An Еducational Pеrspеctivе on Indian Infant Hеalth: Thе Еffеcts of Еducation Lеvеls on Birth Outcomе

Thе purposе of this study is to sее if Indian mothеrs with grеatеr lеvеls of еducation producе hеalthiеr infants (N=342,734). According to thе findings, Indian mothеrs with a highеr еducational lеvеl had hеalthiеr infants than Indian mothеrs with a lowеr еducational lеvеl. In tеrms of statistics, onе additional еducation yеar in India is linkеd to a 8.5816 gram risе in Indian birth wеight and a 0.46 pеrcеntagе point rеduction in Indian low birth wеight risk.

Single Laboratory Validation to Extend the Scope of AOAC Official Method 2015.06 to Indian Infant, Child and Adult Nutritional Matrices

Background AOAC 2015.06 is a Final Action Official Method for the determination of 12 elements (Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Mo) in infant formula and adult nutritional products, based on inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Currently its scope does not include certain kinds of formulations used in India. The method would likely be used more in Indian laboratories if its performance were characterized on the Indian matrices. Objective In this study we describe a typical Single Laboratory Validation (SLV) exercise designed to characterize the precision and accuracy of AOAC 2015.06 for common Indian nutritional matrices so that the scope of the method can be extended to include them. Methods Six matrices specific to the Indian markets were carried through an SLV and the Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR) previously published for this method were used to evaluate the results. Results The method demonstrated typical repeatability (<5% RSD), and intermediate precision (5–8% RSD) on the Indian matrices, with very few exceptions. Accuracy was demonstrated by overspike recoveries in the range of 90–110% over three days for the Indian matrices, as well as excellent agreement with previously published results for three additional matrices tested. Some of the new Indian matrices required alternate sample preparation procedures vs. the usual reconstitution prescribed by the SMPRs. Conclusions and Highlights The SLV results showed that AOAC 2015.06 can be extended to include these Indian matrices. The two special sample preparation procedures can now be considered validated.

An Indian infant with de novo duplication of 16p chromosome: A rare genetic syndrome

Facial dysmorphism along with multiple congenital anomalies is observed in many genetic syndromes mostly in chromosomal microdeletion or duplication, which cannot be detected by conventional karyotype. Here, we report a case with facial dysmorphism, cleft palate, congenital heart defect, and umbilical hernia, diagnosed with duplication at chromosome 16p13.3 by array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) at very early age. Array CGH is the advanced diagnostic technology; enable to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities earlier thus can provide appropriate medical management and prognostication.

Improved yet Unsafe: An Aquatic Perspective of Indian Infant Mortality

Infant mortality rate (IMR) is an important development indicator and a vital component of millennium development goals (MDGs) set by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). According to UNDP, so far India has only fared moderately in reducing IMR (Goal 4 of MDGs). India (32) ranks 144th among 196 countries regarding IMR as per the 2017 data availed from World Development Indicators. Its adjacent countries such as Bhutan (25.6), Bangladesh (26.9) and Nepal (27.8) have fared much better regarding infant survival. Numbers within the parentheses indicate the IMR of the respective country. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has identified that IMR among families with better access to improved drinking water sources and toilet is much lower than those bereft of the same. This inference has been drawn from National Family Health Survey 3 data (NFHS III). The present study investigates into the aforementioned relation analysing NFHS IV data. The result depicts that contrary to UNICEF’s findings, IMR increases with better accessibility to improved water sources. Further to this, the article shows that an additional aqua-related practice together with improved drinking water sources might lead to the betterment of IMR for India.

Single-Laboratory Validation of AOAC Official Method 2011.10 for Vitamin B12 in ‘Indian’ Infant and Pediatric Formulas and Adult Nutritionals

Background: Ensuring the quality of infant and pediatric formulas and adult nutritionals is of utmost importance for the health and safety of rapidly urbanizing Indian population. B12 is an important water-soluble vitamin, which is fortified externally in such nutritional formulations. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has a recommended microbiological assay–based method for determination of vitamin B12 that is not precise and accurate enough to meet the label claim requirements of infant, adult, and/or pediatric nutritionals. The AOAC Official Method 2011.10 was originally developed under the AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN) for the determination of vitamin B12 in infant and pediatric formulas and adult nutritionals. However, those SPIFAN matrixes did not contain malt and other indigenous cereal and legume flour (with or without cocoa powder), which are commonly found in Indian formulations. Thus, there is a need to replace this method with a more precise and accurate method. Objective: This study was undertaken to validate the AOAC Official Method 2011.10 on vitamin B12 in ‘Indian’ infant and pediatric formulas and adult nutritionals. Methods: The single-laboratory validation (SLV) of AOAC Method 2011.10 was carried out as per the AOAC Guidelines in six Indian pediatric and adult nutritional formulas to verify its fitness for purpose. Cobalamin in the sample was converted to cyanocobalamin on treatment with potassium cyanide. The sample was then subjected to clean up through a C18 cartridge. Vitamin B12 in the eluted extract was separated from other components using size-exclusion column chromatography followed by a C18 column. The HPLC analysis was carried out at 550 nm. Results: Diastase treatment and C18 solid-phase extraction cleanup satisfactorily removed the matrix interference. The relative standard deviation of the determined values in 30 samples each from 6 selected Indian products and NIST SRM 1849a was <20%. The average recoveries for the spiked recovery samples ranged from 91.75 to 101.14%. Conclusions: Method 2011.10 met the standard method performance requirements set forth by the AOAC SPIFAN. Therefore, we recommend the Method 2011.10 for adoption as the BIS official method for the analysis of vitamin B12 in ‘Indian’ infant and pediatric formulas and adult nutritionals. Highlights: This was the first SLV project that the AOAC India section undertook to extend the scope of the AOAC Method 2011.10 for vitamin B12 analysis by validating it in ‘Indian’ infant and pediatric formulas and adult nutritionals.