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Infant nutrition and immune protection require the consumption of human milk, with macrophages mainly contributing to immune defense and infant development. This study was performed to investigate the correlation between macrophage cell numbers in human milk and various maternal factors. Thirteen human milk samples were collected from lactating mothers and were evaluated for macrophage cell numbers using a hemacytometer. The recorded questionnaire containing several questions, including age, multivitamin consumption, coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination status, allergy history, and lactation duration, was used to determine the maternal factors. Pearson's correlation and Mann-Whitney test was employed in statistical analysis, with p-values < 0.05 considered significant. The macrophage cell number reached 54.236 ± 7.456 cells per mL. Notably, a significant correlation was observed between maternal allergy history and the number of macrophage cells in human milk (p = 0.049). Meanwhile, no statistically significant associations were detected among multivitamin consumption (p = 0.833), vaccination status (p = 0.923), and lactation duration (p = 0.236). This study emphasizes the effect of maternal characteristics on the composition and immune properties of human milk. The specific mechanisms underlying these correlations and their potential influence on infant health and development must be explored in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Ovarian tissue vitrification is widely utilized for fertility preservation in prepubertal and adolescent female patients with cancer. The current literature includes reports of successful pregnancy and live birth following autografting. However, the effects of the vitrification process on cumulus-mural granulosa cells (C-mGCs)-somatic cells in ovarian tissue crucial for oocyte maturation and early embryonic development-remain unclear. This study was conducted to explore the impact of vitrification on the cellular function of C-mGCs by quantifying the expression of growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), connexin 37, survivin, and caspase 3., Methods: Mature and immature C-mGCs were obtained from 38 women with polycystic ovary syndrome who participated in an in vitro fertilization program. The C-mGCs were then divided into two groups: fresh and vitrified. The expression levels of target genes were assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction., Results: After vitrification, GDF-9 expression was significantly decreased among both mature and immature C-mGCs, with 0.2- and 0.1-fold changes, respectively (p<0.01). Similarly, FSHR expression in the mature and immature groups was reduced by 0.1- and 0.02-fold, respectively, following vitrification (p<0.01). The expression levels of the other genes, including BMP-15, LHR, connexin 37, survivin, and caspase 3, remained similar across the examined groups (p>0.05)., Conclusion: Vitrification may compromise oocyte maturation through reduced GDF-9 and FSHR expression in C-mGCs after warming.