Barriers and enablers to kangaroo mother care prior to stability from perspectives of Gambian health workers: A qualitative study.

Aims: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is an evidence-based intervention recommended for stable newborns <2,000 g. Recent trials have investigated survival benefits of earlier initiation of KMC, including prior to stability, with WHO's iKMC trial showing 25% relative risk reduction for mortality of neonates 1-1.8 kg at tertiary Indian and African neonatal units (NNU).

Association of CaMK2A and MeCP2 signaling pathways with cognitive ability in adolescents.

The glutamatergic signaling pathway is involved in molecular learning and human cognitive ability. Specific single variants (SNVs, formerly single-nucleotide polymorphisms) in the genes encoding N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits have been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders by altering glutamate transmission. However, these variants associated with cognition and mental activity have rarely been explored in healthy adolescents.

Multiple epigenetic biomarkers for evaluation of students' academic performance.

Several reports have shown that methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phospho-cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) and microRNAs may be important in regulating academic performance because of their roles in neuropsychiatry and cognitive diseases. The first goal of this study was to explore the associations among MeCP2, BDNF, CREB and academic performance. This study also examined the pathway responsible for the effects of MeCP2, BDNF, p-CREB and microRNAs on academic performance.

Redistribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes After Nationwide 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Program in Children in Northern Taiwan.

Background: After the introduction of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) against Streptococcus pneumoniae, public health officials in Taiwan monitored a decline in circulating vaccine serotypes and the emergence of nonvaccine serotypes in children with invasive pneumococcal disease. A gradually expanded PCV13 national immunization program was launched in 2013 in Taiwan. Here, we evaluate the changes in the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes and antimicrobial nonsusceptibility in children during the evolution of vaccination policy.

Influence of Genetic Variants of the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor on Emotion and Social Behavior in Adolescents.

Considerable evidence has suggested that the epigenetic regulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors plays a crucial role in neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous exploratory studies have been primarily based on evidence from patients and have rarely sampled the general population. This exploratory study examined the relationship of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variations in the genes encoding the NMDA receptor (i.

An Exploratory Analysis of the Relationship between Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Cognitive/Academic Performance among Adolescents.

This exploratory study examines the relationship between cardiometabolic risk factors (blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI, and total cholesterol) and cognitive/academic performance. In this study, 1297 Taiwanese tenth-grade volunteers are recruited. Scores from the Basic Competency Test, an annual national competitive entrance examination, are used to evaluate academic performance.