The human milk microbiota plays an important role in the development of infant's intestinal microbiota and in the protection of infants against pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this study is to ...investigate the microbial composition of human milk from 47 breastfeeding mothers, sampled separately from the left (L) and the right (R) breast, on the 30th day after giving birth. We quantified some major bacterial groups in human milk, compared the cultivable bacteria from the left and the right breast and identified strain diversity of lactobacilli. The results revealed that human milk contains lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria and mesophilic aerobic bacteria, of which the last were the most abundant group. Although the microbial composition of human milk in L and R breast samples was comparable, the concentration of bacteria in the two samples from the same mother might vary, therefore milk sample taken from one breast only does not reflect the average microbial composition. Using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), 86 presumptive isolates of lactobacilli from representative samples of human milk from 11 mothers were classified into 11 groups. Moreover, representatives of different RAPD groups were identified using 16S rDNA sequencing. Out of 11 RAPD groups, 4 groups (21 % of all isolates) belonged to the species Lactobacillus gasseri. The most representative RAPD profile (48 % of isolates) was found to belong to the species Lactobacillus fermentum. Other RAPD groups were associated with L. salivarius, L. reuteri, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bifidobacterium breve species.
Background/Aims: Vitamin D deficiency is a common underdiagnosed condition. The aim of this was to analyze the status of vitamin D and its determinants in healthy Slovenian pregnant women. Methods: A ...total of 132 volunteer pregnant women completed a questionnaire including baseline demographics, food frequency, physical activities; anthropometrical measurements, body mass index and levels of 25-(OH)D in serum were performed during the third trimester, and dietary intakes were assessed during the 27-28th week of gestation. Results: Vitamin D deficiency was present in 14% while insufficiency was present in 41% of women. The risk for inadequacy was higher in women older than 30 years (p = 0.01), in those with less frequent outdoor physical activity (p = 0.01) and in pregnancies during the low sun exposure season (p = 0.04). Insufficiency was not significantly more frequent in less educated women, unemployed and in those living in urban area. The median value of vitamin D from habitual dietary intake was 1.5 µg/day (range 0.1-13.4) and did not influence 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (p = 0.91). Conclusions: The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy was 55% and was dependent on age, season and outdoor physical activities. The results suggest a discrepancy between vitamin D intake through habitual diet and the reference needs.
Background/Aims: Paper-based dietary records (Paper-DR) can be replaced by web-based dietary records (Web-DR) in both epidemiological studies and clinical practice to reduce the time and logistic ...burden. We aimed to compare Paper-DR and Web-DR. Methods: We compared the matching of different food items (n = 1,103) from Paper-DR and Web-DR for energy and 48 nutrients among 16 pregnant volunteers, with DR for the same individuals matched for the same 4 days. Paper-DR were coded into the web-based version (referred to as Paper-Web-DR) independently by the same research dietitian. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test comparing mean rank differences, Spearman's ρ to measure associations and Bland-Altman limits of agreement to evaluate the level of agreement between the two dietary methods across the range of parameters were used. Volunteers also completed an evaluation questionnaire regarding the user acceptability of Paper-DR and Web-DR. Results: A high correlation between Paper-DR and Web-DR was noted. There were statistically insignificant differences among 45 nutrients, except for free sugars (p < 0.001), α-linolenic acid (p = 0.041), folate (p = 0.036) and pantothenic acid (p = 0.023). Volunteers found the Paper-DR equally time-consuming as the Web-DR. The majority of the volunteers (75%) preferred the Web-DR. Conclusions: Paper-DR and Web-DR were comparable across a range of nutritional parameters, with a few exceptions. The Web-DR was more convenient for the majority and has substantial logistic and cost advantages.
Background/Aims: Determining body composition in pregnant women is challenging as not all of the existing applicable methodologies can be used during pregnancy and not all of the methods have been ...properly standardized. The aim of this study was to compare the existing anthropometric methods for the evaluation of body composition, especially in pregnant women. Methods: One hundred forty-seven pregnant volunteers aged average (SD) 31 years (±4) in gestational week 32 (±3) provided information on their age and prepregnancy body mass. Their height, current mass, skinfold thicknesses, and limb circumferences were measured. The body density and fat percentage were calculated according to 17 different anthropometric equations obtained from the literature. Data were analyzed with ANOVA. Results: For the same sample of pregnant women, the body fat percentages obtained using the existing anthropometric methods varied greatly (p < 0.0001) and ranged from 16% (±5) to 38% (±4); methods developed specifically for pregnant women yielded disturbingly large differences, with body fat values ranging from 16% (±5) to 36% (±6). Conclusions: This study revealed large discrepancies among anthropometric methods for body composition assessment in pregnant women. As the results from the same sample obtained with different existing equations are wide ranging, the existing methodologies should be examined and improved before they can serve as sources of information regarding the health status of pregnant women.
Dietary assessment in clinical practice is performed by means of computer support, either in the form of a web-based tool or software. The aim of the paper is to present the results of the comparison ...of a Slovenian web-based tool with German software for the evaluation of four-day weighted paper-and-pencil-based dietary records (paper-DRs) in pregnant women.
A volunteer group of pregnant women (n=63) completed paper-DRs. These records were entered by an experienced research dietitian into a web-based application (Open Platform for Clinical Nutrition, OPEN, http://opkp.si/en, Ljubljana, Slovenia) and software application (Prodi 5.7 Expert plus, Nutri-Science, Stuttgart, Germany, 2011). The results for calculated energy intake, as well as 45 macro- and micronutrient intakes, were statistically compared by using the non-parametric Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The cut-off for Spearman's rho was set at >0.600.
12 nutritional parameters (energy, carbohydrates, fat, protein, water, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, dietary fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, and stearic acid) were in high correlation (>0.800), 18 in moderate (0.600-0.799), 11 in weak correlation (0.400-0.599), while 5 (arachidonic acid, niacin, alpha-linolenic acid, fluoride, total sugars) did not show any statistical correlation.
Comparison of the results of the evaluation of dietary records using a web-based dietary assessment tool with those using software shows that there is a high correlation for energy and macronutrient content.
Background. Dietary assessment in clinical practice is performed by means of computer support, either in the form of a web-based tool or software. The aim of the paper is to present the results of ...the comparison of a Slovenian web-based tool with German software for the evaluation of four-day weighted paper-andpencil- based dietary records (paper-DRs) in pregnant women.
Methods. A volunteer group of pregnant women (n=63) completed paper-DRs. These records were entered by an experienced research dietitian into a web-based application (Open Platform for Clinical Nutrition, OPEN, http://opkp.si/en, Ljubljana, Slovenia) and software application (Prodi 5.7 Expert plus, Nutri- Science, Stuttgart, Germany, 2011). The results for calculated energy intake, as well as 45 macro- and micronutrient intakes, were statistically compared by using the non-parametric Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. The cut-off for Spearman’s rho was set at >0.600.
Results. 12 nutritional parameters (energy, carbohydrates, fat, protein, water, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, dietary fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, and stearic acid) were in high correlation (>0.800), 18 in moderate (0.600-0.799), 11 in weak correlation (0.400-0.599), while 5 (arachidonic acid, niacin, alphalinolenic acid, fluoride, total sugars) did not show any statistical correlation.
Conclusion. Comparison of the results of the evaluation of dietary records using a web-based dietary assessment tool with those using software shows that there is a high correlation for energy and macronutrient content.
Izhodišča. V klinični praksi za ovrednotenje prehranskih dnevnikov običajno uporabljamo računalniško podporo, bodisi v obliki računalniškega programa ali spletne aplikacije. Namen članka je predstaviti rezultate primerjave nemškega računalniškega programa in slovenske spletne aplikacije za ovrednotenje prehranskega vnosa na osnovi metode štiridnevnega papirnega tehtanega prehranskega dnevnika (papirni PD), ki so ga vodile nosečnice.
Metode. Skupina nosečnic prostovoljk (n=63) je vodila papirni PD. Izkušeni klinični dietetik je vnesel dnevnike v spletno aplikacijo (Odprta platforma za klinično prehrano, OPKP, http://opkp.si, Ljubljana, Slovenija) in računalniški program (Prodi 5.7 Exper Plus, Nutri-Science, Stuttgart, Germany, 2011). Rezultate za izračunani energijski vnos ter vnos 45 makro- in mikrohranil s pomočjo aplikacije in programa smo statistično primerjali z neparametričnim Spearmanovim koeficientom (>0,600).
Rezultati. Visoko korelacijo (>0,800) med metodama smo ugotovili za 12 hranil (energija, ogljikovi hidrati, skupne maščobe, beljakovine, voda, kalij, kalcij, fosfor, skupna prehranska vlaknina, vitamin C, folna kislina in stearinska kislina), zmerno (0,600-0,799) za 18 hranil, šibko (0,400-0,599) za 11 hranil, medtem ko za 5 hranil ni bilo korelacije (arahidonska kislina, niacin, alfa-linolenska kislina, fluor, skupni sladkorji).
Zaključki. Rezultati ovrednotenja prehranskih dnevnikov s spletno aplikacijo in računalniškim programom so v visoki korelaciji za energijsko vrednost in vsebnost makrohranil.
Introduction: The noninvasive screening methods for bilirubin determination were studied prospectively in a group of full-term healthy newborns with the aim of early prediction of pathological ...neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Laboratory determination of bilirubin (Jendrassik-Grof (JG)) was compared to the noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubin (TcBIL) together with the determination of bilirubin in cord blood. Methods: The study group consisted of 284 full-term healthy consecutively born infants in the period from March to June 2011. The whole group was divided into a group of physiological (n=199), and a group of pathological hyperbilirubinemia (n=85) according to the level of total bilirubin (220 μmol/L). Bilirubin in cord blood (CbBIL) and from capillary blood at the age of three days was determined according to the JG, on the 3rd day TcBIL was also detected by Bilicheck bilirubinometer. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney tests were used for the statistical analysis. Results: Bilirubin concentrations were statisti cally significantly different (CbBIL (p<0,001) on the 3rd day control sample (p<0,001), TcBil (p<0,001)) between the groups of newborns with physiological (n=199) and pathological (n=85) hyperbilirubinemia. Using the cut-off value of cord blood bilirubin 28 μmol/L, we could predict the development of pathological hyperbiliru binemia with 98.8% prognostic specificity, and with 100% sensitivity that newborns will not require a phototherapy (all irradiated newborns were taken into account). We confirmed an excellent agreement between bilirubin concentrations determined by the TcBIL and JG methods for both groups of healthy full-term newborns. Conclusion: Based on our results, we could recommend that determination of the cord blood bilirubin in combination with the measurement of TcBIL should be implemented into practice for early prediction of pathological hyperbilirubinemia in full-term healthy newborns. The advantages of both methods in the routine clinical treatment of hyperbilirubinemia are in noninvasive approach with reduced costs and number of unnecessary treatments. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Background: Bilirubin is an antioxidant that protects newborns against free radicals during the first days of their lives, but at high levels is neurotoxic and causes brain damage. In this study we ...aimed to determine whether the measurement of bilirubin level in noninvasively taken cord blood could be a predictor of a pathological jaundice requiring medical treatment. Methods: Cord blood and a control sample taken on the third day of life were taken from 185 healthy full-term newborns of both genders. Bilirubin levels were determined according to the Jandrassik-Grof method. Statistical characteristics were calculated using statistic programs ANOVA and t-test. Results: 117 (63.2 %) of the newborns had physiological jaundice with 28 ± 7.8 μmol/L bilirubin in cord blood, and 68 (36.8 %) had pathological jaundice with 35 ± 7.8 μmol/L bilirubin. 20 (10.8 %) newborns had been treated by phototherapy, and had levels of 40 ± 8.5 μmol/L bilirubin. Differences in cord blood bilirubin levels between groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Taking a cut-off value of 28 μmol/L cord blood bilirubin level, pathological jaundice can be predicted by 85.3 % and whether newborns require treatment or not by 100 % clinical sensitivity. Conclusions: The results of our study confirm that measurement of cord blood bilirubin level can be used as a screening test for predicting the development of pathological jaundice that requires medical treatment.
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