This review summarizes the benefits of goat’s milk as the basis to produce adapted milk formulas according to relevant infants feeding issues. The characteristics of main nutrients of modern goat’s milk formulas are presented. A balanced protein composition enriched with [1]-palmitate, presence of prebiotics-oligosaccharides, natural nucleotides and probiotics advances these formulas closer to breast milk and provide their multipotent sanogenetic effects. The unique composition of goat’s milk formulas allows to ensure normal physical growth of a baby, induces tissue and systemic immunity via adequate intestinal microbiota formation, maintains normal functioning of gut-brain axis, that promotes vegetative and visceral disorders (due to functional digestive disorders) correction. Thus, it is possible to recommend goat’s milk formulas in cases of forced mixed or formula feeding of healthy infants and children with functional digestive disorders.

This article covers the issues of remodeling breast milk’s protective properties during creating infant milk formulas. First of all, this concerns the conditions for normal intestinal microbiota development in growing organism. Its quantitative and qualitative features are the trigger of either sanogenetic, or pathological immune and metabolic reactions, and also determine gut-brain axis functioning. The protective significance of prebiotic composition diversity of mammalian milk and the inductive role of breast milk oligosaccharides are shown. The modern concept of synbiotics role in gastrointestinal tract and other systems functioning, as well as the use of modern synbiotics in the creation of infant formulas (available Russian formula included) are presented.

This article provides the overview of the major strategies for infant formulas composition enhancement via modern technologies and trends in minimizing technology-related loads on the environment. Potential modifications of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of milk formulas nutrients have been determined. We also covered product contents changing over age, as well as the perspectives of using animal milk in formulas. The relevance of adding biologically active substances and living microorganisms (probiotics), their safety, and efficacy are discussed.

The paper provides review of the scientific literature dedicated to the evolutionary aspects of breastfeeding in the animal kingdom. Differences in breast milk composition amongst different mammals along with changes in breast milk composition during evolution provided. Special attention is paid to oligosaccharides — unique components of the breast milk of Homo sapiens.

This review article summarizes current data on malnutrition etiology and pathogenesis in infants. Topical requirements for revealing this condition, its diagnosis and severity assessment via centile metrics are presented. The characteristics of the most common clinical phenotypes of postnatal growth insufficiency in infants (premature infants with different degree of maturation, including patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia) are described. Differential approaches for malnutrition nutritional correction in these children are presented. The final section of the article describes special nutritional needs for children with congenital heart defects in terms of hemodynamic disorders nature and severity. Modern nutritional strategies for preparation of these patients to surgery and for their postoperative period are presented. The use of high-calorie/high-protein product for malnutrition correction in the most vulnerable patients with described in this review phenotypes is worth noticing.

The description of new promising method of functional neuroimaging, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), is presented. General information on functional tomography and its features in children are given. Brief description on the history of fNIRS development, the method itself, its advantages and disadvantages are covered. fNIRS implementation areas in science and clinical practice are clarified. fNIRS features are described, and the role of this method among others in functional tomography is determined. It was noted that fNIRS significantly complements other research and diagnostic methods, including functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, induced potentials, thereby expanding the range of scientific and clinical issues that can be solved by functional neuroimaging.

Background. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children by their geographic latitude of residence requires follow-up study. This is crucial for implementation of preventive measures that can reduce the risk of developing pathological conditions associated with vitamin D deficiency.

Objective. The aim of the study is to study the vitamin D supplementation of 7–8 years old children living in different geographical latitudes of one subject of Russian Federation.

Methods. The study included relatively healthy children living in three geographical areas (northern — 52°, central — 50°, southern — 48°) of one region (Khabarovsk Krai). Vitamin D supplementation was evaluated by 25(OH)D serum concentration via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Vitamin D insufficiency was diagnosed at 25(OH)D concentration of 21–30 ng/ml, deficiency — 10–20 ng/ml, severe deficiency — < 10 ng/ml; optimal 25(OH)D concentration was considered as 30–100 ng/ml.

Results. The increase in prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency has been revealed with gradual increase from southern (57%) to central (73%) and northern (83%) geographic areas in 7–8 years old children living in the same region. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency (25(OH)D  30 ng/mL) among children living in the northern geographic area was greater by 3.8-fold (95% confidence interval 1.2–12.7) then among peers living in the southern areas.

Conclusion. One factor affecting 25(OH)D serum concentration in children of this region is the insolation level determined by the geographical latitude of residence. The 4°N difference is significant in determining vitamin D status in residents of relatively high latitudes. Further studies of factors associated with 25(OH)D concentration in children living in different latitudes are required (insolation level, number of sunny days per year, food and household characteristics in families).

Background. For now, there is little data on sensitivity features to specific allergen antigens in infants with initial allergy manifestations.

Objective. The aim of the study is to determine the features of the primary molecular sensitisation profile in infants with risk of atopic disease according to their postnatal age.

Methods. Full-term infants with burdened familial allergic history and/or skin/gastrointestinal allergy symptoms were examined: Group 1 — 50 children, age — 2.0 [1.0–3.0] months; Group 2 — 35 children, age — 9.0 [8.0–11.0] months.

Results. The hereditary atopy risk was observed in 74% of cases (37/50) in Group 1 and in 71% of cases (25/35) in Group 2. 38% of children (19/50) in Group 1 were breastfed, in Group 2 — 60% of children (21/35). Supplemental feeding was implemented in 5.5 [5.0–6.0] months. Sensitisation was reported in 10% and 37% of children. Children of Group 1 were sensitised to food allergen antigens: cow's milk/meat (Bos d 6, Bos d 8), egg-white (Gal d 1, Gal d 2, Gal d 3), soybeans (Gly m 6), shrimps (Pen m 4); airborne allergens: house dust mite (Blo t 5, Der h 10), Anisakidae (Ani s 3), cockroach (Bla g 7). Children of Group 2 were sensitised to food allergen antigens: cow's milk (Bos d 6), egg-white (Gal d 1, Gal d 2), soybeans (Gly m 6), peanut (Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 6), kiwi (Act d 1), corn (Tri a 19); airborne allergens: cat (Fel d 1, Fel d 4), birch pollen (Bet v 1). Polyvalent sensitisation was revealed in 4% and 6% of cases, respectively.

Conclusion. Infants have much wider range of allergens to which they are sensitive than it is commonly believed. Beside obligate food allergens, sensitisation can be caused by airborne allergens: house dust mites, epidermal, birch pollen; crossreactive component — tropomyosin.

Background. The study of digital activity correlation with cognitive-emotional features, as well as with other parameters of adolescents’ life-activity in non-capital regions of Russian Federation remains relevant.

Objective. The aim of the study is to analyze the digital activity structure in adolescents and its correlation with cognitive-emotional features, school performance and social and age factors.

Methods. Participants are secondary school students of the 8th–11th grades. Digital activity was examined via online survey among adolescents. We took into account the use of social media, information search, watching videos on the Internet, using of messengers, playing games with electronic devices. Cognitive features (memory, thinking, executive functions, sensory information procession, reading and speech, understanding of emotions, decision-making) and emotional state of adolescents (anxiety) were evaluated by clinical psychologists via various tests. School performance was determined by the recent results of the school quarters/semester finished by the time of the survey. Social and age factors included regular out-of-school physical activity and family structure (complete/ incomplete).

Results. We have examined 438 teenagers. 53 (12%) respondents spend more than 5 hours a day with digital devices on weekdays, 133 (30%) — on weekends, 147 (34%) — during the holidays. Structure of digital activity during weekdays (≥ 1 hour) among adolescents was the following: activity in social media prevailed (63.5% of respondents), fewer teenagers searched for information or watched videos on the Internet (47.3 and 42.9%, respectively), about a third (34.9%) played via electronic devices. Structure of digital activity changed over the weekend and during the holidays. We have revealed differences between the information search activity and the volume of short-time memory, understanding the verbal messages, and verbal-logical operations level. Adolescents with different levels of computer gaming activity have shown diversity in sensomotor reaction speed, visuospatial memorization accuracy, number of errors in high-speed reading, reading pace, and understanding text basic meaning.

Conclusion. The greater time of digital activity among 8th–11th grades students is associated with negative results of cognitive activity and school performance.