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Background This study determined the relationship between physical activity (PA), circulating lipids throughout pregnancy and infant anthropometric outcomes at birth and 2 weeks of age. Methods Women (N = 234) with normal weight (NW, BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m.sup.2) and with overweight and class I obesity (OW/OB, BMI 25-35 kg/m.sup.2) were categorized into high and low PA based on average cohort steps during pregnancy (8099 steps/day). Circulating fasting lipids were measured at each trimester. Standardized methods were used to obtain anthropometrics measures. Infant body composition was estimated by quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (EchoMRI-AH small; ECHO Medical Systems). Results Women with NW who had higher activity had lower circulating triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels at 12 weeks compared to women with NW and low activity (p < 0.05). Women with OW/OB and high activity level throughout pregnancy had lower circulating TG, and low density lipoprotein (LDL), at 12 weeks, lower LDL at 24 weeks, and lower TG at 36 weeks compared to the women with OW/OB who had low activity levels (p < 0.05). For children born to women with OW/OB, maternal circulating TG and LDL were most associated with infant anthropometrics at 2 weeks of age. Conclusion This study supports that higher PA during pregnancy is associated with lower lipid levels throughout pregnancy with a greater effect size in women with OW/OB. Maternal lipids were associated with anthropometrics and infant body composition at two weeks of life in women with OW/OB., Author(s): Sarah Sobik [sup.1] [sup.2] , Clark R. Sims [sup.1] [sup.2] , Meghan Crimmins [sup.1] , Milan Bimali [sup.4] , D. Keith Williams [sup.1] [sup.3] , Aline Andres [sup.1] [sup.2] [...]

Summary: Background: Branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs: isoleucine, leucine, and valine) and aromatic amino acids (AAAs: phenylalanine and tyrosine) are hypothesized to influence early‐life obesity risk. Objective: To assess HM free amino acid (AA) concentrations and infant intakes of HM AAs from women with obesity (OB) compared to those with normal weight (NW) and determine the relationships between HM AA consumption and infant growth. Methods: HM samples were collected at 0.5 (n = 151), 2 (n = 129), and 6 (n = 93) months postpartum from mothers with NW (body mass index [BMI] = 18.5–24.9 kg/m2) and OB (BMI > 30 kg/m2). HM AAs were quantified via mass spectrometry. Infant HM intake, anthropometrics and body composition were assessed. Linear mixed‐effects models (LMEM) examined the relationships between maternal BMI and HM AA intakes, and HM AA intake and infant growth over the first 6 months postpartum after adjusting for maternal and infant characteristics. Results: Maternal BMI was positively associated with infant intakes of isoleucine, leucine, and AAAs across timepoints. HM AA intakes were positively associated with weight‐for‐length z‐score, fat mass index, and fat‐free mass index in infants (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Maternal BMI led to differences in HM AA composition, which was associated with infant body composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Method Results Conclusion Infant temperament is assumed to be primarily innate. However, newer research suggests that maternal affection impacts ratings of temperament and environmental factors, including feeding method, can also influence infant temperament. This study investigates child temperament and its relationships with maternal psychiatric symptoms, environmental variables and feeding method longitudinally in a cohort of children followed from 6 to 72 months. Differences in temperament by feeding group are also investigated. We hypothesized that maternal psychiatric symptoms, environmental stressors, and impaired family dynamics would have negative impact on child temperament, whereas breastfeeding would have a positive impact on child temperament.Mothers' ratings of child's temperament, own psychiatric symptomatology, environmental stresses and family cohesion were obtained in 504 mother‐infant dyads via rating scales completed by mothers. Infants were breastfeed (BF), fed soy‐based infant formula (SF) or dairy‐based infant formula (MF). Linear mixed effect models investigated the relationship of variables on child's temperament while controlling for significant covariates and repeated measurements.Mothers in this study did not endorse clinical‐level psychiatric symptomatology; however, when adjusted for significant covariates, higher psychiatric symptomatology significantly correlated with environmental stressors, impaired family dynamics and elevations in temperament ratings of infants' adaptability and mood. There were no lasting differences for temperament between feeding groups. However, some significant transient increases in rhythmicity and adaptability were found between SF and BF children.Positive relationships between family environment stressors and maternal psychiatric ratings were found. Transient differences were found in child temperament based upon feeding method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Introduction Methods Results Conclusions Clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors in childhood significantly increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease later in life. Identification of modifiable parental factors that contribute to offspring cardiometabolic health is critical for the prevention of disease. The objective was to identify factors associated with child cardiometabolic risk factors at age 5 years.Triads from a longitudinal cohort were recalled at 5 years (n = 68). Dietary intake, anthropometrics, physical activity and serum‐based risk factors were collected. Best subset selection, linear and logistic regressions were used to identify triad variables associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic risk factor clustering at age 5 years.In this cohort, best subset modelling revealed that increased paternal fat mass, serum low‐density lipoproteins and triglycerides, maternal dietary added sugar and being female were associated with increased odds of offspring having two or more cardiometabolic risk factors at age 5 years.Dietary and exercise interventions prior to conception targeting paternal adiposity and dyslipidaemia as well as maternal dietary habits could decrease children's cardiometabolic risk in later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Maternal obesity increases offspring's obesity risk. However, studies have not often considered maternal metabolic and exercise patterns as well as paternal adiposity as potential covariates. Objective: To assess the relationship between parental and newborn adiposity. Methods: Participants were mother‐child pairs (n = 209) and mother‐father‐offspring triads (n = 136). Parental (during gestation) and offspring (2 weeks old) percent fat mass (FM) were obtained using air displacement plethysmography. Maternal race, age, resting energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry), physical activity (accelerometry), gestational weight gain (GWG), gestational age (GA), delivery mode, infant's sex and infant feeding method were incorporated in multiple linear regression analyses. The association between parental FM and offspring insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) was assessed at age 2 years. Results: Maternal adiposity was positively‐associated with male (β = 0.11, P =.015) and female (β = 0.13, P =.008) infant FM, whereas paternal adiposity was negatively‐associated with male newborn adiposity (β = ‐0.09, P =.014). Breastfeeding, female sex, GA and GWG positively associated with newborn adiposity. Vaginal and C‐section delivery methods associated with greater adiposity than vaginal induced delivery method. Plasma IGF‐1 of 2‐year‐old boys and girls positively associated with their respective fathers' and mothers' FM. Conclusions: Maternal and paternal adiposity differentially associate with newborn adiposity. The mechanisms of this finding remain to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is a serious medical condition caused by a severe systemic inflammatory response to a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection that most commonly affects neonates and the elderly. Advances in understanding the pathophysiology of sepsis have resulted in guidelines for care that have helped reduce the risk of dying from sepsis for both children and older adults. Still, over the past three decades, a large number of clinical trials have been undertaken to evaluate pharmacological agents for sepsis. Unfortunately, all of these trials have failed, with the use of some agents even shown to be harmful. One key issue in these trials was the heterogeneity of the patient population that participated. What has emerged is the need to target therapeutic interventions to the specific patient's underlying pathophysiological processes, rather than looking for a universal therapy that would be effective in a "typical" septic patient, who does not exist. This review supports the concept that identification of the right biomarkers that can direct therapy and provide timely feedback on its effectiveness will enable critical care physicians to decrease mortality of patients with sepsis and improve the quality of life of survivors., (Copyright © 2016 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.)

Microvascular failure is hallmark of sepsis in humans and is recognized as a strong predictor of mortality. In the mouse subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce a clinically relevant sepsis, renal microvascular permeability increases and peritubular capillary perfusion declines rapidly in the kidney leading to acute kidney injury (AKI). Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a key regulator of microvascular endothelial function. To investigate the role of S1P in the development of microvascular permeability and peritubular capillary hypoperfusion in the kidney during CLP-induced AKI, we used a pharmacologic approach and a clinically relevant delayed dosing paradigm. Evans blue dye was used to measure renal microvascular permeability and intravital video microscopy was used to quantitate renal cortical capillary perfusion. The S1P receptor 1 (S1P1) agonist SEW2871 [5-[4-phenyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-thienyl]-3-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole] and S1P2 antagonist JTE-013 [N-(2,6-dichloro-4-pyridinyl)-2-[1,3-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-6-yl]-hydrazinecarboxamide] were administered at the time of CLP and produced a dose-dependent but partial reduction in renal microvascular permeability at 6 hours after CLP. However, neither agent improved capillary perfusion at 6 hours. With delayed administration at 6 hours after CLP, only SEW2871 reversed microvascular permeability when measured at 18 hours. Importantly, SEW2871 also restored capillary perfusion and improved renal function. These data suggest that S1P1 and S1P2 do not regulate the early decline in renal capillary perfusion. However, later in the course of sepsis, pharmacologic stimulation of S1P1, even when delaying therapy until after injury has occurred, improves capillary and renal function, suggesting this approach should be evaluated as an adjunct therapy during sepsis., (Copyright © 2014 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.)