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At least 1,405 records · Page 78Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Immune system development and function in prolactin receptor-deficient mice.

Prolactin (PRL) is the primary lactogenic pituitary hormone that plays an essential role in many aspects of reproduction, from fertilization to mammary gland development and maternal behavior. PRL has also been reported to play a role in immunoregulation. Because initial observations indicated that hypophysectomized rats present abnormalities of the immune system, including increased thymic atrophy and lymphopenia, a number of studies have focused on the potential immunomodulatory roles of PRL. This hormone exerts its biological activities following binding to specific cell surface PRL receptors (PRLRs). In this report, we have characterized the development and function of the immune system in PRLR-deficient mice. Compared with wild-type control mice, PRLR-/- mice demonstrate no alterations in thymic or splenic cellularity or in the composition of the lymphocyte subsets present in primary (bone marrow and thymus) or secondary (spleen and lymph nodes) lymphoid organs. Lymphocytes from PRLR-/- mice are functional in vitro, as they can proliferate normally to mitogens, cytokines, and allogeneic cells. PRLR-/- splenocytes display normal NK-mediated cytotoxicity to YAC-1 target cells. In vivo studies have revealed that PRLR-/- mice are able to 1) generate normal steady-state Ig levels, 2) mount a normal specific Ig response following immunization with a T-dependent Ag, 3) eliminate injected allogeneic tumor cells, and 4) effectively control Listeria monocytogenes infection. Taken together, these results show that immune system development and function proceed normally in the absence of PRL-mediated signaling and suggest that PRLR pathways are not essential for immunomodulation in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Olfactory fingerprints for major histocompatibility complex-determined body odors.

Recognition of individual body odors is analogous to human face recognition in that it provides information about identity. Individual body odors determined by differences at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC or H-2) have been shown to influence mate choice, pregnancy block, and maternal behavior in mice. Unfortunately, the mechanism and extent of the main olfactory bulb (MOB) and accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) involvement in the discrimination of animals according to H-2-type has remained ambiguous. Here we study the neuronal activation patterns evoked in the MOB in different individuals on exposure to these complex, biologically meaningful sensory stimuli. We demonstrate that body odors from H-2 disparate mice evoke overlapping but distinct maps of neuronal activation in the MOB. The spatial patterns of odor-evoked activity are sufficient to be used like fingerprints to predict H-2 identity using a novel computer algorithm. These results provide functional evidence for discrimination of H-2-determined body odors in the MOB, but do not preclude a role for the AOB. These data further our understanding of the neural strategies used to decode socially relevant odors.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1975

Residential care of the child-mother and her infant: an extended family concept.

A residential programs for single, young mothers and their infants uses the concept of a new extended family to achieve several purposes: training the mothers in parenting skill, giving them a chance of complete educations or vocational preparation, and providing care and developmental opportunity for the infants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Relationship with the mother modulates the response of yearling Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) to the birth of a sibling.

The authors investigated the changes induced by the birth of a sibling in the relationship of 1-year-old Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) with their mothers and group companions. After the birth of a sibling, mother-yearling contact, proximity, and grooming decreased dramatically. Yearlings responded to such a reduction in maternal care in either of 2 radically different ways. Yearlings either sought attention from group companions and showed no sign of depression or did not compensate for the mother's reduced availability and became depressed. The modality of response was predicted by the quality of the relationship with the mother before the sibling birth. Yearlings that had spent a larger amount of time in contact with their mothers were less likely to become depressed. Security of the attachment relationship with the mother may be the factor mediating the link between the time in contact and the yearling's response to the birth of a sibling.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Paternal smoking during pregnancy and the risk of childhood brain tumors: results of a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Prior epidemiological studies suggest a possible association between paternal smoking during pregnancy and risk of childhood brain tumors (CBT). A meta-analysis was performed statistically pooling all available observational studies on this topic in order to evaluate this suspected association. METHODS: Using previously described methods, a protocol was developed for a meta-analysis examining the association between paternal smoking during pregnancy and subsequent development of primary brain tumors in their offspring. Literature search techniques study inclusion criteria and statistical procedures were prospectively defined. Data from epidemiological studies were pooled using a general variance based meta-analytic method employing confidence intervals previously described by Greenland. The outcome of interest was a summary relative risk (RRs) reflecting the risk of childhood brain tumor development associated with father's smoking during the index pregnancy. Sensitivity analyses were performed when necessary to explain any observed statistical heterogeneity and/or to evaluate the impact of demographic or study characteristics on the summary estimate of effect. RESULTS: Seven observational studies meeting protocol specified inclusion criteria were obtained via a comprehensive literature search. These studies enrolled a total of 3,600 patients. Analysis for homogeneity demonstrated that the data were homogeneous (P = 0.52) and could be statistically combined. Pooling all seven reports yielded a RRs of 1.29 (1.07-1.53), a statistically significant result suggesting a 29% increased risk of brain tumor development associated with paternal smoking during pregnancy. An analysis of father's smoking impact on CBT risk based on "ever" versus "never" smoking history gave a RRs of 1.14 (0.98-1.34), a marginally non-statistically significant result. CONCLUSION: The available epidemiological data suggest an association between paternal smoking during pregnancy and pediatric brain tumor development. Although this association is biologically plausible, limitations in study designs limit definitive conclusions based on available data.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The business of preventing African-American infant mortality.

African-American women are twice as likely as women from other ethnic groups to have babies with low birth weights and to experience the loss of infant death. The problem is so endemic in black communities in Alameda County, California, that numerous programs have been developed over the past decade to reduce maternal risk factors and eliminate barriers to prenatal care. Despite these efforts, African-American ethnicity continues to be a major risk factor for infant mortality for reasons that are poorly understood. We take a critical look at 3 types of studies characteristic of infant mortality research: epidemiologic, studies that advocate prenatal care, and ethnomedical (cultural). We argue that the assumptions informing this research restrict the thinking about infant mortality and the political issues involved in how prevention programs are developed and structured. The persistent focus on maternal behavioral characteristics limits more in-depth analysis of the micropolitics of perinatal bureaucracies established in response to this ongoing crisis.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2004

[Etiology of intrauterine growth retardation. Part II: maternal disorders].

The second part of discussion incorporates maternal conditions influencing the risk of intrauterine growth retardation. Special attention was paid to the systemic abnormalities, and those pregnancy related, known for their links with affected placenta-uterine barrier or otherwise related to abnormal fetal growth. Both social and environmental groups of factors potentially influencing prenatal development have been discussed.

Embryonic and Fetal Development↗
PubMed2004

Influence of prenatal and postnatal exposure to passive smoking on infants' health during the first six months of their life.

On the Czech set of European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ELSPAC), we tried to verify whether it is possible to confirm the results of foreign studies which found out that the both prenatal and postnatal exposure of newborns to chemicals on cigarette smoke could influence the newborns' morbidity in the first six months of their life. Mothers, who served as sources of data about their smoking behaviour during the pregnancy and after the birth as well as information about the health status of the children after the birth (N=3,871) were divided into four groups: 1. women who never smoked (74.3%), 2. women who stopped smoking in pregnancy and started to smoke after delivery (18.3%), 3. women who smoked both during pregnancy and after delivery (7.2%), 4. women who smoked during pregnancy and stopped after delivery. Unfortunatelly, the last group was very small (only seven mothers) and did not allow assessment of exclusively prenatal exposition. Sucklings from Czech ELSPAC set exposed to chemicals in cigarette smoke either only after the birth or also during the prenatal period, showed significantly higher occurence of different symptoms of respiratory tract damages and their complications (like otitis media) when compared to children of non smoking mothers. Due to illnesses during the first six months after the birth, their parents had to look more often for the consultations of physician, including hospitalization. Our results, as well as results of foreign studies, confirm, that smoking of mothers during the pregnancy and after the birth represents significant risk for the first months of life. Illnesses of children in this early period can cause longitudinal consequences which emerge during the childhood as well as in adulthood. They also represent a strong stressogenic factor. Children's health consequences of exposure to cigarette smoke request very often intensive and expensive care within health system. Our results are the same as those of foreign studies and confirm that both prenatal and postnatal exposure to chemicals of cigarette smoke is significant risk factor which negatively influences the health status on the early periods life.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

Risks associated with cocaine use during pregnancy.

Prenatal cocaine use has become an increasingly important public health problem in the last decade. Interpretation of epidemiologic studies designed to assess the association between cocaine use and adverse pregnancy outcomes is limited by inaccurate measurement of cocaine use, misclassification of users as non-users, confounding by socioeconomic factors, and reporting bias. Studies have consistently documented placental abruption as a maternal reproductive risk associated with cocaine use. Although suggested, less evidence is available to link cocaine use with premature rupture of membranes, spontaneous abortion, pregnancy-induced hypertension, precipitate delivery, or fetal death. Infant outcomes consistently associated with prenatal cocaine use include decreased birth weight, prematurity, and decreased fetal growth. Data on the relationship between prenatal cocaine use and congenital anomalies are limited, but one large retrospective study has documented an association between maternal cocaine use and congenital abnormalities of the urinary tract. Evidence linking prenatal cocaine use and an increased incidence of perinatal cerebral infarction or sudden infant death syndrome is lacking. Future studies should focus on the effect of maternal cocaine use on pregnancy outcome in diverse socioeconomic groups, longitudinal follow-up of exposed children, and the relationship between cocaine use and maternal behaviors that may affect access to prenatal care.

Cocaine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Impact of housing conditions of pregnant women on infant development under total mother deprivation].

It had been examined 896 inmates of Infant Homes whose mothers resided during pregnancy in different housing conditions. Comparative analysis revealed discrepancies in many medical social indicators. It was found that mothers' habitation lacking was the most pathogenic factor impacting children development. Typically, this factor is associated with lower education, lack of labour employment, toxicomania and socially significant infections. It wes revealed that children of homeless mothers had higher rate of antenatal and postnatal development delay, alcoholic and drug lesion of nervous system. The utterly low possibility of returning to their biological family had been also established

Child Development↗