Plasma catecholamine and cortisol concentrations during acceleration stress

Serial changes in catecholamine (CA) and cortisol (Col) concentrations of human subjects exposed to acceleration stress with the vector in the head-foot direction (+ 5Gz for 1 min) were determined using a newly designed continuous blood sampling system. The results demonstrated that the time course changes in noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A) and Col concentrations were quite different from each other during and after the Gz exposure. The NA remained relatively unchanged during the exposure, and showed a marked increase at the end of the exposure, peaking at about 110 s after the end of the exposure. The A showed a gradual increase from the start of the exposure and continued to rise during and after the exposure. Its maximal peak was also found at about 110 s after the exposure. The A showed a sevenfold increase, while NA showed only about a threefold increase as high as pre-exposure levels. The more rapid and greater magnitude of increase in A concentration during exposure may have reflected the larger emotional stress and strenuous physical activities involved in the Gz exposure. Heart rate showed a rapid increase upon exposure and remained significantly increased during the exposure; it then showed a transient fall immediately after the exposure, despite the increase in CA. An interesting observation was a decrease in Col during the Gz exposure. A plausible explanation would appear to be the result of an enhanced rate of Col removal from the plasma. From these observations, the importance of serial determination of hormonal excretion during Gz stress for the precise analysis of hormonal response to Gz stress was confirmed.     

Impact of acute sleep restriction on cortisol and leptin levels in young women

Sleep restriction alters hormone patterns and appetite in men, but less is known about effects on women. We assessed effects of overnight sleep restriction on cortisol and leptin levels and on appetite in young women. Participants' baseline sleep duration and eating habits were monitored for a week before the study. Salivary cortisol and leptin were sampled from fifteen healthy women (aged 18-25) during two consecutive days: first after a 10 h overnight sleep opportunity (Baseline day) and then after a night including only 3 h sleep (Post sleep-restriction day). Participants also completed appetite questionnaires on both days. Sleep restriction significantly reduced morning cortisol levels (p = 0.02), elevated morning leptin levels (p = 0.04), elevated afternoon/evening cortisol area under the curve values (p = 0.008), and slowed the decline in cortisol concentration during the day (p = 0.04). Hunger and craving scores did not differ significantly between days. A single night of restricted sleep affected cortisol rhythms and morning leptin levels in young women.     

Effects of personal controls on cortisol secretion during stress processes

This study investigated effects of personal control on psychobiological stress responses. Salivary cortisol was used as an index of hypothalamic pituitary-adrenocortical axis response. Healthy males (N = 20) were exposed five times serially to a psychosocial stressor: mental arithmetic under time pressure. "Chance control", "other powerful controls" and "internality" were reported personality-dependent aspects of personal controls; "personal control as coping" under the psychosocial stress situation was also assessed with a questionnaire after the session ended. Cortisol response showed significant increase (F (16,304) = 6.69, p < 0.01). From the view point of personality, the high "chance control" score group showed higher levels of cortisol compared to the low score group before stressful tasks. On the other hand, the high "personal control as coping" score group showed higher levels of cortisol compared to the low score group after the stressful tasks. We inferred that the high "personal control as coping" score group conducted stressful tasks with high concentration and effort. The effects of such personal controls as personality and as ways of coping were demonstrated in this experiment through cortisol secretion in different stress-process phases.     

Distress conditions during pregnancy may lead to pre-eclampsia by increasing cortisol levels and altering lymphocyte sensitivity to glucocorticoids

Psychological stress may affect up to 18% of all pregnant women, altering the function of both neuroendocrine and immune systems. Distress conditions may directly change the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to increased cortisol levels and associated changes in cellular immunity. Psychological events such as high stress levels, anxiety or depression may directly or indirectly affect pregnancy and may thus lead to pre-eclampsia (PE). Here, we suggest that distress conditions during pregnancy may lead the development of PE by enhancing in vivo cortisol levels. High cortisol levels are associated with hypertension and endothelial dysfunction, features often observed in patients with PE. Lymphocytes from patients with high cortisol levels may have a reduced sensitivity to the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX). Stress-related steroid resistance may disrupt the HPA axis, leading to post-natal detrimental effects such as increased allostatic load, increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and even depression in the offspring.     

Intervention effects on foster parent stress: associations with child cortisol levels

Foster children exhibit high rates of atypical neuroendocrine functioning compared to children in the general population. In particular, alterations in the daytime diurnal activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been observed in foster children, often characterized by blunted salivary cortisol levels (i.e., low morning levels that remain low throughout the day). There is emerging evidence that therapeutic interventions for foster children can affect this pattern of HPA axis activity, but the specific intervention components responsible for change have not been fully explicated. Within a randomized trial to evaluate a therapeutic intervention for foster preschoolers (n = 57 intervention condition; n = 60 comparison condition; n = 60 community comparison condition), the present study examined whether diurnal cortisol activity was associated with caregiver self-reported stress in response to child problem behavior. Results showed immediate reductions in caregiver stress that were sustained through 12 months postbaseline in the intervention condition. In contrast, caregivers in the regular foster care condition showed higher rates of stress across time and increased stress sensitivity to child problem behaviors. In addition, among caregivers in regular foster care, higher self-reported stress was associated with lower morning cortisol levels and more blunted diurnal cortisol activity. These results provide evidence that interventions can simultaneously impact caregiver stress and buffer children from the negative impacts of caregiver stress on HPA axis regulation.     

Increased urinary cortisol levels during the menopausal transition

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cortisol levels change prospectively during the menopausal transition (MT); whether these changes are associated with changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and estrone glucuronide [E1G]), stressors, or menopause symptoms; and whether women who experienced a rise in cortisol levels during the transition had behavioral practices, stressors, vasomotor symptoms, or mood or sleep disturbances that affected hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function. DESIGN: One hundred sixty-nine women in the middle or late MT or early postmenopause stages provided monthly urine specimens for cortisol, FSH, and E1G, and rated symptoms and stress levels as part of a longitudinal study of the MT. Of these women, 91 completed a transition to the next MT stage: from early to middle (n = 30), middle to late (n = 39), or late to postmenopause (n = 22) and were eligible for inclusion in the analyses. RESULTS: Cortisol increased from 7 to 12 months before the late MT stage to 7 to 12 months after onset of the late MT stage. There were no differences before and after the middle MT stage or the final menstrual period. Women with increased cortisol (>10 ng/mg creatinine) during the late MT stage had more severe vasomotor symptoms than those without changes, but did not differ in terms of age, body mass index, levels of FSH or E1G, health practices, exercise, mood, sleep, cognition, or stress levels. CONCLUSIONS: Cortisol levels rise with age, but have not been linked to stages of the MT. Increased cortisol levels during the late MT stage, when menstrual irregularities are greatest, suggests increases in adrenal androgens and intraabdominal fat with menopause, and may influence risk of cardiovascular disease, vasomotor symptoms, mood, cognition, and bone loss.     

Impact of mindfulness based stress reduction on sperm DNA damage

Introduction

Sperm DNA damage is the major cause of defective sperm function. Poor social habits take a toll not only on reproductive health of parents but the resultant offspring too. Adopting a holistic integrated approach like mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR), a yoga based intervention have gained significant impetus in recent years. This study aimed to analyze how mere a simple lifestyle change can bring about balance in seminal oxidative stress parameters and related consequences in next generations.

Hair cortisol levels as a retrospective marker of hypothalamic-pituitary axis activity throughout pregnancy: comparison to salivary cortisol

Maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with negative maternal/child outcomes. One potential biomarker of the maternal stress response is cortisol, a product of activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This study evaluated cortisol levels in hair throughout pregnancy as a marker of total cortisol release. Cortisol levels in hair have been shown to be easily quantifiable and may be representative of total cortisol release more than single saliva or serum measures. Hair cortisol provides a simple way to monitor total cortisol release over an extended period of time. Hair cortisol levels were determined from each trimester (15, 26 and 36 weeks gestation) and 3 months postpartum. Hair cortisol levels were compared to diurnal salivary cortisol collected over 3 days (3 times/day) at 14, 18, 23, 29, and 34 weeks gestational age and 6 weeks postpartum from 21 pregnant women. Both salivary and hair cortisol levels rose during pregnancy as expected. Hair cortisol and diurnal salivary cortisol area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) were also correlated throughout pregnancy. Levels of cortisol in hair are a valid and useful tool to measure long-term cortisol activity. Hair cortisol avoids methodological problems associated with collection other cortisol measures such as plasma, urine, or saliva and is a reliable metric of HPA activity throughout pregnancy reflecting total cortisol release over an extended period.     

考试应激对唾液皮质醇及SIgA的影响

本研究以某校高二在校６０名男性学生为研究对象，以期末考试为应激源，采用自身对照方法，研究了考试应激对学生唾液中ＳＩｇＡ（分泌型免疫球蛋白Ａ）及皮质醇影响，并对该组学生进行了ＥＰＱ测定，结果表明考试应激期间唾液ＳＩｇＡ值较考前有明显下降，考试期间唾液皮质醇值较考前有明显上升（Ｐ＜０．０１）；Ｎ维度和ＳＩｇＡ下降率及皮质醇上升率呈显著水平相关（Ｐ＜０．０１）。     

The effect of pain,stress, and cortisol during labor on breastfeeding success

The aim of the study is to identify and compare the effect of pain, stress, and cortisol level during labor on breastfeeding success. The study was conducted with 51 pregnant women in the delivery room of Nenehatun Maternity Hospital between 15 August and 30 December 2016. The data were collected using the personal information form, visual analog scale (VAS), verbal category scale (VCS), perceived stress scale (PSS) and Breastfeeding Diagnostic and Assessment Scale (LATCH). It was determined that the total mean score of the mothers for the LATCH breastfeeding success scale was 6.56 ± 1.64, the perceived stress scale total mean score was 48.13 ± 4.09 in their active phase, and the perceived stress scale total mean score was 41.41 ± 5.78 in their postpartum period. A negative moderate significant correlation was observed between the LATCH breastfeeding success scale mean scores and the cortisol levels in the active phase and postpartum period. It was found that the LATCH had a significant correlation with the perceived stress and cortisol in the postpartum period. It was determined that the mothers had more stress in the active phase and this stress affected negatively the lactation and sucking behavior of the infant.     

Impact of pregnancy and obesity on cardiorespiratory responses during weight-bearing exercise

The present study is the first to compare the cardiorespiratory responses during progressive weight-bearing treadmill exercise in normal-weight non-pregnant (NP, n = 14), normal-weight pregnant (PG, n = 20) and obese pregnant (PGOB, n = 20) women. Exercise duration and peak treadmill speed were lower in PG (23.9 ± 4.9 min; 1.6 ± 0.2 m/s; P < 0.001) compared to NP (33.7 ± 4.9 min; 2.0 ± 0.2 m/s) and were further reduced in PGOB (19.6 ± 2.8 min; 1.4 ± 0.1 m/s; P < 0.001) indicating a performance limitation to exercise. Ventilation in response to exercise was increased in PG (49.4 ± 6.6 L/min) compared to NP (39.8 ± 5.4 L/min, at 100 W; p < 0.05) women, and was further augmented by obesity (56.7 ± 9.3 L/min, at 100 W; p < 0.05 versus PG) secondary to an elevated metabolic cost of exercise as indicated by no further increase in and in PGOB compared to PG women. The normal augmentation of heart rate observed in PG during exercise was not further increased by obesity at standardized sub-maximal work rates.     

Salivary alpha amylase and cortisol responses to different stress tasks: Impact of sex

Neuro-endocrine markers such as salivary alpha amylase (sAA) and cortisol (CORT) play an important role in establishing human responses to stressful events. Whereas sAA levels reflect sympathetic system activity, salivary cortisol appears to be a valid measure for HPA axis activity. Although many studies looked at either sAA or CORT responses in reaction to stress, work still has to be done to look at the way these systems interact, especially when both systems are activated. Additionally, sex effects in CORT responses have been investigated relatively often, but possible sex differences in sAA levels and responses, or the way both systems interact has not been the focus of sufficient studies to yield a univocal conclusion. In this study we presented a group of healthy participants (n=80) with two mildly stressful tasks, consisting of an aversive picture rating task and a cold pressor stress (CPS) task. The second task was compared with a control task. We expected a rise in sAA level in response to the first task and sAA as well as CORT responses on the second task and explored the interaction between the two responses. Results indicate that sAA is indeed a sensitive marker in both psychologically and physically induced arousal paradigms, whereas a cortisol response was only observed in the CPS task. Men had higher sAA levels than women during the complete course of the study, but men and women were comparable in their responsivity to the tasks. No strong correlations between sAA and CORT responses were found.     

Effects of stress during pregnancy on maternal behavior in mice

The effects of stress experienced during pregnancy and raising stressed offspring on maternal behavior were investigated in Swiss-Webster mice. Dams were either stressed or not stressed during pregnancy, and raised either prenatally stressed or nonstressed cross-fostered pups. Maternal behaviors such as grooming, nursing, pup retrieval and maternal aggression were assessed during the first 4 days after birth. Nonstressed dams raising stressed pups and stressed dams raising nonstressed pups groomed and nursed their pups significantly less than did control dams (stressed dams raising stressed pups and nonstressed dams raising nonstressed pups). Nonstressed dams raising stressed pups were also the slowest to retrieve both the first and last pup in retrieval tests. Nonstressed dams raising nonstressed pups were significantly less aggressive than other dams. In contrast, stressed dams raising stressed pups exhibited high levels of nursing and grooming, retrieved their pups rapidly and were very aggressive towards an intruder. These results indicate that raising stressed pups, or experiencing stress during a pregnancy can have significant effects on maternal behaviors. Stressed dams raising stressed pups exhibit maternal care comparable to that of nonstressed dams raising nonstressed pups at least for nesting/nurturing behaviors, and show increased levels of aggression and pup retrieval.     

Patterns of salivary cortisol levels can manifest work stress in emergency care providers

To develop objective assessments of work fatigue, we investigated the patterns of changes in salivary cortisol levels in emergency care providers working extended work shifts. Fourteen subjects, comprising seven physicians and seven physician assistants, provided unstimulated saliva samples at regular intervals over the course of a 24-h work shift and over their subsequent free day. There was a significant time effect, with early morning cortisol levels being significantly attenuated following the work shift. Native diurnal variations varied by gender, with the female subjects manifesting greater cortisol levels. Physicians also had higher cortisol profiles even though their wake–rest cycles were similar to those of the physician assistants. Our results suggest that temporal changes, as well as diurnal similarities, in the salivary cortisol patterns can reflect work-related stress and recovery. In particular, early morning cortisol levels may manifest individual reactivity to work stressors as well as sleep deprivation.     

妊娠早期母体细胞免疫功能的变化与雌二醇和皮质醇水平之间的关系

胎儿作为同种半异体移植物如何在母亲体内生长发育而不被排斥,使妊娠得以维持下去,其机制十分复杂。近年来的研究发现,T淋巴细胞及其亚群对胚胎在母体内免遭排斥及正常发育起着重要的免疫调节作用。最近研究表明,妊娠期间激素水平的变化是母体免疫反应发生转化的重要因素之一[1~2],但妊娠早期母体的激素变化与免疫功能变化之间的确切关系目前尚不十分清楚。为此,本研究检测妊娠早期母体中T细胞亚群CD4 和CD8 细胞的数量、细胞因子干扰素-γ(interferon-,γIFN-γ)和白介素-4(interleukin-4,IL-4)的浓度以及它们与雌二醇和皮质醇激素之…     

Psychologic stress increases plasma levels of prolactin, cortisol, and POMC-derived peptides in man

Stressful social interactions have been shown to elicit increases in heart rate as well as in plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol in humans. We sought to determine whether a competitive oral examination would affect plasma levels of the pituitary hormones ACTH, beta-endorphin, beta-lipotrophic hormone, and prolactin in a group of healthy young males. Seven min after beginning the examination, heart rate increased 27% and plasma levels of ACTH, beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropic hormone and prolactin rose 59%, 79%, 42%, and 46%, respectively, compared to values shortly before the examination. These hormone values returned to initial levels after the subjects returned to the waiting room. Plasma cortisol changes were similar in direction to those of ACTH but occurred about 15 min later. The present study demonstrates that a stressful social interaction can elicit rapid increases in plasma levels of the proopiomelanocortin derived peptide hormones and prolactin in man.     

Anxiety, depression and saliva cortisol in women with a medical disorder during pregnancy

Anxiety and depression during pregnancy increase the risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome and neurodevelopmental problems in the child. The aim of this study was to investigate anxiety and depression in women with a medical disorder of pregnancy compared with control antenatal women, and any association with saliva cortisol. One hundred and twenty pregnant women (60 with a known medical disorder and 60 without, mean gestation 32 weeks) completed five self-rating questionnaires (Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Adult Wellbeing Scale and a Life Events Questionnaire). Diurnal saliva samples were obtained from 39 women with a medical disorder and 50 controls for cortisol analysis. The medical disorders group were significantly more anxious and depressed than the controls (mean (SD)) state anxiety 40.0 (11.5) vs. 31.6 (8.8), p = 0.00; trait anxiety 39.4 (9.5) vs. 35.2 (9.2), p = 0.02; adult wellbeing 15.9 (7.5) vs. 12.3 (7.5) p = 0.01; and EPDS 9.6 (5.4) vs. 5.9 (4.8), p = 0.00). There was no difference in the life events scores between the groups. The subgroup of women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum had particularly high EPDS scores, (16.2 (3), n = 5, p = 0.00) compared with controls. There were no significant differences in the cortisol levels between the groups. Some women with a medical disorder during pregnancy showed considerably elevated levels of anxiety and depression. Health professionals need to be aware that these women need extra psychological support.