Impact of maternal health and stress on steroid hormone profiles in human milk: Implications for infant development.

Steroid hormones are biologically active factors in human milk (HM) that influence the physical and mental development of infants. Critically, maternal psychosocial stress has been associated with changes in HM steroid composition. This work aimed to characterize the steroid hormone profile of HM and pasteurized donor human milk (DHM) and assess the interplay between maternal physical and psychosocial status, the HM steroid profile, and infant outcomes.

Improving insights from metabolomic functional analysis combining multivariate tools.

Background: Metabolomics is a scientific field that relies on the comprehensive analysis of metabolites to provide direct insights into functional processes in biological systems. Metabolomic data provides valuable insights into the functional processes of biological systems, often analyzed through univariate and multivariate approaches, and well as with functional or pathway analysis using different methods such as mummichog. Yet, the integration of results from these sources to aid the interpretation of their biological significance remains challenging.

Portable point-of-care surface enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy for the quantification of glutathione in whole blood microsamples.

Glutathione (GSH) is a non-protein tripeptide thiol that plays a prominent role in oxidative stress defense. GSH concentration is particularly critical in the neonatal period, especially for premature newborns that face increased susceptibility to oxidative stress. Monitoring GSH levels provides valuable insights into newborn health, helping to tailor care to their specific needs.

Metabolomics 2023 workshop report: moving toward consensus on best QA/QC practices in LC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics.

Introduction: During the Metabolomics 2023 conference, the Metabolomics Quality Assurance and Quality Control Consortium (mQACC) presented a QA/QC workshop for LC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics.

Objectives: The Best Practices Working Group disseminated recent findings from community forums and discussed aspects to include in a living guidance document.

Methods: Presentations focused on reference materials, data quality review, metabolite identification/annotation and quality assurance.

Searching molecular biomarkers correlating with BSID-III at 24 months in infants with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

An early prediction of outcomes of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NE) is of key importance in reducing neonatal mortality and morbidity. The objectives were (i) to analyze the characteristics of miRNA expression and metabolic patterns of neonates with NE and (ii) to assess their predictive performance for neurodevelopmental outcomes. Plasma samples from moderate/severe NE patients (N = 92) of the HYPOTOP study were collected before, during, and after therapeutic hypothermia (TH) and compared to a control group (healthy term infants).

Oxylipin profile of human milk and human milk-derived extracellular vesicles.

Background: Small Extracellular Vesicles (sEVs) are nano-sized vesicles that are present in all biofluids including human milk (HM) playing a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication and the stimulation of the neonatal immune system. Oxylipins, which are bioactive lipids formed from polyunsaturated fatty acids, have gained considerable attention due to their potential role in mitigating disease progression and modulating the inflammatory status of breastfed infants. This study aims at an in-depth characterization of the oxylipin profiles of HM and, for the first time, of HM-derived sEVs (HMEVs) employing an ad-hoc developed and validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method.

Innovative Biomarkers for Obesity and Type 1 Diabetes Based on and Metabolomic Profiling.

The role of species and microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and human milk oligosaccharides in controlling intestinal inflammation and the pathogenesis of obesity and type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been largely studied in recent years. This paper discusses the discovery of signature biomarkers for obesity and T1D based on data from a novel test for profiling several species, combined with metabolomic analysis. Through the NUTRISHIELD clinical study, a total of 98 children were recruited: 40 healthy controls, 40 type 1 diabetics, and 18 obese children.

Establishing a framework for best practices for quality assurance and quality control in untargeted metabolomics.

Background: Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) practices are key tenets that facilitate study and data quality across all applications of untargeted metabolomics. These important practices will strengthen this field and accelerate its success. The Best Practices Working Group (WG) within the Metabolomics Quality Assurance and Quality Control Consortium (mQACC) focuses on community use of QA/QC practices and protocols and aims to identify, catalogue, harmonize, and disseminate current best practices in untargeted metabolomics through community-driven activities.

Identification of omega-3 oxylipins in human milk-derived extracellular vesicles with pro-resolutive actions in gastrointestinal inflammation.

Introduction: Premature infants (PIs) are at risk of suffering necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and infants consuming human milk (HM) show a lower incidence than infants receiving formula. The composition of HM has been studied in depth, but the lipid content of HM-derived small extracellular vesicles (HM sEVs) remains unexplored. Identifying these molecules and their biological effects has potential for the treatment of intestinal disorders in PIs and could contribute to the development of HM-based fortified formulas.

Pomegranate Extract Administration Reverses Loss of Motor Coordination and Prevents Oxidative Stress in Cerebellum of Aging Mice.

The cerebellum is responsible for complex motor functions, like maintaining balance and stance, coordination of voluntary movements, motor learning, and cognitive tasks. During aging, most of these functions deteriorate, which results in falls and accidents. The aim of this work was to elucidate the effect of a standardized pomegranate extract during four months of supplementation in elderly mice to prevent frailty and improve the oxidative state.

Metabolomics 2022 workshop report: state of QA/QC best practices in LC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics, informed through mQACC community engagement initiatives.

Introduction: The Metabolomics Quality Assurance and Quality Control Consortium (mQACC) organized a workshop during the Metabolomics 2022 conference.

Objectives: The goal of the workshop was to disseminate recent findings from mQACC community-engagement efforts and to solicit feedback about a living guidance document of QA/QC best practices for untargeted LC-MS metabolomics.

Methods: Four QC-related topics were presented.

Effect of autologous umbilical cord blood transfusion in the development of retinopathy of prematurity: randomized clinical trial - study protocol.

Background: Currently, the treatment of anemia in preterm infants is based on packed red blood cell (RBC) transfusions from adult donors. Oxygen (O2) is mainly transported to the tissues bound to hemoglobin (Hb). In extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs), fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which has a higher affinity for O2, represents up to 95% of circulating hemoglobin.

AFM-IR for Nanoscale Chemical Characterization in Life Sciences: Recent Developments and Future Directions.

Despite the ubiquitous absorption of mid-infrared (IR) radiation by virtually all molecules that belong to the major biomolecules groups (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids), the application of conventional IR microscopy to the life sciences remained somewhat limited, due to the restrictions on spatial resolution imposed by the diffraction limit (in the order of several micrometers). This issue is addressed by AFM-IR, a scanning probe-based technique that allows for chemical analysis at the nanoscale with resolutions down to 10 nm and thus has the potential to contribute to the investigation of nano and microscale biological processes. In this perspective, in addition to a concise description of the working principles and operating modes of AFM-IR, we present and evaluate the latest key applications of AFM-IR to the life sciences, summarizing what the technique has to offer to this field.

Do Lower Levels of Fetal Hemoglobin in Preterm Infants Relate to Oxidative Stress?

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) has a higher affinity to oxygen than adult hemoglobin, allowing for a slower oxygen transfer to peripheral tissue, creating a microenvironment conducive to adequate fetal development . However, most preterm infants receive packed red blood cell transfusions from adult donors leading to a drastic nonphysiological descent of circulating HbF. We hypothesized that this drop could enhance oxygen delivery to peripheral tissues generating a hyperoxic pro-oxidant environment.

Comparing the direct assessment of steatosis in liver explants with mid- and near-infrared vibrational spectroscopy, prior to organ transplantation.

A fast and accurate assessment of liver steatosis is crucial during liver transplantation surgery as it can negatively impact its success. Recent research has shown that near-infrared (NIR) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform mid-infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy could be used as real-time quantitative tools to assess steatosis during abdominal surgery. Here, in the frame of a clinical study, we explore the performance of NIR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for the direct assessment of steatosis in liver tissues.

Fast profiling of primary, secondary, conjugated, and sulfated bile acids in human urine and murine feces samples.

Bile acids (BAs) are a complex class of metabolites that have been described as specific biomarkers of gut microbiota activity. The development of analytical methods allowing the quantification of an ample spectrum of BAs in different biological matrices is needed to enable a wider implementation of BAs as complementary measures in studies investigating the functional role of the gut microbiota. This work presents results from the validation of a targeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of 28 BAs and six sulfated BAs, covering primary, secondary, and conjugated BAs.

Hypoxemia events in preterm neonates are associated with urine oxidative biomarkers.

Background: Intermittent hypoxemia (IH) events are common in preterm neonates and are associated with adverse outcomes. Animal IH models can induce oxidative stress. We hypothesized that an association exists between IH and elevated peroxidation products in preterm neonates.

Plasma serotonergic biomarkers are associated with hypoxemia events in preterm neonates.

Background: Hypoxemia is a physiological manifestation of immature respiratory control in preterm neonates, which is likely impacted by neurotransmitter imbalances. We investigated relationships between plasma levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT), metabolites of tryptophan (TRP), and parameters of hypoxemia in preterm neonates.

Methods: TRP, 5-HT, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and kynurenic acid (KA) were analyzed in platelet-poor plasma at ~1 week and ~1 month of life from a prospective cohort of 168 preterm neonates <31 weeks gestational age (GA).

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.

Joint Microbiota Activity and Dietary Assessment through Urinary Biomarkers by LC-MS/MS.

Accurate dietary assessment in nutritional research is a huge challenge, but essential. Due to the subjective nature of self-reporting methods, the development of analytical methods for food intake and microbiota biomarkers determination is needed. This work presents an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the quantification and semi quantification of 20 and 201 food intake biomarkers (BFIs), respectively, as well as 7 microbiota biomarkers applied to 208 urine samples from lactating mothers (M) ( = 59).

Effects of Sepsis on Immune Response, Microbiome and Oxidative Metabolism in Preterm Infants.

This is a narrative review about the mechanisms involved in bacterial sepsis in preterm infants, which is an illness with a high incidence, morbidity, and mortality. The role of the innate immune response and its relationship with oxidative stress in the pathogenesis are described as well as their potential implementation as early biomarkers. Moreover, we address the impact that all the mechanisms triggered by sepsis have on the dysbiosis and the changes on neonatal microbiota.