A MALDI-TOF MS approach for mammalian, human, and formula milks’ profiling

Human milk composition is dynamic, and substitute formulae are intended to mimic its protein content. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potentiality of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), followed by multivariate data analyses as a tool to analyze the peptide profiles of mammalian, human, and formula milks. Breast milk samples from women at different lactation stages (2 (n = 5), 30 (n = 6), 60 (n = 5), and 90 (n = 4) days postpartum), and milk from donkeys (n = 4), cows (n = 4), buffaloes (n = 7), goats (n = 4), ewes (n = 5), and camels (n = 2) were collected. Different brands (n = 4) of infant formulae were also analyzed. Protein content (<30 kDa) was analyzed by MS, and data were exported for statistical elaborations. The mass spectra for each milk closely clustered together, whereas different milk samples resulted in well-separated mass spectra. Human samples formed a cluster in which colostrum constituted a well-defined subcluster. None of the milk formulae correlated with animal or human milk, although they were specifically characterized and correlated well with each other. These findings propose MALDI-TOF MS milk profiling as an analytical tool to discriminate, in a blinded way, different milk types. As each formula has a distinct specificity, shifting a baby from one to another formula implies a specific proteomic exposure. These profiles may assist in milk proteomics for easiness of use and minimization of costs, suggesting that the MALDI-TOF MS pipelines may be useful for not only milk adulteration assessments but also for the characterization of banked milk specimens in pediatric clinical settings

Phylogenetic and Metabolic Tracking of Gut Microbiota during Perinatal Development

The colonization and development of gut microbiota immediately after birth is highly variable and depends on several factors, such as delivery mode and modality of feeding during the first months of life. A cohort of 31 mother and neonate pairs, including 25 at-term caesarean (CS) and 6 vaginally (V) delivered neonates (DNs), were included in this study and 121 meconium/faecal samples were collected at days 1 through 30 following birth. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were assessed in 69 stool samples by phylogenetic microarray HITChip and inter- and intra-individual distributions were established by inter-OTUs correlation matrices and OTUs co-occurrence or co-exclusion networks. H-1-NMR metabolites were determined in 70 stool samples, PCA analysis was performed on 55 CS DNs samples, and metabolome/OTUs co-correlations were assessed in 45 CS samples, providing an integrated map of the early microbiota OTUs-metabolome. A microbiota "core" of OTUs was identified that was independent of delivery mode and lactation stage, suggesting highly specialized communities that act as seminal colonizers of microbial networks. Correlations among OTUs, metabolites, and OTUs-metabolites revealed metabolic profiles associated with early microbial ecological dynamics, maturation of milk components, and host physiology.Peer reviewe

Il consenso del malato di mente ai trattamenti sanitari

RIVISTA ITALIANA DI MEDICINA LEGAL

Pie chart representing phyla taxa median values for 30 days following birth.

<p>Statistically significant differences in relative abundance at each time point are reported below each graph (Kruskal-Wallis). <b>Phyla correlation heat maps.</b> Correlation levels (represented as colored squares) among phyla were calculated by Pearson’s test for all 6 time points. Only squares with a significance <i>p</i><0.05 are shown. Blue squares represent a positive correlation and red squares represent a negative correlation. <b><i>Panel A</i></b> and <b><i>Panel B</i></b> report analyses for 1–3 days (phase “a”) and 7–30 days (phase “b”), respectively.</p

Composition at phylum level of the gut microbiota profiles of 31 infants enrolled in the study for 30 days following birth.

<p>At each time point, the gut microbiota was characterized by HITChip-based phylogeny.</p

Pearson’s correlation heat maps for the 130 genus-like groups from the HITChip microarray.

<p>Panels A, B, and C show the correlation levels (represented by colored squares) among groups, which were calculated by Pearson’s test for all 3 groups (CS-delivered 1–3 days, CS-delivered 7–30 days, and V1-3 delivered days). Only correlations with a significance <i>p</i><0.05 are represented. The colored scale indicates the correlation values.</p

Graphical representation of OTUs co-occurrence networks.

<p><b>Panel A</b> shows the OTUs co-occurrence network for CS-delivered babies at 1–3 days following birth (see <b>sheet B</b> in <b><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0137347#pone.0137347.s008" target="_blank">S5 Table</a></b> for details). <b>Panel B</b> shows OTUs co-occurrence network for CS-delivered babies at 7–30 days following birth (see <b>sheet C</b> in <b><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0137347#pone.0137347.s008" target="_blank">S5 Table</a></b> for details). <b>Panel C</b> shows OTUs co-occurrence network for V-delivered babies at 1–3 days following birth (see <b>sheet D</b> in <b><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0137347#pone.0137347.s008" target="_blank">S5 Table</a></b> for details). Red line indicates a positive correlation and a green line indicates a negative correlation. Pearson’s test was used to evaluate the correlation amongst OTUs (statistical significance was assessed with <i>p</i><0.01).</p