Endogenous oxytocin levels in extracted saliva elevates during breastfeeding correlated with lower postpartum anxiety in primiparous mothers

Background: Breastfeeding in the early postpartum period is expected to have mental benefits for mothers; however, the underlying sychobiological mechanisms remain unclear. Previously, we hypothesized that the release of oxytocin in response to the suckling stimuli during breastfeeding would mediate a calming effect on primiparous mothers, and we examined salivary oxytocin measurements in primiparous mothers at postpartum day 4 using saliva samples without extraction, which was erroneous. Thus, further confirmation of this hypothesis with a precise methodology was needed.Methods: We collected saliva samples at three time points (baseline, feeding, and post-feeding) to measure oxytocin in 24 primiparous mothers on postpartum day 2 (PD2) and 4 (PD4) across the breastfeeding cycle. Salivary oxytocin levels using both extracted and unextracted methods were measured and compared to determine the qualitative differences. State and trait anxiety and clinical demographics were evaluated to determine their association with oxytocin changes.Results: Breastfeeding elevated salivary oxytocin levels; however, it was not detected to a significant increase in the extraction method at PD4. We found a weak but significant positive correlation between changes in extracted and unextracted oxytocin levels during breastfeeding (feeding minus baseline); there were no other significant positive correlations. Therefore, we used the extracted measurement index for subsequent analysis. We showed that the greater the increase in oxytocin during breastfeeding, the lower the state anxiety, but not trait anxiety. Mothers who exclusively breastfed at the 1-month follow-up tended to be associated with slightly higher oxytocin change at PD2 than those who did not.Conclusions: Breastfeeding in early postpartum days could be accompanied by the frequent release of oxytocin and lower state anxiety, potentially contributing to exclusive breastfeeding

Ligilactobacillus salivarius strains isolated rrom the porcine gut modulate innate immune responses in epithelial cells and improve protection against intestinal viral-bacterial superinfection

Previously, we constructed a library of Ligilactobacillus salivarius strains from the intestine of wakame-fed pigs and reported a strain-dependent capacity to modulate IFN-β expression in porcine intestinal epithelial (PIE) cells. In this work, we further characterized the immunomodulatory activities of L. salivarius strains from wakame-fed pigs by evaluating their ability to modulate TLR3- and TLR4-mediated innate immune responses in PIE cells. Two strains with a remarkable immunomodulatory potential were selected: L. salivarius FFIG35 and FFIG58. Both strains improved IFN-β, IFN-λ and antiviral factors expression in PIE cells after TLR3 activation, which correlated with an enhanced resistance to rotavirus infection. Moreover, a model of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)/rotavirus superinfection in PIE cells was developed. Cells were more susceptible to rotavirus infection when the challenge occurred in conjunction with ETEC compared to the virus alone. However, L. salivarius FFIG35 and FFIG58 maintained their ability to enhance IFN-β, IFN-λ and antiviral factors expression in PIE cells, and to reduce rotavirus replication in the context of superinfection. We also demonstrated that FFIG35 and FFIG58 strains regulated the immune response of PIE cells to rotavirus challenge or ETEC/rotavirus superinfection through the modulation of negative regulators of the TLR signaling pathway. In vivo studies performed in mice models confirmed the ability of L. salivarius FFIG58 to beneficially modulate the innate immune response and protect against ETEC infection. The results of this work contribute to the understanding of beneficial lactobacilli interactions with epithelial cells and allow us to hypothesize that the FFIG35 or FFIG58 strains could be used for the development of highly efficient functional feed to improve immune health status and reduce the severity of intestinal infections and superinfections in weaned piglets.Fil: Indo, Yuhki. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Kitahara, Shugo. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Tomokiyo, Mikado. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Araki, Shota. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Islam, Md Aminul. Tohoku University; Japón. Bangladesh Agricultural University; BangladeshFil: Zhou, Binghui. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Albarracín, Leonardo Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Miyazaki, Ayako. National Institute of Animal Health; JapónFil: Ikeda Ohtsubo, Wakako. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Nochi, Tomonori. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Takenouchi, Takato. National Agriculture And Food Research Organization; JapónFil: Uenishi, Hirohide. National Agriculture and Food Research Organization; JapónFil: Aso, Hisashi. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Takahashi, Hideki. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Kurata, Shoichiro. Tohoku University; JapónFil: Villena, Julio Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Kitazawa, Haruki. Tohoku University; Japó

Initial Results of Robotic Surgery for Primary Lung Cancer: Feasibility, Safety and Learning Curve

[Background] At the end of 2016, robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) was still not covered by Japanese national health insurance. Therefore, few institutions in Japan perform RATS and even fewer have reported procedures as they occurred earlier. So, we decided to focus on the initial results of RATS for primary lung cancer. [Methods] We retrospectively reviewed 44 patients who underwent RATS for primary lung cancer from January 2011 to August 2016. After mastering the initial procedure, we introduced a completely portal robotic pulmonary resection procedure using a carbon dioxide insufflation system. Cases were divided into 2 groups: the early period (20 cases) and the later period (24 cases). [Results] There was no case of conversion to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or thoracotomy. In the 44 cases of primary lung cancer, median operating time was 239.5 min, console time was 179 min, blood loss was 10 mL, drainage period was 2 days, morbidity of Grade 2 or more (Clavien-Dindo classification) was 18.2%, morbidity of Grade 3 or more was only 4.6%, and there was no 30-day mortality. Median operating and console times were significantly shorter in the later period (215 min and 159.5 min, respectively) than in the initial period (300.5 min and 228 min, respectively). Median blood loss was significantly lower in the later period (5 mL) than in the initial period (50 mL). Fiveyear overall and disease-free survival rates were 100% and 88.9%, respectively. [Conclusion] RATS for primary lung cancer is feasible and safe, has a faster learning curve, and provides satisfactory. Studies with longer follow-ups and larger numbers of cases are necessary

Oxygen-ion transfer between yttria stabilized zirconia single crystals under mechanical contact stress

The present study concerns oxygen-ion transfer between yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) single crystals under mechanical contact stress. Two YSZ single crystal plates were piled up between platinum meshes, and contact stress was mechanically applied. The interfacial conductivity as well as the bulk conductivity was successfully measured with this setup. The interfacial conductivity is greatly influenced by the contact stress, whereas the bulk conductivity is almost independent of the stress. The interfacial conductivity is significantly increased with increasing contact stress, especially from 0 to 5 MPa, and is saturated around 56 kΩcm2 with the stress around 40 MPa. The interfacial capacitance increases with contact stress. The activation energy for the interface conductivity is equal to 105–111 kJ/mol, similar to that for the bulk, and appears to change slightly with stress