IL-7 plays a critical role in B cell fate decision by regulating early B cell factor (EBF) expression. However, it was not clear when IL-7 stimulation is necessary in hemato-/lymphopoiesis in adult mice. Here we show that pre-proB cells derived from IL-7-/- mice have lost B cell potential, despite up-regulation of EBF expression following IL-7 stimulation. Pre-proB cells from wild-type mice can...

BACKGROUND Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants. World Health Organization (WHO) recommend exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for six months which has a great contribution in reducing under five mortality, which otherwise leads to death of 88/1000 live birth yearly in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess prevalence of EBF...

OBJECTIVES The optimal age for introducing complementary feeding to breast-fed infants may differ depending on the setting. Prolonged exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) protects against infection but may increase the risk of iron deficiency (ID)/anaemia (IDA) in vulnerable infants. The aim of the present study was to compare haemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), anaemia (Hb < 11 g/L), ID (SF < 12 ...

OBJECTIVES To study the trends and patterns of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for under-6-month-old infants in the city of Bauru, Brazil. METHODS Data from three methodologically equivalent cross-sectional surveys integrating the project for monitoring breastfeeding indicators in São Paulo state were compared. Infants aged zero to 6 months who attended one of the two phases of the Multivaccina...

BACKGROUND The challenges and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) have been examined in many parts of the world. Considering the socio-cultural dynamics and the few research studies in Ghana, the factors that hinder and predict EBF practice in other countries may be different in the Ghanaian setting. The study therefore sought to assess the challenges and predictors of EBF among mothers...

conclusions as available data on the effect of pacifier use is conflicting, and continuation of breast feeding till 6 months of age is crucial for optimal health outcomes in infants, it is prudent to avoid pacifier use totally or at least till breast feeding is established. results rates of breastfeeding at 6 months were reported to vary from 3% to 95% and ebf from less than 1% to 33% in differ...

Cytokine receptor signals have been suggested to stimulate cell differentiation during hemato/lymphopoiesis. Such action, however, has not been clearly demonstrated. Here, we show that adult B cell development in IL-7(-/-) and IL-7R alpha(2/-) mice is arrested at the pre-pro-B cell stage due to insufficient expression of the B cell-specific transcription factor EBF and its target genes, which f...

The early B-cell factor (EBF) transcription factors are central regulators of development in several organs and tissues. This protein family shows low sequence similarity to other protein families, which is why structural information for the functional domains of these proteins is crucial to understand their biochemical features. We have used a modular approach to determine the crystal structur...

BACKGROUND Despite evidences indicating the superiority of breastfeeding and recent advances in the indicators of breastfeeding in Brazil, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first six months after birth continues to be an infrequent practice in the country. The objective of the present study was to determine which gestational, perinatal, and postnatal factors of the mother-baby dyad might...