Milk is a good source of fats, minerals, and vitamins. The present prebirth cohort study examined the association between maternal dairy product intake during pregnancy and the risk of childhood behavioral problems in 5-year-old Japanese children. Study subjects were 1199 mother–child pairs. Dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior were assessed using the parent-reported version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustments were made for a priori selected non-dietary confounders and potentially related dietary factors. A significant inverse exposure–response association was observed between maternal total dairy intake during pregnancy and the risk of childhood emotional problems (adjusted odds ratio [OR] between extreme quartiles, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36–1.03, p for trend, 0.04). The greater maternal consumption of cow’s milk, but not yogurt or cheese, during pregnancy was independently related to a reduced risk of emotional problems in children (adjusted OR between extreme quartiles, 0.41; 95% CI: 0.23–0.70, p for trend, 0.003). Higher maternal consumption levels of total dairy products, especially cow’s milk, during pregnancy may be associated with a decreased risk of emotional problems in 5-year-old children.

Actin-based protrusions called cytonemes are reported to function in cell communication by supporting events such as morphogen gradient establishment and pattern formation. Despite the crucial roles of cytonemes in cell signaling, the molecular mechanism for cytoneme establishment remains elusive. In this study, we showed that the leukocyte common antigen-related (LAR) receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase plays an important role in cytoneme-like protrusion formation. Overexpression of LAR in HEK293T cells induced the formation of actin-based protrusions, some of which exceeded 200 µm in length and displayed a complex morphology with branches. Upon focusing on the regulation of LAR dimerization or clustering and the resulting regulatory effects on LAR phosphatase activity, we found that longer and more branched protrusions were formed when LAR dimerization was artificially induced and when heparan sulfate was applied. Interestingly, although the truncated form of LAR lacking phosphatase-related domains promoted protrusion formation, the phosphatase-inactive forms did not show clear changes, suggesting that LAR dimerization triggers the formation of cytoneme-like protrusions in a phosphatase-independent manner. Our results thus emphasize the importance of LAR and its dimerization in cell signaling. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Background/Objectives: Research suggests that diet influences oxidative stress status in pregnant women and is related to their stress and depressive symptoms. This study aimed to investigate how maternal diet during late pregnancy affects oxidative stress status, maternal stress, depression, and fetal physical development. Methods: This study included 58 mother–child pairs. Dietary intake, depressive symptoms, and clinical information were obtained through questionnaires and clinical records. Maternal and cord blood concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), paraoxonase-1, platelet activating factor-acetylhydrolase, and cortisol were measured using spectrophotometric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Maternal serum MDA levels were inversely associated with nut consumption (β = −0.40, p = 0.01) and positively associated with vitamin B2 (β = 2.43, p = 0.04) and manganese intake (β = 0.44, p = 0.02). Fruit consumption was positively associated with Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score (β = 0.35, p = 0.03). Intakes of beans (β = −3.37, p = 0.04), vitamin B1 (β = −738.92, p = 0.04), vitamin B6 (β = −562.21, p = 0.04), vitamin C (β = −4.75, p = 0.009), iron (β = −106.63, p = 0.03), and copper (β = −863.31, p = 0.01) were inversely associated with maternal serum cortisol level, whereas dairy intake (β = 1.45, p = 0.003) showed a positive association. Cord plasma cortisol levels were inversely associated with the consumption of other vegetables (β = −2.89, p = 0.02). Conclusions: The findings encourage further research towards the refinement of dietary guidelines for pregnant women and recommendations for expecting mothers.

Background: Edible mushrooms have long been recognized for their nutritional value. In the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study, a prebirth cohort study, we examined the association between maternal mushroom intake during pregnancy and risk of childhood behavioral problems in Japanese 5‐year‐olds. Methods: A total of 1199 mother–child pairs were included as study subjects. In the baseline survey, dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. In the follow‐up survey, emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior were assessed using the parent‐reported version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustments were made for a priori – selected non‐dietary confounders and potentially related dietary factors. Results: A significant inverse exposure–response association was observed between maternal mushroom consumption during pregnancy and risk of childhood peer problems (adjusted odds ratio [OR] between extreme quartiles, 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31–1.07, p for trend = 0.02) and low prosocial behavior (adjusted OR between extreme quartiles, 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43–0.95, p for trend = 0.02). Conclusion: Higher maternal intake levels of mushrooms during pregnancy may be associated with a decreased risk of peer problems and a decreased risk of low prosocial behavior in 5‐year‐old children.

Objectives: Nuts are nutrient‐dense foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids, protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The present prebirth cohort study examined the association between maternal nut intake during pregnancy and the risk of childhood behavioral problems in 5‐year‐old Japanese children.Methods: Study subjects were 1199 mother–child pairs. Dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior were assessed using the parent‐reported version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustments were made for a priori‐selected nondietary confounders and potentially related dietary factors.Results: Compared with mothers who had not eaten nuts during pregnancy, mothers who had eaten nuts had a significantly reduced risk of peer problems in children; the adjusted odds ratio was 0.64 (95% confidence interval: 0.42–0.97). There were no measurable associations between maternal consumption of nuts during pregnancy and the risk of childhood emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, and low prosocial behavior.Conclusions: Maternal consumption of nuts during pregnancy may be associated with a decreased risk of peer problems in 5‐year‐old children.

Edible mushrooms have long been recognized for their nutritional value. In the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study, a prebirth cohort study, we examined the association between maternal mushroom intake during pregnancy and risk of childhood behavioral problems in Japanese 5-year-olds. A total of 1199 mother-child pairs were included as study subjects. In the baseline survey, dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. In the follow-up survey, emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior were assessed using the parent-reported version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustments were made for a priori-selected non-dietary confounders and potentially related dietary factors. A significant inverse exposure-response association was observed between maternal mushroom consumption during pregnancy and risk of childhood peer problems (adjusted odds ratio [OR] between extreme quartiles, 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31-1.07, p for trend = 0.02) and low prosocial behavior (adjusted OR between extreme quartiles, 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43-0.95, p for trend = 0.02). Higher maternal intake levels of mushrooms during pregnancy may be associated with a decreased risk of peer problems and a decreased risk of low prosocial behavior in 5-year-old children.