Maternal and child cytokine relationship in early life is not altered by cytokine gene polymorphisms

The development of immune responses is influenced by the interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Our previous study showed a close association between maternal and young infant’s cytokine responses. The question is how this association evolves over time and the contribution of genetic polymorphisms to this association. Five cytokines in mitogen-stimulated whole blood culture were measured from pregnant mothers and their children aged 2, 5, 12, 24 and 48 months. Cytokine gene polymorphisms were determined in both mothers and children. High production of maternal interleukin (IL)-10, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was significantly associated with higher levels of the corresponding cytokines in their children at 2 months (T2), but the association decreased over time. Maternal single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in IFN-γ gene, rs3181032, was found to be associated with child’s IFN-γ levels at T2 only, whereas maternal IL-10 rs4579758 and child’s TNF-α rs13215091 were associated with child’s corresponding cytokines at later ages but not at T2. In the final models including the gene polymorphisms, maternal cytokines were still the strongest determinant of child cytokines. Maternal cytokine during pregnancy, which could be a proxy for child’s environmental factors, showed its highest impact at early age, with no or little influence from genetic factors

Which women stop smoking during pregnancy and the effect on breastfeeding duration

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and women who quit smoking at this time are able to reduce the risk of low birth weight, preterm labour, spontaneous abortion and perinatal death. This study investigates the socio-demographic characteristics of pregnant women who stop smoking during pregnancy and the association between stopping smoking and breastfeeding duration. METHODS: A 12 month longitudinal study was conducted in two public maternity hospitals in Perth, Australia between mid-September 2002 and mid-July 2003. While in hospital, participating mothers completed a self-administered baseline questionnaire. Follow up telephone interviews were conducted at 4, 10, 16, 22, 32, 40 and 52 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 587 (55%) mothers participated in the study. Two hundred and twenty six (39%) mothers reported smoking prior to pregnancy and 77 (34%) of these stopped smoking during pregnancy. Women who were pregnant for the first time were twice as likely (OR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.047 – 4.03; p < 0.05) to quit smoking as multiparous women. Women who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day were significantly less likely to quit smoking during pregnancy (OR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.18 – 0.69; p < 0.05). Women who consumed alcohol before pregnancy were three times more likely to quit smoking (OR = 2.58; 95% CI 1.00 – 6.66; p < 0.05). Quitting smoking during pregnancy was significantly associated with breastfeeding for longer than six months (OR = 3.70; 95% CI 1.55 – 8.83; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pregnancy is a time when many women are motivated to quit smoking and providing targeted smoking cessation interventions at this time, which take into account factors predictive of quitting smoking, are more likely to be successful

Contributions of the nursing intervention in primary healthcare for the promotion of breastfeeding

This study aimed to analyze the contributions of the Primary Healthcare nursing interventions, with primiparae in the promotion of breastfeeding. This is a quasi-experimental, longitudinal study, with a sample consisting of 151 primiparae, who had less than 28 weeks of pregnancy, with the child living for at least six months after the birth, performed between 15 October 2007 and 29 February 2008. Almost all the women initiated breastfeeding, with a sharp decline verified in the prevalence at six months. The mean duration of breastfeeding was 123.8±68.9 days. The intervention that began in the prepartum and continued into the postpartum period, using various strategies (individual consultation, preparation courses for parenting/childbirth, and domicile visits) and intervention contexts (health services and domicile) had significant effects on the duration of breastfeeding, which was not verified in the prevalence.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar las contribuciones de las intervenciones de enfermeras de Cuidados de Salud Primarios, con primíparas, en la promoción del amamantamiento materno. Se trata de un estudio casi experimental, longitudinal, con una muestra de 151 primíparas, con menos de 28 semanas de embarazo entre 15 de Octubre de 2.007 y 29 de Febrero de 2.008, con hijos vivos después de seis meses del parto. La casi totalidad de las mujeres inició el amamantamiento materno, verificándose una quiebra acentuada de la prevalencia a los seis meses. La duración promedio del amamantamiento materno fue 123,8±68,9 días. La intervención se inició en el preparto y se prolongó para el posparto, con diversidad de estrategias (consulta individual, curso de preparación para la paternidad/parto, y visita domiciliaria) y contextos de intervención (servicios de salud y domicilio) tuvo efectos significativos en la duración del amamantamiento materno, lo que no fue verificando en la prevalencia.O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar os contributos das intervenções de enfermeiras de Cuidados de Saúde Primários, com primíparas, na promoção do aleitamento materno. Trata-se de um desenho quase-experimental, longitudinal, com amostra de 151 primíparas, com menos de 28 semanas de gravidez, entre 15 de outubro de 2007 e 29 de fevereiro de 2008, com filhos vivos aos seis meses após o parto. A quase totalidade das mulheres iniciou o aleitamento materno, verificando-se quebra acentuada da prevalência até os seis meses. A duração média do aleitamento materno foi 123,8±68,9 dias. A intervenção que se iniciou no pré-parto e se prolongou para o pós-parto, com diversidade de estratégias (consulta individual; curso de preparação para a parentalidade/parto e visita domiciliária) e contextos de intervenção (serviços de saúde e domicílio), teve efeitos significativos na duração do aleitamento materno, não se verificando na prevalência