Effect of Pre- and Perinatal Factors and Infant Nutrition on the Intestinal Microbiota

The intestinal microbiota is an essential determinant of human health [...

Correlation of retinopathy of prematurity with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are diseases that occur only in preterm infants. The etiology of these disorders is multifactorial; however, it is believed that some of the factors in children presenting with BPD affect both the initiation and severity of ROP. The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of clinical severity of ROP in infants with BPD compared to those without BPD

Analiza związku polimorfizmów genów kodujących peptydy natriuretyczne z masą lewej komory i ciśnieniem tętniczym u noworodków

Background: The natriuretic peptides play a key role in the modulation of left ventricular mass (LVM) and blood pressure (BP). We hypothesised that NPPA (natriuretic peptide precursor A gene), NPPB (natriuretic peptide precursor B gene), and NPPC (natriuretic peptide precursor C gene) are candidate genes possibly involved in the development or modulation of LVM at early life. Aim: To assess the relationship between NPPA, NPPB, and NPPC gene polymorphisms with LVM and BP in newborns. Methods: A total of 206 healthy newborns were studied by two-dimensional M-mode echocardiography. The polymorphisms NPPA rs5065, NPPB rs198389, and NPPC rs5268 were characterised. Results: Newborns carrying the C allele of the NPPB polymorphism had significantly lower LVM/body surface area (BSA) and LVM/body weight (BW) values when compared with newborns’ homozygotes for the T allele (41.76 g/m2 vs. 48.31 g/m2, padjusted = 0.044 and 2.78 g/kg vs. 3.26 g/kg, padjusted = 0.031, respectively). An association was observed between NPPA genotype and systolic BP, diastolic BP, and mean arterial pressure ≥ 90th percentile (p = 0.029, p = 0.0048, p = 0.004, respectively). Also an association was observed for systolic BP ≥ 90th percentile for NPPB (p = 0.016). Conclusions: The present study shows that the NPPB gene polymorphism is associated with modulation of LVM in newborns. The NPPA and NPPB gene polymorphisms are associated with BP.  Wstęp: Peptydy natriuretyczne odgrywają kluczową rolę w modulacji masy lewej komory mięśnia sercowego (LVM) i ciśnienia tętniczego (BP). Geny NPPA (gen kodujący typ A peptydu natriuretycznego), NPPB (gen kodujący typ B peptydu natriuretycznego), NPPC (gen kodujący typ C peptydu natriuretycznego) mogą być potencjalnie zaangażowane w rozwój i/lub modulowanie LVM i BP już na wczesnych etapach życia. Cel: Celem niniejszej pracy była ocena związku między polimorfizmem genów NPPA, NPPB, NPPC i LVM oraz BP u noworodków. Metody: Za pomocą dwuwymiarowej echokardiografii M-mode przebadano 206 zdrowych noworodków. Przeprowadzono oznaczenia polimorfizmów genów NPPA rs5065, NPPB rs198389, NPPC rs5268. Wyniki: Noworodki będące nosicielami przynajmniej jednego allelu C genu NPPB charakteryzowały się istotnie niższymi wartościami wskaźnika LVM/powierzchni ciała (BSA) i LVM/masy ciała (BW) w porównaniu z noworodkami będącymi homozygotami TT (odpowiednio 41,76 g/m2 vs. 48,31 g/m2, padjusted = 0,044 i 2,78 g/kg vs. 3,26 g/kg, padjusted = 0,031). Wykazano korelację między genotypem NPPA a ciśnieniem skurczowym, rozkurczowym i średnim ≥ 90. percentyla (odpowiednio p = 0.029; p = 0.0048; p = 0.004). Ponadto zaobserwowano związek z ciśnieniem skurczowym ≥ 90. percentyla dla NPPB (p = 0,016). Wnioski: Niniejsze badanie potwierdza, że polimorfizm genu NPPB wiąże się z modulowaniem LVM u noworodków. Polimorfizmy genów NPPA, NPPB są związane z potencjalną regulacją ciśnienia tętniczego.

Analysis of Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in Healthy Children during the First Two Years of Life: An Observational Prospective Cohort Study

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are important metabolites of the gut microbiota. The aim is to analyze the influence of perinatal factors, which can affect the gut microbiota, on the concentrations of fecal SCFAs over the first two years of life. Gas chromatography was used to analyze SCFA in a total of 456 fecal samples from 86 children. Total SCFA concentrations increased until 12 months and stabilized after that. Antibiotic treatment during pregnancy was associated with an increase in acetic acid, propionic acid and total SCFA in meconium and a decrease in the same SCFAs at 6 months. Butyric acid was increased after Caesarean delivery until 1 month. In formula-fed children, propionic acid (at 1 month) and butyric acid and total SCFA (at 12 months) were increased. Acetic and linear butyric acids and total SCFAs were also increased at 12 months in children born vaginally that were also formula-fed. Higher butyric acid was observed in children of mothers with normal pre-pregnancy weight and adequate weight gain during pregnancy. Butyric acid was also elevated in 6-month-old infants with a higher body weight (≥85th percentile). Acetic acid concentrations were significantly higher in 2-year-old females vs. males. We conclude that perinatal factors are linked to changes in fecal SCFAs and further long-term epidemiological studies are warranted

Analysis of the Influence of Pre-Pregnancy BMI and Weight Gain during Pregnancy on the Weight of Healthy Children during the First 2 Years of Life: A Prospective Study

Background: Increased pre-pregnancy maternal BMI (pBMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) have been found to increase infants’ birthweight and result in the programming of child weight and impact its later weight gain. Aim: To assess the impact of pBMI and GWG on the weight of children from birth to 2 years of age and over the duration of breastfeeding. Methods: Single Centre observational prospective longitudinal cohort study. Data were collected from medical records, and medical history. The analysis of multiple linear and mixed models was involved. Findings: 20% of females were overweight, while 13% were obese before the pregnancy. An overall model, including gender and smoking, indicated a significant impact of pBMI category on a child’s birth mass (p = 0.01). The GWG category affected a child’s birth weight (p = 0.018, Effect size 0.41). pBMI did not affect the breastfeeding duration. Conclusion: pBMI and GWG correlate with birth weight and weight in neonatal period, however they become insignificant in later childhood. Weight assessment methods among children aged up to two years of age require standardization. Maternal weight before the pregnancy nor the weight gain during the pregnancy do not influence the length of breastfeeding. The biggest limitation was the small sample size and the failure to account for weight gain per trimester of pregnancy. Further research on a larger population should be continued

Prevalence of 1691G>A FV mutation in Poland compared with that in other Central, Eastern and South-Eastern European countries

The 1691G>A FV variant has been described as a common genetic risk factor in venous thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to provide a further frequency value for 1691G>A FV in Poland and to collate summary data from Central (Poland, Czech, Slovakia), Eastern (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine) and South-Eastern (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria) European countries. For this purpose in 2007 the 1691G>A FV variant was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism from DNA collected in 2005-2006. We studied 650 subjects: 400 newborns and 250 older individuals (mean age 46.1 y) from Poland and compared results with reports from other countries, as well as with the frequency trend of 845G>A HFE across South-Eastern European countries using centroid cities. From our 1691G>A FV study we identified 626 GG homozygotes, 23 GA heterozygotes, and i AA homozygote (n = 650), giving an A allele frequency of 1.9%, and a summed frequency value for Poland of 2.0% (n = 1588); the frequency in Central European countries was 3.9% (n = 4559), mostly due to the high value in the Czech Republic: 5.1% (n = 2819); the South-Eastern European countries had 2.5% (n = 2410). Among the Eastern European countries the 1691G>A FV allele frequency was 1.9% (n=791), between the South-Eastern and Eastern European countries there was no significant difference (p=0.17). We confirm that the 1691G>A FV allele frequency in Poland, as well as other countries compared, is significantly lower than that in Czech

The Influence of Maternal-Foetal Parameters on Concentrations of Zonulin and Calprotectin in the Blood and Stool of Healthy Newborns during the First Seven Days of Life. An Observational Prospective Cohort Study

Background: It can be hypothetically assumed that maternal and perinatal factors influence the intestinal barrier. Methods: The study was conducted with 100 healthy, full-term newborns breastfed in the first week of life, with similar analyses for their mothers. Zonulin and calprotectin levels were used as intestinal permeability markers. Results: The median (range) zonulin concentrations (ng/mL) were in mothers: serum, 21.39 (6.39–57.54); stool, 82.23 (42.52–225.74); and newborns: serum cord blood, 11.14 (5.82–52.34); meconium, 54.15 (1.36–700.65); and stool at age seven days, 114.41 (29.38–593.72). Calprotectin median (range) concentrations (µg/mL) in mothers were: stool, 74.79 (3.89–211.77); and newborns: meconium, 154.76 (6.93–8884.11); and stool at age seven days 139.12 (11.89–627.35). The use of antibiotics during pregnancy resulted in higher zonulin concentrations in umbilical-cord serum and calprotectin concentrations in newborn stool at seven days, while antibiotic therapy during labour resulted in higher zonulin concentrations in the stool of newborns at seven days. Zonulin concentrations in the stool of newborns (at seven days) who were born via caesarean section were higher compared to with vaginal birth. With further analyses, caesarean section was found to have a greater effect on zonulin concentrations than prophylactic administration of antibiotics in the perinatal period. Pregnancy mass gain >18 kg was associated with higher calprotectin concentrations in maternal stool. Body Mass Index (BMI) increase >5.7 during pregnancy was associated with decreased zonulin concentrations in maternal stool and increased calprotectin concentrations in stool of mothers and newborns at seven days. There was also a negative correlation between higher BMI increase in pregnancy and maternal zonulin stool concentrations and a positive correlation between BMI increase in pregnancy and maternal calprotectin stool concentrations. Conclusion: Maternal-foetal factors such as caesarean section, antibiotic therapy during pregnancy, as well as change in mother’s BMI during pregnancy may increase intestinal permeability in newborns. Changes in body mass during pregnancy can also affect intestinal permeability in mothers. However, health consequences associated with increased intestinal permeability during the first days of life are unknown. Additionally, before the zonulin and calprotectin tests can be adopted as universal diagnostic applications to assess increased intestinal permeability, validation of these tests is necessary