bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, tofogliflozin, shows better improvements of blood glucose and insulin secretion in patients with high insulin levels at baseline
Authors: Tobe Kazuyuki , Suganami Hideki , Kaku Kohei
Published: October 2017

Aims/Introduction

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new class of drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus that improve control of plasma glucose and bodyweight, giving great hope for the clinical utility of these agents. However, it is unclear for which patients SGLT2 inhibitors will be useful.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed data from long‐term tofogliflozin monotherapy in an open‐label, randomized controlled trial in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients were divided into tertiles by baseline insulin level: group low (L): insulin ≤5.6 μU/mL, group medium (M): 5.6< insulin ≤10 μU/mL and group high (H): insulin >10 μU/mL.

Results

Glycated hemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose levels, along with bodyweight, were significantly reduced from the baseline in all groups. The changes in levels of plasma glucose area under the curve for 2 h, C‐peptide index area under the curve for 2 h during the meal tolerance tests and the insulin secretion index were the largest in the H group. The incidence of drug‐related adverse events was not different among the three groups.

Discussion

Although tofogliflozin was effective regardless of baseline insulin level, it showed the highest efficacy in the H group.
The emperor redressed: treating osteoporosis to prevent hip fractures in the oldest old
Authors: Abrahamsen B.
Published: October 2017

Click here to view the Original Article by K. F. Axelsson et al.
The Legitimacy of Inequality: Integrating the Perspectives of System Justification and Social Judgment
Authors: Haack Patrick , Sieweke Jost
Published: October 2017

To explain the legitimation of inequality among the members of a social system, we blend system justification theory and the theory of social judgment. We identify adaptation and replacement as two major mechanisms of inequality legitimation and examine their influence in the unique setting of a natural experiment, the reunification of socialist East Germany and capitalist West Germany. We show that the new members of a society in which inequality is broadly endorsed and perceived as enduring will adapt to this perception and come to view inequality as acceptable. This process of adaptation reflects the subtle but powerful influence of collective legitimacy on an individual's tacit approval of inequality. Inequality also becomes legitimate as older cohorts are replaced by younger cohorts; however, this effect is weaker than the effect of adaptation. We contribute to the literature by demonstrating that developing and testing a theory of how inequality becomes legitimized can provide new insights into the ideational antecedents of inequality.
MicroRNA profiling reveals dysregulated microRNAs and their target gene regulatory networks in cemento‐ossifying fibroma
Authors: Pereira Thaís dos Santos Fontes , Brito João Artur Ricieri , Guimarães André Luiz Sena , Gomes Carolina Cavaliéri , de Lacerda Júlio Cesar Tanos , de Castro Wagner Henriques , Coimbra Roney Santos , Diniz Marina Gonçalves , Gomez Ricardo Santiago
Published: October 2017

Background

Cemento‐ossifying fibroma (COF) is a benign fibro‐osseous neoplasm of uncertain pathogenesis, and its treatment results in morbidity. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non‐coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and may represent therapeutic targets. The purpose of the study was to generate a comprehensive miRNA profile of COF compared to normal bone. Additionally, the most relevant pathways and target genes of differentially expressed miRNA were investigated by in silico analysis.

Methods

Nine COF and ten normal bone samples were included in the study. miRNA profiling was carried out by using TaqMan® OpenArray® Human microRNA panel containing 754 validated human miRNAs. We identified the most relevant miRNAs target genes through the leader gene approach, using STRING and Cytoscape software. Pathways enrichment analysis was performed using DIANA‐miRPath.

Results

Eleven miRNAs were downregulated (hsa‐miR‐95‐3p, hsa‐miR‐141‐3p, hsa‐miR‐205‐5p, hsa‐miR‐223‐3p, hsa‐miR‐31‐5p, hsa‐miR‐944, hsa‐miR‐200b‐3p, hsa‐miR‐135b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐31‐3p, hsa‐miR‐223‐5p and hsa‐miR‐200c‐3p), and five were upregulated (hsa‐miR‐181a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐181c‐5p, hsa‐miR‐149‐5p, hsa‐miR‐138‐5p and hsa‐miR‐199a‐3p) in COF compared to normal bone. Eighteen common target genes were predicted, and the leader genes approach identified the following genes involved in human COF: EZH2, XIAP, MET and TGFBR1. According to the biology of bone and COF, the most relevant KEGG pathways revealed by enrichment analysis were proteoglycans in cancer, miRNAs in cancer, pathways in cancer, p53‐, PI3K‐Akt‐, FoxO‐ and TGF‐beta signalling pathways, which were previously found to be differentially regulated in bone neoplasms, odontogenic tumours and osteogenesis.

Conclusion

miRNA dysregulation occurs in COF, and EZH2, XIAP, MET and TGFBR1 are potential targets for functional analysis validation.
Prevalence of hepatitis C infection and its associated factors in healthy adults without identifiable route of transmission
Authors: Wong N. S. , Lee C. K. , Ng S. C. , Wong H. K. , Chan D. P. C. , Lee S. S.
Published: October 2017

While hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is long known to be associated with parenteral exposure, the specific route of transmission is not identified in a proportion of infected patients. Taking blood donors as the surrogate of healthy adults in the community in Hong Kong, we identified 91 HCV‐infected donors (≤0.02% positive rate) in 2014‐2016, of whom 46 were recruited in a mixed‐method study to examine their transmission routes. A majority (75%) of the recruited donors were HCV RNA positive, with the predominant subtypes being 1b and 6a. From the results of the structured self‐administered questionnaire and in‐depth interviews, only 14 (30%) recruited donors could be traced to past history of contaminated blood transfusion (n = 9) or injection drug use (n = 5). Case‐control analyses with 3 different control groups were performed to examine factors associated with HCV infection in multivariable analyses. High‐risk sexual behaviour, body piercing, intramuscular injection and vaccine inoculation abroad, having lived abroad for >3 months were significantly associated with HCV in donors with otherwise nonidentifiable source of infection. While the specific route of transmission cannot be established for each person, associations with multiple parenteral exposures outside Hong Kong were observed. The World Health Organization has advocated for the global elimination of HCV by 2030. With a high proportion of HCV‐infected persons who are unaware of their infections, HCV elimination could be hard to achieve.
Prevalence and natural course of occult hepatitis B virus infection in residents of 2 communities of Wuwei City, Gansu Province, China
Authors: Wen X. , Su H. , Wang Y. , Pu Z. , Gao J. , Ji Z. , Yuan X. , Li X. , Zhang W. , Zhang L. , Long Y. , Yan Y. , Shao Z.
Published: October 2017

Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is characterized by serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA positive (HBsAg‐/HBV DNA+). Occult hepatitis B infection in community‐based populations has been scarcely investigated, and OBI outcomes remain unclear, especially in Wuwei, a region located in Northwest China. This region is one of the areas in China that has the highest prevalence of chronic HBV infection. A prospective study was performed in the general population of 2 towns of Wuwei from June 2011 to May 2014. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and medical data, and serum samples were collected from the participants and stored until analysis. DNA was detected using quantitative PCR (qPCR) or nested PCR, the HBV DNA from HBV DNA‐positive or possible positive (below the detection limit) subjects was extracted and amplified by nested PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced. Sequence analysis was performed using the Mega 6.0 program and CLC sequence viewer software. Hepatitis B virus DNA was detected in 90 of 3,080 HBsAg‐negative subjects, and the prevalence of OBI in the study population was 2.92% (90/3,080, 95% CI: 2.33%‐3.51%). Hepatitis B virus genomes in 51 of 80 objects (63.75%) contained mutations in the “a” determinant of HBsAg. After 2 years follow‐up, 42 of 90 HBV DNA of OBI subjects remained positive, and the natural clearance rate of OBI subjects was 53.3%. Occult hepatitis B infection prevalence in this cohort was much lower than chronic HBV infection in the same region. HBV DNA was cleared in most OBI subjects during the 2 year period. Our data suggest that some OBI may represent a late stage of resolving the HBV infection process.
Using behavior change approaches to improve complementary feeding practices
Authors: Sanghvi Tina , Seidel Renata , Baker Jean , Jimerson Ann
Published: October 2017

This paper applies an implementation framework, based on a behavior change model, to compare four case studies of complementary feeding programs. It aims to expand our understanding of how to design and implement behavior change interventions aimed at improving complementary feeding practices. Four programs met the selection criteria of scale and documented improvements: Bangladesh, Malawi, Peru, and Zambia. We examined commonalities and differences in the design and implementation of social and behavior change approaches, use of program delivery platforms, challenges encountered, and lessons learned. We conclude that complementary feeding practices, in particular dietary diversity, can be improved rapidly in a variety of settings using available program platforms if interventions focus on specific constraints to food access and use effective strategies to encourage caregivers to prepare and feed appropriate foods. A five‐step process is presented that can be applied across a range of complementary feeding programs to strengthen their impacts.
Linking agriculture and nutrition education to improve infant and young child feeding: Lessons for future programmes
Authors: Muehlhoff Ellen , Wijesinha‐Bettoni Ramani , Westaway Elizabeth , Jeremias Theresa , Nordin Stacia , Garz Julia
Published: October 2017

Agriculture and food systems play a central role in nutrition by supplying nutritious, healthy and affordable foods. When integrated with nutrition education for behaviour change, agricultural interventions that supply diverse affordable foods from all food groups have great scope for improving young child and family diets. In 2014, process reviews were conducted in Cambodia and Malawi of food security projects that provided agricultural support and community‐based nutrition education on improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF). In both countries, household visits were carried out with mothers/caregivers, and interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with purposively selected project stakeholders (53 in Cambodia, 170 in Malawi), including government staff from the agriculture and health sectors. Results highlight that adoption of improved IYCF practices was facilitated by participation in nutrition education and practical cooking sessions, and supportive family and community structures. Barriers faced by families and caregivers were identified, such as women's workload and lack of access to high quality foods, namely fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and animal source foods. Implementation challenges regarding coordination of cross‐sectoral targeting strategies and capacities of extension services to sustain community‐based IYCF nutrition education need to be addressed to improve programme effectiveness and impact. The project lessons from Cambodia and Malawi are useful for integrated agriculture‐IYCF nutrition education programmes to help ensure better young child nutrition outcomes.
Consumption of commercially produced snack foods and sugar‐sweetened beverages during the complementary feeding period in four African and Asian urban contexts
Authors: Pries Alissa M. , Huffman Sandra L. , Champeny Mary , Adhikary Indu , Benjamin Margaret , Coly Aminata Ndeye , Diop El Hadji Issakha , Mengkheang Khin , Sy Ndèye Yaga , Dhungel Shrid , Feeley Alison , Vitta Bineti , Zehner Elizabeth
Published: October 2017

The availability and consumption of commercially produced foods and beverages have increased across low‐income and middle‐income countries. This cross‐sectional survey assessed consumption of commercially produced foods and beverages among children 6–23 months of age, and mothers' exposure to promotions for these products. Health facility‐based interviews were conducted among 218 randomly sampled mothers utilizing child health services in Dakar, Senegal; 229 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; 228 in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal; and 222 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In the day prior to the interview, 58.7% of 6–23‐month‐olds in Dakar, 23.1% in Dar es Salaam, 74.1% in Kathmandu Valley, and 55.0% in Phnom Penh had consumed a commercially produced snack food. In the previous week, the majority of children in Dakar (79.8%), Kathmandu Valley (91.2%), and Phnom Penh (80.6%) had consumed such products. Consumption of commercially produced sugar‐sweetened beverages was noted among 32.0% of Phnom Penh, 29.8% of Dakar, 23.1% of Dar es Salaam, and 16.2% of Kathmandu Valley children. Maternal education was negatively associated with commercial snack food consumption in Dakar and Kathmandu Valley. Children of Phnom Penh mothers in the lowest wealth tercile were 1.5 times more likely to consume commercial snack food products, compared to wealthier mothers. These snack consumption patterns during the critical complementary feeding period demand attention; such products are often high in added sugars and salt, making them inappropriate for infants and young children.
Government information systems to monitor complementary feeding programs for young children
Authors: Jefferds Maria Elena D.
Published: October 2017

Accelerating progress to improve complementary feeding of young children is a global priority. Strengthening monitoring through government information systems may increase the quality and implementation of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) programs. Monitoring is necessary for the effective implementation of programs as it allows program managers to assess program performance, identify problems, and take corrective action. Program descriptions and conceptual models explain how program inputs and activities should lead to outputs and outcomes, and ultimately public health impact; thus, they are critical tools when designing effective IYCF programs and monitoring systems as these descriptions and conceptual models form the basis for the program and are key for developing the monitoring system, indicators, and tools. Despite their importance, many programs do not have these documented, nor monitoring plans, limiting their ability to design effective programs and monitoring systems. Once in place, it is important to periodically review the monitoring system to confirm it still appropriately meets stakeholder needs and the data are being used to inform decision‐making, and to make program adjustments as the monitoring focus, resources, or capacity may change during the program lifecycle. Including priority indicators of IYCF practices and counseling indicators in the government information systems may strengthen IYCF programs when the indicators are contextualized to the government IYCF program, capacity, and setting, and the indicators are used for decision‐making and program improvement.
Scaling‐up interventions to improve infant and young child feeding in India: What will it take?
Authors: Avula Rasmi , Oddo Vanessa M. , Kadiyala Suneetha , Menon Purnima
Published: October 2017

We assessed India's readiness to deliver infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions by examining elements related to policy, implementation, financing, and evidence. We based our analysis on review of (a) nutrition policy guidance and program platforms, (b) published literature on interventions to improve IYCF in India, and (c) IYCF program models implemented between 2007 and 2012. We find that Indian policies are well aligned with global technical guidance on counselling interventions. However, guidelines for complementary food supplements (CFS) need to be reexamined. Two national programs with the operational infrastructure to deliver IYCF interventions offer great potential for scale, but more operational guidance, capacity, and monitoring are needed to actively support delivery of IYCF counselling at scale by available frontline workers. Many IYCF implementation efforts to date have experimented with approaches to improve breastfeeding and initiation of complementary feeding but not with improving diet diversity or the quality of food supplements. Financing is currently inadequate to deliver CFS at scale, and governance issues affect the quality and reach of CFS. Available evidence from Indian studies supports the use of counselling strategies to improve breastfeeding practices and initiation of complementary feeding, but limited evidence exists on improving full spectrum of IYCF practices and the impact and operational aspects of CFS in India. We conclude that India is well positioned to support the full spectrum of IYCF using existing policies and delivery platforms, but capacity, financing, and evidence gaps on critical areas of programming can limit impact at scale.
Harnessing private sector expertise to improve complementary feeding within a regulatory framework: Where is the evidence?
Authors: van Liere Marti J. , Tarlton Dessie , Menon Ravi , Yellamanda M. , Reerink Ietje
Published: October 2017

Global recognition that the complex and multicausal problems of malnutrition require all players to collaborate and to invest towards the same objective has led to increased private sector engagement as exemplified through the Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network and mechanisms for blended financing and matched funding, such as the Global Nutrition for Growth Compact. The careful steps made over the past 5 to 10 years have however not taken away or reduced the hesitation and scepticism of the public sector actors towards commercial or even social businesses. Evidence of impact or even a positive contribution of a private sector approach to intermediate nutrition outcomes is still lacking. This commentary aims to discuss the multiple ways in which private sector can leverage its expertise to improve nutrition in general, and complementary feeding in particular. It draws on specific lessons learned in Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, India, Indonesia, and Madagascar on how private sector expertise has contributed, within the boundaries of a regulatory framework, to improve availability, accessibility, affordability, and adequate use of nutritious foods. It concludes that a solid evidence base regarding the contribution of private sector to complementary feeding is still lacking and that the development of a systematic learning agenda is essential to make progress in the area of private sector engagement in nutrition.
Diet quality and risk of stunting among infants and young children in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Krasevec Julia , An Xiaoyi , Kumapley Richard , Bégin France , Frongillo Edward A.
Published: October 2017

Age‐appropriate complementary feeding practices are far from optimal among low‐ and middle‐income countries with available data. The evidence on the association between feeding practices and linear growth is mixed. We sought to systematically examine the association between two indictors of dietary quality—dietary diversity and animal source food (ASF) consumption (WHO, 2008)—and stunting (length‐for‐age z‐score) employing existing data from 39 Demographic and Health Surveys. Data on 74,548 children aged 6–23 months were pooled and multiple logistic regression models, adjusting for child, maternal, and household characteristics, employed to assess the association between dietary quality and stunting. Stratified models by child age and by World Bank country‐income classifications (World Bank, 2015) were also applied. Children aged 6–23 months consuming zero food groups in the previous day had a 1.345 higher odds of being stunted when compared to the reference group (≥5 food groups); those who did not consume any ASF in the previous day had a 1.436 higher odds of being stunted compared to children consuming all three types of ASF (egg, meat, and dairy). We estimated that 2,629 cases of stunting would have been averted (12.6% of those stunted) among the population studied if all children had consumed five or more food groups. Outcomes by country‐income groupings showed larger associations of diet diversity and ASF consumption for upper‐ and lower‐middle income countries compared to low‐income countries. In summary, dietary diversity and ASF consumption were associated with stunting, with associations varying by stratified groups.
Evaluation of programs to improve complementary feeding in infants and young children
Authors: Frongillo Edward A.
Published: October 2017

Evaluation of complementary feeding programs is needed to enhance knowledge on what works, to document responsible use of resources, and for advocacy. Evaluation is done during program conceptualization and design, implementation, and determination of effectiveness. This paper explains the role of evaluation in the advancement of complementary feeding programs, presenting concepts and methods and illustrating them through examples. Planning and investments for evaluations should occur from the beginning of the project life cycle. Essential to evaluation is articulation of a program theory on how change would occur and what program actions are required for change. Analysis of program impact pathways makes explicit the dynamic connections in the program theory and accounts for contextual factors that could influence program effectiveness. Evaluating implementation functioning is done through addressing questions about needs, coverage, provision, and utilization using information obtained from process evaluation, operations research, and monitoring. Evaluating effectiveness is done through assessing impact, efficiency, coverage, process, and causality. Plausibility designs ask whether the program seemed to have an effect above and beyond external influences, often using a nonrandomized control group and baseline and end line measures. Probability designs ask whether there was an effect using a randomized control group. Evaluations may not be able to use randomization, particularly for programs implemented at a large scale. Plausibility designs, innovative designs, or innovative combinations of designs sometimes are best able to provide useful information. Further work is needed to develop practical designs for evaluation of large‐scale country programs on complementary feeding.
Tools to improve planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of complementary feeding programmes
Authors: Untoro Juliawati , Childs Rachel , Bose Indira , Winichagoon Pattanee , Rudert Christiane , Hall Andrew , de Pee Saskia
Published: October 2017

Adequate nutrient intake is a prerequisite for achieving good nutrition status. Suboptimal complementary feeding practices are a main risk factor for stunting. The need for systematic and user‐friendly tools to guide the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of dietary interventions for children aged 6–23 months has been recognized. This paper describes five tools, namely, ProPAN, Optifood, Cost of the Diet, Fill the Nutrient Gap, and Monitoring Results for Equity System that can be used in different combinations to improve situation analysis, planning, implementation, monitoring, or evaluation approaches for complementary feeding in a particular context. ProPAN helps with development of strategies and activities designed to change the behaviours of the target population. Optifood provides guidance for developing food‐based recommendations. The Cost of the Diet can provide insight on economic barriers to accessing a nutritious and balanced diet. The Fill the Nutrient Gap facilitates formulation of context‐specific policies and programmatic approaches to improve nutrient intake, through a multistakeholder process that uses insights from linear programming and secondary data. The Monitoring Results for Equity System helps with analysis of gaps, constraints, and determinants of complementary feeding interventions and adoption of recommended practices especially in the most vulnerable and deprived populations. These tools, and support for their use, are readily available and can be used either alone and/or complementarily throughout the programme cycle to improve infant and young child‐feeding programmes at subnational and national levels.
Complementary feeding practices for infants and young children in South Asia. A review of evidence for action post‐2015
Authors: Aguayo Víctor M.
Published: October 2017

Some 37% (~64 million) South Asian children under 5 years are stunted. Most stunting occurs during the complementary feeding period (6–23 months). Our objective was to (a) characterize complementary feeding practices in South Asia and (b) review the effectiveness of information, education, and counselling (IEC) interventions aiming to improve complementary feeding in South Asia. We conducted a comprehensive review of (a) the latest nationally representative survey data and (b) peer‐reviewed interventions (January 1990 to December 2015) that used IEC as the main strategy to improve complementary feeding. The analytical sample included 30,966 children aged 6–23 months. Foods made from grains are the main complementary food (76.8% of children). Only 33.2% of children are fed fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A and a mere 17.1% are fed complementary foods containing meat, fish, poultry and/or eggs. Timely introduction, minimum meal frequency, minimum dietary diversity, and minimum acceptable diet were estimated at 57.4%, 47.7%, 33.0%, and 20.5%, respectively. The evidence on the effectiveness of IEC interventions is limited in quantity, quality, and scale. The 12 intervention studies that met the inclusion criteria indicate that IEC interventions delivered by many types of primary care workers/community resource persons using multiple contact opportunities improved the timeliness, frequency, diversity, and/or adequacy of complementary feeding. However, acceptability, availability, and affordability seem to constrain improvements in diet diversity, particularly foods of animal origin. The small size of most intervention studies and the training and/or supervision intensity of counsellors raise concerns about the potential for scale and/or sustainability of some of the interventions reviewed.
Emerging issues in complementary feeding: Global aspects
Authors: Michaelsen Kim F. , Grummer‐Strawn Laurence , Bégin France
Published: October 2017

The complementary feeding period (6–24 months) is a window of opportunity for preventing stunting, wasting, overweight, and obesity and for improving long‐term development and health. Because WHO published its guiding principles for complementary feeding in 2003, new knowledge and evidence have been generated in the area of child feeding. The aim of this paper is to highlight some of the emerging issues in complementary feeding and potential implications on the guidelines revision.

Evidence on the effect of the quality and quantity of protein and fat intake on child growth during the complementary feeding period is summarized. The increased availability of sugar‐containing beverages and unhealthy snack foods and its negative effect on young child's diet is described. Negative effects of nonresponsive feeding and force feeding are also discussed, although few scientific studies have addressed these issues.

There are several emerging research areas that are likely to provide a better understanding of how complementary feeding influences growth, development, and health. These include the effect of the young child's diet on body composition, gastrointestinal microbiota, and environmental enteric dysfunction. However, at present, findings from these research areas are not likely to influence guidelines.

Several emerging issues will be relevant to address when complementary feeding guidelines will be updated. With the increasing prevalence of obesity globally, it is important that guidelines on complementary feeding address both prevention of undernutrition and prevention of overweight, obesity, and noncommunicable diseases later in life.
Household food insecurity and children's dietary diversity and nutrition in India. Evidence from the comprehensive nutrition survey in Maharashtra
Authors: Chandrasekhar S. , Aguayo Víctor M. , Krishna Vandana , Nair Rajlakshmi
Published: October 2017

We analyse data from the 2012 Comprehensive Nutrition Survey in the State of Maharashtra, India, which surveyed 2,630 households. This is a unique dataset because in addition to nutritional status of mothers and children, it has information on diets of women and children and household food security. This rich dataset allows us to address three issues: whether household food security predicts higher diet diversity in children aged 6–23 months; whether household food security predicts lower risk of undernutrition; and whether the lower risk of undernutrition in children who live in food secure households is mediated by improved diet diversity for children. We find that children from moderately food insecure and severely food insecure households are more likely to have lower diet diversity scores. We find that the odds of a child being severely stunted, severely underweight, or severely wasted are higher in severely food insecure households. After controlling for children's diet diversity, and other child, maternal and household characteristics, we find that household food security is no longer statistically associated with stunting, wasting, or underweight. However, diet diversity of children is statistically significantly associated with whether a child is stunted or underweight. Our results although not causal provide evidence for understanding the extent to which household food insecurity affects children's diet diversity and how both these factors affect nutrition outcomes in children. Our analysis informs Government of Maharashtra's and India's National Nutrition Mission in their efforts for formulating appropriate policies and programmes to address child undernutrition.
Risk factors of poor complementary feeding practices in Pakistani children aged 6–23 months: A multilevel analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey 2012–2013
Authors: Na Muzi , Aguayo Víctor M. , Arimond Mary , Stewart Christine P.
Published: October 2017

Appropriate feeding practices are crucial for survival, growth, and development in childhood. This paper analyzes Pakistan's Demographic and Health Survey 2012–2013 to fill the knowledge gap in risk factors of poor complementary feeding practices in Pakistani children. Multilevel models were applied to fit the multistage cluster sample of 2,827 children aged 6–23 months from 489 communities. Introduction of solid, semi‐solid, or soft foods (intro) was achieved in 67% infants aged 6–8 months. Among children aged 6–23 months, the proportion of children meeting minimum meal frequency, dietary diversity (MDD), and acceptable diet criteria were 63%, 22% and 15%, respectively. Consumption of legumes and nuts, flesh foods, and vitamin A‐rich fruits and vegetables was low in all children (6–19%), even among children who met the MDD criteria (15–55%). Younger child age, especially between 6 and 11 months and delayed maternal postnatal checkup were significant individual‐level risk factors that consistently increased the odds of not meeting all four criteria examined. Fewer antenatal care visits predicted the odds of achieving intro and minimum meal frequency while younger maternal age and household poverty predicted the odds of achieving MDD and minimum acceptable diet. Community‐level factors included geographic region and general access to maternal and child health care services. The overall poor quality of children's complementary diets in Pakistani calls for stronger policy and program action to promote the consumption of key nutrient‐dense foods while prioritizing interventions for the most vulnerable children and populations.
The potential role of micronutrient powders to improve complementary feeding practices
Authors: Siekmans Kendra , Bégin France , Situma Ruth , Kupka Roland
Published: October 2017

Micronutrient powder (MNP) interventions are often integrated within infant and young child feeding (IYCF) programmes to improve micronutrient intake from complementary foods. This review aims to describe country experiences with MNP interventions and their impact on IYCF practices and develop a framework for how MNP may strengthen complementary feeding practices. A literature review and key informant interviews were used to gather data on complementary feeding practices in MNP programme design, implementation, and evaluation. Findings from 11 MNP programmes in different geographic regions reinforced the potential of MNP interventions to add renewed focus and resources to existing IYCF programmes. MNP plays an important role in ensuring adequate micronutrient intake and reducing anaemia in young children. In some programmes, MNP users had improved IYCF practices, such as breastfeeding to 24 months and children receiving complementary foods with adequate consistency, frequency, and diversity. Our framework highlights how behaviour change communication is an essential component for influencing household actions, not only to generate demand and promote correct and sustained MNP use but also raise awareness of IYCF practices. The actions at MNP policy, delivery, and behaviour change communication levels collectively influence household IYCF practices, and formative research and monitoring and evaluation serve to inform programme design and optimize impact. In conclusion, a limited but growing body of evidence suggests that MNP interventions can contribute to improve complementary feeding practices. However, there is scope for improvement even among integrated MNP and IYCF programmes in order to realize the full potential of MNP interventions for IYCF practices.
Complementary feeding practices: Current global and regional estimates
Authors: White Jessica M. , Bégin France , Kumapley Richard , Murray Colleen , Krasevec Julia
Published: October 2017

Insufficient quantities and inadequate quality of complementary foods, together with poor feeding practices, pose a threat to children's health and nutrition. Interventions to improve complementary feeding are critical to reduce all forms of malnutrition, and access to data to ascertain the status of complementary feeding practices is essential for efforts to improve feeding behaviours. However, sufficient data to generate estimates for the core indicators covering the complementary feeding period only became available recently. The current situation of complementary feeding at the global and regional level is reported here using data contained within the UNICEF global database. Global rates of continued breastfeeding drop from 74.0% at 1 year of age to 46.3% at 2 years of age. Nearly a third of infants 4–5 months old are already fed solid foods, whereas nearly 20% of 10–11 months old had not consumed solid foods during the day prior to their survey. Of particular concern is the low rate (28.2%) of children 6–23 months receiving at least a minimally diverse diet. Although rates for all indicators vary by background characteristics, feeding behaviours are suboptimal even in richest households, suggesting that cultural factors and poor knowledge regarding an adequate diet for young children are important to address. In summary, far too few children are benefitting from minimum complementary feeding practices. Efforts are needed not only to improve children's diets for their survival, growth, and development but also for governments to report on progress against global infant and young child feeding indicators on a regular basis.
First foods: Why improving young children's diets matter.
Authors: Bégin France , Aguayo Víctor M.
Published: October 2017

Globally, only 52% of children aged 6–23 months meet the minimum meal frequency and a mere 29% meet the minimum dietary diversity, with large disparities across and within regions. With most of the stunting occurring during the first thousand days—from conception to age 2 years—improving complementary feeding in children 6–23 months old is an urgent priority. With this evidence in mind, UNICEF collaborated with the governments of India and Maharashtra to convene a global meeting in Mumbai, India, under the theme: First Foods: A Global Meeting to Accelerate Progress on Complementary Feeding in Young Children (November 17–18, 2015). The global meeting provided a platform that aimed to (a) synthesize the biological and implementation science on complementary feeding; (b) review the practice and experience in improving access to nutritious complementary foods and good complementary feeding practices; and (c) consolidate a strong evidence base that can inform the development of strategies and approaches to improve complementary feeding that are fit to context. This overview paper summarizes the rationale on why improving complementary foods and feeding for infants and young children matters and what it takes to improve them. It builds on the papers presented at the First Foods Global Meeting and those commissioned as a follow on to it.
Limited effect of adaptive immune response to control encephalitozoonosis
Authors: Sak B. , Kotková M. , Hlásková L. , Kváč M.
Published: October 2017

This study revises our understanding of the effectiveness of cell‐mediated adaptive immunity and treatment against microsporidia using molecular detection and quantification of microsporidia in immunocompetent C57Bl/6 and immunodeficient CD4−/− and CD8−/− mice for the first time. We demonstrate an intense dissemination of microsporidia into most organs within the first weeks post‐infection in all strains of mice, followed by a chronic infection characterized by microsporidia persistence in CD4−/− and C57Bl/6 mice and a lethal outcome for CD8−/− mice. Albendazole application reduces microsporidia burden in C57Bl/6 and CD4−/− mice, whereas CD8−/− mice experience only a temporary effect of the treatment. Surprisingly, treated CD8−/− mice survived the entire experimental duration despite enormous microsporidia burden. On the basis of our results, we conclude that microsporidia survive despite the presence of immune mechanisms and treatments that are currently considered to be effective and therefore that CD8 T lymphocytes represent a major, but not sole effector mechanism controlling microsporidiosis. Furthermore, the survival of mice does not correspond to spore burden, which provides new insight into latent microsporidiosis from an epidemiological point of view.
Assessment of microbial diversity in the rhizosphere of Pinus roxburghii (Sarg.) and bio‐inoculant potential of selected pine bacterial isolates for wheat varieties based on cultureindependent and culture‐dependent techniques
Authors: Naz I. , Bano A. , Mirza M. S.
Published: October 2017

Evidence is lacking regarding compatibility of pine bacteria as bio‐inoculants for crops. The diversity and abundance of rhizosphere bacteria of Pinus roxburghii has never been investigated with simultaneous application of culture‐dependent and culture‐independent techniques. The present study was aimed to isolate, characterise, check the bio‐inoculant potential of pine bacteria and assess rhizosphere bacterial diversity using culture‐independent advanced approaches.

Forty bacteria isolated from the rhizoplane of P. roxburghii growing in a cold climate at high altitude in Murree, were morphologically characterised; nine were identified by 16S rRNA sequence analyses and used in experiments. Diversity and abundance of the 16S rRNA gene and nifH gene in the rhizosphere was assessed by cloning, RFLP analysis, 454‐amplicon pyrosequencing and qPCR.

The bacterial isolates significantly improved dry weight of shoot, root, root area, IAA and GA3 content, number of grains plant−1, weight of grains plant−1 in wheat varieties Chakwal‐50 and Fareed‐06 under axenic and field conditions. The number of 16S rRNA sequences (2979) identified by pyrosequencing shared similarity with 13 phyla of bacteria and archaea.

The results confirm the existence of diverse bacteria of agricultural and industrial importance in the rhizosphere and compatibility of rhizoplane bacteria as bio‐inoculants for wheat varieties.
Succession in soil seed banks and its implications for restoration of calcareous sand grasslands
Authors: Török Péter , Kelemen András , Valkó Orsolya , Miglécz Tamás , Tóth Katalin , Tóth Edina , Sonkoly Judit , Kiss Réka , Csecserits Anikó , Rédei Tamás , Deák Balázs , Szűcs Péter , Varga Nóra , Tóthmérész Béla
Published: October 2017

Spontaneous succession is increasingly involved in grassland restoration, because it offers a cost‐effective solution compared to technical reclamation methods. This topic is especially important nowadays, as large areas of marginal croplands are being abandoned on poor soils of Central and Eastern Europe, which offers a possibility for the spontaneous recovery of typical target grasslands. Studying the vegetation composition, aboveground biomass, and seed bank in old fields of different age and target calcareous sand grasslands using the chronosequence method, we aimed to answer the following questions: (1) Which species contribute to the seed banks of old fields and reference grasslands? (2) Does the direction of vegetation and seed bank succession trend toward the reference grasslands? (3) How are the vegetation changes in spontaneous succession reflected by the soil seed banks of old fields? In reference grasslands on the dune tops only sporadic seed banks were detected, while several hygrophytes had dense seed banks in reference grasslands in dune slacks. Similarity between the species composition of vegetation and seed banks was low. The development of vegetation and seed banks in old fields progressed toward that of target grasslands and the proportion of weedy species (e.g. indigenous weeds and invasive species) also decreased with time. The cryptogam biomass correlated significantly negatively, while the soil phosphorus significantly positively with the weedy species seed bank density. Our results indicated that the role of persistent seed banks in the regeneration of calcareous sand grasslands from old fields is rather limited and promising vegetation changes are mostly driven by spatial dispersal.
Nonselective use of vegetation for spawning by the diadromous fish Galaxias maculatus
Authors: Hickford Michael J. H. , Stevens Jessica C. B. , Schiel David R.
Published: October 2017

Terrestrial egg development is advantageous for the amphidromous fish Galaxias maculatus because it increases access to oxygen, increases incubation temperatures, and reduces aquatic predation. The characteristics of New Zealand's riparian vegetation have changed considerably since colonial times from native vegetation to exotic grasses, with potential effects on the spawning dynamics of fish. Here, we used a series of experiments to test preferences of G. maculatus for egg laying in combinations of a native sedge and rush, and two exotic grasses. In laboratory experiments, G. maculatus spawned in all available habitats with no preference for native over exotic vegetation. Egg survival did not differ between the vegetative habitats, but in a treatment where only river stones were available, eggs were laid but they dehydrated and died. In a field experiment, there was no evidence for a preference for spawning in native vegetation, and no association between a “key” feature of vegetation—tiller density—and the number of eggs laid. The microclimate beneath dense vegetation in experimental treatments was more constant than ambient conditions with few extreme temperatures and low humidities. Given the readiness of G. maculatus to spawn in exotic vegetation, there appears to be no benefit in restoring native vegetation to enhance egg laying or survival of these taxa.
Basin‐scale thermal and fluid flow histories revealed by carbonate clumped isotopes (Δ47) – Middle Jurassic carbonates of the Paris Basin depocentre
Authors: Mangenot Xavier , Gasparrini Marta , Rouchon Virgile , Bonifacie Magali
Published: October 2017

The reconstruction of past diagenetic conditions in sedimentary basins is often under‐constrained. This results from both the analytical challenge of performing the required analyses on the minute sample amounts available from diagenetic mineral phases and the lack of tracers for some of the diagenetic parameters. The carbonate clumped isotope thermometry (Δ47) opens new perspectives for unravelling the temperatures of diagenetic phases together with the source of their parent fluids, two parameters that are otherwise impossible to constrain in the absence of exploitable fluid inclusions. Here is reported the study of a large number of sedimentary and diagenetic carbonate phases (from Middle Jurassic reservoirs of the Paris Basin depocentre) by combining detailed petrographic observations with a large number of Δ47 data (n > 45) on a well‐documented paragenetic sequence, including calcite and dolomite burial cements. The data reveal carbonate crystallization at temperatures between 29°C and 98°C from fluids with δ18Owater values between −7‰ and +2‰, in response to the progressive burial and uplift of the Paris Basin, throughout 165 Myr of basin evolution. Coupled with the time–temperature evolution previously estimated from thermal maturity modelling, these temperatures allow determining the timing of four successive cementation episodes. The overall data set indicates a history of complex water mixing with a significant contribution of hypersaline waters from the Triassic aquifers migrated upward along faults during the Cretaceous subsidence of the basin. Subsequent large‐scale infiltrations of meteoric waters induced a dilution of these pre‐existing brines in response to the Paris Basin uplift in the Tertiary. Overall, the data presented here allow proposing an integrated approach to characterize the cementation events affecting the studied carbonate reservoir units, based on temperature, oxygen isotope composition and salinity of the parent fluids as well as on petrographic grounds.
Decreased Expression of IFNG‐AS1,IFNG and IL‐1B Inflammatory Genes in Medicated Schizophrenia and Bipolar Patients
Authors: Ghafelehbashi H. , Pahlevan Kakhki M. , Kular L. , Moghbelinejad S. , Ghafelehbashi S. H.
Published: October 2017

Although aberrant expression of cytokines such as IL‐1B and IFNG in blood from psychiatric patients supports a role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of the disease, little is known about mechanisms underlying their regulation. We aimed to evaluate the putative role of IFNG‐AS1 long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) in controlling of IFNG locus in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar (BP). We analysed the expression levels of IFNG‐AS1 long non‐coding RNA, and IFNG and IL‐1B mRNAs in blood cells from 27 SZ‐ and 30 BP‐medicated patients and in 32 healthy controls. Our data showed that IFNG‐AS1 expression dramatically decreased in BP and SZ patients compared with controls and was significantly correlated with IFNG expression in patients specifically. Transcript levels of IL‐1B were also significantly reduced in BP and SZ patients compared with controls. No significant differences in the expression of IFNG‐AS1, IFNG and IL‐1B genes were found between patients with BP and SZ. Our data shed further light on the potential role of inflammation, and more particularly inflammatory lncRNAs, in SZ and BP diseases and their pharmacological treatment.