Impact of the Presence Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA in the Colostrum of Women Infected by COVID-19 During the Pregnancy in Neonatal Clinical Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG in the blood and colostrum of women with COVID-19 infection during pregnancy and associate the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA in colostrum with clinical symptoms of their newborns. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was developed with 165 participants with COVID-19 infection during pregnancy and their newborns. DATA COLLECTED: characteristics COVID-19 infection in pregnant women, gestational age, and clinical symptoms in their newborns (fever, hypothermia, respiratory distress, hypotonia, hypoactivity, hypoglycemia, cyanosis, vomiting/regurgitation, abdominal distention, and jaundice). Maternal blood and colostrum samples were collected postpartum to to detect the presence of IgA and IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: The median interval between COVID-19 diagnosis and delivery was 37.5 days (IQ = 12.0, 73.0 days). Clinical symptoms during hospitalization were observed in 55 newborns (33.3%), and two (1.6%) tested RT-PCR positive for COVID-19. Positive colostrum for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA was found in 117 (70.9%) women. The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA in colostrum was associated independently with lower clinical symptoms in their newborns (OR = 0.42; 95% CI 0.202 to 0.84; p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA in colostrum was detected in more than two-thirds of the women evaluated and was associated with a lower frequency of clinical symptoms in their newborns.

Is the Intrauterine INTERGROWTH-21 Growth Curve Better Than Fenton's for the Classification at Birth and Prediction of Postnatal Growth in Preterm Infants?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the classification of the adequacy of birth weight for gestational age applying INTERGROWTH-21 (IG-21) and Fenton growth curves in preterm infants, and to relate this classification to the nutritional status at 12 months corrected age. METHODS: This is a retrospective study with 173 preterm infants aged between 26 and 33 weeks. Data was collected on maternal health conditions, birth and gestational age anthropometric information, and anthropometry (weight, height, and head circumference) at 12 months corrected age. RESULTS: The mean birth weight and gestational age were 1151.4 ± 227.2 g and 30.2 ± 2.4 weeks, respectively. Using percentiles of IG-21 and Fenton curves, the proportion of SGA and LGA preterm infants was 39.2% vs. 35.2%, and 3.5% vs. 3.5%, respectively (p = 0.520). At 12 months corrected age, short stature, overweight, and thinness were observed in 33.5%, 9.9%, and 11% of preterm infants, respectively. The ROC curve evidenced that the IG-21 was slightly better than Fenton to predict short stature (AUC = 0.626, 95% CI 0.537-0.715 and AUC = 0.600, 95% CI 0.506-0.694) and overweight (AUC = 0.648, 95% CI 0.527-0.769 and AUC = 0.618, 95% CI 0.486-0.750) at 12 months corrected age. In contrast, the ROC curve did not show an association of IG-21 and Fenton percentiles with thinness. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study showed that IG-21 and Fenton were similar for the classification of birth weight for gestational age in preterm infants. IG-21 was slightly better than Fenton to predict overweight and short stature in preterm infants at 12 months corrected age.

Influence of umbilical cord vitamin D serum levels on the growth of preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels at birth in postnatal growth at discharge and 12 mo of corrected age in preterm infants. METHODS: This prospective cohort included 63 preterm newborns born before 34 gestational weeks evaluated from birth until 12 mo of corrected age. The serum 25(OH)D levels in umbilical cord blood and from their mothers were evaluated at delivery. RESULTS: The mean 25(OH)D levels in preterm newborns were higher than maternal levels (24.8 ± 13.3 ng/mL versus 21 ± 10.2 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and showed a moderate correlation between (r = 0.548; P < 0.001). Considering the body mass index Z-score at 12 mo, 3 (10%), 25 (83%), and 2 (7%) of the preterm infants were thin, had normal body mass index, and were overweight, respectively. The 25(OH)D levels in the umbilical cord did not influence the anthropometric indicators at hospital discharge and 12 mo of corrected age. We observed improvement in all anthropometric indicators assessed over the months, and there was no difference between preterm infants with 25(OH)D levels >20 ng/mL and <20 ng/mL in the umbilical cord. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggested that the 25(OH)D serum levels in the umbilical cord did not influence postnatal growth from birth to the first year of life in preterm infants. There was a direct association between maternal and umbilical cord serum 25(OH)D levels.

Association of serum and erythrocyte zinc levels with breastfeeding and complementary feeding in preterm and term infants.

Zinc is an important nutrient involved in cell division, physical growth, and immune system function. Most studies evaluating the nutritional status related to zinc and prematurity were conducted with hospitalized preterm infants. These studies show controversial results regarding the prevalence of deficiency, clinical implications, and the effect of zinc supplementation on mortality, infectious diseases, and growth in these groups. This study aimed to compare serum and erythrocyte zinc levels in a group of preterm and full-term infants after 9 months of age, and related the zinc levels to dietary intake and anthropometric indicators in both groups. This cross-sectional study compared 43 preterm infants (24 to 33 weeks) aged 9-24 months to 47 full-term healthy infants. Outcome measures: anthropometric indicators and dietary intake. Blood sample for serum and erythrocyte zinc levels (ICP-MS, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry). There was no difference between the groups regarding the mean of serum and erythrocyte zinc. Variables associated with higher serum zinc levels were breastfeeding at evaluation (ß = 20.11 µg/dL, 95% CI 9.62-30.60, p < 0.001) and the later introduction of solid foods (ß = 6.6 µg/dL, 95% CI 5.3-11.4, p < 0.001). Breastfeeding was also associated with higher erythrocyte zinc levels. The zinc levels were adequate in both groups, there was no association with anthropometric indicators or dietary intake and were slightly influenced by breastfeeding and time of solid food introduction.

Association between ultraprocessed food intake and C-reactive protein levels in preterm and term infants.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine associations between consumption of ultraprocessed food (UPF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in a sample of term and preterm infants. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 43 preterm infants (<34 wk), chronological age between 9 and 24 mo, were compared with a group of 47 healthy term infants of the same age. Data were collected on dietary intake, anthropometric measures, and serum CRP level (mg/L). The main exposure of interest was the consumption of UPF (excluding all types of milk), measured as the percentage of total energy intake. RESULTS: The mean birth weight, gestational age, and corrected age were 1,245 ± 381.7 g, 29.9 ± 2.3 wk, and 14.3 ± 6.4 mo, respectively, in the preterm group. Infants in the preterm group consumed UPF less frequently (27-67.5% versus 40-87.0%; P = 0.038) but in a greater amount relative to total energy intake (39.8% [19.1-59.1%]) versus 29.0% (14.5- 41.9%; P = 0.040) when compared with the term group. There was no statistically significant difference between the preterm and term groups regarding CRP levels. The consumption of UPF (percentage of energy intake) was independently associated with CRP levels (ß = 0.007; 95% CI, 0.001-0.014; P = 0.034). A significant interaction between being born preterm and UPF consumption was found for CRP levels (P = 0.049). Breast-feeding was not associated with lower consumption of UPF in both groups (24-75.0% versus 43-79.6%; P = 0.404). CONCLUSIONS: There is a positive relationship between UPF and CRP levels among infants, irrespective of excess weight. At the clinical practice level, a better comprehension of the associations between food processing and chronic inflammation may aid in individual dietary guidance.

Early Identification of IgA Anti-SARSCoV-2 in Milk of Mother With COVID-19 Infection.

INTRODUCTION: Human milk cannot currently be considered a major source of COVID-19 infection. On the other hand, it can contain specific antibodies that could modulate a possible newborn infection by SARS-CoV-2. MAIN ISSUE: A 32-year-old pregnant woman, gestational age 37 and 3/7 weeks, was admitted with a flu-like syndrome caused by COVID-19. The female newborn was appropriate for gestational age, with a birth weight of 2,890 g, length 48 cm, and head circumference 34 cm. MANAGEMENT: The mother-infant dyad remained in the rooming-in unit during hospitalization, exclusively breastfeeding and following World Health Organization recommendations for contact and airway precautions. On the 3rd day after delivery, two mother's milk samples (3 and 5 mL) were collected by hand expression. The samples were centrifuged for 10 min twice consecutively to separate fat, which was removed, and the remaining material was transferred to another tube to determine anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin A and Immunoglobulin G (ELISA, Kit EUROIMMUN AG, Luebeck, Germany). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin A was detected in the two samples evaluated, whose values were 2.5 and 1.9, respectively. No anti-SARSCoV-2 immunoglobulin G was detected. The exclusively-breastfed infant remained well through 45 days of age. CONCLUSION: The presence of SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin A in the milk of mothers infected with COVID-19 may be related to protection against the transmission and severity of the disease in their infants.