Stress Process Research Articles

Molecular mechanism of mitochondrial autophagy mediating impaired energy metabolism leading to osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a bone metabolic disease caused by decreased bone mass leading to destruction of bone microstructure. Treatment of OP is characterized by a lifelong nature, causing extreme financial and psychological burdens to patients. Hormonal abnormalities, cellular autophagy, Ferroptosis, and oxidative stress are all part of the intricate and varied pathophysiology of OP. Recent research has revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction is a significant factor in the onset and progression of OP. By regulating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell differentiation through various signaling pathways and cytokines, abnormal mitochondrial energy metabolism brought on by oxidative stress processes impacts osteoblast and osteoclast proliferation and differentiation, causing an imbalance in bone metabolism that ultimately results in OP. Therefore, one possible method to prevent and manage OP may be to use mitochondria as a carrier to trigger osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from mitochondrial energy consumption, oxidative stress, autophagy, and osteoclast death. In order to offer some theoretical references and therapeutic approaches for the clinical prevention and treatment of OP, we will examine the pathophysiology of OP from mitochondrial dysfunction in this work.

Polyphenols as Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulators: A promising strategy in clinical neurodegeneration.

Polyphenols, a diverse group of naturally occurring compounds found in plants, have garnered significant attention for their potential therapeutic properties in treating neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). The Wnt/β-catenin (WβC) signaling pathway, a crucial player in neurogenesis, neuronal survival, and synaptic plasticity, is involved in several cellular mechanisms related to NDs. Dysregulation of this pathway is a hallmark in the development of various NDs. This study explores multiple polyphenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, stilbenes, lignans, and phenolic acids, and their potential to protect the nervous system. It provides a comprehensive analysis of their effects on the WβC pathway, elucidating their modes of action. The study highlights the dual function of polyphenols in regulating and protecting the nervous system, providing reassurance about the research benefits. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the results obtained from both invitro studies and invivo research, shedding light on how these substances influence the various components of the pathway. The focus is mainly on the molecular mechanisms that allow polyphenols to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic processes, ultimately improving the function and survival of neurons. This study aims to offer a thorough understanding of the potential of polyphenols in targeting the WβC signaling pathway, which could lead to the development of innovative therapeutic options for NDs.

Stress and Cardiovascular Disease: The Role of Affective Traits and Mental Disorders.

Personality traits involving negative affect, as well as mental disorders including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder, are cardiovascular risk factors. However, which of these confer risk independently is uncertain, and the implications of their overlap, combinations, and interactions are poorly understood. Potential explanatory mechanisms are being characterized with increasing detail and sophistication. Of particular interest are psychobiological processes initiated by stress. Other mechanisms involve stress-related health behaviors and illness behaviors that delay or reduce the effectiveness of medical treatment. With some promising exceptions, findings of intervention trials are uncertain regarding the effectiveness of psychological treatments for modifying affective traits and mental disorders to reduce their impact on cardiovascular disease. Recent developments include novel conceptualizations of mental disorders; examination of the interplay between cognitive factors and emotion; and theoretical frameworks that integrate psychological stress processes with neuroscience, health behavior, and social cognition. Also promising is increased attention to gender identity and minority group membership.

Mediating effect of social support on the relationships between caregiver burden and quality of life in family caregivers of people with dementia: a cross-sectional study in Rural China

BackgroundChina has the largest percentage of people with dementia (PwD) around the world. And most of them are cared for by their family members. The purpose of this study was to identify the quality of life (QoL) of family caregivers of PwD in rural China and to investigate the mediating role of social support between caregiver burden and QoL under the guidance of a stress process model.MethodsThis cross-sectional design study in rural areas of Hunan province, China included 150 family caregivers of PwD. The participants completed questionnaires, including the demographic information questionnaire on caregivers and PwD, the caregiver version of QoL in Alzheimer’s Disease, the Caregiver Burden Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The demographic factors associated with QoL were subjected to univariate analysis. Pearson’s correlations were used to test the relationship among care burden, social support, and QoL. SPSS PROCESS Procedure was conducted to test the hypothesis of mediating effects.ResultsThe family caregivers of PwD exhibited a fair QoL, with a score of 29.01 ± 4.059. Pearson’s correlations revealed the negative correlation of caregiver burden with social support and QoL and the positive correlation between social support and the QoL of family caregivers. The results suggest the mediating role of social support between caregiver burden and the QoL.ConclusionThe QoL of family caregivers of PwD in rural China is suboptimal and indirectly influenced by the caregiving burden through the mediating effect of social support. Strengthening social support networks, both formal and informal, is essential to reducing caregiver burden and improving the QoL of family caregivers of PwD.

When Resources Become Stressors: Dynamics of the Stress Process in the Flint Water Crisis.

Disasters create and intensify stress for communities, with many factors contributing to how that stress results in mental health outcomes. Guided by the stress process model, this article presents findings from a qualitative investigation of the meaning of stress among community leaders in the context of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six community leaders in Flint and analyzed using grounded theory techniques. Secondary stressors such as necessary changes to everyday routines, being discredited by government officials, and perceptions of a lack of government action and accountability were perceived to impact the community's mental health, with potentially more influence than the impact of the primary stressor of contaminated water. Findings indicate that both stressors and coping resources evolve with profound intrapersonal impact, such that proposed social coping resources become stressors when they do not meet individual or community needs or expectations.

Differential Costs of Raising Grandchildren on Older Mother-Adult Child Relations in Black and White Families.

Drawing from theories of affect, role strain and stress processes, we studied the impact of raising grandchildren on older mothers' relationships with the adult offspring whose children they raised, with particular attention to how these patterns differ by race and ethnicity. We used mixed-methods data collected from 531 older mothers regarding their relationships with 1935 of their adult children as part of the Within-Family Differences Study. Multilevel regression analyses showed that raising grandchildren was associated with greater mother-adult child closeness in Black families; however, in White families, raising grandchildren was associated with greater mother-adult child conflict. Qualitative analyses revealed that these differences could be explained by the tendency of Black grandmothers to emphasize positive aspects of raising grandchildren, compared to White grandmothers, who viewed raising grandchildren as demanding and who described their exchanges with their adult children as unequal. Overall, our findings reflect racial and ethnic differences in intergenerational solidarity.

MEMS infrared light source stress optimization and reliable package design.

Aiming at the effects caused by stress and deformation on Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors, the stress distribution in the radiation area of the MEMS infrared light source is investigated, and by simulating and optimizing the thickness of the composite support film of the chip structure in COMSOL, a film layer thickness matching with lower stress and deformation for the MEMS infrared light source is derived. The utilization of the particle swarm algorithm and backpropagation neural network model allowed for the optimization of simulation data, enabling regression prediction over a broader range of thicknesses and providing a more precise depiction of the stress distribution trend. In addition, the specifications of the MEMS device help us to analyze the design of the support film thickness in the processing of the residual stress within the controllable range. To ensure the long-term stability and functionality of MEMS infrared light source chips in harsh environments, a comprehensive set of packaging schemes has been devised. Through simulations, it has been demonstrated that these packaging schemes effectively enhance the thermal efficiency of the light source while mitigating thermal stress and deformation that may arise during its operation. Consequently, this packaged configuration proves to be more advantageous for the sensor's normal operation under challenging conditions such as rain and temperature fluctuations, as compared to utilizing a bare chip. Finally, the manufacturing flow and layout design for the MEMS infrared light source chip are provided to guide the process of chip fabrication.

The combination of polystyrene microplastics and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate promotes the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria.

Plastic pollution has become a common phenomenon. The process of plastic degradation is accompanied by the release of microplastics and plasticizers. However, the coexistence of microplastics and plasticizers on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has not been reported until now. Here, polystyrene (PS) microplastics and plasticizer di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were used for combined treatment experiment and their effects and mechanisms on the transfer of ARGs between bacteria were explored. By increasing cell membrane permeability and the expression of correlated genes, the combined treatment group showed promoting effects on the transfer of ARGs than that of control, with the highest promoting effects observed at 1 mg/L PS and 0.1 mg/L DEHP, which was 3.0 times higher in ARGs transfer rate than that of control. It was found that PS and DEHP treatment alone also led to a higher conjugative transfer frequency, and the frequency of the combined treatment was lower than that of the corresponding single treatment group. This indicated that the effects of DEHP and microplastics on ARGs transfer might be antagonistic. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the transfer of ARGs affects bacterial ion binding, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism processes, while the expression of genes related to cell membrane permeability, DNA repair, bacterial drug resistance, and quorum sensing also increase. This study may provide new insights for explaining the combined effects of various pollutants in the environment on the spread of ARGs.

Potential role of long noncoding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) in the process of neurodegeneration.

Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) are complex diseases of still unknown etiology. Lately, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have become increasingly popular and implicated in several pathologies as they have several roles and appear to be involved in all biological processes such as cell signaling and cycle control as well as translation and transcription. MEG3 is one of these and acts by binding proteins or directly or competitively binding miRNAs. It has a crucial role in controlling cell death, inflammatory process, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and other processes. Recent reports showed that MEG3 is a major driving force of the necrosis phenomena in AD, causing the death of neurons, and its upregulation in cancer patients was linked to tumor suppression. Dysregulation of MEG3 affects neuronal cell death, inflammatory process, smooth muscle cell proliferation and consequently leads to the initiation or the acceleration of the disease. This review examines the current state of knowledge concerning the level of expression and the regulatory function of MEG3 in relation to several NDs. In addition, we examined the relation of MEG3 with neurotrophic factors such as Tumor growth factor β (TGFβ) and its possible mechanism of action. A comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the role of MEG3 in ND could give a clearer picture about the initiation of the process of neuronal death and help develop an alternative therapy that targets MEG3.

ADULT CHILDREN‘S SINGLEHOOD AND AGING PARENTS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN SOUTH KOREA

Abstract Guided by a life course perspective, this study aims to examine the linkages between the marital status of adult children as an indicator of the transition to adulthood and their parents’ psychological well-being, considering how parental socioeconomic resources play a role in this association. We conducted a series of regression models using data from the 2018 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLOSA, n=3112 aging parents who had at least one child over 35 years old). Consistent with the exposure model, having an unmarried son was associated with poorer parental psychological well-being, irrespective of parental income and education. However, parental education partially explained the association between daughter’s marital status and parental psychological well-being, suggesting that parental well-being regarding adult children’s marital status may depend on child’s gender and parental education level. This study has implications for the intergenerational relationships in collectivist and patrilineal Eastern cultural context. Aging parents’ psychological well-being ties to their adult children’s marital status based on the social norm regarding the transition to adulthood, and particularly sons’ marital status than that of daughters’. Also, aging parents may have different views on daughter’s marital status depending on their educational attainment. In sum, based on the concept of ‘linked-lives’ and stress process model, this study provides an extended understanding of intergenerational relations in later life in Korea. Clinicians and family professionals should consider well-being in old age associated with adult children’s life transitions and gender in the cultural context.

Zebrafish and Drosophila as Model Systems for Studying the Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics ‐ A Systematic Review

ABSTRACTMicroplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are byproducts of plastics created to benefit humanity, but improper disposal and inadequate recycling have turned them into a global menace that we can no longer conceal. As they interact with all living organisms, including humans, their mechanism of interaction and their perilous impact must be meticulously investigated. To uncover the secrets of MNPs, there must be model systems that exist to interlink the two major scenarios: they must represent the environmental impact and be relevant to humans. Therefore, zebrafish and Drosophila are perfect to describe these two cases, as they are well studied and relatable to humans. In this review, 39% zebrafish studies reported higher mortality and hatching rates at greater MNP concentrations, severe oxidative stress as seen by raised malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. About 50% of studies showed severe neurotoxic behavior with drop of locomotor activity, suggesting neurotoxicity. MNPs have a significant impact on fertility rate of Drosophila. More than half of the studies revealed genotoxicity in Drosophila as observed by wing spot assays and modified genomic expressions associated with stress and detoxification processes. These findings emphasize the potential of MNPs to bioaccumulate, impair physiological systems, and cause oxidative and neurobehavioral damage. This study underscores the importance for thorough risk evaluations of MNPs and their environmental and health consequences.

Sex-specific fear acquisition following early life stress is linked to amygdala and hippocampal purine and glutamate metabolism

Early life stress (ELS) can negatively impact health, increasing the risk of stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Importantly, PTSD disproportionately affects women, emphasizing the critical need to explore how sex differences influence the genetic and metabolic neurobiological pathways underlying trauma-related behaviors. This study uses the limited bedding and nesting (LBN) paradigm to model ELS and investigate its sex-specific effects on fear memory formation. Employing innovative unsupervised behavioral classification, the current study reveals distinct behavioral patterns associated with fear acquisition and retrieval in male and female mice following ELS. Females exposed to LBN display heightened active fear responses, contrasting with males. Furthermore, the study examined the crucial link between behavioral regulation and cellular metabolism in key brain regions involved in fear and stress processing. Sex-specific and stress-dependent alterations were observed in purine, pyrimidine, and glutamate metabolism within the basolateral amygdala, the dorsal hippocampus, and the ventral hippocampus. These findings provide crucial insights into the complex interplay between metabolic pathways, the neurobiological underpinnings of fear memory, and stress responses. Importantly, they emphasize the significance of considering sex-specific metabolic alterations when investigating stress-related disorders, opening potential avenues for the development of targeted interventions.

Electroacupuncture pretreatment ameliorates Golgi stress and the inflammation response against endotoxin-induced lung injury.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition involving organ dysfunction characterized by a generalized inflammatory syndrome, and the associated mortality rate is high. Electroacupuncture (EA) exerts benefits in endotoxemia-induced lung injury, mainly through lung inflammation reduction and cellular homeostasis, although the anti-inflammatory mechanisms underlying these benefits remain to be completely understood. Mice were pretreated with EA or sham EA therapy 5days prior to the induction of endotoxemia through the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Histopathological changes, systemic inflammation and cell death in the lungs were assessed. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to visually identify the structure of the Golgi complex. We examined proteins involved in maintaining the structural integrity of the Golgi apparatus and proteins associated with Golgi stress. The potential molecular mechanisms were investigated through overexpression of CREB3. EA pretreatment effectively rescued the lung from pathological changes, lung edema, cell apoptosis, and survival rate in septic mice, along with the improvement of physiological parameters. Endotoxemia strongly induces fragmented Golgi stacks, leading to fragmentation and disintegration of its shape, inducing cell apoptosis, and causing the outbreak of a large amount of inflammation in the lungs. EA therapy can significantly inhibit the fragmented process of Golgi stress to rescue the morphological changes and exert anti-inflammatory effects. And this protective effect may be related to upregulation of cAMP responsive element binding protein 3 (CREB3) and ADP-Ribosylation Factor 4 (ARF4), one of the key pathways involved in Golgi stress response. However, Sham EA (SEA) treatment did not substantially improve the fragmentation, stacking, and separation of Golgi organization, and inflammatory damage induced by endotoxin remains. This study discovered that overexpression of CREB3 may diminish the protective efficacy of EA. Administering EA pretreatment at precisely selected acupoints notably improves the survival rate in mice challenged with endotoxemia and concurrently exerts a protective effect against inflammatory lung injury. This salutary impact is speculated to be mediated through the augmentation of the Golgi apparatus's stress response.

Exploring Protein Functions of Gut Bacteriome and Mycobiome in Thai Infants Associated with Atopic Dermatitis Through Metaproteomic and Host Interaction Analysis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a prevalent allergic skin condition in children, has been closely associated with imbalances in the gut microbiome. To investigate these microbial alterations and their functional implications, we investigated protein expression, functions and interactions of the gut bacteriome and mycobiome as well as the human proteome in Thai infants with AD using integrative metaproteomic and host interaction analysis. As we observed, probiotic species, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacteroides salyersiae, were reduced in abundance in the AD group while key pathogenic bacteria and fungi, such as Streptococcus constellatus and Penicillium chrysogenum, increased in abundance. Additionally, the functional analysis of expressed proteins was enriched in response to stress and DNA repair in the bacteriome and ribosome biogenesis-related processes in the mycobiome of the AD group, potentially associated to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), intestinal inflammation, fungal growth and microbial dysbiosis. Further, a protein-protein interactions (PPIs) network analysis incorporating the human proteome revealed 10 signature proteins related to stress and immune system processes associated with AD. Our findings propose the interactions of the key species and signature protein functions between the gut microbes and the human host in response to AD in Thai infants. To our knowledge, this study serves as the first framework for monitoring bacteriome-mycobiome-human gut studies associated with AD and other allergic diseases in infants.

Hedonic Test of Instant Powdered Ginger Drink with Sugar and Sugar-Palm Sugar Combination

Stress, environmental pollution, radiation, and excessive food processing contribute to the production of free radicals, which are harmful to the body. Antioxidants play a role in preventing free radicals from damaging nucleotides. Ginger contains high levels of antioxidants, making it beneficial for overall health. However, ginger has a short shelf life, and its traditional preparation methods are less preferred by many people. Therefore, ginger is now available in the form of instant drink powders, which can be prepared like tea or coffee. This study is a descriptive study using the hedonic test method. Thirty students were selected as panelists. The panelists evaluated two types of ginger drinks made with different sweeteners: sugar and a combination of sugar and palm sugar (sugar-palm sugar). The parameters assessed in this study were color, aroma, taste, and sweetness level. The results of the hedonic test showed that the ginger drink sweetened with the sugar-palm sugar combination had the highest preference percentages across all parameters: color, aroma, taste, and sweetness level. For color, the "like" preference level achieved a percentage of 40%. For aroma, the "really like" preference level reached 43.33%. Taste received a "really like" preference level of 53.33%, and sweetness achieved a "like" preference level of 36.67%. In conclusion, the panelists preferred the ginger drink sweetened with the sugar-palm sugar combination over the drink sweetened with just sugar. This preference is attributed to the addition of palm sugar, which balances the ginger's strong flavor while retaining its distinct taste. Furthermore, the combination of ginger and palm sugar produces a harmonious blend of color, aroma, taste, and sweetness that complements both ingredients.

Effects of Baicalein on Oxidative Stress and Apoptotic Process in Formaldehyde-Induced Lung Damage

Effects of Baicalein on Oxidative Stress and Apoptotic Process in Formaldehyde-Induced Lung Damage

Residual Stress Analysis at the Conductor-Insulator Interface During the Curing Process of Hair-Pin Motors.

The curing process of hair-pin motor stator insulation is critical, as residual stress increases the risk of partial discharge and shortens a motor's lifespan. However, studies on the stress-induced defects during insulation varnish curing remain limited. This research integrates three-dimensional numerical simulations and experimental analysis to develop a curing model based on unsaturated polyester imide resin, aiming to explore the mechanisms of residual stress formation and optimization strategies. A dual fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor system is employed for simultaneous temperature and strain monitoring, while curing kinetics tests confirm the self-catalytic nature of the process and yield the corresponding kinetic equations. The multi-physics simulation model demonstrates strong agreement with the experimental data. The results show that optimizing the curing process reduces the maximum stress from 45.1 MPa to 38.6 MPa, effectively alleviating the stress concentration. These findings highlight the significant influence of the post-curing temperature phase on residual stress. The proposed model offers a reliable tool for stress prediction and process optimization in various insulating materials, providing valuable insights for motor insulation system design.

Mechanical properties of polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete short columns under freeze-thaw cycles

To investigate the effect of polypropylene fibers on the mechanical properties of concrete structures in cold regions, obtain an appropriate amount of polypropylene fiber content, and improve the frost resistance of the structure, freeze-thaw cycle tests were conducted on three groups of reinforced concrete short column specimens with different polypropylene fiber contents. The depth of surface damage of the specimen was detected using ultrasonic method. The stress process and failure of the specimen were analyzed through axial compression test, and the corresponding changes in compressive toughness were discussed. A formula for calculating the axial compressive bearing capacity of polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete short columns after freeze-thaw cycles was established. The test results indicate that the addition of polypropylene fibers can reduce the compressive bearing capacity of reinforced concrete short columns. An appropriate amount of polypropylene fiber can enhance the frost resistance, ductility and toughness of concrete components, and the recommended volume fraction of polypropylene fiber is 0.08–0.12%.

Thermosensitive Hydrogel Integrated with Bimetallic Nano-Enzymes for Modulating the Microenvironment in Diabetic Wound Beds.

Effective regulation and reconstruction of the microenvironment are critical for the regeneration of chronic wounds. Diabetic wounds, in particular, pose a significant clinical challenge due to increased oxidative stress and dysfunctional healing processes. In this study, a novel therapeutic strategy is developed using 3D copper-magnesium bimetallic antioxidant nano-enzymes (Cu/Mg-MOF) to mitigate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and restore redox balance through electron transfer. To optimize delivery, a thermo-sensitive hydrogel composed of chitosan (CS) and ε-polylysine (PL) is designed, serving as an efficient carrier for the nano-enzymes. This Cu/Mg-MOF@CS/PL hydrogel exhibits excellent physical properties, including injectability, softness, and biocompatibility, making it ideal for application in diabetic wounds. In a diabetic wound model, treatment with Cu/Mg-MOF@CS/PL hydrogel significantly accelerated wound healing, with a closure rate of 90.6% by day 14, compared to just 55.4% in the untreated group. The hydrogel effectively promoted key aspects of wound healing, such as collagen deposition, re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and immunomodulation. These findings underscore the potential of the Cu/Mg-MOF@CS/PL hydrogel as a promising therapeutic system for enhancing the healing of diabetic wounds.

Impact of Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation on Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2b Downregulation and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Calcium dysregulation and neuroinflammation are essential and common mechanisms in epileptogenesis. Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+-ATPase 2b (SERCA2b), a crucial calcium regulatory pump, plays pathological roles in various calcium dysregulation-related diseases. However, the link between SERCA2b and neuroinflammation in epilepsy remains undetermined. This study aimed to establish the relationship between SERCA2b, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in epilepsy to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism in epileptogenesis. Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress were induced in N2a cells using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, experimental temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was induced in mice using pilocarpine. Further, effects of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation on SERCA2b and ER stress markers were assessed at protein and mRNA levels. Calcium imaging was employed to determine intracellular calcium levels. SERCA2b expression significantly decreased after LPS, H2O2, and pilocarpine exposure at both mRNA and protein levels, mediated by upregulating neuroinflammation. This downregulation of SERCA2b was associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species and elevated intracellular calcium levels, leading to elevated ER stress markers. Our findings highlight a link between oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and SERCA2b in TLE. The results suggest that targeting SERCA2b could restore calcium homeostasis and ER stress processes, potentially providing a therapeutic option for TLE. This study underscores the importance of SERCA2b in the pathophysiology of epilepsy and its potential as a therapeutic target.