Evolutionary Patterns of Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy and Implantation in Eutherian Mammals.

The implantation of the embryo into the maternal endometrium is a complex process associated with the evolution of viviparity and placentation in mammals. In this review, we provide an overview of maternal recognition of pregnancy signals and implantation modes in eutherians, focusing on their diverse mechanisms and evolutionary patterns. Different pregnancy recognition signals and implantation modes have evolved in eutherian mammals, reflecting the remarkable diversity of specializations in mammals following the evolution of viviparity. Superficial implantation is the ancestral implantation mode in Eutheria and its major clades. The other modes, secondary, partially, and primary interstitial implantation have each independently evolved multiple times in the evolutionary history of eutherians. Although significant progress has been made in understanding pregnancy recognition signals and implantation modes, there is still much to uncover. Rodents and chiropterans (especially Phyllostomidae) offer valuable opportunities for studying the transitions among implantation modes, but data is still scarce for these diverse orders. Further research should focus on unstudied taxa so we can establish robust patterns of evolutionary changes in pregnancy recognition signaling and implantation modes.

Cumulative veterinary drug and pesticide dietary exposure assessments: a global overview and Brazilian framework considerations.

Pesticides and veterinary drugs are widely employed to support food production. Assessing potential risks associated with the dietary consumption of pesticide and veterinary drug residues is, however, essential. Potential risks depend on the toxicity degree of the analyzed residue and population exposure levels. Human populations are exposed to numerous chemical substances through different pathways with varying exposure times, leading to increased health risks when compared to exposure to individual chemicals. Cumulative exposure assessments usually assess combined exposures to multiple chemicals through multiple exposure pathways. In this sense, this comprehensive review aims to provide insights into cumulative dietary pesticide and veterinary drug residue exposures. The main methodologies, strategies, and legislation employed by international agencies to this end are discussed. A review concerning articles that apply existing methodologies and approaches, as well as the challenges in this context faced by Brazil is also presented. As this is a critical issue not only for Brazilian public health but also for the global community, regulatory agencies should prioritize formulating regulations that incorporate exposure assessments regarding the simultaneous presence of residues and contaminants in foodstuffs.

Long-term hospital care needs after Bothrops atrox envenomation with hemorrhagic stroke in the Brazilian Amazon: 'From social to physical death' - A case report.

Hemorrhagic stroke is a severe complication reported in cases of Bothrops atrox snakebite envenomation. We report an unusual case of a patient who evolved with an intracranial hemorrhagic stroke and was in a coma for more than five years in a tertiary hospital located in Manaus, Amazonas. 52-year-old man, carpenter, resident in the rural area of the municipality of Tabatinga, located 1106 km from Manaus, capital of Amazonas, Brazil, victim of an accident involving Bothrops atrox evolution with cardiorespiratory arrest, acute kidney injury and hemorrhagic stroke. After 43 days of hospitalization in the ICU, he was transferred to the ward, without contact with the environment and family, sent for home treatment, however, without acceptance by family members. During a long hospital stay for a period of 6 years, totally dependent on special care, in a flexed position, using a tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation, diagnosed and treated for hospital infections throughout his hospitalization, he died due to bacterial pneumonia. Losses of autonomy can result in an individual being completely disconnected from social life - a "social death before physical death".

Evolutionary patterns of maternal recognition of pregnancy and implantation in eutherian mammals

The implantation of the embryo into the maternal endometrium is a complex process associated with the evolution of viviparity and placentation in mammals. In this review, we provide an overview of maternal recognition of pregnancy signals and implantation modes in eutherians, focusing on their diverse mechanisms and evolutionary patterns. Different pregnancy recognition signals and implantation modes have evolved in eutherian mammals, reflecting the remarkable diversity of specializations in mammals following the evolution of viviparity. Superficial implantation is the ancestral implantation mode in Eutheria and its major clades. The other modes, secondary, partially, and primary interstitial implantation have each independently evolved multiple times in the evolutionary history of eutherians. Although significant progress has been made in understanding pregnancy recognition signals and implantation modes, there is still much to uncover. Rodents and chiropterans (especially Phyllostomidae) offer valuable opportunities for studying the transitions among implantation modes, but data is still scarce for these diverse orders. Further research should focus on unstudied taxa so we can establish robust patterns of evolutionary changes in pregnancy recognition signaling and implantation modes.

Specific sensory neurons and insulin-like peptides modulate food type-dependent oogenesis and fertilization in Caenorhabditis elegans.

An animal's responses to environmental cues are critical for its reproductive program. Thus, a mechanism that allows the animal to sense and adjust to its environment should make for a more efficient reproductive physiology. Here, we demonstrate that in Caenorhabditis elegans specific sensory neurons influence onset of oogenesis through insulin signaling in response to food-derived cues. The chemosensory neurons ASJ modulate oogenesis onset through the insulin-like peptide (ILP) INS-6. In contrast, other sensory neurons, the olfactory neurons AWA, regulate food type-dependent differences in C. elegans fertilization rates, but not onset of oogenesis. AWA modulates fertilization rates at least partly in parallel to insulin receptor signaling, since the insulin receptor DAF-2 regulates fertilization independently of food type, which requires ILPs other than INS-6. Together our findings suggest that optimal reproduction requires the integration of diverse food-derived inputs through multiple neuronal signals acting on the C. elegans germline.

Three-Dimensional Printing of Graphene Oxide/Poly-L-Lactic Acid Scaffolds Using Fischer-Koch Modeling.

Accurately printing customizable scaffolds is a challenging task because of the complexity of bone tissue composition, organization, and mechanical behavior. Graphene oxide (GO) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) have drawn attention in the field of bone regeneration. However, as far as we know, the Fischer-Koch model of the GO/PLLA association for three-dimensional (3D) printing was not previously reported. This study characterizes the properties of GO/PLLA-printed scaffolds in order to achieve reproducibility of the trabecula, from virtual planning to the printed piece, as well as its response to a cell viability assay. Fourier-transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy were performed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of the nanocomposites. Cellular adhesion, proliferation, and growth on the nanocomposites were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Cell viability tests revealed no significant differences among different trabeculae and cell types, indicating that these nanocomposites were not cytotoxic. The Fischer Koch modeling yielded satisfactory results and can thus be used in studies directed at diverse medical applications, including bone tissue engineering and implants.

Perfusion and Ultrasonication Produce a Decellularized Porcine Whole-Ovary Scaffold with a Preserved Microarchitecture.

The application of decellularized scaffolds for artificial tissue reconstruction has been an approach with great therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine. Recently, biomimetic ovarian tissue reconstruction was proposed to reestablish ovarian endocrine functions. Despite many decellularization methods proposed, there is no established protocol for whole ovaries by detergent perfusion that is able to preserve tissue macro and microstructure with higher efficiency. This generated biomaterial may have the potential to be applied for other purposes beyond reproduction and be translated to other areas in the tissue engineering field. Therefore, this study aimed to establish and standardize a protocol for porcine ovaries' decellularization based on detergent perfusion and ultrasonication to obtain functional whole-ovary scaffolds. For that, porcine ovaries (n = 5) were perfused with detergents (0.5% SDS and 1% Triton X-100) and submitted to an ultrasonication bath to produce acellular scaffolds. The decellularization efficiency was evaluated by DAPI staining and total genomic DNA quantification. ECM morphological evaluation was performed by histological, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructural analyses. ECM physico-chemical composition was evaluated using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. A cytocompatibility and cell adhesion assay using murine fibroblasts was performed. Results showed that the proposed method was able to remove cellular components efficiently. There was no significant ECM component loss in relation to native tissue, and the scaffolds were cytocompatible and allowed cell attachment. In conclusion, the proposed decellularization protocol produced whole-ovaries scaffolds with preserved ECM composition and great potential for application in tissue engineering.

Placental scaffolds as a potential biological platform for embryonic stem cells differentiation into hepatic-like cells lineage: A pilot study.

Hepatic microenvironment plays an essential role in liver regeneration, providing the necessary conditions for cell proliferation, differentiation and tissue rearrangement. One of the key factors for hepatic tissue reconstruction is the extracellular matrix (ECM), which through collagenous and non-collagenous proteins provide a three-dimensional structure that confers support for cell adhesion and assists on their survival and maintenance. In this scenario, placental ECM may be eligible for hepatic tissue reconstruction, once these scaffolds hold the major components required for cell support. Therefore, this preliminary study aimed to access the possibility of mouse embryonic stem cells differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells on placental scaffolds in a three-dimensional dynamic system using a Rotary Cell Culture System. Following a four-phase differentiation protocol that simulates liver embryonic development events, the preliminary results showed that a significant quantity of cells adhered and interacted with the scaffold through outer and inner surfaces. Positive immunolabelling for alpha fetus protein and CK7 suggest presence of hepatoblast phenotype cells, and CK18 and Albumin positive immunolabelling suggest the presence of hepatocyte-like phenotype cells, demonstrating the presence of a heterogeneous population into the recellularized scaffolds. Periodic Acid Schiff-Diastase staining confirmed the presence of glycogen storage, indicating that differentiate cells acquired a hepatic-like phenotype. In conclusion, these preliminary results suggested that mouse placental scaffolds might be used as a biological platform for stem cells differentiation into hepatic-like cells and their establishment, which may be a promissing biomaterial for hepatic tissue reconstruction.

Term alpaca placenta glycosylation profile and its correlation with pregnancy maintenance and fetal survival.

Alpaca is a South American camelid, particularly present in Peruvian highlands, where oxygen concentration and atmospheric pressure are very low. Due to this fact, gestational physiology has adapted to preserve the conceptus' and mother's health. In this context, several cellular and molecular features play an essential role during and at the end of gestation. Structural carbohydrates act on maternal-fetal communication, recognize exogenous molecules, and contribute to placental barrier selectivity. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the structural carbohydrate profiles that are present in the term alpaca placenta, kept in their natural habitat of around 4,000 m height. For this propose, 12 term alpaca placentas were collected, and the material was obtained at the time of birth from camelids raised naturally in the Peruvian highlands, in the Cusco region. All placenta samples were processed for histological analysis. A lectin histochemical investigation was performed using 13 biotinylated lectins, allowing us to determine the location of carbohydrates and their intensity on a semi-quantitative scale. Our results demonstrated that during term gestation, the epitheliochorial alpaca placenta shows a high presence of carbohydrates, particularly glucose, α-linked mannose, N-acetylglucosamine ß (GlcNAc), galactose (αGal), and N-acetylgalactosamine α (GalNAc), present in the trophoblast, amnion epithelium, and mesenchyme, as well as the presence of sialic acid residues and low affinity for fucose. In fetal blood capillaries, the presence of bi- and tri-antennary complex structures and α-linked mannose was predominated. In conclusion, we characterized the glycosylation profile in the term alpaca placenta. Based on our data, compared to those reported in the bibliography, we suggest that these carbohydrates could participate in the labor of these animals that survive in Peruvian extreme environments.

Biomaterials for Testicular Bioengineering: How far have we come and where do we have to go?

Traditional therapeutic interventions aim to restore male fertile potential or preserve sperm viability in severe cases, such as semen cryopreservation, testicular tissue, germ cell transplantation and testicular graft. However, these techniques demonstrate several methodological, clinical, and biological limitations, that impact in their results. In this scenario, reproductive medicine has sought biotechnological alternatives applied for infertility treatment, or to improve gamete preservation and thus increase reproductive rates in vitro and in vivo. One of the main approaches employed is the biomimetic testicular tissue reconstruction, which uses tissue-engineering principles and methodologies. This strategy pursues to mimic the testicular microenvironment, simulating physiological conditions. Such approach allows male gametes maintenance in culture or produce viable grafts that can be transplanted and restore reproductive functions. In this context, the application of several biomaterials have been proposed to be used in artificial biological systems. From synthetic polymers to decellularized matrixes, each biomaterial has advantages and disadvantages regarding its application in cell culture and tissue reconstruction. Therefore, the present review aims to list the progress that has been made and the continued challenges facing testicular regenerative medicine and the preservation of male reproductive capacity, based on the development of tissue bioengineering approaches for testicular tissue microenvironment reconstruction.

Current Trends on Bioengineering Approaches for Ovarian Microenvironment Reconstruction.

Ovarian tissue has a unique microarchitecture and a complex cellular and molecular dynamics that are essential for follicular survival and development. Due to this great complexity, several factors may lead to ovarian insufficiency, and therefore to systemic metabolic disorders and female infertility. Techniques currently used in the reproductive clinic such as oocyte cryopreservation or even ovarian tissue transplant, although effective, have several limitations, which impair their wide application. In this scenario, mimetic ovarian tissue reconstruction comes as an innovative alternative to develop new methodologies for germ cells preservation and ovarian functions restoration. The ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucial for oocyte viability maintenance, once it acts actively in folliculogenesis. One of the key components of ovarian bioengineering is biomaterials application that mimics ECM and provides conditions for cell anchorage, proliferation, and differentiation. Therefore, this review aims at describing ovarian tissue engineering approaches and listing the main limitations of current methods for preservation and reestablishment of ovarian fertility. In addition, we describe the main elements that structure this study field, highlighting the main advances and the challenges to overcome to develop innovative methodologies to be applied in reproductive medicine. Impact Statement This review presents the main advances in the application of tissue bioengineering in the ovarian tissue reconstruction to develop innovative solutions for ovarian fertility reestablishment.

Prevalence of breastfeeding among indigenous peoples of the Triple Frontier: Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay / Prevalência do aleitamento materno entre povos Indígenas da Tríplice Fronteira: Brasil, Argentina e Paraguai

Abstract Objectives: to verify the prevalence of breastfeeding and the children's nutritional status of indigenous origin up to two years of age in the triple frontier region: Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Methods: data from the Sistema de Vigilância Nutricional e Alimentar Indígena (Indigenous Food and Nutrition Surveillance System) were analyzed, being a cross-sectional and descriptive study. The survey was carried out in 2018, with data referring to 2017. Registrations of indigenous children of both sexes,aged zero to two years old were included. Data were extracted from the indigenous children's follow-up map. The prevalence of breastfeeding and complementary feeding was evaluated. Results: the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in children under six months of age was 93.4% and complementary breastfeeding was 6.5%. The prevalence of complementary breastfeeding after six months was 71.6% and exclusive breastfeeding after six months was 28.3%. Regarding social benefits, 30.3% of the families accumulated two types of social benefits. Conclusions: the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was high and surpassed the national prevalence in the first semester of life, there was no early weaning.

Resumo Objetivos: verificar a prevalência do aleitamento materno e estado nutricional de crianças de origem indígena até dois anos de idade na região de tríplice fronteira: Brasil, Argentina e Paraguai. Métodos: foram analisados dados do Sistema de Vigilância Nutricional e Alimentar Indígena, sendo um estudo transversal e descritivo. A pesquisa foi realizada em 2018, com dados referentes à 2017. Foram incluídos registros de crianças indígenas de zero a dois anos de idade, de ambos os sexos. Os dados foram extraídos do mapa de acompanhamento de crianças indígenas. Foi avaliada a prevalência do aleitamento materno e alimentação complementar. Resultados: a prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo em menores de seis meses foi de 93,4% e do aleitamento materno complementado foi de 6,5%. A prevalência do aleitamento materno complementado após seis meses foi de 71,6% e do aleitamento materno exclusivo após seis meses foi de 28,3%. Com relação à classificação de peso para a idade, 80,5% dos registros mostraram crianças com peso adequado para a idade. Em relação aos benefícios sociais, 30,3% das famílias acumulavam dois tipos de benefícios sociais. Conclusões: a prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo foi alta e superam prevalência nacional no primeiro semestre de vida, não houve desmame precoce.

Fatores que influenciam a via de parto no Brasil / Factor influencing the mode of delivery in Brazil

Introdução: A prevalência de cesarianas cresceu no Brasil. Gestação e parto são influenciados por aspectos culturais e econômicos da sociedade em que a gestante está inserida. Objetivo: Analisar fatores que influenciam a escolha da via de parto pela gestante. Métodos: Trata-se de revisão narrativa da literatura incluindo artigos publicados entre 2009 e 2020. Foram feitas buscas nas bases de dados Pubmed, LILACS e SciELO, com descritores "Bioética", "Cesárea", "Comportamento de escolha", "Decisão", "Direitos da mulher", "Gravidez", "Parto", "Parto normal", "Sistema único de saúde". Resultados: Foram encontradas taxas de cesariana no setor privado maiores do que no público. Menor idade materna e escolaridade, raça negra, residência em meio rural e nas regiões Norte e Nordeste foram associados a menor prevalência de cesariana. Obesidade materna, cesariana prévia, intercorrências na gravidez, apresentação fetal não cefálica, macrossomia estiveram mais relacionados a cesariana. Dor, previsibilidade, relação da mãe com o recém-nascido, alta hospitalar, vida sexual e retorno às atividades foram relacionados a escolha do parto vaginal. Discussão: A disparidade de cesarianas no setor público e privado sugere o impacto de aspectos financeiros na escolha. Variáveis socioeconômicas são importantes nessa decisão. Conclusões: A escolha da via de parto é influenciada por vários fatores. [au]

Introduction: The prevalence of caesarean sections has grown in Brazil. Pregnancy and childbirth are influenced by cultural and economic aspects of the society in which the pregnant woman is inserted. Objective: To analyze factors that influence the choice of the mode of delivery by the pregnant woman. Methods:This is a narrative literature review including articles published between 2009 and 2020. Searches were made in Pubmed, LILACS and SciELO databases, with descriptors "Bioethics", "Caesarean section", "Choice behavior", "Decision", "Women's rights", "Pregnancy", "Childbirth", "Normal delivery" and "The Unified Brazilian Health Care System". Results: Caesarean section rates were found to be higher in the private sector than in the public sector. Lower maternal age and education, black race, residence in rural areas and in the North and Northeast regions were associated with lower prevalence of caesarean section. Maternal obesity, previous caesarean section, complications in pregnancy, non-cephalic fetal presentation and macrosomia were more related to caesarean section. Pain, predictability, mother's relationship with the newborn, hospital discharge, sexual life and return to activities were related to the choice of vaginal delivery. Discussion: The disparity of caesarean sections in the public and private sectors suggests the impact of financial aspects on the choice. Socioeconomic variables are important in this decision. Conclusions: The choice of mode of delivery is influenced by several factors. [au]

Case report: An innovative non-invasive technique to manage shell injuries in C. carbonarius.

Shell fractures are one of the most traumatic and recurrent injuries observed in chelonians during clinical practice. The most common causes of fractures are falling, being run over by automobiles, being burned, and wild animal bites. Epoxy, acrylic resin, polyester, fiber-grass blanket, and screw fixation are among the current techniques used to treat fractures. Regarding the difficulty of fracture repair in the carapace, this case report aimed to report a procedure that is effective, less time-consuming, accessible, affordable, and safe for shell fractures in C. carbonarius. During the physical examination, the animal showed two fractures, in the dorsal region of the carapace and right lateral side of the bridge, with subcutaneous tissue exposure and loss of a small piece of dorsocranial carapace. To treat these injuries, the animal was submitted to a resin application. The procedure consists of using ethyl-cyanoacrylate associated with sodium bicarbonate, which produces a more resistant resin that is bactericidal, non-toxic, and easy to apply in a low surgery time compared to the common methods used to fix shell fractures. The resin application was successfully done, and the animal was under care for a month after the fracture reduction. It was observed that the treatment was effective, presenting reduction of the fracture. A month after the procedure, the animal showed no intercurrence. Three years after the procedure, the animal still presents part of the material still fixed to the shell, normal growth, without interference in locomotor capacity. This resin proved to be an innovative and promising alternative way to treat fractures, suggesting the development of new non-invasive approaches for several tissues and different animal species.

Oral administration of botryosphaeran [(1 → 3)(1 → 6)-ß-d-glucan] reduces inflammation through modulation of leukocytes and has limited effect on inflammatory nociception.

Several biological activities of the fungal exopolysaccharide (1 → 3)(1 → 6)-ß-d-glucan (botryosphaeran) have been described in the literature, but its effects on inflammation have not been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the action of botryosphaeran on experimental mice models of carrageenan-induced acute pleurisy and acute paw edema, and complete Freund's adjuvant-induced persistent paw edema. All botryosphaeran doses tested (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/kg birth weight [b.w.], orally administered) reduced leukocyte recruitment, nitric oxide (NO) levels, and protein extravasation in the pleural cavity. Botryosphaeran (5 mg/kg b.w.) did not diminish edema and mechanical hyperalgesia in the paw within 4 h; however, cold allodynia was alleviated within the first 2 h. In the persistent paw inflammation model, the effects of daily oral administration of botryosphaeran (5 mg/kg b.w.) were evaluated over 3 and 7 days. The fungal ß-glucan significantly reduced the levels of the cytokines, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6), and IL-10, in the paw homogenates in both protocols, while paw edema and the levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) only diminished on Day 7. No effect in mechanical hyperalgesia was observed. Oral treatment for 3 or 7 days also decreased the plasma levels of NO, AOPP, TNF-α, and IL-10. On Day 7, the number of leukocytes in the blood was also reduced by this treatment. Importantly, botryosphaeran did not induce inflammation in mice when administered alone over 7 days. This study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potential of botryosphaeran in these experimental models, making this fungal ß-glucan a new possibility for complementary treating acute and chronic inflammation.

Color removal for large-scale interbasin water transfer: Experimental comparison of five sorption media.

The increasing needs of drinking water due to population growth requires seeking for new tap water sources. However, these large-scale tap water sources are oftentimes abundant with dissolved natural organic matter (NOM), such as tannic acid issue causing color in water. If not removed at the source locations beforehand, NOM would impact coagulation and flocculation unit, and/or become precursors to prompt the production of disinfectant by-products after chlorination in drinking water treatment. This study focuses on developing and testing a suite of cost-effective, scalable, adaptable, and sustainable sorption media that can be implemented near the source locations of tap water as a pretreatment option to remove color for a long-distance interbasin transfer. Within the five tested sorption media, a media recipe of Zero-valent-Iron and Perlite based Green Sorption Media (ZIPGEM) with ingredients of 85% sand, 5% clay, 6% zero-valent-iron (ZVI) and 4% perlite by volume stood out as the best option for color removal. Findings showed that ZIPGEM can maintain a color removal of ∼77% for about 14,080 min, maintaining the effluent concentration below 40 Pt-Co units given the influent condition of 175 ± 10 Pt-Co units. A recovery on the adsorption capacity of ZIPGEM was observed around 40,000 min due to synergetic effects among several different ingredients of recycled ZVI, clay, sand, and perlites. ZIPGEM can be applied to industrial wastewater treatment for dye removal as well.

Effect on the practice of the kangaroo method on the formation and strengthening of the mother-baby bond: a systematic review / Efeito da prática do método canguru na formação e fortalecimento do vínculo mãe-bebê: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Objectives: a systematic review study with the objective of estimating the effect on the practice of the kangaroo method (KM) on the formation and strengthening of the mother-baby bond (MBB). Methods: independent searches were performed in three international databases in the United States National Library of Medicine - PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online - Scielo and Web of Science databases. Searches were made without limit on languages and year of publication. Results: the final selection consisted of 27 studies, 14 of a quantitative nature (nine clinical trials and five observational) and 13 qualitative. All qualitative articles and most quantitative ones (n=10) indicated the practice of the KM as favorable to the formation and strengthening of the MBB. Other quantitative studies did not show statistically significant differences in the comparisons made between groups. None of the 27 studies found unfavorable effects resulting from the practice of KM on the MBB. Conclusion: the results suggest that the KM favors the formation and strengthening of the MBB regardless of the weight and gestational age of the newborns or the place of measurement (hospital or residence). Thus, encouraging the execution of this biopsychosocial intervention of qualified and humanized care is recommended for the promotion of children's health.

Resumo Objetivos: estudo de revisão sistemática com objetivo de estimar o efeito da prática do método canguru (MC) na formação e fortalecimento do vínculo mãe-bebê (VMB). Métodos: foram realizadas buscas independentes em três bases de dados internacionais nas bases de dados United States National Library of Medicine - PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online - Scielo e Web of Science. As buscas foram feitas sem limite para idioma e ano de publicação. Resultados: a seleção final foi composta por 27 estudos, 14 de caráter quantitativo (nove ensaios clínicos e cinco observacionais) e 13 qualitativos. Todos os artigos qualitativos e a maioria dos quantitativos (n=10) apontaram a prática do MC como favorável à formação e ao fortalecimento do VMB. Os demais estudos quantitativos não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes nas comparações realizadas entre grupos. Nenhum dos 27 estudos encontrou efeitos desfavoráveis resultantes da prática do MC sobre o VMB. Conclusão: os resultados sugerem que o MC favorece a formação e o fortalecimento do VMB independentemente do peso e idade gestacional dos recém-nascidos e do ambiente de medição (hospital ou domicílio). Assim, o incentivo a execução desta intervenção biopsicossocial de atenção qualificada e humanizada é recomendada para a promoção de saúde da criança.

Dietary exposure assessment to macrolide antimicrobial residues through infant formulas marketed in Brazil.

Macrolides are critically important antimicrobials for both human and animal health and should be prioritized in risk assessments, as inappropriate use may result in antimicrobial resistance. The antimicrobials erythromycin, oleandomycin, spiramycin, tilmicosin and tylosin were analysed in infant formula samples by HPLC-MS/MS using a validated analytical method based on a modified QuEChERS extraction. The results of the occurrence study were employed to perform a dietary exposure assessment of infants to residues. In a total of 30 analysed samples, 73% contained spiramycin residues and 27%, tilmicosin residues. Calculated daily intakes ranged from 1.47 × 10-6 to 2.71 × 10-4 mg kg-1 body weight considering all analytes, representing 0.01-0.59% of acceptable daily intakes. The results of the dietary exposure assessment were all below acceptable daily intakes, indicating low potential health concerns. However, according to Brazilian regulations, infant formulas containing residues of one or more of the investigated analytes were deemed as non-compliant.

Bioactive Compounds in Infant Formula and Their Effects on Infant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Literature Review.

Infant formulas are an alternative to replace or supplement human milk when breastfeeding is not possible. The knowledge of human milk's bioactive compounds and their beneficial effects has attracted the interest of researchers in the field of infant nutrition, as well as researchers of technology and food sciences that seek to improve the nutritional characteristics of infant formulas. Several scientific studies evaluate the optimization of infant formula composition. The bioactive compound inclusion has been used to upgrade the quality and nutrition of infant formulas. In this context, the purpose of this systematic literature review is to assess the scientific evidence of bioactive compounds present in infant formulas (α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, taurine, milk fat globule membrane, folates, polyamines, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, prebiotics, and probiotics) and their effects on infant nutrition and health. Through previously determined criteria, studies published in the last fifteen years from five different databases were included to identify the advances in the optimization of infant formula composition. Over the last few years, there has been optimization of the infant formula composition, not only to increase the similarities in their content of macro and micronutrients but also to include novel bioactive ingredients with potential health benefits for infants. Although the infant food industry has advanced in the last years, there is no consensus on whether novel bioactive ingredients added to infant formulas have the same functional effects as the compounds found in human milk. Thus, further studies about the impact of bioactive compounds in infant nutrition are fundamental to infant health.