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Evidence on the association of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and obesity during the first 5 years of life is limited in China. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between weight, weight for age z score (ZWAZ), weight for length/height z score (ZWHZ), and body mass index for age z score (ZBMI) and 25(OH)D. This was a large population‐based cross‐sectional multicenter study in which the children aged 0–5 years were recruited from 12 children's healthcare centers by a stratified cluster random‐sampling method in 10 cities of the Jiangsu province, China. The 25(OH)D concentration was determined by ELISA. A total of 5289 children were investigated. For 0–71 months children with obesity and nonobesity, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 36.0% and 29.8%, and the 25(OH)D level was 59.8 and 64.0 nmol/L, respectively, and there were all significant difference. Compared with children with nonobesity, children with obesity had higher risk of vitamin D deficiency (OR [95% CI]: 1.33 [1.02, 1.72], p <.05), and had lower 25(OH)D level (β = −3.84, 95% CI = −7.58, −0.09, p <.05). The results for children aged 24–71 months were similar to those for children aged 0–71 months. However, no significant difference was observed in children aged 0–23 months. Vitamin D deficiency was observed in children with greater adiposity during the first 5 years of life. However, the results mainly came from those in the age group of 2 to 5 years instead of the first 2 years in their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Critical windows exist: microbiota depletion in early life has enduring effects on the gut microbiota. • Early-life microbiota disruption induces subtle changes in circulating immune cells. • Evidence of sex and time-dependent effects on myelin-related gene expression. • Microglial morphology in the basolateral amygdala is altered by early-life microbiota disruption. • Effects on anxiety-like and compulsive behaviours occur in a sex- and time-dependent manner. Numerous studies have emphasised the importance of the gut microbiota during early life and its role in modulating neurodevelopment and behaviour. Epidemiological studies have shown that early-life antibiotic exposure can increase an individual's risk of developing immune and metabolic diseases. Moreover, preclinical studies have shown that long-term antibiotic-induced microbial disruption in early life can have enduring effects on physiology, brain function and behaviour. However, these studies have not investigated the impact of targeted antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion during critical developmental windows and how this may be related to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Here, we addressed this gap by administering a broad-spectrum oral antibiotic cocktail (ampicillin, gentamicin, vancomycin, and imipenem) to mice during one of three putative critical windows: the postnatal (PN; P2-9), pre-weaning (PreWean; P12-18), or post-weaning (Wean; P21-27) developmental periods and assessed the effects on physiology and behaviour in later life. Our results demonstrate that targeted microbiota disruption during early life has enduring effects into adolescence on the structure and function of the caecal microbiome, especially for antibiotic exposure during the weaning period. Further, we show that microbial disruption in early life selectively alters circulating immune cells and modifies neurophysiology in adolescence, including altered myelin-related gene expression in the prefrontal cortex and altered microglial morphology in the basolateral amygdala. We also observed sex and time-dependent effects of microbiota depletion on anxiety-related behavioural outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. Antibiotic-induced microbial disruption had limited and subtle effects on social behaviour and did not have any significant effects on depressive-like behaviour, short-term working, or recognition memory. Overall, this study highlights the importance of the gut microbiota during critical windows of development and the subtle but long-term effects that microbiota-targeted perturbations can have on brain physiology and behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of individuals during the pelagic larval phase is critical to maintaining healthy and viable populations of coral reef fishes; however, it is also the most environmentally sensitive and energetically demanding life stage. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves, which could have significant effects on the development and survival of larval coral reef fishes. However, little is known about how the larvae of pelagic-spawning coral reef fishes will be affected due to the difficulty of spawning and rearing these species in captivity. In this study, we tested how elevated temperatures, similar to those occurring during a marine heatwave, affected the yolk utilization, growth, and survival of larval, Lutjanus carponotatus, a common mesopredatory fish on Indo-west Pacific coral reefs. Eggs and larvae were reared at a current-day average summer temperature (28.5 °C) and two elevated temperatures (30 °C and 31.5 °C) until 14 d post-hatch (dph). Larvae in the elevated temperatures depleted their yolk reserves 39% faster than at the control temperature. The standard length of larvae was 55% (30 °C) and 92% (31.5 °C) longer in the elevated temperature treatments than the control temperature at 14 dph. Conversely, survival of larvae was 54% (30 °C) and 68% (31.5 °C) lower at elevated temperatures compared with the control temperature. This study provides new insights as to how the early life stages of coral reef fishes could be affected by ocean warming and marine heatwaves, with implications for their population dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Observational studies have linked childhood obesity with elevated risk of colorectal cancer; however, it is unclear if this association is causal or independent from the effects of obesity in adulthood on colorectal cancer risk. Methods: We conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to investigate potential causal relationships between self-perceived body size (thinner, plumper, or about average) in early life (age 10) and measured body mass index in adulthood (mean age 56.5) with risk of colorectal cancer. The total and independent effects of body size exposures were estimated using univariable and multivariable MR, respectively. Summary data were obtained from a genome-wide association study of 453,169 participants in UK Biobank for body size and from a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of three colorectal cancer consortia of 125,478 participants. Results: Genetically predicted early life body size was estimated to increase odds of colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR] per category change: 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.98–1.27), with stronger results for colon cancer (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00–1.35), and distal colon cancer (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04–1.51). After accounting for adult body size using multivariable MR, effect estimates for early life body size were attenuated towards the null for colorectal cancer (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.77–1.22) and colon cancer (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.76–1.25), while the estimate for distal colon cancer was of similar magnitude but more imprecise (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 0.90–1.77). Genetically predicted adult life body size was estimated to increase odds of colorectal (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.57), colon (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.67), and proximal colon (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the positive association between early life body size and colorectal cancer risk is likely due to large body size retainment into adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Mass mortality events are ubiquitous in nature and can be caused by, for example, diseases, extreme weather and human perturbations such as contamination. Despite being prevalent and rising globally, how mass mortality in early life causes population‐level effects such as reduced total population biomass, is not fully explored. In particular for fish, mass mortality affecting early life may be dampened by compensatory density‐dependent processes. However, due to large variations in year‐class strength, potentially caused by density‐independent variability in survival, the impact at the population level may be high in certain years. We quantify population‐level impacts at two levels of mass mortality (50% and 99% additional mortality) during early life across 40 fish species using age‐structured population dynamics models. The findings from these species‐specific models are further supported by an analysis of detailed stock‐specific models for three of the species. We find that population impacts are highly variable between years and species. Short‐lived species that exhibit a low degree of compensatory density dependence and high interannual variation in survival experience the strongest impacts at the population level. These quantitative and general relationships allow predicting the range of potential impacts of mass mortality events on species based on their life history. This is critical considering that the frequency and severity of mass mortality events are increasing worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate‐induced shifts in plankton blooms may alter fish recruitment by affecting the fatty acid composition of early‐life diets and corresponding performance. Early‐life nutrition may immediately affect survival but may also have a lingering influence on size and growth via experiential legacies. We explored the short‐ and longer‐term performance consequences of different concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for juvenile Walleye (Sander vitreus, Mitchill 1818). For the first 10 days of feeding, juveniles were provided Artemia enriched with: oleic acid (low PUFA), high docosahexaenoic acid and high eicosapentaenoic acid (high PUFA), or high PUFA and a form of vitamin E (high PUFA + E). After 10 days, all fish were fed a high‐quality diet and reared for an additional 27 days. Juveniles fed either high PUFA diet were 1.15‐fold larger (PUFA mean ± SD = 20.0 ± 3.3 mg; PUFA + E = 19.8 ± 3.3 mg) than those fed the low PUFA (17.3 ± 2.8 mg) diet after 10 days of feeding. After 27 days, juveniles initially fed the high PUFA diet were still 1.10‐ to 1.20‐fold larger (PUFA = 407.0 ± 61.6 mg; PUFA + E = 422.7 ± 58.7 mg) than those initially fed the low PUFA diet (356.5.0 ± 39.5 mg). Our findings demonstrate that fatty acid composition of juvenile Walleye diets has immediate and lingering size effects. As changes in climate continue to alter lower trophic levels, fish management and conservation may need to consider short‐ and long‐term effects of temporal or spatial differences in early‐life diet quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers a list of validated and reconstructed "addresses" of places where Mickiewicz stayed in his youth (until 1829) and discusses them in specific contexts. The changing places of residence were the result of constant movement of variable genesis and course. These relocations affected the life of Mickiewicz as a high school student, a university student, and a displaced individual. They happened in different circumstances and involved taking various routes. Some of them were of Mickiewicz's own accord: due to familial, sentimental, and collegial reasons, or as a result of official duties imposed by the tsar's decrees. Most relocations took place in Lithuania. The less numerous, albeit significantly longer, official journeys of hundreds of kilometers were made by Mickiewicz in Russia. These relocations are presented in the form of calculations and location lists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this literature review is to investigate the potential association between specific food difficulties and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the first two years of life. Materials: The search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase and PsycInfo databases. Results: Twenty-one studies were synthesized (3763 infants and children). Difficulties during breastfeeding, breast milk refusal and avoidance of taking solids have been linked to ASD. Infants with ASD have been referred to as picky eaters. Problematic mealtime behaviour during infancy has also been associated with ASD. Conclusions: The present review highlights the association between food difficulties, including problematic mealtime behaviours, food selectivity, breastfeeding difficulties and food refusal during infancy and ASD early during life, including the first months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colonization and maturation of gut microbiota (GM) is a delicate and precise process, which continues to influence not only infancy and childhood but also adulthood health by affecting immunity. However, many perinatal factors, including gestational age, delivery mode, antibiotic administration, feeding mode, and environmental and maternal factors, can disturb this well-designed process, increasing the morbidity of various gut dysbiosis-related diseases, such as type-1-diabetes, allergies, necrotizing enterocolitis, and obesity. In this review, we discussed the early-life colonization and maturation of the GM, factors influencing this process, and diseases related to the disruption of this process. Moreover, we focused on discussing dietary interventions, including probiotics, oligosaccharides, nutritional supplementation, and exclusive enteral nutrition, in ameliorating early-life dysbiosis and diseases related to it. Furthermore, possible mechanisms, and shortcomings, as well as potential solutions to the drawbacks of dietary interventions, were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiome of ruminants and its metabolic repercussions vastly influence host metabolism and growth. However, a complete understanding of the bidirectional interactions that occur across the host-microbiome axis remains elusive, particularly during the critical development stages at early life. Here, we present an integrative multi-omics approach that simultaneously resolved the taxonomic and functional attributes of microbiota from five GIT regions as well as the metabolic features of the liver, muscle, urine, and serum in sika deer (Cervus nippon) across three key early life stages. Results: Within the host, analysis of metabolites over time in serum, urine, and muscle (longissimus lumborum) showed that changes in the fatty acid profile were concurrent with gains in body weight. Additional host transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that fatty acid β-oxidation and metabolism of tryptophan and branched chain amino acids play important roles in regulating hepatic metabolism. Across the varying regions of the GIT, we demonstrated that a complex and variable community of bacteria, viruses, and archaea colonized the GIT soon after birth, whereas microbial succession was driven by the cooperative networks of hub populations. Furthermore, GIT volatile fatty acid concentrations were marked by increased microbial metabolic pathway abundances linked to mannose (rumen) and amino acids (colon) metabolism. Significant functional shifts were also revealed across varying GIT tissues, which were dominated by host fatty acid metabolism associated with reactive oxygen species in the rumen epithelium, and the intensive immune response in both small and large intestine. Finally, we reveal a possible contributing role of necroptosis and apoptosis in enhancing ileum and colon epithelium development, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings provide a comprehensive view for the involved mechanisms in the context of GIT microbiome and ruminant metabolic growth at early life. 5sdAQaaw9Xaw7sGvUGm-9a Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate Change includes an increase of both the concentration of atmospheric CO2 and of global temperature. Embryos (= eggs) of Odontesthes hatcheri were collected in spring–summer from the littoral of Lake Morenito (Andes of Argentina). Embryos and free embryos were exposed to different temperatures (within a currently natural thermal range) and CO2 levels (obtained by bubbling lake water with gaseous CO2). High temperature and high CO2 led to low embryonic survival. Embryonic abnormalities were observed. Incidence of colorless blood cells and delayed dorsal pigmentation increased significantly at high CO2 level. Free embryo survival decreased with time, being particularly low at high CO2 level. Free embryo body shape also signaled the effects of high CO2. The combined effect of temperature and CO2 was additive. As temperature and atmospheric pCO2 increasing continues, the best survival at hatching observed in our experiments (50–60%, pH 7.5, 14 °C) will deteriorate (< 20% at 18 °C and pH 7.0). These Climate Change-related results and the fact that the species is already threatened by translocated species suggest a fragile situation. Spatial variation of temperature and pCO2 led us to reconsider the suitability of shallow littoral vegetated areas of the lakes as anti-predatory refuges for fish early life periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: As the rising prevalence and incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has quickly outpaced the rate of esophageal biopsies, particularly in Westernized countries, several studies have suggested a link between intrinsic genetic and extrinsic environmental risk factors and the development, presentation, and diagnosis of EoE. This review aims to critically assess existing studies describing the role of the environment on the development, symptomatic presentation, and diagnosis of this recently recognized chronic immune-mediated disease. Recent Findings: We present and critically evaluate the working hypotheses and supportive studies thus far on environmental factors on EoE, describe sources of potential bias in diagnosis due to socioeconomic factors and thus undermining studies of EoE etiology, and highlight opportunities for future research. Summary: As genetics alone do not explain the rapid rise of EoE, we must look to environmental, or extrinsic, factors both in the early-life period which shape the development of the gut microbiome, as well as later life contributing to diagnosis of this new disease. Future etiologic studies linking risk factors to EoE development in individual patients are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developmental origins of healthy and disease (DOHaD) concept has demonstrated a higher rate of chronic diseases in the adult population of individuals whose mothers experienced severe maternal protein restriction (MPR). Using proteomic and in silico analyses, we investigated the lung proteomic profile of young and aged rats exposed to MPR during pregnancy and lactation. Our results demonstrated that MPR lead to structural and immune system pathways changes, and this outcome is coupled with a rise in the PI3k-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, with increased MMP-2 activity, and CD8 expression in the early life, with long-term effects with aging. This led to the identification of commonly or inversely differentially expressed targets in early life and aging, revealing dysregulated pathways related to the immune system, stress, muscle contraction, tight junctions, and hemostasis. We identified three miRNAs (miR-378a-3p, miR-378a-5p, let-7a-5p) that regulate four proteins (ACTN4, PPIA, HSPA5, CALM1) as probable epigenetic lung marks generated by MPR. In conclusion, MPR impacts the lungs early in life, increasing the possibility of long-lasting negative outcomes for respiratory disorders in the offspring. [Display omitted] • MPR impairs lung growth and extracellular matrix remodeling in early life. • MPR affects lung metabolism and leads to cellular stress with aging. • MPR modulates the lung proteome profile in early life with long-term effects. • Pulmonary homeostasis was impaired by MPR, highlighting epigenetic alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breastfeeding and microbial colonization during infancy occur within a critical time window for development, and both are thought to influence the risk of respiratory illness. However, the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of breastfeeding and the regulation of microbial colonization are poorly understood. Here, we profiled the nasal and gut microbiomes, breastfeeding characteristics, and maternal milk composition of 2,227 children from the CHILD Cohort Study. We identified robust colonization patterns that, together with milk components, predict preschool asthma and mediate the protective effects of breastfeeding. We found that early cessation of breastfeeding (before 3 months) leads to the premature acquisition of microbial species and functions, including Ruminococcus gnavus and tryptophan biosynthesis, which were previously linked to immune modulation and asthma. Conversely, longer exclusive breastfeeding supports a paced microbial development, protecting against asthma. These findings underscore the importance of extended breastfeeding for respiratory health and highlight potential microbial targets for intervention. [Display omitted] • Early breastfeeding cessation accelerates premature gain of microbial species/functions • Breastfeeding over 3 months aids gradual microbiome maturation, protecting from asthma • Microbiome colonization patterns and human milk composition accurately predict asthma • Timely R. gnavus acquisition and tryptophan metabolism link human milk to asthma defense Human milk serves as a "pacemaker," indirectly protecting against asthma by regulating nasal and gut microbiome development during the first year of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbiota–host communication is primarily achieved by secreted factors that can penetrate the mucosal surface, such as extracellular membrane vesicles (EVs). The EVs released by the gut microbiota have been extensively studied in cellular and experimental models of human diseases. However, little is known about their in vivo effects in early life, specifically regarding immune and intestinal maturation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of daily administration of EVs from probiotic and commensal E. coli strains in healthy suckling rats during the first 16 days of life. On days 8 and 16, we assessed various intestinal and systemic variables in relation to animal growth, humoral and cellular immunity, epithelial barrier maturation, and intestinal architecture. On day 16, animals given probiotic/microbiota EVs exhibited higher levels of plasma IgG, IgA, and IgM and a greater proportion of Tc, NK, and NKT cells in the spleen. In the small intestine, EVs increased the villi area and modulated the expression of genes related to immune function, inflammation, and intestinal permeability, shifting towards an anti-inflammatory and barrier protective profile from day 8. In conclusion, interventions involving probiotic/microbiota EVs may represent a safe postbiotic strategy to stimulate immunity and intestinal maturation in early life.

The planetary biosphere is powered by a suite of key metabolic innovations that emerged early in the history of life. However, it is unknown whether life has always followed the same set of strategies for performing these critical tasks. Today, microbes access atmospheric sources of bioessential nitrogen through the activities of just one family of enzymes, nitrogenases. Here, we show that the only dinitrogen reduction mechanism known to date is an ancient feature conserved from nitrogenase ancestors. We designed a paleomolecular engineering approach wherein ancestral nitrogenase genes were phylogenetically reconstructed and inserted into the genome of the diazotrophic bacterial model, Azotobacter vinelandii, enabling an integrated assessment of both in vivo functionality and purified nitrogenase biochemistry. Nitrogenase ancestors are active and robust to variable incorporation of one or more ancestral protein subunits. Further, we find that all ancestors exhibit the reversible enzymatic mechanism for dinitrogen reduction, specifically evidenced by hydrogen inhibition, which is also exhibited by extant A. vinelandii nitrogenase isozymes. Our results suggest that life may have been constrained in its sampling of protein sequence space to catalyze one of the most energetically challenging biochemical reactions in nature. The experimental framework established here is essential for probing how nitrogenase functionality has been shaped within a dynamic, cellular context to sustain a globally consequential metabolism.

Although fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a neurotoxicant, little is known about whether early-life PM2.5 exposure is associated with an increased risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). We conducted a cohort study of 109 731 children aged 3–5 years from 551 county-level cities in China between April 2018 and December 2019. Residential PM2.5 exposure was estimated using a hybrid satellite-based exposure model. Children’s motor performance was assessed using the Little DCD Questionnaire (LDCDQ). Linear mixed-effect models and generalized linear mixed models with a binomial distribution were used to examine the associations of PM2.5 exposure with LDCDQ scores and risk of DCD, respectively. Both prenatal and postnatal exposure to a higher level of PM2.5 was significantly associated with reduced total LDCDQ score, and the impacts were evident on subscales of control during movement and general coordination function but not fine motor function. For example, an interquartile range increase in PM2.5 exposure in ages 0–3 was associated with a 0.19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05, 0.33) decrement in the total score. Additionally, higher PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased risk of DCD, and the adjusted odds ratios were 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.10) and 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.13) for each interquartile range increase in PM2.5 exposure during the first trimester and the first 3 years, respectively. Children who were from rural areas, had neonatal intensive care unit admission, or were exclusively breastfed for less than 6 months appeared to be more susceptible to PM2.5 exposure than their counterparts. Our findings provide robust evidence that early-life PM2.5 exposure contributes to an elevated risk of DCD.

Childhood exposure to traumatic events has a profound and disruptive impact on mental and physical health, including stress physiology. In the current study, we evaluate 90 pregnant women at risk for preterm delivery and assess the association between history of exposure to traumatic events and hair cortisol concentrations, an integrated measure of cortisol production. Exposure to more traumatic events in childhood and in adulthood independently predicted elevated hair cortisol concentrations in pregnancy. Notably, the impact of childhood exposure to traumatic events remained after accounting for more proximal traumatic events in adulthood. Further, there was a significant interaction between childhood and adult exposures. Traumatic experiences in adulthood were more strongly associated with hair cortisol concentrations among mothers with a history of greater childhood trauma. Findings suggest that not only do proximal adult exposures impact HPA-axis functioning during pregnancy, but that childhood traumatic experiences have persisting consequences for HPA-axis functioning during pregnancy. Maternal HPA-axis dysregulation in pregnancy has consequences for both maternal health and for fetal development. Therefore, we consider prenatal maternal HPA-axis functioning as a potential biological pathway underlying intergenerational consequences of childhood trauma.

Keywords: allergic rhinitis; early life; greenspaces; population-based cohort study; season EN allergic rhinitis early life greenspaces population-based cohort study season 1680 1682 3 06/02/23 20230601 NES 230601 The world has experienced considerable growth of urban areas in recent decades, with approximately 54% of the world population living in cities.[1] While this development provides some benefits, unplanned, uncontrolled and rapid urbanization has also been associated with environmental degradation, land changes and loss of green areas.[2] Epidemiological studies on the association between urban greenspaces and development of allergic diseases have provided inconsistent results.[3] This heterogeneity in the effects of greenspaces on the development of allergic rhinitis could be explained by the season of exposure. However, an increase in exposure to NDVI during spring season in early life was associated with an increased risk of allergic rhinitis up to 12 years of age [aHR (95% CI) = 1.726 (1.078; 2.765)] and up to 27 years of age [aHR (95% CI) = 1.703 (1.139; 2.545)]. During the summer, an increase in the exposure to NDVI was associated with a decrease in the risk of allergic rhinitis up to 12 years of age [aHR (95% CI) = 0.754 (0.585; 0.972)] and up to 27 years of age [aHR (95% CI) = 0.801 (0.649; 0.989)]. [Extracted from the article]

The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota has co-evolved with the host in an intricate relationship for mutual benefit, however, inappropriate development of this relationship can have detrimental effects. The developing GI microbiota plays a vital role during the first 1,000 days of postnatal life, during which occurs parallel development and maturation of the GI tract, immune system, and brain. Several factors such as mode of delivery, gestational age at birth, exposure to antibiotics, host genetics, and nutrition affect the establishment and resultant composition of the GI microbiota, and therefore play a role in shaping host development. Nutrition during the first 1,000 days is considered to have the most potential in shaping microbiota structure and function, influencing its interactions with the immune system in the GI tract and consequent impact on brain development. The importance of the microbiota-GI-brain (MGB) axis is also increasingly recognized for its importance in these developmental changes. This narrative review focuses on the importance of the GI microbiota and the impact of nutrition on MGB axis during the immune system and brain developmental period in early postnatal life of infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in food allergies. We sought to identify characteristics of the maternal gut microbiota in the third trimester and the infant gut microbiota in early life and the association of these microbiotas with infant food allergy. A total of 68 healthy pregnant women and their full-term newborns were selected from a cohort of 202 mother–infant pairs; among them, 24 infants had been diagnosed with food allergy within 1 year of age, whereas 44 infants were healthy without allergic symptoms. We collected 65 maternal fecal samples before delivery and 253 infant fecal samples at five time points following birth. Fecal samples were microbiologically analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Holdemania abundance in the maternal gut microbiota in the third trimester was significantly higher in the non-allergy group than in the food allergy group (P = 0.036). In the infant gut microbiota, Holdemania was only found in meconium samples; its abundance did not dier significantly between the two groups. The change in the abundance of Actinobacteria over time diered between the non-allergy and food allergy groups (FA, P = 0.013; NA, P = 9.8 × 10−5 ), and the change in the abundance of Firmicutes over time diered significantly in the non-allergy group (P = 0.023). The abundances of genera Anaerotruncus, Roseburia, Ruminococcus, and Erysipelotricaceae were significantly dierent between the non-allergy and food allergy groups at dierent time points. Our results showed that maternal carriage of Holdemania during the third trimester strongly predicted the absence of food allergies in infants; there was no correlation between the presence of food allergies and the abundance of Holdemania in the infant gut microbiota. More dynamic fluctuations in phyla Actinobacteria and Firmicutes early in life protect against food allergy. Thus, the enrichment of the infant gut microbiota early in life with short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria may be beneficial in preventing the development of food allergies in infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early life pain (ELP) experience alters adult pain behavior and increases injury-induced pain hypersensitivity, but the effect of ELP on adult functional brain connectivity is not known. We have performed continuous local field potential (LFP) recording in the awake adult male rats to test the effect of ELP on functional cortical connectivity related to pain behavior. Primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) LFPs evoked by mechanical hindpaw stimulation were recorded simultaneously with pain reflex behavior for 10 d after adult incision injury. We show that, after adult injury, sensory evoked S1 LFP δ and γ energy and S1 LFP δ/γ frequency coupling are significantly increased in ELP rats compared with controls. Adult injury also induces increases in S1-mPFC functional connectivity, but this is significantly prolonged in ELP rats, lasting 4 d compared with 1 d in controls. Importantly, the increases in LFP energy and connectivity in ELP rats were directly correlated with increased behavioral pain hypersensitivity. Thus, ELP alters adult brain functional connectivity, both within and between cortical areas involved in sensory and affective dimensions of pain. The results reveal altered brain connectivity as a mechanism underlying the effects of ELP on adult pain perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: New dog owners are given a plethora of advice on how to socialise their puppy, but such advice is often outdated and based on very few experimental studies. The resulting inadequate socialisation can lead to behavioural problems in adult dogs. This review aims to describe all relevant literature regarding canine socialisation. Many of the 29 studies identified were retrospective owner-filled questionnaires, which are susceptible to bias. Few modern studies experimentally investigated the effects of different socialisation methods. We, therefore, recommend studies on the minimum necessary level of socialisation and breed differences in the optimum timing for socialisation. We hope this future research helps owners and breeders to produce well-adjusted dogs. There are over 10 million pet dogs in the UK alone, and they have become a member of modern human families. If not properly socialised as puppies, dogs have a higher risk of problematic behaviours during adulthood, yet socialisation studies are lacking. Much of the experimental research was carried out at least 50 years ago, and the importance of socialisation was demonstrated so clearly that further studies with unsocialised controls would be deemed unethical. In this review, the aim was to evaluate all literature relevant to canine socialisation. This review used PRISMA-P guidelines to identify 29 studies: 14 were questionnaire-based studies (two of which also had a testing element), 15 included some form of experimental manipulation relating to socialisation, and one was a purely observational study. Based on this literature review, we recommend future research into minimum necessary socialisation levels, as well as breed differences in the timing of effective socialisation. Such studies will help owners and breeders produce well-adjusted adult dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Widowhood and adverse childhood socioeconomic circumstances (CSC) have both been linked to increased levels of depressive symptoms in old age. Beyond their independent impact on depressive symptoms, experiencing adverse CSC may also trigger a cascade of cumulative adversity and secondary stressors across the life course that shapes how individuals weather stressful life events later on. Method: We examine whether exposure to adverse CSC moderates the relationship between later-life widowhood and depressive symptoms using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2004-2017). Results: Mixed-effects models revealed that both widowhood and adverse CSC were associated with increased levels of depressive symptoms among men and women. Associations between widowhood and depressive symptoms, however, were not moderated by CSC for both genders. Conclusion: Persisting differences in the levels of mental health in response to later-life widowhood did not further widen in the presence of disparities experienced early in the life course. This may reflect the life-altering impact of this age-normative, yet stressful life event across the social strata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mounting evidence finds that early life environmental factors increased the probability of autism spectrum disorder. We estimated prospective associations between early life environmental factors and autism spectrum disorder symptoms in children at the age of 2 years in a population-derived birth cohort, the Barwon Infant Study. Autism spectrum disorder symptoms at the age of 2 years strongly predicted autism spectrum disorder diagnosis by the age of 4 years (area under curve = 0.93; 95% CI (0.82, 1.00)). After adjusting for child's sex and age at the time of behavioural assessment, markers of socioeconomic disadvantage, such as lower household income and lone parental status; maternal health factors, including younger maternal age, maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, higher gestational weight gain and prenatal maternal stress; prenatal alcohol; environmental air pollutant exposures, including particulate matter < 2.5 µm at birth, child secondhand tobacco smoke exposure at 12 months, dampness/mould and home heating with oil, kerosene or diesel heaters at 2 years postnatal. Lower socioeconomic indexes for area, later birth order, higher maternal prenatal depression, and maternal smoking frequency had a dose-response relationship with autism spectrum disorder symptoms. Future studies on environmental factors and autism spectrum disorder should consider the reasons for the socioeconomic disparity and the combined impact of multiple environmental factors through common mechanistic pathways. Mounting evidence indicates the contribution of early life environmental factors in autism spectrum disorder. We aim to report the prospective associations between early life environmental factors and autism spectrum disorder symptoms in children at the age of 2 years in a population-derived birth cohort, the Barwon Infant Study. Autism spectrum disorder symptoms at the age of 2 years strongly predicted autism spectrum disorder diagnosis by the age of 4 years (area under curve = 0.93; 95% CI (0.82, 1.00)). After adjusting for child's sex and age at the time of behavioural assessment, markers of socioeconomic disadvantage, such as lower household income and lone parental status; maternal health factors, including younger maternal age, maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, higher gestational weight gain and prenatal maternal stress; maternal lifestyle factors, such as prenatal alcohol and environmental air pollutant exposures, including particulate matter < 2.5 μm at birth, child secondhand tobacco smoke at 12 months, dampness/mould and home heating with oil, kerosene or diesel heaters at 2 years postnatal. Lower socioeconomic indexes for area, later birth order, higher maternal prenatal depression and maternal smoking frequency had a dose-response relationship with autism spectrum disorder symptoms. Future studies on environmental factors and autism spectrum disorder should consider the reasons for the socioeconomic disparity and the combined impact of multiple environmental factors through common mechanistic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The palatine tonsils are part of the mucosal immune system and stimulate immune responses through M cell uptake sampling of antigens and bacteria in the tonsillar crypts. Little is known about the development of the tonsillar microbiota and the factors determining the establishment and proliferation of disease-associated bacteria such as Streptococcus suis. In this study, we assessed tonsillar microbiota development in piglets during the first 5 weeks of life and identified the relative importance of maternal and environmental farm parameters influencing the tonsillar microbiota at different ages. Additionally, we studied the effect sow vaccination with a bacterin against S. suis on microbiota development and S. suis colonisation in their offspring. Results: Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region revealed that a diverse tonsillar microbiota is established shortly after birth, which then gradually changes during the first 5 weeks of life without a large impact of weaning on composition or diversity. We found a strong litter effect, with siblings sharing a more similar microbiota compared to non-sibling piglets. Co-housing in rooms, within which litters were housed in separate pens, also had a large impact on microbiota composition. Sow parity and prepartum S. suis bacterin vaccination of sows had weaker but significant associations with microbiota composition, impacting on the abundance of Streptococcus species before and after weaning. Sex and birthweight had limited impact on the tonsillar microbiota, and none of the measured factors had consistent associations with microbiota diversity. Conclusions: The piglet tonsillar microbiota is established shortly after birth. While microbiota development is associated with both environmental and maternal parameters, weaning has limited impact on microbiota composition. Intramuscular vaccination of sows pre-partum had a significant effect on the tonsillar microbiota composition of their piglets. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms shaping the tonsillar microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma with severe exacerbation is one of the most common causes of hospitalization among young children. Exacerbations are typically triggered by respiratory infections, but the host factors causing recurrent infections and exacerbations in some children are poorly understood. As a result, current treatment options and preventive measures are inadequate. We sought to identify genetic interaction associated with the development of childhood asthma. We performed an exhaustive search for pairwise interaction between genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms using 1204 cases of a specific phenotype of early childhood asthma with severe exacerbations in patients aged 2 to 6 years combined with 5328 nonasthmatic controls. Replication was attempted in 3 independent populations, and potential underlying immune mechanisms were investigated in the COPSAC2010 and COPSAC2000 birth cohorts. We found evidence of interaction, including replication in independent populations, between the known childhood asthma loci CDHR3 and GSDMB. The effect of CDHR3 was dependent on the GSDMB genotype, and this interaction was more pronounced for severe and early onset of disease. Blood immune analyses suggested a mechanism related to increased IL-17A production after viral stimulation. We found evidence of interaction between CDHR3 and GSDMB in development of early childhood asthma, possibly related to increased IL-17A response to viral infections. This study demonstrates the importance of focusing on specific disease subtypes for understanding the genetic mechanisms of asthma. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota plays a critical role in human health and disease. Microbial community assembly and succession early in life are influenced by numerous factors. In turn, assembly of this microbial community is known to influence the host, including immune system development, and has been linked to outcomes later in life. To date, the role of host-mediated nutritional immunity and metal availability in shaping microbial community assembly and succession early in life has not been explored in depth. Using a human infant cohort, we show that the metal-chelating protein calprotectin is highly abundant in infants. Taxa previously shown to be successful early colonizers of the infant gut, such as Enterococcus , Enterobacteriaceae, and Bacteroides, are highly resistant to experimental metal starvation in culture. Lactobacillus , meanwhile, is highly susceptible to metal restriction, pointing to a possible mechanism by which host-mediated metal limitation shapes the fitness of early colonizing taxa in the infant gut. We further demonstrate that formula-fed infants harbor markedly higher levels of metals in their gastrointestinal tract compared to breastfed infants. Formula-fed infants with high levels of metals harbor distinct microbial communities compared to breastfed infants, with higher levels of Enterococcus , Enterobacter, and Klebsiella , taxa which show increased resistance to the toxic effects of high metal concentrations. These data highlight a new paradigm in microbial community assembly and suggest an unappreciated role for nutritional immunity and dietary metals in shaping the earliest colonization events of the microbiota.IMPORTANCEEarly life represents a critical window for microbial colonization of the human gastrointestinal tract. Surprisingly, we still know little about the rules that govern the successful colonization of infants and the factors that shape the success of early life microbial colonizers. In this study, we report that metal availability is an important factor in the assembly and succession of the early life microbiota. We show that the host-derived metal-chelating protein, calprotectin, is highly abundant in infants and successful early life colonizers can overcome metal restriction. We further demonstrate that feeding modality (breastmilk vs formula) markedly impacts metal levels in the gut, potentially influencing microbial community succession. Our work suggests that metals, a previously unexplored aspect of early life ecology, may play a critical role in shaping the early events of microbiota assembly in infants.

In recent years, the incidence of food allergies in children has been increasing annually, significantly affecting the quality of life for patients and their families. It has long been suspected that childhood allergies might potentially lead to behavioral and psychological issues in adulthood, but the specific connection remains unclear. In this study, we established a model of young mice allergic to milk α S1 -casein, conducted behavioral tests, and employed transcriptomics, immunohistochemistry, Golgi staining, and fecal microbiota transplantation to explore the link between early life allergies and adult psychological problems. The results showed that early life milk protein allergy significantly increased intestinal epithelial permeability in mice, leading to the translocation of gut microbiota metabolites. This process subsequently activated astrocyte lysosomes via SLC15a3, making astrocytes more susceptible. This susceptibility caused mice with early life milk protein allergy to have more activated astrocytes and excessive dendritic spine phagocytosis (normal group: 5.4 ± 1.26 spines/10 μm, allergy group: 3.2 ± 0.92 spines/10 μm) under acute stress in adulthood, leading to anxiety and depressive behaviors.

Early-life gut microbiota development depends on a highly synchronized microbial colonization process in which diet is a key regulator. Microbiota transition toward a more adult-like state in toddlerhood goes hand in hand with the transition from a milk-based diet to a family diet. Microbiota development during the first year of life has been extensively researched; however, studies during toddlerhood remain sparse. Young children's requirement for micronutrients, such as dietary iron, is higher than adults. However, their intake is usually sub-optimal based on regular dietary consumption. The Child Health and Residence Microbes (CHaRM) study, conducted as an adjunct to the GUMLi (Growing Up Milk "Lite") trial, was a double-blind randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects on body composition of toddler milk compared to unfortified standard cow's milk in healthy children between 1 and 2 years of age in Brisbane (Australia). In this trial, fortified milk with reduced protein content and added synbiotics [ Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, short-chain galactooligosaccharides, and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (ratio 9:1)] and micronutrients were compared to standard unfortified cow's milk. In the present study, the effects of the intervention on the gut microbiota and its relationship with iron status in toddlers were investigated in a subset of 29 children (18 in the Active group and 11 in the Control group) who completed the CHaRM study. The toddler microbiota consisted mainly of members of the phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota. The abundance of the B. breve species was quantified and was found to be lower in the Control group than in the Active group. Analysis of blood iron markers showed an improved iron status in the Active group. We observed a positive correlation between Bifidobacterium abundance and blood iron status. PICRUSt, a predictive functionality algorithm based on 16S ribosomal gene sequencing, was used to correlate potential microbial functions with iron status measurements. This analysis showed that the abundance of predicted genes encoding for enterobactin, a class of siderophores specific to Enterobacteriaceae , is inversely correlated with the relative abundance of members of the genus Bifidobacterium . These findings suggest that healthy children who consume a young child formula fortified with synbiotics as part of a healthy diet have improved iron availability and absorption in the gut and an increased abundance of Bifidobacterium in their gut microbiome., Competing Interests: The clinical study was supported by Danone Nutricia Australia Pty Ltd. Industry Funded Research: This study was an industry-based collaboration and scientist affiliated with Danone Research & Innovation were involved in the study hypothesis/design, execution, analysis, and interpretation. Hereby the authors declare that: (1) Industry funding was transparent, acknowledged, and appropriately recognized throughout all stages of design, implementation, and reporting. (2) Project design, implementation, analysis, and interpretation have been performed with efforts to maximize academic independence in each of these areas. Danone Research & Innovation conducts clinical research according to ICH-GCP guidelines, the Declaration of Helsinki and the WHO code. In addition, our Quality Management system for clinical research has been ISO 9001 certified since 2007, and has been recertified every 3 years. Certified compliance with ICH-GCP standards provides public assurance that the rights, safety and wellbeing of trial subjects are protected, and that clinical-trial data are scientifically credible. (3) The researchers associated with Wageningen University & Research and the University of Queensland retained complete academic independence throughout the project and had full access to all of the data in this study and take complete responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. CC, FC, RM, JK, and GR are employees of Danone (Singapore and the Netherlands)., (© 2024 Chew, Matsuyama, Davies, Hill, Morrison, Martin, Codoñer, Knol and Roeselers.)

Background: Suckling and weaning arachidonic acid (ARA) + DHA supplementation promoted oral tolerance (OT) development in pups, however, the effect of it on the intestine to promote OT development remains unknown., Objective: We aimed to explore the impact of this supplementation on intestinal fatty acid composition, structure, and indicators that are supportive of OT development., Methods: Allergy-prone Brown Norway dams were randomly assigned to a control (0% ARA, 0% DHA) or ARA + DHA diet (0.45% ARA, 0.8% DHA) during suckling (0-3 wk). At weaning (3-8 wk), offspring were randomly assigned to a control (0% ARA, 0% DHA) or ARA + DHA diet (0.5% ARA, 0.5% DHA). At 3 wk, offspring in each group received an oral gavage of sucrose or ovalbumin (OVA) solution for five consecutive days. At 7 wk, all offspring received an intraperitoneal OVA injection. At 8 wk, offspring were terminated to evaluate jejunum morphology and measure mucosal food allergy-related secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and cytokines, ileum phospholipid and triglyceride fatty acid compositions, and fecal calprotectin., Results: Weaning ARA + DHA resulted in a higher percentage of DHA in ileum phospholipids and triglycerides (both P < 0.001), without affecting the percentage of ARA. Despite no lasting effect of suckling ARA + DHA on the DHA content in ileum phospholipids, a programming effect was found on the allergy-related intestinal immune profile [higher levels of mucosal IL-2 (P = 0.049) and sIgA (P = 0.033)]. OVA treatment resulted in a lower concentration of mucosal IL-6 (P = 0.026) regardless of dietary interventions. Offspring fed ARA + DHA during suckling and/or weaning had a higher concentration of mucosal transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) after OVA treatment but this was not observed in offspring fed control diets during suckling and weaning (P = 0.04)., Conclusions: Early life dietary ARA + DHA supplementation to allergy-prone rats enhanced the DHA concentration in intestinal phospholipids (weaning period) and increased the mucosal sIgA, IL-2, and TGF-β levels (suckling and weaning period), indicating its ability to create a tolerogenic intestinal environment to support OT development., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement CR is an Editorial Board Member for The Journal of Nutrition and played no role in the Journal's evaluation of the manuscript. All other authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Nutrition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The extensive use of single-use or disposable face masks has raised environmental concerns related to microfiber contamination. In contrast, research on the potential release and ecological impact of microfibers from washable masks (WMs), suggested as an eco-friendly alternative, is currently lacking. Here, we comprehensively investigated the release of microfibers from disposable and WMs of different types in simulated aquatic environments and real-life scenarios, including shaking, disinfection, hand washing, and machine washing. Using a combination of wide-field fluorescence microscopy, He-ion microscopy, and confocal μ-Raman spectroscopy, we revealed that disposable masks (DMs) released microfibers ranging from 18 to 3042 microfiber/piece, whereas WMs released 6.1 × 10 4 -6.7 × 10 6 microfibers/piece depending on the simulated conditions above. Another noteworthy finding was the observed negative correlation between microfiber release and the proportion of reinforcement (embossing) on the DM surfaces. Microfibers from tested DMs primarily comprised polypropylene (PP), while WMs predominantly released poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and cellulose microfibers. Furthermore, acute toxicological analyses unveiled that PP microfibers (0.01-50 mg/L) from DMs impacted zebrafish larval swimming behavior, while PET microfibers from WMs delayed early-stage zebrafish hatching. This study offers new insights into the source of microfiber contamination and raises concerns about the environmental implications linked to the use of washable face masks.

Background and Objective: Our knowledge of socioeconomic status (SES) and emergency department (ED) visits in adults with a history of severe childhood asthma is limited. Our aim was, therefore, to investigate these variables in individuals with a history of severe childhood asthma compared to a control population., Methods: The Kongsberg cohort comprises Danish individuals with a history of severe childhood asthma and a previous 4-month stay at an asthma care facility in Kongsberg, Norway, between 1950 and 1979. The cohort was compared 1:1 to sex and age matched controls with no previous diagnosis of or treatment for obstructive airway disease (OAD). Data from the national Danish health registries were used for comparing cases and controls., Results: A total of 1394 adults from the Kongsberg cohort were alive and residing in Denmark (mean age 63 years, 43% females) at the index date (June 2022). A Charlson comorbidity index score of ≥1 was higher in the study cohort compared to controls (7% versus 3%) ( p  < 0.01). Cases had a 1.5-fold increased likelihood of having a high educational level ( p  < 0.001) compared to controls. Compared to the controls, cases had a higher risk of all-cause ED visits, with individuals having lower educational levels showing the highest proportion of ED visits. Furthermore, 31.2% and 22.9%, respectively, of cases and controls with high educational levels had had ED visits. Compared to controls, logistic regression analysis revealed a 1.7-fold higher risk of all-cause ED visits in cases ( p  < 0.001)., Conclusions: In adults with a history of severe childhood asthma, educational level, comorbidity burden, and risk of ED visit were higher compared to matched controls with no history of obstructive airway disease., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Background: Pollen exposure is an environmental risk factor for asthma symptoms and allergic reactions in children. The extent to which pollen exposure in pregnancy and the first year of life influences the development of childhood asthma and rhinitis is not fully understood., Objective: We aimed to investigate early life exposures to pollen with childhood asthma and rhinitis at age 6 in a longitudinal birth cohort of the United Kingdom., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, via logistic regressions, we analyzed the associations between pollen exposures in pregnancy and the first year of life with childhood asthma and rhinitis., Results: Higher pollen exposure accumulated during pregnancy and during the first year of life both associated with an increased odds of asthma at age 6 (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.26, p = 0.01; OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.03-1.29, p = 0.02, respectively). We did not observe statistically significant associations between early life pollen exposures and the odds of rhinitis at the same age., Conclusion: High pollen exposure during early life (prenatal and postnatal) associated with an increased risk of asthma incidence at age 6. Further studies are desired to validate these findings and to elucidate the mechanisms of early life exposures to pollen on asthma etiology., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Background: We aimed to investigate whether early-life hygiene-related factors influenced the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a Scandinavian population and test the association's consistency across cohorts., Methods: This study followed 117 493 participants in the All Babies in Southeast Sweden study and the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study. IBD diagnoses were defined by national registers. Comprehensive data on hygiene-related exposures, such as having pets, rural living, daycare attendance, and siblings, were retrieved from questionnaires administered from pregnancy until child's age of 36 months. A multivariable Cox regression model yielded adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for IBD accounting for socioeconomic status and perinatal factors. Cohort-specific estimates were pooled using a random-effects model., Results: In over 2 024 299 person-years of follow-up 451 participants developed IBD. In pooled estimates children attending daycare up to 36 months of life vs not attending daycare were less likely to develop Crohn's disease (aHR, 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37- 0.98). Children having 1 or more siblings had a modestly increased risk of IBD (aHR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.96-1.42; aHR for each sibling, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.24). The other hygiene factors were not significantly linked to later IBD. In the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study cohort, bed sharing was associated with an increased risk of IBD, most notably for ulcerative colitis (aHR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.01-2.78)., Conclusions: In this birth cohort study from 2 high-income Scandinavian countries, some early-life hygiene-related exposures were associated with IBD risk. The generalizability of these results to countries of other socioeconomic level is unknown., (© 2023 Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.)

Pneumonia is an infection affecting the lower airway, where the air sacs are filled with mucus and pus; and typically presents with cough, fever, and fast breathing. Pneumonia is estimated to be the leading cause of mortality in children under five worldwide with 120 million episodes result in 1 million deaths globally. The Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) are more affected. In a study in southeast Nigeria, bronchopneumonia accounted for 41.9%, of the cases admitted in the tertiary hospitals and in another hospital based study among children, pneumonia had the highest respiratory admission rates at 34.0%. Pneumonia can be caused by various organisms: Bacterial (Streptococcus, staphylococcus etc), Viral (RSV) and recently COVID 19 pneumonia. RSV has been noted globally to be a major cause of childhood lower respiratory tract infection, with morbidity/mortality occurring in 99% of (LMICs). Some of the long term sequalae are discussed., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: The incidence of type-1 diabetes is on the rise, particularly in developed nations, and predominantly affects the youth. While genetic predisposition plays a substantial role, environmental factors, including alterations in the gut microbiota, are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to the disease., Methods: In this study, we utilized germ-free non-obese diabetic mice to explore the effects of microbiota colonization during early life on type-1 diabetes susceptibility., Results: Our findings reveal that microbiota introduction at birth, rather than at weaning, significantly reduces the risk of type-1 diabetes, indicating a crucial window for microbiota-mediated modulation of immune responses. This protective effect was independent of alterations in intestinal barrier function but correlated with testosterone levels in male mice. Additionally, early life colonization modulated T cell subset frequencies, particularly T helper cells and regulatory T cells, in the intestine, potentially shaping type-1 diabetes predisposition., Discussion: Our findings underscore the pivotal role of early-life microbial interactions in immune regulation and the development of autoimmune diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Fernandez Trigo, Kalbermatter, Yilmaz and Ganal-Vonarburg.)

The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota has co-evolved with the host in an intricate relationship for mutual benefit, however, inappropriate development of this relationship can have detrimental effects. The developing GI microbiota plays a vital role during the first 1,000 days of postnatal life, during which occurs parallel development and maturation of the GI tract, immune system, and brain. Several factors such as mode of delivery, gestational age at birth, exposure to antibiotics, host genetics, and nutrition affect the establishment and resultant composition of the GI microbiota, and therefore play a role in shaping host development. Nutrition during the first 1,000 days is considered to have the most potential in shaping microbiota structure and function, influencing its interactions with the immune system in the GI tract and consequent impact on brain development. The importance of the microbiota-GI-brain (MGB) axis is also increasingly recognized for its importance in these developmental changes. This narrative review focuses on the importance of the GI microbiota and the impact of nutrition on MGB axis during the immune system and brain developmental period in early postnatal life of infants.

BackgroundExposure to disasters in early life may induce lifetime health risk, but investigation on earthquake exposure and DM in later life is still limited. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the association between exposure to the Tangshan Earthquake in early life and diabetes mellitus (DM) incidence in adulthood, and explore the modification of lifestyles on DM development.MethodsParticipants who were free of DM at baseline from the Kailuan Study were included in this study. All participants were divided into fetal-exposed, infant-exposed, early childhood-exposed and nonexposed group. The effect of earthquake exposure on DM and modification of lifestyles were examined by multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard model.ResultsThe exposed group had a higher risk of DM than nonexposed group, especially in infant-exposed and early childhood-exposed group, with hazard ratio (HR) of 1.62 [95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.21–2.17] and 1.46 (95% CI, 1.06–1.99), respectively. After stratifying by lifestyles, a significant modification was observed in alcohol consumption.ConclusionExposing to earthquake in early life could increase DM incidence in later life, and alcohol consumption might modify the effect of earthquake exposure on DM development. More attention should be paid on the preventions of DM among adults who exposed to earthquake in their early life.

BackgroundScreen time during early life has increased dramatically among Chinese children. Excessive screen time has raised growing concerns about the neuropsychological development of children. The effects of screen exposure on early life and the boundary between screen time and hyperactive behaviors are well worth investigating. We examined associations between screen time and hyperactive behaviors in children under the age of 3 years using data from the Longhua Children Cohort Study (LCCS).MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 42,841 3-year-old children from Longhua District, Shenzhen. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, children’s annual screen time since birth, and hyperactive behaviors (measured by the Conners Parental Symptom Questionnaire) was collected through self-administered structured questionnaires completed by the primary caregiver. A series of logistic regression models assessed the association between screen time and hyperactive behaviors.ResultsThe average daily screen time of children under the age of 3 years was 55.83 ± 58.54 min, and screen time increased with age. Binomial logistic regression analysis found that the earlier the screen exposure, the greater the risk of hyperactive behaviors. Using binary logistic regression model, after controlling for confounding factors, the study found that more screen time was more associated with hyperactive behaviors. For children aged 0–3 years with daily screen time exceeding 90, 120, 150, and 180 min, the risk values for hyperactive behaviors were 1.98 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 3.78), 2.71 (95%CI:1.38, 5.30), 3.17 (95% CI: 1.50, 6.65), and 4.62 (95% CI: 2.45, 8.71)], respectively.ConclusionEarly screen exposure may be associated with hyperactive behaviors in children under the age of 3 years. More than 90 min of screen time per day in children under 3 years was associated with hyperactive behaviors. The findings support the importance of screen time interventions for children under 3 years.

Black adults face a substantially higher risk for dementia in later life compared to their White peers. Given the critical role of educational attainment and cognitive function in later life dementia risk, this paper aims to determine if early educational experiences and educational attainment are differentially related to trajectories of cognitive status across race and if this further varies by education cohort. We use data from the Life History Mail Survey (LHMS) and prospective data on cognition from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We restrict our sample to Black and White US-born adults who provided at least one measure of cognitive status from 1995/6–2016. We find evidence of Black-White differences in the association between educational experiences and level of cognitive function, episodic memory, and working memory, but little evidence of Black-White differences in these associations with decline. Having a learning problem was associated with lower levels of cognitive function, episodic memory, and working memory for White and Black older adults, but was more strongly related to these outcomes among Black older adults. Further, the Black-White difference in this association was generally found in older cohorts that completed schooling after enactment of federal policies that improved educational resources for children with learning disabilities. Attending racially discordant schools was positively associated with level of these cognitive outcomes for Black older adults but not for White older adults. We also find that the educational gradient in level of cognitive function was larger for Black compared to White older adults in older cohorts not benefiting from the Brown v Board of Education decision but was similar for Black and White older adults attending school in the post-Brown era.