#infant-microbiome

#infant-microbiome

In children below the age of five, whose immune systems are still developing, the infections can lead to malnourishment; they cause up to 42,000 deaths annually. Soon there may be a vaccine to protect against these infections. In the Lancet Infectious Diseases last month, scientists shared the results of the first study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an ETEC-controlling vaccine in a large pediatric population in Gambia.

Young, two-month-old lab mice housed with older, 18-month-old mice showed really impaired cognition. Researchers exposed young mice raised in a sterile, microbe-free environment to gut bacteria from old mice, causing the younger animals to perform worse on cognitive tests, as if they had prematurely aged, just like the cohoused mice.

The article from the journal argues that the gut-autism axis is a house of cards built on lousy studies with inconsistent data. They assert that the studies are contradictory and that too much emphasis is placed on dubious mouse models. It is notoriously challenging to nail down microbial causes of disease—it is hard enough to simply identify a normal microbiome.

Expectant mothers lost an average of nearly five per cent of their grey matter, the tissue responsible for processing emotions, information, and empathy. This loss isn't a sign of decline as Lead researcher Professor Susana Carmona of the Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute likened it to pruning a tree. 'Some branches are cut to make it grow more efficiently,' she explained.

Fecal transplants from old female mice appear to boost fertility and ovarian health in younger ones. The findings, detailed in a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Aging, indicate a direct link between gut health and reproductive health in the animals. They could also hold implications for future research into how the microbiome influences ovarian function and fertility in humans.

This stainless-steel bowl is a game changer! It's incredibly durable, so I know it will last for a long time. The silicone suction base is a fantastic feature it keeps the bowl securely in place on the table, preventing any accidental spills. It's definitely a must-have for anyone with little ones. Highly recommend!

Gut bacteria are crucial to ensuring healthy digestion and defecation. But two species of bacteria may also be the cause of constipation: according to a new study, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Akkermansia muciniphila appear to work in concert to break down colonic mucin, the slimy coating in our colons that keeps our poo moving along. Too little mucin means a drier and more constipation-prone colon.

Rachel Swanson, a registered dietitian at LifeSpan Medicine and author of "Trying!: A Science-Backed Plan to Optimize Your Fertility," splits her time between New York City and Miami, spending about half the year in each. She also takes small-group workout classes three times a week, focusing on strength training. She says eating enough nutrients, especially protein for muscle-building, is crucial for her. She generally aims for around 0.7 grams of protein per pound of body weight, the protein intake usually recommended for physically active people.

A virus that sickens marine mammals has been detected in Arctic waters for the first time. Scientists used drones armed with petri dishes to collect samples of blow - the air and mucus whales expel from their blowholes - from whales in northern Norway. The team identified cetacean morbillivirus in samples from humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae) and one sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus), though the humpbacks showed no symptoms of disease.