Breastfeeding vs. breast milk transmission during COVID-19 pandemic, which is more important?

The catastrophic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised many health questions, and whether breast milk from SARS-CoV-2 infected mothers may be a vector for SARS-CoV-2 transmission has become a hot topic of concern worldwide. Currently, there are extremely limited and conflicting data on the risk of infection in infants through breastfeeding. For this reason, we investigated almost all current clinical studies and systematically analyzed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and antibodies in the breast milk of mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2, their effects on newborns, and the mechanisms involved. A total of 82 studies were included in this review, of which 66 examined the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk samples from mothers diagnosed with COVID-19, 29 reported results of antibody detection of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk, and 13 reported both nucleic acid and antibody test results. Seventeen studies indicated the presence of detectable SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in breast milk samples, and only two studies monitored viral activity, both of which reported that infectious viruses could not be cultured from RNA-positive breast milk samples. All 29 studies indicated the presence of at least one of the three antibodies, IgA, IgG and IgM, in breast milk. Five studies indicated the presence of at least one antibody in the serum of breastfed newborns. No COVID-19-related deaths were reported in all 1,346 newborns. Our study suggests that direct breastfeeding does not pose an additional risk of infection to newborns and that breast milk is a beneficial source of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies that provide passive immune protection to infants. In addition, direct breastfeeding would provide maternal benefits. Our review supports the recommendation to encourage direct breastfeeding under appropriate infection control guidelines. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#myprospero, identifier: 458043.

[Effects of Germanium Concentrations on Germanium Accumulation and Biotransformation of Polysaccarified Germanium in Cordyceps militaris].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Germanium (Ge) concentration on Ge accumulation and biotransformation of polysaccarified Ge (PG) in Cordyceps militaris. METHODS: Solid and liquid culture were used in this study. RESULTS: In the solid culture conditions, when the Ge concentration of medium was 200 mg/L, the sporophore biomass of Cordyceps militaris was the maximum; and when Ge concentration was 300 mg/L,the amount of biotransformation of PG in sporophore was the highest; and when the Ge concentration is 250 mg/L, conversion rate of organic germanium (OG) in sporophore reached the highest value. In the liquid culture conditions, when the Ge concentration was 250 mg/L, the mycelium biomass of Cordyceps militaris was the maximum; and when Ge concentration was 150 mg/L, the amount of organic conversion of PG in mycelium was the most; and conversion rate of OG in mycelium was the highest in media with the Ge concentration of 200 mg/L. This study showed the germanium concentrations in 150 - 300 mg/L was more suitable for Ge accumulation and biotransformation of PG in Cordyceps militaris. In general, the biotransformation capacity to germanium of sporophore was stronger than that of mycelium of Cordyceps militaris. CONCLUSION: Germanium can significantly affect Ge accumulation and biotransformation of PG in Cordyceps militaris (P < 0.05) at different concentration. This result has practical value for Ge enriched cultivation of fruiting body in Cordyceps militaris.

[Study on monosaccharide composition of intracellular polysacchride and contents of cordycepin and cordyceps polysacchride produced by Cordyceps militaris induced by blue light].

OBJECTIVE: To study effects of blue light irradiation on monosaccharide composition of intracellular polysacchride and contents of cordycepin and cordyceps polysacchride of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris. METHODS: The monosaccharide composition of intracellular polysacchride of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris as materials were determined by gas chromatography after 144 h blue light irradiation. The contents of cordycepin and cordyceps polysacchride of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris were detected at different blue light irradiation periods. At the same time, the growth of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris were observed during blue light irradiation. RESULTS: Mycelium polysaccharide in Cordyceps militaris was a kind of heteropolysaccharide containing four kinds of monosaccharide and fruiting body polysaccharide was a kind of heteropolysaccharide containing five kinds of monosaccharide. Whether blue light irradiation or dark culture, the content changes of cordyceps polysacchride in two groups showed similar patterns in the test of mycelium polysaccharides. The content changes of cordyceps polysacchride in two groups were basically the same in the detection of sporocarp polysacchride. Cordycepin content in the two set of experiments of blue light irradiation all showed a clear upward trend in the detection of mycelium and sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris. CONCLUSION: The blue light irradiation has certain effect on the species and quantity of monosaccharide in intracellular polysaccharide. The content increase of cordycepin and cordyceps polysacchride in Cordyceps militaris are promoted by blue light irradiation. Blue light can help the morphogenesis and promote the differentiation and growth of sporocarp in Cordyceps militaris. This study is the first report about the effect of blue light on the type and quantity of the monosaccharide composition in polysaccharide of Cordyceps militaris, which will lay the foundation for further study on the metabolism of active substance in Cordyceps militaris by blue light irradiation.