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The effect of human colostrum on the production of IL-1, IL-3 and IL-6 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been investigated. The aqueous phase of human colostrum significantly stimulated the production of these three cytokines. These findings show the importance of breast feeding not only as a well-balanced nutrient supply but also as a source for growth-promoting factors. It is suggested that the enhanced secretion of IL-1, IL-3 and IL-6 induced by human colostrum may compensate for the lower capacity of neonatal PBMCs to produce these cytokines. It is also possible that, by stimulating the secretion of these cytokines, breast feeding may provide an additional mechanism for the regulation of the neonatal immune system and hematopoiesis.

The effect of colostrum of mothers of preterm and full-term newborns on the phagocytic activity for latex particles by normal peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells was examined. The results showed that human colostrum contains a phagocytosis-promoting factor(s), which not only increases the number of phagocytic cells, but also stimulates the phagocytic activity of the individual cell. This factor(s) was more active in preterm colostrum. Thus, while term colostrum increased the number of phagocytic cells by 95% in comparison with the control, preterm colostrum enhanced the number of phagocytic cells by 300%. Similarly, term colostrum increased the phagocytic capacity of the individual cell by 51%, whereas preterm colostrum by 137%. The difference between the results in all experimental points was statistically highly significant.

Sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid) was determined 1 h after normal term deliveries on peripheral blood lymphocytes from 42 mother-neonate pairs and in 29 maternal and neonatal sera. Results were evaluated according to maternal parity and sex of the neonate. The cases were divided into two groups: primiparae, and secundi- and multiparae. In primiparae the sialic acid level on lymphocytes from male neonates and from their mothers was by 23–30% decreased as compared to female neonatal and maternal cells. In the higher parity group, a significantly increased sialic acid level was found on lymphocytes from male as compared to female neonates, and maternal serum sialic acid concentration, unrelated to the newborns’ sex, was by 17–20% increased as compared to primiparae. The results suggest that with increasing parity higher levels of sialic acid on male neonatal cells may possibly contribute to mask fetal male-specific histocompatibility antigens. Increased sialic acid levels in maternal sera from secundi- and multiparae suggest its possible contribution to an increased serum blocking effect.

Concomitance of different primary malignant neoplasms in the same individual has been observed and explained by several possible mechanisms. For urogenital malignancies in concomitance with lymphoid or with intestinal malignancies some data indicate that common etiologic factor(s) with pleiotropic effects may be involved. Concomitance of these particular different primary malignant neoplasms must therefore be kept in mind in the evaluation of patients' conditions.