Masahiro Toda’s research while affiliated with Osaka Dental University and other places

Aim: The aim of the present study was to examine associations among maternal stress level, general health, mother to infant bonding, maternal depression level, and mode of delivery. Methods: Mothers who delivered a single baby at term were recruited with a total 435 mothers participating in the study. Outcome measures: Data were collected 6 months after delivery using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as well as socio-demographic and medical information at 6 months. Additionally, salivary cortisol and chromogranin levels were determined. Results: The proportion of breast-feeding mothers in the vaginal delivery group (51.4%) was significantly higher than that of the cesarean section group (24%). GHQ-28 scores were significantly related to EPDS scores and MIBS scores (P Conclusion: Maternal general health is associated with maternal psychological health. These results suggest that the support of maternal health is important to maintain maternal psychological status and bonding to infants. Because EPDS scores were significantly worse in the planned cesarean section group (4.2 ± 3.3), careful management is needed of mothers who deliver by planned cesarean section.

IntroductionFemale sexual function changes considerably during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In addition, women's physical and mental health, endocrine secretion, and internal and external genitalia vary during these times. However, there are limited studies on the relationship between delivery and sexual function.AimThe present study aimed to demonstrate the association between sexual function and delivery mode.Methods Mothers who delivered a single baby at term were recruited for the study, and 435 mothers were analyzed.Main Outcome MeasuresThe Female Sexual Function Questionnaire (SFQ28) scores and mothers' backgrounds were assessed at 6 months after delivery.ResultsThe delivery mode affected the SFQ28 partner domain. Episiotomy affected the arousal (sensation) domain. Multiple regression analysis revealed that maternal age and cesarean section were significantly associated with several SHQ28 domains.Conclusion This study suggests that routine episiotomies at delivery should be avoided to improve postpartum maternal sexual function. Maternal age and cesarean section were found to affect postpartum sexual health. Song M, Ishii H, Toda M, Tomimatsu T, Katsuyama H, Nakamura T, Nakai Y, and Shimoya K. Association between sexual health and delivery mode. Sex Med **;**:**–**.

We investigated the effect of walking through woodland on salivary endocrinological stress markers, cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA). From 20 healthy males, saliva samples were collected immediately before and after the walk, and 20min and 40min after that. In addition, using visual analog scales, subjective perceptions of stress and of feeling tired and uplifted were evaluated. On another day, as a control, they sat around in their office and samples were collected at the same times. Salivary cortisol and CgA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples taken after the walk showed a significant increase in the levels of CgA. Meanwhile, there was no significant change in the levels of cortisol. In control samples, there was a statistically significant decrease in the levels of both CgA and cortisol. Feelings uplifted and tired increased and subjective perception of stress decreased significantly after the walk. During the control period, there were no such changes. These findings suggest that, while walking in woodland becomes a physical stressor, such activity may also bring about feeling uplifted.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of chronotype on salivary cortisol or salivary α-amylase (sAA). Methods: From 108 male university students, saliva samples were collected in the afternoon (between 15:00 and 17:00). The salivary cortisol and sAA levels were determined with commercial kits. Chronotype was quantitatively evaluated using the Horne and Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Subjects were categorized into morning types and evening types. Results: The sAA levels were lower in the morning types than in the evening types. We found no significant difference in salivary cortisol levels between the two groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the sAA levels may be associated with chronotype.

Objectives: Salivary chromogranin A (CgA) levels and salivary flow rates were measured to evaluate the stress relief effect of laughter on the young and the elderly. Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers (15 aged 20-25 years; 15 aged 62-83 years) performed a serial arithmetic task for 15 min and then watched a comedy video for 30 min. On a different day, as a control, they watched a non-humorous video after performing a task similar to the first one. Saliva samples were collected immediately before and after the arithmetic task, 30 min after completing the task (immediately after watching the film), and 30 min after watching the film (60 min after completing mental task). Salivary CgA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In the elderly group, salivary flow rates, which had declined by the end of the arithmetic task, were statistically significantly higher after watching the comedy video. In the young group, salivary CgA levels, which had increased by the end of the task, had statistically significantly declined after watching the comedy video. No such post-task changes were apparent in control results; in the young group, there was a statistically significant interprotocol difference in salivary CgA levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest that laughter may relieve stress, particularly in the young people.

By measuring the sensitive salivary endocrinological stress markers cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA), we investigated effects on stress of lavender and peppermint aromas. Groups of volunteers were each exposed to an airborne organic essential oil: either lavender or peppermint or, for control, odourless jojoba. Saliva samples were collected immediately before and after the 10-min exposure and 5 and 10 min later. Salivary cortisol and CgA levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After exposure, in the peppermint aroma group, salivary cortisol statistically significantly decreased and salivary CgA statistically significantly increased. No similar changes were found in either the lavender aroma or the control group. These findings suggest that peppermint aroma may be useful for relieving stress. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The aim of the present study was to show changes in salivary cortisol and chromogranin A/protein concentrations as stress markers during pregnancy and to clarify the effect of chronic stress on stress markers. Salivary samples were collected from 69 pregnant women during pregnancy. Salivary cortisol levels and chromogranin A/protein titers were determined. We surveyed the women's chronic stress using the Zung self-rating depression scale and General Health Questionnaire-28. Cortisol levels in the saliva of pregnant women showed biphasic change during pregnancy. Chromogranin A/protein levels in the saliva of pregnant women increased in the second and the early third trimesters and decreased to the puerperal period. Salivary cortisol concentrations of the chronic high stress group were significantly lower compared with those of the normal group. Salivary chromogranin A/protein concentrations of the chronic high stress group were also significantly lower than those of the normal group. The titration of salivary cortisol concentrations and chromogranin A/protein levels is a useful tool to determine maternal stress levels. The elevation of cortisol and chromogranin A/protein in the saliva was suppressed in the chronic high stress group during pregnancy.

Using shogi, a representative table game popular in Japan, to model a stress situation, we investigated the modulatory effects of player characteristics on changes in the levels of cortisol and testosterone in the saliva of the players. Saliva samples were collected at the following time-points: (1) 30 min after awakening on the day of the shogi convention; (2) immediately before the game; (3) immediately after the game; (4) 30 min after the end of game; (5) 30 min after awakening the following morning. The study cohort comprised 90 healthy male university students who were members of a shogi club, who were subsequently classified into either the emotional strategy (Em) or cognitive strategy (Co) group based on their scores on a Lazarus-type stress coping inventory. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the Em group than in the Co group the morning following the convention, and this difference was not affected by either outcome (victory or defeat) or perception (competitive or noncompetitive) of the match. A similar but non-significant trend was observed for testosterone levels. Our findings suggest that the Em group had a greater capacity to manage the stress from a shogi convention than the Co group.

To investigate the influence of individual patterns of personality and behavior on the change in mood status after a brief period of Tai Chi exercise. The mood status in 22 healthy females was evaluated before and after a period of Tai Chi exercise using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) score. Patterns of personal behavior were also assessed by written questionnaire. In the type A behavior pattern group, the score for total mood disturbance decreased significantly after a brief period (20 min) of Tai Chi exercise. No change was observed in the type B behavior pattern group. These findings suggest that a brief period of Tai Chi exercise is mentally beneficial, particularly to individuals with type A characteristics.