao aleitamento materno exclusivo na Província do Uíge, Angola

RESUMO - É recomendado o aleitamento materno exclusivo desde o nascimento até aos 6 meses. Angola apresenta uma situação bastante preocupante, pois é um dos países do mundo com maior taxa de mortalidade infantil: em 2010 era de 114,9 mortes por cada 1000 nascimentos. O desmame precoce, a contaminação dos alimentos e da água potável e a desnutrição criam condições para aparecimento de doenças que causam elevadas mortes em crianças com menos de um ano. Em muitas regiões de África, o parto ainda é um acontecimento marcado por práticas culturais ancestrais que podem prejudicar a saúde e sobrevivência dos recém-nascidos, além de pôr em perigo a vida das mães. Algumas dessas práticas incluem: (i) deitar fora o colostro; e (ii) alimentar os bebés com outros alimentos que não o leite materno. Este estudo é quantitativo com metodologia transversal e pretende identificar, descrever e analisar os fatores que contribuem para o abandono do aleitamento materno exclusivo antes dos 6 meses de idade, na província do Uíge, em Angola, bem como indicar formas de intervenção para que os índices de prevalência do aleitamento materno exclusivo possam aumentar. A população em estudo são mães com filhos até um ano de idade e utilizadoras do centro de saúde materno infantil do município sede da província de Uíge em Angola, da qual será considerada uma amostra de 418 mães. Os dados obtidos através de questionário serão registados em quadros e gráficos para posterior análise estatística através de tabelas de frequências, cálculo de percentagens e taxas de incidência.