Alimentary consumption of women active and physically inactive in postmenopausal period

El objetivo del presente estudio fue observar el consumo alimenticio y la prevalencia del síndrome metabólico en mujeres activas e inactivas físicamente en la post-menopausia. La muestra fue compuesta de 83 mujeres, pertenecientes al municipio de Natal (Río Grande do Norte) de Brasil; pertenecientes al programa “Natal Activa”, con edad media de 59,7 ± 8,08 años. Se aplicó un cuestionario para analizar la frecuencia del consumo alimenticio, un cuestionario de actividad física, una anamnesis clínica, una evaluación antropométrica, exámenes bioquímicos y un diagnóstico del Síndrome Metabólico. Los resultados mostraron que las mujeres activas consumen más alimentos protectores que las mujeres inactivas. La prevalencia del síndrome metabólico en las mujeres inactivas fue mayor que en las mujeres activas, además, existe la necesidad de cambiar dichos hábitos en esta población, pudiéndose alcanzar así mayores cambios corporales y metabólicos, minimizando la incidencia del síndrome metabólico en los dos gruposThe aim of this study was to observe the dietary intake and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in physically active and inactive women in the postmenopause. The sample was composed of 83 women, from the municipality of Natal (Rio Grande do Norte) in Brazil; from the "Natal Active" program, with an average age of 59.7 ± 8.08 years old. A questionnaire to analyze the frequency of food consumption, physical activity questionnaire, a clinical anamnesis, anthropometric evaluation, biochemical tests and a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was applied. The results showed that active women consume more protective foods than inactive women. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in inactive women was higher than in active women, in addition, there is a need to change those habits in this population, being able thus to achieve greater physical and metabolic changes, minimizing the incidence of metabolic syndrome in both group

Semen evaluation of Murrah buffalo bulls using sperm functional tests

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate membrane integrity, vitality, and mitochondrial cytochemical activity, in frozen semen samples of buffalo bulls and compare those functions with the routine semen evaluation and field fertility. Twenty one frozen semen batches from 2 buffalo bulls were used for AI. For the semen evaluation, after thawing, an aliquot was evaluated for motility and vigor. An aliquot of each batch was used to evaluate the cytochemical activity using the 3-3’ diamino benzidine. Samples were scored in four classes according to the degree of midpiece staining, being class I showing midpiece totally stained, indicating full mitochondrial activity, and class IV showing no staining of the midpiece, indicating no mitochondrial activity. Two other aliquots were used for the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) and the eosin nigrosin staining (VIT), to evaluate membrane integrity and vitality, respectively. Correlations were found between pregnancy rate and vitality and class II and III of the DAB staining (r=0.53, r=-0.39, and r=-0.38, respectively; p=0.05). No correlation was found for pregnancy rate and motility or vigor. Results indicate that functional tests may be an alternative to better predict the fertility of buffalo frozen semen samples

Born into an isolating world: family-centred care for babies born to mothers with COVID-19Research in context

Summary: Background: The benefits of facilitating breastmilk feeding and close contact between mother and neonate (family-centred care; FCC) in the perinatal period are well-established. The aim of this study was to determine how the delivery of FCC practices were impacted for neonates born to mothers with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Neonates born to mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were identified from the ‘EsPnIC Covid paEdiatric NeonaTal REgistry’ (EPICENTRE) multinational cohort between 10 March 2020 and 20 October 2021. The EPICENTRE cohort collected prospective data on FCC practices. Rooming-in and breastmilk feeding practice were the main outcomes, and factors influencing each were determined. Other outcomes included mother-baby physical contact prior to separation and the pattern of FCC components relative to time and local site guidelines. Findings: 692 mother-baby dyads (13 sites, 10 countries) were analysed. 27 (5%) neonates were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (14 (52%) asymptomatic). Most sites had policies that encouraged FCC during perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection for most of the reporting period. 311 (46%) neonates roomed-in with their mother during the admission. Rooming-in increased over time from 23% in March–June 2020 to 74% in January–March 2021 (boreal season). 330 (93%) of the 369 separated neonates had no FCC physical contact with their mother prior, and 319 (86%) were asymptomatic. Maternal breastmilk was used for feeding in 354 (53%) neonates, increasing from 23% to 70% between March–June 2020 and January–March 2021. FCC was most impacted when mothers had symptomatic COVID-19 at birth. Interpretation: This is the largest report of global FCC practice during the COVID-19 pandemic to date. The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted FCC despite low perinatal transmission rates. Fortunately, clinicians appear to have adapted to allow more FCC delivery as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed. Funding: The National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia): Grant ID 2008212 (DGT), Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation: Grant ID 2019–1155 (EJP), Victorian Government Operational Infrastructure Support Program