A longitudinal test of Mexican-origin teen mothers' cultural characteristics and children's Spanish vocabulary via mothers' Spanish language use.

OBJECTIVES: The present study examined whether teen mothers' adaptive cultural characteristics (i.e., familism values, language competency pressures, and involvement in Mexican culture and U.S. mainstream culture) when children were 3 years old (i.e., Wave 4; W4) informed mothers' Spanish language use with their children when children were 4 years old (W5) and, in turn, children's subsequent Spanish receptive vocabulary when children were 5 years old (W6). METHOD: The present study included 204 Mexican-origin children (58% male) and their mothers who entered parenthood during adolescence (M = 16.24, SD = .99 at W1). RESULTS: Five mediational processes were significant, such that mothers' higher familism values (i.e., emphasizing family support and obligations), Spanish competency pressure (i.e., stress associated with Spanish language competency), and involvement in U.S. mainstream culture at W4 were associated with mothers' lower Spanish language use with children at W5 and, in turn, children's lower levels of Spanish receptive vocabulary at W6. Mothers' greater involvement in Mexican culture and English competency pressure (i.e., stress associated with English language competency) at W4 were associated with mothers' greater Spanish language use with children at W5 and, in turn, children's greater Spanish receptive vocabulary at W6. Additionally, mothers' greater involvement in U.S. mainstream culture at W4 was directly associated with children's lower Spanish language abilities at W6. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the importance of the family context in Mexican-origin children's Spanish language skills over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Perinatal and post-weaning exposure to an obesogenic diet promotes greater expression of nuclear factor-κB and tumor necrosis factor-α in white adipose tissue and hypothalamus of adult rats.

Aim: To analyze the effects of exposure to a high-fat diet during the perinatal period and after weaning on white adipose tissue accumulation and gene expression of TNF- α and NF- κB.Method: Wistar female rats were fed with high-fat (H) or control (C) diet during pregnancy and lactation. The offspring were allocated into four groups: Control Control (CC), offspring of mothers GC, fed a control diet after weaning; Control High-fat (CH), offspring of mothers GC, fed a hight-fat diet after weaning; High-fat Control (HC), offspring of mothers GH, fed with control diet after weaning; and High-fat High-fat (HH), offspring of mothers GH, fed a H diet after weaning.Results: HH and HC groups showed increased body weight compared to CC group and increases in caloric intake, larger amount of white adipose tissue and adipocyte size compared to CC and CH groups. The HH and CH groups showed higher NF-kB expression in white adipose tissue compared to the CC and HC groups, and the HH group also showed higher TNF- α expression. In the hypothalamus, the HH and HC groups exhibited higher TNF- α expression compared to the CC and CH groups.Conclusion: Perinatal and post-weaning exposure to the high-fat diet increases the amount of white adipose tissue, adipocyte size, and expression of the inflammatory genes TNF-α and NF-kB.

Nutritional and Nutraceutical Properties of Mexican Traditional Mole Sauce.

Mole sauce is one of the traditional Mexican foods; it is a complex mixture of ingredients of diverse origins that directly influence its nutritional value. The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant properties and nutritional components in five varieties of mole from Hidalgo in Mexico namely verde (V), ranchero (R), almendrado (A), casero (C), and pipian (P). Proximal chemical analysis and determination of the color index and the content of total starch, dietary fiber, mineral content (Ca, Na, K, and Mg), total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity by ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) and DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) were carried out. All the five varieties of mole reported less than 25% moisture content while fat content varied from 42.9% to 58.25%. The color index ranged from a deep orange to a deep red color. A fair percentage of dietary fiber was found in all mole varieties with a low amount of starch as well. The presence of mostly insoluble dietary fiber, high phenolic content (36.13-79.49 mg GAE/100 g), and high antioxidant activity could be considered important strengths to boost the consumption of these traditional preparations. This research will contribute to a better scientific knowledge of traditional Mexican sauces as functional foods or nutraceuticals that could be used to avoid health disorders.

The Application of Ultrasound in Honey: Antioxidant Activity, Inhibitory Effect on α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and In Vitro Digestibility Assessment.

In the present study, the effects of ultrasound (10, 20, and 30 min) on the bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, enzymatic inhibition, and in vitro digestion of six honey extracts from the Oaxaca state, Mexico, were analyzed. Significant differences were found in each honey extract with respect to the ultrasonic treatment applied (p < 0.05). In the honey extract P-A1 treated with 20 min of ultrasound, the phenols reached a maximum concentration of 29.91 ± 1.56 mg EQ/100 g, and the flavonoids of 1.92 ± 0.01 mg EQ/100 g; in addition, an inhibition of α-amylase of 37.14 ± 0.09% was noted. There were also differences in the phases of intestinal and gastric digestion, presenting a decrease in phenols (3.92 ± 0.042 mg EQ/100 g), flavonoids (0.61 ± 0.17 mg EAG/100 mg), antioxidant capacity (8.89 ± 0.56 mg EAG/100 mg), and amylase inhibition (9.59 ± 1.38%). The results obtained from this study indicate that, in some honeys, the processing method could increase the concentration of bioactive compounds, the antioxidant capacity, and the enzymatic inhibition; however, when subjected to in vitro digestion, the properties of honey are modified. The results obtained could aid in the development of these compounds for use in traditional medicine as a natural source of bioactive compounds.

[Analysis of a clinical ethics committee activities at a general hospital]. / Experiencia del Comité de Ética Asistencial del Hospital Carlos van Buren entre los años 2007-2020.

BACKGROUND: Clinical Ethics Committees are deliberative groups whose main functions are to assess cases with ethical-clinical conflicts, to generate institutional protocols for preventive purposes, and to train health teams. AIM: To analyze the activity of a clinical ethics committee of a general hospital in the period 2007-2020. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all session records, annual reports, case resolution and documents generated by the Clinical Ethics Committee of Carlos van Buren Hospital in Valparaíso, Chile, between 2007 and 2020, was carried out. RESULTS: On average, 12 cases are analyzed per year. Sixty percent correspond to requests from pediatric units and in 78% of these cases there was at least one neurological disease. In 62% of cases, the main ethical dilemma was adequacy of therapeutic effort, followed by dilemmas related to the exercise of autonomy in 18.2%. In education, two courses are identified aimed to doctors, residents, and other members of the health team. Regarding normative functions, several documents were generated at the request of the Hospital management or in different clinical situations. During COVID-19 pandemia, the active role of the committee was linked to the three main functions, namely evaluating cases, participating in morbidity and mortality meetings for preventive purposes, and issuing guidelines and recommendations for action. The active participation of Pediatric Neurology residents in the Committee, for educational and administrative purposes, stands out. CONCLUSIONS: The three main functions described for the ethics committees were exerted by this Committee during the evaluated period. The impact of our recommendations remain to be objectively evaluated.

When will taxonomic saturation be achieved? A case study in Nunduva and Kyrtuthrix (Rivulariaceae, Cyanobacteria).

A number of heterocytous, mat-forming, tapering cyanobacteria in Rivulariaceae have recently been observed in both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts in the rocky intertidal and supratidal zones. These belong to the genera Nunduva, Kyrtuthrix, and Phyllonema and have been the subject of several recent studies. Herein, two new species of Nunduva (N. komarkovae and N. sanagustinensis) and two new species of Kyrtuthrix (K. munecosensis and K. totonaca) are characterized and described from the coasts of Mexico. Genetic separation based on the 16S-23S ITS region was pronounced (>10% in all comparisons). Morphological differences between all existing species in these two genera were also observed, but the group is morphologically complex, and these taxa are considered pseudocryptic. Nunduva and Kyrtuthrix remain morphologically and phylogenetically separate even with the addition of new species. However, how long will this remain the case? Many new genera and species of cyanobacteria have recently been described. Will the taxonomy of cyanobacteria eventually become saturated? Will we start to see multiple populations for the same cryptic species, or will future taxonomists collapse multiple species into fewer species, or multiple genera into single genera. The description of even more Nunduva and Kyrtuthrix species causes us to pause and evaluate the future of cyanobacterial taxonomy. These same questions are faced by algal taxonomists studying other phyla, and the resolution may ultimately be similar.

Technological Performance and Selection of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Argentinian Grains as Starters for Wheat Sourdough.

The selection of lactic acid bacteria strains is interesting for the development of sourdough to obtain wheat bread with improved technological and nutritional properties. In this work, the performance of ten different LAB strains isolated from diverse cereals in wheat sourdough was evaluated. Five facultative heterofermentative (Lactobacillus pentosus ES124, Lactobacillus paralimentarius ES259, Lactobacillus plantarum ES137, Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC8014 and Lactobacillus plantarum ES147), three obligately heterofermentative (Lactobacillus brevis ES253, Lactobacillus fermentum ES142 and Lactobacillus fermentum ES148) and two homofermentative (Pediococcus acidilactici ES22 and Enterococcus faecium ES74) lactic acid bacteria strains were evaluated in ten single strain fermentations. Sugar profile, volatile compounds and proteolytic ability of sourdoughs were analyzed. The microbiological counts showed that facultative heterofermentative strains presented higher counts than homofermentative sourdoughs. Monosaccharides (glucose and fructose), maltose and sucrose, isomaltose and dextrin were detected in fermentations with homofermentative strains whilst in those with heterofermentative strains maltose/sucrose, isomaltose and dextrin were found. L. paralimentarius ES259 and L. pentosus ES124 showed the highest diversity of volatile compounds. L. plantarum ES137 and P. acidilactici ES22 were the strains with the highest proteolytic activity. The technological performance allowed us to select LAB as starters to develop breads with specific rheological properties and final quality.

Bioactive Compounds of Opuntia spp. Acid Fruits: Micro and Nano-Emulsified Extracts and Applications in Nutraceutical Foods.

The acid fruit of the "xoconostle" cactus belongs to the genus Opuntia family of cacti. It is used as a functional food for its bioactive compounds. Several studies reported that xoconostle fruits have a high amount of ascorbic acid, betalains, phenols, tannins, and flavonoids. These compounds confer antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective gastroprotective activity. Xoconostle fruit extracts were tested by in vitro assays where the digestion conditions were simulated to measure their stability. At the same time, the extracts were protected by encapsulation (microencapsulation, multiple emulsions, and nanoemulsions). Applications of encapsulated extracts were probed in various food matrices (edible films, meat products, dairy, and fruit coatings). The xoconostle is a natural source of nutraceutical compounds, and the use of this fruit in the new food could help improve consumers' health.

Whole-flours from hard and soft wheat genotypes: study of the ability of prediction test to estimate whole flour end-use.

The aims of this work were to assess the influence of the physicochemical composition of whole flour from soft and hard wheat genotypes on cookie and bread properties, as well as the ability of the prediction tests to estimate the whole meal flour end-use. Flours from hard and soft wheat genotypes proved to have different chemical composition and particle size distribution. Flours from hard wheat had lower particle average size and dietary fiber content, and higher lipid and wet gluten contents than flours from soft wheat. Particle size distribution, water absorption capacity and chemical composition of whole flours strongly influenced bread and cookie making performance. Considering prediction tests, flours from different wheat types were successfully discriminated using SDS-SI, SRC lac, and GI. However, rather weak correlations were found between the prediction test and the cookie and bread quality parameters. The prediction test, standardized for refined flours, showed a poor performance when whole flours were used. Nevertheless, grain texture and whole flour physicochemical properties did affect bread and cookie quality parameters, thus classical prediction tests should be modified in order to estimate the end-use performance of whole flours. Moreover, a standardization of the milling process should be considered.

Encapsulation Preserves Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities of Cactus Acid Fruit Bioactive Compounds under Simulated Digestion Conditions.

Cactus acid fruit (Xoconostle) has been studied due its content of bioactive compounds. Traditional Mexican medicine attributes hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic and immunostimulant properties among others. The bioactive compounds contained in xoconostle have shown their ability to inhibit digestive enzymes such as α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Unfortunately, polyphenols and antioxidants in general are molecules susceptible to degradation due to storage conditions, (temperature, oxygen and light) or the gastrointestinal tract, which limits its activity and compromises its potential beneficial effect on health. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the stability, antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of encapsulated extract of xoconostle within double emulsions (water-in-oil-in-water) during storage conditions and simulated digestion. Total phenols, flavonoids, betalains, antioxidant activity, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition were measured before and after the preparation of double emulsions and during the simulation of digestion. The ED40% (treatment with 40% of xoconostle extract) treatment showed the highest percentage of inhibition of α-glucosidase in all phases of digestion. The inhibitory activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase related to antidiabetic activity was higher in microencapsulated extracts than the non-encapsulated extracts. These results confirm the viability of encapsulation systems based on double emulsions to encapsulate and protect natural antidiabetic compounds.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and its relation with pro-inflammatory mediators, visceral adiposity and carotid intima-media thickness in population with obesity.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis represents a cardiovascular risk. Chronic inflammation is a key factor for atherogenic progression. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proposed as a novel biomarker for cardiovascular risks. We aimed to explore whether NLR was related to surrogate pro-atherogenic promoters driving atherogenic progression, as measured by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-one patients with obesity candidates for bariatric surgery were recruited from Centro Médico Nacional "20 de Noviembre", ISSSTE, Mexico City. The results are part of the "CROP" study (NCT03561987). NLR was calculated from routine complete blood count, and its relation with plasma pro-inflammatory mediators (hsCRP, TNF-α and IL-1ß), adipokines (adiponectin and leptin), adiposity markers (visceral adipose tissue [VAT] determined from CT scan image and VAT individual adipocyte area at histological sample) and CIMT were determined. RESULTS: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio correlated with hsCRP (Spearman's r = 0.70 [95% CI 0.46 to 0.85], P < 0.01), TNF-α (r = 0.69 [0.44 to 0.84], P < 0.0001) and adiponectin (r = -0.69 [-0.84 to -0.45], P < 0.03), as well as with VAT individual adipocyte area (r = 0.64 [0.37 to 0.81], P < 0.0001) and with VAT area (r = 0.43; [0.07 to 0.68], P < 0.01). Leptin and adiponectin showed further independent association with higher NLR (multivariate regression analysis OR 7.9 [95% CI 1.1 to 56.2] P = 0.03 and 0.1 [0.01 to 1.0] P = 0.05, respectively). Moreover, NLR distribution significantly varied between subgroups divided according to progressive CIMT (P = 0.05); whereas adiponectin and VAT adipocyte area associated with CIMT > 0.9 mm (univariate analysis OR 0.1 [0.01 to 1.0] P = 0.05 and 13.1 [1.4 to 126.3] P = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was related to pro-inflammatory, adiposity biomarkers and progressive subclinical atherogenesis.

Safety incident reports associated with blood transfusions.

BACKGROUND: Patient safety remains a critical issue in health care. Adverse events related to blood transfusion constitute a threat to patient safety. The aim of this study is to compare and contrast reporting trends of patient safety events that occur during the transfusion of blood components in pediatric and adult hospital care settings. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a multicenter analysis of reported patient safety incidents occurring during the administration of blood components for four children's and 21 adult hospitals from January 2010 through September 2017. Denominators were pediatric or adult transfusions per year for a subset of two pediatric and two adult hospitals able to provide denominators for the complete reporting period. Rates were calculated on the subset of four hospitals per 100,000 components transfused with Pearson's chi square for comparison (p < 0.05 as significant). RESULTS: There were 1902 reports for an estimated 1.1 million transfusions: 358 reports from pediatric hospitals and 1544 reports from adult hospitals. From hospitals able to provide denominator data; there were 192 reports for 128,560 pediatric transfusions and 183 reports for 377,563 adult transfusions. The reporting rate per 100,000 components from these four hospitals was 149 for pediatric and 48 for adult reports (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This analysis demonstrates the continued need for transfusion safety practices. The type of incident reports differed in the pediatric setting compared to the adult setting. Understanding patient safety event reporting trends related to blood transfusion will help target hemovigilance education and interventions to the appropriate patient populations.

Stress across generations: A qualitative study of stress, coping, and caregiving among Mexican immigrant mothers.

OBJECTIVE: Hispanic immigrants represent the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority within the US, justifying increased attention to identify factors that influence declining immigrant health across generations. This study investigates the range of psychosocial stress exposures and coping mechanisms of Mexican immigrant mothers, and implications for the health of their US-born children. DESIGN: We conducted 10 focus groups with 1st generation Mexican-born immigrant mothers (n = 32 women) in Nashville, TN, in the summer of 2014. Focus groups elicited challenges and benefits of life as an immigrant mother. Data were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. RESULTS: We identified four themes that indicate how maternal stressors could impact children's health: (1) work-family tradeoff, (2) limited freedom/mobility, (3) reduction of social networks, and (4) transmission of anxiety and fears to children. Women in our study also engage in a range of coping mechanisms, including the creation of new social networks, seeking support in religion, and seeking help from community resources. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the importance of developing new questionnaires to elicit stress exposures for Mexican immigrant mothers. Findings also suggest the value of intervention strategies and social policies that would ultimately improve maternal and child health in this marginalized population.

Inclusive state immigrant policies and health insurance among Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and White noncitizens in the United States.

Objectives: Policy-making related to immigrant populations is increasingly conducted at the state-level. State policy contexts may influence health insurance coverage by determining noncitizens' access to social and economic resources and shaping social environments. Using nationally representative data, we investigate the relationship between level of inclusion of state immigrant policies and health insurance coverage and its variation by citizenship and race/ethnicity. Methods: Data included a measure of level of inclusion of the state policy context from a scan of 10 policies enacted prior to 2014 and data for adults ages 18-64 from the 2014 American Community Survey. A fixed-effects logistic regression model tested the association between having health insurance and the interaction of level of inclusiveness, citizenship, and race/ethnicity, controlling for state- and individual-level characteristics. Results: Latino noncitizens experienced higher rates of being insured in states with higher levels of inclusion, while Asian/Pacific Islander noncitizens experienced lower levels. The level of inclusion was not associated with differences in insurance coverage among noncitizen Whites and Blacks. Conclusions: Contexts with more inclusive immigrant policies may have the most benefit for Latino noncitizens.

Flour and starch characteristics of soft wheat cultivars and their effect on cookie quality.

Studies on Argentinian soft wheat cultivars are scarce, although the flours obtained from these wheats are the most suitable for cookie making. This work studies the behavior of the flours obtained from 44 adapted soft wheat lines harvested in two consecutive years for cookie making, focusing on starch properties. Starch granule size distribution, and thermal and pasting properties of flour samples were studied. Large variations in flour and starch characteristics were found between all experimental lines, indicating a wide variability among wheat genotypes and a noticeable effect of crop year conditions. Starch granule size distribution showed the typical bimodal distribution observed for wheat. Flours with higher proportion of large A-type granules were associated with lower damaged starch (DS). As expected, the lower the DS content, the lower the solvent retention capacity, gelatinization temperature and enthalpy, with a positive impact on cookie diameter. Flours from soft wheat genotypes with higher proportion of large A-type granules were associated with lower DS content and reduced water absorption capacity. Both genotype and environment exert an effect on soft wheat flour characteristics.

Analysis of pediatric adverse reactions to transfusions.

BACKGROUND: Children are known to be physiologically and biochemically different from adults. However, there are no multi-institutional studies examining the differences in the frequency, type, and severity of transfusion reactions in pediatric versus adult patients. This study aims to characterize differences between pediatric and adult patients regarding adverse responses to transfusions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a retrospective data analysis of nine children's hospitals and 35 adult hospitals from January 2009 through December 2015. Included were pediatric and adult patients who had a reported reaction to transfusion of any blood component. Rates are reported as per 100,000 transfusions for comparison between pediatric and adult patients. RESULTS: Pediatric patients had an overall higher reaction rate compared to adults: 538 versus 252 per 100,000 transfusions, notably higher for red blood cell (577 vs. 278 per 100,000; p < 0.001) and platelet (833 vs. 358 per 100,000; p < 0.001) transfusions. Statistically higher rates of allergic reactions, febrile nonhemolytic reactions, and acute hemolytic reactions were observed in pediatric patients. Adults had a higher rate of delayed serologic transfusion reactions, delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions, and transfusion-associated circulatory overload. CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients had double the rate of transfusion reactions compared to adults. The nationally reported data on reaction rates are consistent with this study's findings in adults but much lower than the observed rates for pediatric patients. Future studies are needed to address the differences in reaction rates, particularly in allergic and febrile reactions, and to further address blood transfusion practices in the pediatric patient population.

Impact of changes to donor hemoglobin criteria on the rate of donor deferral.

BACKGROUND: The Food and Drug Administration's requirements for "Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion or Further Manufacturing Use" (Final Rule) effective May 2016 changed eligibility criteria for blood donors. A multivariate analysis was performed to measure its impact on donor deferral rates. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Four blood centers submitted data for similar 6-month periods before and after implementation of the Final Rule. Data included presenting donors, units collected, deferrals, intended products from deferred donors, deferral reasons, presenting donor demographics, donor hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (HCT), pulse, blood pressure (BP), temperature, and other reasons for deferral. Data were aggregated and periods compared. RESULTS: After Final Rule implementation, successful donations decreased by 1.3% (83.1%-81.9%), despite a 0.2% increase in presenting donors. The rate of Hgb/HCT, pulse, and deferrals increased, while deferrals for other reasons decreased. Male Hgb/HCT deferral rates increased 1.2% (4213 total). Black male donors' Hgb/HCT deferral rate increased (2.7%-5.2%) but was counterbalanced by an overall 3.7% decrease in black female Hgb/HCT deferrals. While Hgb/HCT deferrals of black donors remained stable overall (17.0% vs. 16.2%), this trend was not observed by all centers. Deferrals for pulse increased (0.2%), as did BP deferrals (0.2%). CONCLUSION: Although there was a small increase in presenting donors after implementation of the Final Rule, there was a decrease in successful donations. While it appeared that deferral in black donors was unchanged, this trend was not observed across all centers. Pulse and BP deferrals rose dissimilarly among centers, according to individual procedures.

International validation of harmonized definitions for complications of blood donations.

BACKGROUND: In December 2014, a multinational collaboration of hemovigilance experts from the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), the International Hemovigilance Network, and AABB published harmonized definitions of complications related to blood donation titled "Standard for Surveillance of Complications Related to Blood Donation." Both mandatory and optional terms were included. The definitions are endorsed by the Alliance of Blood Operators and the European Blood Alliance. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The objective of this study was to validate harmonized donor hemovigilance definitions with potential users. In June 2016, 30 real-world cases were sent to potential users around the world along with the definitions, an answer sheet, and instructions on how to complete the validation exercise. RESULTS: Overall, 54 responses from 25 countries were received, including over 400 comments. The results were presented for feedback at both ISBT and AABB meetings. Case diagnoses were consistent across most responders. Exceptions were rare adverse events, nonstandard presentations, or incomplete information. In general, the application of optional definitions, including severity grading and imputability, had the most variability. CONCLUSION: The use of standardized terms in the donor setting serves to increase focus on donor safety, facilitate conversation, foster exchange of information, and frame questions for future research. Overall, the definitions provide adequate coverage of donor reactions; however, some terms require clarification. Severity grading and imputability and other optional terms need clear and objective definitions and instructions on when and how to use them. Additional feedback and final recommendations are summarized in this report.

Maternal Antibiotic Treatment Impacts Development of the Neonatal Intestinal Microbiome and Antiviral Immunity.

Microbial colonization of the infant gastrointestinal tract (GIT) begins at birth, is shaped by the maternal microbiota, and is profoundly altered by antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic treatment of mothers during pregnancy influences colonization of the GIT microbiota of their infants. The role of the GIT microbiota in regulating adaptive immune function against systemic viral infections during infancy remains undefined. We used a mouse model of perinatal antibiotic exposure to examine the effect of GIT microbial dysbiosis on infant CD8(+) T cell-mediated antiviral immunity. Maternal antibiotic treatment/treated (MAT) during pregnancy and lactation resulted in profound alterations in the composition of the GIT microbiota in mothers and infants. Streptococcus spp. dominated the GIT microbiota of MAT mothers, whereas Enterococcus faecalis predominated within the MAT infant GIT. MAT infant mice subsequently exhibited increased and accelerated mortality following vaccinia virus infection. Ag-specific IFN-γ-producing CD8(+) T cells were reduced in sublethally infected MAT infant mice. MAT CD8(+) T cells from uninfected infant mice also demonstrated a reduced capacity to sustain IFN-γ production following in vitro activation. We additionally determined that control infant mice became more susceptible to infection if they were born in an animal facility using stricter standards of hygiene. These data indicate that undisturbed colonization and progression of the GIT microbiota during infancy are necessary to promote robust adaptive antiviral immune responses.

Mitochondrial activity in different regions of the brain at the onset of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

Diabetes affects a variety of tissues including the central nervous system; moreover, some evidence indicates that memory and learning processes are disrupted. Also, oxidative stress triggers alterations in different tissues including the brain. Recent studies indicate mitochondria dysfunction is a pivotal factor for neuron damage. Therefore, we studied mitochondrial activity in three brain regions at early type I-diabetes induction. Isolated mitochondria from normal hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum revealed different rates of oxygen consumption, but similar respiratory controls. Oxygen consumption in basal state 4 significantly increased in the mitochondria from all three brain regions from diabetic rats. No relevant differences were observed in the activity of respiratory complexes, but hippocampal mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced. However, ATP content, mitochondrial cytochrome c, and protein levels of ß-tubulin III, synaptophysin, and glutamine synthase were similar in brain regions from normal and diabetic rats. In addition, no differences in total glutathione levels were observed between normal and diabetic rat brain regions. Our results indicated that different regions of the brain have specific metabolic responses. The changes in mitochondrial activity we observed at early diabetes induction did not appear to cause metabolic alterations, but they might appear at later stages. Longer-term streptozotocin treatment studies must be done to elucidate the impact of hyperglycemia in brain metabolism and the function of specific brain regions.