Some new studies, beginning with this study from Taiwan:
Title: The association of macronutrients in human milk with the growth of preterm infants.
In: PLoS One 2020 Mar 26;15(3):e0230800. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230800. eCollection 2020.
Authors: Lin YH, Hsu YC, Lin MC, Chen CH, Wang TM.
Abstract: "BACKGROUND: Breast milk is the optimal choice for feeding premature babies. However, the prevalence rate of extrauterine growth restriction in preterm infants remains high. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the macronutrients present in human milk and the correlation with the growth of in-hospital preterm infants. METHODS: This prospective study is based on data from 99 in-hospital preterm infants younger than 37 weeks of gestational age on an exclusively human milk diet. Infants who had previously received parenteral nutrition were eligible, but they had to have reached full enteral feeding at the time that the samples were taken. A total of 3282 samples of raw human milk or donor pasteurized milk were collected. The levels of lactose, protein, fat, and energy in the samples were measured using a Miris human milk analyzer. The primary outcome was weight growth velocity (g/kg/day) which was obtained using two-point approach. RESULTS: The mean (±standard deviation) macronutrient composition per 100 mL of milk was 7.2 (±0.3) g of lactose, 1.1 (±0.2) g of true protein, 3.5 (±0.9) g of fat, and 66.9 (±6.5) kcal of energy. The protein concentration in human milk had a positive, significant correlation with body weight gain, with a coefficient of 0.41 (p < 0.001). After adjusting for gestational age, postmenstrual age, small-for-gestational age, intraventricular hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus or congestive heart failure, duration of total parenteral nutrition support, bottle feeding or use of orogastric tube, and ventilator support, total daily protein intake was associated with body weight growth (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Both the protein concentration in human milk and the daily total protein intake had a positive correlation with the body weight gain of premature infants. Routine analysis of breast milk and individualized fortification might be indicated to optimize the growth of preterm infants."
Open access: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0230800
From China:
Title: Quantitative Phosphoproteomics of Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) in Human Colostrum and Mature Milk: New Insights into Changes in Protein Phosphorylation during Lactation.
In: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2020 Mar 25. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06850. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Yang M, Deng W, Cao X, Wang L, Yu N, Zheng Y, Wu J, Wu R, Yue X.
Abstract: "Phosphorylation is a widespread post-translational protein modification, important in various biological processes. However, milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) phosphoproteins have not been explored systematically in human milk. Here, we used quantitative phosphoproteomics to analyze phosphorylation sites in human MFGM proteins, and their differences at different stages of lactation; 305 phosphorylation sites on 170 proteins and 269 phosphorylation sites on 170 proteins were identified in colostrum and mature MFGM, respectively. Among these, 71 phosphorylation sites on 48 proteins were differentially expressed between the different stages of lactation. Osteopontin in human MFGM was the most heavily phosphorylated protein, with a total of 39 identified phosphorylation sites. Our results shed light on phosphorylation sites, composition, and biological functions of MFGM phosphoproteins in human colostrum and mature milk, and supply novel insights into the crucial roles of protein phosphorylation during infant development."
Abstract only: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06850
From New Zealand:
Title: Utilization of galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides for growth by co-cultures of bifidobacterial species characteristic of the infant gut.
In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2020 Mar 27. pii: AEM.00214-20. doi: 10.1128/AEM.00214-20. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Sims IM, Tannock GW. Abstract: "Bifidobacterial species are common inhabitants of the gut of human infants during the period when milk is a major component of the diet. Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum subspecies longum, and B. longum subspecies infantis have been detected frequently in infant feces, but subsp. infantis may be disadvantaged numerically in the gut of infants in westernized countries. This may be due to the different durations of breast milk feeding in different countries. Supplementation of the infant diet or replacement of breast milk using formula feeds is common in western countries. Formula milks often contain galacto- and/or fructo-oligosaccharides ('GOS', 'FOS', respectively) as additives to augment the concentration of oligosaccharides in ruminant milks, but the ability of subsp. infantis to utilize these potential growth substrates when in competition with other bifidobacterial species is unknown. We compared the growth and oligosaccharide utilization of GOS and FOS by bifidobacterial species in pure and co-culture. Short chain GOS and FOS (degree of polymerization [DP] 2 and 3) were favored growth substrates for strains of B. bifidum and B. longum subsp. longum, whereas both B. breve and B. longum subsp. infantis had ability to utilize both short and longer chain GOS and FOS (DP 2-6). B. breve was nevertheless numerically dominant over subsp. infantis in co-cultures. This was probably related to the slower use of GOS of DP3 by subsp. infantis, indicating that the kinetics of substrate utilization is an important ecological factor in the assemblage of gut communities. Importance: The kinds of bacteria that form the collection of microbes (the microbiota) in the gut of human infants may influence health and well-being. Knowledge of how the composition of the infant diet influences the assemblage of the bacterial collection is therefore important because dietary interventions may offer opportunities to alter the microbiota with the aim of improving health. Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis is a well-known bacterial species, but under modern child-rearing conditions it may be disadvantaged in the gut. Modern formula milks often contain particular oligosaccharide additives that are generally considered to support bifidobacterial growth. However, studies of the ability of various bifidobacterial species to grow together while using these oligosaccharides have not been conducted. These kinds of studies are essential for developing concepts of microbial ecology related to the influence of human nutrition on the development of the gut microbiota."
Abstract only: https://aem.asm.org/content/early/2020/03/23/AEM.00214-20
From the U.S.:
Title: The human milk oligosaccharides 2'-fucosyllactose and 6'-sialyllactose protect against the development of necrotizing enterocolitis by inhibiting toll-like receptor 4 signaling.
In: Pediatric Research 2020 Mar 27. doi: 10.1038/s41390-020-0852-3. [Epub ahead of print]
Authors: Sodhi CP, Wipf P, Yamaguchi Y, Fulton WB, Kovler M, Niño DF, Zhou Q, Banfield E, Werts AD, Ladd MR, Buck RH, Goehring KC, Prindle T Jr, Wang S, Jia H, Lu P, Hackam DJ. Abstract: "BACKGROUND: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) develops through exaggerated toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling in the intestinal epithelium. Breast milk is rich in non-digestible oligosaccharides and prevents NEC through unclear mechanisms. We now hypothesize that the human milk oligosaccharides 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) and 6'-sialyllactose (6'-SL) can reduce NEC through inhibition of TLR4 signaling. METHODS: NEC was induced in newborn mice and premature piglets and infant formula was supplemented with 2'-FL, 6'-SL, or lactose. Intestinal tissue was obtained at surgical resection. HMO inhibition of TLR4 was assessed in IEC-6 enterocytes, mice, and human tissue explants and via in silico modeling. RESULTS: Supplementation of infant formula with either 2'-FL and/or 6'-SL, but not the parent sugar lactose, reduced NEC in mice and piglets via reduced apoptosis, inflammation, weight loss, and histological appearance. Mechanistically, both 2'-FL and 6'-SL, but not lactose, reduced TLR4-mediated nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) inflammatory signaling in the mouse and human intestine. Strikingly, in silico modeling revealed 2'-FL and 6'-SL, but not lactose, to dock into the binding pocket of the TLR4-MD2 complex, explaining their ability to inhibit TLR4 signaling. CONCLUSIONS: 2'-FL and 6'-SL, but not lactose, prevent NEC in mice and piglet models and attenuate NEC inflammation in the human ileum, in part through TLR4 inhibition. IMPACT: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants that occurs in the setting of bacterial colonization of the gut and administration of formula feeds and activation by the innate immune receptor toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Breast milk prevents NEC through unclear mechanisms. We now show that breast milk-enriched human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) that are derived from lactose prevent NEC through inhibition of TLR4.The human milk oligosaccharides 2'-FL and 6'-SL, but not the backbone sugar lactose, prevent NEC in mice and piglets.2'-FL and 6'-SL but not lactose inhibited TLR4 signaling in cultured enterocytes, in enteroids derived from mouse intestine, and in human intestinal explants obtained at the time of surgical resection for patients with NEC.In seeking the mechanisms involved, 2'-FL and 6'-SL but not lactose were found to directly bind to TLR4, explaining the inhibition and protection against NEC.These findings may impact clinical practice by suggesting that administration of HMOs could serve as a preventive strategy for premature infants at risk for NEC development." Abstract only: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-020-0852-3
From Indonesia:
Title: Potency of Back Massage and Acupressure on Increasing of Prolactin Hormone Levels in Primipara Postpartum; Consideration for Midwifery Care.
In: Enfermeria Clinica 30 Suppl 2, 577-580 Mar 2020.
Authors: Anita N, Ahmad M, Usman AN, Sinrang AW, Alasiry E, Bahar B.
Abstract: “OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine potency of back massage and acupressure in increasing prolactin hormone in primiparous postpartum mothers given back massage with acupressure. Hopefully back massage and acupressure can be considered to be practiced in midwifery care. METHODS: The subjects in this study consisted of 30 primipara first day postpartum mothers who had previously performed a pretest by taking blood samples as much as 3 ccs from peripheral veins to check prolactin hormone levels using the human Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbet Assay (ELISA) Kit at the Hasanuddin University Research Laboratory Makassar, then respondents were asked to fill in the table self-report containing the frequency of breastfeeding in 24h for 3 days. The intervention was given in the form of back massage and acupressure therapy at points LU1, CV17, and SI1 on the body 1 time a day every morning with a duration of 30min for 3 consecutive days then blood was taken on day 4, namely the median cubital vein on the anterior arm to measure the level of the prolactin hormone using ELISA KIT and compared the prolactin hormone before and after the intervention. Data were processed using paired T-tests. RESULTS: The treatment of back massage and acupressure in primiparous postpartum mothers had a significant effect on increasing levels of the hormone prolactin. CONCLUSION: Back massage and acupressure therapy are able to increase levels of the hormone prolactin so that this therapy can be given to postpartum and breastfeeding mothers to [increase] breast milk production and can be considered practiced in midwifery care.”
Abstract only: https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-enfermeria-clinica-35-articulo-potency-back-message-acupressure-on-S1130862119305625