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OBJECTIVE: Most evidence supporting screening for undernutrition is for children aged 6-59 months. However, the highest risk of mortality and highest incidence of wasting occurs in the first 6 months of life. We evaluated relationships between neonatal anthropometric indicators, including birth weight, weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ), length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and mortality and growth at 6 months of age among infants in Burkina Faso. DESIGN: Data arose from a randomised controlled trial evaluating neonatal azithromycin administration for the prevention of child mortality. We evaluated relationships between baseline anthropometric measures and mortality, wasting (WLZ < -2), stunting (LAZ < -2) and underweight (WAZ < -2) at 6 months of age were estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for the childs age and sex. SETTING: Five regions of Burkina Faso. PARTICIPANTS: Infants aged 8-27 d followed until 6 months of age. RESULTS: Of 21 832 infants enrolled in the trial, 7·9 % were low birth weight (

Context Despite shifting from addressing isolated forms of malnutrition to recognizing its multifaceted nature, evidence on the prevalence and determinants of micronutrient deficiencies, and their coexistence with undernutrition in children under 5, remains insufficient, unsystematic, and incohesive. Objective The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the prevalence and determinants of stunting-anemia and wasting-anemia comorbidities and micronutrient deficiencies in children under 5 in the least-developed countries (LDCs). Data Sources Electronic searches took place from January 15, 2023, to February 14, 2024, across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SCOPUS, African Index Medicus (AIM), World Health Organization's Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (IRIS), and African Journals Online. The search spanned the years 2000 to 2024, yet it yielded eligible full-text English research articles from only 2005 to 2021 conducted in LDCs. Studies lacking quantitative data on malnutrition types and their determinants were excluded. Data Extraction Two independent authors assessed articles for bias and quality using Hoy et al's 10-item scale and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) criteria. Prevalence and other details were extracted using a Joanna Briggs Institute Excel template. Authors extracted adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for determinant factors such as sex and vitamin A and iron supplementation. Data Analysis The search yielded 6248 articles from 46 LDCs. Sixty-nine articles, with a total sample size of 181 605, met inclusion criteria for the final meta-analysis. Vitamin A deficiency affected 16.32% of children, and iodine deficiency affected 43.41% of children. The pooled prevalence of wasting-anemia and stunting-anemia comorbidity was 5.44% and 19.47%, respectively. Stunting was associated with vitamin A deficiency (aOR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.01–2.37), and not taking vitamin A supplementation was associated with iron-deficiency anemia (aOR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.21–1.55). Conclusion A significant proportion of children under 5 in LDCs experienced stunting-anemia and wasting-anemia comorbidities and micronutrient deficiencies. This study underscores the urgent need to address factors driving these burdens. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023409483. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass wasting disease, caused by parasitic slime nets in the genus Labyrinthula , affects seagrasses globally with outbreaks occurring at local to regional scales. Though prior research showed variation in pathogenicity across strains, little is known about the broad-scale diversity and biogeography of Labyrinthula species. We used targeted amplicon-based high throughput sequencing (HTS) to examine the phylogeography of Labyrinthula species associated with two seagrass hosts (Zostera marina , Thalassia testudinum) collected from across North America, including locations in the USA and Mexico. After testing 189 seagrass blades from 16 locations across North America, Labyrinthula spp. were detected at 14 sites with PCR prevalence ranging from 20 - 100%. We generated 10,936,628 sequences for analyses, which yielded 25 unique Labyrinthula amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), which were phylogenetically grouped into three species of Labyrinthula. All three species detected were previously identified as pathogenic, indicating that Labyrinthula species capable of causing wasting disease are present across these regions, including in locations where disease outbreaks have not been reported. The highest strain level variation was detected in Florida, which is likely due to larger sample sizes from Florida compared to other sampling locations. Assessing the phylogeography of strains was limited by sample size in each location, but indicates that the genetic connectivity of strains appears high, with location and seagrass host being the most important factors explaining the variation in Labyrinthula strains detected. The high connectivity, but low overall species diversity of Labyrinthula , is consistent with a parasite that is a host generalist. Given the high connectivity of strains and broad geographic range of pathogenic Labyrinthula reported here, this study provides valuable insight regarding how parasite diversity impacts seagrass disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of undernourished children depends only on wasting yet it can coexist with underweight and/or stunting. Among children admitted to hospital with acute illness, we determined the proportion with wasting coexisting with underweight and/or stunting and their risk factors. A retrospective review of hospital records of children 6‒59 months old admitted at Garissa County referral hospital, Kenya, from January 2017 to December 2019 was conducted. Using World Health Organization 2006 growth standards, undernutrition were defined: wasting as Weight‐for‐height Z‐score < −2, stunting Height‐for‐age Z‐score < −2 and underweight Weight‐for‐age Z‐score < −2. We studied wasting coexisting with underweight and/or stunting. Among 624 children recruited, 347 (56%) were males and 511 (82%) <24 months old. Diarrhoea 210 (34%) and pallor/anaemia 310 (50%) were the most frequent admission diagnosis. HIV infection was present among 8 (1.3%) children. Wasting, underweight and stunting were present among 595 (95%), 518 (83%) and 176 (28%) children respectively. 161 (26%), 506 (81%) and 161 (26%) children had wasting coexisting with stunting, underweight and both stunting and underweight respectively. In the multivariable regression, diarrhoea was positively associated with wasting coexisting with stunting (adjusted risk ratio [aRR = 2.96] [95% CI = 2.06‒4.23]) and anaemia with wasting coexisting with underweight (aRR = 1.23) (95% CI = 1.03‒1.47). Overall, 343 (55%) children were discharged alive, 67 (11%) absconded from the wards, 164 (26%) were transferred to another hospital and 50 (8.0%) died before discharge. The risk of inpatient death was 10.3%, 7.9%, 8.4% and 6.8% among children not wasted, wasted only, wasted & underweight, and wasted and underweight and stunted respectively (Chi‐square p = 0.60). The study reports an unacceptably high levels of undernourishment, including coexisting forms of undernutrition among hospitalised children. This highlights a public health priority for current nutrition therapeutic care and need of continuity of care among those children discharged alive in the community‐based management of acute malnutrition programmes. Key messages: In this population of hospitalised children, we found critically high levels of wasting and underweight. The most frequent form of undernutrition coexistence was wasting and underweight.Early detection and effective treatment of hospitalised children with coexisting forms of undernutrition (CFU) deserves more attention in the current nutrition therapeutic treatment programmes.Routine reporting of CFU in hospital settings should be encouraged. Future research to increase our understanding of its mechanism and need for robust interventions should be prioritised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undernutrition remains a global struggle and is associated with almost 45% of deaths in children younger than 5 years. Despite advances in management of severe wasting (though less so for nutritional edema), full and sustained recovery remains elusive. Children with severe wasting and/or nutritional edema (also commonly referred to as severe acute malnutrition and part of the umbrella term "severe malnutrition") continue to have a high mortality rate. This suggests a likely multifactorial etiology that may include micronutrient deficiency. Micronutrients are currently provided in therapeutic foods at levels based on expert opinion, with few supportive studies of high quality having been conducted. This narrative review looks at the knowledge base on micronutrient deficiencies in children aged 6–59 months who have severe wasting and/or nutritional edema, in addition to highlighting areas where further research is warranted (See "Future Directions" section). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Redox signaling plays a key role in skeletal muscle remodeling induced by exercise and prolonged inactivity, but it is unclear which oxidant triggers myofiber hypertrophy due to the lack of strategies to precisely regulate individual oxidants in vivo. In this study, we used tetrathiomolybdate (TM) to dissociate the link between superoxide (O2•−) and hydrogen peroxide and thereby to specifically explore the role of O2•− in muscle hypertrophy in C2C12 cells and mice. Results: TM can linearly regulate intracellular O2•− levels by inhibition of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). A 70% increase in O2•− levels in C2C12 myoblast cells and mice is necessary and sufficient for triggering hypertrophy of differentiated myotubes and can enhance exercise performance by more than 50% in mice. SOD1 knockout blocks TM-induced O2•− increments and thereby prevents hypertrophy, whereas SOD1 restoration rescues all these effects. Scavenging O2•− with antioxidants abolishes TM-induced hypertrophy and the enhancement of exercise performance, whereas the restoration of O2•− levels with a O2•− generator promotes muscle hypertrophy independent of SOD1 activity. Innovation and Conclusion: These findings suggest that O2•− is an endogenous initiator of myofiber hypertrophy and that TM may be used to treat muscle wasting diseases. Our work not only suggests a novel druggable mechanism to increase muscle mass but also provides a tool for precisely regulating O2•− levels in vivo. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 42, 1–15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Equine sarcoidosis (ES) is a rare disease characterised by granulomatous inflammation of one or multiple organs. The skin is most frequently affected in horses and the clinical presentation can range from scaling and crusting lesions to nodular or tumour‐like masses. ES has been divided into three subtypes depending on the distribution of lesions in the body: the localised, partially generalised and generalised form. Overall, no breed or sex predilections have been consistently observed so far. Most affected horses are older than 3 years although the disease may occur at any age. While aetiology and pathogenesis of ES have not yet been fully determined, a chronic exaggerated immune response to one specific or multiple antigens is frequently hypothesised. Diagnosis is based upon history, clinical presentation, histopathology and exclusion of likely differential diagnoses. The treatment of choice in ES is initial anti‐inflammatory to immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids with subsequent tapering doses. Reported treatment success seems to be highly variable and prospective studies on the efficacy of corticosteroids or other agents are currently lacking in ES. Prognosis for survival is good for the localised form and poor for the other forms of ES. Complete remission of lesions in the localised form following treatment is less frequent and response to treatment is typically characterised by a slowdown or cessation of disease progression. There are scarce reports of spontaneous remission of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses in the Circoviridae family can infect mammals and birds. Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) significantly affects the livestock industry by causing porcine circovirus-associated diseases, such as postweaning multisystem wasting syndrome, respiratory disease complex, and dermatitis nephropathy syndrome. Additionally, beak and feather disease virus in parrots, canine circovirus in dogs, and columbid circovirus (pigeon circovirus) in racing pigeons induce immunosuppression, followed by secondary infections in these hosts. Although the PCV2 capsid protein has been demonstrated to inhibit type I interferon (IFN) signaling, the molecular mechanisms of Circoviridae-induced immunosuppression are largely unknown. In this study, we examined whether these functions are conserved across Circoviridae capsid proteins. Our results illustrated that although the nuclear localization of capsid proteins is conserved, their effects on IFN-β signaling vary by species, revealing the diverse roles of Circoviridae capsid proteins in modulating immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical profile of hyponatremia in stroke patients and to compare and contrast between SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone) and CSWS (Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome) based on the results. Methods This was a hospital based single center, descriptive type of cross-sectional study considering the prevalence of hyponatremia in stroke patients to be 35%, based on the estimation of proportion, in the Department of General Medicine, Department of Neurology, at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal a unit of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, MAHE (Manipal Academy of Higher Education) over a period of 1.5 years from 01/01/2021 to 31/07/2022 after obtaining clearance from the institutional ethics committee and written informed consent from the study participants. Results The mean sodium value in the hyponatremia group was 131±3.6 mEq/L, with the lowest value being 119 mEq/L and the upper limit being 135 mEq/L. Patients with hyponatremia had a statistically significant (p = 0.05) prevalence of headache as compared to controls. The prevalence of hypertension (70.5%) and IHD (ischemic heart disease) (20.5%) was higher in the control group. A statistically significant (p = 0.034) number of patients in the CSWS group (64.7% and 58.8%) had headache and altered sensorium, respectively, which was more as compared to SIADH. Comorbidities were compared amongst patients with SIADH and CSWS, and 53.3% of SIADH patients had diabetes mellitus, 66.7% had hypertension and 20% had IHD, which were slightly more than those of CSWS, respectively. Further classifying SIADH and CSWS patients based on stroke subtypes, it was observed that a significant number of patients (11.8%) of CSWS had hemorrhagic strokes than SIADH patients (3.3%). Thrombotic strokes dominated both groups. Major laboratory parameters were tabulated amongst patients with SIADH and CSWS, and it was observed that serum uric acid levels were lower (4.1±0.92) for SIADH as compared to CSWS, which was statistically significant (p = 0.02), and that urine sodium levels were higher (99±5.2) for CSWS patients than for SIADH, which was statistically significant. Conclusion Patients with hemorrhagic stroke are more likely to have CSWS, as compared to SIADH. In the setting of true hyponatremia in stroke patients, a higher urinary sodium level and a normalhigh uric acid level were likely to be CSWS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although invertebrate herbivores commonly impact terrestrial plant diseases by facilitating transmission of plant pathogens and increasing host susceptibility to infection via wounding, less is known about the role of herbivores in marine plant disease dynamics. Importantly, transmission via herbivores may not be required in the ocean since saline ocean waters support pathogen survival and transmission. Through laboratory experiments with eelgrass (Zostera marina), we showed that isopods (Pentidotea wosnesenskii) and snails (Lacuna spp.) created grazing scars that increased disease severity and thus indirectly facilitated transmission of Labyrinthula zosterae (Lz), a protist that causes seagrass wasting disease. Experiments also quantified different feeding preferences among herbivores: Amphipods (Ampithoe lacertosa) selectively consumed diseased eelgrass, while isopods and snails selectively grazed asymptomatic leaves, suggesting different herbivore taxa may have contrasting impacts on disease dynamics. Our experiments show no sign that herbivores directly vector Lz from diseased to asymptomatic eelgrass. However, we isolated live Lz from isopod, amphipod, and snail feces and detected Lz with quantitative polymerase chain reaction in amphipods and snails, suggesting that herbivores eating diseased eelgrass could pass the live pathogen. Finally, field surveys demonstrated a close association between seagrass wasting disease and invertebrate grazing scars; disease prevalence was 29 ± 4.7% (95% CI) higher on eelgrass leaves with herbivore scars. Collectively, these findings show that some herbivores can increase eelgrass disease risk by facilitating the spread of an important pathogen via wounding, but not via direct transmission. Thus, herbivores may play different roles in plant disease dynamics in terrestrial versus marine ecosystems depending on the pathogen's ability to survive and transmit without a vector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context In 2020, 13.6 million children under 5 years suffered from severe acute malnutrition (SAM)/wasting. Standard ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) improve polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status but contain suboptimal amounts of omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs with unbalanced n-6-to-n-3 PUFA ratios. Objectives The aim was to compare the effects of RUTFs with different essential fatty acid contents on PUFA status, neurodevelopmental, and clinical outcomes (mortality, comorbidities, and recovery) of children with severe wasting. Data Sources Twelve databases, trial repositories, and article references with no publication limitations. Data Extraction Ten studies from randomized, quasi, and cluster-randomized controlled trials providing RUTFs as home treatment to children 6–59 months with SAM/wasting were included. Data Analysis Plasma phospholipid eicosapentaenoic acid content was higher in children receiving RUTF with altered essential fatty acid contents compared with standard RUTF (0.20 [0.15–0.25], P < 0.00001). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status only improved in children receiving RUTF with added fish oil (0.33 [0.15–0.50], P = 0.0003). The Malawi Developmental Assessment tool (MDAT) global development and problem-solving assessment scores were higher in global assessment and gross motor domains in children receiving added fish oil compared with standard formulation (0.19 [0.0–0.38] and 0.29 [0.03–0.55], respectively). Children receiving high-oleic-acid RUTF (lowering the n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio of the RUTF) with or without fish oil had significantly higher scores in social domains compared with those receiving the standard formulation (0.16 [0.00–0.31] and 0.24 [0.09–0.40]). Significantly higher mortality risk was found in children receiving a standard formulation compared with RUTF with a lower n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio (0.79 [0.67–0.94], P = 0.008). Conclusion Although lowering n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios did not increase plasma DHA, it improved specific neurodevelopmental scores and mortality due to lower linoleic acid (high-oleic-acid peanuts), higher alpha-linolenic acid (altered oil), or both. Additional preformed n-3 long-chain PUFAs (fish oil) with RUTF improved the children's DHA status, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and weight-for-height z score. More research is needed regarding cost, availability, stability, acceptability, and the appropriate amount of n-3 long-chain PUFAs required in RUTFs for the best clinical outcomes. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022303694. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]