Publications by authors named "N Iacovidou"
Background: Early life infections (ELIs), encompassing both viral and bacterial types, occur within the first six months of life. Influenced by genetic host factors and environmental conditions, the relationship between ELIs and subsequent allergic manifestations, particularly cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and atopic dermatitis (AD), is complex and not fully understood.
Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine the potential interplay between nutrition, infections, and allergic manifestations in the first six months of life in infants with a family history of allergies, who were either exclusively breastfed (EBF) or fed a combination of breast milk and standard (SF) or partially hydrolyzed infant formula (pHF).
Group A streptococcus (GAS) is the cause of both mild and invasive infections in humans with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The transmission of disease usually occurs via droplets, so the implementation of infection mitigation strategies (IMS) during the COVID-19 pandemic altered the incidence of GAS infection. This review aims to provide an overview of the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of GAS infection in children (invasive or non-invasive).
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- The study assessed the levels of antibodies against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus in pregnant women at two maternity hospitals in Athens from 2017 to 2019, revealing low seropositivity rates, particularly for diphtheria and pertussis.
- The analysis involved 253 blood samples, showing 57.7% seropositivity for diphtheria, 12.5% for pertussis, and 92.7% for tetanus, with better outcomes seen in older and more educated women.
- Less than 2% of participants reported receiving the recommended Tdap vaccination during pregnancy, indicating a gap in vaccination adherence and suggesting the need for national awareness campaigns to
Article Synopsis
- Feto-maternal microchimerism refers to the exchange of cells between a mother and her fetus during pregnancy, impacting health for both parties even into later life.
- The effects of these transferred cells can be harmful for the mother—linked to complications like pre-eclampsia and autoimmune diseases—but may also have beneficial roles in tissue healing and disease recovery.
- Research is limited on how maternal microchimeric cells could contribute to autoimmune conditions in the child, particularly conditions like Type 1 diabetes and neonatal lupus, where these cells might either harm or assist in the immune response.
Article Synopsis
- Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) significantly impacts both maternal and fetal health, with gut microbiota playing a crucial role in its development and effects.
- A systematic review analyzed studies on the influence of GDM on neonatal gut microbiota, revealing a wide variety of results and highlighting the complexity of these changes.
- Only 16 out of 316 studies met the inclusion criteria, indicating that more research is necessary to fully understand the implications of GDM on the gut microbiota of newborns and the associated health outcomes.