Assessment of the effect of pre-conception care on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nyeri County.

Introduction: the provision of essential preconception care services for HIV-positive pregnant women is crucial to prevent HIV transmission to infants. This includes pregnancy intention screening services, adequate viral load monitoring and suppression before conception, and necessary nutritional support. In Nyeri County, the prevalence of Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV is 5.

Effect of community-based nutrition on infant nutrition and associated health practices in Narok, Kenya.

Background: Lack of knowledge, and poor attitudes and practices among rural women have been shown to negatively influence maternal, infant and young child nutrition outcomes as well as child health and cognitive development.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of community-based nutrition on infant nutrition.

Methods: A mixed method approach using a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data (n=234) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for qualitative data was used in Narok County, Kenya.

An Exposome Perspective on Environmental Enteric Dysfunction.

Background: Environmental exposures to chemicals have been shown to influence gastrointestinal function, yet little is known regarding whether chemical mixtures may be involved in the development of a subclinical enteric dysfunction found in infants and children born into poor hygiene and sanitation. Advances in gastrointestinal and immunotoxicology fields merit inclusion in complex discussions of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) that severely affects children in developing countries.

Objective: We aimed to highlight exposome approaches for investigating the potential influence of environmental chemical exposures on EED development, including a role for toxicant modulation of gut immune system and microbiome function.

Catechols in caffeic acid phenethyl ester are essential for inhibition of TNF-mediated IP-10 expression through NF-κB-dependent but HO-1- and p38-independent mechanisms in mouse intestinal epithelial cells.

Scope: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is an active constituent of honeybee propolis inhibiting nuclear factor (NF)-κB. The aims of our study were to provide new data on the functional relevance and mechanisms underlying the role of CAPE in regulating inflammatory processes at the epithelial interface in the gut and to determine the structure/activity relationship of CAPE.

Methods And Results: CAPE significantly inhibited TNF-induced IP-10 expression in intestinal epithelial cells.