A recent study found that supplementation with a modest amount of protein and multiple micronutrients from two milk-cereal mixes may lead to short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants aged 12 and 24 months. The results of this study were published in The British Journal of Nutrition.

This randomized controlled trial divided infants into three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio i.e. modest-protein group, high-protein group, and no-supplementation group. 1134 and 1214 children were available at 12 and 24 months, respectively.

It was observed that at 12 months of age, an increase in the motor scores and a decrease in the infant temperament scores was seen in the modest-protein group. Those infants who were in the high-protein group had lower socio-emotional scores and higher scores on the Infant Temperament Scale.

Based on the above results, it can be concluded that supplementation with a modest amount of protein and multiple micronutrients may lead to short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes such as small improvements in motor function and infant temperament.

According to a recent study, parent-led massage can have an impact on the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) for term-born infants at 4 months. This study was published in the journal, Developmental medicine and child neurology.

This randomized controlled, parallel-group study enrolled 182 infants at birth, who were randomized to intervention (routine parent-led massage; n=84) and control groups (n=98). Griffiths Scales of Child Development, Third Edition was used to assess daytime sleep EEG at 4 and 18 months. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the groups for sleep stage, sleep spindles, quantitative EEG (primary analysis) and Griffiths.

It was observed that 179 out of 182 infants (intervention: 83 and control: 96) had a normal sleep EEG. Median (interquartile range) sleep duration was found to be 49.8 minutes. In the intervention and control groups, a complete first sleep cycle was seen in 67 out of 83 (81%) and 72 out of 96 (75%), respectively. Sleep spindle spectral power was found to be greater in the intervention group in main and subgroup analyses. There was no difference in the Griffiths assessments at 4 and 18 months. Massaged infants had higher sleep spindle spectral power, lower interhemispherical coherence, and greater sleep EEG magnitudes.

Based on the above results, it can be concluded that routine massage of infants may be associated with differences in sleep electroencephalogram biomarkers at 4 months, which may result in distinct functional brain changes.

According to a recent study conducted in pediatric patients, oral sedative melatonin is more cost-effective than triclofos sodium used in performing sleep electroencephalography (EEG). This study was published in the Indian Journal of Pediatrics.

This was a prospective study, conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial in 228 pediatric patients who came for EEG. They were randomized to receive 0.3 mg/kg (< 10 kg), 3 mg (10-15 kg), and 6 mg (> 15 kg) of melatonin dosage or triclofos at 50 mg/kg (maximum dose 1 g, 6 months to 11 years; 2 g, 11 to 18 years) after obtaining their consent. To measure the effectiveness, successful EEG and abnormal EEG were considered.

Out of 228 patients i.e. 114 patients in each group, successful EEG recorded was 89.4% and 91.2% and abnormal EEG in 49% and 42.3% of patients in the intervention and control groups, respectively. For melatonin and tricoflos, the total direct expense was INR 1881.75 (USD 26.6) and INR 2772.5 (USD 39.2), respectively. Similarly, the cost-effectiveness ratio-1 (CER-1) per successful EEG was INR 18.45 (USD 0.39) and INR 26.66 (USD 0.58) in the melatonin and tricoflos groups, respectively whereas CER-2 per abnormal EEG was INR 37.64 (USD 0.53) and INR 63.01 (USD 0.89), respectively.

From the above results, it may be evident that melatonin can be more cost-effective as a treatment used for sleep EEG in pediatric patients when compared to tricoflos. The cost, based on individual dose requirements can be utilized by healthcare institutions, hospitals, and diagnostic centers.

A recent study suggests that tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based antiretroviral treatment (mART) in infants results in better bone and kidney outcomes than infant nevirapine prophylaxis (iNVP). This study was published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

The IMPAACT PROMISE trial included mother-infant pairs postdelivery. This randomized trial coenrolled 400 infants who were followed up till Week 74. At entry (6-21 age days) and Week 26, the lumbar spine bone mineral content (LS-BMC) was analyzed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Also, creatinine clearance (CrCl) was measured at entry and Weeks 10, 26, and 74.

It was observed that the mean (SD) for entry LS-BMC and CrCl was 1.68 g and 64.2 mL/min/1.73 m 2, respectively. Similarly, the mean (SD) at Week 26 for LS-BMC was 2.64 g for mART while it was 2.77 g for iNVP. The mean absolute and percent increase in LS-BMC from entry was smaller in case of mART than iNVP. Likewise, the mean (SD) CrCl at Week 26 was lesser for mART than for iNVP.

The above findings indicate that at Week 26, the mean LS-BMC was lower in infants in the mART group than the iNVP group; thereby making mART a better choice over iNVP for bone and kidney health in infants.