Comparison of Effects of Storage at Different Temperatures in a Refrigerator, Upright Freezer on Top of Refrigerator, and Deep Freezer on the Immunoglobulin A Concentration and Lysozyme Activity of Human Milk.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of storing expressed human milk (HM) at different domestic storage temperatures on the secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration and lysozyme activity. Forty mothers of full-term infants aged one to six months provided milk samples. The fresh samples were examined within 24 h of expression, and the other samples were stored in a refrigerator for four days or in two types of freezers for six months. The SIgA concentrations and lysozyme activity in the milk samples were studied using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and fluorometric lysozyme activity assay kits, respectively. The pairwise comparisons of the SIgA concentration and lysozyme activity were carried out using one-way analysis of variance with Dunnett T3 or Kruskal-Wallis tests with Bonferroni correction, depending on the data distribution. The mean temperatures of the refrigerator, upright freezer on top of the refrigerator, and deep freezer (chest freezer) were 2.0, -16.7, and -22.3 °C, respectively. Our study results highlight that the SIgA concentration and lysozyme activity of HM stored in the refrigerator for four days and in freezers for six months were significantly lower than those of fresh HM (p < 0.001). During the first six months of storage in both types of freezers, the SIgA levels were stable, whereas the lysozyme activity significantly decreased (p < 0.001). HM stored in the deep freezer had a higher SIgA concentration and lysozyme activity than HM stored in the upright freezer on top of the refrigerator. Our data support the superiority of fresh human milk over stored HM. If HM is to be stored, then storage in a deep freezer is potentially a more effective method for the preservation of SIgA concentrations and lysozyme activity than storage by refrigeration for four days or in an upright freezer on top of a refrigerator for six months.

Complementary feeding: Attitudes, knowledge and practices of urban families in northern Thailand.

AIM: Urban families in middle-income countries are currently facing cultural and lifestyle transition. Changing from an agricultural to an industrial society may affect family roles and child-care practices. The present study aims to reveal family attitudes, knowledge and practices focusing on complementary feeding (CF). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three Child Health Clinics in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Self-administered questionnaires were given to families caring for healthy infants and children less than 18 months of age during October to November 2016. RESULTS: One-hundred and eight respondents completed questionnaires. The study found different attitudes and knowledge gaps between the respondents who were mothers and other family members ('others'). The 'others' were less likely to value CF as a crucial factor promoting child growth and development. Moreover, they had misperceptions about the benefits of animal-based protein and were less confident in their ability to feed the child properly. Most families reported timely introduction of complementary food, using proper milk products and encouraging age-appropriate feeding methods. However, there were undesirable practices including delaying introduction of animal-based protein, inadequate food diversity, the use of seasoning, feeding premasticated food and offering food as a reward. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that nutritional education should be extended to all caregivers involved in CF to improve the adherence to feeding recommendations.

Effects of antiretroviral drugs for prevention of HIV-mother-to-child transmission on hematological parameters and hemoglobin synthesis in HIV-uninfected newborns with and without thalassemia carrier.

The effects of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs administered to HIV-infected pregnancy on hematological parameters and hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis in ARV-exposed newborns with and without thalassemia carrier and of ARV drugs in worsening anemia in thalassemia carrier newborns are not well understood. Cord blood samples were collected from newborns of HIV-infected and -uninfected pregnancies. Hematological parameters and hemoglobin typing were analyzed by automated blood counter and capillary electrophoresis (CE), respectively. In the group of thalassemia carrier, the ARV-exposed newborns had significantly lower mean levels of red blood cell counts and hematocrit and had significantly higher mean levels of MCH than the ARV-unexposed newborns. Similar results were found in the group of newborns without thalassemia carrier. There were no statistical differences in mean levels of Hb-A2, Hb-A, Hb-F and Hb-E (when applicable) in ARV-exposed and -unexposed newborns either with or without thalassemia carrier. However, ARV-exposed newborns who were thalassemia carriers had the lowest levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit when compared to the other groups. Therefore, ARV drugs used for prevention of HIV-mother-to-child transmission (HIV-MTCT) altered hematological parameters but did not affect hemoglobin synthesis in newborns with and without thalassemia carrier. However, thalassemia and ARV drugs might have synergetic effect in inducing severe anemia.