Father's weight could contribute to large babies in overweight and obese mothers with and without gestational diabetes.

We evaluated whether there was an association between fathers' nutritional status and children's birth weight (BW) considering weight-matched mothers with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In total, 86 trios of women, infants, and fathers were evaluated. BW was not different between the groups of obese and non-obese parents, frequency of maternal obesity, or GDM. The percentage of infants who were large for gestational age (LGA) was 25% in the obese group and 14% in the non-obese group (p = 0.44). There was a borderline significance for higher body mass index (p = 0.09) of the father in the LGA group compared with the adequate for gestational age group. These results corroborate the hypothesis that the father's weight can also be relevant for the occurrence of LGA.

Physicochemical Parameters, Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Properties of a New Beverage Formulated with Xique-Xique (Pilosocereus gounellei) Cladode Juice.

This study elaborated different formulations with xique-xique (Pilosocereus gounellei) cladode, passion fruit and lime juice and sugar cane syrup. The formulated beverages were subjected to physical and physicochemical analysis, determination of total carotenoid, total flavonoid and total phenolic compound contents, as well as of their antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP method), organic acid, sugar and phenolic compound profile during 21 days of refrigeration storage (4 °C). Significant variations were found among formulated beverages for most of the measured parameters during storage. Beverages with xique-xique juice were less acidic (7.90-10.27 g/100 mL) than beverages without this juice (11.66-12.76 g/100 mL). Beverages with xique-xique juice had overall higher contents of bioactive compounds and higher antioxidant activity when compared to the control formulation. Beverages with the highest xique-xique juice concentrations had the highest contents of carotenoids (51.51-59.27 µg/100 mL), flavonoids (1.39-2.15 mg CE/100 mL), phenolic compounds (68.49-115.66 mg EGA/100 mL) and antioxidant activity, as measured by ABTS (0.71-0.84 µmol Trolox/mL) and FRAP (0.33-0.39 µmol Trolox/mL). These results indicate that the incorporation of xique-xique cladode juice in these mixed beverages enhanced their bioactive properties, especially of antioxidant compounds, enabling the development of a new product with potential functional properties to the beverage industry.

Systematic review of pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy could reduce the impact of pregnancy and delivery on the pelvic floor. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy on childbirth-related and pelvic floor parameters. SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed, Embase, and LILACS were searched for reports published during between 1990 and 2016 in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. The search terms were "pregnancy," "pelvic floor muscle training," and related terms. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials with healthy pregnant women were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Baseline and outcome data (childbirth-related parameters, pelvic floor symptoms) were compared for three interventions: EPI-NO (Tecsana, Munich, Germany) perineal dilator, pelvic floor muscle training, and perineal massage. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 22 trials were included. Two of three papers assessing EPI-NO showed no benefit. The largest study investigating pelvic floor muscle training reported a significant reduction in the duration of the second stage of labor (P<0.01), and this intervention also reduced the incidence of urinary incontinence (evaluated in 10 trials). Two of six trials investigating perineal massage reported that a lower rate of perineal pain was associated with this intervention. CONCLUSION: Pelvic floor muscle training and perineal massage improved childbirth-related parameters and pelvic floor symptoms, whereas EPI-NO showed no benefit.