Acute Phase Of Stress Research Articles

Blue light as an important factor increasing plant tolerance to acute photooxidative stress

Previous studies have confirmed the stimulating effect of blue light on phenolic compound accumulation and emphasized that sufficient dose of blue light is essential for biosynthesis of B-dihydroxylated flavonoids with enhanced antioxidant properties (under UV-lacking conditions). This study investigates the importance of blue light and complex role of phenolic compounds in plant tolerance against acute photooxidative stress. Hordeum vulgare (L. Cv. Bojos) seedlings were acclimated to different light spectra (blue, green:red 1:1, and white composed of blue:green:red 1:1:1) at total irradiance 400 µmol.m−2.s−1. Subsequently, they were subjected to a 3-hour combined stress induced by high photosynthetically active (850–950 µmol.m−2.s−1) and UV-B (2.0–2.5 W.m−2) radiation. Content of flavonoids, expression of genes involved in their biosynthesis (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chalcone synthase, flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase), and antioxidant activity of plant extracts were significantly highest in plants acclimated to blue light. As an indicator of reactive oxygen species interaction with biomolecules, the content of lipid hydroperoxides was estimated. It was demonstrated that plants acclimated to blue light revealed significantly lower extent of lipid peroxidation compared to those acclimated to white or green:red light. Plants exposed to combined light-induced stress for 3 hours exhibited pronounced disruption of PSII function: FV/FM tended to decrease proportionally with decreasing amount of blue photons in the treatments. Additionally, stress exposure upregulated the expression of genes related to phenolic compounds but not genes encoding antioxidant enzymes. We confirmed higher resistance of plants acclimated to blue light and presume that phenolic compounds are significantly involved in protection during the acute phase of stress.

Anxiety, Worry, Life Satisfaction and Coping During the Acute VS Prolonged Pandemic Stress: Evidence From a Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic remains a continuous stressor worldwide. Our study aimed at comparing the data of waves from two lockdowns in Georgia, one in the acute stress phase (May 2020) and the other in the prolonged stress phase (December 2020). Methods: In total, 750 and 716 individuals participated in the study with a repeated cross-sectional design. Sample equivalence was reached via controlling demographic variables. Anxiety, COVID-19 worry, and life satisfaction were measured along with coping behaviors and four coping styles—information-accessing/processing and action-planning (two problem-focused coping styles), and passive-submissive and avoidant (two emotion-focused coping styles). Results: As pandemic prolonged, mental health indicators worsened, the action-planning style and behavioral coping decreased, while the information-accessing/processing style increased. The link between the COVID-19 worry and the action-planning coping style was strong in the acute stage and dissapeared in the prolonged stage. The individual context, namely, a history of coronavirus in the household, accounted for lower protective behaviors and higher information seeking in the prolonged phase. Conclusion: The findings highlighted the importance of timing and general and individual contexts in coping with the pandemic.

Effect of heat stress on superoxide anion production in native and crossbred cattle under in vitro whole blood culture model.

Impact of global warming on the dairy industry has gained attention due to huge economic losses through low production and fertility caused by heat stress. Exposure to hyperthermia provokes a series of complex responses in mammals which are been related to morphological and physiological alterations including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A quantitative spectrophotometric based nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay was used to estimate the superoxide anion (•O2-) level in heat stressed (at 42°C) whole blood cultures of native and crossbred bulls (Sahiwal and Frieswal), in vitro. The breed effect in the kinetics of •O2- production at different time periods of continual heat stress was analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Comparison between different time periods in reference to 37°C was analyzed by paired t-test. The •O2- level was significantly different (p<0.05) between cells at 37°C and 42°C at different periods of incubation. Kinetics study showed increment of •O2- production on the acute phase of stress followed by a reduction in both Sahiwal and Frieswal breeds. In Sahiwal breed, the inflated superoxide level continued abated till 4h and raised again at 6h, while in Frieswal •O2- level reverted to raise sooner with in 2h of incubation itself. Contrarily, kinetic of •O2- level in plasma showed a significant reduction (p<0.001) at 30min of 42°C incubation followed by increment of •O2- level. Further, the breed variation was significant (p<0.05) and a significant high reduction of •O2- level was observed in Sahiwal breed. Our finding indicates that, a better and longer •O2- production homeostasis and higher plasma scavenging ability of native breed may be one of the reasons for the higher thermal tolerance of these breeds in tropical climate.

P57-F Immune disfunction in acute professional stress

Aim To study the state of the innate and adaptive components of immunity in military man in the acute phase of stress. Materials and methods The study included 27 men (mean age 27 ± 3.9 years) before and immediately after participation in elimination of emergency situations. Immune status was assessed by expression of CD 3+, CD 4+, CD 16+, CD 19+, CD 4 + CD25 + Foxp3, content granzyme in T- lymphocytes, NK cells in immunofluorescence test on a flow cytofluorimeter Cytomics FC 500 (Becman Coulter, USA) using appropriate monoclonal antibodies. Results The violation of differentiation with a significant decrease in the content of CD 4+ (51 ± 3.03% and 38 ± 2.6%) and increase the number of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (25.1 ± 3.13% and 36.8 ± 2.47%) were noted, their functional activation due to the increasing of the number of CD8 + containing Grasim (15.3 ± 3.73% and 28 ± 3.18%). There was a trend to reduction in the number of NK cells and their cytotoxic activity. The increase of the level of B-lymphocytes was not accompanied by changes of the basic classes of immunoglobulins. Conclusion The formation of the acute phase of stress in servicemen involved in military training accompanied by severe immune dysfunction.

EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS IN A PAEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

Relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) is the inadequate production of cortisol due to dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during a severe illness. We evaluated the HPA axis and RAI in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A total of 100 PICU patients were included in this prospective cohort study. Basal serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol values were compared with those in the control group. A low-dose ACTH stimulation test was performed in patients with basal cortisol levels below 18 µg/dL. The basal cortisol levels of the PICU patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). All tested patients (n= 24) had delta cortisol levels > 9 µg/dL and a peak cortisol response > 18 µg/dL. Basal cortisol levels were positively correlated with Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) III scores (P < 0.05; r = 0.363). The basal or stimulated cortisol levels of the patients who received glucocorticoid treatment were higher than the cut-off levels. High basal or stimulated cortisol levels are indicative of disease severity in the acute phase of stress. Patients with very high cortisol levels should be particularly carefully monitored because of the high mortality risk.

Changes in levels of parental distress after their child with atypical genitalia undergoes genitoplasty

The birth of a child with a disorder of sex development (DSD) and atypical genitalia can be traumatizing and isolating for families. Parents of children with DSD are at risk for increased levels of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, illness uncertainty (IU), post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and impairments in quality of life (QOL). Our previous report indicated that although the majority of parents of children with atypical genitalia were coping well prior to the child's genitoplasty, approximately 25% of them reported experiencing some type of psychological distress. The current study sought to examine the trajectory of parental psychological distress prior to, and 6 months after their child underwent genitoplasty. Parents were recruited as part of an ongoing, prospective, multi-site study involving 10 pediatric hospitals with specialized care for children with atypical genitalia. Results from 49 parents (27 mothers, 22 fathers) of 28 children (17 female sex of rearing, 11 male sex of rearing) born with atypical genitalia (Prader rating of 3-5 in 46,XX DSD or by a Quigley rating of 3-6 in 46,XY DSD or 45,XO/46,XY) were included in the study. There were no significant changes in level of depressive or anxious symptoms or quality of life between baseline and 6-month post-operative follow-up, although mothers continued to report significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than fathers, and as a group, these parents reported lower QOL than published norms. The level of PTSS significantly decreased for all parents, suggesting that parents may have come through the acute stress phase associated with their child's diagnosis. Finally, while there were no significant changes in IU over the time period, the level of IU for parents of boys actually increased, while parents of girls reported no change (Figure). Six months after their child has undergone genitoplasty, the majority of parents report minimal levels of psychological distress. However, a subset of these parents continue to experience significant distress related to their child's diagnosis. Specifically, parents of boys appear to be at increased risk for difficulties, which may be related to either the lack of clinical diagnosis for almost half of these children or the necessity of two-stage surgeries for the majority of them. We will continue collecting data on these families to better understand the trajectory of these adjustment variables.

Phase-Dependent Shifting of the Adrenal Clock by Acute Stress-Induced ACTH.

The adrenal cortex has a molecular clock that generates circadian rhythms in glucocorticoid production, yet it is unclear how the clock responds to acute stress. We hypothesized that stress-induced ACTH provides a signal that phase shifts the adrenal clock. To assess whether acute stress phase shifts the adrenal clock in vivo in a phase-dependent manner, mPER2:LUC mice on a 12:12-h light:dark cycle underwent restraint stress for 15 min or no stress at zeitgeber time (ZT) 2 (early subjective day) or at ZT16 (early subjective night). Adrenal explants from mice stressed at ZT2 showed mPER2:LUC rhythms that were phase-advanced by ~2 h, whereas adrenals from mice stressed at ZT16 showed rhythms that were phase-delayed by ~2 h. The biphasic response was also observed in mice injected subcutaneously either with saline or with ACTH at ZT2 or ZT16. Blockade of the ACTH response with the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, prevented restraint stress-induced phase shifts in the mPER2:LUC rhythm both at ZT2 and at ZT16. The finding that acute stress results in a phase-dependent shift in the adrenal mPER2:LUC rhythm that can be blocked by dexamethasone indicates that stress-induced effectors, including ACTH, act to phase shift the adrenal clock rhythm.

Stress adaptive effects after traumatic brain injury

Neuroendocrine dysfunction, in particular impaired synthesis of anterior pituitary hormones, is a common complication of traumatic brain injury. Deficiency of tropic pituitary hormones entails a hypofunction of the related peripheral endocrine glands and can be accompanied by persistent endocrine and metabolic disorders. In particular, the hypophyseal mechanisms are the key ones in implementation of most stress effects. Adequate implementation of these mechanisms largely determines a favorable outcome in the acute stage of disease. Traumatic brain injury (as well as any significant injury) initiates a stress response that can not develop in full in the case of pituitary gland failure. It is logical to suppose that the course of the acute phase of stress in the presence of hypopituitarism is different to a certain extent from the typical course, which inevitably affects certain adaptation elements. In this review, we analyzed the adaptive effects of stress after traumatic brain injury.

The imaging Maastricht Acute Stress Test (iMAST): A neuroimaging compatible psychophysiological stressor

Several protocols have been developed for inducing acute stress in laboratory settings. Still, effectively eliciting stress in a neuroimaging environment remains challenging. Here, we describe the evaluation of a combined physical and psychosocial stress protocol (n = 42). The imaging Maastricht Acute Stress Test (iMAST) consists of a 5-min preparation phase and a 10-min acute stress phase, with alternating trials of cold pressor stress generated through an advanced thermal stimulator and mental arithmetic challenges along with social-evaluative pressure (i.e., negative feedback). Results demonstrate that participants displayed meaningful subjective stress responses, as well as significant increases in salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol levels. Our data show that the iMAST may prove to be a potent alternative to existing imaging stress paradigms to explore poststress neuronal changes and brain determinants of resilience.

Hemorrhagic gastric and duodenal ulcers after the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster

To elucidate the characteristics of hemorrhagic gastric/duodenal ulcers in a post-earthquake period within one medical district. Hemorrhagic gastric/duodenal ulcers in the Iwate Prefectural Kamaishi Hospital during the 6-mo period after the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster were reviewed retrospectively. The subjects were 27 patients who visited our hospital with a chief complaint of hematemesis or hemorrhagic stool and were diagnosed as having hemorrhagic gastric/duodenal ulcers by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy during a 6-mo period starting on March 11, 2011. This period was divided into two phases: the acute stress phase, comprising the first month after the earthquake disaster, and the chronic stress phase, from the second through the sixth month. The following items were analyzed according to these phases: age, sex, sites and number of ulcers, peptic ulcer history, status of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and degree of impact of the earthquake disaster. In the acute stress phase from 10 d to 1 mo after the disaster, the number of patients increased rapidly, with a nearly equal male-to-female ratio, and the rate of multiple ulcers was significantly higher than in the previous year (88.9% vs 25%, P < 0.005). In the chronic stress phase starting 1 mo after the earthquake disaster, the number of patients decreased to a level similar to that of the previous year. There were more male patients during this period, and many patients tended to have a solitary ulcer. All patients with duodenal ulcers found in the acute stress phase were negative for serum H. pylori antibodies, and this was significantly different from the previous year's positive rate of 75% (P < 0.05). Severe stress caused by an earthquake disaster may have affected the characteristics of hemorrhagic gastric/duodenal ulcers.

Long-term follow-up of adaptiveness of laboratory beagles adopted as pets

Some dogs used for laboratory investigations can be adopted by a family whenever euthanasia is not required. Whether these dogs are able to adapt themselves as pets has to be investigated. Our laboratory has set up an adoption program for adults Beagle bitches, once neutered for experimental purposes. This study was designed to evaluate the behavior of the animals after their adoption. Over a 9-year period (2002 to 2010), 191 bitches have been adopted. A total of 105 families were then contacted by telephone and asked to answer a questionnaire. The questionnaire included in formation about the family, its environment, and questions to evaluate how the dogs adapt to their new environment. Two consistent phases were observed following adoption. First, dogs went through an initial acute phase of stress that included anorexia, resistance to urinate or defecate outside, and reluctance to walk on leash. The second phase shows dog's adaptation. The dogs became clean, were eager to be walked and became friendly with family members and other animals. As the time of the survey, 92% of those dogs were reported as clean, 84% were cuddly, 89% were demonstrative and 84% were fully adapted to their new environment, all though still easily fright-ened (84%). Yet, most adopting families expressed satisfaction (8,8/10).Looking back to the behavior of dogs in the laboratory yielded a pretty good indication of their future adaptiveness. This adoption program can be regarded as successful and the rehabilitation of laboratory dogs turned out to be a desirable alternative to euthanasia.

Changes in Diurnal Salivary Cortisol Levels in Response to an Acute Stressor in Healthy Young Adults

Knowledge of the diurnal cortisol response to acute stress in healthy individuals can help us better understand the physiological and health effects of chronic stress. To compare the diurnal patterns of cortisol secretion of 15 medical students 2 weeks before a major written examination (control phase) and 2 weeks later at the time of the examination (acute stress phase). Interrupted time series within-subjects. During the acute stress phase, less cortisol was secreted over the course of the day, as demonstrated by a more prolonged and steeper decline in cortisol levels. In addition, higher cortisol levels were present in the evening. Despite these changes in the usual diurnal pattern, overall exposure to cortisol remained the same for both phases. The results of this study suggest that specific adaptations to the diurnal pattern of cortisol are made in the face of acute stress, important information for understanding cortisol regulation in health and illness.

Cytokines and Metabolic Patterns in Pediatric Patients with Critical Illness

It is not known if cytokines, which are cell-derived mediators released during the host immune response to stress, affect metabolic response to stress during critical illness. The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether the metabolic response to stress is related to the inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6), 10 (IL-10), and other stress mediators' responses and to assess their relationships with different feeding patterns, nutritional markers, the severity of illness as assessed by the Multiple Organ System Failure (MOSF), the Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score (PRISM), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and mortality in critically ill children. Patients were classified as hypermetabolic, normometabolic, and hypometabolic when the measured resting energy expenditures (REE) were >110%, 90–110% and, <90% of the predicted basal metabolic rate, respectively. The initial predominance of the hypometabolic pattern (48.6%) declined within 1 week of acute stress (20%), and the hypermetabolic patterns dominated only after 2 weeks (60%). Only oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) (P < .0001) but none of the cytokines and nutritional markers, were independently associated with a hypometabolic pattern. REE correlated with the IL-10 but not PRISM. In the presence of SIRS or sepsis, CRP, IL-6, IL-10, Prognostic Inflammatory and Nutritional Index (NI), and triglycerides—but not glucose, VO2, or VCO2 increased significantly. High IL-10 levels (P = .0000) and low measured REE (P = .0000) were independently associated with mortality (11.7%), which was higher in the hypometabolic compared to other metabolic patterns (P < .005). Our results showed that only VO2 and VCO2, but not IL-6 or IL-10, were associated with a hypometabolic pattern which predominated the acute phase of stress, and was associated with increased mortality. Although in SIRS or sepsis, the cytokine response was reliably reflected by increases in NI and triglycerides, it was different from the metabolic (VO2, VCO2) or glucose response.

Influence of an aggressive early enteral nutrition protocol on nitrogen balance in critically ill children

The objective was to determine stress related factors and nutritional indices affecting the nitrogen balance (NB) and the creatinine height index (CHI) in critically ill children on early enteral nutrition (EEN). Seventy-one consecutively enrolled critically ill children aged 2 to 204 months, requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, were studied. All patients were on early intragastric nutrition (Nutrison Pediatric or Standard) from day 1 (energy intake equal to 1/2, 1, 5/4, 6/4 and 6/4 of the predicted basal metabolic rate on days 1–5, respectively). Nitrogen balance and CHI changes determined efficacy. Study patients had severe depletion of somatic protein status on stress day 1 (CHI <60%) but they reached the normal range of somatic protein status at the end of the EEN, on post-stress day 5 (CHI >80%, p < .004). On day 1, none of the patients had positive NB but after 5 days of EEN, 44 (62%) had positive NB and only 27 (38%) had negative NB ( p < .0001). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that only the difference of daily given—recommended dietary allowances protein and the total repleted energy were positively correlated (r 2 = .47, p < .001 and r 2 = 34, p = .003, respectively) and multiple organ system failure negatively correlated with the NB (r 2 = −.24, p < .03) on the 5th day of the EEN protocol. Our data suggest that achievement of positive protein and energy balance in relation to the basic metabolic rate using an aggressive EEN protocol improves NB during the acute phase of stress in 2/3 of critically ill children.

Food-deprived activity stress decreased the activity of the histaminergic neuron system in rats

The hypothalamus, which is rich in histaminergic neurons, is highly sensitive to aversive stimuli such as stress. Histamine H 3 receptors, which regulate histamine release from the presynaptic site, are associated with stress-induced brain activity. In this study, we investigated the changes of histamine content and histamine H 1 and H 3 receptors in the brains of rats subjected to stress induced through food deprivation and physical activity on a running wheel (food-deprived activity stress). For purposes of comparison, we also examined the stressful effects of forced swimming on the histaminergic neuron system of rats. The H 3 receptor density rapidly declined in the acute phase of stress but gradually returned to the control level in the chronic phase. On the other hand, the H 1 receptor slowly decreased and remained at a low level during the chronic phase. These results reveal that there is a discrepancy between the levels of H 1 and H 3 receptors in the acute and chronic phases of stress. Brain histamine content gradually increased during the late phase of both food-deprived activity stress and forced swimming stress. These changes presumably resulted in the inhibition of histaminergic neuronal activity in the chronic stress condition. In accordance with this hypothesis, the intraventricular administration of histamine significantly reduced the hyperactivity caused by food-deprived activity stress. Since extensive exercise and restricted feeding are thought to be associated with anorexia nervosa, the abnormalities in the histaminergic neuron system might contribute to trait status in anorexia nervosa.

Beta-endorphin and some hormonal levels in children with acute stress hyperglycaemia

The levels of β-endorphin, insulin, cortisol, GH, glucagon, prolactin and TSH were measured in serum samples of 9 hyperglycaemic patients (3 female, 6 male) with a mean age of 4.1 years admitted to the pediatric emergency unit. All patients were in acute stress due to severe diseases (acute gastroenteritis, bronchopneumonia, septicaemia, etc.). Initial and repeat blood samples for hormone determination were taken at admission and in the recovery phase (after 4–6 weeks of treatment). OGTT was also performed in the recovery phase. The hyperglycaemia, monitored hourly following the initial determination, returned to normal in all patients in 1–5 h without specific treatment. Mean serum glucose values at admission and in the recovery phase were 287.0 and 84.1 mg/dl. Concomitant to the hyperglycaemia encountered in these patients in the acute phase of stress, an increase was noted in all hormone levels excluding glucagon and cortisol. All elevated hormone levels fell to normal in 4–6 weeks with significant differences from initial levels for β-endorphin ( P < 0.05) and insulin ( P < 0.01). OGTT gave a normal curve. These results indicate that stress hyperglycaemia, despite high insulin levels, is associated with an increase in β-endorphin levels. The results also show that hyperglycaemia in acute disease does not alter OGTT in short-term follow up.

The adrenal gland and progesterone stimulates testicular steroidogenesis in the rat in vivo

Administration of pharmacological doses of glucocorticoid to male rats in vivo suppresses adrenal steroidogenesis and inhibits testicular steroidogenesis by inhibiting the anterior pituitary secretion of LH. In contrast, administration of ACTH to these pharmacologically-suppressed rats stimulates the adrenal secretion of progesterone and testicular steroidogenesis. The mechanism by which ACTH increases testicular steroidogenesis is dependent on the presence of the adrenal gland and is reproduced by the administration of progesterone. The conclusion from these data is that the adrenal gland has an important role in generating external signals that modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in male rats. The adrenal secretion of glucocorticoid acts as a negative signal to testicular steroidogenesis whereas progesterone acts as a positive signal. The adrenal secretion of progesterone and its conversion to testosterone by steroidogenic enzymes in the cytoplasm of the Leydig cell may provide an alternative pathway for testosterone biosynthesis and may account for the increased plasma testosterone levels during the acute phase of stress and mating.

Investigations of Vital Functions of Severely Injured Patients in the Early Period after Trauma

The main aim of the primary treatment of polytraumatized patients at the accident site is the stabilization and maintenance of vital functions, especially the cardiocirculatory and the respiratory systems. The next step in the rescue chain is rapid transport to the nearest hospital with the ability to manage critically injured patients. Because of the difficulty in carrying out measurements in such critical situations, very little reliable data concerning trauma induced changes in respiratory function and metabolism is available. Clinical experience has shown that even after successfully recovering from the acute stress phase, a trauma related progressive respiratory distress syndrome can nevertheless develop during the first few days following injury.Recent studies led to the conclusion that the late development of respiratory distress syndrome is already induced during the early shock phase. Early discovery and adequate treatment of trauma related metabolic and respiratory dysfunctions have a decisive influence on current status and outcome.