Measurement of Cellular Immune Function of Breast Milk and Health Education of Pregnant and Lying in Women

Breast milk is different from any nutritional substitutes. Breast milk has biological specificity. The most irreplaceable nutrient for newborns is breast milk. In order to determine the immunoprotective effect of breast milk on newborns, 30 primiparas were selected to obtain a little milk before feeding in three different periods, which were divided into colostrum, transitional milk and mature milk. The contents of CD3, CD4, CD8, SlgA, IgG and IgM positive cells in nuclear cells were observed by inverted fluorescence microscope. The contents of IL-8, IFN - γ, and potassium, sodium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in different time periods were compared between six groups. The results showed that the content of IFN - γ cells in colostrum was 1.61 and that of IL-8 cells was 0.83. However, the contents of IFN - γ cells and IL-8 cells in colostrum decreased to 0.31 and 0.36 at the time of transition milk. Therefore, breastfeeding from the third to the fifth day after delivery can give more immune cells to the newborn, which is conducive to the establishment of their own immune system. Therefore, in the teaching of health-related knowledge to pregnant women, we should advocate more maternal breastfeeding newborns, for the health of the newborn.

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Ascorbic acid levels in maternal milk: differences with respect to ascorbic acid status during the third trimester of pregnancy

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn19980073 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 79 (5) ◽

pp. 431-437 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Rosa M. Ortega ◽

M. Elena Quintas ◽

Pedro Andrés ◽

Rosa M. Martínez ◽

Ana M. López-Sobaler

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Mature Milk ◽

The Third ◽

Acid Intake ◽

Vitamin Intake ◽

Acid Status ◽

Transition Milk

The aim of the present investigation was to study the relationship between ascorbic acid status during the third trimester of pregnancy and levels of this vitamin in transition milk (days 13–14 of lactation) and mature milk (day 40 of lactation). To this end, the pregnancies and lactation periods of fifty-seven healthy women between 18 and 35 years of age (27 (sd 3.7) years) were monitored. Vitamin intake during the third trimester was determined by recording the consumption of foods over 5 d, and by registering the quantities provided by dietary supplements. Ascorbic acid levels in maternal serum during this stage of pregnancy, and in transition and mature milk samples, were determined by spectrophotometry. Those subjects with ascorbic acid intakes below that recommended (80 mg/d) (group L) showed lower consumption of fruit and vegetables than did those with greater intakes (group H). The consumption of ascorbic acid supplements was very low, and was only seen in three group H subjects. The difference in ascorbic acid intake was reflected at serum level. Group L subjects showed significantly lower serum values than did group H subjects (30.1 (sd 36.3) μmol/l compared with 101.1 (sd 168.1) μmol/l). Vitamin intake also influenced the composition of transition milk. Group L subjects showed significantly lower levels of ascorbic acid in milk than did group H subjects (255.5 (sd 220.3) μmol/l compared with 437.8 (sd 288.4) μmol/l). The results of the present study reveal the need to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables during pregnancy and to monitor maternal ascorbic acid intake and vitamin C status.

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Calcium levels in maternal milk: relationships with calcium intake during the third trimester of pregnancy

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn19980088 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 79 (6) ◽

pp. 501-507 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Rosa M. Ortega ◽

Rosa M. Martínez ◽

M. Elena Quintas ◽

Ana M. López-Sobaler ◽

Pedro Andrés

Keyword(s):

Maternal Serum ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Mature Milk ◽

Maternal Milk ◽

The Third ◽

Lactating Mothers ◽

The Mean ◽

Transition Milk ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of Ca intake and serum Ca levels during the third trimester of pregnancy with levels of the same mineral in transition milk (days 13−14 of lactation) and mature milk (day 40 of lactation). The study subjects were a group of fifty-seven healthy, lactating mothers aged between 18 and 35 years (mean 27 (SD3·7) years) whose pregnancies and labour were attended by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Cuenca INSALUD Hospital, Spain. Ca intake during the third trimester was determined by recording the consumption of foods over a 5 d period and by registering Ca provided by dietary supplements. The same method was used to investigate the intake of protein, vitamin D, fibre and Fe, nutrients that could affect the use of dietary Ca. Ca levels in maternal serum during this stage of pregnancy, during lactation and in transition and mature milk samples, were determined using 2-cresolphthalein complexone. During pregnancy 70·2% of subjects showed Ca intakes below 1100mg/d (75th percentile). The consumption of Ca supplements was very small and hardly modified the mean quantity supplied by the diet. Subjects with an intake < 1100mg/d showed no fall in Ca levels in serum, either during pregnancy or lactation, nor were decreased levels found in transition milk. However, these subjects showed lower Ca levels in mature milk (5·95 (SD1·56) mmol/1) than did subjects with greater Ca intakes (6·82 (SD1·31) mmol/1). This may suggest that breast-fed babies of mothers with lower Ca intakes during pregnancy also receive less Ca.

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Relation between breast milk energy density and the pre-conception BMI from donations of a human milk bank

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s0029665120004231 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽

Author(s):

Yanira Flórez Matías ◽

Liliana Ladino Melendez ◽

Sandra Patricia Guevara Núñez

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Energy Density ◽

Human Milk ◽

Milk Lipid ◽

Human Breast ◽

Mature Milk ◽

Proportional Relation ◽

Milk Bank ◽

Transition Milk ◽

Human Milk Bank

AbstractHuman breast milk is a high value biological substance that grants numerous benefits both to mother and child. Many aspects can produce changes in the milk composition; among them, the pre-conception body mass index (Pre-conception BMI) which is included as a factor that can influence the fat levels and therefore, the milk's energy density. To identify if there is a relation between the breast milk energy density from a human milk bank and Preconception BMI. It is a retrospective study that used information from donations registered in the human milk database at Hospital de Kennedy during 2016. The dependent variable is the energy density from 3 kinds of milk: colostrum, mature and transition milk. As independent variable, Preconception BMI was taken. The R free program version 3.3.0 was used for statistical analysis. The energy density average found for the 3 kinds of milk were: 20.59 + /- 2.3 kcal/oz, 20.51 + /- 2.17 kcal/oz y 19.21 + /- 2.53 for colostrum, transition milk and mature milk respectively. The Preconception BMI average from the donors was 23.56 Kg/m2 for colostrum, 23.9 Kg/m2 for transition milk and 23.1 Kg/m2 for mature milk. No relation between Preconception BMI and energy density of colostrum was found. However, for transition milk and Preconception BMI a directly proportional relation was found (p < 0.01), and for mature milk and Preconception BMI an inversely proportional relation was determined (p = 0.0387). There are internal and external factors than can affect the breast milk lipid content, such as movements of reserves through the organism to protect the milk production, hormonal action, dietary intake, physical activity and socio-economic and cultural aspects; that is why it is not possible to analyze the preconception BMI as a unique predictor of breast milk energy density in an isolated manner. Preconception BMI is related to human breast transition and mature milk energy density in donations registered in 2016 at Kennedy Hospital.

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Expression profiles of hsa-miR-148a-3p and hsa-miR-125b-5p in human breast milk and infant formulae

International Breastfeeding Journal ◽

10.1186/s13006-021-00436-7 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Takeshi Chiba ◽

Aya Kooka ◽

Kiyoko Kowatari ◽

Megumi Yoshizawa ◽

Naoko Chiba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gastrointestinal Function ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

Human Breast ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Mature Milk ◽

Infant Formulae ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Transition Milk

Abstract Background Milk-derived microRNAs (miRNAs), including hsa-miR-148a-3p (miR-148a) and hsa-miR-125b-5p (miR-125b), have been shown to be beneficial to the gastrointestinal function in infants. Here, we investigated their expression during lactation in humans and determined whether the infant formulae available in Japan contain these miRNAs. Methods Healthy Japanese women (n = 16) who gave birth vaginally or by cesarean section at the Teine Keijinkai Hospital between 1 September 2020, and 31 April 2021 were included in this study. Breast milk was collected by nurses on days 4 or 5 after delivery (hereinafter, transition milk) and on day 30 of postpartum (hereinafter, mature milk). The levels of miR-148a and miR-125b in breastmilk and six commercially available infant formulae were compared and evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results In all participants, the miR-148a level in mature breastmilk was significantly lower than that in the transition milk. The changes in miR-125b expression during lactation showed similar trends to the changes in miR-148a expression. The miR-148a and miR-125b levels in all analyzed infant formulae were lower than 1/500th and 1/100th of those in mature breastmilk, respectively. Conclusions The levels of both miR-148a and miR-125b in human breast milk decreased on day 30 postpartum compared with those in the transition milk. Additionally, the expression of these miRNAs in infant formulae available in Japan was very low. Further studies with larger populations are required to understand precisely the lactational changes in the expression of miR148a and miR-125b in breast milk.

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Thiamin status during the third trimester of pregnancy and its influence on thiamin concentrations in transition and mature breast milk

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn20041153 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 92 (1) ◽

pp. 129-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Rosa M. Ortega ◽

Rosa M. Martínez ◽

Pedro Andrés ◽

Lilliam Marín-Arias ◽

Ana M. López-Sobaler

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Mature Milk ◽

Important Public Health Problem ◽

Thiamin Deficiency ◽

The Third ◽

Vitamin Intake ◽

Severe Deficiency ◽

Spanish Women

AbstractThiamin deficiency remains an important public health problem in some populations. The aim of the present investigation was to study thiamin status during the third trimester of pregnancy and its influence on the concentration of this vitamin in transition (days 13–14 of lactation) and mature breast milk (day 40 of lactation) in a group of Spanish women. The pregnancies and lactation periods of fifty-one healthy women 18–35 (mean 26·7 (sd 3·7)) years old were monitored. Vitamin intake during the third trimester was determined by recording the consumption of foods over 5 d and of the quantities provided by dietary supplements. Thiamin status during this stage of pregnancy was determined by measuring the activation coefficient of erythrocyte transketolase (α-ETK). Milk thiamin content was estimated (in 41% of the subjects) by oxidizing thiamin to thiocrome and measuring fluorescence. Subjects with thiamin intakes above that recommended (group H) had more satisfactory serum α-ETK coefficients (1·01 (sd 0·19)) than did those with lower intakes (group L) (1·21 (sd 0·30); P>0·05). Mature milk thiamin concentrations were significantly higher in group H subjects (0·59 (sd 0·44) μmol/l) than group L subjects (0·25 (sd 0·07) μmol/l). Subjects with α-ETK coefficients >1·25 in the third trimester had significantly lower mature milk thiamin concentration (0·31 (sd 0·10) μmol/l) than did subjects with more satisfactory α-ETK levels at this time (0·55 (sd 0·42) μmol/l; P>0·05). The thiamin status of women can be improved since 25·5% of subjects took less than that recommended and 13·7% showed signs of severe deficiency (α-ETK >1·25). The influence of maternal thiamin intake on α-ETK coefficients and on mature breast milk thiamin concentration is confirmed.

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Polyamines in human breast milk for preterm and term infants

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114512005284 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 110 (3) ◽

pp. 524-528 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

J. Plaza-Zamora ◽

M. Sabater-Molina ◽

M. Rodríguez-Palmero ◽

M. Rivero ◽

V. Bosch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Human Milk ◽

Human Breast Milk ◽

Gut Development ◽

Human Breast ◽

Mature Milk ◽

Term Infants ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Preterm Babies ◽

Transition Milk

Maternal milk is the first source of exogenous polyamines for the newborn. Polyamines modulate gut maturation in neonates, but no studies are available on polyamine concentration in human milk of preterm babies, even though they could be important for their immature gut. The present study aimed to determine polyamine concentration in human breast milk of mothers with preterm or term infants during the first month of lactation. Human milk samples were obtained during the first month of lactation from twenty-seven mothers with preterm babies and twelve mothers with babies born at term. The polyamine concentration in human milk was quantified by HPLC. During the first month of lactation, the total polyamine concentration was significantly higher in preterm milk than in term milk samples (7590 (sd 4990) v. 4660 (sd 4830) nmol/l, respectively (P =0·034)), as well as individual polyamine concentrations. Polyamine concentration in mature milk for preterm babies was significantly higher than that in mature milk for babies at term, and a similar trend was observed in colostrum and transition human milk. The spermidine/spermine ratio was higher in transition milk in preterm v. term samples, while in mature milk, the ratio was significantly lower in preterm than in term babies. In conclusion, the polyamine concentration was significantly higher in human milk for preterm than for term infants. This and the different spermidine/spermine ratios could influence the gut development of premature babies.

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Bacterial Diversity of Breast Milk in Healthy Spanish Women: Evolution from Birth to Five Years Postpartum

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072414 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2414

Author(s):

Laura Sanjulián ◽

Alexandre Lamas ◽

Rocío Barreiro ◽

Alberto Cepeda ◽

Cristina A. Fente ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

16S Rrna ◽

Human Milk ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Maternal Body Mass Index ◽

16S Rrna Amplicon Sequencing ◽

Spanish Women ◽

Calcium Magnesium ◽

Abundant Genus

The objective of this work was to characterize the microbiota of breast milk in healthy Spanish mothers and to investigate the effects of lactation time on its diversity. A total of ninety-nine human milk samples were collected from healthy Spanish women and were assessed by means of next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons and by qPCR. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Accordingly, Streptococcus was the most abundant genus. Lactation time showed a strong influence in milk microbiota, positively correlating with Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while Firmicutes was relatively constant over lactation. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed that the highest alpha-diversity was found in samples of prolonged lactation, along with wider differences between individuals. As for milk nutrients, calcium, magnesium, and selenium levels were potentially associated with Streptococcus and Staphylococcus abundance. Additionally, Proteobacteria was positively correlated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in breast milk, and Staphylococcus with conjugated linoleic acid. Conversely, Streptococcus and trans-palmitoleic acid showed a negative association. Other factors such as maternal body mass index or diet also showed an influence on the structure of these microbial communities. Overall, human milk in Spanish mothers appeared to be a complex niche shaped by host factors and by its own nutrients, increasing in diversity over time.

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Assessment of Dietary Habits, Physical Activity and Lifestyle in Medical University Students

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13063572 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 3572

Author(s):

Lavinia-Maria Pop ◽

Magdalena Iorga ◽

Iulia-Diana Muraru ◽

Florin-Dumitru Petrariu

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Medical Students ◽

Fast Food ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Healthy Life ◽

Related Data ◽

The Third ◽

Health Related ◽

Medical University ◽

Busy Schedule

A busy schedule and demanding tasks challenge medical students to adjust their lifestyle and dietary habits. The aim of this study was to identify dietary habits and health-related behaviours among students. A number of 403 students (80.40% female, aged M = 21.21 ± 4.56) enrolled in a medical university provided answers to a questionnaire constructed especially for this research, which was divided into three parts: the first part collected socio-demographic, anthropometric, and medical data; the second part inquired about dietary habits, lifestyle, sleep, physical activity, water intake, and use of alcohol and cigarettes; and the third part collected information about nutrition-related data and the consumption of fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, fish, and sweets. Data were analysed using SPSS v24. Students usually slept M = 6.71 ± 1.52 h/day, and one-third had self-imposed diet restrictions to control their weight. For both genders, the most important meal was lunch, and one-third of students had breakfast each morning. On average, the students consumed 1.64 ± 0.88 l of water per day and had 220 min of physical activity per week. Data about the consumption of fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, fish, sweets, fast food, coffee, tea, alcohol, or carbohydrate drinks were presented. The results of our study proved that medical students have knowledge about how to maintain a healthy life and they practice it, which is important for their subsequent professional life.

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A TLR4 agonist improves immune checkpoint blockade treatment by increasing the ratio of effector to regulatory cells within the tumor microenvironment

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94837-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

A. Farias ◽

A. Soto ◽

F. Puttur ◽

C. J. Goldin ◽

S. Sosa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Tumor Growth ◽

Therapeutic Effect ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Immune Checkpoint ◽

Combined Treatment ◽

Immune Checkpoint Blockade ◽

Checkpoint Blockade ◽

Regulatory Cells ◽

Ifn Γ

AbstractBrucella lumazine synthase (BLS) is a homodecameric protein that activates dendritic cells via toll like receptor 4, inducing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. We have previously shown that BLS has a therapeutic effect in B16 melanoma-bearing mice only when administered at early stages of tumor growth. In this work, we study the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of BLS, by analyzing the tumor microenvironment. Administration of BLS at early stages of tumor growth induces high levels of serum IFN-γ, as well as an increment of hematopoietic immune cells within the tumor. Moreover, BLS-treatment increases the ratio of effector to regulatory cells. However, all treated mice eventually succumb to the tumors. Therefore, we combined BLS administration with anti-PD-1 treatment. Combined treatment increases the outcome of both monotherapies. In conclusion, we show that the absence of the therapeutic effect at late stages of tumor growth correlates with low levels of serum IFN-γ and lower infiltration of immune cells in the tumor, both of which are essential to delay tumor growth. Furthermore, the combined treatment of BLS and PD-1 blockade shows that BLS could be exploited as an essential immunomodulator in combination therapy with an immune checkpoint blockade to treat skin cancer.

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A Summary of the Third Global Interferon-γ Release Assay Symposium

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/670634 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (6) ◽

pp. 619-624 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Antonino Catanzaro ◽

Charles Daley

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Tuberculin Skin Test ◽

Skin Test ◽

Interferon Γ ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

In Vitro Tests ◽

The Third ◽

Specific Antigens ◽

Ifn Γ

Studies over the past several decades have dramatically increased our understanding of the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and advances in proteomics and genomics have led to a new class of immune-diagnostic tests, termed interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release assays (IGRAs), which appear to obviate many of the problems encountered with the tuberculin skin test (TST). Worldwide, 2 IGRAs are currently commercially available. QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (Cellestis) is a third-generation product that uses an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure IFN-γ generated in whole blood stimulated with M. tuberculosis–specific antigens. T-Spot-TB (Oxford Immunotec) employs enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot technology to enumerate the number of purified lymphocytes that respond to M. tuberculosis–specific antigens by producing IFN-γ. These in vitro tests measure the host immune response to M. tuberculosis–specific antigens, which virtually eliminates false-positive cross reactions caused by bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination and/or exposure to environmental nontuberculous mycobacteria that plague the interpretation and accuracy of the tuberculin skin test (TST). The high specificity of IGRAs, together with sensitivity commensurate with or better than that of the TST, promises an accurate diagnosis and the ability to focus tuberculosis-control activities on those who are actually infected with M. tuberculosis. The Third Global Symposium was held over a 3-day period and was presented by the University of California, San Diego, Continuing Medical Education department; slides and sound recordings of each presentation are available at http://cme.ucsd.edu/igras/syllabus.html. A moderated discussion is also available at http://cme.ucsd.edu/igrasvideo. This document provides a summary of the key findings of the meeting, specifically focusing on the use of IGRAs in screening healthcare worker populations.

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