Psychological Stress Exposure Research Articles

Parental stress interaction with environmental factors in childhood allergic asthma: Early life significance

Although stress and indoor/outdoor environments have been independently linked with asthma, their interactions on childhood physician-diagnosed allergic asthma (PDAA) remain undisclosed. We aimed to research the effect of parental stress and their interactions with indoor/outdoor environmental factors on childhood PDAA. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of preschoolers at Changsha, a city in central China. We collected information on parental stress levels and various indoor environmental exposures, through questionnaire surveys. Outdoor air pollution exposure was obtained from ten ambient pollution monitoring stations in Changsha, and individual pollution exposure were calculated. Using logistic regression models, we assessed the individual and synergistic impacts of parental stress and indoor/outdoor factors on childhood PDAA. We found that preschoolers' PDAA showed a significant association with high parental gross annual income and psychological stress indicators including fatigue, headache, and inattention, with ORs = 2.10 (1.31–3.35), 1.38 (1.04–1.82), 1.33 (1.07–1.65), and 1.42 (1.14–1.76), respectively. Furthermore, in preschoolers with high parental economic stress, the association between indoor mold/moisture spots and PDAA was notably more pronounced. Significantly stronger association between outdoor SO2 exposure in the past year in preschoolers with socially stressed parents. Parental headache and inattention exacerbated the effects of PM2.5-10 and PM10 exposure during the 7-9th months before pregnancy and throughout the pregnancy on PDAA. Preschoolers with high parental psychological stress and high exposure to outdoor atmospheric pollutants showed an increased likelihood of developing PDAA. Our research suggests that both parental stress and its interaction with hazardous environments from indoor sources and atmospheric pollutants contribute to PDAA.

T Cell-Induced Colitis Is Exacerbated by Prolonged Stress: A Comparison in Male and Female Mice.

Psychological stress exposure is well recognized to exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. In this study, chronic T cell-mediated colitis was induced by adoptively transferring CD4+CD45RBhigh splenic T cells from C57BL/6 WT donor mice into Rag1tm1Mom mice. Two weeks after T cell transfer, mice were exposed to a prolonged restraint stressor (RST) for 8 h per day for 6 consecutive days. The colitis phenotype was assessed via histopathology and semi-quantitative rt-PCR at humane endpoints or 10 weeks post-T-cell transfer. Mice that received the T cell transplant developed chronic colitis marked by increases in colonic histopathology and inflammatory cytokines. Colonic histopathology was greater in males than females regardless of RST exposure but RST exposure increased histopathology scores in females such that they reached scores observed in the males. This pattern was consistent with cytokine gene expression and protein levels in the colon (especially for IFN-γ, IL-17A, and TNF-α). Serum cytokine levels were not strongly affected by exposure to the stressor. Using a murine model of chronic T cell-mediated colitis, this study demonstrates that biological sex strongly influences colonic inflammation and exposure to chronic stress has a more pronounced effect in females than in males.

The Interaction between Psychological Stress and Iron Status on Early-Life Neurodevelopmental Outcomes.

This review presents evidence from animal and human studies demonstrating the possible connection and significant impact of poor iron status and psychological distress on neurocognitive development during pregnancy and the neonatal period, with implications for long-term cognition. Stress and iron deficiency are independently prevalent and thus are frequently comorbid. While iron deficiency and early-life stress independently contribute to long-term neurodevelopmental alterations, their combined effects remain underexplored. Psychological stress responses may engage similar pathways as infectious stress, which alters fundamental iron metabolism processes and cause functional tissue-level iron deficiency. Psychological stress, analogous to but to a lesser degree than infectious stress, activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and increases proinflammatory cytokines. Chronic or severe stress is associated with dysregulated HPA axis functioning and a proinflammatory state. This dysregulation may disrupt iron absorption and utilization, likely mediated by the IL-6 activation of hepcidin, a molecule that impedes iron absorption and redistributes total body iron. This narrative review highlights suggestive studies investigating the relationship between psychological stress and iron status and outlines hypothesized mechanistic pathways connecting psychological stress exposure and iron metabolism. We examine findings regarding the overlapping impacts of early stress exposure to iron deficiency and children's neurocognitive development. We propose that studying the influence of psychological stress on iron metabolism is crucial for comprehending neurocognitive development in children exposed to prenatal and early postnatal stressors and for children at risk of early iron insufficiency. We recommend future directions for dual-exposure studies exploring iron as a potential mediating pathway between early stress and offspring neurodevelopment, offering opportunities for targeted interventions.

Modifying Effect of Anthocyanin from Purple Sweet Potatoes on Visceral Fat Tissue Inflammation and Liver Oxidative Stress in Psychological Stress-Induced Mice

Psychological stress generates inflammation and oxidative stress in various tissues. Visceral fat as the target site of inflammation is then correlated with stress-induced obesity. Redox imbalance following inflammation also has prominent impacts on hepatic tissue. Therefore, the development of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties from plant bioactive compounds is necessary to be investigated. Anthocyanin (ANC) from various plants is previously described as a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant even though its effect in psychological stress remains underexplored. Purple sweet potatoes (PSP) has ANC as its natural pigment. Previous studies revealed the potential effect of ANC from PSP on behavior and an antidepressant candidate. Thus, this study was purposed to determine the effect of ANC from PSP on inflammation and oxidative stress in visceral fat and hepatic tissue respectively. A total of 25 adult male BALB/c mice were assigned into groups of control, stress, stress+ANC 10 mg/kgBW, stress+ANC 20 mg/kgBW and stress+ANC 40 mg/kgBW. Restraint stress was applied 2 hours/day for 14 days. Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was conducted to measure level of IL-6 and IL-10 in visceral fat as well as SOD and MDA from hepatic tissue. The results demonstrated that the supplementation of ANC reduces the level of IL-6 cytokine (p=0.005), tends to increase IL-10 (p=0.612), reduces hepatic SOD (p=0.03), and does not significantly affect the level of hepatic MDA (p=0.432). Both ratios of IL-6/IL-10 and SOD/MDA were reduced following ANC administration. Total ANC extracts are suggested to have a potential role of resisting inflammation and oxidative stress in the psychologically stressed model. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the benefits of ANC from PSP in other peripheral organs under psychological stress exposure.

Vitamin D and lactoferrin attenuate stress-induced colitis in Wistar rats via enhancing AMPK expression with inhibiting mTOR-STAT3 signaling and modulating autophagy.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a global gastrointestinal disorder closely related to psychological stress exposure and local colonic inflammation. Herein, we investigated the effect of wrap-restraint stress (WRS) on rat behavior, on adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase-mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(AMPK-mTOR-STAT3) signaling, and autophagy in colonic mucosa. The impact of chronic administration of vitamin D3 and lactoferrin was compared.Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. Chronic WRS protocol was applied as a rodent model of IBS. Group I: naïve animals, Group II: WRS animals, Group III: WRS-exposed and treated with vitamin D3 (500 IU/kg/day),and Group IV: WRS-exposed and treated with lactoferrin (300 mg/kg/day). In this study, we found that chronic administration of each of vitamin D3 and lactoferrin resulted in a significant increase in social interaction test, interleukin-10, AMPK, optical density of LC3B, goblet cell count and marked decrease in serum cortisol level, STAT3, inflammatory cell count, and optical density of mTOR in comparison to the WRS rats. Our findings suggest that both vitamin D3 and Lactoferrin could augment colonic autophagy through enhanced AMPK expression and inhibition of mTOR-STAT3 signaling, which offers practical insights into their clinical use in the prevention and therapy of IBS. However, lactoferrin intake as a nutritional supplement could be more helpful for stress-induced colitis treatment than vitamin D3.

Dynamics of Physiological, Biochemical and Psychological Markers during Single Session of Virtual Reality-Based Respiratory Biofeedback Relaxation.

Psychological stress exposure is associated with long-lasting health effects including memory problems, depression, aches and pains, eating disorders, and alcohol or drug use. Thus, there is a need to develop effective stress management strategies that are easy to learn and practice. Respiratory biofeedback is an evidence-based stress management technique presenting breathing-related information to help subjects learn specific breathing skills for relaxation. It is suggested that the use of biofeedback techniques in conjunction with virtual reality makes biofeedback training an even more effective tool for stress management. The current study aimed to investigate dynamics of distinct stress indicators before, after, as well as during one brief virtual reality-based respiratory biofeedback session. Thirty-nine healthy volunteers participated in the study. Individuals provided their saliva samples and evaluated their mood status, fatigue, and strain level before and after the session. The subjects' heart and respiratory rate, heart rate variability, and galvanic skin response measures were recorded during the session. The results showed that after single 12 min relaxation session, there was a significant decrease in salivary cortisol concentration, heart and respiratory rate, as well as decrease in skin conductance values. Self-reported strain, fatigue level, and mood status also significantly improved. VR-based respiratory-biofeedback-assisted relaxation sessions might serve as an effective stress management strategy, as even single session had positive effects on subjects' autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, as well as self-reported fatigue, strain level, and mood status.

Prenatal stress assessment using heart rate variability and salivary cortisol: A machine learning-based approach.

To develop a machine learning algorithm utilizing heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary cortisol to detect the presence of acute stress among pregnant women that may be applied to future clinical research. ECG signals and salivary cortisol were analyzed from 29 pregnant women as part of a crossover study involving a standardized acute psychological stress exposure and a control non-stress condition. A filter-based features selection method was used to identify the importance of different features [heart rate (HR), time- and frequency-domain HRV parameters and salivary cortisol] for stress assessment and reduce the computational complexity. Five machine learning algorithms were implemented to assess the presence of stress with and without salivary cortisol values. On graphical visualization, an obvious difference in heart rate (HR), HRV parameters and cortisol were evident among 17 participants between the two visits, which helped the stress assessment model to distinguish between stress and non-stress exposures with greater accuracy. Eight participants did not display a clear difference in HR and HRV parameters but displayed a large increase in cortisol following stress compared to the non-stress conditions. The remaining four participants did not demonstrate an obvious difference in any feature. Six out of nine features emerged from the feature selection method: cortisol, three time-domain HRV parameters, and two frequency-domain parameters. Cortisol was the strongest contributing feature, increasing the assessment accuracy by 10.3% on average across all five classifiers. The highest assessment accuracy achieved was 92.3%, and the highest average assessment accuracy was 76.5%. Salivary cortisol contributed a significant increase in accuracy of the assessment model compared to using a range of HRV parameters alone. Our machine learning model demonstrates acceptable accuracy in detection of acute stress among pregnant women when combining salivary cortisol with HR and HRV parameters.

Unique Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Hispanic Individuals.

Purpose of ReviewThis review summarizes contemporary data on unique cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in Hispanic individuals in the USA, and how addressing these factors is important in addressing health equity.Recent FindingsRecent studies have shown high rates of traditional CVD risk factors in Hispanic individuals such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and emerging CVD risk factors like hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, psychological stress, and occupational exposures. However, most studies fail to consider the significant heterogeneity in risk factor burden and outcomes in atherosclerotic CVD by Hispanic subgroup. Heart failure and rhythm disorders are less well studied in Hispanic adults, making risk assessment for these conditions difficult. High levels of CVD risk factors in Hispanic youth given an aging Hispanic population overall highlight the importance of risk mitigation among these individuals.SummaryIn brief, these data highlight the significant, unique burden of CVD risk among Hispanic individuals in the USA and predict a rising burden of disease among this growing and aging population. Future CVD research should focus on including robust, diverse Hispanic cohorts as well as specifically delineating results for disaggregated Hispanic groups across CVDs. This will allow for better risk assessment, prevention, and treatment decisions to promote health equity for Hispanic patients.

Scream Sound-induced Chronic Psychological Stress Results in Diminished Ovarian Reserve in Adult Female Rat

It is well established that chronic psychological stress (PS) induces female reproductive dysfunction. However, the studies on the consequences of chronic PS exposure precisely targeting ovarian reserve are lacking. In the present study, we employed a chronic scream sound-induced PS model to investigate the potential effect of pure psychosocial stressors on ovary reserve. Female rats were subjected to scream sound stress, white noise, or background for 3 weeks. Animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation after stress for collection of blood or ovaries. Sex hormones were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The follicle number was examined by histopathology. Granulosa cell apoptosis of the ovaries was examined by in situ cell death detection kit. Finally, rats were mated with proven fertile male rats to study fertility parameters. Female rats exposed to scream sound were presented with reduced weight gain and sucrose preference, while immobility time in forced swim test and serum corticosterone concentration were significantly increased. Scream sound stress sequentially decreased plasma anti-Müllerian hormone and estradiol concentration, induced primordial and preantral follicles loss, augmented granulosa cell apoptosis in ovarian growing follicles, and eventually decreased litter sizes. Based on these results, we suggest that chronic PS induced loss of ovarian reserve by accelerated primordial follicle activation and destruction of growing follicles, which results in follicle depletion and decreased fertility.

Partial recovery of voiding function in female mice following repeated psychological stress exposure.

Psychological stress causes bladder dysfunction in humans and in rodent models, with increased urinary frequency and altered contractile responses evident following repeated environmental stress exposure. However, whether these changes persist after removal of the stressor is unknown, and the aim of this study was to determine if stress-induced changes in voiding behaviour and bladder function recover following removal of the stressor. Adult female mice were allocated to three groups: Unstressed, Stressed or Stressed + Recovery. Animals in the stressed groups were exposed to water avoidance stress for 1h/day for 10-days, with unstressed animals age-matched and housed under normal conditions. For recovery studies, animals were housed without stress exposure for an additional 10-days. Voiding behaviour was assessed periodically and animals sacrificed on day 10 (Unstressed and Stressed) or day 20 (Unstressed and Stressed + Recovery). Isolated whole bladder studies were used to assess compliance, urothelial mediator release and contractile responses. Exposure to stress increased plasma corticosterone levels almost three-fold (P<0.05) but this returned to baseline during the recovery period. Contractile responses of the bladder to carbachol and KCl were also increased following stress, and again fully recovered after a 10-day stress-free period. In contrast, stress increased urinary frequency four-fold (P<0.001), but this did not return fully to baseline during the recovery period. Bladder compliance was unchanged by stress; however, it was increased in the stressed + recovery group (P<0.05). Thus, following a stress-free period there is partial recovery of voiding behaviour, with an increase in bladder compliance possibly contributing to the compensatory mechanisms.

Comparison of Akt Expression in the Cerebrum and Cerebellum of Newborn Mus musculus Exposed to Physical Stress and Psychological Stress During Pregnancy

Introduction: Prenatal stress prevalence is almost half of the population of pregnant women worldwide.Stress will stimulate glucocorticoids which can disrupt the PI3K-Akt cascade. PI3K-Akt deficiency willcause impaired fetal brain growth and development.Objective: To compare the Akt expression in the cerebrum and cerebellum of newborn Mus musculusexposed to physical stress, psychological stress, the combination of psychological and physical stress, andwithout stress exposure. Method: This study was experimental laboratory research. Twenty-four female mice were used as samplesand divided into four groups: physical stress exposure group, psychological stress exposure group, thecombination of psychological and physical stress exposure group, and control group. Akt expression wastested by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Statistical analysis used the One Way Anova and KruskalWallis test.

Combined Effect of Physical and Psychological Stress Exposure during Pregnancy on the Expression of Caspase-3 Cerebrum and Cerebellum of Newborn Mus musculus

Background: Prenatal stress affects fetal development including brain development. When a stressor isfelt, the brain as the main target for stress will release a hormone that stimulates the release of pro-apoptoticproteins and activate caspase-3 which acts as an executioner caspase in the cell death process. The aim of thestudy was to analyze the effect of combined stress during pregnancy on the expression of caspase-3 cerebrumand cerebellum of newborn Mus musculus. Methods: An experimental study using 24 pregnant mice (Musmusculus). Subjects were randomized into four groups, consisting of physical stress exposure group (forcedswimming) (G1), psychological stress exposure group (noise) (G2), combination stress exposure group(forced swimming + noise) (G3), and control group (G4). Stress exposure was given on 6th-15th days ofpregnancy. From each mother, three Newborn of Mus musculus were taken to make preparations from braintissue. Immunohistochemical examination was performed to assess caspase-3 expression. Results: Thestudy shows that the mean and standard deviation of the expression of caspase-3 cerebrum and cerebellumin the physical stress exposure group is 5.70 ± 0.99 and 5.80 ± 1.35, the psychological stress exposure groupis 7.23 ± 1.39 and 7.40 ± 1.24, the combined stress exposure group is 8.67 ± 1.09 and 9.30 ± 1.12, and thecontrol group 4.17 ± 1.18 and 3.90 ± 1.06. ANOVAs statistical test results show significant differencesamong groups with a value of p = 0.000 in the cerebrum and p = 0.000 in the cerebellum. Conclusion:Exposure to physical and psychological stress during pregnancy increases the expression of caspase-3 in thecerebrum and cerebellum of newborn mice.

Combined Effect of Physical and Psychological Stress Exposure during Pregnancy on the Expression of Caspase-3 Cerebrum and Cerebellum of Newborn Mus Musculus

Background: Prenatal stress affects fetal development including brain development. When a stressor isfelt, the brain as the main target for stress will release a hormone that stimulates the release of pro-apoptoticproteins and activate caspase-3 which acts as an executioner caspase in the cell death process. The aim of thestudy was to analyze the effect of combined stress during pregnancy on the expression of caspase-3 cerebrumand cerebellum of newborn Mus musculus. Methods: An experimental study using 24 pregnant mice (Musmusculus). Subjects were randomized into four groups, consisting of physical stress exposure group (forcedswimming) (G1), psychological stress exposure group (noise) (G2), combination stress exposure group(forced swimming + noise) (G3), and control group (G4). Stress exposure was given on 6th-15th days ofpregnancy. From each mother, three Newborn of Mus musculus were taken to make preparations from braintissue. Immunohistochemical examination was performed to assess caspase-3 expression. Results: Thestudy shows that the mean and standard deviation of the expression of caspase-3 cerebrum and cerebellumin the physical stress exposure group is 5.70 ± 0.99 and 5.80 ± 1.35, the psychological stress exposure groupis 7.23 ± 1.39 and 7.40 ± 1.24, the combined stress exposure group is 8.67 ± 1.09 and 9.30 ± 1.12, and thecontrol group 4.17 ± 1.18 and 3.90 ± 1.06. ANOVAs statistical test results show significant differencesamong groups with a value of p = 0.000 in the cerebrum and p = 0.000 in the cerebellum. Conclusion:Exposure to physical and psychological stress during pregnancy increases the expression of caspase-3 in thecerebrum and cerebellum of newborn mice.

Synergistic Effects of Chronic Restraint-Induced Stress and Low-Dose 56Fe-particle Irradiation on Induction of Chromosomal Aberrations in Trp53-Heterozygous Mice.

Astronauts can develop psychological stress (PS) during space flights due to the enclosed environment, microgravity, altered light-dark cycles, and risks of equipment failure or fatal mishaps. At the same time, they are exposed to cosmic rays including high atomic number and energy (HZE) particles such as iron-56 (Fe) ions. Psychological stress or radiation exposure can cause detrimental effects in humans. An earlier published pioneering study showed that chronic restraint-induced psychological stress (CRIPS) could attenuate Trp53 functions and increase carcinogenesis induced by low-linear energy transfer (LET) γ rays in Trp53-heterozygous (Trp53+/-) mice. To elucidate possible modification effects from CRIPS on high-LET HZE particle-induced health consequences, Trp53+/- mice were received both CRIPS and accelerated Fe ion irradiation. Six-week-old Trp53+/- C57BL/6N male mice were restrained 6 h per day for 28 consecutive days. On day 8, they received total-body Fe-particle irradiation (Fe-TBI, 0.1 or 2 Gy). Metaphase chromosome spreads prepared from splenocytes at the end of the 28-day restraint regimen were painted with the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for chromosomes 1 (green), 2 (red) and 3 (yellow). Induction of psychological stress in our experimental model was confirmed by increase in urinary corticosterone level on day 7 of restraint regimen. Regardless of Fe-TBI, CRIPS reduced splenocyte number per spleen at the end of the 28-day restraint regimen. At 2 Gy, Fe-TBI alone induced many aberrant chromosomes and no modifying effect was detected from CRIPS on induction of aberrant chromosomes. Notably, neither Fe-TBI at 0.1 Gy nor CRIPS alone induced any increase in the frequency of aberrant chromosomes, while simultaneous exposure resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal exchanges. These findings clearly showed that CRIPS could enhance the frequency of chromosomal exchanges induced by Fe-TBI at a low dose of 0.1 Gy.

Effect of Co-exposure to Heat and Psychological Stressors on Sperm DNA and Semen Parameters

The present study aims to investigate the effects of co-exposure to heat and psychological stress on sperm DNA and semen parameters among male rats. The study was conducted on 40 healthy adult male Wistar rats. The rats were randomly categorized into four groups of same size consisting of a control group, a heat stress, psychological and co-exposure groups. The heat stress group was exposed to a temperature of 36 °C at 20% relative humidity. The psychological stress exposure group was subjected to three stressors including exposure to strobe light, noise and tilting cage. According the results,the co-exposure group had lower mean sperm parameters including sperm count (17.22 ± 4.22 106/ml), motility (42.63 ± 12.95 %), viability (48.50 ± 23.25 %), normal morphology (56 ± 7.5%), progressive motility (11.61 ± 7.81%), non-progressive motility (31.18 ± 7.77%), curvilinear velocity (24.11 ± 3.81 μm/s) and straight-line velocity (3.2 ± 1.4 μm/s) when compared with those of the other groups (P = 0.001). Mean sperm immobility (57.36 ± 12.95%) and non-progressive motility (37.93 ± 11.15%) in the co-exposure group was higher compared to the other groups (P = 0.001 and P = 0.333, respectively). Assessment of damage to sperm DNA revealed that the heat exposure group had a higher percentage of sperm DNA damage (9.44 ± 6.80 %) compared to others (P = 0.185). In case of all of exposure scenario, the chance that the semen quality decreased compared to the control group has been increased. In general the combined stress had a greater significant effect on sperm parameters compared to other exposure groups, except for DNA damage.

The ZiBuPiYin recipe regulates proteomic alterations in brain mitochondria-associated ER membranes caused by chronic psychological stress exposure: Implications for cognitive decline in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

Chronic psychological stress (PS) cumulatively affects memory performance through the deleterious effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation. Several functions damaged in cognitive impairment-related diseases are regulated by mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs). To elucidate the role of ZiBuPiYin recipe (ZBPYR) in regulating the MAM proteome to improve PS-induced diabetes-associated cognitive decline (PSD), differentially expressed MAM proteins were identified among Zucker diabetic fatty rats, PSD rats, and PS combined with ZBPYR administration rats via iTRAQ with LC-MS/MS. Proteomic analysis revealed that the expressions of 85 and 33 proteins were altered by PS and ZBPYR treatment, respectively. Among these, 21 proteins were differentially expressed under both PS and ZBPYR treatments, whose functional categories included energy metabolism, lipid and protein metabolism, and synaptic dysfunction. Furthermore, calcium signaling and autophagy-related proteins may play roles in the pathogenesis of PSD and the mechanism of ZBPYR, respectively. Notably, KEGG pathway analysis suggested that ‘Alzheimer's disease’ and ‘oxidative phosphorylation’ pathways may be impaired in PSD pathogenesis, while ZBPYR could play a neuroprotective role through regulating the above pathways. Overall, exposure to chronic PS contributes to the evolution of diabetes-associated cognitive decline and ZBPYR might prevent and treat PSD by regulating the MAM proteome.

Behavioral and Oxidative Stress Changes in Mice Subjected to Combinations of Multiple Stressors Relevant to Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background and Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a well-known functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder exhibiting a wide range of symptoms due to individual variability and multifactorial etiology. Stress exposure is a major risk factor for the development of IBS. Here, we investigate the differential effects of psychological stress exposures on behavior and oxidative status in mice by using increasingly complex combinations of etiologic IBS-relevant stressors (maternal separation and chronic unpredictable mild stress combinations). Materials and Methods: Mice were subjected to three different combinations of psychological stress factors and subsequent behavioral cognitive and affective parameters and oxidative status markers (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase antioxidant activity and malondialdehyde level) in the brain and bowel tissues of the animals were analyzed. Results: GI transit modifications reflected by decreased fecal output, cognitive and affective behavioral deficits were observed in all stress exposed groups, but were more evident for the more complex combinations of stressors. Behavioral deficits were accompanied by mild oxidative stress occurring in the bowel and to a greater extent in brain tissue. Conclusions: The presented data depict the effect of various associations in mimicking IBS symptoms and comorbidities and suggest that an all-inclusive combination of early and adult-life psychological stressors is more effective in IBS symptoms modulation. Oxidative stress in both brain and bowel, suggestive for brain-gut molecular connectivity, may play an important role in IBS mechanistic.

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH DONOR OOCYTE RECIPIENT SUCCESS: A PAIRED ANALYSIS UTILIZING SIBLING OOCYTES

Lower socioeconomic status has been associated with worse perinatal outcomes; however, the literature is limited, especially in cases of IVF. These studies have also been unable to control for factors that can affect oocyte quality, including psychological stress and environmental exposures that are often associated with lower socioeconomic status. ART using sibling-oocyte recipients (oocytes from the same donor stimulation transferred to two different recipients) offers a unique model that allows a more precise assessment of the endometrial aspect of implantation, as it controls to the greatest degree possible for oocyte quality.

Discomfort glare and psychological stress during computer work: subjective responses and associations between neck pain and trapezius muscle blood flow.

Exposure to additional environmental stress during computer work, such as visual and psychological demands, is associated with increased eye and neck discomfort, altered moods, and reduced well-being. The aim of this study is to elucidate further how subjective responses in healthy, young females with normal binocular vision are affected by glare and psychological stress during computer work, and to investigate possible associations between trapezius muscle blood flow and neck pain development. 43 females participated in a laboratory experiment with a within-subject design. Four 10-min computer work conditions with exposure to different stressors were performed at an ergonomically optimal workstation, under the following series of conditions: no additional stress, visual stress (induced as direct glare from a large glare source), psychological stress, and combined visual and psychological stress. Before and immediately after each computer work condition, questionnaires regarding different visual and eye symptoms, neck and shoulder symptoms, positive and negative state moods, perceived task difficulty, and perceived ambient lighting were completed. Associations between neck pain and trapezius muscle blood flow were also investigated. Exposure to direct glare induced greater development of visual/eye symptoms and discomfort, while psychological stress exposure made participants feel more negative and stressed. The perception of work lighting during glare exposure was closely related to perceived stress, and associations between visual discomfort and eyestrain, and neck pain were observed in all conditions. Furthermore, participants with high trapezius muscle blood flow overall reported more neck pain, independent of exposure. Exposure to visual and psychological stresses during computer work affects the development of symptoms and negative moods in healthy, young females with normal binocular vision, but in different ways. The results also demonstrate the complex interactions involved in symptom development and lighting appraisal during computer work. When optimizing computer workstations, the complexity of the field must be taken into account, and several factors, including visual conditions, must be considered carefully.

Cingulum and abnormal psychological stress response in schizophrenia.

Stress is implicated in many aspects of schizophrenia, including heightened distress intolerance. We examined how affect and microstructure of major brain tracts involved in regulating affect may contribute to distress intolerance in schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (n = 78) and community controls (n = 95) completed diffusion weighted imaging and performed psychological stress tasks. Subjective affect was collected pre and post stressors. Individuals who did not persist during one or both stress tasks were considered distress intolerant (DI), and otherwise distress tolerant (DT). Fractional anisotropy (FA) of the dorsal cingulum showed a significant diagnosis x DT/DI phenotype interaction (p = 0.003). Post-hoc tests showed dorsal cingulum FA was significantly lower in DI patients compared with DI controls (p < 0.001), but not different between DT groups (p = 0.27). Regarding affect responses to stress, irritability showed the largest stress-related change (p < 0.001), but irritability changes were significantly reduced in DI patients compared to DI controls (p = 0.006). The relationship between irritability change and performance errors also differed among patients (ρ = -0.29, p = 0.011) and controls (ρ = 0.21, p = 0.042). Further modeling highlighted the explanatory power of dorsal cingulum for predicting DI even after performance and irritability were taken into account. Distress intolerance during psychological stress exposure is related to microstructural properties of the dorsal cingulum, a key structure for cognitive control and emotion regulation. In schizophrenia, the affective response to psychological stressors is abnormal, and distress intolerant patients had significantly reduced dorsal cingulum FA compared to distress intolerant controls. The findings provide new insight regarding distress intolerance in schizophrenia.