The Association of Breastfeeding With Childhood Asthma: A Case-Control Study From India

Health effects associated with exposure to secondhand smoke: a Burden of Proof study

Despite a gradual decline in smoking rates over time, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) continues to cause harm to nonsmokers, who are disproportionately children and women living in low- and middle-income countries. We comprehensively reviewed the literature published by July 2022 concerning the adverse impacts of SHS exposure on nine health outcomes. Following, we quantified each exposure-response association accounting for various sources of uncertainty and evaluated the strength of the evidence supporting our analyses using the Burden of Proof Risk Function methodology. We found all nine health outcomes to be associated with SHS exposure. We conservatively estimated that SHS increases the risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and lung cancer by at least around 8%, 5%, 1% and 1%, respectively, with the evidence supporting these harmful associations rated as weak (two stars). The evidence supporting the harmful associations between SHS and otitis media, asthma, lower respiratory infections, breast cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was weaker (one star). Despite the weak underlying evidence for these associations, our results reinforce the harmful effects of SHS on health and the need to prioritize advancing efforts to reduce active and passive smoking through a combination of public health policies and education initiatives.

The Effect of Environmental Factors on Immunological Pathways of Asthma in Children of the Polish Mother and Child Cohort Study

The FOXP3 transcription factor is a marker of regulatory T cells (Tregs), and is essential in the process of their activation and proper expression by promoting immune homeostasis. To assess the influence of the environment on the development of asthma, we hypothesized that in our cohort, exposure to environmental factors is associated with asthma risk in children, and that FOXP3 levels vary with their incidence and are negatively correlated with developing asthma. This prospective study conducted in Poland uses a cohort of 85 children (42 with and 43 without asthma diagnosis) aged 9 to 12 years recruited for the Polish Mother and Child Cohort Study. We collected questionnaires and organized visits to assess patients' clinical condition (skin prick tests, lung function assessments). Blood samples were taken to determine immune parameters. Breastfed children had lower risk of asthma. Asthma risk was higher in children who live in the city, with antibiotic course before the age of 2 and antibiotic therapy more than twice a year. Environmental factors were associated with childhood asthma. Breastfeeding, the coexistence of other allergic diseases, and the frequency of housekeeping affect FOXP3 levels, which are negatively correlated with the risk of asthma.

Breastfeeding—An Essential Newborn Nutrient

Breastfeeding is an art/skill. Globally, it is gaining a steady prominence as World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have specified exclusive breastfeeding for the initial half year. They have likewise offered significance to initiation of breastfeeding within half an hour to 1 hour after birth that has a critical effect on the developing infant as the colostrum in the breast milk supports immunity in the developing baby and newborn child, following birth helps in invigorating the posterior pituitary, release of Oxytocin and thus helps in uterine contraction and forestalls postpartum hemorrhage in postnatal mothers.

Analysis of data from 123 countries shows that babies are breastfed at some point in their lives. However, the rate shifts between low-income, middle-income and high-income countries. It is evaluated that in low- and middle-income countries, approximately 4% of children are never breastfed, while in high-income countries it is 21%. As indicated by the WHO, in excess of 20 million infants are born weighing under 2.5 kg and unfortunately developing nations are facing the brunt of this.

One of the WHO Global Targets 2025 is to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months up to at least 50% to improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition. Unfortunately, only 38% of infants aged 0 to 6 months are exclusively breastfed globally.

Numerous factors contribute to produce a positive situation for breastfeeding. Within the health care organizations, mothers need information and support to breastfeed immediately after birth and beyond. Indeed, studies have discovered that implementation of breastfeeding interventions within the health care organizations and community can possibly expand the rates by 2.5 times.

In India, government has implemented 6 months maternity leave that benefit many working mothers to exclusive breast feed their newborns.

Breastfed children perform better intelligence tests, and are less likely to be overweight and diabetic in later life. If the breastfeeding rate improves in compared to the current rates, then additional 20,000 deaths can be prevented due to breast and ovarian cancer. Studies have found that exclusive breastfeeding can have influence on development of milestones. An ability that a child must achieve by a certain age is developmental milestone. The milestones can be physical, social, emotional, cognitive and communication skills like walking, sharing, expressing emotions, identifying familiar sounds, and talking.·