Stress Levels Research Articles

Perceived work-related stress and associated factors among the surgical workforce in a Nigerian tertiary health facility: A cross-sectional study

Healthcare workers continue to experience high levels of work-related stress which continue to negatively affect their psychological, physical, and emotional well-being. This is even more prevalent among healthcare workers who work in surgical specialities, with the surgical operation room becoming a known stressor at hospitals. This study aims to assess work-related stress among surgical team members at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria between January 2021–2022. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistical approaches using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23.0. The study found an overall high prevalence of work-related stress, with 65% of participants reporting moderate levels of stress. The majority of the participants have a mean age of 39.4 ± 7.8 years, most of them being physicians (66.3%), being males (59.9%), and identified with a Hausa ethnic tribe. Notably, the multiple regression analysis found that tribe (p = 0.008), professional cadres (p = 0.001) and age/years of experience (p = 0.0035) emerged as significant predictors of work-related stress. Key determinants of work-related stress among surgical team members include workload, complexity of work, and conflicting cognitive job demands that continue to subject professionals to increasing workloads and constant decision-making about their job. Organizational factors, such as job policy and procedure, communication problems, and the nature of facilities, were identified as the highest contributors to work-related stress in organizational, interpersonal, and physical/environmental dimensions. The findings lead to the conclusion that a considerable proportion of surgical team members experience a relatively high level of work-related stress, primarily attributed to workload and cognitive demands. In light of these results, urgent efforts are recommended to improve the working conditions and environment for surgical team members. Furthermore, the integration of stress management measures into the educational programs for the surgical team is emphasized to effectively address and mitigate the impact of work-related stress.

Effect of High-Stress Levels on the Shear Behavior of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Marine Coral Sands

As an important construction material, the mechanical and deformation properties of marine coral sand determine the safety and stability of related island and coastal engineering construction. The porous and easily broken characteristics of coral sand often make it difficult to meet engineering construction needs. In particular, coral sand undergoes a large amount of particle breakage under high-stress conditions, which in turn negatively affects its mechanical and deformation properties. In this study, the macro- and micro-mechanical behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced coral sand under high confining pressure was investigated and compared with unreinforced cases using the three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM), which was verified by indoor triaxial tests. The results showed that the stress–strain responses of unreinforced and reinforced coral sand under high confining pressure showed completely different trends, i.e., the hardening tendency shown in the reinforced case. Geosynthetic reinforcement can significantly inhibit the stress–strain softening and bulging deformation of coral sand under high confining pressure, thus improving the shear mechanical performance of the reinforced sample. At the microscopic scale, high confining pressure and reinforcement affected the contact force distribution pattern and stress level between particles, determining the macroscopic mechanical and deformation performance. In addition, the breakage of particles under high confining pressure was mainly affected by shear strain and reinforcement. The particle fragment distribution, particle gradation, and relative breakage index exhibited different trends at different confining pressure levels. These breakage characteristics were closely related to the deformation and stress levels of unreinforced and reinforced samples.

Relationship between perceived stress and levels of blood pressure: single center study

<p><strong>Introduction. </strong>High blood pressure (HBP) is a significant cardiovascular risk factor, with hypertension recognized as a leading cause of global mortality. This study aims to investigate the correlation between perceived stress and <br />blood pressure levels among patients diagnosed with hypertension. <br /><strong>Methods.</strong> A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 80 hypertensive patients at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases “Dedinje”. Comprehensive clinical examinations, including 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) assessments were performed. <br /><strong>Results.</strong> The results revealed a significant positive correlation between PSS scores and blood pressure levels (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), indicating that higher perceived stress is associated with elevated blood pressure. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found between stress levels and sex or smoking status. <br /><strong>Conclusion.</strong> These findings underscore the importance of stress management interventions in hypertension treatment, suggesting that addressing perceived stress could enhance therapeutic outcomes for patients.</p>

Design Guidelines for Improving Mobile Sensing Data Collection: Prospective Mixed Methods Study

Background Machine learning models often use passively recorded sensor data streams as inputs to train machine learning models that predict outcomes captured through ecological momentary assessments (EMA). Despite the growth of mobile data collection, challenges in obtaining proper authorization to send notifications, receive background events, and perform background tasks persist. Objective We investigated challenges faced by mobile sensing apps in real-world settings in order to develop design guidelines. For active data, we compared 2 prompting strategies: setup prompting, where the app requests authorization during its initial run, and contextual prompting, where authorization is requested when an event or notification occurs. Additionally, we evaluated 2 passive data collection paradigms: collection during scheduled background tasks and persistent reminders that trigger passive data collection. We investigated the following research questions (RQs): (RQ1) how do setup prompting and contextual prompting affect scheduled notification delivery and the response rate of notification-initiated EMA? (RQ2) Which authorization paradigm, setup or contextual prompting, is more successful in leading users to grant authorization to receive background events? and (RQ3) Which polling-based method, persistent reminders or scheduled background tasks, completes more background sessions? Methods We developed mobile sensing apps for iOS and Android devices and tested them through a 30-day user study asking college students (n=145) about their stress levels. Participants responded to a daily EMA question to test active data collection. The sensing apps collected background location events, polled for passive data with persistent reminders, and scheduled background tasks to test passive data collection. Results For RQ1, setup and contextual prompting yielded no significant difference (ANOVA F1,144=0.0227; P=.88) in EMA compliance, with an average of 23.4 (SD 7.36) out of 30 assessments completed. However, qualitative analysis revealed that contextual prompting on iOS devices resulted in inconsistent notification deliveries. For RQ2, contextual prompting for background events was 55.5% (χ21=4.4; P=.04) more effective in gaining authorization. For RQ3, users demonstrated resistance to installing the persistent reminder, but when installed, the persistent reminder performed 226.5% more background sessions than traditional background tasks. Conclusions We developed design guidelines for improving mobile sensing on consumer mobile devices based on our qualitative and quantitative results. Our qualitative results demonstrated that contextual prompts on iOS devices resulted in inconsistent notification deliveries, unlike setup prompting on Android devices. We therefore recommend using setup prompting for EMA when possible. We found that contextual prompting is more efficient for authorizing background events. We therefore recommend using contextual prompting for passive sensing. Finally, we conclude that developing a persistent reminder and requiring participants to install it provides an additional way to poll for sensor and user data and could improve data collection to support adaptive interventions powered by machine learning.

The effects of controlled acute psychological stress on serum cortisol and plasma metanephrine concentrations in healthy subjects

Background As cortisol and metanephrine are involved in the stress response, it is often recommended that individuals are relaxed at the time of venepuncture, however, evidence behind these recommendations is lacking. We investigated the effects of acute psychological stress on serum cortisol and plasma metanephrine concentrations in healthy individuals exposed to varying levels of psychological stress and compared these results to self-reported measures of stress. Methods Ten medical students completed two medical in-person simulations (one low-complexity, one high-complexity) in a random order. At four times, participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and serum cortisol and plasma metanephrine/normetanephrine were tested. Results Median (interquartile range) STAI prior to the low-complexity simulation was 44 (18) versus 33 (13) afterwards ( P = 0.050). STAI prior to the high-complexity simulation was 33 (10) versus 48 (17) afterwards ( P = 0.007). Cortisol prior to the low-complexity simulation was 272 nmol/L (115) versus 247 (115) afterwards ( P = 0.333). Prior to the high-complexity simulation, cortisol was 246 (70) versus 261 (137) afterwards ( P = 0.859). Metanephrine prior to the low-complexity simulation was 242 pmol/L (79) versus 247 (93) afterwards ( P = 0.515). Metanephrine prior to the high-complexity simulation was 220 (81) versus 251 pmol/L (120) afterwards ( P = 0.074). Normetanephrine prior to the low-complexity simulation was 593 pmol/L (247) versus 682 (281) afterwards ( P = 0.047 for the difference). Normetanephrine prior to the high-complexity simulation was 696 (123) versus 705 pmol/L (224) afterwards ( P = 0.169). Conclusions The trend in cortisol levels largely reflected changes in STAI. We outline some implications of these findings for current practice and future research.

A Global Synthesis of Environmental Enrichment Effect on Fish Stress

ABSTRACTThe stress‐coping ability (SCA) is one of the core aspects of fish welfare and is of vital importance for fish production in the aquaculture industry and for fish fitness in hatchery release. Environmental enrichment (EE), a method of introducing external stimuli into the husbandry environment, has been recently proposed to improve fish SCA, but the present experimental evidence is mixed, and the reasons for these discrepancies are unclear. Here, we conducted a global meta‐analysis using a data set that consists of 1786 cases from 107 studies across 42 fish species to solve this problem. Overall, we found that enriched fish had significantly higher SCA than control fish, reflected in either basal stress levels or stress responses. Meta‐regression analyses showed that specific subgroups of enrichment type, fish developmental stage, stress category, stress duration, stress place, sample tissue and indicator system showed significant positive EE effects on SCA. Multi‐model inference indicated that the indicator system, fish developmental stage, stress characteristic and enrichment mode are important drivers for the high heterogeneity among effect sizes. These results highlight the importance of introducing EE into the rearing systems, which will not only increase the welfare of aquaculture fish but also improve the ecological adaptability of released fish. The comprehensive knowledge obtained in this analysis will provide insights into fish ontogenetic plasticity and its responses to EE and have important implications for improving the production cycle in fish aquaculture and fisheries conservation.

Aromatic Serenity: How Lavender Eases Stress and Anxiety - A Literature Review

In today's fast-paced society, rising stress levels necessitate effective management strategies. While pharmacological treatments are common, their side effects have spurred interest in alternative therapies, particularly those rooted in natural remedies. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), long esteemed for its calming properties, has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological option. Historical use in herbal medicine for anxiety and stress-related disorders has inspired modern scientific research to explore its potential. This review synthesizes recent studies on lavender essential oil, examining its mechanisms—such as neurotransmitter modulation—and its effectiveness in diverse settings, from reducing stress among healthcare professionals to improving sleep quality. Despite promising results, limitations like small sample sizes and variability in application methods highlight the need for more rigorous research to establish lavender's efficacy and optimize its therapeutic use in stress management and mental health care.

Beneficial role of short-term aging on creep performance of cold-worked Ti-added 14Cr–15Ni stainless steel

AbstractThe initial microstructure of cold-worked Ti-added 14Cr–15Ni stainless steel was modified through short-term aging and its influence on creep properties has been investigated at a test temperature of 973 K and two stress levels of 150 and 175 MPa. The improvement in rupture life of the condition comprising of post-aging was nominal at 175 MPa, but enhanced more than two times at 150 MPa when compared to the condition which comprised of prior cold work alone. Microstructural examination after creep testing showed that though M23C6 type of precipitates was prominent in both conditions, their size distribution varied with respect to processing condition (viz., one with prior cold work and another comprising of prior cold work followed by aging) as well as applied stress. Retention of cold work-induced dislocation structures aided by secondary TiC precipitates in the aged condition enhanced the rupture life at 150 MPa. Extensive recovery of the dislocation substructure was observed in the unaged condition tested at the same stress level. The size distribution of the dimples observed from the fractographs could be correlated with the extent of creep-induced cavitation. This work describes how the two preprocessing conditions influence the nucleation of M23C6 and secondary TiC precipitates during creep deformation. Graphical Abstract

Sumac liposomes/mesenchymal stem cells fight methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in rats via regulating Nrf-2/Keap-1/HO-1 and apoptotic signaling pathways.

Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly employed in cancer treatment, but its clinical use is restricted due to the MTX-associated renal injury. This study investigates the combined potential of Rhus coriaria (sumac) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) against MTX-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The high-resolution-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HR-LC-MS) of sumac extract tentatively identified 22 phytochemicals, mostly flavonoids, anthocyanins, and steroids. Preparation of sumac liposomes attained a suitable particle size of 3041.33 ± 339.42 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.208 ± 0.086, and an encapsulation efficiency of 84.92 ± 3.47%. Rat BMMSCs were injected into the tail vein of the experimental rats (0.5 × 106 cells, intravenous [iv]) of seven treated groups. The experimental design relies on either pre- or posttreatment of rats with intraperitoneal (IP) sumac liposomes (SL) (200 mg/kg, daily with a dose of MTX (300 µg/kg/14 days). The histopathological examination and serum analysis of creatinine and urea revealed good results, besides regulating levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers. Additionally, a significant decrease in the gene expression levels of B-Cell Lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and caspases-3 and -9, a remarkable increase in the Bcl-2 Associated X-Protein (Bax), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme-oxygenase 1 expression, and a downregulation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Collectively, the coadministration of SL with BMMSCs might be a potent therapeutic strategy for attenuation of MTX-induced renal damage. The network pharmacology analysis identified the involved key hub genes as KEAP1, Nrf2, HMOX1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK1), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-KB), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1B), and caspase-3. The docking results revealed strong binding affinities of 7-O-methyl-cyanidin-3-O-(2″-galloyl)-galactoside with Keap1 and amentoflavone with MAPK. These insights pave the way for future experimental validation and therapeutic development of sumac-based phytoconstituents against MTX-induced nephrotoxicity.

Occupational stress trajectories and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among female nurses: a prospective Cohort Study.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prominent cause of chronic liver disease, and occupational stress may serve as a potential risk factor. This study aims to assess the association between occupational stress trajectories and incident MASLD among Chinese female nurses. We conducted a prospective longitudinal study using data from the Nurse' Health Cohort Study, involving 1,113 female nurses, free of MASLD at baseline (2018). Occupational stress was measured using the Chinese Nurse Job Stress Scale at four time points. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify distinct stress trajectories. Through doctors' diagnoses, we assessed incident MASLD over a subsequent 6-year period from 2019 to 2024. Cox proportional hazards regression models evaluated the association of stress trajectories and MASLD risk, adjusting for demographics, work-related factors, and medical conditions. During follow-up, 256 nurses reported incident physician-diagnosed MASLD. Three occupational stress trajectories were identified: moderate decreasing (36.4%), moderate stable (55.9%), and moderate increasing (7.7%). Participants in the moderate increasing stress trajectory had a significantly higher risk of developing MASLD (adjusted HR: 3.14, 95% CI: 2.19-4.49, p < .001) compared to those in the moderate stable trajectory. This association between stress trajectory and MASLD risk was not modified by age or BMI (pinteraction>0.50). The study concludes that increasing stress levels over time are associated with a higher incidence of MASLD. These findings underscore the importance of stress management interventions in reducing the risk of MASLD progression. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and to develop targeted strategies for stress reduction in clinical settings.

Insufficient capacity to cope with stressors decreases dietary quality in females.

Previous studies had found the effects of stress on eating behaviors. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of perceived stress on dietary quality by sexes in Chinese adults. The study population consisted of individuals aged 18 to 59 years participating in the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Perceived stress levels were measured using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), with scores ranging from 0 to 40. Dietary quality was evaluated by Chinese Dietary Guidelines Index (CDGI) ranging 0-110. Using a two-level mixed effects model with community as level 2 and individual as level 1, the study analyzed the impact of PSS-10 scores on CDGI. Additionally, a two-level mixed effects structural equation model was employed to explore the effects of distress factor scores and coping stressor factor scores on dietary quality among different sexes within the population. This study involved in 2515 males and 3165 females, and the average age was 45.9 ± 9.6.The PSS-10 score and CDGI were 14.6 ± 5.1 and 44.8 ± 11.6, separately. After adjusting for confounders, there were no effects of PSS-10 score, distress factor score, and coping stressors factor score on CDGI in males. After adjusting for confounders, CDGI in the highest tertile of PSS-10 score group was 1.64 lower than that in the lowest tertile group in females(P = 0.001). The distress factor score was not associated with CDGI (standardized β=-0.164, P = 0.488), while the coping with stressors factor score was significantly negative with CDGI (standardized β=-0.834, P < 0.001) in females. CDGI in the highest tertile of coping with stressors factor score group was 4.36 lower than that in the lowest tertile group (P < 0.0001). There was no association between perceived stress and dietary quality in adult males. The perceived stress, especially the insufficient capacity to cope with stressors, was negatively associated with dietary quality in adult females.

Stress Management Techniques for Students: Exploring Mindfulness, Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies and Resilience

This study investigates the effectiveness of stress management techniques—mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and resilience-building practices—among university students facing academic and personal pressures. Utilizing a quantitative research design, data was collected from 550 participants through structured surveys measuring stress levels, technique usage, and influencing factors such as sleep quality and social support. The analysis revealed that mindfulness practices significantly reduced stress levels (M = 5.5) compared to cognitive-behavioral strategies (M = 6.5) and resilience techniques (M = 6.2), thereby confirming the first hypothesis. Cognitive-behavioral strategies also contributed positively to stress reduction, supporting the second hypothesis. Additionally, higher resilience scores correlated with lower stress levels, validating the third hypothesis. Notably, sleep quality and social support were identified as critical moderating factors that enhanced the effectiveness of these techniques, confirming the fourth hypothesis. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating mindfulness and resilience practices into student wellness programs while addressing sleep quality and fostering social support networks. This research contributes to the understanding of effective stress management strategies in academic settings and highlights the need for tailored interventions to support student well-being. Future research should explore the long-term effectiveness of these techniques and consider a broader range of student demographics to enhance the applicability of the findings.

The use of 4D data-independent acquisition-based proteomic analysis and machine learning to reveal potential biomarkers for stress levels.

Research suggests that individuals who experience prolonged exposure to stress may be at higher risk for developing psychological stress disorders. Currently, psychological stress is primarily evaluated by professional physicians using rating scales, which may be prone to subjective biases and limitations of the scales. Therefore, it is imperative to explore more objective, accurate, and efficient biomarkers for evaluating the level of psychological stress in an individual. In this study, we utilized 4D data-independent acquisition (4D-DIA) proteomics for quantitative protein analysis, and then employed support vector machine (SVM) combined with SHAP interpretation algorithm to identify potential biomarkers for psychological stress levels. Biomarkers validation was subsequently achieved through machine learning classification and a substantial amount of a priori knowledge derived from the knowledge graph. We performed cross-validation of the biomarkers using two batches of data, and the results showed that the combination of Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and Fibronectin yielded an average area under the curve (AUC) of 92%, an average accuracy of 86%, an average F1 score of 79%, and an average sensitivity of 83%. Therefore, this combination may represent a potential approach for detecting stress levels to prevent psychological stress disorders.

Assessing the post-pandemic socioeconomic and health impacts on daily wage and private sector workers in India: a cross-sectional analysis

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, a global health and socioeconomic crisis, has severely impacted various demographics, with daily wage and private sector workers in India among the hardest hit. Lockdown measures, aimed at curbing the virus's spread, resulted in widespread job losses, financial instability, educational challenges, and mental health issues, leading to a critical examination of the post-pandemic effects on these vulnerable populations. This study aims to assess the socioeconomic and psychological impacts of COVID-19 on daily wage and private sector workers. Specifically, it examines employment and income loss, access to basic needs, educational disruptions, lifestyle changes, and mental health effects post-lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 100 participants selected through simple random sampling. Data collection spanned from October to December 2023, utilizing a structured questionnaire to capture sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle, and psychological information. The depression, anxiety and stress scale-21 items (DASS-21) scale was employed to measure depression, anxiety, and stress levels among respondents. Results: Results show that 42% of participants experienced job losses, predominantly among daily wage workers, with many respondents also reporting decreased financial stability. Educational impacts were notable, with limited access to digital learning tools exacerbating the digital divide. Significant lifestyle changes included shifts towards healthier habits and increased compulsive behaviours, such as handwashing. Mental health assessments indicated that 30% of participants had mild depression, while moderate levels of stress and anxiety were common. Conclusions: The findings highlight the pandemic's lasting socioeconomic and mental health toll on daily wage and private sector workers in India. Immediate policy interventions are needed to strengthen social support systems, ensure access to mental health care, and facilitate economic recovery for these communities.

Stress Detection System using Machine Learning and Sensors

This project presents a novel stress detection system that leverages machine learning and sensor technology to monitor and assess stress levels in real-time. As stress has become a widespread concern affecting mental health, our system integrates wearable sensors—such as heart rate monitors, galvanic skin response sensors, and accelerometers—to capture physiological data indicative of stress. The project involves several key components: data collection and preprocessing, feature extraction, and the development of machine learning models capable of accurately classifying stress levels based on the sensor data. Various algorithms, including Support Vector Machines and Neural Networks, will be employed and optimized for performance. The system is designed to provide real-time feedback to users, offering insights and personalized recommendations for stress management based on detected levels. A user-friendly interface will enable individuals to track their stress over time, fostering greater awareness and encouraging proactive coping strategies

Increased caveolin 1 by human antigen R exacerbates Porphyromonas gingivali-induced atherosclerosis by modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses

Objective: Many different types of infectious oral diseases have been identified clinically, including chronic periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis is the main pathogen causing chronic periodontitis, which is closely related to atherosclerosis (AS) and can promote the expression levels of caveolin 1 (Cav-1) and induced ribonucleic acid (RNA)-binding protein human antigen R (HuR). However, the roles of Cav-1 and its relationship with HuR in P. gingivalis-mediated AS progression remain largely unknown. Here, we aimed to detect the role and molecular mechanisms of Cav-1 in P. gingivalis-mediated AS. Material and Methods: To investigate the role of Cav-1 in P. gingivalis-mediated AS, we infected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with P. gingivalis at a multiplicity of infection of 100:1 for 6, 12, and 24 h to simulate P. gingivalis-induced AS models in vitro and then transfected them with Cav-1 small interfering RNA to silence Cav-1. Combining molecular biology experimental techniques such as cell counting kit-8 assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and Oil Red O staining, and apolipoprotein E-deficient AS model mice, the impacts of Cav-1 on cell viability, inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, Cav-1 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) levels, and atherosclerotic plaque formation were investigated. Then, the relationship between Cav-1 and HuR was investigated through biotin pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot. Results: P. gingivalis can induce Cav-1 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner (P &lt; 0.05). This effect can inhibit the proliferation of HUVECs (P &lt; 0.05). Cav-1 interference repressed inflammatory response, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ICAM-1 levels, and apoptosis in the HUVECs (P &lt; 0.05). Cav-1 messenger RNA was stabilized by HuR, which can bind to the 3’ untranslated region of Cav-1. Increase in HuR level reversed the effects of Cav-1 silencing on ROS and ICAM-1 levels and apoptosis in the HUVECs (P &lt; 0.05). In addition, the levels of inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and atherosclerotic plaque formation induced by P. gingivalis in the mouse model were significantly reduced after Cav-1 expression was inhibited (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: HuR-activated Cav-1 may promote atherosclerotic plaque formation by modulating inflammatory response and oxidative stress, leading to AS.

Generalized anxiety disorder and job performance can predict job stress among nurses: A latent profile analysis.

Nursing is a stressful profession that can impact the physical and mental health of nurses as well as the safety of patients. Furthermore, various factors may affect the job stress of nurses. However, recent studies mainly focused on the overall level of job stress and its related factors, ignoring the population heterogeneity of nurses' job stress. A total of 440 nurses participated in the questionnaire survey between March 2023 and April 2023. Data were collected using the Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, the Nursing Job Stressor Inventory, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale, and the Nurse Job Performance Scale. A latent profile analysis was used to identify the latent profiles of job stress. Kruskal-Wallis H test and ordinal logistic regression were used to explore the predictors of different profiles. The job stress of nurses could be classified into four profiles: relatively low job stress, relatively high job stress, high job stress, and the highest job stress. Generalized anxiety disorder, job performance, health status, and dislike of nursing as a career were predictors of different profiles. The majority of nurses were classified into profile 2, and their job stress was relatively high. Lowering anxiety levels, enhancing job performance, improving nurses' health status, and changing professional attitudes toward nursing may be effective ways to reduce nurses' job stress.

Toxicity assessment of Cd and Cu on physicochemical parameters of green microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda

AbstractDue to immobilization of heavy metals in the environment, it is necessary to evaluate their toxic effects on living cells. In this study, ecotoxicity of Cd and Cu was studied on inhibition of growth, chlorophyll a (Chl a) and chlorophyll b (Chl b), protein thiol groups and changes in bioconcentration factor (BCF). Cadmium toxicity was confirmed to be higher than Cu on Scenedesmus quadricauda. While in the lower concentrations of Cu the specific growth rate (SGR) was increased, in the presence of Cd only inhibition was confirmed. Level of Chl a was decreased more than level of Chl b. Only at low of Cu concentrations up to 0.07 mg L-1 the specific growth rate and both photosynthetic pigments increased compared to control. We observed a high bioaccumulation of Cd and Cu in the cells through bioconcentration values. We determined a negative correlation between protein thiol groups and the Chl a (r=-0.461, p&lt;0.01) and Chl b (r=-0.416, p&lt;0.01), respectively, in Cu presence that indicates higher consumption of protein thiol groups probably due higher level of oxidative stress in the cells. Although, we did not confirm this significant correlation for cells cultivated in the presence of Cd, we found significant negative correlation between Cd accumulation and Chl a (r=-0.643) or Chl b (r=-0.699), respectively. S. quadricauda could be suitable candidate for bioremediation of contaminated waters (e.g. in algae-bacteria consortium) because has high capacity of Cd and Cu bioaccumulation and still have enough protein thiols to protect against damage of possible higher oxidative stress.

Physiological and Psychological Stress Reactivity in Narcolepsy Type 1.

Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a chronic sleep-wake disorder, characterized by a loss of hypocretin production. Unexpectedly, in post-mortem tissue of people with NT1 there is a loss of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the paraventricular nucleus. CRH is known as activator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in response to stress. This activation results in the release of the stress hormones adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol. We hypothesize an altered physiological and psychological stress response in NT1. Participants were people with NT1 (n=14) and matched healthy controls (n=12). The Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G), a validated socially evaluated stress test in controlled settings, induced acute stress. We measured ACTH and cortisol levels in blood before and at three timepoints after the TSST-G. We also measured subjective stress and heart rate levels. In both groups, acute stress led to increases in ACTH (p=0.006), cortisol (p<0.001), heart rate (p<0.001) and subjective stress (p<0.001). Subjectively, people with NT1 experienced more stress than controls (p<0.001). No differences were found in heart rate, cortisol, and ACTH between people with NT1 and controls at any timepoint. Secondary analyses showed that men with NT1 had lower cortisol levels immediately after stress induction than men in the control group (p=0.002). People with NT1 show an increased subjective stress response, but no changes in their endocrine or cardiovascular stress reactivity. Further research is required to determine the impact of reduced CRH production and gender in NT1.

Effects of relaxation techniques in reducing stress and anxiety among infertile women: A systematic review

Infertility affects millions of women worldwide and can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety, impacting overall well-being and quality of life. Relaxation techniques, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Yoga, Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique (PMR), and Guided Imagery, have emerged as potential interventions to alleviate emotional distress in infertile women. A comprehensive review of the existing literature is needed to assess the effectiveness of these techniques in addressing stress and anxiety in the context of infertility.Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted by searching electronic databases for relevant studies published up to September 2021. The search used keywords related to relaxation techniques, infertility, stress, and anxiety. Two reviewers screened the identified articles based on predefined criteria. Included studies examined the effectiveness of relaxation techniques in reducing stress and anxiety among infertile women and used validated measures as outcomes. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently performed.The review included 18 studies that explored various relaxation techniques' effectiveness in reducing stress and anxiety among infertile women. MBSR, Yoga, PMR, and Guided Imagery interventions consistently showed significant reductions in perceived stress and anxiety levels. MBSR interventions proved particularly promising in promoting emotional well-being and coping with infertility challenges. Yoga offered a holistic approach, incorporating physical postures, breath control, and meditation to address multifaceted stress. PMR provided practical coping tools, and Guided Imagery offered guided visualization for anxiety management.This systematic review highlights the potential of relaxation techniques like MBSR, Yoga, PMR, and Guided Imagery in reducing stress and anxiety among infertile women. These interventions offer accessible and cost-effective strategies to enhance emotional well-being and coping skills in infertility contexts. Healthcare providers and counselors can consider incorporating these techniques into treatment plans to address the emotional needs of infertile women and improve their overall well-being and quality of life.