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Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2024This study examined changes in the activity patterns of tropical dairy cows during the transition period to assess their potential for predicting calving days. This...
This study examined changes in the activity patterns of tropical dairy cows during the transition period to assess their potential for predicting calving days. This study used the AfiTag-II biosensor to monitor activity, rest time, rest per bout, and restlessness ratio in 298 prepartum and 347 postpartum Holstein Friesian cows across three lactation groups (1, 2, and ≥3). The data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models in SPSS, and five machine learning models, including random forest, decision tree, gradient boosting, Naïve Bayes, and neural networks, were used to predict the calving day, with their performance evaluated via ROC curves and AUC metrics. For all lactations, activity levels peak on the calving day, followed by a gradual return to prepartum levels within two weeks. First-lactation cows displayed the shortest rest duration, with a prepartum rest time of 568.8 ± 5.4 (mean ± SE), which is significantly lower than higher-lactation animals. The random forest and gradient boosting displayed an effective performance, achieving AUCs of 85% and 83%, respectively. These results indicate that temporal changes in activity behavior have the potential to be a useful indicator for calving day prediction, particularly in tropical climates where seasonal variations can obscure traditional prepartum indicators.
PubMed: 38929452
DOI: 10.3390/ani14121834 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Understand and explore the childbirth experiences of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWHIV). With the advent of several measures to decrease the intrapartum HIV... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Understand and explore the childbirth experiences of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWHIV). With the advent of several measures to decrease the intrapartum HIV infection and a strong emphasis on the humanization of childbirth, there is a growing focus on providing positive childbirth experiences for pregnant women. Indeed, a positive childbirth experience is even more important in the group of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWHIV) as it plays a pivotal role in enhancing the mother's adherence to her postpartum treatment and the newborn's engagement in Infectious Disease services.
METHODOLOGY
A scoping review was conducted. Searches were performed on databases, such as MEDLINE, PUBMED, WEB OF SCIENCE and Cochrane Library, using the following keywords: childbirth, birth, parturition, HIV, humaniz*, perceived safety, experience, maternal satisfaction, healthcare professional and midwi*. Articles meeting pre-established criteria were selected within the timeframe of 2013 to 2023 for inclusion in the review.
RESULTS
Out of a total of 2,340,391 articles, 4 were chosen based on our defined criteria. Three primary themes emerged from the selected articles: the assessment of childbirth experience quality, vulnerability and autonomy.
CONCLUSIONS
The four studies identified had a small sample size and were not adequately conducted with a specific focus on studying the childbirth experience of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWHIV). This scoping review revealed a gap in the existing literature, indicating a need for further research and clarification in the identified area.
PubMed: 38929322
DOI: 10.3390/children11060743 -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Oxidative stress damage in periparturient cows decreases both production and their health; supplementation with complex additives during the periparturient period has...
Oxidative stress damage in periparturient cows decreases both production and their health; supplementation with complex additives during the periparturient period has been used as an important strategy to enhance the antioxidant status and production of dairy cows. The periparturient cows not only risk a negative energy balance due to reduced dry matter intake but also represent a sensitive period for oxidative stress. Therefore, we have developed an immunomodulatory and nutritional regulation combined additive (INC) that hopefully can improve the immune status and production of cows during the periparturient period and their offspring health and growth by improving their antioxidant stress status. The INC comprised a diverse array of additives, including water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, Selenomethionine, and active dry Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Forty-five multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to three treatments: CON (no INC supplementation, = 15), INC30 (30 g/d INC supplementation, = 15), and INC60 (60 g/d INC supplementation, = 15) based on last lactation milk yield, body condition score, and parity. Newborn calves were administered 4 L of maternal colostrum originating from the corresponding treatment and categorized based on the treatment received by their respective dams. The INC not only served to maintain the antioxidative stress system of dairy cows during the periparturient period but also showed a tendency to improve the immune response (lower tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6) during the perinatal period. A linear decrease in concentrations of alkaline phosphatase postpartum and β-hydroxybutyrate was observed with INC supplementation. Milk fat yield, milk protein yield, and energy-corrected milk yield were also increased linearly with increasing additive supplementation. Calves in the INC30 group exhibited greater wither height and chest girth but no significant effect on average daily gain or body weight. The diarrhea frequency was linearly decreased with the incremental level of INC. Results indicate that supplementation with INC in peripartum dairy cows could be a major strategy to improve immune response, decrease inflammation, maintain antioxidant stress status in transition dairy cows, and have merit in their calves. In conclusion, this study underlines the benefits of INC supplementation during the transition period, as it improved anti-inflammatory capacity, could positively impact antioxidative stress capacity, and eventually enhanced the production performance of dairy cows and the health and growth of calves.
PubMed: 38929089
DOI: 10.3390/antiox13060650 -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Dairy cows face metabolic challenges around the time of calving, leading to a negative energy balance and various postpartum health issues. Adipose tissue is crucial for...
Dietary Supplementation with Naringin Improves Systemic Metabolic Status and Alleviates Oxidative Stress in Transition Cows via Modulating Adipose Tissue Function: A Lipid Perspective.
Dairy cows face metabolic challenges around the time of calving, leading to a negative energy balance and various postpartum health issues. Adipose tissue is crucial for cows during this period, as it regulates energy metabolism and supports immune function. Naringin, one of the main flavonoids in citrus fruit and their byproducts, is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytoconstituent. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplemental naringin on performance, systemic inflammation, oxidative status, and adipose tissue metabolic status. A total of 36 multiparous Holstein cows (from ~21 d prepartum through 35 d postpartum) were provided a basal control (CON) diet or a CON diet containing naringin (NAR) at 30 g/d per cow. Supplemental NAR increased the yield of raw milk and milk protein, without affecting dry matter intake. Cows fed NAR showed significantly lower levels ( < 0.05) of serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), C-reactive protein, IL-1β, IL-6, malonaldehyde, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase, but increased ( < 0.05) glutathione peroxidase activity relative to those fed CON. Supplemental NAR increased ( < 0.05) adipose tissue adiponectin abundance, decreased inflammatory responses, and reduced oxidative stress. Lipidomic analysis showed that cows fed NAR had lower concentrations of ceramide species ( < 0.05) in the serum and adipose tissue than did the CON-fed cows. Adipose tissue proteomics showed that proteins related to lipolysis, ceramide biosynthesis, inflammation, and heat stress were downregulated ( < 0.05), while those related to glycerophospholipid biosynthesis and the extracellular matrix were upregulated ( < 0.05). Feeding NAR to cows may reduce the accumulation of ceramide by lowering serum levels of NEFA and LPS and increasing adiponectin expression, thereby decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress in adipose tissue, ultimately improving their systemic metabolic status. Including NAR in periparturient cows' diets improves lactational performance, reduces excessive lipolysis in adipose tissue, and decreases systemic and adipose tissue inflammation and oxidative stress. Integrating lipidomic and proteomic data revealed that reduced ceramide and increased glycerophospholipids may alleviate metabolic dysregulations in adipose tissue, which in turn benefits systemic metabolic status.
PubMed: 38929076
DOI: 10.3390/antiox13060638 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024This prospective cohort study, conducted from pregnancy to six months postpartum and grounded in STROBE methodology, quantitatively explores the relationship between...
BACKGROUND
This prospective cohort study, conducted from pregnancy to six months postpartum and grounded in STROBE methodology, quantitatively explores the relationship between antenatal breastfeeding intentions and subsequent breastfeeding outcomes among high-risk pregnant women, compared to a low-risk pregnancy group.
METHODS
The study was conducted in one of the largest public hospitals in Attica that provides care to pregnant women, enrolling 380 participants divided into high-risk ( = 200) and low-risk ( = 180) cohorts. Data were collected over 20 months (starting from the end of May 2020 until January 2022), spanning from pregnancy to six months postpartum, via comprehensive questionnaires.
RESULTS
Statistical analysis revealed a pronounced correlation between prenatal breastfeeding intentions and actual breastfeeding behaviors across both groups. Specifically, 81.1% of women in the high-risk group and 82.5% in the low-risk group expressed intentions of exclusively breastfeeding during pregnancy. By six months postpartum, 54.9% of the high-risk and 64.3% of the low-risk pregnancy group managed to sustain breastfeeding. Extended antenatal hospitalization emerged as a statistically significant factor ( = 0.045) negatively impacting exclusive breastfeeding intentions among high-risk pregnancies.
CONCLUSION
The findings illuminate the critical influence of antenatal intentions on breastfeeding outcomes, particularly among high-risk pregnancies. Moreover, the study identifies the detrimental effect of prolonged hospital stays on breastfeeding aspirations. These insights underscore the necessity for nuanced, supportive interventions aimed at bolstering breastfeeding rates, thereby advancing maternal and neonatal health objectives aligned with World Health Organization recommendations.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Feeding; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Adult; Intention; Greece; Postpartum Period; Young Adult; Pregnant Women; Surveys and Questionnaires; Pregnancy, High-Risk
PubMed: 38929000
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060755 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024The oral health-related quality of life of pregnant women and its effects on health conditions are important topics to be investigated in scientific research. The...
The oral health-related quality of life of pregnant women and its effects on health conditions are important topics to be investigated in scientific research. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of pre-pregnancy obesity on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in pregnant women. A prospective cohort study was carried out with 93 pregnant women who were evaluated in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy (T1) and after delivery (T2). The following were analyzed: dental caries (DMFT), OHRQoL (OHIP-14), anthropometric data (BMI), socioeconomic, demographic, oral hygiene behavioral habits and the use of dental services. Unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of predictors on OHRQoL. The results of the adjusted analysis showed lower education relative risk (RR) (1.37; 95%CI 1.02-1.83; <0.00), low income (RR 2.19; 95%CI 1.63-2.93; <0.00) and higher BMI pre-pregnancy (RR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.04; <0.00) were associated with worse OHRQoL in postpartum pregnant women. Flossing was a predictor of better OHRQoL at T2 (RR 0.73; 95%CI 0.57-0.93; <0.01). Higher BMI, low education, low income and inadequate oral hygiene habits were predictors of worse OHRQOL of pregnant women after the birth of the baby.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Oral Health; Brazil; Adult; Quality of Life; Prospective Studies; Young Adult; Obesity; Cohort Studies; Socioeconomic Factors; Pregnancy Complications; Dental Caries; Body Mass Index; Oral Hygiene
PubMed: 38928986
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060740 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024The hypothesis that physiological changes in women can affect periodontal tissues is the subject of this study, and inflammatory markers such as matrix...
The hypothesis that physiological changes in women can affect periodontal tissues is the subject of this study, and inflammatory markers such as matrix metalloproteinase-8 can measure susceptibility to inflammation. The study aimed to analyze MMP-8 levels in periodontal sites of postpartum women and women without a history of pregnancy, comparing health parameters and periodontal disease. This is a case-control study with 40 participants, 20 cases (women in the postpartum period) and 20 controls (women without any pregnancy), who underwent clinical periodontal examination and the collection of crevicular gingival fluid. The ELISA test was used to detect MMP-8 levels. Postpartum women had worse periodontal parameters, such as bleeding index on probing, number of sites with CAL ≥ 3, and fewer teeth present. In the group of women without a history of pregnancy, a significantly lower MMP-8 level was observed in healthy sites and a higher one was observed in periodontal pockets ( < 0.01). In contrast, in postpartum women, MMP-8 levels were elevated in both healthy sites and periodontal pockets ( > 0.01). The MMP-8 levels in gingival fluid appear to be related to periodontal clinical parameters and may be a possible marker of enzymatic changes involved in periodontal tissue destruction in postpartum women.
Topics: Humans; Female; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Postpartum Period; Gingival Crevicular Fluid; Pregnancy; Periodontal Diseases; Biomarkers; Young Adult
PubMed: 38928985
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060739 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024Food insecurity (FI) experienced during pregnancy represents a relevant public health problem, as it negatively affects maternal and child health.
INTRODUCTION
Food insecurity (FI) experienced during pregnancy represents a relevant public health problem, as it negatively affects maternal and child health.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of FI among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine associated factors.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out in the period from 2021 to 2022, with a representative sample of 423 women resulting from a sample calculation based on the average (2912 births) that occurred in the years 2016 to 2020 in the only maternity hospital in the municipality. After analyzing the medical records, interviews were carried out with the postpartum women using a standardized questionnaire and the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to calculate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals to measure associations.
RESULTS
FI was observed in 57.0% of cases and was associated with age under 20 years (PR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.29; 1.79), receipt of government assistance (PR = 1.31; 95% CI 1.10; 1.55), loss of family employment (PR = 1.40; 95% CI 1.20; 1.64), greater number of residents (PR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.00; 1.37), and prenatal care in a public institution (PR = 1.53; 95% CI 1.04; 2.26).
CONCLUSION
There was a high prevalence of FI cases, associated with socioeconomic, demographic, and prenatal care characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Topics: Humans; Female; COVID-19; Brazil; Pregnancy; Food Insecurity; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Young Adult; Pregnant Women; Prevalence; SARS-CoV-2; Cities; Adolescent; Pandemics
PubMed: 38928956
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060710 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024Impaired maternal-infant bonding can have a negative impact on the mother-infant relationship, affecting the social, emotional, and cognitive development of a child. In...
Impaired maternal-infant bonding can have a negative impact on the mother-infant relationship, affecting the social, emotional, and cognitive development of a child. In Uganda, there is a paucity of literature on impaired maternal-infant bonding. This quantitative, cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with impaired maternal-infant bonding. Postnatal mothers ( = 422) attending the Young Child Clinic at Kawempe National Referral Hospital participated in the study. Maternal-infant bonding was measured using the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). Participants with a score ≥ 13 on the PBQ were considered to have impaired maternal-infant bonding. The prevalence of impaired maternal-infant bonding among mothers was 45% (190/422). Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with impaired maternal-infant bonding. Unmarried mothers (AOR = 2.05, 95% [CI = 1.03-4.09], = 0.041), unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 5.19, 95% [CI = 3.07-8.82], < 0.001), first-time mothers (AOR = 2.46, 95% [CI = 1.37-4.43], = 0.003), female infant (AOR = 1.80, 95% [CI = 1.13-2.86], = 0.013), mothers with no/low education levels (AOR = 2.29, 95% [CI = 1.05-4.50], = 0.036), and those who delivered post term (AOR = 2.49, 95% [CI = 1.10-5.67], = 0.028) were more likely to have impaired maternal-infant bonding. Nurses and midwives in postnatal care should include maternal-infant bonding within their client's assessment and provide supportive mother-centered care. Interventions to improve maternal-infant bonding should be created and implemented in clinical practice.
Topics: Humans; Uganda; Female; Adult; Mother-Child Relations; Cross-Sectional Studies; Young Adult; Prevalence; Object Attachment; Infant; Mothers; Adolescent; Surveys and Questionnaires; Pregnancy; Male
PubMed: 38928912
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060665 -
Genes May 2024In previous work, we found that was differentially expressed in cows at different lactation stages. Thus, we deemed that may be a candidate gene affecting milk...
In previous work, we found that was differentially expressed in cows at different lactation stages. Thus, we deemed that may be a candidate gene affecting milk production traits in dairy cattle. In this study, we found the polymorphisms of by resequencing and verified their genetic associations with milk production traits by using an animal model in a cattle population. In total, we detected six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in . The single marker association analysis showed that all SNPs were significantly associated with the five milk production traits ( < 0.05). Additionally, we predicted that allele G of 29:g.44965658 in the 5' regulatory region created binding sites for TF GATA1 and verified that this allele inhibited the transcriptional activity of by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. In conclusion, we proved that had a prominent genetic effect on milk production traits, and six SNPs with prominent genetic effects could be used as markers for genomic selection (GS) in dairy cattle, which is beneficial for accelerating the improvement in milk yield and quality in Chinese Holstein cows.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Female; Milk; Lactation; GATA1 Transcription Factor; Alleles
PubMed: 38927644
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060708