The Impact of Parental Role Distributions, Work Participation, and Stress Factors on Family Health-Related Outcomes: Study Protocol of the Prospective Multi-Method Cohort "Dresden Study on Parenting, Work, and Mental Health" (DREAM).

The Dresden Study on Parenting, Work, and Mental Health ("DResdner Studie zu Elternschaft, Arbeit, und Mentaler Gesundheit", DREAM) aims to prospectively investigate the relationship between parental work participation, role distribution, stress factors, and their effects on perinatal outcomes and long-term family mental and somatic health in a community sample targeting N = 4,000 individuals, i.e., 2,000 couples, expecting a child and residing in Dresden, Germany (interim sample of N = 1,410 participants, recruitment ongoing). Various questionnaires are completed at four measurement points from pregnancy to 2 years postpartum (prolongation into middle childhood planned). Applying a multi-method approach, long-term endocrinological data (analyses of hair cortisol concentrations and other endogenous hormones, "DREAMHAIR") and qualitative interview data (regarding gender role attitudes and distribution of domestic work, child care, and paid employment; "DREAMTALK") are obtained. In this study protocol, the theoretical background, methods, and preliminary results considering sociodemographic characteristics during pregnancy and birth-related factors at 8 weeks postpartum are presented. Additionally, there is a focus on our endocrinological sub-study DREAMHAIR. In this sub-study currently comprising N = 152 participants, i.e., 88 families (recruitment ongoing), we want to gain knowledge on the transgenerational processes of stress regulation and psychopathology in the whole family by analyzing hair cortisol concentrations in both parents and children during the course from pregnancy (or after birth regarding children) to at least 2 years postpartum. By comparing data of the community sample to a clinical sample of mothers with postpartum mental disorders, their children, and their partners during the period between admission and discharge from a mother-baby unit and post-treatment ("DREAMMBU"), the course of mothers' psychopathology, parent-infant interaction, and infant regulation disorders with special regard to long-term endocrine correlates will be examined. With previous studies neglecting the fathers or partners involved, a major advantage of DREAM is the use of a multi-method and multi-level approach by examining the whole family in a longitudinal design. Therefore, the DREAM study will contribute to a better understanding of the role of social, work, and stress factors for mental and somatic health and its long-term endocrine correlates in the natural course of becoming a family.

Evaluating the extent of protein damage in dairy products: simultaneous determination of early and advanced glycation-induced lysine modifications.

An isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to determine lysine (Lys), N(epsilon)-fructosyllysine (FL), N epsilon-carboxymethyllysine (CML), and pyrraline (Pyr) in dairy products. The presented approach entails protein cleavage via enzymatic digestion to liberate the aforementioned compounds, which were then quantified using a stable isotope dilution assay. LC-MS/MS analysis was performed by positive electrospray ionization recording two transition reactions per analyte in selected reaction monitoring mode. The CML and Lys values obtained with enzymatic digestion were compared to those acquired with acid hydrolysis HCl (6 mol/L), and the two proteolysis methods yielded comparable quantifications. Allowing for the fact that the investigated compounds are formed during different stages of the glycation process, the method is able to reveal the progress of protein glycation in dairy products.

Studies on absorption and elimination of dietary maillard reaction products.

A nine-day dietary study involving 18 healthy volunteers was performed in order to investigate the influence of nutrition on the urinary excretion of the Maillard reaction products (MRPs) fructoselysine, pyrraline, and pentosidine. From day two through day eight, most types of Maillard product-containing food had to be avoided. On day five, participants were divided into four groups, three of them receiving a test meal (pretzel sticks, brewed coffee, or custard) containing defined amounts of MRPs. The fourth group served as a control. Urine samples taken over a 24-h period were analyzed for MRPs using chromatographic means. As a result of the MRP-free diet, urinary excretion of free pyrraline and fructoselysine, which was calculated from furosine analysis, were lowered about 90%. Excretion of pentosidine decreased about 40%. Consumption of pretzel sticks and coffee on day five resulted in increased amounts of pyrraline and pentosidine in urine samples on days five to seven. Related to the supplied amounts of pyrraline, about 50% were recovered in the urine samples after ingestion of the pretzel sticks. For pentosidine, 60% of the ingested free derivative from coffee brew and 2% of the peptide-bound amino acid ingested with the bakery product were recovered in the urine samples, indicating a better bioavailability for free pentosidine compared to the protein-bound form. For peptide-bound Amadori products, no influence on the excretion was observed after ingestion of the test foods, indicating degradation in the intestine or plasma to yet-unknown metabolites. In conclusion, differences concerning the excretion rate of individual MRPs point to individual resorption and metabolic pathways. These results are of importance for the discussion of a possible (patho)physiological role of dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs).