Influence of Lactation on Postpartum Stress and Immunity

描述(由申请人提供)：研究的长期目标 是为了了解神经内分泌和免疫反应的调节 对产后妇女的自然应激，并确定是否哺乳期 状态与这些变量的显著差异有关。它是 从动物研究中已知，哺乳期具有抗应激能力，这可能 在应激时要有免疫保护。的临床益处 因此，哺乳可能具有保护产妇健康的作用。大部分 对产后妇女的研究没有区分哺乳状态， 然而，所有的动物研究自然都是关于哺乳有机体的。因为很多女性 不要乳酸，这是必不可少的神经内分泌学知识， 哺乳期和哺乳期应激反应、免疫参数和健康影响 对非哺乳期妇女进行调查，以确定是否有任何重要性的差异 确实存在。这项研究将分析哺乳状态与 压力、激素、免疫功能和感染症状。数据将 提供有关是否存在哺乳期应激抵抗的新信息 人类物种，如果哺乳对免疫或健康有任何好处 向母亲致敬。本研究的具体目的是：1)分析知觉 压力、应激性生活事件、情绪状态、与压力相关的水平 荷尔蒙，以及哺乳期这些变量之间的关系 非哺乳期妇女；2)分析免疫变量及发生和严重程度 与非哺乳期妇女相比，哺乳期常见感染症状的发生率； 3)分析压力与情绪、变量、免疫力之间的关系 常见感染症状的变数、发生率和严重程度 哺乳期和非哺乳期妇女。产妇健康和豁免权将是 在产后4-6周进行检查。压力将作为两个生活事件来衡量 压力和感知到的压力。情绪状态由分数决定。 情绪状态的配置文件。应激相关荷尔蒙分析在血清和 包括催乳素、催产素和皮质醇，同时检测免疫功能 通过细胞因子、T细胞增殖、免疫球蛋白水平、新喋呤水平 和CD记号笔。感染症状由CARR SCL测量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objectives of the research are to understand the regulation of neuroendocrine and immunological responses to naturalistic stress in postpartum women, and to determine if lactational state is associated with significant differences in these variables. It is known from animal studies that lactation confers stress resistance, which may be accompanied by immunologic protection during stress. Clinical benefits of lactating may therefore include a maternal health-protecting effect. Most of the research studies on postpartum women do not distinguish lactational state, yet all animal studies naturally are of lactating organisms. Since many women do not lactate, it is essential that knowledge of the neuroendocrinology, stress responses, immune parameters, and health effects of lactating and non-lactating women be explored to determine if any differences of importance do exist. The study will analyze relationships between lactational state and stress, hormones, immune function, and symptoms of infection. The data will provide new information about whether a lactational stress resistance exists in the human species, and if lactation confers any immunological or health benefit to the mother. The specific aims of this study are to 1) To analyze perceived stress, stressful life events, mood states, levels of stress-associated hormones, and relationships among these variables in lactating compared to non-lactating women; 2) To analyze immune variables and occurrence and severity of symptoms of common infection in lactating compared to non-lactating women; 3) To analyze relationships between stress, and mood, variables, immune variables, and incidences and severity of symptoms of common infection in lactating and non-lactating women. Maternal health, and immunity will be examined at 4-6 weeks postpartum. Stress will be measured as both life events stress and perceived stress. Mood states are determined by scores on the Profile of Mood States. Stress-associated hormones are analyzed in serum and include prolactin, oxytocin and cortisol, while immune function is assayed through cytokines, T-cell proliferation, immunoglobulin level, neopterin levels and CD markers. Symptoms of infection are measured by the Carr SCL.