The research papers from Queen Mary’s Blizard Institute, focus on childhood malnutrition in Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group (TROPGAN) in Lusaka and the Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research in Harare aim to understand and treat childhood malnutrition.
The first paper presents findings from the Therapeutic Approaches to Malnutrition Enteropathy (TAME) study, which evaluated treatments for malnutrition enteropathy in children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The study found evidence supporting interventions to enhance mucosal membrane healing and reduce gut inflammation, potentially improving outcomes for children affected by SAM.
The second paper uncovers why boys born to mothers with HIV are at greater risk of health problems and death in infancy. The study, led by Dr. Ceri Evans, analyzed outcomes in infants exposed and unexposed to maternal HIV in rural Zimbabwe. It found that infants exposed to maternal HIV had increased risk of immune abnormalities, inflammation, and mortality. Targeting maternal inflammation during pregnancy could potentially reduce infant mortality.
Additionally, HIV-exposed babies, especially boys, showed differences in immune development, potentially making them less effective in dealing with infections.