Vitamin D supplementation improved physical growth and neurologic development of Preterm Infants receiving Nesting Care in the neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of vitamin D supplementation on physical growth and neurologic development of very preterm infants receiving nesting intervention in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). METHODS: A total of 196 preterm infants had been hospitalized in NICU with the gestational age (GA) between 28 and 32 weeks. Among them, 98 preterm infants received nesting intervention, and the other 98 cases received both nesting and vitamin D supplementation (400 IU). The interventions were continued until 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). The 25(OH)D serum levels, anthropometric parameters, and Premie-Neuro (PN) scores were compared at 36 weeks PMA. RESULTS: Higher median serum level of 25(OH)D was found in the nesting + vitamin D [38.40 ng/mL (IQR: 17.20 ~ 70.88) ng/mL] as compared to the nesting group [15.95 ng/mL (IQR: 10.80 ~ 24.30) ng/mL] at 36 weeks PMA. Besides, infants receiving combined nesting intervention and vitamin D supplementation had less proportion of vitamin D deficiency [VDD, 25(OH)D levels < 20 ng/mL] than those receiving nesting intervention alone. After intervention, the anthropometric parameters of infants, including weight, length, BMI and head circumference were improved in the nesting + vitamin D group as compared to the nesting group at 36 weeks PMA, with higher scores of neurological, movement and responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D supplementation effectively decreased the prevalence of VDD and led to higher concentrations of 25(OH)D at 36 weeks PMA. This was one more study that supported the necessity of vitamin D supplementation to improve physical growth and neurologic development of preterm-born newborns who received nesting intervention in the NICU.

Effects of Bisphenol A and Its Substitute, Bisphenol F, on the Gut Microbiota in Mice.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of bisphenol A (BPA) and its substitute, bisphenol F (BPF), on the colonic fecal community structure and function of mice. Methods: We exposed 6-8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice to 5 mg/(kg∙day) and 50 µg/(kg∙day) of BPA or BPF for 14 days. Fecal samples from the colon were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: Gut microbiome community richness and diversity, species composition, and function were significantly altered in mice exposed to BPA or BPF. This change was characterized by elevated levels of Ruminococcaceae UCG-010 and Oscillibacter and decreased levels of Prevotella 9 and Streptococcus. Additionally, pathways related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism showed substantial enrichment. Conclusion: Mice exposed to different BP analogs exhibited distinct gut bacterial community richness, composition, and related metabolic pathways. Considering the essential role of gut bacteria in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, our study highlights the intestinal toxicity of BPs in vertebrates.

[Effects of calcium on ability of learning and memory in rats exposed to low level lead before and after birth].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of calcium on learning and memory ability of rats exposed to low level lead before and after birth. METHODS: Wistar dam rats were randomly divided into normal group, lead-contaminated group and lead with Ca group. Corresponding food and water were given to pregnant rats from d 15 of gestation and to young rats till 7 w after birth. The weight of brain and hippocampus, blood lead content, serum calcium content, learning and memory ability of young rats were tested. RESULT: The blood lead concentrations: lead-contaminated group was the highest, lead with Ca group the second and normal group the lowest. Serum calcium concentrations: normal group and lead with Ca group were both higher than lead contaminated group. Ability of learning and memory: lead with Ca group was better than lead-contaminated group, but poorer than normal group. No differences were found upon the weight of brain and hippocampus in all groups. CONCLUSION: A minilaparotomy approach for curative resection of rectal cancer may be an ideal alternative approach to conventional laparotomy.