9 in 10 first time mothers face breastfeeding concerns
A new study has showed that first time mothers, who report early concerns or problems with breastfeeding, are about 10 times more likely to abandon breastfeeding within two months. In the new study, 92 percent of new moms reported at least one breastfeeding concern three days after birth. The most predominant concern, in 52 percent of mothers, was infant feeding at the breast, which refers to the behaviour of the baby, such as not “latching on” properly. Other concerns included breastfeeding pain (44 percent of mothers) and milk quantity (40 percent of mothers). The researchers conducted a series of six interviews with 532 first-time mothers, beginning in pregnancy and also at three, seven 14, 30 and 60 days after giving birth. The researchers received reports of thousands of breastfeeding problems and concerns. Those concerns reported at interviews conducted at days three and seven postpartum were strongly associated with subsequently stopping breastfeeding, according to Dr Laurie Nommsen-Rivers, PhD, a researcher in the Perinatal Institute at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She said that their findings indicate helping mothers meet their breastfeeding goals requires a two-pronged approach: Strengthening protective factors, like prenatal breastfeeding education and peer support, and ensuring that any concerns that do arise are fully addressed with professional lactation support, especially in those first few days at home. (ANI)
Why some boys display chronic aggressive behaviour
A new study has suggested that chronic aggressive behaviour displayed by some boys from disadvantaged families could be because of epigenetic changes during pregnancy and early childhood. This fact is highlighted by two studies conducted by a team led by Richard E. Tremblay, professor emeritus at the University of Montreal and Moshe Szyf, professor at McGill University. The first author of the two papers, Nadine Provencal, was jointly supervised by professors Szyf and Tremblay. In the first study, published in July, the team found that among men who had chronic aggressive behaviour during childhood and adolescence, blood levels of four biomarkers of inflammation were lower than in men who exhibited average levels of aggressive behaviour in their youth, from 6 to 15 years of age. In the second study, it was observed in the same men with aggressive pasts, that the DNA encoding the cytokines showed methylation patterns different from those of the comparison group. Szyf, who specializes in epigenetics, said that methylation is an epigenetic modification—hence reversible—of DNA, in relation to parental imprinting. It plays a role in regulating gene expression. Various studies conducted with animals show that hostile environments during pregnancy and early childhood have an impact on gene methylation and gene programming leading to problems with brain development, particularly in regard to the control of aggressive behaviour. Previous work by Tremblay’s team suggest that men with aggressive pasts have one thing in common: the characteristics of their mothers. The significant difficulties these mothers experienced during pregnancy and the early childhood of their child may have an impact on the expression of genes related to brain development, the immune system, and many other biological systems critical for the development of their child. (ANI)
Skin drug may hold key to type 1 diabetes treatment
A drug, Alefacept, which is used for treating skin disorder, Psoriasis, has shown promising results for treating some aspects of type 1 diabetes. A small trial on US patients suggests that it can help body produce its own insulin, the BBC reported. Alefacept (sold as Amevive) was used to treat the skin disorder, psoriasis, in the US before being withdrawn by its manufacturer in 2011; it was never approved for the European drug market. In the trial, weekly injections were given to 33 patients for 12 weeks, followed by a break of 12 weeks, and then another 12 weekly doses, another 16 participants were given placebos following the same schedule. The researchers found ‘significant differences’ between the two groups four hours after eating, the group receiving the drug showed that they were able to preserve insulin while the placebo taking group’s insulin levels went down. After 1 year, the same group showed no significant increase raise in insulin use, yet those in the placebo group did (ANI)