Impaired head circumference growth and behavioural problems in childhood: Longitudinal findings from the MINA-Brazil birth cohort.

Background: Previous evidence on the relation between early head circumference (HC) growth and behavioural outcomes in preschoolers has been inconsistent.

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether HC growth from birth to 5 years of age was related to internalising or externalising behavioural problems at 5 years of age in a sex-specific manner.

Methods: Among 303 girls and 318 boys from the MINA-Brazil birth cohort, we examined the associations between changes in HC from birth to 5 years of age and internalising and externalising behaviour problem scores at 5 years according to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for parents.

Birth-to-childhood tracking of linear growth and weight gain in the MINA-Brazil Study.

Objective: To investigate birth-to-childhood tracking of linear growth and weight gain across the distribution of length/height and weight for age z-scores and according to household wealth.

Methods: Data from 614 children from the MINA-Brazil Study with repeated anthropometric measurements at birth and up to age five years were used. Z-scores were calculated for length/height (HAZ) and weight (WAZ) according to international standards.

Family-Based WhatsApp Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating Behaviors Among Amazonian School Children: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Stunting and micronutrient deficiencies have persistently affected children in the Brazilian Amazon for decades. However, in recent years, a notable increase in childhood overweight prevalence has been observed, particularly in the context of heightened food insecurity exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the limited number of effective solutions proposed to tackle this problem, digital interventions have shown great promise worldwide in preventing obesity and promoting healthy diets.

Adolescent pregnancy in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil: socioeconomic characteristics, prenatal and obstetric care.

The present study aimed to investigate the socioeconomic and obstetric characteristics of adolescent mothers and the complications they cause to maternal and neonatal health. This baseline data analysis of the MINA-Brazil birth cohort was conducted in the municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, state of Acre, Brazil. The chi-square test was used to compare characteristics of adolescent and adult postpartum women, and multiple Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to assess associated factors.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Western Brazilian Amazon: Associated factors and neonatal outcomes.

Objective: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are responsible for several maternal and fetal complications. This study investigated the occurrence of HDP, associated factors, and neonatal complications in women living in the Western Brazilian Amazon.

Methods: This is a population-based cross-sectional study with 1521 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre birth cohort (MINA-Brazil study).

Breastfeeding practices and head circumference in young children: a systematic review.

Objective: To review observational studies on the association between breastfeeding (BF) practices and head circumference (HC) of children < 2 years old.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the following electronic databases of health sciences: PubMed, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (Lilacs), Web of Science and Scopus. We selected observational studies published in any language from January 01, 2010 to November 19, 2021, from different populations that investigated the association between BF practice and HC among healthy children < 2 years old.

Exposure to ultra-processed foods during pregnancy and ultrasound fetal growth parameters.

Periconceptional maternal ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption impairs embryonic growth. Impacts of exposure to UPF on distinct components of fetal growth in late pregnancy are unknown. We investigated the influence of frequency of UPF consumption during pregnancy on fetal head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL).

Factors associated with incomplete vaccination and negative antibody test results for measles, mumps, and hepatitis A among children followed in the MINA-BRAZIL cohort.

Vaccination coverage has been dropping in Brazil and other countries. In addition, immune responses after vaccination may not be homogeneous, varying according to sociodemographic and clinical factors. Understanding the determinants of incomplete vaccination and negative antibody test results may contribute to the development of strategies to improve vaccination effectiveness.

Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and child weight during the first 2 years of life in an Amazonian birth cohort.

Background: In socially vulnerable populations, evidence is needed regarding the role of maternal nutritional status on child weight during the first 2 years of life.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the association of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with offspring BMI-for-age z-scores (BAZs) during the first 2 years of life.

Methods: A population-based birth cohort study was conducted with 900 mother-child pairs.

Clinically silent Plasmodium vivax infections in native Amazonians of northwestern Brazil: acquired immunity or low parasite virulence?

Background: Malaria remains common among native Amazonians, challenging Brazil's elimination efforts.

Objectives: We examined the epidemiology of malaria in riverine populations of the country's main hotspot - the upper Juruá Valley in Acre state, close to the Brazil-Peru border, where Plasmodium vivax accounts for > 80% of cases.

Methods: Participants (n = 262) from 10 villages along the Azul River were screened for malaria parasites by microscopy and genus-specific, cytochrome b (cytb) gene-based polymerase chain reaction.

Association of kidney function and brain health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the bidirectional association between the kidney dysfunction and the brain health, including structural and functional abnormalities.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis with network meta-analysis for outcomes with different estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ranges.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase database, Cochrane library and Web of Science (up to Dec.

Gestational weight gain and breastfeeding practices in relation to offspring body mass index among Amazonian young children.

Objective: Excessive weight gain during childhood has been considered an early life risk factor for chronic disease in the long term. We examined the role of excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and breastfeeding (BF) practices with the offspring's body mass index-for-age z-score (zBMI) at 2 years.

Methods: Data from 743 Amazonian young children of the MINA-Brazil population-based birth cohort study were used.

Common mental disorders in pregnancy and postnatal depressive symptoms in the MINA-Brazil study: occurrence and associated factors.

Objective: To investigate the occurrence and factors associated with common mental disorders in pregnancy and depressive symptoms in postpartum, as well as the association between both in the Brazilian Western Amazon.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort in the MINA-Brazil study with women who received primary health care in the town of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre State. We performed two clinical evaluations during pregnancy (the first: 16-20 weeks; the second: 28 gestational weeks) and three postpartum evaluations (at 3, 6 and 12 months), in which demographic and socioeconomic, gestational, lifestyle and clinical data were collected.

Cerebral Blood Flow Alterations and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF) plays an essential role in the cognitive impairment and dementia in obesity. However, current conclusions regarding CBF changes in patients with obesity are inconsistent.

Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between obesity and CBF alterations.

Associations of Gestational Weight Gain with Perinatal Outcomes in Western Brazilian Amazon.

Objective: To investigate the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and perinatal outcomes in pregnant Amazonian women.

Methods: Data from 1305 mother-child pairs from the MINA-Brazil population-based birth cohort study were used. GWG was classified according to two methods, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines and INTERGROWTH-21st standards.

The relationship between uric acid and brain health from observational studies.

This study conducts a systematic literature review and meta-analysis regarding the potential influence of serum uric acid levels on cerebral small vessel diseases and the cognitive status in the prodromal stages of dementia. We identified four different cerebral small vessel diseases and three specific domains of cognitive performance to be considered in the literature search. The analysis contained 14 studies (13 cross-sectional design and one longitudinal design) with 11,502 participants measuring the relationship between uric acid and cerebral small vessel disease.

Agreement between information recorded during antenatal care and in the MINA-Brazil study.

This article aims to examine agreement of pre-pregnancy weight, pregnancy weight, height and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure measurements recorded on antenatal record cards with the same information obtained in the MINA-Brazil longitudinal study. 428 pregnant women who participated in the MINA-Brazil study and had an antenatal card at time of childbirth were selected. Concordance analysis of the data used Lin's correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis.

Silent circulation of Chikungunya virus among pregnant women and newborns in the Western Brazilian Amazon before the first outbreak of chikungunya fever.

The prevalence of immunity to Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in pregnant women and newborns in the Western Brazilian Amazon was assessed at a time when previous studies did not report chikungunya fever in the area. In 435 asymptomatic pregnant women and 642 healthy unrelated newborns, the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to CHIKV were determined by a commercial ELISA. All participants were negative to IgM anti-CHIKV.

Predictors of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations during pregnancy: A longitudinal analysis in the Brazilian Amazon.

Objectives: To determine predictors of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations (25, 50, and 75 percentiles) in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Subjects/methods: Data on sociodemographic, obstetric, lifestyle and pregnancy characteristics, including serum 25(OH)D and retinol, were collected among 448 pregnant women who participated in the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre, Brazil (MINA-Brazil Study) in Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazilian Amazon (latitude 7°S). Simultaneous-quantile regression was fitted to prospectively assess predictors at the 25, 50 and 75 percentiles of 25(OH)D concentrations.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods during the first year of life and associated factors in Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazil.

This article aims to assess the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) during the first year of life and associated factors. We analyzed data from the one-year follow-up of the MINA-Brazil birth cohort. Socioeconomic, demographic and obstetric data were collected in the baseline study and at one-year follow-up (n = 774).

[Trend in the prevalence of anemia in children from maroon communities according to two population-based surveys in Alagoas State, Brazil (2008-2018)].

The study aimed to assess trends in the prevalence of anemia in children from quilombos (maroon communities) in Alagoas State, Brazil. This was a descriptive study comparing the results of two household surveys (2008; n = 950 and 2018; n = 426), involving a sample of children from 6 to 59 months of age. Anemia was diagnosed as hemoglobin < 110g/L (HemoCue).