Previous studies on the differences in gut microbiota between exclusively breastfed (EBF) and non-EBF infants have provided highly variable results. Here we perform a meta-analysis of seven microbiome studies (1825 stool samples from 684 infants) to compare the gut microbiota of non-EBF and EBF infants across populations. In the first 6 months of life, gut bacterial diversity, microbiota age, relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, and predicted microbial pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism are consistently higher in non-EBF than in EBF infants, whereas relative abundances of pathways related to lipid metabolism, vitamin metabolism, and detoxification are lower. Variation in predicted microbial pathways associated with non-EBF infants is larger among infants born by Caesarian section than among those vaginally delivered. Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding is associated with reduced diarrhea-related gut microbiota dysbiosis. Furthermore, differences in gut microbiota between EBF and non-EBF infants persist after 6 months of age. Our findings elucidate some mechanisms of short and long-term benefits of exclusive breastfeeding across different populations.
ACH YEAR 471 000 CASES AND 233 000 deaths occur from cervical cancer worldwide, of which 80% occur in less-developed countries that have access to less than 5% of global cancer treatment resources. 1 The lifetime risk of a woman developing cervical cancer in a lowresource setting is approximately 2% to 4%. [2][3][4] Cytology-based screening programs have markedly reduced the incidence of cervical cancer in developed countries that have the infrastructure to support these programs. 5 However, screening programs have proven difficult to implement in low-resource settings. There are 2 predominant reasons why cytology-based programs have proven difficult to implement and sustain in low-resource settings. One is the nature of the screening test. 6 Highquality cytology laboratories are difficult to maintain and there are often substantial delays before the results become available. 7 Another is the extensive workup that is typically used for women with abnormal cytological results. In developed countries, women with abnor-
Infants exclusively breastfed for 3 months or more had no excess risk of HIV infection over 6 months than those never breastfed. These findings, if confirmed elsewhere, can influence public health policies on feeding choices available to HIV-infected mothers in developing countries.
Cervical cancer screening strategies that incorporate DVI or HPV DNA testing and eliminate colposcopy may offer attractive alternatives to cytology-based screening programs in low-resource settings.
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