Growth of Escherichia coli in human milk and powdered infant formula under various treatments and feeding conditions in neonatal units

Milk supplied to neonates in neonatal units is kept at room temperature for some time, which could influence microbial growth. This study aims to evaluate the growth of Escherichia coli in HM and PIF under various treatments and conditions, as well as to determine the influence of different thawing methods on microbial growth in HM. The number of E. coli generations appearing over a 4 h period at 22 °C in HM (frozen; frozen and pasteurized; and frozen, pasteurized, and fortified) and in PIF (four brands) was determined. E. coli counts in HM inoculated and thawed using different methods were also compared. In frozen HM and in pasteurized and frozen HM, significant differences were found after 2.5 h and 1.5 h, respectively. In PIF, differences were found between 1.5 and 3 h. With regard to the thawing process, the lowest microorganism counts were obtained at 4 °C overnight; thus, it seems advisable to store milk at room temperature for a maximum of 1 h during administration in neonatal units. Thawing HM at 4 °C overnight should be the method of choice

The Effectiveness of Glutathione Redox Status as a Possible Tumor Marker in Colorectal Cancer

[EN] The role of oxidative stress (OS) in cancer is a matter of great interest due to the implication of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their oxidation products in the initiation of tumorigenesis, its progression, and metastatic dissemination. Great efforts have been made to identify the mechanisms of ROS-induced carcinogenesis; however, the validation of OS byproducts as potential tumor markers (TMs) remains to be established. This interventional study included a total of 80 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and 60 controls. By measuring reduced glutathione (GSH), its oxidized form (GSSG), and the glutathione redox state in terms of the GSSG/GSH ratio in the serum of CRC patients, we identified significant changes as compared to healthy subjects. These findings are compatible with the effectiveness of glutathione as a TM. The thiol redox state showed a significant increase towards oxidation in the CRC group and correlated significantly with both the tumor state and the clinical evolution. The sensitivity and specificity of serum glutathione levels are far above those of the classical TMs CEA and CA19.9. We conclude that the GSSG/GSH ratio is a simple assay which could be validated as a novel clinical TM for the diagnosis and monitoring of CRC.This work was partially supported by grants GST, UGP-19-037 FISABIO, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia-the Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset POLISABIO collaboration program (UPV-FISABIO) NanOdGSens-2, the Spanish Government project RTI2018-100910-B-C41 (MCUI/AEI/FEDER, UE), the Generalitat Valenciana project PROMETEO/2018/024 and PI18/00932 by Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF "A way to build Europe"). C.B. is a recipient of a Miguel Servet contract (CP19/00077) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.Acevedo-León, D.; Monzó-Beltrán, L.; Gómez-Abril, SÁ.; Estañ-Capel, N.; Camarasa-Lillo, N.; Pérez-Ebri, ML.; Escandón-Álvarez, J.... (2021). The Effectiveness of Glutathione Redox Status as a Possible Tumor Marker in Colorectal Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(12):1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22126183115221

Sin / Sense

Sexto desafío por la erradicación de la violencia contra las mujeres del Institut Universitari d’Estudis Feministes i de Gènere «Purificación Escribano» de la Universitat Jaume

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG in Human Milk From Vaccinated Mothers After Holder Pasteurization

Breastfeeding rendered crucial for preterm infants during COVID-19 pandemic. However, the role of donated human milk (DHM) in the protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection when own mother’s milk is not available or insufficient remains unclear. Pasteurization of DHM contributes to the loss of some biological and nutritional properties of human milk. The presence of specific breast milk SARS-CoV-2 antibodies has been demonstrated in women after COVID-19 disease and after vaccination. We aimed to evaluate the impact of Holder pasteurization on vaccinated donor women’s milk and to identify the impact on the concentrations of specific immunoglobulins (Ig) against SARS-CoV-2. A prospective, observational, exploratory pilot study in lactating women (n=12) who received the complete course of mRNA-based vaccines (BioNTech/Pfizer) against SARS-CoV-2 infection was conducted. Levels of antibodies directed to structural receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were determined by ELISA before and after pasteurization. IgA and IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin concentrations were significantly reduced after Holder pasteurization. Interestingly, there was a negative correlation between the initial amount of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the percentage of their recovery after the pasteurization for both isotypes. Despite the partial loss of immunoglobulins still a high percentage of antibodies remained after the pasteurization, a mean of 70.53 (3.4)% of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and 81.99 (21.89)% of IgG antibodies. Our study underscores the potential relevance of breast feeding or alternatively DHM to provide babies at risk with virus-specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies thus protecting them against COVID-19.We thank the support and guidance of M.C. Collado and C. Martinez-Costa. We thank all the families who were involved in the study during this difficult time and in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the collaborators of the MilkCORONA study team and, the support received by the research grant from LaMarató-TV3 (ref. 31/109/202106).N

Effect of donor human milk on host-gut microbiota and metabolic interactions in preterm infants

Background & aims: Human milk is the gold standard for infant nutrition. Preterm infants whose mothers are unable to provide sufficient own mother's milk (OMM), receive pasteurized donor human milk (DHM). We studied metabolic signatures of OMM and DHM and their effect on the interplay of the developing microbiota and infant's metabolism. Methods: Metabolic fingerprinting of OMM and DHM as well as infant's urine was performed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and the infant's stool microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: Significant differences in the galactose and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways when comparing OMM and DHM, and alterations of the steroid hormone synthesis and pyrimidine metabolism pathways in urine were observed depending on the type of feeding. Differences in the gut-microbiota composition were also identified. Conclusion: The composition of DHM differs from OMM and feeding of DHM has a significant impact on the metabolic phenotype and microbiota of preterm infants. Our data help to understand the origin of the observed changes generating new hypothesis: i) steroid hormones present in HM have a significant influence in the activity of the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway in preterm infants; ii) the pyrimidine metabolism is modulated in preterm infants by the activity of gut-microbiota. Short- and long-term implications of the observed changes for preterm infants need to be assessed in further studies.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain [grant numbers CD19/00176, CM18/00165, and CP16/00034]; and the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme through the Nutrishield project (https://nutrishield-project.eu/) [Grant Agreement No 818110]. MCC would like to acknowledge the support from the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant [Grant Agreement No. 639226].Peer reviewe

Fact-based nutrition for infants and lactating mothers – The NUTRISHIELD study

Background: Human milk (HM) is the ideal source of nutrients for infants. Its composition is highly variable according to the infant’s needs. When not enough own mother’s milk (OMM) is available, the administration of pasteurized donor human milk (DHM) is considered a suitable alternative for preterm infants. This study protocol describes the NUTRISHIELD clinical study. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of diet, lifestyle habits, psychological stress, and pasteurization on the milk composition, and how it modulates infant’s growth, health, and development. Methods and design: NUTRISHIELD is a prospective mother-infant birth cohort in the Spanish-Mediterranean area including three groups: preterm infants <32 weeks of gestation (i) exclusively receiving OMM, and (ii) exclusively receiving DHM, and (iii) term infants exclusively receiving OMM, as well as their mothers. Biological samples and nutritional, clinical, and anthropometric characteristics are collected at six time points covering the period from birth and until six months of infant’s age. The genotype, metabolome, and microbiota as well as the HM composition (i.e., macronutrients, fatty acids, vitamins, human milk oligosaccharides, and steroids) are characterized. Portable sensor prototypes for the analysis of HM and urine are benchmarked. Additionally, maternal psychosocial status is measured at the beginning of the study and at month six, including social support, family functioning, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and traumatic life events. Mother-infant postpartum bonding and parental stress are also examined. At six months, infant neurodevelopment scales are applied. Mother’s concerns and attitudes to breastfeeding are also registered through a specific questionnaire. Discussion: NUTRISHIELD provides an in-depth longitudinal study of the mother-infant-microbiota triad combining multiple biological matrices, newly developed analytical methods, and ad-hoc designed sensor prototypes with a wide range of clinical outcome measures. Data obtained from this study will be used to train a machine-learning algorithm for providing dietary advice to lactating mothers and will be implemented in a user-friendly platform based on a combination of user-provided information and biomarker analysis. A better understanding of the factors affecting milk’s composition, together with the health implications for infants plays an important role in developing improved strategies of nutraceutical management in infant care

Jornada CSIC-Fundación Triptólemos: Sostenibilidad en los sistemas alimentarios

Datos técnicos: 182 minutos, color, español. Ficha técnica: Gabinete de Presidencia CSIC y Departamento de Comunicación. Emitido en directo el 8 junio 2023Durante el acto se ha presentado el modelo Triptolemos de los sistemas alimentarios sostenibles que define en 4 ejes en equilibrio (disponibilidad y accesibilidad; economía; políticas y entorno social) y los cuantifica para mejorar su gestión. El modelo está avalado por la Cátedra UNESCO Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development: Global Food Production and Food Safety. El acto ha contado con la Secretaria General de investigación, el Secretario General de Agricultura y Alimentación, la presidenta del CSIC, el presidente de la Fundación Triptolemos, el rector de la UNED, un representante de la Comisión Europea y reconocidos investigadores en sus respectivas áreas.Peer reviewe

Does Pasteurized Donor Human Milk Efficiently Protect Preterm Infants Against Oxidative Stress?

International audiencePasteurized donor human milk (DHM) is the preferred alternative for infant nutrition when own mother's milk (OMM) is unavailable. Whether DHM is an efficient means for protecting preterm infants from oxidative stress remains unknown. We quantified a panel of oxidative stress biomarkers in urine samples from preterm infants (≤32 weeks of gestation and a birth weight ≤1500 g) receiving ≥80% of feeding volume as either DHM or OMM. The noninvasive in vivo assessment of oxidative stress showed no statistically significant difference between both groups at the time when full enteral nutrition (150 mL/kg body weight) was achieved and until hospital discharge. In addition, the changes of urinary biomarker levels with time were assessed. This is the first longitudinal study on oxidative stress levels in preterm infants fed with DHM in comparison with OMM. There is no statistically significant difference in urinary oxidative stress levels of preterm infants from both groups indicating that despite the effects of pasteurization, DHM is a valid alternative when OMM is not available. Based on the results, we raise the hypothesis that pasteurized DHM protects preterm infants from oxidative stress as good as OMM, and consequently, its use could prevent oxidative stress-related diseases. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 31, 791-799