Cortisol Patterns Research Articles

Cultural neurobiology and the family: Evidence from the daily lives of Latino adolescents

Culturally linked family influences during adolescence are important predictors of health and well-being for Latino youth, yet few studies have examined whether these familial influences are associated with indicators of typical physiological stress processes. Following a cultural neurobiology framework, we examined the role of family in the everyday lives of Latino adolescents (N = 209; Mage = 18.10; 85.1% Mexican descent; 64.4% female) by investigating familism values and perceptions of parent support as well as daily family assistance behaviors in relation to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis diurnal patterns, indexed by salivary cortisol five times a day for 3 weekdays. Three-level growth curve analyses revealed that perceptions of parental support were associated with greater cortisol awakening responses, whereas familism values were not associated with diurnal cortisol patterns. In day-to-day analyses, assisting family during the day (compared to not assisting family) was associated with lower waking cortisol levels and flatter diurnal slopes the next day. Our findings highlight the dynamic associations and multiple time courses between cultural values and behaviors, daily experiences, and physiological stress processes for Latino adolescents. Further, we identified important cultural risk and promotive factors associated with physiological regulation in daily life and potential pathways toward health outcomes in adulthood.

Inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway by astaxanthin supplementation for prevention of heat stress-induced inflammatory changes and apoptosis in Karan Fries heifers.

Present study was conducted on 12 Karan Fries (Holstein Friesian X Tharparkar) heifers (10-12months) to assess the effect of astaxanthin supplementation on heat stress amelioration and inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway for prevention of heat stress-induced inflammatory changes and apoptosis in the cell during the summer season. The heifers were randomly and equally divided into two groups, i.e., control (fed as per ICAR 2013) and treatment groups (additionally supplemented astaxanthin at a dose rate of 0.25mg/kg BW/day/animal). Temperature humidity index used to assess the levels of summer stress during the experimental period. Blood samples were collected at the fortnightly interval for quantification of plasma cortisol and IL-12 from both the groups of the heifers and from collected blood samples, RNA was isolated and transcribed into cDNA for real time PCR, for genes expression of NF-κB, IL-2, caspase-3, and Bcl-2. Plasma cortisol, IL-12 levels, and expression pattern of NF-κB, IL-2, and caspase-3 were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower in treatment group of Karan Fries heifers than control group, whereas, Bcl-2 was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in astaxanthin supplemented group. The temperature humidity index had a positive correlation (P ≤ 0.05) with plasma cortisol and IL-12 and expression pattern of NF-κB, IL-2, and caspase-3. However, it was negatively correlated with Bcl-2. The supplementation of astaxanthin can ameliorate the impact of summer stress through NF-κB downregulation, might be due to the quenching of free radicals, which regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and apoptotic genes.

Guided Imagery Council: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects of a Novel Group-Based Lifestyle Intervention in Predominantly Latino Adolescents.

BackgroundThe combination of higher stress and higher obesity rates suggests that Latino youth in the United States may be a population at particular risk for obesity-related adverse health outcomes. The objective of this article is to describe the feasibility, acceptability, and quantitative stress-related outcomes of a 6-week pilot lifestyle intervention using guided imagery (GI) council in order to reduce risk factors for obesity-related disease.MethodsSeventeen urban, adolescents (12 females/5 males, 16 Latino, age 17 ± 1 years, grades 9–12, body mass index 22 ± 4) participated in the 6-week, after-school pilot intervention. The intervention consisted of three, 75-minute after-school sessions delivered weekly for 6 weeks. The 3 weekly sessions included 1 session each of nutrition education, physical activity education and practice, and GI delivered in council, a facilitated group process based on indigenous practices. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed by attendance and qualitative exit interview. Stress outcomes included salivary cortisol and perceived stress.ResultsThe pilot intervention was found to be feasible to deliver in an after-school setting. The GI and council group format were well liked. A 31% reduction in salivary cortisol was observed following the stress-reduction GI sessions. Diurnal cortisol patterns did not change across the intervention, but change in perceived stress was correlated with change in cortisol awakening response.ConclusionsThe intervention was feasible to deliver and highly acceptable. Acute reduction in salivary cortisol was seen following group GI, while no change was seen in daily cortisol patterns. These results support the development of a full 12-week intervention using GI council to reduce obesity-related disease risk.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation in depressed adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is characterized by causing harm to one’s own body without the intent of suicide. While major depressive disorder (MDD) has been associated with elevated cortisol (at least in some subgroups), prior studies in NSSI have suggested that NSSI is associated with blunted reactivity to stress of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, possibly consistent with an allostatic load model. The present study used a multi-level approach to examine salivary cortisol in the context of a social stressor in 162 adolescents (ages 12 to 19 years old) with MDD with a history of repeated engagement in NSSI (MDD/NSSI) versus MDD without repeated NSSI (MDD), and healthy controls (HC). Observed (expressed) and self-reported (experienced) ratings of stress were also obtained during the social stress paradigm. The results showed that MDD/NSSI exhibited lower salivary cortisol levels and differed in cortisol trajectories in the context of a social stressor compared to HC and MDD. Observed stress, but not self-reported stress, during the social stress paradigm was greater for the MDD/NSSI than HC. Follow-up analyses suggested the possibility that this pattern of lower cortisol for those who engage in NSSI was present in females and males, and was more pronounced in those with repeated NSSI (but not subthreshold NSSI) and those with a history of NSSI and suicide attempts. Overall, these findings add to the prior literature and begin to show a consistent pattern for how stress is processed in atypical ways for those who engage in repeated NSSI. Importantly, these results suggest that some of the heterogeneity across adolescent depression may be better represented by these underlying biological processes, perhaps even representing subgroups that will benefit from different types of intervention. Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysregulation in Depressed Adolescents with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury.

Maternal attachment avoidance is linked to youth diurnal cortisol slopes in children with asthma

ABSTRACTPrior evidence suggests that an individual’s attachment orientation is linked to the health and health-related biology of his/her romantic relationship partners. The current study examined whether this effect extends to parent–child relationships. Specifically, we investigated the association between maternal attachment anxiety and avoidance and diurnal cortisol of offspring. In a sample of 138 youth with asthma and their primary caregivers, caregivers reported their attachment orientations, and their children (aged 10–17) supplied four saliva samples per day over four days to assess diurnal cortisol patterns. Growth curve analyses revealed no links to caregiver attachment anxiety, but caregiver attachment avoidance was significantly associated with children’s diurnal cortisol slopes, such that greater attachment avoidance predicted flatter diurnal cortisol slopes. Maternal warmth did not mediate this link. These results support the possibility that an individual’s adult attachment orientation may “get under the skin” of family members to influence their health-related biology. Future research should seek to determine the causal direction of this association and mechanisms of this effect.

Aerobic physical activity and salivary cortisol levels among women with a history of breast cancer

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) helps reduce cancer-related symptoms and improves overall functioning for women with and without a history of breast cancer (BC). Few researchers have examined the associations between PA and physiological stress measures. The aim of this study was to determine whether aerobic PA was associated with diurnal and reactive cortisol patterns, and whether these associations differed for women with and without a history of BC. MethodsParticipants were 25 women with a history of BC and 23 women without a history of BC who self-reported aerobic PA frequency. To assess diurnal cortisol patterns, participants provided five saliva samples collected on two consecutive days at the following times: upon awakening, 30 min after waking, 12 PM, 4 PM, and 9 PM. To measure reactive cortisol patterns, participants provided seven saliva samples collected before, during, and after doing the Trier Social Stress Test. ResultsCortisol patterns differed statistically based on women’s cancer history, whereby women without a history of BC had significantly higher overall cortisol reactivity to an acute stressor, and a marginally significant (p = .05) cancer experience by aerobic PA interaction was observed when analyzing diurnal cortisol data. ConclusionsFindings suggest that PA may not have the same effect on women with and without a history of BC.

The development of the cortisol response to dyadic stressors in Black and White infants.

Acute reactivity of the stress hormone cortisol is reflective of early adversity and stress exposure, with some studies finding that the impact of adversity on the stress response differs by race. The objectives of the current study were to characterize cortisol reactivity to two dyadically based stress paradigms across the first year of life, to examine cortisol reactivity within Black and White infants, and to assess the impact of correlates of racial inequity including socioeconomic status, experiences of discrimination, and urban life stressors, as well as the buffering by racial socialization on cortisol patterns. Salivary cortisol reactivity was assessed at 4 months of age during the Still Face paradigm (N = 207) and at 12 months of age across the Strange Situation procedure (N = 129). Infants demonstrated the steepest recovery after the Still Face paradigm and steepest reactivity to the Strange Situation procedure. Race differences in cortisol were not present at 4 months but emerged at 12 months of age, with Black infants having higher cortisol. Experiences of discrimination contributed to cortisol differences within Black infants, suggesting that racial discrimination is already "under the skin" by 1 year of age. These findings suggest that race-related differences in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal reactivity are present in infancy, and that the first year of life is a crucial time period during which interventions and prevention efforts for maternal-infant dyads are most likely able to shape hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal reactivity thereby mitigating health disparities early across the life course.

Racial/ethnic disparities in cortisol diurnal patterns and affect in adolescence.

Racial/ethnic minorities are more vulnerable to mental and physical health problems, but we know little about the psychobiological underpinnings of these disparities. In this study, we examined racial/ethnic differences in cortisol diurnal patterns and affect as initial steps toward elucidating long-term health disparities. A racially/ethnically diverse (39.5% White, 60.5% minority) sample of 370 adolescents (57.3% female) between the ages of 11.9 and 18 years (M = 14.65 years, SD = 1.39) participated in this study. These adolescents provided 16 cortisol samples (4 samples per day across 4 days), allowing the computation of diurnal cortisol slopes, the cortisol awakening response, and diurnal cortisol output (area under the curve), as well as daily diary ratings of high-arousal and low-arousal positive and negative affect. Consistent with prior research, we found that racial/ethnic minorities (particularly African American and Latino youth) exhibited flatter diurnal cortisol slopes compared to White youth, F (1, 344.7) = 5.26, p = .02, effect size g = 0.25. Furthermore, African American and Asian American youth reported lower levels of positive affect (both high arousal and low arousal) compared to White youth. Racial/ethnic differences in affect did not explain differences in cortisol patterns, suggesting a need to refine our models of relations between affect and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical activity. We conclude by proposing that a deeper understanding of cultural development may help elucidate the complex associations between affect and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical functioning and how they explain racial/ethnic differences in both affect and stress biology.

Cultural neurobiology and the family: Evidence from the daily lives of Latino adolescents.

Culturally linked family influences during adolescence are important predictors of health and well-being for Latino youth, yet few studies have examined whether these familial influences are associated with indicators of typical physiological stress processes. Following a cultural neurobiology framework, we examined the role of family in the everyday lives of Latino adolescents (N = 209; Mage = 18.10; 85.1% Mexican descent; 64.4% female) by investigating familism values and perceptions of parent support as well as daily family assistance behaviors in relation to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis diurnal patterns, indexed by salivary cortisol five times a day for 3 weekdays. Three-level growth curve analyses revealed that perceptions of parental support were associated with greater cortisol awakening responses, whereas familism values were not associated with diurnal cortisol patterns. In day-to-day analyses, assisting family during the day (compared to not assisting family) was associated with lower waking cortisol levels and flatter diurnal slopes the next day. Our findings highlight the dynamic associations and multiple time courses between cultural values and behaviors, daily experiences, and physiological stress processes for Latino adolescents. Further, we identified important cultural risk and promotive factors associated with physiological regulation in daily life and potential pathways toward health outcomes in adulthood.

Informal caregiving and diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol: Results from the Whitehall II cohort study

The objective was to investigate the relationship between various aspects of informal caregiving and diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol, with special attention to the moderating effect of sex and work status. The study population was composed of 3727 men and women from the British Whitehall II study. Salivary cortisol was measured six times during a weekday. Aspects of caregiving included the relationship of caregiver to recipient, weekly hours of caregiving, and length of caregiving. Diurnal cortisol profiles were assessed using the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and diurnal cortisol slopes. Results showed that men, but not women, providing informal care had a blunted CAR compared with non-caregivers (PInteraction = 0.03). Furthermore, we found a dose-response relationship showing that more weekly hours of informal care was associated with a more blunted CAR for men (Ptrend = 0.03). Also, the blunted CAR for men was especially pronounced in short-term caregivers and those in paid work. In women, the steepest cortisol slope was seen among those in paid work who provided informal care (PInteraction = 0.01). To conclude, we found different cortisol profiles in male and female informal caregivers. Male caregivers had a blunted CAR, which has previously been associated with chronic stress and burnout. Future research should investigate whether results are generalizable beyond UK citizens with a working history in the civil service.

Homotypic and heterotypic continuity of internalizing and externalizing symptoms from ages 3 to 12: The moderating role of diurnal cortisol.

Psychological symptoms that arise in early childhood can follow a multitude of patterns into adolescence, including homotypic continuity (i.e., similar symptoms over time) and heterotypic continuity (i.e., a shift in symptoms over time). However, we know very little about the factors that distinguish homotypic vs. heterotypic continuity of early internalizing and externalizing symptoms over development. In a separate line of research, diurnal cortisol has been shown to predict later internalizing and externalizing problems. In the current study, we tested whether diurnal cortisol patterns moderated the course of internalizing and externalizing symptoms from preschool to early adolescence. 554 children (54% male) and parents participated in a longitudinal study. Parents reported on their children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms at ages 3 and 12, and children collected diurnal saliva samples at age 9. Results showed that a steeper cortisol decline at age 9 combined with high internalizing or externalizing problems at age 3 predicted higher internalizing problems at age 12. A more blunted cortisol decline combined with early internalizing or externalizing problems predicted higher externalizing problems in early adolescence. These results illustrate the moderating role of stress system functioning in homotypic and heterotypic patterns of psychopathology from preschool to early adolescence.

Adolescent oxytocin response to stress and its behavioral and endocrine correlates

Oxytocin (OXT) shows anxiolytic and stress-reducing effects, but salivary OXT response to laboratory-induced stress has only been assessed in one study in healthy adults. The present study aimed at extending these findings by assessing salivary OXT stress reactivity in healthy adolescents (aged 11–18) compared to a control condition. A higher salivary OXT response to stress compared to the control condition was expected. In addition, the association between OXT, cortisol (CORT) and psychological reactivity patterns was explored. Psychosocial stress was induced using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST; 13 males, 15 females), while the Control-TSST (14 males, 15 females) served as a non-stress control condition. Salivary OXT increased in response to the TSST with a peak at +1 and decline at +10 min after stress. Baseline OXT correlated negatively with experienced anxiety and insecurity, while both correlated positively with OXT reactivity. OXT and CORT increase as well as OXT increase and CORT recovery were positively correlated. Results indicate that salivary OXT in response to the TSST is a valid method to assess biological effects of laboratory-induced stress also in adolescents. Due to a rapid increase and decline, salivary OXT needs to be assessed directly after stress exposure. Given the interplay of OXT with affective symptoms and CORT response, the combined measure of salivary OXT and CORT reactivity adds to studying stress reactivity in typically developing and clinical samples.

Subclinical Markers of Cardiovascular Disease Among Police Officers: A Longitudinal Assessment of the Cortisol Awakening Response and Flow Mediated Artery Dilation.

To examine the association of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) with change in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD%) in police officers over a 7-year period. Baseline CAR was obtained from four saliva samples taken 15 minutes apart immediately after awakening. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the change in FMD% (FMD%Follow-up-FMD%Baseline) across tertiles of area under the cortisol curve with respect to increase (AUCI). Regression analysis was use to assess trend. Officers (n = 172; 81% men) had a mean ± SD age of 41 ± 7.6 years. Men in the lowest AUCI tertile (ie, atypical waking cortisol pattern) had a significantly larger 7-year mean decline in FMD% (mean ± SE: -2.56 ± 0.64) compared with men in the highest tertile (-0.89 ± 0.69) (P = 0.0087). An awakening cortisol AUCI predicted worsening of FMD% approximately 7 years later among male officers.

Impact of shift work on the diurnal cortisol rhythm: a one-year longitudinal study in junior physicians

BackgroundCumulative epidemiological evidence suggests that shift work exerts harmful effects on human health. However, the physiological mechanisms are not well understood. This study aimed to examine the impact of shift work on the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, i.e. diurnal cortisol rhythm.MethodsSeventy physicians with a mean age 30 years participated in this one-year longitudinal study. Working schedules, either shift work or regular schedules with day shift, were assessed at baseline. Salivary cortisol samples were collected on two consecutive regular working days, four times a day (including waking, + 4 h, + 8 h, and + 16 h), at both baseline and the one-year follow-up. The diurnal cortisol decline (slope) and total cortisol concentration (area under the curve, AUC) were calculated.ResultsAfter adjusting for cortisol secretion at baseline and numerous covariates, shift work at baseline significantly predicted a steeper slope (p < 0.01) and a larger AUC (p < 0.05) of diurnal cortisol rhythm at follow-up in this sample of physicians. In particular, waking cortisol at follow-up was significantly higher among those engaged in shift work than day shift (p < 0.01).ConclusionsOur findings support the notion that shift work changes the diurnal cortisol pattern, and is predictive of increased cortisol secretion consequently in junior physicians.

The effectiveness of a health promotion and stress-management intervention program in a sample of obese children and adolescents.

Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week stress management intervention program that included progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, guided imagery, and cognitive restructuring in obese Greek children and adolescents. Thirty-six patients were prospectively recruited to participate in this randomized controlled study. Of these, 16 participants formed the intervention group and 20 participants the control group. Anthropometric measurements and salivary cortisol, determined serially 3 times a day, were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study. Participants also completed the state-trait anxiety in children questionnaire (STAIC), the stress in children questionnaire (SiC), and the child behavior checklist (CBCL). The intervention resulted in a significant reduction of waist-hip ratio (p = 0.008) in the intervention group compared with the control group. Moreover, school performance was improved in the intervention group (p = 0.025), while both the intervention and the control group adopted healthier daily habits (p = 0.020 and 0.011, respectively). However, there was no statistically significant difference between body mass index (BMI) z-score, stress, anxiety, and diurnal patterns in salivary cortisol. The present study supports the effectiveness of stress management intervention programs on waist-hip ratio reduction. Further research is required to investigate biomarkers able to predict and evaluate the effectiveness of stress management intervention programs.

Protocol for the Imagine HEALTH Study: Guided imagery lifestyle intervention to improve obesity-related behaviors and salivary cortisol patterns in predominantly Latino adolescents

Innovative lifestyle interventions are needed to reduce type 2 diabetes risk in adolescents. This report describes the protocol of the Imagine HEALTH cluster randomized control trial, that tests an intervention based in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and uses lifestyle education combined with the mind-body, complementary health modality of guided imagery (GI), to address obesity prevention and treatment in predominantly Latino adolescents. The primary aim is to determine the unique effects of each of the three major components of the 12-week lifestyle intervention (lifestyle education, stress reduction guided imagery, and lifestyle behavior guided imagery) compared to control on primary outcomes of physical activity (accelerometry), dietary intake (3-day recall), and stress biomarker levels (salivary cortisol). Secondary aims assess changes compared to controls in psychosocial outcomes (stress, well-being, depression), diabetes-related metabolic outcomes (adiposity, insulin resistance), maintenance of outcome changes for one year post-intervention, and SDT-based mediation of intervention effects. The development and rationale for each of the intervention components, study design, and outcome measurement processes are described. Adolescent participants recruited from four urban schools are cluster randomized by school into one of four arms of the 12-week (3-month) intervention, followed by 6 months of maintenance and 6 months of no contact. Outcome measures are assessed at the end of each period (3-, 9-, and 15-months). Results to date show successful recruitment of 97% of the target study population. Future results will demonstrate the effects of this integrative intervention on primary and secondary outcome measures in adolescents at risk for lifestyle-related metabolic disease.

Abstract 2638: Overexpressions of cortisol, annexin V and Lost in expression of PD-L1 and DARC proteins are associated with aggressive prostate cancer phenotypes in Black men: A CaPTC Cohort Study

Abstract Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most common male gender cancer and present with a 5-year prevalence, incidence and mortality rate in Nigerian Black men. There is disproportionate prevalence and poor understanding of CaP in Black men globally. The Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) has documented significant CaP burden among Nigerian black men in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. Notably, African ancestry is one of the most important risk factors of CaP globally. Increased levels of cortisol, a stress-related catabolic hormone is significantly associated to prostate specific antigen and poor prognosis in prostate cancer patients. Cortisol causes degradation of muscle proteins into amino-acids. Amino acids such as leucine, serves as a source of fuel for aggressive prostate cancer cells in a Warburg effect model through the L-amino acid transporters (LATs). The annexins are calcium and phospholipid binding proteins implicated in cancer development and progression. Overexpression of annexin 1 is one of the mechanisms by which cortisol inhibit inflammation. Annexin V has a high affinity to phosphatidylserine and play important role of inhibiting engulfment of apoptotic cells by macrophages to increase the immunogenicity of tumor cells undergoing apoptosis. PD-L1 is an important membrane-bound costimulatory molecule that inhibits immune responses through its receptor, PD-1. Overexpression of PD-L1 results to cancer cells aggressively evading the host immune system. The Duffy Antigen/Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) is a 7-transmembrane protein atypical chemokine receptor expressed on erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells that binds to and clears angiogenic chemokines. Expression pattern of DARC is associated to cancer growth and metastasis. In this study, we report the expression pattern of tissue Cortisol, Annexin V, PD-L1 and DARC proteins in relationship to Gleason score in Nigerian Black men with Prostate cancer using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. In addition, we assessed salivary cortisol levels by enzyme immunoassay and physical activity by a standardized CaPTC-AC3-MADCaP (C.A.M) CaP measures from 500 subjects recruited by via CaPTC cohort. Results showed significant expression of tissue and salivary cortisol in the CaP patients compared to the normal subjects (p &amp;gt; 0.05). The Tissue cortisol protein expression was higher in CaP cases with Gleason score 8. There was significant overexpression of Annexin protein in virtually the prostate cancer samples studied. We found a negative expression of PD-L1 and DARC proteins in all the CaP tissues studied. Cortisol and Annexin may serve as an important biomarker for prostate cancer diagnosis and prognosis in Nigerian Blacks. Citation Format: Faruk Mohammed, Folakemi T. Odedina, Sani Ibrahim, Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi, Ahmed Adamu, Abdullahi Adamu, Ahmad Bello, Surajo Mohammed Aminu, John Idoko, Aishatu Maude Suleiman, Solomon O. Rotimi, Ernie Kaninjing, Getachew A. Dagne, Clayton Yates, Yawale Iliyasu, Nissa Askins, Iya Eze Bassey, Renee Reams, Abdullahi Mohammad, Hussaini Yusuf Maitama, Dauda Maigatari, Mohammed Sani Shehu, Cheh Augustine Awasum, Abdulkadir Lawal Rafinadadi, Danladi Amodu Ameh, Serah Adewunmi, Ruth Agaba, Haruna Mohammad Muktar, Ahmad Mai, Saad Aliyu Ahmed, Ahmad Bello Kumo, Kasimu Umar Adoke, Ahmad Tijjani Lawal, Ahmad Muhammad, Omolora Fatiregun, Sunday Atawodi, Shehu Akuyam, Yusuf Abdulrashid, Mubarak Liman, Aliyu Muhammad, Abidemi Omonisi, Rebecca Gali, Hassan Dogo, Nkegoum Blaise, Anthonia Sowunmi, Titilola Akinremi, Emeka J. Iweala, Jigo Dangude Yaro, Badejo Adebukola Catherine, Akinwumi Oluwole Komolafe. Overexpressions of cortisol, annexin V and Lost in expression of PD-L1 and DARC proteins are associated with aggressive prostate cancer phenotypes in Black men: A CaPTC Cohort Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2638.

Stress From the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to Home

To examine cortisol diurnal rhythms over the transition from the critical care setting to home for fathers and mothers of very low-birth-weight infants, including how cortisol is associated with psychosocial stress and parenting sense of competence. This cohort study in a level III neonatal intensive care unit and the general community had 86 parents complete salivary collection and self-reported psychosocial measures. Salivary samples were collected 3 times a day on the day before discharge, and on 3 subsequent days at home. Self-report measures included the Perceived Stress Scale and the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, which measure parenting satisfaction. Fathers showed increased physiologic stress over the transition home, reflected by flattening of slopes, lower wakeup, and higher bedtime cortisol. Mothers reporting increases in perceived stress over the transition home had higher bedtime cortisol, suggesting a link between higher perceived stress and higher physiologic stress. Results were significant after controlling for breastfeeding, insurance status, and gestational age. This study examined a physiologic marker of stress in parents with very low-birth-weight infants, finding sex disparities in diurnal cortisol patterns during the transition from neonatal intensive care unit to the community. Fathers may be especially susceptible to stressors during this transition.

Abstract A53: Plasma glucocorticogenic activity differs by race/ethnicity and alcohol intake among San Francisco Bay Area women

Abstract Breast cancer mortality is higher among non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Hispanic women than non-Hispanic White (NHW) women in the United States. While various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer, the biologic processes underlying these associations remain poorly understood. Cortisol, the predominant endogenous glucocorticoid present in humans, is secreted in a diurnal pattern with the highest concentration occurring shortly after waking followed by a steady decline throughout the day. A flattened diurnal cortisol pattern (e.g., due to lower morning and/or elevated evening cortisol levels) is often observed among chronically stressed individuals and has been linked to poorer survival among breast cancer patients. We examined the association between race/ethnicity and other breast cancer risk factors with glucocorticogenic (G) activity, a measure that reflects plasma cortisol levels, in 503 controls from the San Francisco Bay Area Breast Cancer Study (SFBCS, 329 Hispanic, 100 NHB and 74 NHW women) using a low-cost Chemical-Activated LUciferase gene eXpression (CALUX) assay. Associations between G activity and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were examined using multivariable linear regression models. Hispanic and NHB women had 14% (P = 0.016) and 16% (P = 0.007) lower morning G activity than NHW women, respectively. Additionally, we replicated our previously reported association between G activity and alcohol intake (women who drank &amp;gt;10 gm had 22% higher G activity than non-drinkers, P = 0.003). This association was only present in Hispanics and NHB. No statistically significant associations were observed between G activity and Indigenous American ancestry, body mass index, or neighborhood socioeconomic status. Our results indicate that NHB and Hispanic women may have a blunted cortisol awakening response potentially due to chronic stress. The increase in morning G activity observed with higher alcohol intake in Hispanics and NHB might reflect the use of alcohol as a stress-coping mechanism. Further research should assess the association between G activity and breast cancer survival in biospecimens from a prospective cohort so as to characterize the relationship between prediagnosis chronic stress and breast cancer outcome across different racial/ethnic groups. Citation Format: Rosemarie M. de la Rosa, Sylvia S. Sanchez, Phum Tachachartvanich, Heather Ruiz, Scarlett Lin Gomez, Esther M. John, Martyn T. Smith, Laura Fejerman. Plasma glucocorticogenic activity differs by race/ethnicity and alcohol intake among San Francisco Bay Area women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A53.

Where in the world? Latitude, longitude and season contribute to the complex co-ordinates determining cortisol levels.

Cortisol is a critical stress hormone with circadian rhythms synchronized by light. There are seasonal differences in expression of pro-inflammatory genes and in some diseases moderated by glucocorticoids. As light changes with season and with latitude and longitude, we assessed changes in population cortisol associated with these parameters. Retrospective data audit. Populations across 4 states of Australia over 3years. Serum cortisol levels, age, gender, time of collection, sunrise time, season and location were determined. In 4 geographically separate populations (n=84937), sunrise time and time of sample collection were the most important factors influencing median cortisol. Over 2hours in the morning cortisol could decrease by up to 76nmol/L, and for each hour that sunrise time advanced there was up to 6.9% increase in cortisol. A cyclic seasonal pattern of cortisol was confirmed each year in all populations with autumn/winter cortisol highest compared to spring/summer with differences of up to 44nmol/L. There was less change in cortisol in latitudes closer to the equator but cortisol progressively increased from 25 to 30°S of the equator. In more southerly latitudes, seasonal cortisol variation also increased, and over the entire latitude range, there was up to 50nmol/L change in cortisol. Longitude variation within a time zone had a minimal effect on median cortisol. Location, time of year and time of day are important influences on population cortisol levels. Elevated autumn/winter morning cortisol levels are likely due to sampling closer to the circadian peak due to later sunrise time. Understanding how the environment can influence cortisol levels may further our knowledge of physiology and disease.