Immunogenicity of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccination received during pregnancy or postpartum.

Objective: To estimate the effects of gestational age and other maternal factors on immunologic responses to influenza vaccination.

Methods: Antepartum and postpartum women receiving influenza vaccination as part of routine clinical care were enrolled through four consecutive vaccination seasons (starting October 2006 through January 2010). Immunologic responses to trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine and monovalent H1N1 were assessed as well as factors influencing vaccine responsiveness.

Characterizing the pregnancy immune phenotype: results of the viral immunity and pregnancy (VIP) study.

Purpose: The increased risk of morbidity and mortality from certain microbial infections and the demonstrated improvements in the clinical course of some autoimmune diseases support the existence of pregnancy-related alterations in immune status. Elucidating the changes in innate and adaptive immunity during gestation may improve pregnancy outcomes and facilitate the development of targeted therapies for autoimmune diseases.

Method: The Viral Immunity and Pregnancy (VIP) study evaluated over 50 subjects longitudinally at three time points during pregnancy and at two time points post-delivery.

The epidemiology of hospitalized postpartum depression in New York State, 1995-2004.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the patterns of hospitalization for depression in the year after delivery in relation to social, demographic, and behavioral characteristics.

Methods: Data on births were linked to hospitalizations for depression over the subsequent year to describe the frequency and patterns of hospitalized postpartum depression among 2,355,886 deliveries in New York State from 1995 to 2004. We identified "definite postpartum depression" based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes indicative of "mental disorders specific to pregnancy," and "possible postpartum depression" by ICD codes for hospitalization with any depressive disorders.

Peripheral blood cytokine profiling during pregnancy and post-partum periods.

Problem: Pregnancy requires that the maternal immune system adapt to prevent rejection of the fetal semi-allograft. This immunologic adaptation may contribute to pregnancy-related alterations in disease susceptibility and severity of infections from viral pathogens such as influenza virus.

Method Of Study: As part of a larger study investigating the maternal systemic immune response during pregnancy, peripheral blood was collected three times during pregnancy and twice post-partum to measure serum levels of 23 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors.

Comparison of the incidence of de novo solid malignancies after heart transplantation to that in the general population.

An increased incidence of lymphomas and skin cancers has been shown in heart transplant recipients compared with the general population. However, the incidence of de novo solid tumors in heart transplant recipients has not been compared with the general population. Accordingly, 851 consecutive adult heart transplant recipients at a single large center were followed up from January 1, 1994, to May 31, 2007, to determine the incidence and type of de novo solid-tumor malignancies.

Apoptotic cells inhibit LPS-induced cytokine and chemokine production and IFN responses in macrophages.

Apoptosis is a critical process in tissue homeostasis and results in immediate removal of the dying cell by professional phagocytes such as macrophages and dendritic cells. Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells actively suppresses production of proinflammatory growth factors and cytokines. Impaired phagocytosis of apoptotic cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Gene expression profiling of human primary astrocytes exposed to manganese chloride indicates selective effects on several functions of the cells.

Exposure of adult humans to manganese (Mn) has long been known to cause neurotoxicity. Recent evidence also suggests that exposure of children to Mn is associated with developmental neurotoxicity. Astrocytes are critical for the proper functioning of the nervous system, and they play active roles in neurogenesis, synaptogenesis and synaptic neurotransmission.