Greater Cortisol Levels Research Articles

Comparative analysis of endocrine profile and five-year survival of cardiac resynchronization therapy male responders residing in conditions of the Far North and south of Tyumen region

Aim. To evaluate endocrine profile, biomarkers of heart failure, 5-year survival of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) male responders living in the Far North (FN) and the south of Tyumen region (sTr).Methods. Fifty-six CRT male responders (with decrease of left ventricular end-systolic volume >15% in November 2020) under the age of 65 (55.0±7.8 years old) were divided into 2 groups: 1(n=23) - FN patients; 2 (n=33) - sTr. Echocardiography (Echo), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroxine (fT4), parathyroid hormone (PTH), cortisol (CORT), testosterone (TES), estradiol (E2), dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), progesterone (PGN), adrenaline (Adr), norepinephrine (NAdr), interleukins (IL) 6, 10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), NT-proBNP, myeloperoxidase (MPO), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9 ), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) were assessed. Relationship of hormones with Echo, biomarkers was evaluated by Spearman method, 5-year survival - by Kaplan-Meier method, and association of lastmentioned with studied factors - by Cox regression.Results. Radiofrequency ablation of atrioventricular junction (RFA AVJ) were differed in groups (47.8 vs 21.2%; p=0.036). At the initial stage, in group 1, right ventricle, Adr, TNF-α, CRP, TIMP-1, CORT, TSH, fT4 were greater, fT3/fT4 was lower. In groups, reverse cardiac remodeling was revealed in dynamics; decrease of TIMP-1, PGN in Gr1; decrease of NT-proBNP, TIMP-1, MPO, PGN, increase of TES, E2, TNF-α in Gr2,. Positive associations of TSH, PTH and negative - DHEAS with Echo; positive connections between PGN, CORT and MMP-9; TES with NAdr; E2 with IL-10 were registered. Five-year survival rate was 80.7% vs 83.4% (Log Rank test=0.724), associated with IL-6 level in northerners.Conclusion. Multihormonal imbalance, manifested by greater levels of CORT, TSH, fT4, lower values of fT3/fT4, accompanied by sympatho-adrenal, immune activation, fibroformation imbalance, higher power of RFA AVJ, indicates greater severity of heart failure, tension of adaptive mechanisms in CRT male responders of FN. CRT modulating effects in groups contributed to comparable 5-year survival associated with level of IL-6 in northerners.

Dynamic associations of relational conflicts at work and consequent negative emotion dynamics with diurnal cortisol variations.

This study examines the predictive value of conflict and conflict-related variations in negative emotion dynamics, with respect to three cortisol indicators (cortisol awakening responses; overall cortisol output; diurnal cortisol slopes). A total of 166 workers provided momentary reports on conflict(s) with colleagues and negative emotions 10 times a day for 2 workdays and salivary cortisol samples 5 times a day. The results of latent growth curve piecewise multilevel models revealed that the occurrence of a conflict and the number of conflicts introduced significant variations in specific cortisol parameters indicating greater cortisol levels throughout the day. Moreover, the conflict-elicited negative emotion boost predicted a lower reduction of cortisol levels from morning to evening. Last, the postconflict decline in negative emotions was negatively associated with overall cortisol production. This study contributes to establishing a potential association between naturally occurring episodic conflicts at work and daily cortisol patterns, identifying within-person fluctuations in negative emotions as psychological mechanisms through which this occurs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Correlation among Routinary Physical Activity, Salivary Cortisol, and Chronic Neck Pain Severity in Office Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to assess the correlation between different aspects of routinary physical activity with chronic neck pain severity indicators and salivary cortisol. This cross-sectional observational study included ninety-four office workers with non-specific chronic neck pain in the analyses. Pain related outcomes (pain intensity, pressure pain thresholds and disability), physical activity outcomes using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and salivary cortisol levels were evaluated. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to investigate internal associations and regression models to explain and calculate which factors contribute to the variance of salivary cortisol and neck pain severity. Female sex (p < 0.01), sedentary behaviors (p < 0.05), and pain sensitivity (p < 0.05) were associated with greater cortisol levels (p < 0.05), but disability and pain intensity were not associated (p > 0.05). Worse disability, pain intensity, and pain pressure thresholds were also associated with lower routinary physical activity (p < 0.05). Regression models explained 20.6% of pain intensity (based on walking time to their workplace, age and pain sensitivity); 27.3% of disability (based on moderate physical activity at home, vigorous physical activity during leisure time and pain sensitivity); 54.2% of pain sensitivity (based on cycling time from home to their workplace, gender and vigorous activity during leisure time) and 38.2% of salivary cortisol concentration (based on systolic pressure, vigorous activity at work and both moderate and vigorous activity at home). Our results demonstrated the association between salivary cortisol concentration with moderate and vigorous physical activity, sitting time at work, and PPTs. However, salivary cortisol was not associated with disability or pain intensity.

Sex Moderates the Relationship of Stress and Perceived Social Support With Neuropsychological Symptoms Among Community-dwelling Persons With Alzheimer Disease in Spain.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in Alzheimer disease (AD) patients, especially in women. Stress and stress-vulnerability factors (eg, poor social support) may trigger NPS. This cross-sectional study (n=196) aimed to examine the moderating effect of sex on the relationships between both perceived social support and salivary cortisol levels and NPS of AD patients. Only in women, greater cortisol levels were associated with higher scores in Neuropsychiatric Inventory mood, agitation, and frontal subscales whereas higher Psychosocial Support Questionnaire scores were related to lower scores in Neuropsychiatric Inventory mood and psychosis subscales. Given the relevance that sex differences might have on the design of preventive strategies, present findings should be confirmed in longitudinal studies.

A Preliminary Study on the Influence of Cannabis and Opioid Use on Weight Loss and Mental Health Biomarkers Post-weight Loss Surgery.

A subpopulation of weight loss surgery (WLS) patients endorse cannabis and/or opioid use; however, impact on post-WLS anxiety and depression is unclear. This study examined the influence of the independent and combined use of cannabis and opioids on (1) depression and anxiety, (2) duodenum serotonin and cortisol, and (3) total percent weight loss. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among patients (N =18) who had biomarkers of serotonin and cortisol collected from the duodenum during WLS. Cannabis and opioid use was determined by self-reported lifetime, past-year, and past 30-day use. The Beck Anxiety Inventory and Depression Inventory-II assessed depression and anxiety symptoms. Total percent weight loss was calculated from pre-WLS and post-WLS weight (kg). Chi-squared analyses and t tests were conducted. Over a quarter (27.8%) were cannabis-only users and 16.7% used a combination of cannabis and opioids. None reported using only opioids in this sample. Combination users presented with greater depressive symptoms (22.7%, p= 0.01) and greater total percent weight loss (34.1%, p= 0.04) than cannabis users (7.8, 23.2%, respectively). Cannabis users had greater serotonin (p= 0.02) and cortisol (p= 0.01) levels than combination users and never users. Cannabis users had greater cortisol levels than never users and combination users. Combination users had greater weight loss and depression symptoms than cannabis users. Future studies should consider a larger sample size, utilization of a cohort design to address causality, and examination of the type, dose, and route of cannabis and opioid administration to further understand the impact of the combined use of cannabis and opioids post-WLS.

Childhood Adversity and Chronic Stress Influence Vagal Tone and the Proinflammatory Response to Acute Stress in Women with Breast Cancer

We previously reported that women diagnosed with breast cancer exhibit a proinflammatory phenotype (increased behavioral symptoms and higher IL-6 levels), if exposed to childhood adversity. The purpose of this project was to determine if childhood adversity and/or chronic stress influenced vagal tone, the cortisol response, and the proinflammatory response to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), in women recently diagnosed with breast cancer. We hypothesized that exposure to child adversity and/or chronic stress will suppress the vagal anti-inflammatory pathway, increasing risk for greater stress-associated production of proinflammatory cytokines. Women were assessed for chronic stress and childhood adversity and completed the TSST while wearing Holter monitors to capture vagal tone. Salivary cortisol and cytokines were measured before, throughout, and after the TSST. Results revealed that women reporting greater childhood emotional abuse and neglect or chronic stress had lower vagal tone during the TSST and greater levels of cortisol and IL-6 post-TSST. Emotional neglect was associated with an exaggerated IL-6 response, while physical neglect was related to greater IL-1 beta response to the TSST. Women with greater chronic stress had higher IL-6 and IL-1 beta post-TSST. These results demonstrate that women with breast cancer exposed to greater childhood adversity and chronic stress exhibit a more intense stress-induced proinflammatory response, which may be mediated by suppression of vagal tone.

151. Day-to-day dynamics of associations between childhood adversity and cortisol diurnal rhythm in women diagnosed with breast cancer

A dysregulated cortisol diurnal rhythm is associated with a poorer prognosis for women with metastatic breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether adversity experienced during childhood influences the dynamics of the cortisol rhythm in women newly diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Women ( N = 98) were evaluated after their diagnosis but before surgery. Women completed the Perceived Stress Scale and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to assess their levels of psychological stress and the degree of exposure to childhood adversity, respectively. Over two consecutive days, women collected saliva five times per day for cortisol measurement, while also completing sleep diaries to assess prior-night sleep quality, including nocturnal awakenings, and morning restfulness. Multilevel growth curve modeling was used to examine whether childhood adversity contributed to the day-to-day variations in the cortisol diurnal rhythm. Emotional and physical abuse were significant predictors of the cortisol quadratic slope, indicating that women who reported greater exposure to such childhood adversity had greater levels of cortisol at bedtime. These effects were independent of daily variation in prior-night sleep quality, perceived stress levels, as well as demographic and cancer disease factors. These findings demonstrate childhood adversity to be a preexisting risk factor for dysregulation of the cortisol diurnal rhythm in women experiencing the stress associated with breast cancer diagnosis. Such dysregulation may negatively impact cancer control.

Five-Year Follow-Up of Effects of Neonatal Intensive Care and Morphine Infusion during Mechanical Ventilation on Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm

To test the hypothesis that the diurnal cortisol secretion rhythm of children who as neonates had been hospitalized differs from that of children without a history of neonatal hospital admission and that this rhythm differs between these hospitalized children treated with either continuous morphine infusion or placebo. A follow-up cohort study was performed with 5-year-old children who as neonates participated in a randomized controlled trial of continuous morphine infusion (born 24-42 weeks' gestation), and a control group of healthy term born (≥ 37 weeks' gestation) children. Five saliva samples over a school day were assayed for cortisol concentrations. The diurnal cortisol rhythm was analyzed with random regression analysis for repeated measurements. Compared with the healthy controls, the trial participants had greater cortisol levels (P = .002) after adjustment for sex and socioeconomic status. The administration of morphine did not affect the cortisol concentrations (P = .66) after adjustment for sex, socioeconomic status, and gestational age at birth. The finding that former trial participants had greater cortisol levels at 5 years of age supports the concept of long-lasting programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Morphine infusion in the neonatal period did not alter cortisol secretion at 5 years of age.

Children’s patterns of emotional reactivity to conflict as explanatory mechanisms in links between interpartner aggression and child physiological functioning

This paper examined children's fearful, sad, and angry reactivity to interparental conflict as mediators of associations between their exposure to interparental aggression and physiological functioning. Participants included 200 toddlers and their mothers. Assessments of interparental aggression and children's emotional reactivity were derived from maternal surveys and a semi-structured interview. Cortisol levels and cardiac indices of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity were used to assess toddler physiological functioning. Results indicated that toddler exposure to interparental aggression was associated with greater cortisol levels and PNS activity and diminished SNS activity. Toddler angry emotional reactivity mediated associations between interparental aggression and cortisol and PNS functioning. Fearful emotional reactivity was a mediator of the link between interparental aggression and SNS functioning. The results are interpreted within conceptualizations of how exposure and reactivity to family risk organize individual differences in physiological functioning.

Sex differences in hormonal responses to a social stressor in chronic major depression

Acute depression has been associated with increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) reactivity. While chronicity of depressive illness influences symptoms, course and outcome, its effect on the HPA axis has not been extensively evaluated. The current study evaluated cortisol stress responses to a social challenge in chronic major depressive disorder (CMDD). Cortisol stress responses to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) were compared in 26 participants with CMDD and 28 healthy controls using repeated measures analysis of variance (RANOVA). In addition, group differences in area under the curve (AUC) and peak percentage change in cortisol were examined. The RANOVA indicated a significant sex by condition interaction in cortisol responses to the social challenge. Post-hoc testing of pair-wise group differences revealed that in females, CMDD subjects had greater cortisol levels in response to the TSST than did controls. Similarly, AUC was greater in females with CMDD than in female controls. Neither of these differences was significant in males. However, male CMDD subjects exhibited a significantly decreased peak percentage change in cortisol in response to the TSST than did male controls. Males and females with CMDD exhibited unique differences in cortisol responses to the social challenge relative to controls. In females, CMDD subjects had greater overall secretion of cortisol whereas in males, CMDD subjects had a blunted peak response to the social stressor. Sex differences are an important consideration in future work in this population.

Effects of major depression diagnosis and cortisol levels on indices of neurocognitive function

Although many studies have examined separately the effects of depression and cortisol on cognition, no study has examined their relative or potentially additive effects. Our study simultaneously investigated the contributions of clinical status [major depression (MD) versus psychiatrically healthy controls (HC)] and cortisol on a hippocampal/mediotemporal mediated verbal memory task (Paragraph Recall) and a prefrontal cortex/cingulate mediated executive functioning task (Stroop). Thirty-seven unmedicated nondelusional MDs and 18 HCs underwent psychiatric ratings, hourly assessments of cortisol activity over 24 h, and neuropsychological assessments. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated a significant effect of cortisol but not of diagnosis on verbal memory. Greater cortisol levels were related to poorer memory performance independent of group. In contrast, a significant interaction between cortisol and diagnosis was found for a color-word index of response inhibition. This interaction suggests that the detrimental effect of elevated cortisol level on this type of executive functioning exists only in the healthy control group but not in MDs. On an Interference score, another measure of response inhibition, cortisol had a significant independent effect, but neither the effects of diagnosis and the interaction attained full significance. Our study suggests that cortisol has an independent effect on verbal memory. Also, our study produced evidence of an interaction between diagnosis and cortisol on response inhibition.