The literature overview on the issue of breastfeeding in neonatal departments, including neonatal intensive care units, is presented. The importance of breastfeeding for newborns with perinatal pathology is justified, as breast milk is vital for these children due to its unique sanogenetic properties. Data on special preventive and therapeutic role of breastfeeding for premature infants is presented. Reasons that complicate the use of breast milk in neonatal hospitals were analyzed (including those related to insufficient bacteriological and virological safety of native breast milk due to methodological errors during its collection and usage). Particular attention was paid to ensuring the breastfeeding safety during new coronavirus infection pandemic. This difficult period has demonstrated and confirmed the expediency of combining two breastfeeding approaches in perinatal centers: use of maternal milk and use of donor breast milk. Another section of review is devoted to modern breast milk processing technologies. Use of electric clinical breast pumps is crucial for promoting and supporting breastfeeding in the perinatal center.

The review provides the analysis of recent publications covering the biological significance of infant microbiome and showing modern research technologies. Correlations of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of intestinal microbiota with delayed health issues were evaluated. Various concepts of newborn microbiome origin, timing, and stages of bacterial colonization of gastrointestinal tract were considered. Data on the role of delivery method on infant microbiota development is presented (including the significance of contamination with maternal vaginal flora where ontogenetic priority belongs to lactobacilli). It was revealed that Lactobacillus fermentum was the basis microflora providing the conditions for the subsequent successful colonization of the child’s intestines with obligate symbionts. The significance of breastfeeding in adequate microbiota development was confirmed. In case of mandatory formula feeding, it is necessary to enrich infant milk formulas with components that promote the selection of symbiotic microflora such as: long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, prebiotics, oligosaccharides, and probiotics of specific action. The innovative formula based on synbiotic/combiotic concept will be able to partially compensate impaired microbiota development in infant on mandatory formula feeding.

This review covers modern possibilities of modeling breast milk unique properties to produce infant milk formulas. The main approach of such modelling is to advance the protein composition in the formula to the spectrum of breast milk proteins, primarily α-lactalbumin. This protein has multi-directional protective properties; the organism synthesizes the antibacterial and immunomodulating peptide complex HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumor cells, complex of α-lactalbumin and oleic acid) on its basis. The amino acid composition of α-lactalbumin provides mild neuroprotective effect due to sufficient level of tryptophan. Non-protein components of the produced formulas (carbohydrate and fat included) enhance their protective qualities and ensure the prevention of delayed health disorders. This review provides information about the innovative baby food product containing ?-lactalbumin and other bioactive components like those in breast milk.

The review provides the analysis of modern publications on the topic of correlation between development of intestinal microbiota and maturation of neurophysiological activity patterns (on the example of sleep age structure development). The importance of the stage maturation of intestinal microbiota in the concept of the gut-brain axis is presented. Mechanisms and mediators involved in this axis are described, and its ontogenetic significance is justified. The main stages of sleep function development in a child as an important component of the general mental health maturation in relation to environmental factors and family features are presented. Recommendations on sleep periods duration and estimation of sleep onset and sleep structure are also given. Direct and reverse correlations of quantitative and qualitative microbiota parameters with sleep efficiency are shown. Positive correlation was identified between sleep consolidation, number and diversity of Bacteroidetes species in intestinal microbiota, and composition of bacterial metabolites. The presence of such correlations is theoretical justification for further development of methods of pathogenetic therapy of both microbiota and sleep disorders. Keywords: sleep, diet, nutrition, sleeping schedule, infant, development, intestinal microbiota.

The other contributors confirmed the absence of a reportable conflict of interests

The influence of dynamically changing habits associated with the use of digital devices (DD) on the child’s brain is one of the most topical issues of the last decade. Ambiguous or contradictory data on this issue indicate the need of systematizing all the results of scientific research. This analysis shows negative effect of large amount of screen time on the development of children at early age, their academic performance, and attention at older ages due to media absenteeism, as well as the correlation between the use of digital devices with delayed reward. It is necessary to update and to conduct qualitative research to understand the issue in more comprehensive way.

Background. Protein-calorie deficiency is common multifactorial medical condition in infants. Nutrition therapy of protein-calorie deficiency in premature infants with special medical food is not always quite effective. It can be associated with residual manifestations of overlapping perinatal pathology.

Clinical case description. Extremely premature child with severe protein-calorie deficiency in the late period with combined perinatal pathology (perinatal central nervous system damage and bronchopulmonary dysplasia) was administrated with therapeutic highly nutritious (high-protein/high-energy) milk formula according to individual plan. The positive dynamics in clinical manifestations of the main and associated diseases was noted on nutrition therapy.

Conclusion. High-calorie and protein-enriched therapeutic formula can effectively correct protein-calorie deficiency in premature infants with associated perinatal pathology in the recovery period (disfunction compensation). 

The early stages of child development are characterized by various processes of maturation such as brain growth and development. The digestive and immune systems are developing as well at the same time. The intestinal microbiota plays significant role in the development of all organs and systems. Various disorders of microbial colonization of digestive system can negatively affect food programming processes. Nutrition type (breastfeeding or artificial) also has its own noticeable effect on early development. Breastfeeding is the “gold standard” in children’s nutrition. Modern approaches on creation of adapted formulas based on goat’s milk allow to develop its optimal composition (protein fraction for easy digestion, -palmitate, oligosaccharides, and natural nucleotides) that has positive effect on the child’s development.

The analysis and assessment of regional characteristics of the preventive healthcare organization for children population in the Republic of Tatarstan were carried out within this research. It has revealed the major issues of prevention system in children healthcare in the Republic. Our goal was to develop and implement a set of measures on improvement of medical prevention in the system of children healthcare, and to evaluate their efficacy. The guidelines developed for preventive care in children have allowed us to create three-level model of preventive care for children in five main areas. The provision of medical, social, legal, psychological, and pedagogical care for children and adolescents (especially for children in difficult circumstances and/or socially dangerous situations) is one of the major issues for preserving the health of future generations in contrast to all socio-economic changes. This necessitates the creation of new forms, approaches, and mechanisms, as well as the development of measures on improvement of existing preventive technologies at the individual, group, and population levels via using information technologies.