Stress Relationship Research Articles

The Effects of Astaxanthin on Cognitive Function and Neurodegeneration in Humans: A Critical Review.

Oxidative stress is a key contributing factor in neurodegeneration, cognitive ageing, cognitive decline, and diminished cognitive longevity. Issues stemming from oxidative stress both in relation to cognition and other areas, such as inflammation, skin health, eye health, and general recovery, have been shown to benefit greatly from antioxidant use. Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant, which has been outlined to be beneficial for cognitive function both in vitro and in vivo. Given the aforementioned promising effects, research into astaxanthin with a focus on cognitive function has recently been extended to human tissue and human populations. The present critical review explores the effects of astaxanthin on cognitive function and neurodegeneration within human populations and samples with the aim of deciphering the merit and credibility of the research findings and subsequently their potential as a basis for therapeutic use. Implications, limitations, and areas for future research development are also discussed. Key findings include the positive impacts of astaxanthin in relation to improving cognitive function, facilitating neuroprotection, and slowing neurodegeneration within given contexts.

Mental health nurses' empathy experiences towards consumers with dual diagnosis: A thematic analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of evidence regarding mental health nurses' empathy towards consumers with dual diagnosis. This qualitative study aimed to describe mental health nurses' empathy towards consumers with dual diagnosis in Australian mental health settings. Through purposeful sampling, interviews were conducted with 17 mental health nurses who have experience in caring for consumers with dual diagnosis. Thematic analysis, as an inductive approach was used, to generate codes and themes from participant data. To report on this qualitative study, we adhered to the ENTREQ guidelines. Four themes emerged: challenges to develop empathy with consumers, lack of conducive attitude of nurses towards consumers, appraising consumers' emotions accurately and holistically responding to the appraised emotions. The findings indicated that developing empathy towards consumers with dual diagnosis is a complex task. Mental health nurses may struggle to empathize with consumers when encountering confrontational situations. Interventional studies are required to address the relationship between mental health nurses' attitudes, stress, burnout, compassion fatigue and empathy in relation to consumers with dual diagnosis. Understanding why mental health nurses emotional experiences differ about a similar challenging situation experienced by their consumers is vital. Further research on strategies to address empathy issues among mental health nurses could enhance nursing practice and consumer care.

Snyder's hope theory: A beacon for teachers contending with secondary stress, compassion fatigue and burnout in relation to students' experiences of abuse

Teachers are at an elevated risk of developing Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and Compassion Fatigue (CF) due to the increased number of children experiencing trauma and abuse in their care. The negative impacts of STS and CF on teachers' mental health impedes their abilities as child protectors and reduces child abuse reporting rates. Utilizing Snyders Hope Theory may combat CF and STS and empower educators in their roles as child protectors. Hope Theory and its components are discussed in this article and presented as a method to support teachers through mental health and child protection barriers.

A transmission electron microscopy investigation suggests that telocytes, skeletal muscles, myoblasts, and stem cells in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) respond to salinity challenges

BackgroundTelocytes are modified interstitial cells that communicate with other types of cells, including stem cells. Stemness properties render them more susceptible to environmental conditions. The current morphological investigation examined the reactions of telocytes to salt stress in relation to stem cells and myoblasts. The common carp are subjected to salinity levels of 0.2, 6, and 10 ppt. The gill samples were preserved and prepared for TEM.ResultsThe present study observed that telocytes undergo morphological change and exhibit enhanced secretory activities in response to changes in salinity. TEM can identify typical telocytes. This research gives evidence for the communication of telocytes with stem cells, myoblasts, and skeletal muscles. Telocytes surround stem cells. Telopodes made planar contact with the cell membrane of the stem cell. Telocytes and their telopodes surrounded the skeletal myoblast. These findings show that telocytes may act as nurse cells for skeletal stem cells and myoblasts, which undergo fibrillogenesis. Not only telocytes undergo morphological alternations, but also skeletal muscles become hypertrophied, which receive telocyte secretory vesicles in intercellular compartments.ConclusionIn conclusion, the activation of telocytes is what causes stress adaptation. They might act as important players in intercellular communication between cells. It is also possible that reciprocal interaction occurs between telocytes and other cells to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Relationship of Self-perceived Stress and Expression of Salivary Cortisol in Relation to Gender and Academic Levels among Dental Students

Purpose Although cortisol is commonly regarded as the body's stress hormone, it also has a range of other effects on other biological functions. The aim of this prospective cohort's study was to examine the link between self-perceived stress and salivary cortisol expression in relation to gender and academic levels in a subgroup of dental students. Material and Methods 151 students (79 males and 72 females) who provided written consent took part in this study. To explore the causes of self-perceived stress and divide the participants into Mild, Moderate, and High-stress categories, a self-administered stress questionnaire was employed. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized to quantify the level of cortisol present in saliva samples. Salivary cortisol levels, self-perceived stress, and demographic data, including age, gender, and educational attainment, were recorded for every participant. Chi-square and two-tailed Student's t-tests (0.05) were employed to analyze group comparisons. Results Female students responded more stressfully (P<0.05) to questions on decision-making issues, academic dishonesty, a hectic course load, a lack of downtime, the transition from the pre-clinic to the clinic, and the challenge of mastering fine manual dexterity. For male and female subjects, the mean & standard deviation of levels of cortisol were 1.54+0.41 and 1.28+0.45, respectively (p=0.000). At preclinical and clinical levels, the mean & standard deviation of levels of cortisol were 1.48+0.44 and 1.37+0.45, respectively (P=0.150). Conclusion Female students appeared to have a higher self-assessed stress level. Male students had significantly higher levels of salivary cortisol in comparison to female students. No significant differences were found for the levels of salivary cortisol at the preclinical and clinical academic levels.

Women's preconception psychological stress and birth outcomes in a fertility clinic: the EARTH study.

The epidemiologic literature on women's perceived stress in relation to perinatal outcomes has been inconclusive and does not consider the preconception window of exposure. To evaluate whether women's preconception perceived stress is related to live birth, gestational age, and birthweight in a cohort receiving fertility treatment. This observational study included women seeking fertility care at the Massachusetts General Hospital (2004-2019). During preconception, women provided information on their psychological stress using the short version of the validated Perceived Stress Scale 4 (PSS-4). We used regression models to evaluate the associations of stress with live birth (N = 768 attempting to conceive) and perinatal outcomes (N = 413 live births) while adjusting for confounders. Stratified analyses by mode of conception [natural, intrauterine insemination (IUI), and IVF (in vitro fertilization)] and selected socioeconomic factors (race, education, and income) were also conducted. Higher psychological stress was negatively associated with the overall probability of live birth (adjusted RR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92, 0.98), particularly among women conceiving using IVF. However, we found no association between women's psychological stress and gestational age and birth weight in the overall analyses and also stratified by mode of conception. Similarly, we observed no differences in women's psychological stress with any of the measured outcomes by socioeconomic factors. These results highlight the importance of considering the preconception window and mode of conception when evaluating the relationship between women's preconception stress and live birth.

Neonatal Nucleus Accumbens Microstructure Modulates Individual Susceptibility to Preconception Maternal Stress in Relation to Externalizing Behaviors

Maternal stress influences in utero brain development and is a modifiable risk factor for offspring psychopathologies. Reward circuitry dysfunction underlies various internalizing and externalizing psychopathologies. This study examined (1) the association between maternal stress and microstructural characteristics of the neonatal nucleus accumbens (NAcc), a major node of the reward circuitry, and (2) whether neonatal NAcc microstructure modulates individual susceptibility to maternal stress in relation to childhood behavioral problems. K-means longitudinal cluster analysis was performed to determine trajectories of maternal stress measures (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS], hair cortisol) from preconception to the third trimester. Neonatal NAcc microstructural measures (orientation density index [ODI] and intracellular volume fraction [ICVF]) were compared across trajectories. We then examined the interaction between maternal stress and neonatal NAcc microstructure on child internalizing and externalizing behaviors, assessed between ages 3 and 4 years. Two trajectories of maternal stress magnitude ("low"/"high") were identified for both PSS (n= 287) and hair cortisol (n= 336). Right neonatal NAcc ODI (rNAcc-ODI) was significantly lower in "low" relative to "high" PSS trajectories (n= 77, p= .04). PSS at preconception had the strongest association with rNAcc-ODI (r= 0.293, p= .029). No differences in NAcc microstructure were found between hair cortisol trajectories. A significant interaction between preconception PSS and rNAcc-ODI on externalizing behavior was observed (n= 47, p= .047). Our study showed that the preconception period contributes to in utero NAcc development, and that NAcc microstructure modulates individual susceptibility to preconception maternal stress in relation to externalizing problems. In the S-PRESTO population-based cohort study conducted in Singapore with 351 women and their children, higher levels of maternal perceived stress within the year before pregnancy were associated with increased dendritic complexity within offsprings' nucleus accumbens, indicative of a more advanced developmental profile. Variations in right nucleus accumbens microstructure significantly modulated the association between maternal perceived stress at preconception and externalizing behaviors in early childhood. Study findings suggest that maternal stress in the preconception period accelerates in-utero nucleus accumbens development, leading to differential risk to externalizing problems in later childhood.

Early life stress in relation with risk of overweight, depression, and their comorbidity across adulthood: findings from a British birth cohort.

Multimorbidity, known as the co-occurrence of at least two chronic conditions, has become of increasing concern in the current context of ageing populations, though it affects all ages. Early life risk factors of multimorbidity include adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), particularly associated with psychological conditions and weight problems. Few studies have considered related mechanisms and focus on old age participants. We are interested in estimating, from young adulthood, the risk of overweight-depression comorbidity related to ACEs while adjusting for early life confounders and intermediate variables. We used data from the 1958 National Child Development Study, a prospective birth cohort study (N = 18 558). A four-category outcome (no condition, overweight only, depression only and, overweight-depression comorbidity) was constructed at 23, 33, and 42 years. Multinomial logistic regression models adjusting for intermediate variables co-occurring with this outcome were created. ACEs and sex interaction on comorbidity risk was tested. In our study sample (N = 7762), we found that ACEs were associated with overweight-depression comorbidity risk throughout adulthood (RRR [95% CI] at 23y = 3.80 [2.10-6.88]) though less overtime. Comorbidity risk was larger than risk of separate conditions. Intermediate variables explained part of the association. After full-adjustment, an association remained (RRR [95% CI] at 23y = 2.00 [1.08-3.72]). Comorbidity risk related to ACEs differed by sex at 42. Our study provides evidence on the link and potential mechanisms between ACEs and the co-occurrence of mental and physical diseases throughout the life-course. We suggest addressing ACEs in intervention strategies and public policies to go beyond single disease prevention.

Differences in Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Relation to Changes in Living Conditions, Work Conditions, and Daily Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan.

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with numerous changes in daily life conditions that could affect the psychological response of individuals worldwide. The study aimed to describe and examine differences in depression, anxiety, and stress in relation to living conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional design was used. Purposive snowball sampling was employed to include 642 participants. Arabic versions of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation were used to analyze the data. The total mean scores of depression, anxiety, and stress were 12.26 (SD = 10.53), 9.04 (SD = 9.34), and 13.49 (SD = 10.72), respectively. Of the study sample, 122 (19.5%), 139 (22.2%), and 99 (15.9%) had severe to extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Significant differences were found in depression, anxiety, and stress in relation to age, chronic diseases, and house size. The findings showed an increased prevalence of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health practitioners need to recognize the impact of pandemics on youth, females, low-income populations, and individuals with chronic diseases. Preventive mental health services among these populations, such as screening and counseling, would help reduce the health risks.

When they just don't sleep: differential impacts of reduced child sleep on depression, anxiety, and stress among caregivers of children with and without neurogenetic syndromes.

Children with neurogenetic syndromes commonly experience significant and pervasive sleep disturbances, however, associations with caregiver mental health remains unclear. Previous studies have linked sleep disturbances with increased caregiver depression in typically developing populations, and heightened caregiver stress among neurogenetic populations. The present study expands on findings by exploring the longitudinal association between child sleep duration and caregiver mental health (depression, anxiety, stress) throughout development (infancy to school-aged children) in dyads with and without a child affected by a neurogenetic syndrome. Participants were drawn from the Purdue Early Phenotype Study, including 193 caregivers (Age: M = 34.40 years, SD = 4.53) of children with neurogenetic syndromes (Age: M = 40.91 months, SD =20.72) and typically developing children (n = 55; Age: M = 36.71 months, SD = 20.68). Children in the neurogenetic group were diagnosed with Angelman (n = 49), Prader Willi (n = 30), Williams (n = 51), and Fragile X (n = 8) syndromes. Caregivers completed assessments every six months up to child age three, and annual assessments thereafter. Child sleep duration was measured using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire, and caregiver internalizing symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale. Multilevel models were conducted to examine caregiver depression, anxiety, and stress in relation to child sleep duration at both between- and within-person levels, with child age as a moderator. Results indicated a between-person effect of child sleep duration on caregiver depression (i.e., differences between families) and a within-person effect on caregiver stress (i.e., change over time) in the full, combined sample. These effects were not maintained when examined separately in neurogenetic and typically developing groups, except for a between-person effect on caregiver stress in the typically developing cohort. Moderating effects of child age were significant for depression and stress only in the typically developing cohort. In summary, persistent child sleep disruptions were linked to exacerbated caregiver depression across the sample, while acute child sleep disruptions exacerbate caregiver stress within dyads over time. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing child sleep to enhance caregiverwellbeing and has potential relevance for a wide range of neurogenetic syndromes.

일부 대학생의 스트레스와 주관적 구강건강 상태의 관계에서 심리적 요인의 매개효과 검증

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between stress and psychological factors in relation to the subjective oral health status of college students. Methods: The study analyzed 406 questionnaires targeting fourth-year college students. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia were investigated as psychological factors. Results: Depression and anxiety were found to partially mediate the relationship between stress and subjective oral health status. Additionally, depression and anxiety partially influenced subjective oral health status among college students. Conclusions: The findings from this study indicated that it is necessary to control the stress, depression, and anxiety levels of college students to improve their oral health-related quality of life.

Relationship between Athletic Identity and Stress in Division II College Softball Players

Athletic identity (AI) can be defined as how an individual perceives themselves as an athlete. Although there are many resources for athletes when it comes to physical health, resources for mental health and balancing their AI with everyday life is sorely lacking. As a result, an athlete’s level of stress both inside and outside of their athletic career may increase. Stress that is related to high levels of AI can bring forth negative consequences, such as decreased concentration, focus, and poor academic performance, especially in the case of the student-athlete. The purpose of this study was to investigate stress in relation to AI in a Division II female softball team. Softball players (n = 27) completed the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The mean PSS score was 32.39 out of a 40-point scale. The AIMS mean only showed a moderate level of AI (45.61 of 70-point scale). Pearson correlational analysis demonstrated that only a minor association existed between AI and perceived stress, but this correlation was not statistically significant (r = .36, p = .093). Results and implications from this study are discussed as to optimize student-athletes’ mental well-being.

Long-term associations between early attachment and parenting and adolescent susceptibility to post-traumatic distress in a South African high-risk sample.

It has been proposed that children and young people living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are not only exposed more frequently to trauma but also have a higher likelihood of encountering traumas of greater severity than those living in high-income countries (HICs). This may lead to higher rates of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, developmental pathways to risk or resilience after trauma exposure in LMICs are underresearched. We examined early parenting and attachment as potentially important formative factors for later stress reactivity in a longitudinal cohort of South African children (N = 449). Parenting and attachment were assessed at child age 18 months, and interpersonal trauma exposure, PTSS and parenting stress were measured at 13 years (N = 333; core sample with data on all measures: N = 213). Following a vulnerability-stress approach, separate regression models were run to investigate whether parent-child attachment at 18 months, parental sensitivity and intrusiveness during play at 12 months, and current parenting stress at 13 years, interacted with adolescents' extent of interpersonal trauma exposure to predict their PTSS levels at 13 years. We found no predictive effects of either early attachment or current parenting stress in relation to child PTSS. There was some evidence for predictive influences of parental early intrusiveness and sensitivity on adolescent outcomes, though associations were unexpectedly positive for the latter. No interaction effects supporting a vulnerability-stress model were found. Overall, we found limited evidence that elements of the early parent-child environment predict child risk/resilience to trauma in LMIC children. Future studies should include more frequent assessments of relevant constructs to capture changes over time and consider further what comprises adaptive parenting in high-risk contexts.

Alleviation of Aluminum-Induced Oxidative Stress, Trace Element, and Mineral Levels in Rat Tissues Protective Role of Pomegranate Juice (Punica Granatum L.).

The present investigation examined the impact of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice on trace elements, minerals, and oxidative stress in relation to the potential harm inflicted by aluminum chloride (AlCl3) in rats. Rats were split into four groups at random for this purpose: control (C), pomegranate juice (PJ), aluminum chloride (A), and PJ + A. For 30days, PJ was orally administered by gavage at a rate of 4mL/kg every other day, whereas AlCl3 was administered intraperitoneally at 8.3mg/kg. Spectrophotometric analysis was used to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity in various tissues. In addition, high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FAAS) was used to determine the amounts of the elements Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ca, and Mg in the tissues. It was discovered that when PJ therapy was applied to all tissues, the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT activity increased, the GSH level rose, and the MDA level, a sign of lipid peroxidation, decreased. Al and Ca levels increased in the A group relative to the C group in all tissues, whereas they decreased in the A + PJ group relative to the A group. Group A exhibited a proportionate increase in Fe levels in the liver and renal tissues compared with group C. Furthermore, the A group's brain tissue had a higher Fe level than the C group's. The A + PJ group's brain tissue had a lower Fe level than the A group's. Our findings demonstrate that PJ therapy greatly decreased Al buildup and oxidative stress in tissues while controlling variations in trace element levels. In addition, it is concluded that PJ might have value as a strong chelating agent to prevent Al poisoning.

Analysis of Parent Stress Levels Toward Children in the Online Learning Process During New Normal

The purpose of this study was to analyze the level of stress faced by parents in the online learning process during the new normal era. The research method used was descriptive qualitative, with a case study approach. The research subjects were parents who have early childhood and elementary school, with a total of 10 mothers. The data collection techniques used were observation and interview data analysis, reduction strategies, data display, data interpretation, and data verification. The study findings indicate that parents face various challenges when it comes to online learning at home during the current era of the new normal. These challenges contribute to heightened levels of stress in relation to their children's education. One such challenge is the lack of comprehension among parents regarding the lessons and learning materials provided by the school. Parents often exhibit impatience when assisting their children, and time constraints further exacerbate the situation. Furthermore, parents struggle to motivate their children to engage enthusiastically in learning. Lastly, parents also lack proficiency in utilising electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops.

Drought-induced changes in plant-yield interlinked biochemistry of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) by exogenously applied alpha-tocopherol

To assess the potential of exogenously-applied vitamin E commonly known as alpha-tocopherol (α-TOC) in drought stress tolerance, an experiment was performed on cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) plants. Two cultivars (TCF-605 and White Figer) of cauliflower were subjected to control and drought stress conditions. After thirty days of drought stress treatment, cauliflower plants were treated with α-TOC (150 and 300 mg/L) as a foliage spray. Drought stress markedly inhibited the plant biomass, leaf characteristics such as relative water contents (RWC), chlorophyll pigments (a and b), proline, ascorbic acid (AsA), GB, however it elevated RMP, total phenolics, activities of antioxidant enzymes e.g., CAT, SOD and POD. Drought stress also adversely affected curd characteristics including its fresh weight, GB, proline, total phenolics and enzymes activities (SOD and CAT). Exogenously applied α-TOC considerably suppressed RMP, while it improved plant growth, yield, RWC, total phenolics, ascorbic acid and POD, SOD, and CAT enzyme activities in the leaves of the cauliflower. Exogenous application of α-TOC also raised curd total phenolics, AsA and the activities of all observed enzymes under water deficiency. The cv. TCF-605 was better in shoot weight, shoot length, RWC, proline as well as GB contents, while cv. White Figer was higher in leaf RMP, proline and AsA levels under drought stress conditions. Overall, the results exhibited that cauliflower cv. TCF-605 was relatively tolerant to water stress in relation to growth and yield outcomes, which was interlinked with α-TOC-induced improved leaf and curd osmoprotection and antioxidative defense system. So, exogenous application of α-TOC can be suggested for improving growth and yield potential of crops subjected to drought stress.

Edge effect and indentation depth-dependent contact behavior in contact of an elastic quarter-space

The edge effect in contact of an elastic quarter-space is numerically studied in this work. The extension of Hetényi’s approach of overlapping two elastic half-spaces is implemented in the boundary element method to obtain the solution of an elastic quarter-space whose top and side surfaces could be both loaded. In the study on the indentation test of a rigid sphere on an elastic quarter-space, the dependencies of the normal force, mean contact radius, and pressure distribution in contact area as well as the internal von Mises stress in relation to the position of the sphere from the side edge are obtained numerically and expressed by fitting the numerical results. These equations can be also used to interpret the indentation depth-dependent contact behavior: from Hertzian contact at the beginning of the indentation to the non-circular contact at large indentation depth.In addition, the results are compared with a contact case of a quarter-space in which the side surface of the quarter-space is not completely free: shear stresses on the side surface vanish but normal stress exists. The latter case generates very similar results, especially the contact area, but its solutions are much easier to achieve by applying a symmetrical loading on an elastic half-space, offering an effective way to approximate the solution of a quarter-space.

Experimental Investigation of Tool Wear and Machining Quality of BTA Deep-Hole Drilling in Low-Carbon Alloy Steel SA-5083.

Nuclear power tube plates are made from the high-strength, low-carbon alloy steel SA-5083, which has high values of toughness and plasticity, though it is forged with poor consistency and entails serious work hardening. It requires a large number of deep holes with a high machining accuracy and high surface quality to be processed. However, the quality of the processed holes is often not up to the standard of the Boring and Trepanning Association (BTA) for the deep-hole drilling of tube plates; this has led to deep-hole processing becoming a bottleneck in the manufacture of steam generators for the main equipment of nuclear power islands. The variation laws of the diameter, roundness, perpendicularity, roughness, microhardness, and residual stress in relation to the feed, speed, and drilling depth are explored in the macro- and micro-dimensions; also explored is the wear morphology of BTA drills. The internal influence mechanisms between them are revealed in order to provide a scientific basis for the control of surface quality and machining accuracy as well as the optimization of process parameters. Our research results indicate that the guide block wear is mainly concentrated at the top 1-2 mm and that the drilling depth and feed have a great influence on the machining diameter. The hole wall roughness is between 0.3 and 0.6 μm, the maximum microhardness is about 2.15 times the hardness of the matrix material, and the residual stress is compressive stress. With increases in the feed and drilling depth, the hole diameter and the roughness increase. With an increase in the speed, the roughness decreases and the compressive stress of the BTA deep-hole drilling wall increases.

Sublethal Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Embryonic Development of Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758).

Currents, wave motion, solar radiation, and abrasion are mechanisms responsible for the degradation of large plastic artifacts and contribute to the dispersion of micro and nanoplastics into aquatic ecosystems, which are, currently, the most dangerous threats due to their invisibility and persistence. The present work evaluated the possible lethal and sublethal effects of amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics (nPS-NH2) with diameters of 50 nm and 100 nm on Artemia salina (A. salina), an organism at the base of the trophic chain of the aquatic system, using a widely used model for the analysis of embryotoxicity from environmental pollutants. For this purpose, after evaluating the biodistribution of nanoplastics in the body of the tested animals, several endpoints such as anomalies, apoptosis, and ROS production were assessed. In addition, particular attention was dedicated to evaluating the correlation between toxicity and the particle size tested. The results reported that, despite the absence of a lethal impact, several sublethal effects involving gut and body size malformations, as well as the enhancement of apoptosis and oxidative stress in relation to an increase in tested concentration and a decrease in nanoparticle size.

Posttraumatic stress and distress tolerance in relation to opioid misuse and dependence among trauma-exposed adults with chronic pain.

Posttraumatic stress symptoms have been associated with opioid misuse and dependence among adults with chronic pain. Lower levels of perceived distress tolerance (i.e., perceived ability to withstand negative emotional states) have been independently associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms and opioid-related problems among nonchronic pain samples. However, there has not been a test of whether distress tolerance interacts with posttraumatic stress in terms of opioid misuse among trauma-exposed persons with chronic pain. Therefore, the present study examined the interaction between distress tolerance and posttraumatic stress symptoms in relation to opioid misuse and dependence among trauma-exposed adults with chronic pain who were using opioids (N = 289; 70.9% female, Mage = 37.75, SD = 10.83). Results indicated a significant negative interaction of distress tolerance with posttraumatic stress in terms of opioid misuse and dependence, as the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms and opioid misuse and dependence was diminished at higher levels of distress tolerance. The current findings help refine our understanding of the subgroups of persons with chronic pain distinguished by low distress tolerance and at the greatest risk for misusing opioids. Furthermore, current models of chronic pain and opioid misuse could be refined by integrating distress tolerance. These findings may help inform interventions for trauma-exposed persons with chronic pain who use opioids. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).