oxytocin and Fatigue

This pilot study aimed to 1) follow the longitudinal changes in the salivary oxytocin level of pregnant women from late pregnancy to early postpartum, 2) examine the factors related to these changes, and 3) clarify the association of these changes with mother-infant bonding.. This study used a longitudinal observational design and questionnaires to obtain objective and subjective data. For oxytocin evaluation, saliva samples were collected and their oxytocin levels were measured at 4-time points [i.e., 1) 36-37 gestation weeks, 2) 38-39 gestation weeks, 3) 1-2 days postpartum, 4) 4-5 days postpartum]. The oxytocin level was assayed in duplicates by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Baseline data were evaluated using the Parental Bonding Instrument (25 items), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (20 items), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Postpartum data were evaluated using the Mother to Infant Bonding Scale Japanese Version (10 items), Maternity Blues Scale (13 items), and 'Fatigue after Childbirth' using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS: 0-100 mm).. The participants were 13 primiparas with a mean age of 33 years. They had no depression or anxiety at the baseline. Their mean salivary oxytocin levels significantly increased from late pregnancy (36-39 gestation weeks) up to 1 day postpartum and then decreased until 5 days postpartum. There was a negligible correlation between the bonding disorder and the salivary oxytocin level on the 5th day after childbirth. A moderate correlation was observed between the maternity blues score and the salivary oxytocin level. There was a significant negative correlation between the postpartum fatigue and the salivary oxytocin level 1 day and 5 days after childbirth.. The mean salivary oxytocin levels significantly increased from the baseline up to 1 day postpartum and then decreased until 5 days postpartum. The salivary oxytocin level was moderately associated with maternity blues and significantly with postpartum fatigue.

Topics: Adult; Depression, Postpartum; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Longitudinal Studies; Mother-Child Relations; Object Attachment; Oxytocin; Pilot Projects; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Saliva; Young Adult

Supraventricular tachycardia is uncommon in pregnancy. It is defined as intermittent pathological and usually narrow complex tachycardia >120 beats/min which originates above the ventricle, excluding atrial fibrillation, flutter and multifocal atrial tachycardia. It is usually self-limiting or relatively easily treated with most cases responding to physical or pharmacological therapies. We describe a case of a woman in the third trimester of pregnancy who developed treatment-resistant supraventricular tachycardia and required induction of labour and delivery to stop the arrhythmia. A multidisciplinary team approach with a critical care trained nurse and a midwife, continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring, transthoracic echocardiography, and neuraxial analgesia facilitated safe birth in the delivery suite and termination of the arrhythmia.

Topics: Adult; Amides; Amnion; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; Analgesics, Opioid; Anesthesia, Epidural; Anesthesia, Obstetrical; Anesthetics, Local; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Delivery, Obstetric; Digoxin; Dyspnea; Echocardiography; Fatigue; Female; Fentanyl; Flecainide; Humans; Labor, Obstetric; Metoprolol; Oximetry; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Ropivacaine; Tachycardia, Supraventricular

This study was designed to explore the plasma oxytocin (OT) response to exercise until exhaustion in trained male cyclists.. Twelve professional cyclists (EXP group; age: 26 +/- 2 years; VO(2)max: 4,804 +/- 549 ml) and 10 sedentary young men (CONT group; age: 23 +/- 2 years; VO(2)max: 3,146 +/- 602 ml) performed a maximal incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Evaluation was made of the oxygen uptake (VO(2)) and concentrations of blood lactate and plasma OT immediately before, during and immediately after the tests, respectively.. Significant increases (p < 0.01) related to exercise were recorded in VO(2) and lactate concentration within each group, while no such changes were observed in OT levels. OT values, on the other hand, were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in EXP than in CONT throughout the tests.. It was concluded that plasma OT shows no response to graded exercise until exhaustion in professional cyclists.

Topics: Adult; Bicycling; Exercise; Fatigue; Humans; Male; Oxytocin

Paired studies were conducted in 18 healthy volunteers (9 men, 9 women) to investigate whether differences in mood and daytime sleepiness induced by high-fat-low-carbohydrate (CHO) and low-fat-high-CHO morning meals were associated with specific hormonal responses. Plasma insulin concentrations were significantly higher after low-fat-high-CHO meals, and cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations were significantly higher after high-fat-low-CHO meals. Subjects tended to feel more sleepy and less awake 2-3 h after the high-fat-low-CHO meal, and ratings of fatigue were significantly greater 3 h after the high-fat-low-CHO meal than after the low-fat-high-CHO meal. The results of the present study are consistent with the hypothesis that there is an association between the lassitude experienced after a meal and the release of CCK.

Topics: Adult; Affect; Arousal; Blood Glucose; Cholecystokinin; Dietary Carbohydrates; Dietary Fats; Fatigue; Female; Food Preferences; Gastrins; Hormones; Humans; Insulin; Male; Oxytocin; Postprandial Period; Satiety Response; Sleep; Somatostatin; Taste; Wakefulness

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Castration; Cold Temperature; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Male; Orchiectomy; Ovariectomy; Ovary; Oxytocin; Pharmacology; Physiology; Pituitary Gland; Pituitary Gland, Posterior; Rats; Research; Stress, Physiological; Swimming; Thyroidectomy; Thyroxine