The first model of keeping energy balance and optimal psycho affective development: Breastfed infants

Identification and Characterization of Influential Factors in Susceptibility to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Among Preschool-Aged Children

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder. Currently, increasing amounts of attention have been focused on the epidemiologic profiling of ADHD in children, viewed as a continuously distributed risk dimension throughout the whole lifespan. This study aimed to identify and characterize potential influential factors susceptible to ADHD-related symptoms among preschool-aged children. A comprehensive questionnaire was self-designed for both children and their parents or guardians and was distributed to 30 kindergartens from Beijing and Hebei, collecting potential influential factors in susceptibility to ADHD. ADHD was assessed by the Conner’s Abbreviated Symptom Questionnaire (C-ASQ), and 7,938 children were analyzed. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and hierarchical degree of adjustment were used to control possible covariates. Five factors, namely, children’s secondhand smoking exposure, breastfeeding duration, sleep mode, maternal pregnancy smoking exposure, and parental self-rating for patience, were identified to be independently and significantly associated with ADHD susceptibility. Meanwhile, dose–response relationships were observed between breastfeeding duration, parental self-rating for patience, and ADHD-related symptoms. Finally, a nomogram model was created for predicting ADHD susceptibility based on significant and conventional attributes under each criterion.

Exploiting maleimide-functionalized hyaluronan hydrogels to test cellular responses to physical and biochemical stimuli

Currentin vitrothree-dimensional (3D) models of liver tissue have been limited by the inability to study the effects of specific extracellular matrix (ECM) components on cell phenotypes. This is in part due to limitations in the availability of chemical modifications appropriate for this purpose. For example, hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a natural ECM component within the liver, lacks key ECM motifs (e.g. arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides) that support cell adhesion. However, the addition of maleimide (Mal) groups to HA could facilitate the conjugation of ECM biomimetic peptides with thiol-containing end groups. In this study, we characterized a new crosslinkable hydrogel (i.e. HA-Mal) that yielded a simplified ECM-mimicking microenvironment supportive of 3D liver cell culture. We then performed a series of experiments to assess the impact of physical and biochemical signaling in the form of RGD peptide incorporation and transforming growth factorß(TGF-ß) supplementation, respectively, on hepatic functionality. Hepatic stellate cells (i.e. LX-2) exhibited increased cell-matrix interactions in the form of cell spreading and elongation within HA-Mal matrices containing RGD peptides, enabling physical adhesions, whereas hepatocyte-like cells (HepG2) had reduced albumin and urea production. We further exposed the encapsulated cells to soluble TGF-ßto elicit a fibrosis-like state. In the presence of TGF-ßbiochemical signals, LX-2 cells became activated and HepG2 functionality significantly decreased in both RGD-containing and RGD-free hydrogels. Altogether, in this study we have developed a hydrogel biomaterial platform that allows for discrete manipulation of specific ECM motifs within the hydrogel to better understand the roles of cell-matrix interactions on cell phenotype and overall liver functionality.

The Effects of an Infant Formula Enriched with Milk Fat Globule Membrane, Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Synbiotics on Child Behavior up to 2.5 Years Old: The COGNIS Study

Although early life nutrition influences brain development and mental health, the long-term effects of supplemented infant formula on children´s behavior remain unclear. We analyzed the effects of a bioactive nutrients-enriched-infant formula on children’s behavior up to 2.5 years, compared to a standard infant formula or breastfeeding. Current analysis involved 70 children who were fed a standard infant formula (SF, n = 29) or a bioactive compounds enriched-infant formula (EF, n = 41), during their first 18 months of life, and 33 breastfed (BF) children (reference group) participating in the COGNIS study. Behavioral problems were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist at 18 months and 2.5 years. Different statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. EF children aged 2.5 years presented fewer pathological affective problems than SF children. Besides, SF children were classified more frequently as bordering on internalizing problems than BF children. Rates of externalizing problems were increased in SF infants compared to EF and BF infants. Higher maternal IQ was found to have beneficial effects on internalizing and total problem rate in their offspring at 18 months of life; finally, higher maternal educational level was related with fewer ADHD problems in children at 18 months, as well as internalizing, externalizing, total and anxiety problems in children aged 2.5 years. Our analysis suggests that enriched infant formula fed infants seem to show fewer behavioral problems up to 2.5 years compared to a standard infant formula-fed infants. In addition to type of early feeding, maternal IQ and educational level seem to play a key role on children behavioral development.

Nutritional Neuroscience as Mainstream of Psychiatry: The Evidence- Based Treatment Guidelines for Using Omega-3 Fatty Acids as a New Treatment for Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (or omega-3 PUFAs, n-3 PUFAs) are essential nutrients throughout the life span. Recent studies have shown the importance of n-3 PUFAs supplementation during prenatal and perinatal period as a potential protective factor of neurodevelopmental disorders. N-3 PUFAs have been reported to be lower in youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). N-3 PUFAs supplementation has shown potential effects in the improvement of clinical symptoms in youth with ADHD, ASD, and MDD, especially those with high inflammation or a low baseline n-3 index. Moreover, it has been suggested that n-3 PUFAs had positive effects on lethargy and hyperactivity symptoms in ASD. For clinical application, the following dosage and duration are recommended in youth according to available randomized controlled trials and systemic literature review: (1) ADHD: a combination of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ≥ 750 mg/d, and a higher dose of EPA (1,200 mg/d) for those with inflammation or allergic diseases for duration of 16−24 weeks; (2) MDD: a combination of a EPA + DHA of 1,000−2,000 mg/d, with EPA:DHA ratio of 2 to 1, for 12−16 weeks; (3) ASD: a combination of EPA + DHA of 1,300−1,500 mg/d for 16−24 weeks as add-on therapy to target lethargy and hyperactivity symptoms. The current review also suggested that n-3 index and inflammation may be potential treatment response markers for youth, especially in ADHD and MDD, receiving n-3 PUFA.

Mixed milk feeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its prevalence and drivers

CONTEXT

Extensive literature is available on exclusive breastfeeding and formula-feeding practices and health effects. In contrast, limited and unstructured literature exists on mixed milk feeding (MMF), here defined as the combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding during the same period in term infants > 72 hours old (inclusion criterion).

OBJECTIVE

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, on the global prevalence of MMF (primary outcome) and related drivers and practices (secondary outcomes).

DATA SOURCES

The search of MMF in generally healthy populations was conducted across 6 databases, restricted to publications from January 2000 to August 2018 in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers independently performed screenings and data extraction according to a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria.

DATA ANALYSIS

Of the 2931 abstracts identified, 151 full-text publications were included for data extraction and 96 of those were included for data synthesis (the majority of those were cross-sectional and cohort studies). The authors summarized data across 5 different categories (feeding intention prenatally, and 4 age intervals between > 72 hours and > 6-23 months) and 5 regional subgroups. The overall prevalence of MMF across different age intervals and regions varied between 23% and 32%; the highest rate was found for the age group 4-6 months (32%; 95% confidence interval, 27%-38%); regional comparisons indicated highest MMF rates in Asia (34%), North and South America (33%), and Middle East and Africa together (36%), using a random effects meta-analysis model for proportions. Some drivers and practices for MMF were identified.

CONCLUSION

MMF is a widespread feeding reality. A shared and aligned definition of MMF will help shed light on this feeding practice and evaluate its influence on the duration of total breastfeeding, as well as on infants' nutrition status, growth, development, and health status in the short and long terms. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018105337.

Breastfeeding for 3 Months or Longer but Not Probiotics Is Associated with Reduced Risk for Inattention/Hyperactivity and Conduct Problems in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Children at Early Primary School Age

(1) Background: We aimed to evaluate the effect of proposed “microbiome-stabilising interventions”, i.e., breastfeeding for ≥3 months and prophylactic use of Lactobacillus acidophilus/ Bifidobacterium infantis probiotics on neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes of very-low-birthweight (VLBW) children aged 5–6 years. (2) Methods: We performed a 5-year-follow-up assessment including a strength and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and an intelligence quotient (IQ) assessment using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI)-III test in preterm children previously enrolled in the German Neonatal Network (GNN). The analysis was restricted to children exposed to antenatal corticosteroids and postnatal antibiotics. (3) Results: 2467 primary school-aged children fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In multivariable linear regression models breastfeeding ≥3 months was associated with lower conduct disorders (B (95% confidence intervals (CI)): −0.25 (−0.47 to −0.03)) and inattention/hyperactivity (−0.46 (−0.81 to −0.10)) as measured by SDQ. Probiotic treatment during the neonatal period had no effect on SDQ scores or intelligence. (4) Conclusions: Prolonged breastfeeding of highly vulnerable infants may promote their mental health later in childhood, particularly by reducing risk for inattention/hyperactivity and conduct disorders. Future studies need to disentangle the underlying mechanisms during a critical time frame of development.

The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Developmental Psychopathology: A Systematic Review on Early Psychosis, Autism, and ADHD

In this systematic review, we will consider and debate studies that have explored the effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in three major, and somehow related, developmental psychiatric disorders: Autism, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity disorder and Psychosis. The impact of ω-3 PUFAs on clinical symptoms and, if possible, brain trajectory in children and adolescents suffering from these illnesses will be reviewed and discussed, considering the biological plausibility of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, together with their potential perspectives in the field. Heterogeneity in study designs will be discussed in the light of differences in results and interpretation of studies carried out so far.