Impact of food supplements on early child development in children with moderate acute malnutrition: A randomised 2 x 2 x 3 factorial trial in Burkina Faso

BackgroundLipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) and corn–soy blends (CSBs) with varying soy and milk content are used in treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). We assessed the impact of these supplements on child development.Methods and findingsWe conducted a randomised 2 × 2 × 3 factorial trial to assess the effectiveness of 12 weeks’ supplementation with LNS or CSB, with either soy isolate or dehulled soy, and either 0%, 20%, or 50% of protein from milk, on child development among 6–23-month-old children with MAM. Recruitment took place at 5 health centres in Province du Passoré, Burkina Faso between September 2013 and August 2014. The study was fully blinded with respect to soy quality and milk content, while study participants were not blinded with respect to matrix. This analysis presents secondary trial outcomes: Gross motor, fine motor, and language development were assessed using the Malawi Development Assessment Tool (MDAT). Of 1,609 children enrolled, 54.7% were girls, and median age was 11.3 months (interquartile range [IQR] 8.2–16.0). Twelve weeks follow-up was completed by 1,548 (96.2%), and 24 weeks follow-up was completed by 1,503 (93.4%); follow-up was similar between randomised groups. During the study, 4 children died, and 102 children developed severe acute malnutrition (SAM). There was no difference in adverse events between randomised groups. At 12 weeks, the mean MDAT z-scores in the whole cohort had increased by 0.33 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.37), p < 0.001 for gross motor; 0.26 (0.20, 0.31), p < 0.001 for fine motor; and 0.14 (0.09, 0.20), p < 0.001 for language development. Children had larger improvement in language z-scores if receiving supplements with milk (20%: 0.09 [−0.01, 0.19], p = 0.08 and 50%: 0.11 [0.01, 0.21], p = 0.02), although the difference only reached statistical significance for 50% milk. Post hoc analyses suggested that this effect was specific to boys (interaction p = 0.02). The fine motor z-scores were also improved in children receiving milk, but only when 20% milk was added to CSB (0.18 [0.03, 0.33], p = 0.02). Soy isolate over dehulled soy increased language z-scores by 0.07 (−0.01, 0.15), p = 0.10, although not statistically significant. Post hoc analyses suggested that LNS benefited gross motor development among boys more than did CSB (interaction p = 0.04). Differences between supplement groups did not persist at 24 weeks, but MDAT z-scores continued to increase post-supplementation. The lack of an unsupplemented control group limits us from determining the overall effects of nutritional supplementation for children with MAM.ConclusionsIn this study, we found that child development improved during and after supplementation for treatment of MAM. Milk protein was beneficial for language and fine motor development, while suggested benefits related to soy quality and supplement matrix merit further investigation. Supplement-specific effects were not found post-intervention, but z-scores continued to improve, suggesting a sustained overall effect of supplementation.Trial registrationISRCTN42569496

In this analysis of secondary trial outcomes, Mette F. Olsen and colleagues show the effects of different supplements on child language and motor skill development.     

Delineating papillary dermis around basal cell carcinomas by high and ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography—A pilot study

Bedside diagnosis of skin cancer remains a challenging task. The real-time noninvasive technology of optical coherence tomography (OCT) masters a high diagnostic accuracy in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) but a lower specificity in recognizing imitators and other carcinomas. We investigate the delicate signal of papillary dermis using an in-house developed ultrahigh resolution OCT (UHR-OCT) system with shadow compensation and a commercial multi-focus high resolution OCT (HR-OCT) system for clinical BCC imaging. We find that the HR-OCT system struggled to resolve the dark band signal of papillary dermis where the UHR-OCT located this in all cases and detected changes in signal width. UHR-OCT is able to monitor extension and position of papillary dermis suggesting a novel feature for delineating superficial BCCs in pursuit of a fast accurate diagnosis. Comprehensive studies involving more patients are imperative in order to corroborate results.     

Frenulate siboglinids at high Arctic methane seeps and insight into high latitude frenulate distribution

Frenulate species were identified from a high Arctic methane seep area on Vestnesa Ridge, western Svalbard margin (79°N, Fram Strait) based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI). Two species were found: Oligobrachia haakonmosbiensis, and a new, distinct, and undescribed Oligobrachia species. The new species adds to the cryptic Oligobrachia species complex found at high latitude methane seeps in the north Atlantic and the Arctic. However, this species displays a curled tube morphology and light brown coloration that could serve to distinguish it from other members of the complex. A number of single tentacle individuals were recovered which were initially thought to be members of the only unitentaculate genus, Siboglinum. However, sequencing revealed them to be the new species and the single tentacle morphology, in addition to thin, colorless, and ringless tubes indicate that they are juveniles. This is the first known report of juveniles of northern Oligobrachia. Since the juveniles all appeared to be at about the same developmental stage, it is possible that reproduction is either synchronized within the species, or that despite continuous reproduction, settlement, and growth in the sediment only takes place at specific periods. The new find of the well‐known species O. haakonmosbiensis extends its range from the Norwegian Sea to high latitudes of the Arctic in the Fram Strait. We suggest bottom currents serve as the main distribution mechanism for high latitude Oligobrachia species and that water depth constitutes a major dispersal barrier. This explains the lack of overlap between the distributions of northern Oligobrachia species despite exposure to similar current regimes. Our results point toward a single speciation event within the Oligobrachia clade, and we suggest that this occurred in the late Neogene, when topographical changes occurred and exchanges between Arctic and North Atlantic water masses and subsequent thermohaline circulation intensified.     

The effect of low birth weight on height,weight and behavioral outcomes in the medium-run

A number of studies have documented negative long term effects of low birth weight. Yet, not much is known about the dynamics of the process leading to adverse health and educational outcomes in the long run. While previous studies focusing mainly on LBW effects on physical growth and cognitive outcomes have found effects of the same size at both school age and young adulthood, others have found a diminishing negative effect over time. The purpose of this paper was to bring new evidence to this issue by analyzing the medium run effects of low birth weight on child behavioral outcomes as well as physical growth at ages 6 months, 3½, 7½ and 11 years using data from the Danish Longitudinal Survey of Children. Observing the same children at different points in time enabled us to chart the evolution of anthropometric and behavioral deficits among children born with low birth weight and helped understanding the nature and timing of interventions.     

Expression of C4.4A, a Structural uPAR Homolog, Reflects Squamous Epithelial Differentiation in the Adult Mouse and during Embryogenesis

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)–anchored C4.4A was originally identified as a metastasis-associated protein by differential screening of rat pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. C4.4A is accordingly expressed in various human carcinoma lesions. Although C4.4A is a structural homolog of the urokinase receptor (uPAR), which is implicated in cancer invasion and metastasis, no function has so far been assigned to C4.4A. To assist future studies on its function in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions, the present study provide a global survey on C4.4A expression in the normal mouse by a comprehensive immunohistochemical mapping. This task was accomplished by staining paraffin-embedded tissues with a specific rabbit polyclonal anti-C4.4A antibody. In the adult mouse, C4.4A was predominantly expressed in the suprabasal layers of the squamous epithelia of the oral cavity, esophagus, non-glandular portion of the rodent stomach, anus, vagina, cornea, and skin. This epithelial confinement was particularly evident from the abrupt termination of C4.4A expression at the squamo-columnar transition zones found at the ano-rectal and utero-vaginal junctions, for example. During mouse embryogenesis, C4.4A expression first appears in the developing squamous epithelium at embryonic day 13.5. This anatomical location of C4.4A is thus concordant with a possible functional role in early differentiation of stratified squamous epithelia.     

Proteomic analysis of cell surface-associated proteins from probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum

In the present study, we used a proteomic approach to identify surface-associated proteins from the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum 299v. Proteins were extracted from the cell surface using a mild wash in phosphate buffer and analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gel bands were excised and in-gel digested with trypsin. The resulting peptides were analysed by capillary-LC-ESI-MS/MS. The peptide sequences were used for a database search and allowed identification of a total of 29 proteins, many of which could potentially be involved in the action of probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract. The results provide the basis for future studies on the molecular mechanisms of probiotics.     

Incorporation of exogenous long-chain alcohols into bacteriochlorophyll c homologs by Chloroflexus aurantiacus

Chloroflexus aurantiacus grown in batch culture took up exogenous alcohols and incorporated these into bacteriochlorophyll c as the esterifying alcohol. It was possible to change the distribution of the naturally occurring homologs of bacteriochlorophyll c esterified with phytol, hexadecanol, and octadecanol by adding the appropriate alcohol. The corresponding homolog then made up at least 60% of the cellular bacteriochlorophyll c. It was also possible to obtain novel bacteriochlorophyll homologs not found in detectable amounts in control cells by adding fatty alcohols with short chains (C10, C12) or long chains (C20). These changes in bacteriochlorophyll composition had no detectable effects on the spectral properties of the chlorosomes.Abbreviation BChl Bacteriochlorophyll     

Effect of ionophores on carrier-mediated electron translocation in ferricyanide-containing liposomes

Ferricyanide-containing liposomes were used as a system to compare the electron- and proton-translocating properties of six redox reagents commonly used as electron donors for biochemical systems. The effects of different ionophore combinations on the ferricyanide-reduction rate were generally consistent with the expected proton- and electron-translocating properties of the mediators. The transmembrane pH gradient produced by hydrogen carriers was demonstrated. Nigericin or valinomycin plus carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone are capable of collapsing this gradient and of stimulating ferricyanide reduction mediated by this type of carrier. No pH gradient is produced with the electron carrier 1,1'-dibutylferrocene. In the presence of tetraphenylboron anion, which is needed for this carrier to act as an efficient mediator, addition of valinomycin alone is sufficient to obtain full stimulation of ferricyanide reduction. NNN'N'-Tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine does not behave as a simple electron carrier. During NNN'N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine-mediated ferricyanide reduction protons are translocated across the membrane and accumulated in the vesicles. This is not due to the presence of demethylated impurities in the NNN'N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine sample, but may be the result of an accumulation of oxidation products other than the Wurster's Blue radical. These results suggest a reconsideration of studies on protonmotive forces across membranes where NNN'N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine is used as a mediator.     

Fecundity and juvenile survival of shape Bembidion lampros and Tachyporus hypnorum

Fecundity and development from first instar larvae to adult beetles were studied for Bembidion lampros Herbst (Coleoptera; Carabidae) and Tachyporus hypnorum F. (Coleoptera; Staphylinidae). Both species reproduce in arable fields, where they are known to contribute to the natural control of cereal aphids. They are univoltine and have similar life cycles and development times. T. hypnorum females laid approximately 3 times more eggs than B. lampros females. Relative lifetime fecundity of B. lampros was very low with an average of 10 eggs per female. Based on the time where half of the populations had dispersed from the overwintering sites into an arable field B. lampros started egg-lay 100°D (°C>9) and T. hypnorum 200°D (°C>3) after dispersal. Mortality in the juvenile stages was found to be an important factor in the population dynamics of both B. lampros and T. hypnorum. The survival from first instar larvae to adults was on average 34% for B. lampros independent of soil type, 21% for T. hypnorum developed in sandy soil and 49% when developed in clayey soil under semi-field conditions. Enlargement of B. lampros and T. hypnorum populations to increase the natural control of aphids during their establishment in cereal fields may be possible if the conditions for juvenile development are improved.