Novel biochemical markers of psychosocial stress in women. PLoS One. 2009;4:e3590. [PMID: 19177163 PMCID: PMC2627901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003590]

A distinct immune cytokine profile is associated with morning cortisol and repeated stress

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate possible immune cytokine trends throughout a week-long surgical simulation mass-casualty training session in order to determine the effects of stress inoculation on the immune system.

METHODS

Thirty-seven military medical students participated in a hyper-realistic surgical simulation training event conducted at Strategic Operations site in San Diego, California. Salivary samples were collected every morning of the stress training exercise for 4 consecutive days. Cortisol, along with a panel of 42 immune cytokines, was measured using multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays from Eve Technologies. The determined concentrations were averaged and plotted on a scatter plot, and then points were fit to a second-order polynomial trendline of best fit to measure.

RESULTS

The cytokines epidermal growth factor, growth-related oncogene-α, interleukin (IL)-1α, and platelet-derived growth factor-AA followed a noted pattern of cortisol decrease throughout the week. In addition, cytokines IL-27, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, IL-10, and IL-13 demonstrated a late peak, followed by a return to baseline at the conclusion of training. Finally, the cytokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 displayed a decline throughout the week followed by an increase on the last day of stress training.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, these results help to identify important biomarkers that may help to improve long-term stress adaptation and prevent post-traumatic stress disorder following exposure to repeated stress.

Application of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-distress thermometer in pediatric patients during autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and relationship to blood parameters of the stress axis

PURPOSE

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT) are extremely stressful procedures for pediatric patients. The activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical axis (HPA) can influence the immune system negatively and therefore the overall outcome. The distress thermometer (DT) is an easy to use tool for the self-assessment of perceived distress.

METHODS

In this prospective study, a DT with an attached problem list was used in 40 pediatric patients undergoing HSCT and in one parent of each patient. The patients were aged 10-18 years. The patients' cortisol, thyroid stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels were measured regularly during the in-patient stay.

RESULTS

After admission to the hospital, the stress levels of the pediatric patients and their parents increased and reached their maximum on the day of HSCT. The overall stress values of the parents were higher than those of their children. There was a significant difference in the parents' stress levels on the day of HSCT, as compared to their stress levels on other days. The mean cortisol values of the pediatric patients also increased after admission, reaching significant elevated levels above the upper normal limit 1 week after HSCT and on discharge day. Although the pediatric patients experienced mainly exhaustion, especially on the day of transplantation, their parents mainly felt worry and anxiety. Interestingly, the rate of worry among children increased in the post-transplant period and reached its maximum on the day of discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, a significantly increased stress level is shown for both the patients and their parents. This is reflected for the patients both in the DT scores and in the increased cortisol values. For the parents, the focus is primarily on worry and anxiety, for the patients primarily on exhaustion and worry.

A narrative review of the physiology and health effects of burnout associated with veterinarian-pertinent occupational stressors

Chronic workplace stress and burnout are serious problems in veterinary medicine. Although not classified as a medical condition, burnout can affect sleep patterns and contributes to chronic low grade systemic inflammation, autonomic imbalance, hormonal imbalances and immunodeficiencies, thereby increasing the risks of physical and psychological ill health in affected individuals. Cultural misconceptions in the profession often lead to perceptions of burnout as a personal failure, ideas that healthcare professionals are somehow at lower risk for suffering, and beliefs that affected individuals can or should somehow heal themselves. However, these concepts are antiquated, harmful and incorrect, preventing the design of appropriate solutions for this serious and growing challenge to the veterinary profession. Veterinarians must first correctly identify the nature of the problem and understand its causes and impacts before rational solutions can be implemented. In this first part of two companion reviews, burnout will be defined, pathophysiology discussed, and healthcare and veterinary-relevant occupational stressors that lead to burnout identified.

Gender Differences in the Indirect Effect of Psychosocial Work Environment in the Association of Precarious Employment and Chronic Stress: A Cross-Sectional Mediation Analysis

Gender differences in the association between precarious employment and chronic stress have been found but the mechanisms underlying this relationship have not been explored. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the mediating effects of psychosocial risk factors at work (i.e., demands, control, and support) and work-life conflicts in the relationship between precarious employment and chronic stress as measured through the production of steroid hormones (both adrenal and gonadal) for men and women separately. Cross-sectional data were derived from a sample of workers from Barcelona (n = 125-255 men; 130 women). A set of 23 markers were determined from hair samples to evaluate the production of both adrenal and gonadal steroids. Decomposition analyses were applied to estimate the indirect effects of psychosocial risk factors and work-life conflict using linear regression models. Gender differences in the association between precarious employment and steroids production were confirmed. Psychosocial risk factors and work-life conflicts had indirect effects only among women (βCortisol = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.04-0.32; βCortisol/Cortisone 0.19; 95% CI: 0.08-0.31; β%Cortisol 0.12; 95% CI: 0.05-0.20). Gender differences suggest that the physiological response to precarious employment could be determined by the social construction of gender identities, as well as by positions and roles in the labour market and family. Future studies should delve further into these differences to improve employment and working policies, thus mitigating gender inequalities in the labour market to prevent work-related stress.

Burnout phenomenon: neurophysiological factors, clinical features, and aspects of management

Burnout syndrome is a distinct “occupational phenomenon” rather than a medical condition, comprising emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, and cognitive weariness. Both exogenous work-related and endogenous personal factors determine the extent and the severity of symptoms in burnout syndrome. Persistent burnout is a cause of reduced quality of life and is associated with increased risk of sleep impairment and with several medical disorders including mild cognitive impairment, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Active coping strategies promoting mental resilience and adaptive behavior, stress-reducing activities, improving work conditions, and reducing exposure to work stressors together may alleviate the distress of burnout and should be introduced early in the clinical course of burnout syndrome. The purpose of this review was to explain this complex and puzzling phenomenon and to describe burnout management.

Major depressive disorder at adolescent age is associated with impaired cardiovascular autonomic regulation and vasculature functioning

Cardiovascular adverse complications represent a risk factor for increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, there is little knowledge of adolescent MDD. We aimed to study complex cardiovascular autonomic regulation and early atherosclerotic damage with a focus on an analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure variability (BPV), systolic time intervals, and measures of early atherosclerotic changes in adolescent MDD. Ninety depressive adolescents (34 boys, age 15.8 ± 1.3 yrs.) and 90 age-/gender-matched controls were examined. Evaluated parameters: HRV - time and spectral parameters, BPV - mean, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure, spectral systolic parameters; haemodynamic indices - stroke volume, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, systolic time intervals - left ventricular ejection time, pre-ejection period; atherosclerotic indices - ankle-brachial index (ABI), pulse wave velocity, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, cardio-ankle vascular index; growth factors - epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor associated with monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Our results showed that the MDD group had significantly reduced HRV and higher BPV measures, shortened systolic time intervals, lower ABI, and higher EGF compared to controls. Concluding, our study revealed that adolescent MDD is associated with cardiovascular dysregulation and early vasculature dysfunction as preclinical markers of higher risk for cardiovascular morbidity, thus adolescence seems to represent an important age period for early diagnosis and prevention of later MDD-linked cardiovascular diseases manifesting in adulthood.

Association between Precarious Employment and Chronic Stress: Effect of Gender, Stress Measurement and Precariousness Dimensions-A Cross-Sectional Study

Precarious employment has been highlighted as a social determinant of health, given, among others, to its alleged association with chronic stress. However, few studies have been conducted analyzing such association, using both perceived stress indicators and biological markers. Accordingly, the present study analyzed the association of multidimensional (6 dimensions) precarious employment scale with perceived stress and 23 markers of adrenal and gonadal hormone production, including cortisol. The sample consisted of 255 salaried workers from Barcelona (125 men, 130 women) aged 25-60. OLS regression models stratified by sex were conducted. Results demonstrated that precarious employment increased the probabilities of having perceived stress in both sexes. In addition, the production of adrenal hormones among men is associated with precarious wages and among women with precarious contracts ("Temporariness", "Disempowerment", and "Rights" dimensions). Therefore, precarious employment could be embodied by workers, altering their perceived well-being and physiological characteristics. Differences between men and women in the physiological effect of precarious employment could express not just the biochemical differences inherent to biological sex, but also the social construction of gender identities, positions and roles in society and family, as well as gender inequalities in the labour market.

Isoforms of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor in stress-related mental disorders: a cross-sectional study

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related mental disorders. However, VEGF levels have seldom been compared across mental disorders and never by isoforms. Pathophysiological processes involving leakage of astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) across the blood–brain barrier could be associated with VEGF levels in patients with stress-related mental disorders. This cross-sectional study compared plasma levels of VEGF₁₂₁, VEGF₁₆₅, and VEGF₁₂₁ + VEGF₁₆₅ (VEGF_total) in patients with stress-induced exhaustion disorder (SED) (n = 31), patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (n = 31), and healthy controls (n = 61). It also analyzed the correlation between VEGF and astrocyte-derived EVs in plasma. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure VEGF₁₂₁ and VEGF₁₆₅ in citrate plasma, and flow cytometry was used to measure astrocyte-derived EVs in plasma. The mean concentration of soluble VEGF₁₂₁ (sVEGF₁₂₁) was significantly higher in patients with SED than healthy controls (P = 0.043). Mean sVEGF₁₆₅ was significantly lower in patients with MDD than patients with SED (P = 0.004) or healthy controls (P = 0.037). Mean sVEGF_total was significantly higher in patients with SED than in patients with MDD (P = 0.021) and also higher in patients with SED than healthy controls (P = 0.040). Levels of sVEGF₁₂₁ were positively correlated with levels of astrocyte-derived EVs only in patients with SED (P = 0.0128). The same was true of levels of sVEGF_total and astrocyte-derived EVs (P = 0.0046). Differing levels of VEGF isoforms may reflect different pathophysiological mechanisms in SED and MDD. Further research is needed to better understand the potential roles of VEGF isoforms and astrocyte-derived EVs in mental disorders.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and -thyroid axes activation lasting one year after an earthquake swarm: results from a big data analysis

PURPOSE

To cope physical and/or psychological threats, the human body activates multiple processes, mediated by a close interconnection among brain, endocrine and inflammatory systems. The aim of the study was to assess the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes involvement after an acute stressful event (Emilia Romagna earthquake swarm) with a big data approach.

METHODS

A retrospective, observational trial was performed, collecting all biochemical examinations regarding HPA and HPT axes performed in the same laboratory the year before and the year after the earthquake swarm (20-29 May 2012).

RESULTS

Comparing 2576 pre-earthquake to 3021 post-earthquake measurements, a cortisol serum level increase was observed (p < 0.001). Similar increase was evident for urinary free cortisol (p = 0.016), but not for adrenocorticotropic hormone (p = 0.222). The biochemical hypercortisolism incidence increased from 7.6 to 10.3% after earthquakes (p = 0.001). Comparing 68,456 pre-earthquake to 116,521 post-earthquake measurements, a reduction in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels was evident (p = 0.018), together with an increase in free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Moreover, a significant increase in altered TSH after earthquakes was registered considering the epicenter-nearest measurements (p < 0.001). No clinically relevant alterations were observed considering thyroid-specific autoantibodies.

CONCLUSION

A long-term HPA axis activation in the inhabitants of the earthquake-affected areas was highlighted for the first time. Moreover, an increased incidence of biochemical hypercortisolism emerged after earthquakes. We confirmed a recruitment of HPT axis after stressful events, together with increased incidence of altered TSH in the. Our big data study allowed to increase knowledge about the connection between external stressors and endocrine regulation.

A prospective, observational clinical trial on the impact of COVID-19-related national lockdown on thyroid hormone in young males

Trying to manage the dramatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection spread, many countries imposed national lockdown, radically changing the routinely life of humans worldwide. We hypothesized that both the pandemic per se and the consequent socio-psychological sequelae could constitute stressors for Italian population, potentially affecting the endocrine system. This study was designed to describe the effect of lockdown-related stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in a cohort of young men. A prospective, observational clinical trial was carried out, including patients attending the male infertility outpatient clinic before and after the national lockdown for COVID-19 pandemic. The study provided a baseline visit performed before and a follow-up visit after the lockdown in 2020. During the follow-up visit, hormonal measurements, lifestyle habits and work management were recorded. Thirty-one male subjects were enrolled (mean age: 31.6 ± 6.0 years). TSH significantly decreased after lockdown (p = 0.015), whereas no significant changes were observed in the testosterone, luteinising hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol and prolactin serum levels. No patient showed TSH serum levels above or below reference ranges, neither before nor after lockdown. Interestingly, TSH variation after lockdown was dependent on the working habit change during lockdown (p = 0.042). We described for the first time a TSH reduction after a stressful event in a prospective way, evaluating the HPT axis in the same population, before and after the national lockdown. This result reinforces the possible interconnection between psychological consequences of a stressful event and the endocrine regulation.

Effects of participatory workplace improvement program on stress-related biomarkers and self-reported stress among university hospital nurses: a preliminary study

Although participatory workplace improvement programs are known to provide favorable effects on high stress occupations like nursing, no studies have confirmed its effect using biomarkers. The aim of this study was to determine whether a participatory workplace improvement program would decrease stress-related symptoms as evaluated by biomarkers and self-reported stress among hospital nurses. Three actions to alleviate job stress, which were determined through focus group interviews and voting, were undertaken for two months. A total of 31 female Japanese nurses underwent measurement of inflammatory markers, autonomic nervous activity (ANA), and perceived job stress (PJS) at three-time points; before the program (T1), within a week after the completion of the program (T2), and three months after the program (T3). A series of inflammatory markers (Interferon-γ, Interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12/23p40) decreased significantly at T2, and IL-12/23p40 and IL-15 significantly decreased at T3 compared to T1, while ANA and PJS remained unchanged. Our participatory program exerted beneficial effects in reducing inflammatory responses, but not for ANA and PJS. Further investigations with a better study design, i.e., a randomized controlled trial, and a larger sample size are warranted to determine what exerted beneficial effects on inflammatory markers and why other outcomes remained unchanged.

Burnout and metabolic syndrome among different departments of medical center nurses in Taiwan-Cross-sectional study and biomarker research

OBJECTIVES

The cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the association between burnout, work-related factors, and metabolic syndrome (Mets) in nurses from several departments of a tertiary hospital in Taiwan. Exploring biomarkers could provide for prevention.

METHODS

Demographic data were obtained through a written questionnaire and include the following information: gender, age, education level, psychosocial and work situations, such as departments, working hours, work shift, depression, and sleep time. Burnout was evaluated according to the Chinese Burnout inventory, Mets was evaluated according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program of Taiwan-Treatment Panel for Adults III (NCEP-ATP III).

RESULTS

A total of 1758 nurses participated with a median age of 35.2 years. The prevalence of burnout and Mets was 6.4% and 13.84%, respectively. The results showed that burnout induced higher risk of Mets, odds ratio (OR) 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.04-3.05). Other factors, such as out-patient nurses, seniority (4-10 and >10 years), working hours (51-59 h/wk), nigh shift, Brief Symptom Rating Scale-5 (score 10-14 and ≧15), poor self-rated health status, and inadequate sleep time, led to higher risk of Mets. Biomarkers research showed that Glycated hemoglobin (Hba1c) was significantly associated with burnout nurses (OR = 24.72, P < .001), but thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxin were not.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggested positive associations between burnout and Mets in nurses. For nurses with higher seniority, long hours of work, night shifts, poor physical and mental conditions, and poor lifestyle habits in different departments, strategies are needed to prevent burnout and Mets.

Burnout and metabolic syndrome among healthcare workers: Is subclinical hypothyroidism a mediator?

OBJECTIVES

Evidence suggests that subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is associated with burnout and metabolic syndrome (MetS). We examined the relationship between burnout and MetS among healthcare workers (HCWs) and investigated the potential mediation of SCH.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included HCWs from a tertiary medical center; demographic data were obtained using a questionnaire. Burnout was evaluated according to the Chinese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Health Services Survey (MBI-HSS). MetS and thyroid function data were obtained from a physical check-up. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR), and mediation analysis was employed to examine the mediation effect.

RESULTS

Among 945 non-doctor/nurse and 1868 doctor/nurse staff, MetS was 30% and 14%, respectively, and the prevalence of burnout was nearly 6.5%. The results showed that burnout induced higher aOR of MetS in the doctor/nurse group (1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-3.62). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) showed a positive association factor of MetS in doctor/nurse group-adjusted burnout (aOR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-4.19). A higher TSH level was associated with an increased odds of MetS in younger doctor/nurse staff with burnout syndrome (aOR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.04-3.22). There was a borderline significant mediation effect of SCH in the association between burnout and MetS in doctor/nurse staff.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that higher TSH levels were positively associated with burnout and MetS in doctor/nurse professionals, especially in the young cohort. Burnout may rely on the borderline mediation effect of SCH, which is likely to affect MetS.

Happiness and Inflammatory Responses to Acute Stress in People With Type 2 Diabetes

Background

Positive psychological characteristics in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are associated with better health and longevity, and one plausible physiological mechanism involves lower markers of inflammation. Positive affect is related to lower basal inflammatory markers and smaller inflammatory responses to acute stress, but this association in people with T2D remains to be examined.

Purpose

To examine the relationship between happiness and inflammatory markers at baseline and in response to acute stress in people with T2D.

Methods

One hundred forty people with T2D took part in laboratory-based stress testing. We aggregated daily happiness ratings over 7 days before stress testing. During the laboratory session, participants underwent two mental stress tasks—the mirror tracing and the Stroop task. Blood was sampled at baseline and post-stress (up to 75 min post-stress) to detect plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Associations between happiness and inflammatory markers and responses were analyzed using multivariable linear regressions.

Results

Greater daily happiness significantly predicted lower baseline and post-stress IL-6 concentrations, and lower baseline MCP-1, after adjusting for covariates. The association between happiness and reduced basal IL-6 maintained after further controlling for daily sadness. We did not find significant associations between daily happiness and inflammatory responses to acute stress. No associations were detected for IL-1Ra.

Conclusions

Happier individuals with T2D have lower inflammatory markers before and after acute stress, albeit independent of stress responsivity. Findings could provide a protective physiological pathway linking daily happiness with better health in people with T2D.

Growth factors and neurotrophins in patients with stress-related exhaustion disorder

Growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), and neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotophic factor (BDNF), have attracted attention in studies of the biological effects of long-term stress exposure due to their neuroprotective roles. This study investigated whether circulating levels of EGF, VEGF and BDNF were altered in individuals with stress-related exhaustion disorder. Forty patients diagnosed with exhaustion disorder and 40 healthy subjects (50% women) provided fasting blood samples for analysis of EGF, VEGF, and BDNF in plasma. We found significantly lower levels of EGF, VEGF, and BDNF in patients with ED compared to healthy controls. This pattern was seen in both male and female patients. Given the important roles of BDNF and VEGF for brain plasticity and neurogenesis, decreased levels after long-term stress exposure could indicate increased risk of neuronal damage and cognitive impairments in this patient group.

Elevated Serum Levels of Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1/Chemokine C-C Motif Ligand 2 are Linked to Disease Severity in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Background:

Elevated levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1/chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 have been identified in fibromyalgia patients.

Aims:

To examine the potential association among serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1/chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 with disease severity of fibromyalgia.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

Seventy-nine female patients with fibromyalgia and 75 healthy normal controls were included in our study. Serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1/chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 were detected by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assays. The existence of tender points was evaluated based on the standardized manual tender point examination. Pressure pain thresholds at the knees, and bilateral trapezius muscles were measured with an algometer. A visual analog scale and the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire were utilized to assess the degree of pain and functional abilities.

Results:

Serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1/chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 were significantly greater in patients with fibromyalgia compared with healthy controls (151.6±31.9 pg/mL vs 103.3±25.2 pg/mL, p<0.001). Patients with severe fibromyalgia had significantly higher serum levels of chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 than patients with mild and moderate fibromyalgia (173.1±21.9 pg/mL vs 151.0.0±35.1 pg/mL, p=0.01). Patients with moderate fibromyalgia revealed markedly augmented serum levels of chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 compared with patients with mild fibromyalgia (151.0±35.1 pg/mL vs 133.3±23.9 pg/mL, p=0.03). Serum levels of chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 were positively associated with tender point scores (r=0.455, p<0.001). In addition, serum levels of chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 were positively associated with pressure pain thresholds in both knees and bilateral trapezius muscles (knees: r=-0.349, p=0.002; trapezius muscles: r=-0.318, p=0.004). Finally, we found elevated serum levels of chemokine C-C motif ligand were also positively associated with the visual analog scale (r=0.368, p=0.001), and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score (r=0.401, p<0.001).

Conclusion:

Elevated serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1/chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 are linked to disease severity of fibromyalgia. Therapeutic interventions inhibiting monocyte chemotactic protein-1/chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 in fibromyalgia deserve additional studies.

MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Endocrine and immunological aspects of burnout: a narrative review

Burnout has several different definitions, and attempts have been made to discriminate between burnout as a psychological construct and burnout as a clinical entity. A large body of research has focused on elucidating the biological link between stress exposure and burnout and/or finding a clinically usable biomarker for burnout. The objective of this narrative review is to summarize the main endocrine and immune findings in relation to burnout. The literature has primarily focused on dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, albeit the large body of studies, it cannot be concluded that clear effects are seen on HPA axis function in people with burnout. The HPA axis and anabolic acute reactivity to stress might be affected in clinical burnout. Plausible, effects of chronic stress might rather be seen when measuring responses to acute stress rather than resting state hormonal levels. Studies on other hormones, including thyroid hormones, prolactin and growth hormone in burnout subjects are inconclusive. It is important to note that this field is faced with many methodological challenges, one being the diurnal and pulsatile nature of many of the hormones of interest, including cortisol, which is not always considered. Another challenge is the heterogeneity regarding definitions and measurements of stress and burnout. Existing studies on burnout and immune function are heterogeneous regarding the results and no firm conclusion can be made if clinically relevant immune changes are present in burnout subjects. An overall conclusion is that existing research cannot confirm any homogenous reliable endocrinological or immunological changes related to burnout.

Loneliness and biological responses to acute stress in people with Type 2 diabetes

Loneliness is linked with all-cause mortality and coronary heart disease. Altered neuroendocrine and inflammatory responses to stress constitute potential pathways linking loneliness and ill-health. Stress responsivity is modified in people with Type 2 diabetes, but it is unclear whether loneliness influences biological stress responses in this population. We assessed interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and cortisol responses to acute stress in 135 people with Type 2 diabetes. Loneliness was measured used the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Loneliness was inversely associated with cortisol output poststress (B = -4.429, p = 0.019) independent of age, sex, education, marital status, body mass index, and smoking. Lonelier individuals had raised MCP-1 concentrations 75 min poststress independent of covariates (B = 0.713, p = 0.022). No associations between loneliness and IL-6 or IL-1RA concentrations were detected. These results suggest that loneliness is associated with disturbances in stress responsivity in people with diabetes, and the impact of loneliness on health in people with diabetes may be mediated in part through dysregulation of inflammatory and neuroendocrine systems. Future research is required to understand if such changes increase the risk of poorer outcomes in this population.

Inflammatory gene expression in adipose tissue according to diagnosis of anxiety and mood disorders in obese and non-obese subjects

Psychiatric disorders have been widely reported to be associated with systemic inflammation upregulation and adiposity. However, there are no data that link adipose tissue inflammation to these mental disorders. The analysis of adipokines and inflammation-related markers in adipose tissue could help to elucidate the potential association between obesity and mental health. An observational study was conducted in samples of patients consisting of non-obese and obese subjects, who were diagnosed with anxiety or mood disorders. Gene expression of adiponectin (ADIPOQ), leptin (LEP) and inflammatory markers (IL6, IL1B, TNF, CCL2, CSF3, ITGAM, and PLAUR) were determined in visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues. Our results showed that the gene expression of adipokines and inflammation-related markers was higher in the VAT and SAT of obese subjects compared with non-obese subjects. Regarding mental disorders, all the inflammatory genes in the VAT were significantly higher in non-obese subjects with anxiety or mood disorders than in subjects without mental disorders, except for TNF and ITGAM. Additionally, IL6 expression was significantly lower in SAT. In contrast, obese patients diagnosed with anxiety or mood disorders only showed significantly lower expression levels of IL1B in VAT and ADIPOQ in SAT when compared with obese subjects without mental disorders. These data suggest the potential involvement of VAT inflammation in anxiety and mood disorders, involving complex mechanisms which are strongly affected by obesity.

Chronic social stress Ameliorates psoriasiform dermatitis through upregulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis

Acute stress is a physiological response of an organism to adverse conditions, contributing to survival; however, persistence through time may lead to disease. Indeed, exacerbation of inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis has been reported to follow stressors in susceptible patients. Because chronic stress cannot ethically be elicited in patients under controlled laboratory conditions, we studied genetically modified mice that naturally develop psoriasiform dermatitis, and subjected them to an ethological chronic social contact stress paradigm. Although we found elevated pro-inflammatory neuropeptide production of substance P (SP), calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nerve-growth factor (NGF) mRNA in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to the social stressor, stress paradoxically prevented the development of the skin lesions. This effect of stress could be reversed by the treatment with glucocorticoid (GC) receptor blockers, suggesting that it was mediated through the upregulation of corticosterone secretion. Extrapolating to humans, the worsening of disease in susceptible patients with psoriasis could be attributed to a defect in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis with an impaired production of GC during situations of adversity, thus rendering them unable to counteract the pro-inflammatory effects of chronic stressors.

Distinct CCL2, CCL5, CCL11, CCL27, IL-17, IL-6, BDNF serum profiles correlate to different job-stress outcomes

Chronic psychosocial stress at workplace is an important factor in the development of physical and mental illness. Objective biological measures of chronic stress are still lacking, but inflammatory response and growth factors are increasingly considered as potential stress biomarkers. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between psychophysical strain and serum levels of 48 chemokines, cytokines and growth factors measured using a multiplex immunoassay, and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) measured by ELISA. Severity of psychophysical strain was scored in 115 healthy hospital workers using specific scales for anxiety, depression-like emotion, gastrointestinal or cardiac disturbances, and ergonomic dysfunction. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher anxiety scale scores were correlated with lower serum chemokine C-C motif ligand-2 (CCL2/MCP-1), chemokine C-C motif ligand-5 (CCL5/RANTES), chemokine C-C motif ligand-27 (CCL27/CTACK), chemokine C-C motif ligand-11 (CCL11/Eotaxin) and interleukin-6 (IL-6); gastrointestinal disturbances correlated with increased levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and reduced CCL11/Eotaxin, CCL27/CTACK and CCL2/MCP-1; while cardiac dysfunctions associate only to reduced CCL27/CTACK, and ergonomic dysfunction correlated with increased BDNF and reduced CCL11/Eotaxin and CCL5/RANTES. Thus, these 7 serum factors may provide a distinct signature for each different stress-related psychophysical outcome giving indications on individual vulnerabilities.

Exhaled nitric oxide and vascular endothelial growth factor as predictors of cold symptoms after stress

OBJECTIVE

Prior research has demonstrated that psychosocial stress is associated with respiratory infections. Immunologic, endocrine, and cardiovascular predictors of such infections have been explored with varying success. We therefore sought to study the unexplored role of airway mucosal immunity factors, nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). NO is secreted by airway epithelial cells as part of the first line of defense against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. VEGF is expressed by mast cells in respiratory infections and recruits immune cells to infected sites, but in excess lead to vulnerability of the airway epithelium.

METHODS

In this proof-of-concept study we measured exhaled NO, exhaled breath condensate (EBC) VEGF, salivary VEGF, and salivary cortisol in 36 students undergoing final academic examinations at three occasions: a low-stress baseline during the term, an early phase of finals, and a late phase of finals. Participants also reported on cold symptoms at these time points and approximately 5 and 10days after their last academic examination.

RESULTS

Higher baseline NO was associated with fewer cold symptoms after stress, whereas higher baseline VEGF in EBC and saliva were associated with more cold symptoms after stress. Perceived stress at baseline as well as salivary VEGF and cortisol late in the finals also contributed to the prediction of later cold symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Basal levels of NO and VEGF may inform about mucosal immunocompetence and add to preventative treatments against airway infections from periods of stress in daily life.

Melatonin inhibits neuronal dysfunction-associated with neuroinflammation by atopic psychological stress in NC/Nga atopic-like mouse models

Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as atopic eczema, is chronic pruritic skin disease. AD can increase psychological stress as well, increasing glucocorticoid release and exacerbating the associated symptoms. Chronic glucocorticoid elevation disturbs neuroendocrine signaling and can induce neuroinflammation, neurotoxicity, and cognitive impairment; however, it is unclear whether AD-related psychological stress elevates glucocorticoids enough to cause neuronal damage. Therefore, we assessed the effects of AD-induced stress in a mouse AD model. AD-related psychological stress increased astroglial and microglial activation, neuroinflammatory cytokine expression, and markers of neuronal loss. Notably, melatonin administration inhibited the development of skin lesions, scratching behavior, and serum IgE levels in the model mice, and additionally caused a significant reduction in corticotropin-releasing hormone responsiveness, and a significant reduction in neuronal damage. Finally, we produced similar results in a corticosterone-induced AD-like skin model. This is the first study to demonstrate that AD-related psychological stress increases neuroendocrine dysfunction, exacerbates neuroinflammation, and potentially accelerates other neurodegenerative disease states.

Role of IL-8, CRP and epidermal growth factor in depression and anxiety patients treated with mindfulness-based therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy in primary health care

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and inflammatory markers have been associated with various neuro-psychiatric disorders. However, their role in mild to moderate depression and anxiety patients treated with mindfulness-based group therapy (mindfulness) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is not known. In this study we analyzed plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and EGF before (baseline) and after treatment (8 weeks) and investigated their role in response to both arms of the treatment. To cover variety of mental symptoms, treatment response was analyzed by four scales, the Montgomery-Åsberg depression rating scale (MADRS), Hospital anxiety and depression scale- Depression (HADS-D) and anxiety (HADS-A) and patients health questionnaire-9. EGF levels were significantly decreased after both mindfulness and CBT and were associated with treatment response on all scales independent of the use of tranquilizers and antidepressant treatment. Moreover, baseline EGF levels were significantly associated only with baseline scores of anxiety scale. Levels of inflammatory markers analyzed in this study, were not significantly associated with treatment response on any scale. Our findings suggest that improvement in symptoms of depression and anxiety after both mindfulness and CBT is associated with changes in EGF levels but not with the inflammatory markers.

Associations between systemic pro-inflammatory markers, cognitive function and cognitive complaints in a population-based sample of working adults

BACKGROUND

The knowledge is limited regarding the relation between systemic inflammatory biomarkers and subjective and objective cognitive functioning in population-based samples of healthy adults across the adult age-span. Thus, the aim of this study was to study a selection of four pro-inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-α, CRP) in relation to executive cognitive functioning, episodic memory and subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) in a population-based sample of 215 working adults (age 25-67).

RESULTS

Higher levels of MCP-1 were associated with poorer executive cognitive functioning, even after adjustments for demographical factors, health status/conditions, SCC and depressive symptoms. IL-6 and CRP were associated with poorer executive cognitive functioning, but these associations covaried with age especially and were not present after adjustment for demographical factors. MCP-1 was associated with poorer episodic memory, but this association also covaried with age especially and was not present after adjustment for demographical factors, and CRP was associated with episodic memory only among participants without reported health conditions. Higher MCP-1 levels were also associated with more SCC and this association covaried with depressive symptoms, while higher levels of TNF-α were associated with less SCC.

CONCLUSION

Low grade inflammatory processes in terms of higher systemic levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers (MCP-1, IL-6 & CRP) were associated with poorer executive functioning in this sample of working adults, and MCP-1 was so after extensive adjustments. Support for associations between these biomarkers and episodic memory and SCC were more limited. Future research should address the causality of associations between low grade inflammatory processes and cognitive functioning.

Association of arginase I or nitric oxide-related factors with job strain in healthy workers

This study evaluated the associations between job strain and arginase I in 378 healthy Japanese factory workers by a cross-sectional study measuring nitric oxide (NO)-related parameters (arginase I, L-arginine, exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and NOx), clinical parameters, and job strain using a Japanese version of the Job Content Questionnaire by Karasek. Arginase I and FEV1% were negatively correlated with job strain and positively correlated with job control and social support. FeNO and hs-CRP were negatively correlated with job strain. Multiple regression analysis showed negative association of arginase I with job strain and positive association with job control and social support in females. It is concluded that serum levels of arginase I may be useful biomarkers for the diagnosis of job stress in healthy female workers, although many factors can be influencing the data.

Female nurses' burnout symptoms: No association with the Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis

Across the world, hospital nurses experience a high level of burnout. Exploring biochemical markers of burnout could help to understand physiological changes and may provide useful evidence for preventing burnout symptoms. The current study included 94 female nurses from one Chinese third-level hospital. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) was used to investigate burnout symptoms: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, reduced professional efficacy, as well as the burnout average. The HPT axis was tested by checking blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃). Nonparametric tests showed that no significant difference in biochemical markers was found between the burnout and non-burnout groups. Spearman correlation analysis found that biochemical markers had no significant association with burnout symptoms, except weakly negative associations between reduced professional efficacy and blood pressure and heart rate. These findings show a rather poor correlation of the HPT axis on burnout symptoms. Expanding the biochemical index of the HPT axis, comparing well-defined samples and using longitudinal studies are recommended for further studies.

Possible Biomarkers of Chronic Stress Induced Exhaustion - A Longitudinal Study

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) have previously been suggested to be potential biomarkers for chronic stress induced exhaustion. The knowledge about VEGF has increased during the last decades and supports the contention that VEGF plays an important role in stress and depression. There is scarce knowledge on the possible relationship of EGF and MCP-1 in chronic stress and depression. This study further examines the role of VEGF, EGF and MCP-1 in women with chronic stress induced exhaustion and healthy women during a follow-up period of two years.

Methods and Findings

Blood samples were collected from 105 women with chronic stress induced exhaustion on at least 50% sick leave for at least three months, at inclusion (T0), after 12 months (T12) and after 24 months (T24). Blood samples were collected at inclusion (T0) in 116 physically and psychiatrically healthy women. The plasma levels of VEGF, EGF and MCP-1 were analyzed using Biochip Array Technology. Women with chronic stress induced exhaustion had significantly higher plasma levels of VEGF and EGF compared to healthy women at baseline, T12 and at T24. There was no significant difference in plasma levels of MCP-1. Plasma levels of VEGF and EGF decreased significantly in women with chronic stress induced exhaustion during the two years follow-up.

Conclusions

The replicated findings of elevated levels of VEGF and EGF in women with chronic stress induced exhaustion and decreasing plasma levels of VEGF and EGF during the two years follow-up add important knowledge to the pathophysiology of chronic stress induced exhaustion.

Effects of academic exam stress on nasal leukotriene B4 and vascular endothelial growth factor in asthma and health

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of final exam stress on the concentrations of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the upper airways among healthy and asthmatic individuals.

METHOD

Nasal samples were collected from 12 individuals with asthma and 23 healthy controls early and late in a final exam period, and during a low-stress period in the semester. We determined LTB4 and VEGF concentrations using Enzyme-Linked Immunoassays.

RESULTS

Mixed effects analysis of variance models showed that asthmatic participants with allergies in contrast to healthy individuals experienced a decrease in nasal LTB4 during the final exam period as compared to mid-semester (low stress period). There were no significant changes in nasal VEGF across the observation period. Changes in nasal LTB4 and VEGF were not associated with salivary cortisol, exhaled nitric oxide, or spirometric lung function.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that nasal LTB4 concentrations change in periods of psychological stress for asthmatic individuals with allergies.

A decade from discovery to therapy: Lingo-1, the dark horse in neurological and psychiatric disorders

Leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin domain-containing protein (Lingo-1) is a potent negative regulator of neuron and oligodendrocyte survival, neurite extension, axon regeneration, oligodendrocyte differentiation, axonal myelination and functional recovery; all processes highly implicated in numerous brain-related functions. Although playing a major role in developmental brain functions, the potential application of Lingo-1 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of neurological disorders has so far been under-estimated. A number of preclinical studies have shown that various methods of antagonizing Lingo-1 results in neuronal and oligodendroglial survival, axonal growth and remyelination; however to date literature has only detailed applications of Lingo-1 targeted therapeutics with a focus primarily on myelination disorders such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury; omitting important information regarding Lingo-1 signaling co-factors. Here, we provide for the first time a complete and thorough review of the implications of Lingo-1 signaling in a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders, and critically examine its potential as a novel therapeutic target for these disorders.

Endocrine and mood responses to two working days in female teachers

Currently, a considerable amount of work stress is present in school teachers, one of the occupational groups with the highest levels of job strain and burnout. As chronic stress produces significant modifications in emotional adjustment and neuroendocrine functioning, we aimed to investigate the role of these work stress constructs in the endocrine and mood responses of a group of female teachers during two working days (WD) at different moments in the academic year. We studied mood as well as levels of cortisol and testosterone, representative of a predominant catabolic or anabolic balance. Our results showed that higher "control" was associated with higher positive mood (p = .028 on WD1 and p = .057 on WD2) and salivary testosterone (Tsal) (p = .022 on WD1), whereas "demands" and "total job strain" were related to negative mood (p = .011 and p = .015, respectively). Participants with higher scores on "total burnout" and "emotional exhaustion" also had higher negative mood (p < .05 in all cases). Depersonalization correlated positively with negative mood (p = .019 and p = .006 on WD1 and WD2, respectively). Finally, personal accomplishment showed an inverse relationship with negative mood (p = .038 on WD2). These results are useful for job risk prevention and interventions that should focus on the control dimension of the job strain questionnaire and on personal accomplishment from the burnout scale.

The effect of depression on serum VEGF level in Alzheimer's disease

Objective. Growing evidence suggests that angiogenesis might represent a new pathogenic mechanism involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among angiogenic cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in AD patients have been evaluated, but the results are controversial among studies. We investigated serum levels of VEGF in AD patients with depression, AD patients without depression, and the controls, respectively. The aim of this study is to elucidate the relationship between VEGF, depression, and cognitive impairment in AD. Methods. The CDR (Clinical Dementia Rating), MMSE-KC (the Mini-Mental Status Examination-Korean version), and SGDS-K (the Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form) were measured in the subjects. Serum VEGF levels were measured in 24 AD patients with depression, 25 AD patients without depression, and 26 controls, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results. Serum VEGF levels in AD patients with depression were significantly higher than AD patients without depression or the control. A correlation was observed between VEGF and scores on SGDS-K, but no correlation was detected between VEGF and MMSE-KC scores. Conclusion. Serum VEGF levels in AD patients with depression were higher than those without depression. Depression might be associated with changes in serum levels of VEGF in AD patients.

Chronic restraint stress increases the protein expression of VEGF and its receptor VEGFR-2 in the prefrontal cortex

In the present study the central and peripheral regulation of VEGF, its cognate receptors, and regulators were examined after acute and chronic restraint stress in rats. After chronic restraint stress (6 h per day for 21 days) the protein levels of VEGF (175 ± 24%) and its receptor VEGFR-2 (169 ± 17%) increased significantly in the prefrontal cortex (A and B). mRNA levels of VEGFR-2 (132 ± 11%) were also significantly increased (D). In the hippocampus no significant changes were observed at the mRNA or protein levels. In serum there was a tendency towards increased VEGF protein expression after both acute and chronic restraint stress (C).

Aquatic blues: modeling depression and antidepressant action in zebrafish

Depression is a serious psychiatric condition affecting millions of patients worldwide. Unipolar depression is characterized by low mood, anhedonia, social withdrawal and other severely debilitating psychiatric symptoms. Bipolar disorder manifests in alternating depressed mood and 'hyperactive' manic/hypomanic states. Animal experimental models are an invaluable tool for research into the pathogenesis of bipolar/unipolar depression, and for the development of potential treatments. Due to their high throughput value, genetic tractability, low cost and quick reproductive cycle, zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a promising new model species for studying brain disorders. Here, we discuss the developing utility of zebrafish for studying depression disorders, and outline future areas of research in this field. We argue that zebrafish represent a useful model organism for studying depression and its behavioral, genetic and physiological mechanisms, as well as for anti-depressant drug discovery.

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Swedish version of the Perceived Stress Scale

BACKGROUND

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) measures general stress and the Swedish version, although used in several studies, has not been extensively evaluated for psychometric properties.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate psychometric properties and the factor solution of the Swedish 14-item version when used with two samples, namely a mixed Internet sample of women and men (n = 171) and another of women with stress-related disorders (n = 84). Classical test theory, including confirmatory factor analysis, was employed.

RESULTS

The factor structure supported a two-factor model for the PSS and confirmed other language versions of the PSS, although one items showed a low item-total correlation. The PSS showed to be feasible with the investigated samples and the results indicated no ceiling or floor effects and good internal consistency of the PSS. Several aspects of construct validity were shown. An association of - 0.66 between the PSS and a measure of coping indicated good concurrent validity. Criterion validity was demonstrated through a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) between the women with stress-related disorders and the Internet sample. Predictive validity of the PSS could be demonstrated in a short-term perspective. Based on the sample with stress-related disorders, sensitivity to change was shown through a statistically significant stress reduction (P < 0.001) from entering work rehabilitation to discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

The Swedish version of the PSS showed satisfactory psychometric properties and may be recommended for use with people with and without known stress-related disorders.

A possible change process of inflammatory cytokines in the prolonged chronic stress and its ultimate implications for health

Sustained stress triggers series of changes in the brain and the body. At the early stage of stress, the activated hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) axis can upregulate the levels of glucocorticoid (GCs) and catecholamines (CAs), respectively, and then they in turn inhibit the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines directly or indirectly while promoting the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines. At the prolonged stage, the sustained activated HPA demonstrates cortisol-resistance. At the same time, the inflammation related transcription pathway, such as nuclear-factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling, may be inhibited. Additionally, the inflammatory cytokines mediate a negative feedback regulation on themselves. Collectively, these regulations may increase the proinflammatory cytokines while decreasing the anti-inflammatory cytokines. This may further activate NF-κB and increase the proinflammation cytokines, which in turn reduce the inflammatory responses, contributing to various diseases.

Women's perceptions of everyday occupations: outcomes of the Redesigning Daily Occupations (ReDO) programme

AIMS

The aim was to (i) assess the outcomes of the 16-week Redesigning Daily Occupations (ReDO) programme for women on sick leave due to stress-related disorders, in terms of occupational value, satisfaction with everyday occupations, and participation level; (ii) investigate the relationships between those outcomes and return-to-work rate.

METHODS

A total of 42 women receiving ReDO and 42 receiving care as usual (CAU) were included in a matched-control study with measurements before and after the rehabilitation. Seventy-eight participated on both occasions. They completed self-report questionnaires regarding the aforementioned outcomes. Return-to-work data were obtained from the registers of the Social Insurance Offices.

RESULTS

Increases in concrete, symbolic, and self-reward values were found in both groups, but no statistically significant difference between the groups was demonstrated. The ReDO group improved more than the CAU group, however, on satisfaction with everyday occupations and participation level. Occupational value, but not satisfaction with everyday occupations, was related to return to work.

CONCLUSIONS

Everyday occupations were shown to be relevant outcomes after work rehabilitation. They could play an important role in future development of profession-specific evidence of occupational therapy. Further support was obtained for viewing occupational value and satisfaction with everyday occupations as theoretically distinct phenomena.

Role for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the induction of chronic muscle pain in the rat

While raised levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) have been observed in patients with chronic muscle pain, direct evidence for its role as an algogen in skeletal muscle is still lacking. In the rat, MCP-1 induces a dose-dependent mechanical hyperalgesia lasting for up to 6weeks. Following recovery, rats exhibited a markedly prolonged hyperalgesia to an intramuscular injection of prostaglandin E2, hyperalgesic priming. Intrathecal pretreatment with isolectin B4 (IB4)-saporin, which selectively destroys IB4-positive (IB4+) nociceptors, markedly decreased MCP-1-induced hyperalgesia and prevented the subsequent development of priming. To evaluate the involvement of MCP-1 in stress-induced chronic pain we administered, intrathecally, antisense (AS) or mismatch oligodeoxynucleotides directed against CCR2 (the canonical receptor for MCP-1) mRNA, during the exposure to water-avoidance stress, a model of stress-induced persistent muscle pain. The AS treatment attenuated this hyperalgesia, whereas IB4-saporin abolished water-avoidance stress-induced muscle hyperalgesia and prevented stress-induced hyperalgesic priming. These results indicate that MCP-1 induces persistent muscle hyperalgesia and a state of latent chronic sensitization to other algogens, by action on its cognate receptor on IB4+ nociceptors. Because MCP-1 also contributes to stress-induced widespread chronic muscle pain, it should be considered as a player in chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes.

Construction and evaluation of a self rating scale for stress-induced exhaustion disorder, the Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale

Prolonged stress (≥ six months) may cause a condition which has been named exhaustion disorder (ED) with ICD-10 code F43.8. ED is characterised by exhaustion, cognitive problems, poor sleep and reduced tolerance to further stress. ED can cause long term disability and depressive symptoms may develop. The aim was to construct and evaluate a self-rating scale, the Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale (KEDS), for the assessment of ED symptoms. A second aim was to examine the relationship between self-rated symptoms of ED, depression, and anxiety using KEDS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Items were selected based on their correspondence to criteria for ED as formulated by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (NBHW), with seven response alternatives in a Likert-format. Self-ratings performed by 317 clinically assessed participants were used to analyse the scale’s psychometric properties. KEDS consists of nine items with a scale range of 0–54. Receiver operating characteristics analysis demonstrated that a cut-off score of 19 was accompanied by high sensitivity and specificity (each above 95%) in the discrimination between healthy subjects and patients with ED. Reliability was satisfactory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed that ED, depression and anxiety are best regarded as different phenomena. KEDS may be a useful tool in the assessment of symptoms of Exhaustion Disorder in clinical as well as research settings. There is evidence that the symptom clusters of ED, anxiety and depression, respectively, reflect three different underlying dimensions.

VEGF plasma level variations in duloxetine-treated patients with major depression

BACKGROUND

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, which modulates angiogenesis and neurogenesis within the neurovascular unit, might play an important role in the neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI) stress-adaptation system. Recent evidence suggests that VEGF is involved in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases including major depressive disorder (MDD) and is affected by some treatments, including antidepressants. The objective of the study was to investigate the VEGF level variations in MDD patients during antidepressant treatment with duloxetine, a relatively new SNRI.

METHODS

A total of 30 MDD patients and 32 healthy controls were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) and monitored for VEGF plasma levels at baseline, week 6 and week 12 of duloxetine treatment (60 mg/day) and at baseline, respectively.

RESULTS

According to early clinical response to duloxetine (defined at week 6 by reduction>50% of baseline HAM-D score), the MDD patients were divided into early responders (ER) and early non-responders (ENR). During duloxetine treatment, we found an opposite trend in the VEGF levels between ER and ENR: in ER the VEGF levels significantly increased in association with clinical response at W6, while in ENR the VEGF levels significantly decreased in association with an overall clinical response at W12.

LIMITATIONS

Small sample size.

CONCLUSIONS

The opposite trends in VEGF levels, increasing in ER and decreasing in ENR, might reflect differential Norepinephrine/Serotonin effects of duloxetine on differential neurobiological backgrounds of depressive syndromes. Overall, the modulation of VEGF signaling within the neurovascular unit during antidepressant treatment could hypothetically favor the remodeling of neural circuitry, contributing to adaptive adjustment of the NEI stress-adaptation system.

Cause of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: The stress response theory

The stress response theory is a relatively new concept about the cause of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISHL). A number of possible etiologies have been proposed in the literature, as discussed in this paper, but each proposed etiology has been both supported and refuted in the literature. However, the stress response theory can integrate hypotheses that have been advocated so far. The word “stress” refers to a constellation of physical and psychological stimuli including systemic viral and bacterial illness, systemic inflammatory disorders, and physical, mental or metabolic stress. Numerous studies have demonstrated adverse effects of systemic stress on health. Stress causes changes in the immune system and cytokine network through activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Several types of catecholamine and cytokine receptors are in the cochlea cells other than capillary cells, and then they can respond to systemic stressors. However, there are few studies examining how systemic stress is associated with cochlear dysfunction. The stress response theory addresses this question. In the theory, a variety of stressors and risk factors contribute to the onset of ISHL in varying degrees. The lateral wall of the cochlea has very unique responses to systemic stressors. It plays a critical role in causing ISHL. Systemic stressors converge at the lateral wall and trigger pathological activation of nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, a transcriptional factor known as a stress sensor. This activation enhances local expression of genes associated with immune and inflammatory system, resulting in cochlear dysfunction. We review the original stress response theory advocated by Adams et al and the integrative stress response theory that integrates our knowledge about the etiologies of ISHL so far.

Job strain-associated inflammatory burden and long-term risk of coronary events: findings from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg case-cohort study

BACKGROUND

We examined the association between job strain and coronary heart disease (CHD) and investigated the role of markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction as possible mediators of job strain-associated CHD risk.

METHODS

The sample (n = 1027) included employed participants (35-64 years old, 68% male) from the population-based MONICA/KORA (Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease/Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg) studies. At baseline Karasek's Job Strain Index was assessed during standardized personal interviews, and nine biological markers were measured (1984-1995). Participants were followed (average, 12 years) to assess incident events (sudden cardiac death or fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction). In this case-cohort design, the final sample contained 114 cases and 913 noncases.

RESULTS

Baseline distributions of cardiometabolic risk factors were significantly different between cases and noncases, with no detectable job strain-specific differences. However, cases with high job strain had higher monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin (IL)-8, and IL-18 compared with noncases with high job strain. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-6, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were increased in cases versus noncases, regardless of work stress. Job strain was associated with incident coronary events in Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, and survey (hazard ratio = 2.57, 95% confidence interval = 1.09-6.07) and after adjustment for CHD risk factors (2.35, 1.003-5.49). Adjustment for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 or IL-8 increased this risk estimate by 14.5% or 9.4%, respectively, whereas adjustment for C-reactive protein and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 led to decreased hazard ratios (-9.9% and -5.5%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Job strain increased CHD risk in healthy workers; the associated inflammatory burden may contribute to stress-related coronary pathogenesis.

Stress, asthma, and respiratory infections: pathways involving airway immunology and microbial endocrinology

Stress and infections have long been independently associated with asthma pathogenesis and exacerbation. Prior research has focused on the effect of psychological stress on Th cells with particular relevance to atopic asthma. In this review, we propose new perspectives that integrate the role of infection in the relationship between psychological stress and asthma. We highlight the essential role of the mucosal epithelia of the airways in understanding the interaction between infections and the stress-asthma relationship. In addition, we review findings suggesting that psychological stress not only modulates immune processes, but also the pathogenic qualities of bacteria, with implications for the pathogenesis and exacerbation asthma.

Expression of angiogenic factors in placenta of stressed rats

The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of stress on pregnant rats, particularly in terms of maternal, placental and fetal weight, placental morphology and placental gene expression of the angiogenic factors Vegfa and Pgf and their receptors. The parameters were evaluated on gestation Day 20. Maternal, fetal and placental weights were statistically lower in stressed animals than controls, suggesting abnormalities in gestational physiology. Morphologically the placentas of rats subjected to stress were reduced in size and weight, with few glycogen cells and a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells. Stress caused an increase in placental gene expression of Vegfa (P<0.05) and a reduction in Pgf, Flt1 and Kdr expression (P<0.05). It has been suggested that increased VEGF is associated with vasodilatation and hypotension, but in this model persistent hypertension was present. This study suggests that the limited hypotensive Vegfa response to stress-induced hypertension could result from reduced expression of Flt1/Kdr disrupting specific VEGF pathways. These findings may elucidate one of the multiple possible factors underlying how stress modulates placental physiology, and could aid the understanding of stress-induced gestational disorders.

The effect of academic exam stress on mucosal and cellular airway immune markers among healthy and allergic individuals

Research suggests that psychological stress can exacerbate allergies, but relatively little is known about the effect of stress on mucosal immune processes central to allergic pathophysiology. In this study, we quantified vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin-4 concentrations in saliva (S) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) during final exams and at midsemester among 23 healthy and 21 allergic rhinitis individuals. IFN-γs decreased during exams for both groups while VEGF(EBC) increased (and increases in VEGFs were a trend). Elevated negative affect ratings predicted higher VEGF(EBC) in allergic individuals. IFN-γ(EBC) increased in healthy individuals early during exams and then decreased, while allergic individuals showed a decrease in IFN-γ(EBC) throughout final exams. These findings suggest that psychological stress can suppress cellular immune function among allergic individuals while increasing VEGF.