Clinical Research Directory

Breastmilk and the Link to Overweight/Obesity and Maternal Diet in the Mother-breastmilk-child Triad

The prospective 5-month follow-up study will involve 150 mother-infant dyads grouped based on maternal baseline BMI category (normal weight, overweight, obesity). The investigators plan 3 study visits (1, 3, and 6 months postpartum) with analysis the following parameters and outcomes: 1. maternal anthropometry and body composition; 2. maternal dietary intake and dietary patterns (with results of biomarker-based validation); 3. maternal status of lipophilic antioxidants, selected vitamins, and fatty acids profile that may be related to adipose tissue metabolism, inflammation, and cardiometabolic status; 4. maternal metabolomics, adipokines, insulin, selected biomarkers of inflammation, altered glucose metabolism, and oxidation; 5. breastmilk composition assessed by systemic approach (macronutrients, fatty acids profile, lipophilic antioxidants, adipokines, hormones, immunological profile, and preliminary lipidomic analysis in part of the study group); 6. infant growth trajectory, body composition, urine metabolomics, and biomarkers of oxidative stress. Additionally, maternal and infant stool, buccal swabs, and human milk samples will be banked for further microbiome analysis studies.

Impact of Sarcopenia on Dyspnea in Patients With Asthma

Dyspnea in asthma, is mainly due to airway obstruction but can be caused by several alternative diagnoses. The impact of sarcopenia on dyspnea in patients with asthma is unknown. Sarcopenic asthma had a reduced physical activity and is associated with airway obstruction compared to non-sarcopenic asthma. In patients with obstructive pulmonary disease, sarcopenia is associated with shallow breathing and diverse sensory and affective components of exertional dyspnea . The morbidity of sarcopenia is also increased by systemic inflammation and the production of inflammatory cytokines as found in inflammatory airway obstruction. The investigators will investigate the prevalence and impact of sarcopenia in asthmatics patients. This will enable to better manage sarcopenia in asthmatic patients, understand its origins and personalize treatment.