Stress Reactions Research Articles

IJCM_320A: Occupational stress among special educators in India - A Narrative review

Background: Occupational stress, a physiological and psychological reaction to workplace incidents, detrimentally affects health. In the field of special education, where the task of fostering learning and development for individuals with diverse abilities is both rewarding and challenging, understanding and addressing the occupational stress faced by educators becomes imperative. This review sets the stage for a comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationship between occupational stress, teacher well-being, and the broader educational landscape, with a specific focus on the unique challenges faced by special educators in India. Objective: This study aims to review recent literature on occupational stress in special educators in India. Methodology: A comprehensive electronic search on databases like PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted to include articles from the past 6 years. Results: The electronic search yielded 5 relevant articles in the past 6 years, including 4 cross-sectional studies and one exploratory study. Findings show that educators experience mild to severe occupational stress, with variations ranging from 5% to 75% in different studies across India. Conclusion: The prevalence of occupational stress among educators in India underscores the need for targeted interventions and support systems to enhance teacher well-being, fostering a positive impact on student outcomes, school stability, and teaching quality.

An epigenetic candidate-gene association study of parental styles in suicide attempters with substance use disorders.

Suicide attempts (SA) are prevalent in substance use disorders (SUD). Epigenetic mechanisms may play a pivotal role in the molecular mechanisms of environmental effects eliciting suicidal behaviour in this population. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), oxytocin and neurotrophin pathways have been consistently involved in SA, yet , their interplay with childhood adversity remains unclear, particularly in SUD. In 24 outpatients with SUDs, we examined the relation between three parental dysfunctional styles and history of SA with methylation of 32 genes from these pathways, eventually analysing 823 methylation sites. Extensive phenotypic characterization was obtained using a semi-structured interview. Parental style was patient-reported using the Measure of Parental Style (MOPS) questionnaire, analysed with and without imputation of missing items. Linear regressions were performed to adjust for possible confounders, followed by multiple testing correction. We describe both differentially methylated probes (DMPs) and regions (DMRs) for each set of analyses (with and without imputation of MOPS items). Without imputation, five DMRs in OXTR, CRH and NTF3 significantly interacted with MOPS father abuse to increase the risk for lifetime SA, thus covering the three pathways. After imputation of missing MOPS items, two other DMPs from FKBP5 and SOCS3 significantly interactedwith each of the three father styles to increase the risk for SA. Although our findings must be interpreted with caution due to small sample size, they suggest implications of stress reactivity genes in the suicidal risk of SUD patients and highlight the significance offather dysfunction as a potential marker of childhood adversity in SUD patients.

Stress fractures and overuse injuries in children and adolescents

There is an intricate connection between physical activity, bone health, and the susceptibility to stress fractures and overuse injuries. Physical activity has a positive impact on bone strength while a sedentary lifestyle can lead to a heightened risk for injury. The rise of early sports specialization has led to a substantial increase in overuse injuries, particularly in individual sports.Bone Stress Injuries (BSI) represent a category of overuse injuries closely linked to single sport specialization. BSI involves a spectrum of altered bone mechanics, ranging from edema of periosteum, endosteum, and bone; potentially leading to partial or full cortical breaks. This condition is prevalent in high-level athletes and encompasses stress reactions and fractures, resulting from an imbalance between injury creation and repair. Up to 20% of adolescents are affected, with the tibia being the most common location, predominantly occurring in athletes aged 15 to 25. A holistic approach integrating both physical and nutritional aspects is warranted to ensure sustained musculoskeletal health across diverse pediatric and adolescent groups and athletic endeavors. Key Concepts(1)Early and single sports specialization has a substantial impact on overuse injuries.(2)Bone stress injuries are common in high-level athletes resulting from an imbalance between creation and repair of injury.(3)Relative energy deficiency in sports (REDS) is related to a higher risk for recurrent Bone Stress Injuries.(4)Athletes that are lacking vitamin D are found to have an increased risk for stress fractures.

Pathways to resilience: The parallel change in children's emotional difficulties and family context during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy.

The study analyses which pathways to adjustment emerged at the family level during the COVID-19 containment period in Italy, during which children were locked down with their families for 56 days from March 11 to May 6. Using a longitudinal design, with data pre- and postevent, a bivariate latent change score model analyzed the covariance of the change in family well-being (FW) and in emotional difficulties (ED), testing if the longitudinal change in ED is a function of the starting level of FW, and vice-versa. Children's stress reactions to the pandemic and other related experiences were included as additional predictors. A total of 166 middle school students (86 females) with a mean age of 11.14 (SD = .47) completed two online questionnaires, in January 2020 (T0) and in June 2020 (T1). Results showed that children's ED decreased significantly, on average, during the lockdown period, and FW remained constant. ED and FW change scores had a significant and negative covariation (β = - .46; p = .01). When family well-being increased emotional difficulties decreased, and vice versa. FW at T0 predicted no change in FW, nor did T0 scores of ED predict any change in FW. The strong intercorrelated change between children's ED and FW during the lockdown does not seem influenced by preexisting levels of individual and family functioning. Findings supported the view that for some families, the COVID-19 lockdown was also an opportunity to experience deeper emotional connections, contributing to a decrease in ED. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Applications of Cognitive Processing Therapy to Post-Injury PTSD: A Case Study

Approximately one in three traumatically injured patients will go on to experience post-injury posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression within a year of injury. In many cases, the nature of a traumatic injury itself constitutes a traumatic event. Traumatic injuries are often followed by subsequent potentially traumatic medical events (i.e., medical trauma) that may characterize post-injury recovery. Adequately addressing the complex biopsychosocial needs of traumatically injured patients in a traditional mental health setting can be challenging. The goal of this case study is to provide mental health professionals additional guidance to meet the needs of traumatically injured patients, including strategies to concurrently treat trauma-related symptoms and aspects of physical recovery that can elicit trauma cues. Specifically, this case study provides guidance to clinicians on the conceptualization and treatment of post-injury PTSD, with a specific focus on medical traumatic stress reactions (i.e., distress related to hospitalization, recovery, and adjustment to injury/disability). To demonstrate clinical considerations and applications of Cognitive Processing Therapy to post-injury PTSD, we focus on the experiences and treatment considerations of a fictional patient who represents an amalgamation of patients the authors have encountered in their clinical practice. Future directions for clinical practice and research to address medical traumatic stress are also discussed.

The Link Between Somatization and Dissociation and PTSD Severity in Veterans Who Sought Help From the IDF Combat Stress Reaction Unit.

This study aimed to examine the relationships between dissociative and somatic symptoms and how they might contribute to PTSD severity among ex-soldiers who sought help from the IDF Combat Stress Reaction Unit (CSRU). This cross-sectional study included 1,305 former compulsory, career, and reserve soldiers, who filled out self-report questionnaires on admission for evaluation at the CSRU. The study's dependent variables included two posttraumatic stress disorder measures (CAPS and PCL-5). The independent variables were the Dissociative Experience Scale and Brief Symptom Inventory. Background and service-related variables were also examined. Spearman correlation revealed that the higher the level of somatization is, the higher the level of PTSD via PCL and CAPS. A significant positive association was found between somatization and dissociation (r = 0.544; P < 0.001). The higher the somatization level, the more severe the dissociation. A multivariate logistic regression analysis to predict severe PTSD revealed that the longer the time elapsed from the traumatic event (OR = 1.019, P = 0.015), the higher the risk for severe PTSD. The most prominent variables were dissociation (OR = 6.420, P < 0.001) and somatization (OR = 4.792, P < 0.001). The entire model reached 40.8% of the shared variance in the regression. While there is direct reference to dissociation in the clinical assessment by PCL or CAPS, there is no such reference to somatization. Highly functioning combatants sometimes express their distress somatically. Our findings suggest regarding severe somatic symptoms as diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

Is It Possible to Mitigate Fear of Fireworks in Dogs? A Study on the Behavioural and Physiological Effects of a Psychoactive Supplement.

Canine fear of fireworks is a common problem worldwide, with serious implications for the welfare of both dogs and their owners. Therapies for the problem are available, and herbal and nutraceutical agents are increasingly suggested by professionals; nonetheless, studies on their real efficacy in reducing firework fear are lacking. In a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 44 dogs (25 in the "supplement" group and 19 in the "placebo" group) completed a long-term continuous treatment with either a supplement made of tryptophan, valerian, and passiflora or a placebo, including two real exposures to fireworks (on 2020 Christmas and 2021 New Years' Eve, after 42 and 48 days of treatment, respectively). Owners of both groups received the same general environmental management and food/toy offering recommendations for trying with their dogs on those nights. Behavioural (measured by LSSS-Lincoln Sound Sensitivity Scale and PANAS-Positive and Negative Activation scale, as rated by the owners) and stress (measured via salivary cortisol measures) reactions were evaluated. Significantly greater fear decrease (LSSS) was recorded in the "supplement" dogs, as compared to the "placebo" group. Cortisol dosages on New Year's Eve ("noisy" night) were in line with behavioural results; "supplement" dogs showed a smaller increase in the stress response from 22:30 to 00:30 h on New Year's Eve and a greater decrease in their stress response from 02:30 h to 10:30 h on New Year's Day compared to "placebo" dogs. Smaller cortisol levels were also shown by "supplement" dogs than "placebo" dogs on a controlled "quiet night" (27th December). Owners' rates on PANAS remained stable during the whole period of therapy for both groups. The evaluated supplement, a combination of tryptophan, valerian, and passiflora, showed satisfactory results and rare side effects when treating dogs fearful of fireworks.

CRF binding protein activity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus is essential for stress adaptations and normal maternal behaviour in lactating rats

To ensure the unrestricted expression of maternal behaviour peripartum, activity of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system needs to be minimised. CRF binding protein (CRF-BP) might be crucial for this adaptation, as its primary function is to sequester freely available CRF and urocortin1, thereby dampening CRF receptor (CRF-R) signalling. So far, the role of CRF-BP in the maternal brain has barely been studied, and a potential role in curtailing activation of the stress axis is unknown.We studied gene expression for CRF-BP and both CRF-R within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. In lactating rats, Crh-bp expression in the parvocellular PVN was significantly higher and Crh-r1 expression in the PVN significantly lower compared to virgin rats. Acute CRF-BP inhibition in the PVN with infusion of CRF(6–33) increased basal plasma corticosterone concentrations under unstressed conditions in dams. Furthermore, while acute intra-PVN infusion of CRF increased corticosterone secretion in virgin rats, it was ineffective in vehicle (VEH)-pre-treated lactating rats, probably due to a buffering effect of CRF-BP. Indeed, pre-treatment with CRF(6–33) reinstated a corticosterone response to CRF in lactating rats, highlighting the critical role of CRF-BP in maintaining attenuated stress reactivity in lactation. To our knowledge, this is the first study linking hypothalamic CRF-BP activity to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation in lactation. In terms of behaviour, acute CRF-BP inhibition in the PVN under non-stress conditions reduced blanket nursing 60 min and licking/grooming 90 min after infusion compared to VEH-treated rats, while increasing maternal aggression towards an intruder. Lastly, chronic intra-PVN inhibition of CRF-BP strongly reduced maternal aggression, with modest effects on maternal motivation and care.Taken together, intact activity of the CRF-BP in the PVN during the postpartum period is essential for the dampened responsiveness of the stress axis, as well as for the full expression of appropriate maternal behaviour.

Activation of the FOXM1/ASF1B/PRDX3 axis confers hyperproliferative and antioxidative stress reactivity to gastric cancer

Nucleosome assembly during DNA replication is dependent on histone chaperones. Recent studies suggest that dysregulated histone chaperones contribute to cancer progression, including gastric cancer (GC). Further studies are required to explore the prognostic and therapeutic implications of histone chaperones and their mechanisms of action in GC progression. Here we identified histone chaperone ASF1B as a potential biomarker for GC proliferation and prognosis. ASF1B was significantly upregulated in GC, which was associated with poor prognosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the inhibition of ASF1B suppressed the malignant characteristics of GC, while overexpression of ASF1B had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, transcription factor FOXM1 directly bound to the ASF1B-promoter region, thereby regulating its transcription. Treatment with thiostrepton, a FOXM1 inhibitor, not only suppressed ASF1B expression, but also inhibited GC progression. Furthermore, ASF1B regulated the mitochondrial protein peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) transcription in a FOXM1-dependent manner. The crucial role of ASF1B-regulated PRDX3 in GC cell proliferation and oxidative stress balance was also elucidated. In summary, our study suggests that the FOXM1-ASF1B-PRDX3 axis is a potential therapeutic target for treating GC.

Creatine concentration in the anterior cingulate cortex is associated with greater stress recovery from traumatic events: Preliminary evidence from a US Veteran sample

BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by a prolonged stress response to potentially life-threatening events long after the event has passed. Understanding factors related to recovery from traumatic life events may inform novel targets for intervention. There is emerging preclinical evidence that creatine (Cr), a molecule critical to brain bioenergetics, may be a neurobiological marker of stress reactivity and recovery. Method25 US Veterans (8 female) completed the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5, which assessed different types of traumatic events. Veterans were also asked to rate the subjective stress of each traumatic event on a 1–10 scale currently (Current Stress) and at the time the event occurred (Past Stress). Stress recovery was quantified as the difference between Current and Past Stress. Current PTSD symptoms were also assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Cr concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were measured in the anterior cingulate cortex using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). ResultsHigher levels of Cr were associated with self-reported stress recovery from participants' most traumatic life event. Cr was not related to number of different types of traumatic life events or current PTSD symptoms. LimitationsThe sample size was relatively small. Stress recovery was measured via retrospective self-report. Future experimental work in humans should clarify the protective role of Cr in recovery from trauma. ConclusionsACC concentrations of Cr may be an important neurochemical factor related to stress recovery. Future work should investigate Cr as a possible protective factor against the effects of traumatic stress.

A novel approach to model cumulative stress: Area under the s-factor curve

ObjectiveUsing a large longitudinal sample of adults from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, the present study extended a recently developed hierarchical model to determine how best to model the accumulation of stressors, and to determine whether the rate of change in stressors or traditional composite scores of stressors are stronger predictors of health outcomes. MethodWe used factor analysis to estimate a stress-factor score and then, to operationalize the accumulation of stressors we examined five approaches to aggregating information about repeated exposures to multiple stressors. The predictive validity of these approaches was then assessed in relation to different health outcomes. ResultsThe prediction of chronic conditions, body mass index, difficulty with activities of daily living, executive function, and episodic memory later in life was strongest when the accumulation of stressors was modeled using total area under the curve (AUC) of estimated factor scores, compared to composite scores that have traditionally been used in studies of cumulative stress, as well as linear rates of change. ConclusionsLike endogenous, biological markers of stress reactivity, AUC for individual trajectories of self-reported stressors shows promise as a data reduction technique to model the accumulation of stressors in longitudinal studies. Overall, our results indicate that considering different quantitative models is critical to understanding the sequelae and predictive power of psychosocial stressors from midlife to late adulthood.

Regional evaluation of glyphosate pollution in the minor irrigation network

Due to its low cost, its ease of use and to the “mild action” declared for long time by the Control and Approval Agencies towards it, the herbicide Glyphosate, is one of the currently best-selling and most-used agricultural products worldwide. In this work, we evaluated the presence and spread of Glyphosate in the Po River Basin (Northern Italy), one of the regions with the most intensified agriculture in Europe and where, by now for decades, a strong and general loss of aquatic biodiversity is observed.In order to carry out a more precise study of the real presence of this herbicide in the waters, samples were collected from the minor water network for two consecutive years, starting in 2022, at an interval time coinciding with those of the spring and summer crop treatments.In contrast to the sampling strategies generally adopted by Environmental Protection Agencies, a more focused sampling strategy was adopted to highlight the possible high concentrations in minor watercourses in direct contact with cultivated fields. Finally, we investigated the possible consequences that the higher amounts of Glyphosate found in our monitoring activities can have on stress reactions in plant (Groenlandia densa) and animal (Daphnia magna)In all the monitoring campaigns we detected exceeding European Environmental Quality Standard - EQS limits (0.1 μg/L) values. Furthermore, in some intensively agricultural areas, concentrations reached hundreds of μg/L, with the highest peaks during spring. In G. densa and D. magna, the exposition to increasing doses of herbicide showed a clear response linked to metabolic stress.Overall, our results highlight how, after several decades of its use, the Glyphosate use efficiency is still too low, leading to economic losses for the farm and to strong impacts on ecosystem health. Current EU policy indications call for an agroecological approach necessary to find alternatives to chemical weed control, which farms can develop in different contexts in order to achieve the sustainability goals set by the Farm to Fork strategy.

IMPACT OF THE WAR IN THE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE 2014-2024 PERIOD ON THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL STATE OF STUDENTS

The military conflict in Ukraine became a serious test for our country and its population, marking the beginning in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the events in the east of Ukraine. Donetsk and Luhansk became centers of armed conflicts with illegal armed formations.&#x0D; In 2022, the situation only worsened, when the aggressor country launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, deepening the humanitarian crisis and increasing the scale of the disaster.&#x0D; The duration of this military conflict is already almost 10 years, during this period it led to significant human losses, covering both the civilian population and military personnel. Many people were forced to leave their homes and become internally displaced persons of their own country.&#x0D; War not only has material losses and physical consequences, but also seriously affects the mental health of a nation. After two years of martial law, the deterioration of the mental state of the entire population is noticeable. War events cause stress reactions and trauma that persist long after hostilities have ceased.&#x0D; Everything said earlier indicates that it is necessary not only to restore destroyed houses and infrastructure, but what is especially important is to develop a methodology and create a system of psychological and psychiatric support for people who suffered from the military conflict. The need for rehabilitation programs and counseling becomes an important step in ensuring further recovery and strengthening of the nation's mental health [3].

Beneficial effects of mindfulness-based intervention on hippocampal volumes and episodic memory for childhood adversity survivors

BackgroundAdverse Childhood Experience (ACE) has detrimental impacts on neural development, especially hippocampal morphometry. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) has been shown to induce adaptive hippocampal changes especially at the subiculum. The present study aims to investigate the effects of MBI on subiculum volumes among ACE survivors, as well as the effects on episodic memory as a probe into hippocampal functionality. MethodsWe analyzed anatomical MRI data and performance indices from an episodic memory task called the Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST) collected from a randomized controlled longitudinal study that compared an 8-week MBI (N = 20) to an active control condition of Stress Management Education (SME) (N = 19). FreeSurfer 6.0 was used for automated hippocampal subfield segmentation and volumetric estimation. ResultsSignificant group differences were observed with the volumetric changes of the right whole hippocampus and right subiculum. Only the MBI group showed improved pattern separation capability from MST, which was associated with stress reduction and right subiculum volumetric changes. LimitationsModest sample size. MST task was performed outside of MRI. ConclusionsThese findings suggest beneficial effects of MBI for hippocampal volumes and episodic memory, while highlighting the importance of the subiculum for MBI-induced neural and cognitive changes. The subiculum's known role in inhibitory control was interpreted as a potential mechanism for it to exhibit MBI-induced volumetric changes, which sheds light on the potential neural underpinnings of mindfulness meditation for reducing stress reactivity among ACE survivors.

Abstract 759: Soy protein diet changes metabolic profile in liver of 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors in obese zucker rats

Abstract Obesity is associated with the risk of certain types of cancers development including breast cancer. Previously, we reported that obesity increased mammary tumor development using obese Zucker rat model. Several studies have shown the health benefit of soy protein consumption. However, the effects of soy protein diet on liver of mammary tumor for oxidative stress and DNA reaction is less known. We used DMBA induced-mammary tumor model to investigate the effects of soy protein diet on pro-oxidative environment and oxidative DNA modification in liver of obese DMBA mammary tumors rats. Female obese zucker rats (n=45) were either fed casein as control (OC; n=20) or soy protein isolate (OS; n=25), received DMBA (65mg/kg BW) at the age 50 days and sacrificed 20 weeks later. We used HPLC-ECD, HPLC-UV and LC-MS techniques for liver metabolic analysis. Comparing liver of OS vs. OC, soy protein 1) decreased the level of Methionine (P&amp;lt;0.02), increased 2) free reduced Homocysteine (P&amp;lt;0.02), 3) S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM, P&amp;lt;0.03), 4) S-Adenosyhomocysteine (SAH, P&amp;lt;0.001) and 5) 5methyl-Cytosine (5mC, P&amp;lt;0.03). Also, soy protein decreased (P&amp;lt;0.003) level of free oxidized Glutathione (GSSG), increased (P&amp;lt;0.02) GSH/GSSG oxidative stress ratio, without any changes a level of free reduced Glutathione (GSH), followed decrease (P&amp;lt;0.04) in liver DNA level of 8-OH-Guanosine (8-OH-G) and level (P&amp;lt;0.02) of 5hmethyl-Cytosine (5hmC). Our results shows soy protein diet capable change liver metabolism: a. Modify a methylation status by increasing levels of SAM (universal methyl group donor) following global liver DNA hypermethylation (5mC), and SAH (methylases inhibitor); b. Alleviate level of oxidative stress in liver by decreasing level of GSSG (not active glutathione), increasing GSH/GSSG ratio (antioxidative capacities), following lower ROS liver DNA damages by decrease levels of 8-OH-G and 5hmC. In conclusion, using obese DMBA-induced mammary tumor Zucker rat model, soy diet making a complex and significantly modification of metabolic conditions in liver affecting both methionine cycle and transsulfuration metabolic pathways. Citation Format: Reza Hakkak, Stepan Melnyk. Soy protein diet changes metabolic profile in liver of 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors in obese zucker rats [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 759.

The Research on Risk Factors for Adolescents' Mental Health.

There is a growing tendency for mental health disorders to emerge during adolescence. These disorders impair emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning, such as unsatisfying peer relationships, disruptive behavior, and decreased academic performance. They also contribute to vulnerability in later adulthood which negatively influences life-long well-being. Thus, research into etiology is imperative to provide implications for prevention and intervention within family and school practices. It is suggested that the onset of psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety, is closely related to stress levels and patterns of stress reaction. Therefore, considerable research has investigated the link between hereditary factors, economic status, dispositional vulnerability, social relationships, and stress levels. The current study examines existing evidence and identifies multifaceted risk factors for adolescents' mental problems across three layers, including individual traits and personality, family status and practices, as well as peer relationships, and school climate. It is also suggested that factors from these three perspectives interact and are closely interconnected, directly or indirectly contributing to adolescent psychopathology. The implications for future development of prevention and intervention programs, as well as therapy, are discussed.

MnO2 modified hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for enhanced chemodynamic therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) exert its influence in tumor therapy by disrupting the redox equilibrium within tumor cells, inciting a cascade of oxidative stress reactions, and hamper the proliferation and survival of tumor cells. Harnessing the abundant expression of glutathione (GSH) at tumor sites, we devised a drug delivery system based on hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSN), enveloped by an outer layer composed of MnO2. Upon exposure to GSH, MnO2 undergoes degradation into Mn2+, engaging in a Fenton reaction with the loaded dihydroartemisinin (DHA) within HMSN and intracellular H2O2. This intricate interplay results in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In vivo antitumor experiments showcased the significant efficacy of HMSN@DHA@MnO2 in restraining subcutaneous tumor growth in nude mice. Culminating in a striking tumor inhibition rate of 52.6%. The targeted methodology of this nanocarrier system holds substantial promise in advancing novel and efficacious strategies within the filed of tumor therapy.

'My child could have died': counterfactual thoughts and psychological distress in parents of trauma survivors.

Background: After exposure to a potentially traumatic event, survivors may experience thoughts about 'what could have happened', referred to as counterfactual thoughts (CFTs). CFTs have been found to have a negative impact on survivors' mental health. This is the first study to investigate whether parents of trauma survivors experience CFTs and the association with psychological distress in this group.Objective: The main aim of the present study is to investigate CFTs in parents of trauma survivors and the relationship between the frequency and vividness of CFTs and psychological distress.Method: The participants (N = 310, 191 females) were parents of the youths targeted in the terror attack on Utøya island, Norway, in 2011. Frequency and vividness of CFTs, posttraumatic stress reactions (PTSR), and symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured 8.5-9 years post-terror.Results: The majority of the parents (74%) reported having experienced CFTs at some time point since the attack. For almost one-third of the parents, CFTs were still present more than eight years after the attack. Higher frequency and vividness of CFTs were uniquely associated with higher levels of PTSR, anxiety, and depression.Conclusion: The present findings suggest that frequent and vivid CFTs may contribute to mental health problems in parents of trauma survivors and should be addressed in therapy.

GABAergic synapses from the ventral lateral septum to the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus modulate anxiety.

Emotional disorders, such as anxiety and depression, represent a major societal problem; however, the underlying neurological mechanism remains unknown. The ventral lateral septum (LSv) is implicated in regulating processes related to mood and motivation. In this study, we found that LSv GABAergic neurons were significantly activated in mice experiencing chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) after exposure to a social stressor. We then controlled LSv GABAergic neuron activity using a chemogenetic approach. The results showed that although manipulation of LSv GABAergic neurons had little effect on anxiety-like behavioral performances, the activation of LSv GABAergic neurons during CSDS worsened social anxiety during a social interaction (SI) test. Moreover, LSv GABAergic neurons showed strong projections to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, which is a central hub for stress reactions. Remarkably, while activation of GABAergic LSv-PVN projections induced social anxiety under basal conditions, activation of this pathway during CSDS alleviated social anxiety during the SI test. On the other hand, the chemogenetic manipulation of LSv GABAergic neurons or LSvGABA-PVN projections had no significant effect on despair-like behavioral performance in the tail suspension test. Overall, LS GABAergic neurons, particularly the LSv GABAergic-PVN circuit, has a regulatory role in pathological anxiety and is thus a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of emotional disorders.

Family and community resilience: a Photovoice study

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs), in combination with adverse community environments, can result in traumatic stress reactions, increasing a person’s risk for chronic physical and mental health conditions. Family resilience refers to the ability of families to withstand and rebound from adversity; it involves coping with disruptions as well as positive growth in the face of sudden or challenging life events, trauma, or adversities. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to family and community resilience from the perspective of families who self-identified as having a history of adversity and being resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis study used Photovoice, a visual participatory research method which asks participants to take photographs to illustrate their responses to a research question. Participants consisted of a maximum variation sample of families who demonstrated family level resilience in the context of the pair of ACEs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Family members were asked to collect approximately five images or videos that illustrated the facilitators and barriers to well-being for their family in their community. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted using the SHOWeD framework to allow participants to share and elucidate the meaning of their photos. Using thematic analysis, two researchers then independently completed line-by-line coding of interview transcripts before collaborating to develop consensus regarding key themes and interpretations.ResultsNine families were enrolled in the study. We identified five main themes that enhanced family resilience: (1) social support networks; (2) factors fostering children's development; (3) access and connection to nature; (4) having a space of one’s own; and (5) access to social services and community resources.ConclusionsIn the context of additional stresses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, resilient behaviours and strategies for families were identified. The creation or development of networks of intra- and inter-community bonds; the promotion of accessible parenting, housing, and other social services; and the conservation and expansion of natural environments may support resilience and health.