Associations of serum cortisol and inflammatory marker features with depression and anxiety in young women with gynecologic cancer.

PURPOSE: Serum cortisol and inflammatory markers may play a role in depression and anxiety, but little is known about whether various features of serum cortisol and inflammatory markers have different associations with depression and anxiety. This study examines the associations of serum cortisol and inflammatory marker features with depression and anxiety in young women with gynecologic cancer. METHODS: Sixty-four young women with gynecologic cancer, aged 15-39 years, were recruited in a tertiary general hospital and a tertiary hospital specializing in oncology in China from May to December 2021. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to evaluate depression and anxiety. Blood samples were taken at 8 am, 4 pm, and 10 pm on the same day to examine the various features (average, variability, and diurnal patterns) of serum cortisol and inflammatory markers, namely C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). RESULTS: Young women with gynecologic cancer who reported depression/anxiety had significantly higher average levels of serum cortisol, IL-6 and TNF-α than those who did not. The dysregulations in the diurnal patterns of serum cortisol and IL-6 were associated with depression and anxiety. Serum cortisol levels were significantly higher in the depression/anxiety group at 10 pm. Depression and anxiety were associated with elevated levels of IL-6 and TNF-α at each time point. CONCLUSION: This study revealed various associations of serum cortisol and inflammatory marker features with depression and anxiety in young women with gynecologic cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of serum cortisol and inflammatory marker features in the progression of depression and anxiety.

[Item selection for perinatal maternal health literacy scale].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a more reliable and accurate scale of perinatal maternal health literacy during perinatal period by selecting items form existing scale. METHODS: Two rounds of inquiry were performed by 14 experts on mother and children to evaluate the necessary and importance of 56 items by Delphi method, in which 50 items were retained. Th en we proceeded a cross-sectional survey in 350 woman who just gave birth 1-3 days before. 10% of them were selected to retest aft er 1 week. Based on these data, we used 6 different methods to select items and kept those that could pass by at least 3 different methods. The methods used in data analysis were Chi-square test, correlation coefficient method (2 kinds), factor analysis, Cronbach α coefficient method and the retest reliability method. RESULTS: The Person correlation coefficient was 0.507 (P=0.004). By using the 6 statistical methods, we deleted 9 items through Chi-square test, 25 items through correlation coefficient method 1, 1 item through correlation coefficient method 2, 19 items through Cronbach α coefficient method, 8 items through factor analysis and 37 items through retest reliability method. In the end, 33 items were retained for the novel scale of maternal health literacy during perinatal period. CONCLUSION: Simplified novel scale is acquired, which need to do large efforts before extensive use, such as large sample survey, reliability and validity test.