Quality of complementary feeding and its effect on nutritional status in preterm infants: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The first 2 years of life represent a critical phase for growth and development, with the quality of the diet at this stage having repercussions throughout adulthood. The present study aimed to develop an Index for Measuring the Quality of Complementary Feeding (IMQCF) for infants, as well as to evaluate diet quality and its effects on the nutritional status of preterm infants. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Brazilian University Hospital. The data were extracted by care protocol of outpatient preterm infants at 2 years of corrected age (CA). Dietary data were collected from 24-h recalls. The diet quality was assessed by the IMQCF composed of nine items based on a Brazilian Food Guide for children aged <2 years. Response options were scored 0-100, with scores closer to 100 representing a better quality diet. Association with growth indicators (Z-scores for weight- and length-for-age (WAZ and LAZ) were evaluated via tests of mean difference and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The median complementary feeding (CF) score was 72.2 (61.1-77.8) A shorter breastfeeding duration or infant formula use and the early introduction of wheat-based foods, ultra-processed foods and cow's milk in the preterm's diet were the main factors interfering in the adequacy of diet. There was an association between the quality of the diet score and WAZ (0.44; 95% confidence interval = 0.03-0.85; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of poor quality food in the first 2 years of life interfered with the CF quality of preterm infants and can affect nutritional status at 2 years of CA, possibly in the long term.

Different doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin on ovarian follicular growth and pregnancy rate of suckled Bos taurus beef cows subjected to timed artificial insemination protocol.

This study evaluated the effect of different doses of eCG (control, 300 or 400 IU) administered at progesterone (P4) device removal in suckled Bos taurus beef cows undergoing a timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol. A total of 966 cows received a P4 insert and 2.0 mg intramuscular estradiol benzoate at the onset of the synchronization. After 9 days, P4 insert was removed, and 12.5 mg of dinoprost tromethamine and 1 mg of estradiol cypionate were administered, followed by TAI 48 hours later. Then, the cows received one of three treatments as follows: control (n = 323), 300 (n = 326), or 400 IU of eCG (n = 317). A subset (n = 435) of cows in anestrus had their ovaries evaluated using ultrasound at the time of P4 removal and at TAI. Data were analyzed by orthogonal contrasts (C): C1 (eCG effect) and C2 (eCG dose effect). Estrous occurrence (control = 53.7%, 300 IU = 70.6%, and 400 IU = 77.0%) and pregnancy per artificial insemination (control = 29.7%, 300 IU = 44.8%, and 400 IU = 47.6%) were improved by eCG treatment (C1; P = 0.0004 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, the cows receiving eCG presented larger follicles at TAI (control = 13.5 ± 0.3 mm, 300 IU = 14.0 ± 0.2 mm, and 400 IU = 15.1 ± 0.3 mm; P < 0.0001; C1). However, there was no effect of eCG dose on any response variables studied (C2; P > 0.15). In conclusion, the eCG treatment administered at the time of P4 removal increased the occurrence of estrus, the larger follicles at TAI, and pregnancy per artificial insemination of suckled B taurus beef cows. Despite the greater occurrence of estrus in noncyclic cows receiving 400 IU of eCG, both eCG doses (300 and 400 IU) were equally efficient to improve pregnancy to artificial insemination.