Examining the associations between social support and postpartum depression symptoms among adolescent mothers in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Globally, adolescent mothers are at increased risk for postpartum depression (PPD). In Kenya, 15% of adolescent girls become mothers before the age of 18. While social support can buffer a mother's risk of PPD, there are gaps in knowledge as to whether-and which types-of social support are protective for adolescent mothers in Kenya.

Airway morphology, hyoid position, and serum inflammatory markers of obstructive sleep apnea in children treated with modified twin-block appliances.

Objective: To investigate the effects of modified twin-block appliances (MTBA) on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and mandibular retrognathia and the changes in the upper airway, hyoid bone position, and hypoxia-related inflammatory marker levels in children with OSA.

Methods: This study included children with OSA and mandibular retrognathia and those with class I without mandibular retrognathia (n = 35 each). The experimental group comprised children with OSA and mandibular retrognathia managed using MTBA.

Fetal cardiac function in pregnancy affected by congenital heart disease: protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common fetal malformation, and it can result first in cardiac remodeling and dysfunction and later in cardiac failure and hydrops. A limited number of studies have evaluated cardiac function in fetuses affected by CHD. Functional parameters could potentially identify fetuses at risk of cardiac failure before its development.

COVID-19 status and utilisation of essential maternal and child healthcare services during the pandemic in Ahmedabad, India.

Background: Access to essential healthcare services is pertinent to the achievement of universal health coverage in any nation. The COVID-19 lockdown was used to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. Consequently, there was a reduction in the Utilisation of Basic Healthcare Services (UBHS) in diverse dimensions.

Is maternal diabetes during pregnancy associated with neurodevelopmental, cognitive and behavioural outcomes in children? Insights from individual participant data meta-analysis in ten birth cohorts.

Background: Growing evidence shows that dysregulated metabolic intrauterine environments can affect offspring's neurodevelopment and behaviour. However, the results of individual cohort studies have been inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the association between maternal diabetes before pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with neurodevelopmental, cognitive and behavioural outcomes in children.

Genes related to neural tube defects and glioblastoma.

There are many similarities between early embryonic development and tumorigenesis. The occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs) and glioblastoma (GBM) are both related to the abnormal development of neuroectodermal cells. To obtain genes related to both NTDs and GBM, as well as small molecule drugs with potential clinical application value.

PrEP Disparities Among Transgender Feminine, Transgender Masculine, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive Youth and Young Adults in the United States.

This study assessed disparities in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among transgender and gender expansive youth and young adults (N = 477) between 15 and 24 years old in the CARES (ATN 149) and TechStep (ATN 160) study protocols within the National Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN). Structural equation modeling was used to test mediation pathways between gender identity and PrEP uptake among the full sample and stratified by sex assigned at birth. Lifetime PrEP uptake was higher among those assigned male at birth (26%) versus assigned female at birth (9%), explained by greater structural and behavioral risks and perceived need for PrEP, especially among trans women.

Prenatal Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Relation to Antibody Titers and Infections in Childhood.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and ubiquitous chemicals posing environmental and health risks. Impact on the human immune system is of particular concern, especially during fetal immune development. Alterations to fetal immune development can impact immunity later in life, e.

Rhesus Cytomegalovirus-encoded Fcγ-binding glycoproteins facilitate viral evasion from IgG-mediated humoral immunity.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes four viral Fc-gamma receptors (vFcγRs) that counteract antibody-mediated activation in vitro, but their role in infection and pathogenesis is unknown. To examine their in vivo function in an animal model evolutionarily closely related to humans, we identified and characterized Rh05, Rh152/151 and Rh173 as the complete set of vFcγRs encoded by rhesus CMV (RhCMV). Each one of these proteins displays functional similarities to their prospective HCMV orthologs with respect to antagonizing host FcγR activation in vitro.

The importance of thiamine availability in the thermogenic competency of human adipocytes.

Brown and beige adipocytes express uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), which is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane and facilitates the dissipation of excess energy as heat. The activation of thermogenic adipocytes is a potential therapeutic target for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and related co-morbidities. Therefore, identifying novel approaches to stimulate the function of these adipocytes is crucial for advancing therapeutic strategies.

Uterine organoids reveal insights into epithelial specification and plasticity in development and disease.

Understanding how epithelial cells in the female reproductive tract (FRT) differentiate is crucial for reproductive health, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. At birth, FRT epithelium is highly malleable, allowing differentiation into various epithelial types, but the regulatory pathways guiding these early cell fate decisions are unclear. Here, we use neonatal mouse endometrial organoids and assembloid coculture models to investigate how innate cellular plasticity and external mesenchymal signals influence epithelial differentiation.

The impact of intermittent preventive treatment in school aged children with dihydroartemisinin piperaquine and artesunate amodiaquine on IgG response against six blood stage Plasmodium falciparum antigens.

Several interventional strategies have been implemented in malaria endemic areas where the burden is high, that include among others, intermittent preventive treatment (IPT), a tactic that blocks transmission and can reduce disease morbidity. However, the implementation IPT strategies raises a genuine concern, intervening the development of naturally acquired immunity to malaria which requires continuous contact with parasite antigens. This study investigated whether dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) or artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) IPT in schoolchildren (IPTsc) impairs IgG reactivity to six malaria antigens.

The assessment of routine health information system performance towards improvement of quality of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services in Ondo and Ekiti States, Nigeria.

Background: Nigeria's reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health indicators have remained unsatisfactory in the face of poor-quality healthcare services. Nigeria initiated the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent, elderly + nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) quality of care (QoC) agenda to address the challenge. The health management information system (HMIS) is integral to the agenda but there is sparse evidence on its performance so far.

Bone Health and Linear Growth in Children with Familial Hypoparathyroidism Treated with Human Parathyroid Hormone 1-34.

Context: Our study explores the impact of human PTH 1-34 injections (PTH therapy) on growth, areal bone mineral density (BMD), and bone quality (measured by trabecular bone score, TBS) in hypoparathyroidism due to autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) or an activating variant of the calcium sensing receptor (CaR).

Objective: To assess associations of 1) age and PTH therapy duration with age-standardized Z-scores for height (HAZ), BMD (BMD-Z), and TBS (TBS-Z) in CaR or APS-1, and 2) APS-1 disease severity with BMD-Z and TBS-Z.

Methods: This secondary analysis pooled linear growth and lumbar spine (LS) DXA data from studies of hypoparathyroidism with mean baseline age of 13.

ABCA4 Deep Intronic Variants Contributed to Nearly Half of Unsolved Stargardt Cases With a Milder Phenotype.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution and natural progression of ABCA4 deep intronic variants (DIVs) among a Chinese Stargardt disease (STGD) cohort.

Methods: For unsolved STGD probands, DIVs in ABCA4 were detected by next-generation sequencing, and splicing effects were evaluated by in silico tools and validated through minigene experiments. Comprehensive ocular examinations, especially fundus changes, were carried out and analyzed.

Revised Process for ACNS Guidelines Development.

The development of clinical practice guidelines is an evolving field. In response to the need for consistent, evidence-based medical practice, the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society identified the need to update the Society's guideline development process. The American Clinical Neurophysiology Society Guidelines Committee created an action plan with the goal of improving transparency and rigor for future guidelines and bringing existing guidelines to current standards.

Operationalizing the ICF Core Sets for Autism and ADHD: A Multiple-Methods Feasibility Study.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is the World Health Organization's (WHO) standard for assessing individual functioning. Over the last decade, the ICF has been made more accessible for autism and ADHD through the development and validation of tailored shorter ICF versions for these diagnoses, ICF Core Sets. To further enhance their applicability in research and practice, these Core Sets have been operationalized and implemented on an online platform, the ICF CoreSets platform.

Higher bone mineral density at six years of age in very preterm-born infants fed human milk compared to formula feeding. A secondary analysis of an RCT.

Unlabelled: In very preterm-born infants, nutritional intake is important to reduce the risk of severe metabolic bone disease including the risk of a lower bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to evaluate bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD (measured as BMC per bone area (BA)) at six years of age in very preterm-born infants fed different diets post-discharge. Data on this topic so far is insufficient, and with this study we aim to supply more useful data.

Measuring adjustment of siblings of children with disabilities: psychometric properties across translations, age groups and informants.

Objectives: The Negative Adjustment Scale (NAS) is used to measure adjustment to having a sibling with a disability. However, several adaptations to the scale have been made, and implementation varies across studies and countries. This study examined the psychometric properties across different versions and provides directions for future use and development of the NAS.

The Startle Response and Prepulse Inhibition in Psychosis and Violence: A Combined Electromyography and Electroencephalography Study.

There is a pressing need for biomarkers of violent behavior risk in psychosis. Previous research indicates that electrophysiological measures of automatic defensive reactions may have potential. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between violent behavior in individuals with and without psychosis and electromyography (EMG) and electroencephalography (EEG) responses to startling auditory stimuli.

Protocol of the Nutritional, Psychosocial, and Environmental Determinants of Neurodevelopment and Child Mental Health (COINCIDE) study.

Background: Over 250 million children are developing sub-optimally due to their exposure to early life adversities. While previous studies have examined the effects of nutritional status, psychosocial adversities, and environmental pollutants on children's outcomes, little is known about their interaction and cumulative effects.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the independent, interaction, and cumulative effects of nutritional, psychosocial, and environmental factors on children's cognitive development and mental health in urban and rural India.

Early life adverse environmental, nutrition and infection factors are associated with lower developmental scores in Pakistani children at 5 years: a cohort study.

Background: The effects of multiple early adverse psychosocial and biological factors on child development at preschool age in deprived settings are not fully understood.

Methods: The 'Etiology, Risk Factors and Interactions of Enteric Infections and Malnutrition and the Consequences for Child Health and Development' (MAL-ED) project followed children from eight countries, recording sociodemographic, nutritional, illness, enteroinfection biomarkers and scores for quality of home environment (Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME)), development (Bayley) and maternal depression during the first year of life. In the Pakistan cohort, we investigated associations of these early factors with Z-scores (derived from the eight participating countries) of three developmental outcomes at 5 years: Executive Functions (Z-EF), the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale for Intelligence (Z-WPPSI) and the externalising behaviours component of the Strength and Difficulties test (Z-externalising behaviours).

Enhancing Perinatal Safety with the Advancement of Obstetric Anesthesia in Japan.

Japan is one of the most developed countries in the world, and perinatal care is safe, with low maternal and neonatal mortality rates. However, as birthrate declines, advanced maternal age and the number of cesarean deliveries increases, efforts must be made to maintain safety in the future. The characteristic of the delivery facilities is "many small clinics," and half of all facilities have fewer than 500 deliveries per year.

How does the medicines retail sector ensure continued access to medicines during public health emergencies? Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.

Background: The medicines retail sector (MRS) enables access to life-saving health commodities. Despite efforts to harness this market for public health goals, in low- and middle-income countries it is rarely incorporated into pandemic preparedness. This paper analyses the role of the MRS in the response to COVID-19 in Uganda, the extent to which it was incorporated into national planning and in the continuity of essential services.

The parental care-seeking behavior of children with osteogenesis imperfecta based on the Anderson's model: a qualitative study.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the medical-seeking behavior of Osteogenesis Imperfecta(OI) children in Southwest China, summarize and analyze the issues in their medical process, and propose corresponding improvement strategies.

Methods: A phenomenological study involving semi-structured interviews with 20 OI caregivers at a tertiary centre for children from March to August 2021 was analyzed thematically, following Anderson's model.

Results: We identified eight themes in the data: 1)Regional disparities of OI management, 2)Big economic burden, 3)High-risk population, 4)Lack of health education, 5)Multiple treatments,6)Strict treatment indications,7)Disappointing therapeutic outcomes,8)Effective or ineffective treatment results.