Conditional and Unconditional Social Transfers, Early-Life Nutrition, and Child Growth: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Rates of exclusive breastfeeding are declining despite the numerous benefits to mothers and their children.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of conditional and unconditional social transfers on exclusive breastfeeding rates and child growth.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This is a prospective, parallel, 3-armed randomized clinical trial conducted between August 2022 and October 2023.

Vientiane Multigenerational Birth Cohort Project in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Protocol for Establishing a Longitudinal Multigenerational Birth Cohort to Promote Population Health.

Background: Rapid global population growth and urbanization have led to an increase in urban populations in low- and middle-income countries. Although these urban areas have generally better health outcomes than lower-income rural areas, many environmental, social, and health challenges remain. Vientiane, the capital of Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), has approximately 1.

Social Transfers for Exclusive Breastfeeding (STEB) Intervention in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Children in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) receive suboptimal nutrition because of low breastfeeding rates, undermining their developmental potential. While major public health campaigns have attempted to increase breastfeeding rates, they have been largely unsuccessful. One explanation for these unsuccessful interventions is the economic and financial constraints faced by mothers.

ICU- and ventilator-free days with isoflurane or propofol as a primary sedative - A post- hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To compare ICU-free (ICU-FD) and ventilator-free days (VFD) in the 30 days after randomization in patients that received isoflurane or propofol without receiving the other sedative.

Materials And Methods: A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared inhaled isoflurane via the Sedaconda® anaesthetic conserving device (ACD) with intravenous propofol for up to 54 h (Meiser et al. 2021).

Plasma concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in pregnancy and breastfeeding duration in Project Viva.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may disrupt mammary gland development and function; thereby inhibiting milk supply and breastfeeding duration. However, conclusions on the potential effects of PFAS and breastfeeding duration are limited by prior epidemiologic studies that inconsistently adjusted for past cumulative breastfeeding duration and by a lack of examination of the joint effects of PFAS mixtures.

Methods: In Project Viva, a longitudinal cohort that enrolled pregnant participants from 1999 to 2002 in the greater Boston, MA area, we studied 1079 women who ever attempted to lactate.

Dynamics and consequences of nutrition-related microbial dysbiosis in early life: study protocol of the VITERBI GUT project.

Introduction: Early life under- and overnutrition (jointly termed malnutrition) is increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for adult obesity and metabolic syndrome, a diet-related cluster of conditions including high blood sugar, fat and cholesterol. Nevertheless, the exact factors linking early life malnutrition with metabolic syndrome remain poorly characterized. We hypothesize that the microbiota plays a crucial role in this trajectory and that the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying under- and overnutrition are, to some extent, shared.

Isoflurane vs. propofol for sedation in invasively ventilated patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: an a priori hypothesis substudy of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) is a leading concern in critically ill patients. Experimental and clinical data suggest that early sedation with volatile anesthestics may improve arterial oxygenation and reduce the plasma and alveolar levels of markers of alveolar epithelial injury and of proinflammatory cytokines.

Methods: An a priori hypothesis substudy of a multicenter randomized controlled trial (The Sedaconda trial, EUDRA CT Number 2016-004551-67).

The Impact of Antithrombotic Medications on Postoperative Bleeding Events Following Hemorrhoidectomy.

Background: Bleeding complications are a risk associated with hemorrhoid procedures. Despite the prevalence of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapies, including newer direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in the aging patient population there is a paucity of data regarding the impact of the use of antithrombotic therapy (AT) especially DOACs, on bleeding complications of hemorrhoid procedures.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients who had undergone a total of 1152 procedures, including hemorrhoid excision and ligation, at a single institution in the years 2016-2018.

Association between mother's work status and child stunting in urban slums: a cross-sectional assessment of 346 child-mother dyads in Dhaka, Bangladesh (2020).

Background: A growing literature highlights the increased risk of stunting among children growing up in informal or slum settlements. Despite relatively high rates of female labor force participation in slums, there is limited evidence on relationship between mother's work participation and nutritional outcomes of children in these settings.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in two large slums (Korail and Tongi) of Dhaka and Gazipur, Bangladesh to assess the association between maternal work and childhood stunting in a low-income urban context.

Housing Insecurity, Housing Conditions, and Breastfeeding Behaviors for Medicaid-Eligible Families in Urban Settings.

Background: Research exploring associations between exposure to social determinants of health and breastfeeding is needed to identify breastfeeding barriers. Housing insecurity and household conditions (chaos and crowding) may affect breastfeeding by increasing maternal stress and discomfort and decreasing time available to breastfeed.

Research Aim: We aimed to examine the relationships between housing insecurity, breastfeeding exclusivity intention during the early postnatal period, and breastfeeding exclusivity at 6 months postpartum among a sample "at risk" for suboptimal breastfeeding rates.

Intestinal microbiota research from a global perspective.

The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in health and changes in its composition are linked with major global human diseases. Fully understanding what shapes the human intestinal microbiota composition and knowing ways of modulating the composition are critical for promotion of life-course health, combating diseases, and reducing global health disparities. We aim to provide a foundation for understanding what shapes the human intestinal microbiota on an individual and global scale, and how interventions could utilize this information to promote life-course health and reduce global health disparities.

Evaluation of an Electronic Health Record Alert to Improve Screening and Management of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Factors in a High-Risk Population.

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease and stroke risk factor screening and management by primary care providers (PCPs) have a significant impact on their patients' health. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an electronic health record (EHR) cardiovascular disease and stroke risk alert in improving the ability of PCPs to manage risk factors among women and men aged 45 years and older.

Methods: PCPs at a tertiary care hospital were randomized.

SARS-CoV-2 Infects Red Blood Cell Progenitors and Dysregulates Hemoglobin and Iron Metabolism.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection causes acute respiratory distress, which may progress to multiorgan failure and death. Severe COVID-19 disease is accompanied by reduced erythrocyte turnover, low hemoglobin levels along with increased total bilirubin and ferritin serum concentrations. Moreover, expansion of erythroid progenitors in peripheral blood together with hypoxia, anemia, and coagulopathies highly correlates with severity and mortality.

Parental Cohabitation and Breastfeeding Outcomes Among United States Adolescent Mothers.

Adolescent mothers in the United States experience disproportionately lower rates of breastfeeding compared to older mothers. Evidence suggests that paternal support helps improve breastfeeding outcomes; however, support is difficult to quantify. Parental cohabitation is easy to identify and could be used to quantify paternal support.

Understanding urban inequalities in children's linear growth outcomes: a trend and decomposition analysis of 39,049 children in Bangladesh (2000-2018).

Background: Despite significant progress in reducing child undernutrition, Bangladesh remains among the top six countries globally with the largest burden of child stunting and has disproportionately high stunting prevalence among the urban poor. We use population representative data to identify key predictors of child stunting in Bangladesh and assess their contributions to linear growth differences observed between urban poor and non-poor children.

Methods: We combined six rounds of Demographic and Health Survey data spanning 2000-2018 and used official poverty rates to classify the urban population into poor and non-poor households.

Urban-Rural Gaps in Breastfeeding Practices: Evidence From Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Breastfeeding rates are decreasing rapidly in many low and middle-income countries, disproportionately affecting urban residences. We use data from Lao People's Democratic Republic to identify primary mechanisms underlying the urban-rural gap in breastfeeding practices. We used data from the 2017 Lao Social Indicator Survey II.

Socio-cultural factors for breastfeeding cessation and their relationship with child diarrhoea in the rural high-altitude Peruvian Andes - a qualitative study.

Background: In some areas of the world, breast milk is seen as a potential source of child diarrhoea. While this belief has been explored in African and Southeast Asian countries, it remains vastly understudied in Latin American contexts. We investigate socio-cultural factors contributing to breastfeeding cessation in rural high-altitude populations of the Peruvian Andes.

The additive effect of interpregnancy interval and maternal body mass index on pregnancy induced hypertension in the U.S.

Objectives: The incidence of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), one of the most frequent causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity, has increased significantly in the U.S. in last two decades.

Breastfeeding, Physical Growth, and Cognitive Development.

Background And Objectives: Breastfeeding is an evidence-based recommendation for all countries, but breastfeeding rates have been declining in many middle-income settings. One reason behind this decline is the perception that breastfeeding may not be necessary in modern urban settings, where clean water is available and alternative foods are abundant. We investigate the importance of breastfeeding for early childhood development in the modern urban context of São Paulo, Brazil.

Breastmilk, Stool, and Meconium: Bacterial Communities in South Africa.

Human milk optimizes gut microbial richness and diversity, and is critical for proper immune development. Research has shown differing microbial composition based on geographic location, providing evidence that diverse biospecimen data is needed when studying human bacterial communities. Yet, limited research describes human milk and infant gut microbial communities in Africa.

Prenatal Depression Severity and Postpartum Care Utilization in a Medicaid Population.

Postpartum visits are a necessary continuum of medical care for women who are diagnosed with depression during pregnancy. However, postpartum care utilization is typically lower in populations who face adverse events and it is unclear to what extent having depression during pregnancy may compromise postpartum visit follow-up. Our study examined the association between severity of prenatal depression and postpartum care utilization among women on Medicaid.

Treatment of spinal anaesthesia-induced hypotension with cafedrine/theodrenaline versus ephedrine during caesarean section: Results from HYPOTENS, a national, multicentre, prospective, noninterventional study.

Background: In Germany, hypotension induced by spinal anaesthesia is commonly treated with a combination of cafedrine hydrochloride (C, 200 mg) and theodrenaline hydrochloride (T, 10 mg) in 2 ml. We compared the effectiveness of C/T with ephedrine.

Objectives: The primary objectives were to assess the speed of onset and the ability to restore blood pressure without an increase in heart rate.

Female genital mutilation and contraceptive use: findings from the 2014 Egypt demographic health survey.

Objectives: Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that remove partial or total external female genitalia, or causes other injury to female genital organs with no medical reason. Physical and psychological trauma associated with FGM may interfere with a woman's ability and intent to utilize contraception. Our study examines the association between FGM and utilization of contraception methods among sexually active reproductive-aged women in Egypt.