Characterization of the functional component in human milk and identification of the molecular mechanisms undergoing prematurity.

Background And Aims: Human milk (HM) is the earliest form of extrauterine communication between mother and infant, that could promote early programming. The aim of this study is to look for specific biological processes, particularly those undergoing prematurity, modulated by proteins and miRNAs of HM that could be implicated in growth and development.

Methods: This is a prospective, observational, single center study in which we collected 48 human milk (HM) samples at two distinct stages of lactation: colostrum (first 72-96 h) and mature milk (at week 4 post-delivery) from mothers of very preterm newborns (<32 weeks) and term (≥37 and < 42 weeks).

Non-invasive biomonitoring of infant exposure to environmental organic pollutants in north-western Spain based on hair analysis. Identification of potential sources.

Recent years have seen growing interest in hair sample analysis to detect organic pollutants (OPs). This biological matrix can be analysed non-invasively for biomonitoring of OPs over a wide exposure window. Obtaining hair sample amounts that meet the needs of the analytical methodology required for the determination of the POs of interest can be challenging, especially in infants.

Postnatal exposure to organic pollutants in maternal milk in north-western Spain.

Evaluation of postnatal exposure to organic pollutants is especially important for suckling infants during breastfeeding, a crucial perinatal growth period when organs and hormonal systems develop. We determined levels of 60 pollutants, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), pyrethroids (PYRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in 81 breast milk samples from breastfeeding mothers from Santiago de Compostela (north-western Spain). For most detected organic pollutants, levels were correlated with the season of milk sampling, maternal age at delivery, and place of residence.

Validation of an IGF1 Screening Method for Retinopathy of Pre-maturity.

Retinopathy of pre-maturity (ROP) is a retinal disease that causes arrest of vascularization of the retina and can result in retinal detachment and blindness. Current screening protocols may not be sufficiently accurate to identify all at-risk patients. The aim of this study is to validate a method for improved identification of newborns at risk of ROP.

Safety and immunogenicity of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in preterm infants.

The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in the routine immunization program has resulted in a significant decline in invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) around the world. Preterm infants are a special group at a high risk of invasive infection by encapsulated bacteria. However, their slow growth accrual and prolonged hospital stay frequently lead to delays in immunization, which contributes to their risk for severe infections.

Congenital intestinal atresias with multiple episodes of sepsis: A case report and review of literature.

Introduction: Hereditary multiple intestinal atresia associated with severe combined immunodeficiency (MIA-SCID) is a very rare disease caused by deleterious mutations in the tetratricopeptide repeat domain-containing protein 7A gene TTC7A. It is characterized by intestinal obstruction, sepsis, and a poor prognosis. Insights into phenotype-genotype correlations could help to guide genetic counseling and increase our knowledge of the natural history of this disease.

Lactate Dehydrogenase: A Marker of the Severity of Vaso-Occlusive Crisis in Children with Sickle Cell Disease Presenting at the Emergency Department.

The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) in children with sickle cell disease and to identify factors associated with greater severity. We performed a prospective observational study from August 2012 to January 2014. The study population comprised patients with sickle cell disease who consulted at the emergency department (ED) for VOC.