Hemodynamic changes in the breast and frontal cortex of mothers during breastfeeding.

The objective of this study was to confirm physiological reactions in the breast and brain in mothers during breastfeeding and collect basic objective data, aiming at effective support for breastfeeding. Ten healthy women who were exclusively breastfeeding their babies participated in this study. Changes in the concentration of oxygenated Hb (oxyHb) and deoxygenated Hb in the breasts and frontal cortex of these women during breastfeeding lactation were measured using double-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

Measurement and simulation of the effect of snowfall on free-space optical propagation.

We measured the time variation of a received laser signal level during snowfall over a distance of 72 m. The signal level dropped sharply for up to 10 ms when a snowflake crossed the laser beam. The probability distribution of the variation due to snowfall was calculated by assuming it to be the linear superposition of the light diffracted by snowflakes.

Changes in breast hemodynamics in breastfeeding mothers.

The purpose of the present study was to measure changes in blood volume and the oxygenation state of breast tissue during breastfeeding with the use of near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) as a noninvasive method. Forty breastfeeding mothers were divided into 2 groups in which measurements were made in the contralateral breast (group A) and in the ipsilateral breast (group B). The tissue concentrations of oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin and the hemoglobin oxygen saturation were measured in the breast by using TRS during a breastfeed.