Workplace stress is one of the main sources of stress for adults, although physiological and cognitive factors may impact each person's stress response. Numerous studies have shown heart rate, heart rate variability, neural activity, and cognitive performance are affected by stress. Additionally, visual and auditory stimuli in one's environment have been shown to affect individuals' reaction to stressful events. To our knowledge, few studies have examined how each of these physiological and cognitive measures relate to one's perception of stress, the ability to recover from stress, and what environmental factors may help with stress recovery. Here, 80 healthy adults performed a laboratory-controlled stress induction task where they experienced and recovered from an acute psychological stressor (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST, using verbal math skills and a public presentation that was videotaped). Throughout the assessment, heart rate, heart rate variability, and neural activity were measured using wearable devices to assess changes before, during, and after the stressor. Additionally, participants were assessed their perceived stress levels at specific times throughout the assessment. After the psychological stressor, participants were randomly assigned to one of four recovery conditions within a multisensory relaxation room: Control (C), Auditory Only (A), VisualOnly (V), or Combined Auditory and Visual (AV). During the stressor, anxiety, heart rate, and beta EEG power increased and high-frequency power and heart rate variability decreased, confirming participants reactivity to the stressor (P < 0.01 for all vs. baseline). Only the V and AV conditions led to notable reductions in anxiety (15 and 17%, respectively) vs. the C condition, but these did not reach statistical significance. There was no difference between V and AV, suggesting a stronger impact of V. We observed no differences between conditions during recovery for HR and HRV. Overall, these findings suggest the visual features of the relaxation room impacted self-reported anxiety, however physiological and neurological effects did not demonstrate a statistically meaningful response.

Multi-omics analysis reveals CXCL14+ inhibitory neuron dysfunction in major depressive disorder.

Climate-driven soil acidification and salinity shape xylem architecture in the mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum.

The impact of stress factors on the course of pregnancy remains a relevant issue in modern perinatology. This article addresses the role of stress-related responses at the placental level in women exposed to ¹³⁷Cs, and the role of psychoemotional stressors in the pathogenesis of pregnancy loss — presented as two aspects of the same problem. The article draws on the results of prior studies examining morphological and immunohistochemical placental damage resulting from ¹³⁷Cs incorporation, and the psychological components of recurrent pregnancy loss. Aim of the study: to determine markers of miscarriage in the setting of chronic stress. Materials and methods. The study enrolled pregnant women with a history of miscarriage and signs of threatened termination of the current pregnancy (Group 1), and pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies and an unremarkable obstetric history (Group 2, control). Gamma spectrometry of placentas from both groups demonstrated 137Cs accumulation at varying activity levels. The consequent biological effect was oxidative stress. The magnitude of the stress response was assessed by serum levels of diene conjugates (DC) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Antioxidant capacity was evaluated by measuring the activity of catalase, glutathione S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Psychological screening comprised assessment of personal stress perception, psychoemotional tension, anxiety, and asthenia. Statistical analysis was performed in Microsoft Excel, with Fisher's angular transformation applied where appropriate. Differences between compared values were considered statistically significant at p &lt; 0.05 (confidence level exceeding 95%). The study was carried out under two institutional research projects: "To develop novel and refine existing technologies for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of premature pregnancy termination in women with pregnancy loss, examining the role of contemporary environmental exposures" (2018–2020, state registration No. 0118U000039), and "To develop diagnostic and therapeutic measures for the prevention of pregnancy loss in women in Ukraine during martial law" (2024–2026, state registration No. 0123U103153). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki on Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrolment. Ethical approval was granted by the Medical Ethics Committee of the State Institution "Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynecology named after Academician O. M. Lukyanova of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine" (Protocol No. 3, 07 June 2017; Protocol No. 3, 20 April 2023). Results. Psychosocial adaptation disorders — comprising elevated personal stress perception, anxiety, and asthenia — were identified in women with pregnancy loss. The destructive effect of 137Cs is mediated by oxidative stress and results in placental dysfunction. The severity of these effects is determined by 137Cs activity and the adequacy of antioxidant protection. A specific activity of 137Cs exceeding 10.4 Bq/kg is critical for pregnancy outcome. A 2.25-fold elevation of DC in the first trimester relative to controls indicates activation of free radical reactions. Prognostically unfavourable findings include SOD deficiency and MDA excess exceeding 10% in the first trimester. Increased generation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products with impaired neutralisation and utilisation at the onset of pregnancy constitutes the pathophysiological basis for placental dysfunctionA first-trimester MDA elevation of 17.4% relative to controls serves as a trigger for late preterm birth. The risk of early preterm birth and intrauterine fetal death is increased when first-trimester maternal blood MDA levels exceed those of controls by 23.4%, particularly when accompanied by an 18.2% reduction in SOD activity, indicating impaired antioxidant defence and early decompensation of adaptive mechanisms. Conclusions. Oxidative and psychoemotional stress play a decisive role in the pathogenesis of pregnancy loss. Radionuclide decorporation and activation of placental adaptive processes represent promising strategies for mitigating the effects of internal radiation exposure. Enhancement of pregnant women's adaptive potential through strengthening psychoemotional resilience and fostering a positive orientation toward pregnancy and motherhood is of comparable importance for the prevention of pregnancy loss.

ABSTRACT Physicians are among the extremely stressed professionals demonstrating a high incidence of mental health problems and suicides. However, most studies come from developed Western countries, and there is a lack of research on work-related stress in developing nations, hindering action. Aim: This study targeted primary care physicians (PCPs) in a peripheral region (Al Dakhiliyah) in the Sultanate of Oman. It explored the prevalence of perceived stress (PS) among PCPs, its variation with demographic features, and common stressors that contributed to their stress. Cross-sectional study using a web-based survey collected demographic data and assessed the perceived stress and the prevalent stressors among participants using previously validated tools; the Perceived Stress Scale −10 (PSS-10) and Pressure Management Indicator (PMI) scales. Objectives were tested with correlation and variation tests on 57 participants. 40.4% of participants reported high perceived stress (PS), but there was no significant demographic variation in PS levels. Seven PMI factors significantly influenced PS predictions collectively, with the need for recognition, unclear promotion, and lack of social support at work having a statistically significant individual impact. Mental health issues among PCPs in Oman are not uncommon, like in other parts of the world. The study shows that stressors mainly stem from work conditions and employer policies, highlighting the need for comprehensive interventions for physicians at the individual and organizational levels.

Stressors in the principalship are plentiful, but few studies have examined their differential impacts on work-stress and mental health, particularly from a systems perspective. Guided by Lazarus and Folkman's occupational stress theory and Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory, we conducted an embedded mixed-method design with a quantitative-dominant crossover analysis for hierarchical regression to identify emergent stressors, the systems from which they originate, and whether stressor systems, cumulatively and differentially, predict negative psychological outcomes including work-stress, anxiety, and depression. We identified ten thematic stressors that were organized into five systems based on proximity to the principalship and degree of control: nanosystem, microsystem, macrosystem, exosystem, and chronosystem. In our sample, principals reported high work-stress, moderate anxiety, and mild to moderate depression symptoms. Regression analyses showed that the cumulative number of stressors significantly predict work-stress. However, only system-level stressors, especially nanosystem stressors, predicted anxiety, and depression symptoms. Our study suggests that the amount of stressors shape principals’ perceptions of stress, but only personal impacts from work spillage predicts mental health symptoms.

Plant immunity is closely intertwined with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and regulated cell death. Here, we identify the ER-localized cell death regulator Bax Inhibitor-1 (BI-1) as a critical executor of resistance against Phytophthora parasitica in Arabidopsis, whose activity is antagonized by the susceptibility factor RTP1. RTP1 negatively modulates resistance to P. parasitica via ER stress and cell death regulation, yet its downstream coordinators remain unclear. We show that BI-1 expression is significantly elevated in rtp1 mutants during early colonization. Cell viability assays reveal BI-1 is essential for RTP1-mediated cell death suppression, as rtp1bi-1 double mutants exhibit restored cell death. Pathogenicity assays demonstrate BI-1 confers resistance required for the rtp1-mediated immunity: rtp1bi-1 mutants show increased susceptibility, reduced expression of ER stress-responsive immune genes (WRKY33, CBP60g, MYB51) and PR1, and abolished flg22-triggered ROS burst. Mechanistically, RTP1 interacts with BI-1 and reduces its protein accumulation through a proteasome-independent pathway, thereby antagonizing BI-1 function. Conversely, activated forms of ER stress transducers bZIP60 and bZIP28 bind and co-activate the BI-1 promoter. Collectively, BI-1 serves as a key node in ER stress-associated immunity, post-translationally antagonized by RTP1 and transcriptionally driven by bZIP60/bZIP28. This study establishes the RTP1-BI-1 module as a pivotal interface linking ER stress perception to immune execution, offering a refined framework for engineering broad-spectrum disease resistance in crops.

Soil salinity poses a severe threat to global food security, making the halophytic cropChenopodium quinoaa vital model for sustainable agriculture.While quinoa is known for its extreme salt tolerance, the molecular mechanisms integrating stress perception with metabolic adaptation remain poorly defined.This study employs a multi-level approach, integrating morphological, physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses, to dissect the complex adaptation strategies across eight advanced quinoa lines. Morphological and physiological screening identified three distinct survival strategies:transient high-productivity,stress-induced optimal performance, and conservative stability.We demonstrated that salt resilience is not merely a survival response but a highly coordinated regulatory program driven by one of the key regulators such as the Universal Stress Protein (USP) gene network. Key physiological findings revealed a progressive decline in photosynthetic efficiency (ΦPSII) and rising oxidative damage (MDA), yet tolerant lines maintained superior photoprotection through highly regulated heat dissipation (ΦNPQ). The cellular defense involved the mobilization of enzymatic scavengers (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase), peaking at the highest stress level. Transcriptomic analysis of the USP gene family showed dynamic, tissue-specific regulation at moderate stress and activation of ion exclusion genes in the roots at 300 mM salinity. Metabolomic profiling identified one variety Q-33 as highly resilient, characterized by coordinated metabolic reprogramming, specifically strong induction of osmolytes and volatile defense compounds. These results define quinoa's salt tolerance as a synergistic strategy combining osmotic adjustment, superior photoprotection, active ROS scavenging, and dynamic transcriptional control of the USP network.

Saline-alkaline stress imposes combined ionic and high-pH challenges that severely limit rice productivity, yet the molecular mechanisms linking stress perception to transcriptional reprogramming remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the WRKY transcription factor OsWRKY1 as a central negative regulator of saline-alkaline tolerance in rice. Loss of OsWRKY1 markedly enhances stress tolerance, whereas its overexpression causes hypersensitivity. Using inducible transcriptomics and DAP-seq, we show that OsWRKY1 directly represses genes involved in ion transport, nutrient uptake, osmotic adjustment, and redox homeostasis. Unexpectedly, OsWRKY1 undergoes stress-induced liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in the nucleus, driven by a long intrinsically disordered region (IDR1) that is required for its full repressive activity. Saline-alkaline stress specifically induces the binding of the β-1,3-glucanase OsGH17 to OsWRKY1. OsGH17 directly interacts with IDR1, reduces OsWRKY1 DNA binding, decreases OsWRKY1 condensate formation, and relieves OsWRKY1-mediated transcriptional repression. Genetic epistasis indicates that OsWRKY1 and OsGH17 function in the same pathway in the saline-alkaline stress response, with OsWRKY1 being epistatic to OsGH17. Together, our findings reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism in which a β-1,3-glucanase with a noncanonical regulatory role modulates the behavior of a phase-separating transcriptional repressor and promotes stress-responsive gene expression, providing new insight into plant adaptation to saline-alkaline environments.

Combat athletes face unique psychological demands, and stress may influence both their cognitive experiences and psychological well-being. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of mental fatigue awareness in the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being among combat athletes, thereby contributing to a clearer understanding of a potential cognitive mechanism linking stress to well-being in this population. A total of 303 combat athletes voluntarily participated. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Mental Fatigue Awareness Scale, and Psychological Well-being Scale. Statistical analyses assessed the direct effects of perceived stress on psychological well-being, the effect of stress on mental fatigue awareness, and the potential mediating role of mental fatigue awareness. Perceived stress significantly increased mental fatigue awareness (b = 0.732, SE = 0.064, β = 0.549, p = 0.001) and directly decreased psychological well-being (b = - 0.488, SE = 0.166, β = - 0.191, p = 0.004). Mental fatigue awareness negatively affected psychological well-being (b = - 0.374, SE = 0.124, β = - 0.195, p = 0.003) and partially mediated the relationship between stress and well-being (indirect effect: b = - 0.274, SE = 0.115, β = - 0.107, p = 0.003; 95% CI = - 0.504 to - 0.049). Perceived stress was associated with psychological well-being both directly and indirectly through increased mental fatigue awareness. These findings suggest that mental fatigue awareness may represent a relevant cognitive pathway linking stress perceptions to well-being. Accordingly, stress management and strategies aimed at regulating mental fatigue may be considered as potentially beneficial components in efforts to support psychological well-being among combat athletes.

The age of 10 to 15 is a period of intense psychosocial changes, often accompanied by increased emotional tension. To date, there is a lack of in-depth analyses in which stress responses and coping strategies are compared between physically active children and their peers not engaged in regular sports training. The study was grounded in transactional and sport-specific coping frameworks and aimed to compare students practicing judo with those not involved in any sports discipline in terms of stress sources, symptoms and coping strategies. Understanding how stress perception and coping profiles differ between children engaged in regular sport and their non-training peers may help identify targets for preventive and psychoeducational programmes in early adolescence. A total of 553 students aged 10 to 15 participated in the study, including 276 children who regularly practiced judo and 277 peers not engaged in any sports disciplines. The grouping criterion was a self-reported participation in training at least three times per week or the absence of regular physical activity. Stress coping strategies were assessed using the standardised "How do you cope?" (JSR) questionnaire developed by Juczyński and Ogińska-Bulik, along with an original survey including questions on stress sources, symptoms and responses. Children practicing judo reported significantly lower levels of school-related stress than their non-training peers (pHolm = 0.006), with 43.8% indicating they "never" or "rarely" experience stress (vs. 25.3% in the non-training group). Judo students also felt safer at school ("always": 44.6% vs. 26.7%; pHolm = 0.006). School-related stressors such as grades, teacher criticism, tests, loneliness and other concerns were more frequently reported by the non-training children (all pHolm < 0.038). Psychosomatic symptoms such as lack of concentration (53.8% vs. 32.6%), stomach pain (40.1% vs. 24.3%) and hand tremors were also more common in the non-training group (pHolm = 0.014). Judo practitioners were more likely to cope through physical activity (42.8% vs. 11.3%; pHolm = 0.008), while non-training students more often used social media (46.4% vs. 29.5%) and video games (42.8% vs. 25.0%; pHolm = 0.008 for both). Judo practitioners showed lower emotion-focused coping, whereas evidence for higher situational active coping was weaker and should be interpreted cautiously. The study indicates that judo participation was associated with lower school-related stress and fewer selected psychosomatic symptoms in children, as well as with more frequent use of physical activity as an everyday coping behaviour. Judo practitioners were less likely to use passive stress relief (e.g. social media) and it was more probable for them to engage in physical activity. Findings align with sport-coping taxonomies and suggest applied opportunities for coping-skills training within youth judo. These findings suggest that structured sport participation, such as judo, may be associated with more favourable stress-and-coping profiles in early adolescence, and warrant further investigation in longitudinal designs.

IntroductionMigraine is a highly disabling neurological disorder characterized by recurrent headache attacks and altered pain processing. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns rich in antioxidant compounds may modulate migraine-related pathophysiology, yet the specific association between polyphenol intake and objective pain sensitivity measures remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association of dietary polyphenol with pain sensitivity and migraine-related disability in individuals with migraine.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study including 72 adults (65 women) with a confirmed migraine diagnosis according to ICHD-III criteria. Participants completed a 3-day dietary record, and polyphenol intake was estimated using the Phenol-Explorer database. Clinical outcomes included pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at trigeminal and extratrigeminal sites, migraine-related disability (MIDAS), perceived stress (PSS), and handgrip strength. Associations were analyzed using Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, BMI, energy intake, and comorbidities.ResultsParticipants with longer disease duration reported higher polyphenol intake (p < 0.05). Total polyphenol intake was positively correlated with PPTs at the masseter (r = 0.27) and middle temporalis (r = 0.31), and inversely correlated with MIDAS scores (r = −0.25, all p < 0.05). In adjusted regression analyses, higher polyphenol intake predicted increased PPTs (masseter: β = 0.33; middle temporalis: β = 0.38) and lower MIDAS scores (β = −0.25, all p < 0.01). No associations were observed with handgrip strength or perceived stress.ConclusionsHigher dietary polyphenol intake was associated with reduced pain sensitivity and lower migraine-related disability, suggesting a potential role for polyphenol-rich diets in migraine management. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these associations and explore the mechanisms through which polyphenol-rich diets may influence migraine-related outcomes.

Bruxism has garnered increasing attention in both clinical practice and scientific research, underscoring its significance for patient management and understanding of its pathophysiology. This study aims to investigate the potential relationship between tryptophan metabolites and bruxism. The patients were divided into bruxism and non-bruxism groups. The bruxism group was determined according to the bruxism and Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders classifications. Patients who did not fit either classification were classified as a non-bruxism group. Demographic data of all patients, maximum clinical interincisal opening (IO), state and trait anxiety levels (STAI), perceived stress (PS) levels, Oral Health Impact Profile-14, and pain on palpation (PoP) were recorded. Laboratory findings included measurements of tryptophan and its metabolites. A total of 97 participants volunteered; 49 had non-bruxism, and 48 had bruxism. There were no differences between the two groups in demographic findings. In clinical findings, a difference was found between the two groups in PS (p = 0.048), IO (p < 0.01), STAI-S (p < 0.01), and PoP (p < 0.01). Regarding laboratory findings, lower kynurenine levels (p < 0.01) and higher quinolinic acid levels (p < 0.01) were found in patients in the bruxism group. The findings suggest a possible role of TRP metabolites in the pathophysiology of bruxism. In particular, alterations in quinolinic acid and kynurenine may provide insight into the metabolic mechanisms involved. However, these results should be interpreted with caution, and further studies are warranted to confirm and expand upon these associations. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05760482.

Depression is highly heterogeneous. Characteristics of previous depressive episodes, additional clinical difficulties, family history of depression and exposure to stressors are associated with poorer outcomes. However, the role of these factors has not been tested simultaneously to explain depression persistence. Using longitudinal data from 337 adults with a history of recurrent MDD, we characterised depressive symptom trajectories over 13-years using growth mixture modelling. We tested two partially competing hypotheses as to why depression persists: a) persistent depression is aetiologically distinct from a less persistent course and/or b) persistent depression is largely explained by exposure to ongoing stressors. Three trajectory classes were identified: low (64%), which showed minimal symptoms throughout the study period; intermediate (17%), which showed high baseline symptoms which lessened after the first assessment; and severe persistent (19%), which showed high depressive symptoms throughout the study period. Three variables differentiated the severe persistent class: history of a severely impairing episode, self-harm or suicide attempt at baseline and ongoing high perceived stress. The sample consisted of primarily women therefore the results may not generalise to men. An 8-year period between the third and fourth assessment meant that estimates of depression may have been conservative. Prior impairment, self-harm or suicide and perceptions of stress were associated with a persistent course. It may be helpful for practitioners to consider assessing these factors to identify adults at the greatest risk of developing persistent depression.

Depression and biological aging: Unexpected vulnerability in relatively advantaged social risk profile group.

The postpartum period is associated with poor maternal mental and physical health. Parental domestic labor may help support maternal health; little is known about how it may help during the postpartum period. 1) describe the trend of father's domestic labor (childcare and housework) across the postpartum period, 2) examine the agreement between perceived and reported domestic labor between mothers and fathers, and 3) explore the relationship between father's domestic labor and parental outcomes. These secondary analyses included fathers and mothers from a 6-month longitudinal randomized controlled trial to increase new parents' physical activity (PA) in the postpartum period. Fathers and mothers self-reported their domestic labor (childcare and housework, levels: low [1-25 %], middle [26-50 %] or high [51-75 %]), perceptions of partner's domestic labor, PA, sleep, stress, and physical health at 2-months, 4-months, 6-months, and 8-months postpartum. Among 164 individuals (52 intact couples, 31.5 ± 4.5 y, 53.6 % mothers, 82.8 % White), fathers self-reported they contributed a middle amount of childcare across time, and initially a high amount of housework (2-months) which was reduced to the middle amount at other time points. Mothers' perception was positively related to fathers' domestic labor. Fathers' perception was positively related to mothers' housework. Fathers were divided into three domestic labor involvement categories; these categories were associated with higher maternal PA. These findings highlight the fathers' contribution to domestic labor in the postpartum period, and opportunities to support parental health behaviors. Interventional evidence is required to optimize domestic labor and new parent's health.

Sex-dependent salivary microRNA expression profiles and psychophysiological responses to acute stress in healthy adults.

Organizational silence and occupational burnout in Pediatric nurses: The mediating role of perceived stress.

AimThis study aims to examine the relationships between perception of traumatic childbirth, prenatal attachment, stress, anxiety, and depression in pregnant women.MethodThis cross‐sectional study involved 304 pregnant women who visited the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic of a hospital in Türkiye between June 2024 and June 2025. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS‐21), the Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale (TCPS), and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). Descriptive statistical methods, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were used in the analysis of the data.ResultsThe study determined that 22% of pregnant women experienced stress, 45.1% experienced depression, and 62.8% experienced anxiety. The mean PAI score of pregnant women was found to be 40.53 ± 7.97, and the mean TCPS score was 71.64 ± 28.02 (moderate). The study found that stress, depression, and anxiety scores in pregnant women were significantly correlated positively with the TCPS score and significantly correlated negatively with the PAI score. Depression (p = 0.003) and prenatal attachment (p = 0.018) were determined to be the predictors of traumatic birth perception.ConclusionThis study determined that as women’s depression, stress, anxiety, and levels increased, their perception of traumatic childbirth increased, and their prenatal attachment levels decreased. Depression and prenatal attachment were identified as predictors of traumatic childbirth perception. Providing mental health support to pregnant women by nurses can contribute to the protection and improvement of maternal and infant health.

Stress across timescales: differential effects of acute and chronic stress on auditory processing and perception.