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Francis Aitpillah

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

65 publications · 575 citations · ORCID 0000-0001-9495-6887

Cancer Genomics and DiagnosticsBRCA gene mutations in cancerGlobal Cancer Incidence and ScreeningBreast Cancer Treatment StudiesCancer Risks and Factors

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How do specific maternal microbiota profiles (gut, oral, or vaginal) during gestation correlate with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and subsequent long-term metabolic health in offspring?

Why this gap exists: While recent reviews [8] confirm GDM alters maternal gut microbiota and neonatal health, and older studies [0] note dysbiosis across maternal sites, the retrieved evidence lacks direct, longitudinal studies correlating specific gestational maternal microbiota profiles with the *long-term* metabolic health of offspring, leaving the core question unresolved.

To what extent do changes in the maternal microbiota (gut, oral, or vaginal) during pregnancy mediate the relationship between maternal perinatal anxiety/depression and the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the offspring?

Why this gap exists: While recent studies confirm associations between maternal mental health and microbiota composition (Abstract 5, 8) and suggest the microbiome-gut-brain axis influences neurodevelopment (Abstract 0, 2), the retrieved evidence does not contain studies that directly test the mediating role of maternal microbiota changes between perinatal anxiety/depression and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes.

What are the specific long-term treatment strategies required to mitigate the risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases in children born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus?

Why this gap exists: While the retrieved literature consistently establishes that maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the long-term risk of cardiometabolic diseases in offspring [1][2][3], it focuses primarily on pathogenesis and risk association rather than defining specific, evidence-based long-term treatment strategies for the children to mitigate these risks.

What is the comparative efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the one-step 75g OGTT versus the two-step (50g GCT followed by 100g OGTT) diagnostic approach in preventing adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes?

Why this gap exists: While Abstract [7] compares diagnostic criteria and Abstract [4] compares 75g and 100g OGTTs, the retrieved evidence lacks direct, comparative studies on the cost-effectiveness and relative efficacy of the one-step versus two-step *approaches* in preventing adverse outcomes, leaving the specific question unresolved.

Sources

  1. Glucose Intolerance after a Recent History of Gestational Diabetes Based on the 2013 WHO CriteriaPLoS ONE, 2016
  2. A Multicenter, Randomized Trial of Treatment for Mild Gestational DiabetesNew England Journal of Medicine, 2009
  3. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2013Diabetes Care, 2012
  4. An Update on Screening Strategies for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative ReviewDiabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity, 2021
  5. Comparison between 75-g and 100-g oral glucose tolerance tests using international association of diabetes and pregnancy study group one-step diagnostic threshold to detect gestational diabetes mellitusFrontiers in Endocrinology, 2025
  6. Large language models for generating longitudinal synthetic data in low-risk pregnancy care.Data in brief, 2026
  7. Effects of physical activity and diet in pregnancy to prevent gestational diabetes: an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis on the differential effects of interventions with economic evaluation.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England), 2026
  8. 187-OR: Randomized Clinical Trial of the IADPSG vs. Carpenter Coustan Criteria for Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes MellitusDiabetes, 2020
  9. Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus and results of the screening tests at a tertiary referral center: A cross-sectional study.Diabetes & metabolic syndrome, 2019
  10. Gestational Diabetes in Somali Women: Neglected Risks for Maternal and Neonatal Health.International journal of women's health, 2026

How do specific cultural beliefs regarding 'insufficient milk' in rural South African communities mediate the relationship between maternal dietary diversity and the introduction of prelacteal feeds?

Why this gap exists: While the retrieved papers discuss general breastfeeding barriers in South Africa [8] and cultural influences in other regions like Ethiopia [6] and Malaysia [9], none specifically address the mediation of 'insufficient milk' beliefs on the relationship between maternal dietary diversity and prelacteal feeds in rural South African communities.

Sources

  1. African Political Systems.American Sociological Review, 1940
  2. Maternal nutrition counselling is associated with reduced stunting prevalence and improved feeding practices in early childhood: a post-program comparison studyNutrition Journal, 2019
  3. Trends and determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2016International Breastfeeding Journal, 2019
  4. Marketing of commercial milk formula: a system to capture parents, communities, science, and policyThe Lancet, 2023
  5. Facilitators, barriers, and factors determining the willingness to donate human milk among postpartum mothers in a tertiary women's hospital in Nepal: a cross-sectional study.International breastfeeding journal, 2026
  6. Assessment of Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices among Mothers Attending Maternal and Child Health Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital, North Karnataka, India - A Cross-sectional Study.Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 2025
  7. Sociocultural and structural influences on infant and young child feeding in pastoralist communities of Afar, Ethiopia: a qualitative phenomenological study.BMJ open, 2026
  8. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in East Africa: a systematic reviewInternational Breastfeeding Journal, 2020
  9. Facilitators and barriers associated with breastfeeding among mothers attending primary healthcare facilities in Mpumalanga, South Africa.Frontiers in nutrition, 2023
  10. Assessing the Influence of Cultural Beliefs and Practices on Early Breastfeeding Initiation Rates in Rural Sarawak Communities, MalaysiaScientific Journal of Pediatrics, 2023

How does the longitudinal trajectory of maternal stress and resilience during pregnancy specifically mediate the association between social determinants of health (e.g., socioeconomic status, structural inequality) and infant cognitive or emotional development outcomes?

Why this gap exists: While the retrieved literature confirms associations between socioeconomic disadvantage, maternal stress, and infant neurodevelopment, it does not resolve the specific question of how longitudinal trajectories of maternal stress and resilience mediate these associations, as the studies focus on broad correlations or static measures rather than dynamic mediation pathways.

Publications