Pyrrolomycins as potential anti-staphylococcal biofilms agents

With the goal of discovering new anti-infective agents active against microbial biofilms, we focused on some natural pyrrolomycins, a family of halogenated pyrrole antibiotics. In this study we investigated the anti-staphylococcal biofilm activity of pyrrolomycins C, D, F1, F2a, F2b, F3 and of the synthesized related compounds I, II, III. The susceptibility of six staphylococcal biofilms was determined by methyltiazotetrazolium (MTT) staining. Most of the compounds were active at concentrations of 1.5 μg/mL with significant inhibition percentages. A few of the compounds were active at the lowest screening concentration of 0.045μg/mL. We also report the population log reduction of activity against the two best biofilm forming S. aureus strains as determined by viable plate counts. In order to adequately assess the utility of these compounds, their toxicity against human cells was evaluated. In conclusion, pyrrolomycins and synthetic derivatives are promising compounds for developing novel effective chemical countermeasures against staphylococcal biofilm

Which women stop smoking during pregnancy and the effect on breastfeeding duration

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and women who quit smoking at this time are able to reduce the risk of low birth weight, preterm labour, spontaneous abortion and perinatal death. This study investigates the socio-demographic characteristics of pregnant women who stop smoking during pregnancy and the association between stopping smoking and breastfeeding duration. METHODS: A 12 month longitudinal study was conducted in two public maternity hospitals in Perth, Australia between mid-September 2002 and mid-July 2003. While in hospital, participating mothers completed a self-administered baseline questionnaire. Follow up telephone interviews were conducted at 4, 10, 16, 22, 32, 40 and 52 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 587 (55%) mothers participated in the study. Two hundred and twenty six (39%) mothers reported smoking prior to pregnancy and 77 (34%) of these stopped smoking during pregnancy. Women who were pregnant for the first time were twice as likely (OR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.047 – 4.03; p < 0.05) to quit smoking as multiparous women. Women who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day were significantly less likely to quit smoking during pregnancy (OR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.18 – 0.69; p < 0.05). Women who consumed alcohol before pregnancy were three times more likely to quit smoking (OR = 2.58; 95% CI 1.00 – 6.66; p < 0.05). Quitting smoking during pregnancy was significantly associated with breastfeeding for longer than six months (OR = 3.70; 95% CI 1.55 – 8.83; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pregnancy is a time when many women are motivated to quit smoking and providing targeted smoking cessation interventions at this time, which take into account factors predictive of quitting smoking, are more likely to be successful

The influence of infant feeding attitudes on breastfeeding duration: Evidence from a cohort study in rural Western Australia

Background - Breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants in the first six months of life. Promoting and protecting breastfeeding is reflected in public health policy across the globe, but breastfeeding rates in both developing and industrialised countries continue to demonstrate that few mothers meet these recommendations. In addition to sociodemographic factors such as age, education and income, modifiable factors such as maternal infant feeding attitudes have been shown to influence breastfeeding duration. The objective of this paper was to describe the influence of infant feeding attitudes on breastfeeding duration in rural Western Australia. Methods - A cohort of 427 women and their infants were recruited from hospitals in rural Western Australia and followed for a period of 12 months. Information about feeding methods was gathered in hospital and at a further seven follow-up contacts. Infant feeding attitude was measured using the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS), and a score of > 65 was considered positive towards breastfeeding. Results - Mothers with an IIFAS score of > 65 were approximately twice as likely to be exclusively breastfeeding at six months, and breastfeeding at any intensity to 12 months. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding for mothers with an IIFAS score of > 65 was 16 weeks (95 % CI 13.5, 18.5) compared with 5 weeks for those with a score  65 (48 vs. 22 weeks, p < 0.001). Conclusions -Women in this rural cohort who had a more positive attitude towards breastfeeding had a longer duration of both exclusive breastfeeding to six months and any breastfeeding to 12 months. Further research examining the breastfeeding attitudes of specific subgroups such as men, grandparents and adolescents in rural areas will contribute to the evidence base and help to ensure that breastfeeding is seen as the normal method of infant feeding

Prevalência de tabagismo e consumo de bebida alcoólica em mães de lactentes menores de seis meses de idade Prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption among mothers of infants under six months of age

OBJETIVO: Conhecer a prevalência de tabagismo e consumo de bebida alcoólica em mães de lactentes menores de seis meses de idade. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal e descritivo com mães de crianças com idade entre zero e seis meses completos, matriculadas em programas de puericultura das Unidades Básicas de Saúde da cidade de Ribeirão Preto (SP), ligadas aos seis Centros de Saúde Escola da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. Foi aplicado um questionário em que constavam informações como idade materna, grau de escolaridade, paridade, ocupação, tempo de aleitamento materno exclusivo e complementado, consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e cigarros e existência de algum tabagista no domicílio. RESULTADOS: Foram entrevistadas 504 mulheres; 324 (64,3%) tinham algum contato com cigarro sendo 97 (19,2%) tabagistas ativas, 142 (28,2%) tabagistas passivas e 85 (16,8%) tabagistas ativas e passivas. Dentre as 97 tabagistas ativas, 78 (80,4%) estavam amamentando. Também estavam amamentando 118 (83,1%) das 142 mães tabagistas passivas. Quanto às bebidas alcoólicas, 56 (11,1%) mães responderam que as consumiam e, destas, 45 (80,3%) estavam amamentando. Quinze (26,8%) mães que consumiam bebidas alcoólicas também eram tabagistas. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo encontrou alta prevalência de mães com algum tipo de contato com tabagismo e que consumiam bebidas alcoólicas, sendo imprescindível investir na prevenção dessas práticas nos programas de assistência pré-natal e de puericultura.<br>OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of smoking and alcoholic beverage consumption among mothers of infants under six months of age. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of mothers of all infants up to six months of age who were enrolled in child care programs at the Basic Care Units of Ribeirão Preto city, linked to the six Health Care Centers of Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine of São Paulo University, Brazil. Mothers answered a questionnaire regarding maternal age, educational degree, parity, occupation, time of exclusive breastfeeding and partial breastfeeding, consumption of alcoholic beverages and active and passive smoking at home. RESULTS: 504 women were interviewed. Among the 324 (64,3 %) that had some contact with tobacco, 97 (19.2%) were active smokers, 142 (28.2%) were passive smokers and 85 (16.8%) were active and passive smokers. Among the 97 active smokers, 78 (80.4%) were breastfeeding, as well as the 118 (83.1%) of 142 passive smokers mothers. Regarding alcohol, 56 (11.1%) mothers mentioned alcohol consumption and, of these, 45 (80.3%) were breastfeeding. Fifteen (26.8%) mothers who consumed alcohol were also smokers. CONCLUSIONS: This study found high prevalence of mothers who had some contact with smoking and alcohol consumption, showing that investment in prenatal and child care programs is essential to prevent these practices

A study to prolong breastfeeding duration: design and rationale of the Parent Infant Feeding Initiative (PIFI) randomised controlled trial

Background - Very few Australian infants are exclusively breastfed to 6 months as recommended by the World Health Organization. There is strong empirical evidence that fathers have a major impact on their partner’s decision to breastfeed and continuation of breastfeeding. Fathers want to participate in the breastfeeding decision making process and to know how they can support their partner to achieve their breastfeeding goals. The aim of the Parent Infant Feeding Initiative (PIFI) is to evaluate the effect on duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding of three breastfeeding promotion interventions of differing intensity and duration, targeted at couples but channelled through the male partner. The study will also undertake a cost-effectiveness evaluation of the interventions. Methods/design - The PIFI study is a factorial randomised controlled trial. Participants will be mothers and their male partners attending antenatal classes at selected public and private hospitals with maternity departments in Perth, Western Australia. Fathers will be randomly allocated to either the usual care control group (CG), one of two medium intensity (MI1 and MI2) interventions, or a high intensity (HI) intervention. MI1 will include a specialised antenatal breastfeeding education session for fathers with supporting print materials. MI2 will involve the delivery of an antenatal and postnatal social support intervention delivered via a smartphone application and HI will include both the specialised antenatal class and the social support intervention. Outcome data will be collected from couples at baseline and at six and 26 weeks postnatally. A total of 1600 couples will be recruited. This takes into account a 25 % attrition rate, and will detect at least a 10 % difference in the proportion of mothers breastfeeding between any two of the groups at 26 weeks at 80 % power and 5 % level of significance, using a Log-rank survival test. Multivariable survival and logistic regression analyses will be used to assess the effect of the treatment groups on the outcomes after adjusting for covariates. Discussion - The PIFI study will be the first Australian study to provide Level II evidence of the impact on breastfeeding duration of a comprehensive, multi-level, male-partner-focused breastfeeding intervention. Unique features of the intervention include its large sample size, delivery of two of the interventions by mobile device technology, a rigorous assessment of intervention fidelity and a cost-effectiveness evaluation