Physiological Responses Research Articles

Physiological stress responses in horses participating in novice endurance rides

Horses participating in endurance events encounter enormous physical challenges. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) have been reported before and after endurance rides, but these have not been determined during the rides. Moreover, the modulation in HRV and haematology in horses with different ride results (completed a course or disqualified due to irregular gait) have not been elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate changes in HR, HRV, and haematological parameters during novice endurance rides and to compare these parameters between horses that successfully completed the course (SC) or were disqualified for irregular gait (FTQ-GA). Beat-to-beat (RR) intervals of 16 healthy horses (aged 6–14 years) were recorded before and throughout the approximately 40 km endurance event. Blood samples were taken at the pre-ride inspection and after passing each veterinary inspection. HRV and haematology measures were determined from nine SC and seven FTQ-GA horses. Horses with different ride results demonstrated distinctive physiological stress responses. Increases in PCV, RBC, WBC and neutrophils after completing the ride were found only in SC horses, implying that they were ridden with greater effort than FTQ-GA horses. A reduction in HRV during warm-up, followed by a significant reduction during the first and second riding phases, was observed. HRV returned to baseline at the compulsory rest period of both phases. FTQ-GA horses experienced lower RR intervals, RR triangular index, modified deceleration capacity, very-low-frequency band, and parasympathetic nervous system index, coinciding with higher HR and sympathetic nervous system and stress indices than SC horses. These results indicated that endurance horses revealed a shift toward sympathetic activity during the ride. Lower parasympathetic activity in FTQ-GA horses suggests they were under more stress or discomfort than SC horses in novice endurance rides. These results have welfare implications, indicating the need for additional rest breaks in FTQ-GA horses.

The impact of COVID-19 on resident doctors as the frontline in health services

As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 increases, the workload due to the pandemic can affect health workers and increase the risk of psychological stress. Psychological factors such as anxiety can cause various physiological responses, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms. The persistent symptoms of GERD can reduce the patient's quality of life. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in October 2021 at the Dr. Zainoel Abidin Regional General Hospital, Banda Aceh. A total of 91 Specialist Medical Education Program responded to the study. Data from respondents were collected through the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), GERD-Q, and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires. The statistical analysis used was the contingency coefficient test. The results showed that 9.9% of respondents experienced suggestive GERD, minimal anxiety (92%), and good quality of life (51.6%). There was a significant relationship between anxiety levels and quality of life and the GERD prevalence of Specialist Doctor Education Program Participants during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.05). Most Specialist Medical Education Program participants did not suffer from GERD with minimal anxiety, followed by mild and moderate anxiety. The majority had a good and moderate quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Clozapine: More Than Just a Side Effect in Schizophrenia.

Recent evidence suggests a possible relationship between the immune system and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), as neuroinflammation appears to play a role in major psychiatric conditions. Neuroinflammation is as a broad concept representing a physiological protective response to infection or injury, but in some cases, especially if chronic, it may represent an expression of maladaptive processes, potentially driving to clinical dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Several studies are concurrently highlighting the importance of microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, in a huge number of neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as SSDs. A more fundamental phenomenon of maladaptive coupling of microglia may contribute to the genesis of dysfunctional brain inflammation involved in SSDs, from the onset of their neurophenomenological evolution. Clozapine and other antipsychotic drugs seem to express a provable immunomodulant effect and a more specific action on microglia, while neuroactive steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce some SSDs symptoms in add-on therapy. Given these theoretical premises, this article aims to summarize and interpret the available scientific evidence about psychotropic and anti-inflammatory drugs that could express an immunomodulant activity on microglia.

Comprehensive physiology and proteomics analysis revealed the molecular toxicological mechanism of Se stress on indica and japonica rice

Selenium pollution can lead to a decrease in crop yield and quality. However, the toxicological mechanisms of high Se concentrations on crops remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological and proteomic molecular responses to Se stress in Oryza sativa. The results showed that under selenium stress, enzymatic activities of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in indica rice decreased by 61%, 28%, and 68%, respectively. The contents of non-enzymatic antioxidant substances ascorbic acid, glutathione, cysteine, proline, anthocyanidin, and flavonoids were decreased by 13%, 39%, 46%, 32%, 20%, and 5%, respectively, which significantly inhibited the antioxidant stress process of plants. At the same time, the results of proteomics analysis showed that rice seedlings, under Se stress, are involved in photosynthesis, photosynthesis-antenna proteins, carbon fixation, porphyrin metabolism, glyoxylate, and dicarboxylate. The differentially expressed proteins in metabolism and glutathione metabolism pathways showed a downward trend. It significantly inhibited the anti-oxidative stress, photosynthesis, and energy cycling process in plant cells, destroyed the homeostasis balance of rice plants, and inhibited the growth and development of rice. This finding reveals the molecular toxicological mechanism of Se stress on rice seedlings and provides a possible way to improve Se-resistant rice seedlings.

Eco-endocrinological dynamics: Unraveling dexamethasone's influence on the interrenal axis in juvenile carp Cyprinus carpio

This study delves into the eco-endocrinological dynamics concerning the impact of dexamethasone (DXE) on the interrenal axis in juvenile carp, Cyprinus carpio. Through a comprehensive analysis, we investigated the effects of DXE exposure on oxidative stress, biochemical biomarkers, gene expression, and bioaccumulation within the interrenal axis. Results revealed a concentration-dependent escalation of cellular oxidation biomarkers, including 1) hydroperoxides content (HPC), 2) lipid peroxidation level (LPX), and 3) protein carbonyl content (PCC), indicative of heightened oxidative stress. Concurrently, the activity of critical antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), significantly increased, underscoring the organism's response to oxidative insult. Notable alterations were observed in biochemical biomarkers, particularly Gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, with GGT displaying a significant decrease with increasing DXE concentrations. Gene expression analysis revealed a significant upregulation of stress and inflammation response genes, as well as those associated with sensitivity to superoxide ion presence and calcium signaling, in response to DXE exposure. Furthermore, DXE demonstrated a concentration-dependent presence in interrenal tissue, with consistent bioconcentration factors observed across all concentrations tested. These findings shed light on the physiological and molecular responses of juvenile carp to DXE exposure, emphasizing the potential ecological implications of DXE contamination in aquatic environments. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for assessing the environmental impact of glucocorticoid pollutants and developing effective management strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems.

Low-load Resistance Exercise with Perceptually Primed Practical Blood Flow Restriction Induces Similar Motor Performance Fatigue, Physiological Changes, and Perceptual Responses Compared to Traditional Blood Flow Restriction in Males and Females

In the recent past, practical blood flow restriction (pBFR) using non-pneumatic, usually elastic cuffs has been established as a cost-effective alternative to traditional blood flow restriction (BFR) using pneumatic cuffs, especially for training in large groups. This study investigated whether low-load resistance exercise with perceptually primed pBFR using an elastic knee wrap is suitable to induce similar motor performance fatigue as well as physiological and perceptual responses compared to traditional BFR using a pneumatic nylon cuff in males and females. In a randomized, counterbalanced cross-over study, 30 healthy subjects performed 4 sets (30-15-15-15 repetitions) of unilateral knee extensions at 20% of their one-repetition-maximum. In the pBFR condition, each individual was perceptually primed to a BFR pressure corresponding to 60% of their arterial occlusion pressure. Before and after exercise, maximal voluntary torque, maximal muscle activity, and cuff pressure-induced discomfort were assessed. Moreover, physiological (i.e., muscle activity, muscle oxygenation) and perceptual responses (i.e., effort and exercise-induced leg muscle pain) were recorded during exercise. Moderate correlations with no differences between pBFR and BFR were found regarding the decline in maximal voluntary torque and maximal muscle activity. Furthermore, no to very strong correlations between conditions, with no differences, were observed for muscle activity, muscle oxygenation, and perceptual responses during exercise sets. However, cuff pressure-induced discomfort was lower in the pBFR compared to the BFR condition. These results indicate that low-load resistance exercise combined with perceptually primed pBFR is a convenient and less discomfort inducing alternative to traditional BFR. This is especially relevant for BFR training with people who have a low cuff-induced discomfort tolerance.

Impact of Humic Substances on Alleviation of Soil Salinity and the Enhancement of Plant Productivity: a review

Humic substances (HS) are a major component of organic matter in soil, and they have long been recognized for their ability to promote plant growth in a sustainable manner. Recently, there has been a lot of effort put into using multiple approaches to study the connection between the chemical structure of HS compounds and their effect on plant biological processes. Positive physiological responses at the local and systemic levels have been linked to the presence of specific functional groups in HS. Hormone-like signaling pathways are responsible for eliciting these reactions. This review was written with one goal in mind: to help readers gain a firm grasp on the research surrounding the application of HSs. The spatial arrangement of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, as well as the dosage, source, molecular size, degree of hydrophobicity, and aromaticity, all contribute significantly to HS's biological efficacy. Therefore, our hypothesis explains the beneficial effect of HS in salt-affected rhizospheres, likely attributed to both direct and indirect influences on plant metabolism, soil microorganism metabolism, soil nutrient uptake dynamics, and soil physical conditions. Keywords: Humic substance, germination, salinity, plant growth

Musculoskeletal ultrasound to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture: a review.

Acupuncture is a typical example of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been used in China for hundreds of years to treat a wide range of illnesses. However, in the clinic, issues and deficiencies were primarily seen in four areas: loss of accuracy in the operation process; difficulty understanding the depth of acupuncture; difficulty using reinforcing and reducing techniques; and lack of a clear dynamic effect of acupuncture points following acupuncture. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography may quantitatively evaluate the acupuncture location and display the distribution of small nerves near and within the fascia of the acupuncture point in real time. The subjects were asked how they felt about receiving Qi when the needle body reached different depths and different tissues. The Qi obtained from an acupuncture point and the connective tissue of the fascia can be further understood by combining the physiological response of the acupuncture point with the anatomical structure, which offers a new method for defining the nature of the acupuncture point and standardizing the acupuncture point.

Leader Bagging Improves Lateral Branching and Cropping Potential of ‘Gala’ and ‘WA 38’ Apple during Orchard Establishment

Inadequate lateral branch development can lead to decreased apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) orchard productivity and profitability in modern high-density orchard systems. Although plant growth regulator applications are used to increase lateral branching on leaders of young apple trees, inconsistent responses have been observed in the southeastern United States. In North Carolina and Washington, three experiments were conducted to identify effective leader management strategies to increase lateral branching. Effects and interactions of leader bagging, 6-benzyladenine (6-BA), and 6-BA + gibberellic acid (GA4+7) on lateral branch development of 1-year-old leaders were evaluated. Across all experiments, leader bagging was an influential factor. When compared with unbagged trees, leader bagging increased lateral branch number (20% to 48%), number of feathers (74% to 125%), average branch length (28% to 34%), and total linear bearing surface (428%) of the treated section of the leader. Blossom cluster density and final fruit set were increased in bagged trees, 65% and 36%, respectively. At the rates and timings tested, 6-BA and 6-BA + GA4+7 were generally ineffective in stimulating lateral branching and interactions among the factors evaluated were not influential. Leader bagging was an effective lateral branch induction strategy, although the mechanism of action is poorly understood. Future research to characterize the bagged environment and/or physiological responses to bagging may aid in the development of future environmentally sustainable technologies to stimulate lateral branching of apple trees.

Comparing physiological responses of acute and chronically stressed diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

We compared the performance and physiological response of diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) following 21 days of either unpredictable chronic stress (UCS) or no disturbance (control). Thereafter, all four groups were challenged with a novel acute stressor consisting of crowding, netting and transfer into another tank. Growth was monitored during the 21-day period, and stress response to the novel acute stress challenge was assessed by blood chemistry parameters and pituitary gene expression. Plasma parameters were analyzed before (0) and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 240, and 300 min after acute stress induction, whereas gene expression was analyzed at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 240 min. The results showed: a) similar growth rate and condition factor reductions from UCS in triploids and diploids, b) higher post-stress plasma Acth and cortisol levels in triploids compared with diploids, c) wider post-stress fluctuations in most of the other plasma parameters for triploids compared with diploids, particularly for glucose and lactate, d) pomca1, pomcb, crf-r1a and crf-r1b mRNA levels were more upregulated in control diploids than control triploids, and e) only minor changes in pituitary gene expression from UCS in both diploids and triploids, but with a noticeable upregulation of pomca2 and crf-r1a and crf-r1b in the triploids. Our results suggest that triploid Atlantic salmon have a higher energy cost in response to stress than diploids salmon. This can make them more sensitive to suboptimal conditions and episodes of acute and chronic stress.

A very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) intervention for the management of prediabetes and early Type 2 diabetes mellitus in a multi-ethnic cohort in Aotearoa New Zealand: The PROGRESS NZ feasibility study.

Very-low calorie diets (VLCD) achieve weight loss and remission of Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), but efficacy and acceptability in non-European populations is less clear. This feasibility study examines the impact of 10% weight loss through VLCD on metabolic and body composition outcomes in a multi-ethnic cohort of Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) men with prediabetes/early T2DM, and VLCD tolerability/cultural acceptability. Participants followed a VLCD intervention (mean energy 3033kJ/day) until achievement of 10% weight loss. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), hyperinsulinaemic isoglycaemic clamp with stable isotopes, hood calorimetry and dual-energy Xray absorptiometry (DXA) were undertaken before and after intervention. Qualitative data on VLCD tolerability/cultural acceptability were collected. Fifteen participants were enrolled; nine achieved 10% weight loss. In this group, mean HbA1c reduced by 4.8mmol/mol (2.4-7.1) and reverted to normoglycaemia in n=5/9; mean body weight reduced by 12.0 kg (11.0-13.1) and whole-body glucose disposal improved by 1.5 mg kgFFM-1 min-1 (0.7-2.2). Blood pressure and fasting triglycerides improved significantly. No changes in hepatic glu-cose metabolism were found. In all participants who attended completion testing, HbA1c reduced by 3.4mmol/mol (SD 3.5) and total weight by 9.0kg (SD 5.7). The intervention was highly tolerable/culturally acceptable however challenges with fulfilment of cultural obligations were described. Results support VLCD use in AoNZ however further work to investigate ethnic differences in physiological response to VLCDs and to optimise protocols for multi-ethnic populations are required.

Comparative Analysis of Adaptive Changes in Immunoendocrine and Physiological Responses to High-Intensity Sprint Interval Training with Progressive and Nonprogressive Loads in Young Wrestlers

The objective of this study was to explore the effects of a 7-week short sprint interval training (SSIT) with differing in programming volume-loads including progressive (P-SSIT) and nonprogressive (NP-SSIT) approaches on the immunoendocrine, physical fitness attributes and physiological parameters in male wrestlers during the pre-season. Thirty young freestyle wrestlers at the collegiate national-level were included in the study and were divided into three groups: P-SSIT (n = 10), NP-SSIT (n = 10), and an active control group (n = 10). The wrestlers engaged in their specific wrestling training three days weekly, while the P-SSIT and NP-SSIT groups underwent a 7-week SSIT, with scheduling in either progressed or nonprogressed volume-based overloads, three times per week. Before and after the intervention, various aspects of physical fitness (such as 20-m sprint, 4×9-m shuttle run, and maximal strength) and physiological parameters (including cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power output), as well as immunoendocrine responses (such as immunoglobulin-A, testosterone, and cortisol) were measured. Following the training intervention, the control group did not show any significant changes in the variable measured; however, both the P-SSIT and NP-SSIT groups experienced significant improvements (p = 0.001) in physical fitness attributes and physiological parameters with effect sizes ranging from small to very large, and also more adaptive responses compared with control group (p < 0.05). In addition, there were no statistically significant changes observed among the P-SSIT and NP-SSIT groups in terms of immunoendocrine response to training, and physical fitness, as well as physiological parameters (p > 0.05). In conclusion, neither the progressed nor nonprogressed approaches of SSIT demonstrated superior effects on adaptations compared to one another. Therefore, it is recommended for strength and conditioning coaches in wrestling to incorporate both P-SSIT and NP-SSIT into their annual training plan, especially during the pre-season phase, to maximize the physical fitness and physiological parameters of their wrestlers while minimizing changes in immunoendocrine responses.

Effects of essential oils on heat-stressed poultry: A review.

While certain animal species are sensitive to heat stress, poultry particularly modern breeds, are more susceptible to high ambient temperatures. This has major implications for the poultry industry, as heat stress causes large financial losses. These economic losses will probably increase as a consequence of a predicted rise in global temperatures. Heat stress adversely affects various aspects of poultry, including physiological responses, growth and production performance, meat quality, egg quality, and reproductive activities. These effects occur through specific molecular and metabolic pathways. To mitigate the impacts of heat stress, it is crucial to go beyond administrative practices and implement dietary interventions during high ambient temperature. Such interventions aim to optimize the development of stressed bird species in terms of performance, health, and profitability. Essential oils have shown promising in mitigating the negative effects of heat stress and improved antioxidant status, growth and yield performance, as well as meat and egg quality in poultry. They actively participate in certain metabolic and molecular pathways that help to counteract the effects of heat stress. The article discusses the impacts of essential oil supplementation on the relationships between antioxidant enzyme activity, these molecular, and metabolic pathways, as well as various parameters such as growth and yield performance, and product quality heat-stressed poultry.

Influence of epinephrine reactivity to stress on meat quality in goats

Abstract The magnitude of physiological responses to a stressor can vary among individual goats within a herd; however, whether these differences can differentially affect meat quality is not known. This study was conducted to determine the influence of the magnitude of epinephrine response (ER) to acute stress on muscle metabolome and meat quality in goats. Male Spanish goats (6 mo old) were transported for 180 min. (N = 75 goats; 25 goats/day) to impose stress. Blood samples were obtained after transport for analysis of physiological responses. Goats were slaughtered using humane procedures and samples were collected for muscle metabolomics and meat quality analyses. The data obtained from blood and muscle/meat analysis were then categorized based on epinephrine concentrations into low (LE), medium (ME), and high (HE) epinephrine response groups (n = 12/ER group). The physiological and meat quality variables were analyzed as a Completely Randomized Design in SAS, and metabolomics data were analyzed using R software. Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly high in the HE group, low in the LE group, and intermediate in the ME group (P < 0.05). However, leukocyte counts and cortisol, norepinephrine, blood urea nitrogen, and creatine concentrations were not different among the ER groups. Muscle (Longissimus dorsi) glycogen concentrations (15 min postmortem) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the ME and LE groups than in the HE group. However, postmortem Longissimus muscle pH and temperature (15 min and 24 h), 24 h calpastatin and desmin levels, and rib chop color (L*, a*, and b*), cooking loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force values were unaffected by ER. Targeted metabolomics analysis of Longissimus muscle (15 min) revealed that diacyl phosphatidylcholines (C38:0; 40:6) and sphingomyelin (C20:2) were significantly different (P < 0.05) among the ER groups, with the concentrations of these metabolites being consistently high in the LE group. These differential muscle metabolite concentrations suggest that ER can influence biochemical pathways associated with cell membrane integrity and signaling. Epinephrine response had a significant effect on dopamine concentrations, with the levels increasing with increasing levels of ER. The results indicate that differences in epinephrine reactivity can influence selected physiological responses and muscle metabolites; however, it does not significantly influence meat quality attributes.

Application of 3D printing surgical training models in the preoperative assessment of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy

BackgroundTo explore the application effect of 3D printing surgical training models in the preoperative assessment of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.MethodsEighty patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy surgery between January 2022 and December 2023 were selected and divided into two groups according to the chronological order. The control group (n = 40) received preoperative assessment with verbal and video education from January 2022 to December 2022, while the observation group (n = 40) received preoperative assessment with 3D printing surgical training models combined with verbal and video education from January 2023 to December 2023. The preoperative anxiety, information demand score, and surgical awareness were compared between the two groups. The physiological stress indicators, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), angiotensin II (AT II), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (Cor), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR), were also measured at different time points before and after surgery.They were 6:00 am on the day before surgery (T0), 6:00 am on the day of the operation (T1), 6:00 am on the first day after the operation (T2), and 6:00 am on the third day after the operation (T3).The preparation rate before surgery was compared between the two groups.ResultsThe anxiety and surgical information demand scores were lower in the observation group than in the control group before anesthesia induction, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Both groups had lower scores before anesthesia induction than before preoperative assessment, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The physiological stress indicators at T1 time points were lower in the observation group than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The overall means of the physiological stress indicators differed significantly between the two groups (P < 0.001). Compared with the T0 time point, the T1, T2, and T3 time points in both groups were significantly lower, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The surgical awareness and preparation rate before surgery were higher in the observation group than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe preoperative assessment mode using 3D printing surgical training models combined with verbal and video education can effectively reduce the psychological and physiological stress responses of surgical patients, improve their surgical awareness, and enhance the preparation rate before surgery.

Designing signal processing for robotic olfaction based on electroantennogram

ABSTRACT In this study, we experimentally evaluated a signal-processing method for the stable use of an insect antenna as an odor sensor for a robot because of its excellent sensitivity and selectivity to odors. Changes in potential in response to an odor stimulus can be measured when the electrodes are connected to both ends of an insect antenna. This is called an electroantennogram (EAG), and is a type of physiological response. Hence, we must extract only the EAG waveform using appropriate signal processing because it has a low signal-to-noise ratio. Accordingly, we applied signal processing based on an exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), which demonstrates excellent real-time performance, to an EAG to eliminate high-frequency noise. Moreover, we experimentally investigated the sampling rate to properly measure the EAG. From the results, the EAG-driven robot with the designed signal processing demonstrated a search performance of more than 70 % , even in odor-source localization experiments with different types of moths and environments.

Reliability for music-induced heart rate synchronization

Common inputs synchronize various biological systems, including human physical and cognitive processes. This mechanism potentially explains collective human emotions in theater as unintentional behavioral synchronization. However, the inter-subject correlation of physiological signals among individuals is small. Based on findings on the common-input synchronization of nonlinear systems, we hypothesized that individual differences in perceptual and cognitive systems reduce the reliability of physiological responses to aesthetic stimuli and, thus, disturb synchronization. We tested this by comparing the inter- and intra-subject Pearson’s correlation coefficients and nonlinear phase synchronization, calculated using instantaneous heart rate data measured while appreciating music. The results demonstrated that inter-subject correlations were consistently lower than intra-subject correlations, regardless of participants’ music preferences and daily moods. Further, music-induced heart rate synchronization depends on the reliability of physiological responses to musical pieces rather than mood or motivation. This study lays the foundation for future empirical research on collective emotions in theater.

Functional Morphology of Leg Mechanosensory Organs in Early Postembryonic Development in the Stick Insect (Sipyloidea chlorotica)

The subgenual organ complex of stick insects has a unique neuroanatomical organisation with two elaborate chordotonal organs, the subgenual organ and the distal organ. These organs are present in all leg pairs and are already developed in newly hatched stick insects. The present study analyses for the first time the morphology of sensory organs in the subgenual organ complex for a membrane connecting the two sensory organs in newly hatched insects (Sipyloidea chlorotica (Audinet-Serville 1838)). The stick insect legs were analysed following hatching by axonal tracing and light microscopy. The subgenual organ complex in first juvenile instars shows the sensory organs and a thin membrane connecting the sensory organs resembling the morphology of adult animals. Rarely was this membrane not detected, where it is assumed as not developed during embryogenesis. The connection appears to influence the shape of the subgenual organ, with one end extending towards the distal organ as under tension. These findings are discussed for the following functional implications: (1) the physiological responses of the subgenual organ complex to mechanical stimuli after hatching, (2) the influence of the membrane on the displacement of the sensory organs, and (3) the connection between the subgenual organ and distal organ as a possible functional coupling.

Morbidities and mortality among hospitalized patients with hypopituitarism: Prevalence, causes and management.

Hypopituitarism is a highly heterogeneous multisystem disorder that can have a major impact on long-term morbidity and mortality, but even more so during acute medical conditions requiring hospitalization. Recent studies suggest a significant in-hospital burden with prolonged length of stay, increased rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and initiation of mechanical ventilation - all of which may lead to an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. On the one hand, patients with hypopituitarism are often burdened by metabolic complications, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia, which alone, or in combination, are known to significantly alter relevant physiological mechanisms, including metabolism, innate and adaptive immune responses, coagulation, and wound healing, thereby contributing to adverse in-hospital outcomes. On the other hand, depending on the extent and the number of pituitary hormone deficiencies, early recognition of hormone deficiencies and appropriate management and replacement strategy within a well-organized multidisciplinary team are even stronger determinants of short-term outcomes during acute hospitalization in this vulnerable patient population. This review aims to provide an up-to-date summary of recent advances in pathophysiologic understanding, clinical implications, and recommendations for optimized multidisciplinary management of hospitalized patients with hypopituitarism.

REM sleep preserves affective response to social stress - experimental study.

Sleep's contribution to affective regulation is insufficiently understood. Previous human research has focused on memorizing or rating affective pictures and less on physiological affective responsivity. This may result in overlapping definitions of affective and declarative memories, and inconsistent deductions for how rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) and slow-wave sleep (SWS) are involved. Literature associates REMS theta (4-8Hz) activity with emotional memory processing, but its contribution to social stress habituation is unknown.Applying selective sleep stage suppression and oscillatory analyses, we investigated how sleep modulated affective adaptation towards social stress and retention of neutral declarative memories. Native Finnish participants (N=29, age M=25.8y) were allocated to REMS or SWS suppression conditions. We measured physiological (skin conductance response, SCR) and subjective stress response and declarative memory retrieval three times: before laboratory night, the next morning, and after three days. Linear mixed models were applied to test the effects of condition and sleep parameters on emotional responsivity and memory retrieval.Greater overnight increase in SCR towards the social stressor emerged after suppressed SWS (intact REMS) relative to suppressed REMS (20.1% vs. 6.1%, p=.016). The overnight SCR increase was positively associated with accumulated REMS theta energy irrespective of the condition (r=.601, p=.002). Subjectively rated affective response and declarative memory recall were comparable between the conditions.The contributions of REMS and SWS to habituation of social stress are distinct. REMS theta activity proposedly facilitates the consolidation of autonomic affective responses. Declarative memory consolidation may not have greater dependence on intact SWS relative to intact REMS.Significance statement Disrupted sleep is a common problem with negative effects on affective regulation. While research indicates that rapid eye movement sleep has a central role in off-line affective processing, the mechanisms are not well defined. We used selective sleep stage suppression to investigate how disrupted sleep and stage-specific neural activity modulated the affective responsivity towards a self-conscious stressor inducing shame. We show that theta band oscillatory activity during rapid eye movement sleep is especially important for preserving the physiological stress response overnight. Understanding sleep-driven affective regulation facilitates development of applications aiming at improving mental wellbeing.