Effects of exercise on S-IGA and URS in postmenopausal women.

32 postmenopausal women were randomized to a 16-week home-based walking program or control group. Before and after the intervention, each subject completed a graded maximal treadmill test to establish VO(2)max and resting saliva was collected to determine levels of salivary immunoglobulin A. The 16-week walking program resulted in an increase in VO(2)max (+10.4%; p<0.01). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a marked increase in the resting secretion rate of salivary immunoglobulin A (+37.4%; p<0.05) in the exercise group following training. Independent of study group, both before and after the intervention, the secretion rate of salivary immunoglobulin A ( - 32.3%) and saliva flow rate (- 29.3%) were reduced following acute maximal exercise (p<0.05). Weekly upper respiratory symptomatology logs revealed that the number of incidences of upper respiratory symptoms throughout the intervention period were the same and the duration per incidence (control: 5.3±1.5 days; exercise: 6.3±2.2 days) were similar between study groups. These findings in postmenopausal women support that the secretion rate of salivary immunoglobulin A and saliva flow rate are reduced immediately following maximal exercise. Moreover, a 16-week moderate intense walking program can increase the secretion of salivary immunoglobulin A without affecting upper respiratory symptomatology.

Echinacea purpurea and mucosal immunity.

This investigation examined the effects of Echinacea purpurea on mucosal immunity and the incidence and duration of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). 32 subjects completed an exercise protocol known to affect mucosal immunity. Saliva was collected prior to and five minutes after completion of exercise testing. Subjects then took either a placebo (C) or Echinacea supplement (E) for 4 weeks and the testing procedure was repeated. Each time, s-IgA concentrations and saliva flow rate were measured and the secretion rate of s-IgA was calculated. In addition, standard logs indicating symptoms of URTI were completed throughout the study. Both groups demonstrated significant exercise induced reductions in s-IgA (C - 69 %; E - 43 %) and the secretion rate of s-IgA (C - 79 %; E - 53 %) at the beginning of the study (p < 0.05). Following the 4-week intervention, only the control group experienced the post intervention decrease in s-IgA (C - 45 %; E + 7 %) and the secretion rate of s-IgA (C - 45 %; E - 7 %). Further, while there was no significant difference in the number of URTI between groups, the reported duration was significantly different (C 8.6 days vs. E 3.4 days). The results suggest that Echinacea may attenuate the mucosal immune suppression known to occur with intense exercise and reduce the duration of URTI that subjects incur.

s-IgA response in females following a single bout of moderate intensity exercise in cold and thermoneutral environments.

Previous research has linked exercise under unfavourable environmental conditions to decreased concentration and/or secretion rate of secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA). The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of moderate exercise in a thermoneutral (TN) and a cold (COLD) environment on the concentration of s-IgA and the secretion rate of s-IgA in moderately active females. Sixteen females (23.4 +/- 6.8 yrs, 61.1 +/- 5.9 kg, 1.64 +/- 0.07 m) served as subjects for this study. On separate occasions, one week apart, all subjects ran or walked for 30 minutes at 71 % of individual heart rate reserve on an outdoor (1 degrees C) or an indoor track (24 degrees C). Unstimulated saliva samples were collected for 4-min immediately pre (PR), post (POST), and 30-min post (30POST) exercise. Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaires were completed pre and post exercise intervention and Global Mood State (GMS) was calculated. The absolute concentration of s-IgA, and total non-specific protein were measured and the secretion rate of s-IgA and s-IgA:Protein were calculated. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that flow rate increased in COLD and decreased in TN such that it was significantly lower (POST) and (30POST) in the TN environment when compared to COLD. There was a significant increase in the secretion rate of s-IgA at 30POST for the COLD trial and a significant decrease at 30POST for the TN trial. No significant differences were found for the concentration of s-IgA, the s-IgA:Protein:ratio, or GMS. Stepwise regression revealed that with all predictors in the model, only the concentration of s-IgA accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in cold temperature, while in the TN environment, both the concentration of s-IgA and the flow rate accounted for significant proportions of the variance. These findings suggest that moderate exercise in cold temperatures does not decrease secretion rate of s-IgA, while exercise in TN temperatures does.

Effectiveness of the "Baby Think It Over" teen pregnancy prevention program.

In an effort to reduce teen pregnancy, schools are purchasing a program called "Baby Think It Over," a computerized infant simulator intended to provide a realistic infant care experience. However, little empirical, especially experimental, program effectiveness data exist. This study determined if the program changed participants' attitudes toward parenting, as well as sexual and contraceptive behaviors linked to avoidance of teen pregnancy. Development of measurement tools was a part of the purpose. The study also asked teen-agers, through narrative questions, about their conscious perceptions of the baby's utility and impact. Participants included experimental (n = 151) and control (n = 62) groups of primarily White, middle class, suburban high school' students (mean age = 16.2). The quasi-experimental portion of the study failed to reveal a statistically significant effect. Narrative data revealed several positive and notable program effects.

Mucosal IgA response to repeated wingate tests in females.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of repeated bouts of brief, intermittent, maximal effort exercise on the concentration of secretory IgA (S-IgA) and incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in females. Twenty-six non-smoking, active, adult females participated in this study. The exercise intervention consisted of three consecutive, all-out 30-second Wingate leg cycling tests (0.075 kg/kg body mass), which were separated by three minutes of recovery. Unstimulated saliva was collected prior to (PRE) and five minutes after completion (POST) of the exercise testing protocol. IgA, protein and osmolality were measured, and secretory IgA (SIgA), IgA:Protein, and IgA: Osmolality were calculated. In addition, subjects completed standard logs indicating signs and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) for three weeks following the test. Saliva flow rates (478.5 +/- 50; 345.4 +/- 50 microl/min), S-IgA (55.8 +/- 4.7; 35.4 +/- 3.6 microg/min), and IgA: Protein ratio (30.7 +/- 3.0; 17.5 +/- 1.8 microg IgA/mg protein) were significantly lower POST compared to PRE (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for raw IgA, protein, osmolality, and IgA: osmolality. The results of this study show that brief, intermittent, maximal effort exercise results in an acute decrease in S-IgA in healthy adult females in less than eight minutes. However, this exercise induced transient decrease did not appear to be associated with an increase in clinical symptoms of URTI in the weeks following the exercise test intervention.

Effects of hormone replacement therapy on selected indices of immune function in postmenopausal women.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on selected indices of resting immune function in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women aged 54-66 were divided into two groups, those taking HRT (n = 17) and controls (n = 19). Blood samples were obtained and analyzed for mononuclear cell numbers, lymphocyte proliferation (LP) and natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity (NCMC). There were no significant differences between groups for mononuclear cell numbers. LP was significantly higher for HRT, while NCMC was significantly lower for HRT. HRT is currently being prescribed to postmenopausal women for prevention of a variety of medical conditions including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease yet HRT is often associated with altered immune parameters. In this study, women taking HRT had increased lymphocyte blastogenesis and decreased NCMC compared to controls.