Stress Hormone Levels Research Articles

Stress hormones are associated with inflammatory cytokines and attenuation of T-cell function in the ascites from patients with high grade serous ovarian cancer

Mounting evidence suggests that chronic stress and subsequent distress can promote ovarian cancer progression. These altered psychological states have been linked to sustained release of stress hormones, activation of the β-adrenergic receptors in ovarian cancer cells, and induction of pro-tumoral signaling pathways. In addition, data suggest that chronic stress promotes an inflammatory landscape highlighted by increased infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages into the ovarian tumor microenvironment (TME). In ovarian cancer, ascites is a unique TME comprised of tumor, and immune cells, which secrete pro-tumoral cytokines and chemokines that modulate tumor-associated immunity. However, our knowledge about how stress hormones impact the ascites TME remains limited. We hypothesized that the ascites harbors measurable levels of stress hormones, and accumulation of these in the ascites generates a pro-tumorigenic, inflammatory, and immunosuppressive TME. We evaluated ascites samples from 49 patients with high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and quantified cortisol and stress hormones metabolites, metanephrine (MN), and normetanephrine (NMN) in all samples. We also measured 38 individual cytokines in the ascites, including several pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, which were positively correlated to MN or NMN levels of those samples. Conversely, we found cortisol levels were negatively correlated to several pro-inflammatory cytokines. As T-cells are integral to the TME and our analyses identified cytokines in the ascites known to modulate T-cell function, we characterized ascites-derived T-cells and assessed the impact of stress hormones on the T-cell phenotype. Our data show an altered CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio and a heterogeneous expression of exhaustion markers in T-cells from the ascites, while ascites-derived CD8+ T-cells exposed to epinephrine had decreased co-expression CD38 and Granzyme B. To extend these findings to animal models, we subjected ovarian cancer-bearing mice to daily restraint stress, which resulted in increased tumor growth in two models. Congruent with our human analyses, we detected corticosterone, MN, and NMN in the ascites from tumor-bearing mice, and these stress hormones correlated with several inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, daily restraint stress leads to increased CD4+PD-1+/CD8+PD-1+ T-cell ratio in the ovarian tumor microenvironment. Overall, these data highlight a role of stress hormones in the ascites TME as a driver of tumor-associated inflammation, T-cell suppression, and disease progression.

Stress Concepts and Applications in Various Matrices with a Focus on Hair Cortisol and Analytical Methods.

When studying stress in animals, it is important to understand the types of stress and their classification, and how to assess the stress levels in different animal species using different matrices accurately and precisely. The classification of stress types helps to distinguish between good stress (eustress) and bad stress (distress). Hence, first, it is crucial to assess the animal's level of stress in a non-intrusive manner and second to identify the type of stress that is best suited to its environment. Third, it is also important to analyze the obtained samples using a suitable method to increase the validity of stress hormone measurements. Therefore, in this review, we aim to: (1) explain the classification of stress, (2) discuss the wide range of body matrices (e.g., saliva, milk, hair, urine, feces, sweat, fins, etc.) that can be used as samples to evaluate stress levels, as well as their comparisons and limitations, and present the reliable matrices for measuring stress hormones with special emphasis on hair, (3) compare the analytical methods for measuring stress hormones after sample preparation. Despite some literature that does not include hair as a reliable matrix for evaluating stress levels, hair is one of the matrices for measuring long-term stress hormone accumulations. This review discusses some factors that influence the level of stress hormones in the hair. By understanding these issues, the scientific community will not only be able to improve the understanding of stress and biomarker evaluation but also suggest how to deal with the consequences of stress in future research.

Pharmacological Properties of Jaeumgeonbi-Tang on Redox System and Stress-Related Hormones in Chronic Subjective Dizziness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Jaeumgeonbi-Tang (JGT), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used to treat dizziness and vertigo in Korea and China for hundreds of years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacological properties of JGT in chronic subjective dizziness (CSD) patients. A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group and placebo-controlled trial was performed with a total of 50 CSD patients. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: JGT or placebo (n = 25 for each). All participants received the treatment (placebo or JGT, 24 g/day) for 4 weeks. We analyzed the serum levels of oxidative stressors, antioxidants, and stress hormones. Serum levels of lipid peroxidation, but not nitric oxide, were significantly decreased in the JGT group. JGT not only prevented the decline of serum total glutathione contents and total antioxidant capacity, but it also increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Serum levels of stress hormones including cortisol, adrenaline, and serotonin were notably normalized by JGT treatment, but noradrenaline levels were not affected. Regarding the safety and tolerability of JGT, we found no allergic, adverse, or side effects in any of the participants. JGT showed beneficial effects on CSD patients by improving redox status and balancing psycho-emotional stress hormones.

Аssessment of the antinociceptive efficacy of varieties of multimodal low-opioid general anesthesia during laparoscopic renal surgery

The main premise for the emergence of the concept of low-opioid general anesthesia was the phenomenon of the formation of drug/opioid dependence in patients undergoing surgery under multicomponent anesthesia with high doses of narcotic analgesics (opioids). Opioids were used as the main analgesics and in the postoperative period. The above factors contributed to the development of opiate addiction in operated patients in the late postoperative period. The mass nature of this phenomenon has become one of the most urgent problems in modern anesthesiology.
 Our study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive/antistress efficacy of 3 types of low-opioid multimodal general anesthesia in laparoscopic renal surgery.
 Methods. Eighty patients who had undergone laparoscopic renal surgery under 3 types of general anesthesia were included in this prospective cohort study. All patients were operated under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. Induction: intravenous (IV) propofol 2 mg/kg, fentanyl 1.5-2 μg/kg, atracurium 0.6 mg/kg. Maintenance of anesthesia: sevoflurane (MAC - 1.44±0.25% by volume). In group 1 (control group n = 26), analgesia was provided with fentanyl 3,89±2.03 μg/kg/h. In group 2 (n = 25), multimodal low-opioid general anesthesia was performed with fentanyl 1.76±1.2 μg/kg/h and IV lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg/h and subanesthetic doses of ketamine. In group 3 (n = 29), multimodal anesthesia with low opioids was performed with fentanyl 2.38±1.01 μg/kg/h in combination with dexmedetomidine 0.7 μg/kg/h. The efficacy of antinociceptive protection was assessed by the dynamics of changes in stress hormone levels, hemodynamic parameters, and blood glucose concentration.
 Results. The mean total dose of fentanyl used throughout the anesthetic period was: 369,23±83,75 μg in group 1, 216,0±47,26 μg in group 2, and 272,41±58,14 μg in group 3 (p < 0.001). Mean cortisol levels were significantly different before and after surgery in groups 1 and 2: 371,0±161,61 nmol/l vs 562,72±226,87 nmol/l (p < 0.01) and 531,08±218,02 nmol/l vs 831,33±235,32 nmol/l (p < 0.01), respectively. In group 3, we did not detect any statistical difference: 393,51±134,69 nmol/l and 436,37±188,09 nmol/l, respectively (p > 0.05). The mean level of adrenocorticotropic hormone increased significantly after surgery in all studied groups: 111.86% in group 1 (p < 0.01), 122.02% (p < 0.01) in group 2 and 78.59% (p < 0.01) in group 3. Blood glucose levels in the postoperative (p/o) period did not exceed 6,16±1,67 mmol/l (p > 0.05) in all groups. Hemodynamic parameters and BIS, which were maintained within 44±6.4%, indicated the adequacy of anesthesia and analgesia in the study groups.
 In group 1, 8 of 26 patients required additional analgesia with opioids during the p/o period (pain intensity on the VAS scale exceeded 4 points). In group 2 and group 3, 4 patients each required opioid analgesia, 16% and 15.38%, respectively. The next day after surgery, all patients were mobilized (sitting in bed, walking). Markers of renal function were also within normal range in all patients.
 Conclusion. The use of low-opioid multimodal anesthesia with IV lidocaine or dexmedetomidine during laparoscopic renal surgery provides an adequate anesthetic/antinociceptive effect. The use of dexmedetomidine in multimodal general anesthesia provides the greatest antinociceptive protection and reduces the stress response to surgery.

Influence of delta-hexachlorocyclohexane (δ-HCH) to Phytophthora ×alni resistant Alnus glutinosa genotypes − Evaluation of physiological parameters and remediation potential

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) are persistent organochlorine pesticides with the adverse effects on human health and the environment. The effect of delta-isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane (δ-HCH) on germination, growth parameters and physiological parameters was studied in different Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. progeny of resistant genotypes to pathogen Phytophthora ×alni. Two experiments were performed: a short-term experiment to determine the effect of δ-HCH on total germination (GT), germination energy (GE), speed of germination (SG), shoot length and biomass of seedlings, and a long-term experiment devoted to remediation aspects. In addition, changes in the hormonal system of alders were monitored in both cases. Significant differences were found between the treated and control group in most of the evaluated characteristics. Also, the content of studied phytohormones differs between groups. Furthermore, the obtained results indicate genetically determined variability in response to δ-HCH. Of the six tested, the Březové and Tuřany progeny seem to be suitable candidates for phytoremediation because of the adaptation to stress conditions or high remediation efficiency. The rest of tested progeny seems to be unsuitable due to higher mortality, lower remediation efficiency and higher levels of stress hormones resulting in significant decrease in biomass and plant height. Moreover, results indicate the role of the plant as a remediation accelerator, probably through released exudates, and a positive effect on the soil microbiome as the presence of plants increased the remediation efficiency by 20.85 – 35.89%. The obtained research findings may be helpful in better understanding the processes involved in removing these pesticides from the soil. Further research should be focused on rhizosphere microbiome, mechanism of in-plant isomerization and metabolites identification.

Reduced injury risk links sociality to survival in a group-living primate

Sociality has been linked to a longer lifespan in many mammals, including humans. Yet, how sociality results in survival benefits remains unclear. Using 10 years of data and over 1,000 recorded injuries in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), we tested two injury-related mechanisms by which social status and affiliative partners might influence survival. Injuries increased individual risk of death by 3-fold in this dataset. We found that sociality can affect individuals' survival by reducing their risk of injury but had no effect on the probability of injured individuals dying. Both males and females of high social status (measured as female matrilineal rank and male group tenure) and females with more affiliative partners (estimated using the number of female relatives) experienced fewer injuries and thus were less likely to die. Collectively, our results offer rare insights into one mechanism that can mediate the well-known benefits of sociality on an individual's fitness.

Effects of magnesium deficiency on stress manifestations in women of reproductive age with nonspecific vaginitis

Nonspecific vaginitis is one of the most common problems in women of reproductive age, which ranks first in the structure of gynecological diseases and tends to increase. It is known that one of the causes of nonspecific vaginitis is the chronic stress influence on a woman’s body. At the same time, not only the hormonal system changes, but there is also a deficiency of trace elements, especially magnesium. Aim. To study the effect of magnesium preparations on the clinical manifestations of stress in the complex treatment of nonspecific vaginitis in women of reproductive age. Materials and methods. 160 women were examined, who were divided into 2 clinical groups with subgroups: the main group – 94 (58.8 %) patients with nonspecific vaginitis, who received treatment according to developed clinical diagnostic algorithms and schemes. The comparison group included 66 (41.2 %) patients with nonspecific vaginitis, who received treatment according to known protocols. In the process of examining groups, the following methods of examination were used: general (collection of complaints and anamnesis, gynecological examination, assessment of microscopy of vaginal smears according to the Amsel, Nugent and Donders criteria), laboratory (serum levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, magnesium), questioning, statistical. Results. The use of magnesium preparation according to the scheme in the main group significantly reduced the symptoms of anxiety and depression, normalized the blood magnesium level in contrast to the comparison group (Р < 0.05). Conclusions. In women of reproductive age, suffering from nonspecific vaginitis, who are constantly under the influence of stress factors, a deterioration in the psycho-emotional state is determined in the form of anxiety and depression of varying severity, as evidenced by the results of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). In addition, in such women, there is an increase in the levels of stress hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol), a decrease in the blood magnesium level in contrast to the indicators in healthy individuals. The use of magnesium preparation according to the scheme in the complex treatment of nonspecific vaginitis in women of reproductive age with chronic stress normalizes the blood magnesium levels, significantly improves the psycho-emotional state, reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression and significantly improves the direct results of treatment.

A Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility of Testing for an Acute Impact of Human Exposure to a Power-line Frequency Magnetic Field on Blood Cortisol and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone.

Numerous studies have been carried out on the potential effects of an extremely low frequency (ELF-0-300 Hz) magnetic field (MF) on human health. However, there is limited data on the effect of a high exposure level to ELF MFs for a prolonged period. Therefore, the objective of this pilot work was to demonstrate the feasibility of a study evaluating the stress hormone concentrations resulting from a 10-min exposure to a 60 Hz MF of several tens of thousands of µT. In this pilot study, human volunteers were thus exposed for the first time to a 60 Hz, 50 mT MF for a duration of 10 min. Stress hormone levels were measured before (once), during (twice) and after (once) this 10-min exposure period. The small sample size (n = 5) did not allow to conduct standard inferential statistical tests and no conclusion regarding the exposure effects can be drawn. However, this study demonstrates the feasibility of using a simple blood testing material in a protocol testing for the effect of a 10-min exposure to a high MF level in healthy human volunteers. © 2022 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Influence of Comprehensive Lifestyle Intervention (LSI) Program on Health, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Middle-Aged Women.

Middle age is one of the most important times in a woman's life, and it is a time when multiple changes occur that affect the body and health. The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention (LSI) program, including stress management, on middle-aged women's physical, physiological, and mental health. A total of 40 middle-aged women participated in a short-term LSI program, nutrition, exercise, and mental and physical management with various experiential activities. Physical measurements, biochemical indicators, stress hormones, chronic fatigue, and quality of life indicators were evaluated to interpret the clinical efficacy of the program. LSI program significantly improved satisfaction and quality of life in participants. Total chronic fatigue scores reduced significantly compared to scores before the start of the program. Moreover, fat mass and body fat were reduced without loss of muscle mass. Further, blood pressure and triglyceride levels significantly decreased after completing the LSI program. However, changes in stress hormone levels remained insignificant. Adoption of LSI in middle-aged women demonstrated positive implications of the program. LSI efficiently regulates body fat, fat mass, fatigue, hypertension, and triglyceride levels which play a critical role in determining the quality of life. Thus, the LSI program could spread healthy lifestyles among middle-aged women.

Highly different effects of phage therapy and antibiotic therapy on immunological responses of chickens infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

The appearance of bacteria resistant to most or even all known antibiotics has become a serious medical problem. One such promising and effective alternative form of therapy may be the use of phages, the administration of which is considered to be safe and highly effective, especially in animals with drug-resistant infections. Although there have been no reports to date suggesting that bacteriophages can cause any severe complications or adverse effects, we still know little about their interactions with animal organisms, especially in the context of the functioning of the immune system. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the impact of the application of selected bacteriophages and antibiotics (enrofloxacin and colistin), commonly used in veterinary medicine, on immune functions in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium-infected chickens. The birds were infected with S. Typhimurium and then treated with a phage cocktail (14 days), enrofloxacin (5 days), or colistin (5 days). The concentrations of a panel of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8, and IL-12) and cytokines that reveal anti-inflammatory effects (IL-10 and IL-4), the percentage of lymphocytes, and the level of stress hormones (corticosterone and cortisol), which significantly modulate the immune responses, were determined in different variants of the experiment. The phage cocktail revealed anti-inflammatory effects when administered either 1 day after infection or 2 days after S. Typhimurium detection in feces, as measured by inhibition of the increase in levels of inflammatory response markers (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8, and IL-12). This was also confirmed by increased levels of cytokines that exert an anti-inflammatory action (IL-10 and IL-4) following phage therapy. Moreover, phages did not cause a negative effect on the number and activity of lymphocytes’ subpopulations crucial for normal immune system function. These results indicate for the first time that phage therapy not only is effective but also can be used in veterinary medicine without disturbing immune homeostasis, expressed as cytokine imbalance, disturbed percentage of key immune cell subpopulations, and stress axis hyperactivity, which were observed in our experiments as adverse effects accompanying the antibiotic therapy.

Effects of a 24-Week Exercise Program on Functional Fitness, Oxidative Stress, and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Elderly Subjects.

Background and Objectives: Aging is a biological and irreversible process characterized by physiological alterations resulting in a progressive decline in biological functions, decreased resistance or adaptability to stress, and increased disease susceptibility. A decline in functional fitness, imbalance between pro- and antioxidant capacity, and/or hormonal dysregulation adversely impact physical capacity, emotional status, and overall quality of life, especially within the elderly population. On the other hand, regular physical activity is considered an effective strategy to prevent and reduce those changes associated with primary aging and concurrent chronic disease, while slowing age-related physical degeneration. However, there is still limited evidence-based information regarding both the intensity and interval of effective interventions on physical functioning in older adults. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess the effects of a 24-week regular multimodal exercise program on functional fitness, oxidative stress, salivary cortisol level, and self-perceived quality of life in a group of eighteen physically active elderly subjects (mean age 72.8 ± 7.5 years). Materials and Methods: A set of anthropometric and physical measurements (grip strength, chair sit to stand, sit and reach and back scratch) assessing the functional fitness performance were evaluated. Moreover, biochemical markers (derived-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and the biological antioxidant potential (BAP) tests, and salivary cortisol levels) and the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 3-Level (EuroQoL 5-D 3-L) self-perceived questionnaire of quality of life were measured before and after the intervention program. All measurements were normally distributed as assessed by D’Agostino and Pearson’s omnibus normality test. Student’s t-tests were used to evaluate the differences in all the parameters measured at baseline (T0) and after the 24-week physical program (T1). Results: The results showed that an age-tailored structured intervention exercise program (1 h per session, twice per week, for 24 weeks) was effective in improving flexibility and other biomechanical parameters, such as muscle strength and the dynamic balance fitness component, which are key to performing daily tasks independently. Moreover, biochemical analyses demonstrate that the proposed intervention program has beneficial effects on the balance between plasma ROS production and their neutralization. Conclusions: The results confirm the benefits of regular physical activity in older adults resulting in improved physical strength and flexibility in the functional fitness parameters, and in regulating anti- and pro-oxidant activity and cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

Kinetics of lipid indicators in response to short- and long-duration whole-body, cold-water immersion

Cold exposure-induced secretion of stress hormones activates cold-defense responses and mobilizes substrates for increased energy demands to fuel thermogenesis. However, it is unclear whether acute cold exposure-induced stress hormone response kinetics affect circulating lipid parameter kinetics. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the 2-day kinetics of stress hormones (i.e., cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) and the lipid profile (i.e., total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, and triglycerides) in response to whole-body long- (intermittent 170 min; 170-CWI) or short-duration (10 min; 10-CWI) cold-water immersion (CWI; 14 °C water) in 17 healthy, young, adult men. Both CWI trials induced a marked release of the stress hormones, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, with higher concentrations detected after 170-CWI (p < 0.05) and a disrupted diurnal peak of cortisol lasting for a few hours. 170-CWI increased triglyceride levels from immediately after until 2 h after CWI, thereafter the concentration decreased at 4 h, 6 h, 1 day and 2 days after CWI (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the HDL-cholesterol level increased immediately after and at 6 h after 170-CWI (p < 0.05), while TC and LDL-cholesterol levels were not altered within 2 days. Lipid parameters were not affected within the 2 days after 10-CWI. Although both CWIs decreased deep body temperature and increased stress hormone levels for a few hours, only long-duration CWI induced changes in the circulating lipid profile within 2 days after CWI. This should be considered when discussing therapeutic protocols to improve circulating lipid profiles and ameliorate diseases associated with such profiles.

Features of body reactions in children with oncological diseases during intravenous anesthesia with propofol

Background. Surgery is one of the cornerstones of cancer treatment. Recently, total intravenous anesthesia (TIA) has become more popular and practical in oncological surgeries due to several main reasons. However, it is important to assess the adaptive reactions of children who undergo surgical treatment and anesthesia. The objective: to study the compensatory and adaptive mechanisms in response to surgical and anesthetic stress, adequacy of TIA in children with oncological diseases by assessing the level of stress hormones and indicators of heart rate variability. Materials and methods. Twenty-three children with cancer aged 10.68 ± 4.51 years (first group) were examined, and also 27 children aged 9.30 ± 3.85 years (second group) were operated for minor trauma. Surgeries in children of both examined groups were performed under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol. Results. Already at the second stage of observation, 100 % of patients in the first group had a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure. As for trauma patients, only 92.59 % of them had a decrease in the level of systolic pressure on the background of TIA at the second stage, and 77.77 % of patients had it even at the third stage. Analyzing the parameters of heart rate variability, we saw that 30.43 % of cancer patients already at the second stage of the research had an increase in the level in the high frequency range. As for the power of the low-frequency spectrum, its decrease was noted in half of the patients. All examined people had elevated cortisol levels. However, children with tumors had a 2.8-fold its increase, trauma patients — a 4.4-fold increase. At the same time, children with cancer had higher initial level of cortisol. Conclusions. Children with oncology and children with trauma have different profiles of stress reactions. Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol improved the outcomes of surgical treatment by suppressing extreme stress reactions. Further research is needed to understand how to optimize the modulation of stress responses and to find precise markers for optimal modulation.

Season and reproductive activity influence cortisol levels in the Malagasy primate Lepilemur edwardsi.

Throughout the year, wild animals are exposed to a variety of challenges such as changing environmental conditions and reproductive activity. These challenges may affect their stress hormone levels for varying durations and in varying intensities and impacts. Measurements of the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol in the hair of mammals are considered a good biomarker for measuring physiological stress and are increasingly used to evaluate stress hormone levels of wild animals. Here, we examined the influence of season, reproductive activity, sex, as well as body condition on hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in Lepilemur edwardsi, a small Malagasy primate species. L. edwardsi lives in the seasonal dry forests of western Madagascar, which are characterized by a strongly changing resource availability throughout the year. We hypothesized that these seasonal changes of resource availability and additionally the reproductive cycle of this species would influence HCC of L. edwardsi. Results revealed that hair cortisol concentration of females did not change seasonally or with the reproductive cycle. However, we found a significant increase of hair cortisol levels in males from the early wet season during the early dry season (mating season). This increase is presumably due to changed behavior during the mating season, as sportive lemurs travel more and show aggressive behavior during this time of the year. This behavior is energy-costly and stressful, and presumably leads to elevated HCC. As elevated cortisol levels may impair immune function, L. edwardsi males might also be more susceptible to parasites and diseases, which is unfavorable in particular during a period of low resource availability (dry season).

Measurement of Stress Relief during Scented Cosmetic Product Application Using a Mood Questionnaire, Stress Hormone Levels and Brain Activation

Nowadays, consumers’ well-being plays a decisive role in the purchase of cosmetic products. Although factors influencing consumers’ well-being are very subjective, companies strive to develop their products in such a way that a positive effect is likely. Therefore, methods are required to objectively explore and scientifically prove the product’s performance on humans. In this placebo-controlled study, a method was developed to evaluate relaxation or stress relief associated with one olfactory ingredient of a cosmetic product (face cream). Our experimental protocol included product testing in 25 healthy females, while an emotion questionnaire, analysis of saliva samples regarding the concentration of the hormones cortisol and α-amylase and mobile EEG measurement for quantification of the alpha brain waves before and after stress induction were conducted. It was shown that with this experimental design, the sample with the ingredient produced significant stress relief, as evidenced by significantly less negative emotion, significantly lowered cortisol levels and showed a trend towards a significant increase in alpha activity compared to placebo application. Our data provide evidence that this method is suitable for analyzing the differences between the two samples. In the future, this method can be utilized in the current or a further optimized form to evaluate the psychophysiological effects of cosmetic products on humans.

Evaluation of the combined effects of noise and vibration on the levels of stress hormones and behavioral responses in animals

Introduction. The occupation of firefighters refers to extreme activities. When performing professional tasks, firefighters are exposed to the combined effects of a complex of adverse factors, among which noise and vibration occupy an important place, while vibration significantly promotes the negative effect of noise. Noise is also one of the most common stress factors that characterize extreme conditions for firefighters. The results of experiments on animals, which are the simplest human biomodel, are of great importance in their study. Materials and methods. The study was carried out on 86 outbred white male rats of 3 months of age, weighing 230-250 g. The rats were divided into 2 groups: the first group (43 rats) was exposed to a single exposure to noise and vibration, the second group (43 rats) was exposed to daily exposure for 14 days. The procedure for vibroacoustic exposure was performed daily for 4 hours at noise and vibration levels as close as possible to the loads encountered in real conditions when firefighters perform occupational tasks. Changes in the levels of the three main stress hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol) and behavioral characteristics of animals were assessed using the Open Field, Elevated Plus Maze, and Porsolt Test methods. Limitations. The number of animals in the study groups should be at least 10 individuals, the spread in the initial body weight should not exceed 10%. The study was limited to the study of the main indicators of behavioral responses using 3 methods and 3 main stress hormones. Results. The data obtained indicate the vibroacoustic effect on animals to cause a change in hormone levels and indicators of behavioral reactions, which is manifested by an increase in the level of anxiety, a decrease in motor and exploratory activity, and the development of depressive-like states. In the group of a single vibroacoustic exposure, these indicators are restored to the background values in a day, while in the group of multiple vibroacoustic exposure, they remain changed. Conclusion. The data obtained make it possible to study the long-term effects of vibration and noise on the body of firefighters.

Effectiveness of TSL Program in Improving Child Abuse, Cortisol, and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-s): A Biomedical Perspective

Objective: This study evaluated the Thank You, Sorry, Love (TSL) program's effect on child abuse and the levels of oxidative stress hormone (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) among North Korean refugee parents. Method: The participants, North Korean refugees ( N = 45), were assigned to an experimental group with 10 sessions of TSL program intervention ( n = 15), a comparison group with 10 sessions of Program A intervention ( n = 15), or a control group with no intervention ( n = 15). Effectiveness tests included a pre-test, post-test, and 4-week follow-up test. Results: Child abuse scores and cortisol levels differed significantly between the groups in the post-test and follow-up tests. It was confirmed that the group in the TSL program showed statistically significant improvements in child abuse and cortisol compared to the other groups. Conclusion: The TSL program can be used as a practical intervention to prevent child abuse in North Korean refugee families.

Fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels in captive Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca) housed under three different enrichment regimes.

Environmental enrichment improves the health and wellbeing of zoo animals. To test this hypothesis, we used Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca), one of the popular zoo animals, as a model organism to understand effects of active and passive enrichment elements on stress hormone levels of captive individuals. We included three enrichment categories, category 'A' (having both active: cage size of 1204 m3 with raised platforms and earthen flooring, and passive: controlled temperature, playback of forest sounds and sound proof glass to filter visitors' noise, enrichment elements), category 'B' (active enrichment type I, cage size of 264 m3 with air coolers), and category C (active enrichment type II, cage size of 517 m3 without air coolers) for leopards (n = 14) housed in two Indian zoos. We used a group-specific enzyme immunoassay to measure fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) in captive leopards. For comparison, we analysed samples from free-ranging leopards, as well. fGCM levels (Mean±SEM) were 10.45±2.01 and 0.95±0.003 μg/g dry feces in captive and free-ranging leopards, respectively. Our results revealed that fGCM levels of leopards in categories B and C were significantly (P<0.05) different from each other, thus, indicating cage size (an active enrichment element) as an important factor in influencing the physiology of the sampled animals. Overall, the findings of the study will contribute towards informed policies for management of captive Indian leopards.

Microglia as Central Protagonists in the Chronic Stress Response

Chronic stress is a major risk factor for developing psychiatric conditions. In addition to elevating the levels of stress hormones released in the body, chronic stress activates the immune system, resulting in increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and innate immune cells in the circulation of rodents and humans. Furthermore, exposure to chronic stress alters the phenotype of microglia, a population of innate immune cells that reside in the CNS parenchyma. In rodent models, chronic stress activates microglia in defined brain regions and induces changes in their phenotype and functional properties. In this review, we discussed how microglia are activated in stressful situations. Furthermore, we described how microglia affect the CNS environment during chronic stress, through the production of cytokines, the induction of reactive oxygen species, and phagocytosis. We suggested that, due to their strategic location as immune cells within the CNS, microglia are important players in the induction of psychopathologies after chronic stress.

Shinrin-yoku and its role in hypertension therapy

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential role of Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) in the therapy of hypertension. Methods and materials: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed MEADLINE database of medical publications using the following keywords: Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing, hypertension, phytoncides Results: Hypertension is a serious problem in the Polish population. The data from the National Health Fund show that in 2020 almost 10 million adult Poles were affected by this disease, and over 14% of the entire pharmacy reimbursement budget was used to reimburse drugs for hypertension. Primary arterial hypertension is caused by a mixture of environmental and genetic factors, including obesity, mental stress, low physical activity, and excessive sodium intake. Although hypertension is usually asymptomatic, it contributes to serious complications such as left ventricular hypertrophy, impaired renal function, changes in the vessels of the retina, and finally to stroke or aortic dissection. The Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) is becoming a worldwide recognized method used in preventative medicine and can play a substantial role in decreasing the number of patients suffering from hypertension. Conclusion: Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and the level of stress hormones, and therefore can be a prophylactic element in preventing the development of hypertension or an element of non-pharmacological therapy for this disease entity. Additionally, it has a positive effect on the immune system.