OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of GORD and the use of anti-reflux medications amongst very preterm infants (<32 weeks' gestational age (GA)) in neonatal units in England and Wales.
DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using the National Neonatal Research Database.
RESULTS: Among 58,108 infants [median GA (IQR) 29 (27-30) weeks], 15.8% (n = 9191) had a diagnosis of GORD and 36.9% (n = 12,446) received anti-reflux medications. Those who received anti-reflux medications were more preterm [GA, median (IQR): medications, 28 (26-30) vs. no medications, 30 (28-31); p
Design: Prospective exploratory study of infants born at <34 weeks gestational age (GA).
Setting: Two neonatal units, one in Malaysia and one in the UK (May 2019 to March 2020).
Methods: Data collected from birth until discharge and compared between units.
Results: From 100 infants included, median GA (IQR) was 31 (30-33) and mean±SD birth weight was 1549±444 g. There were more small-for-gestational age infants in Malaysian unit: 12/50 (24%) vs UK: 3/50 (6%), p=0.012 and more morbidities. More Malaysian infants received breast milk (Malaysia: 49 (98%) vs UK: 38 (76%), p=0.001), fortified breast milk (Malaysia: 43 (86%) vs UK: 13 (26%), p<0.001) and exclusive breast milk at discharge (Malaysia: 26 (52%) vs UK: 16 (32%), p=0.043). There was higher parenteral nutrition use among Malaysian infants (40/50 (80%)) vs UK (19/50 (38%)) (p<0.001) with higher protein intake (mean±SD Malaysia: 3.0±0.5 vs UK: 2.7±0.6 g/kg/d, p=0.004) in weeks 1-4 and smaller cumulative protein deficits (mean±SD Malaysia: 11.4±6.1 vs UK: 15.4±8.0 g/kg, p=0.006). There were no significant differences in short-term growth between units and more than half of the infants in both units had ≥1.28 changes in weight-for-age Z-score at discharge (p=0.841).
Conclusions: An exploratory comparison of practices showed differences in patient characteristics and nutritional practices which impacted growth. Future studies with larger sample sizes and detailed analysis of maternal characteristics and infants' outcomes are needed for improving care of preterm infants in all settings.
AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the inhibitory properties of FD aqueous extract on pro-inflammatory mediators involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial cells.
METHODS: Vitexin and isovitexin in the extract were quantified via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The extract was evaluated for its cytotoxicity activity via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Pre-treatment with the extract on LPS-induced microglial cells was done to determine its antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory properties by measuring the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) via 2'-7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFDA) assay, Griess assay and Western blot respectively.
RESULTS: The extract at all tested concentrations (0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL) were not cytotoxic as the percentage viability of microglial cells were all above ~80%. At the highest concentration (100 μg/mL), the extract significantly reduced the formation of ROS, NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in microglial cells induced by LPS.
CONCLUSION: The extract showed neuroprotective effects by attenuating the levels of pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic factors in LPS-induced microglial cells, possibly by mediating the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway.
PURPOSE: To examine relationship between ulam consumption and the working memory and cognitive flexibility among aging adults from low-income households who are more susceptible to cognitive decline.
STUDY TYPE: Cross-sectional.
POPULATION/SUBJECTS: Thirty-two aging adults (45-75 years old).
FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Task-based fMRI, 3.0T, T1 -weighted anatomical images, T2 *-weighted imaging data.
ASSESSMENT: The dietary and ulam consumption were assessed using the respective validated Dietary History and semiquantitative Food Frequency questionnaires. Working memory and cognitive flexibility were evaluated by using neuropsychological batteries (ie, mini-mental state examination [MMSE], Digit Span, and Rey auditory verbal learning test [RAVLT]) and task-based fMRI (N-back and Stroop Color Word Test [SCWT]). Brodmann's areas 9 and 46 were the regions of interest (ROIs) of DLPFC activation.
STATISTICAL TESTS: Multiple linear regression used to understand the relationship between ulam consumption and the working memory and cognitive flexibility, while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare the difference of working memory and cognitive flexibility among four percentiles of ulam consumption, after age, gender, and education years adjustments. Significance was decided by two-sided, P
PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of CC supplement on brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) among older adults with MCI.
STUDY TYPE: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
POPULATION/SUBJECTS: Twenty older adults with mild cognitive impairment (60-75 years old), 14 of them (70%) were female subjects.
FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 3.0-T, T1-weighted anatomical images, T2*-weighted imaging data, A single shot, gradient echo-echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence.
ASSESSMENT: All subjects were asked to consume two 500 mg capsules of either CC supplement or placebo (maltodextrin) daily for 12 weeks. Cognitive function was measured using validated neuropsychological tests (i.e. Mini-mental State Examination and Digit Span) and task-based fMRI (N-back and Stroop Color Word Test) at baseline and 12th week. Brodmann's area 9, 46 and anterior cingulate cortex were selected as the regions of interest to define dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in fMRI analysis.
STATISTICAL TESTS: Normality test was performed with the Shapiro-Wilk test. Two-way repeated ANOVA determined the intervention effects of the CC supplementation on brain activity after adjustments for covariates. Significance level at P