Meeting the high nutrient needs of pregnant and lactating women and their young children in regions such as South Asia is challenging because diets are dominated by staple foods with low nutrient density and poor mineral bioavailability. Gaps in nutritional adequacy in such populations probably date back to the agricultural revolution ~10 000 years ago. Options for improving diets during the fi...

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder of social behavior, which is more common in males than in females. The causes of autism are unknown; there is evidence for a substantial genetic component, but it is likely that a combination of genetic, environmental and epigenetic factors contribute to its complex pathogenesis. Rodent models that mimic the behavioral deficits of autism can be useful too...

This is a case of four-month-old female infant who presented with clinical manifestations congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) — bilateral cataracts, poorly-dilating pupils, microcorneas, salt and pepper retinopathies seen after cataract extractions, sensorineural hearing loss, patent ductus arteriosus, microcephaly, history blueberry spots low birth weight, positive serum IgM IgG tests for rubell...

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading cause of congenital viral infection and mental retardation. HCMV infection, while causing asymptomatic infections in most immunocompetent subjects, can be transmitted during pregnancy from the mother with primary (and also recurrent) infection to the fetus. Hence, careful diagnosis of primary infection is required in the pregnant woman based on the mo...

BACKGROUND Early-life chemical exposure may influence immune system development, subsequently affecting child health. We investigated immunomodulatory potentials of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p'-DDE in infants. METHODS Prenatal exposure to PCBs and p,p'-DDE was estimated from maternal serum concentrations during pregnancy. Postnatal exposure was calculated from concentrations of t...

UNLABELLED Prenatal ultrasonography has revolutionized the detection and management of many urological abnormalities. Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) which develops in 10% to 15% of cases of prenatal hydronephrosis, is difficult to predict prenatally. While all children with prenatal hydronephrosis should undergo ultrasonography within the first few weeks of life, there seems to be controversy rega...

Young women of childbearing age are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. In particular, young women have more frequent and more serious health problems from STI or HIV infection than men, and among women, African American women have especially high rates of infection. Pregnancy is an important time for beginning or continued STI and HIV prevention...

BACKGROUND The effectiveness of prenatal treatment to prevent serious neurological sequelae (SNSD) of congenital toxoplasmosis is not known. METHODS AND FINDINGS Congenital toxoplasmosis was prospectively identified by universal prenatal or neonatal screening in 14 European centres and children were followed for a median of 4 years. We evaluated determinants of postnatal death or SNSD defined...

BACKGROUND Despite three decades of prenatal screening for congenital toxoplasmosis in some European countries, uncertainty remains about the effectiveness of prenatal treatment. METHODS We did a systematic review of cohort studies based on universal screening for congenital toxoplasmosis. We did a meta-analysis using individual patients' data to assess the effect of timing and type of prenat...

INTRODUCTION Routine prenatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening provides a critical opportunity to diagnose HIV infection, begin chronic care, and prevent mother-to-child transmission. However, little is known about the prevalence of prenatal HIV testing in the US-Mexico border region. We explored the correlation between prenatal HIV testing and sociodemographic, health behavior, and...