Regarding Kate McMurry's very interesting post about increased mortality amoung HIV+ African moms who breastfed...got me thinking. Could increased mortality be due in part to the naturally altered hormonal state of a bfing mother? I don't know a lot of the details of how HIV proliferates in the human body; however, I cared for several pregnant women with cancer during my years in high-risk OB. Sadly, cancer loves few things like it loves pregnancy. Not only does the disease progress more rapidly during pregnancy (a slightly hypermetabolic state), but chemotherapy, and often radiation, are contraindicated. Could the hormones of breastfeeding have a similar effect on HIV? All you biochemistry and biology buffs...any thoughts? Carole __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html