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Objective: To investigate associations of maternal and cord blood cytokine patterns with newborn size and body composition. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 70 pregnant women and their healthy newborns selected from the "Araraquara Cohort Study". Newborn anthropometric measurements were recorded at birth. Body composition was evaluated by air displacement plethysmography. Maternal blood samples were collected from pregnant women between 30 and 36 weeks of gestation, and umbilical cord blood samples were collected immediately after placenta discharge. The concentrations of the cytokines were determined in plasma by ELISA. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations between maternal and cord blood cytokine concentrations and newborn anthropometry and body composition measurements. Results: Maternal plasma TGF-b1 concentration was inversely associated with newborn weight (b = -43.0; p = 0.012), length (b = -0.16, p = 0.028), head circumference (b = -0.13, p = 0.004), ponderal index (b = -0.32, p = 0.011) and fat-free mass (b = -0.05, p = 0.005). However, the association persisted just for head circumference (b = -0.26; p = 0.030) and ponderal index (b = - 0.28; p = 0.028), after adjusting for pre-gestational BMI, gestational weight gain, gestational age, hours after delivery, newborn sex, smoking and alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Maternal plasma TGF-b1 concentration may be involved in the regulation of newborn size, mainly head circumference and ponderal index. Further cohort studies are necessary to investigate the role of TGF-b1 in different trimesters of pregnancy and its effect during the early stages of fetal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for incubating business ideas in rural communities in Portugal. The work provides an example of a bottom-up approach to rural entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach – The paper analyses case study of an entrepreneurial support organisation conceived and used in rural European regions and aiming at local development through entrepreneurial boost. Findings – Although the methodology for incubating business ideas was adapted from a similar situation in France, its originality comes from the description of how the awareness of local specificities requires a calibration of the framework. Research limitations/implications – The case study is the outcome of a pioneering study of incubation of business ideas in rural areas. Further research needs to be taken in order to claim generalisability of these findings to other less favoured target groups. Practical implications – The incubation of business ideas can be used to encourage local development in declining rural regions. It is important to calibrate the framework used to the local/regional reality. Originality/value – Apart from being innovative in providing a supportive entrepreneurial infrastructure with mentoring people-based support in the creation of new firms in rural areas, it is also a nation-wide entrepreneurial service innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]