Rising hospital admissions for alcohol-related cirrhosis and the impact of sex and comorbidity - a data linkage study.

OBJECTIVES: International studies have shown shifting demographic data and rising hospitalizations for alcohol-related cirrhosis (ARC), with a paucity of data from Australia. We examined hospitalizations, mortality and demographic data for people admitted with ARC over the last decade in Queensland, Australia. STUDY DESIGN: Data linkage study. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of adults hospitalized with ARC during 2008-2019 was performed using state-wide admissions data. International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, codes identified admissions with the principal diagnosis of ARC based on validated algorithms. Comorbidity was assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index. RESULTS: A total of 7152 individuals had 24,342 hospital admissions with ARC (16,388 were for ARC). There was a predominance of males (72.6%) and age ≥50 years (80.4%) at index admission. Females were admitted at a significantly younger age than men (59% of women and 43% of men were aged <60 years, P < 0.001). Comorbidities were common, with 45.1% of people having at least one comorbidity. More than half (54.6%) of the patients died over the study period (median follow-up time was 5.1 years; interquartile range 2.4-8.6). Women had significantly lower mortality, with 47.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 45.0-50.2) probability of 5-year survival, compared with 40.1% (95% CI 38.5-41.6) in men. In multivariable analysis, this was attributable to significantly lower age and comorbidity burden in women. Significantly lower survival was seen in people with higher comorbidity burden. Overall, the number of admissions for ARC increased 2.2-fold from 869 admissions in 2008 to 1932 in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital admissions for ARC have risen substantially in the last decade. Females were admitted at a younger age, with fewer comorbidities and had lower mortality compared with males. The association between greater comorbidity burden and higher mortality has important clinical implications, as comorbidity-directed interventions may reduce mortality.

Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma: importance of mRECIST response to chemoembolization and tumor size.

Determining risk for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following liver transplantation (LT) is an important clinical need. We assessed consecutive patients who underwent LT for HCC following sequential transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Treatment response was assessed using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) categories: complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD). Cox proportional hazard models were used to predict HCC recurrence. One hundred seventy-three patients underwent TACE and imaging to assess response prior to LT. TACE responses were: CR = 23.7%, PR = 24.3%, SD = 27.7% and PD = 24.3%. Five-year HCC recurrence rate was 5.3% in patients responding to TACE (CR/PR), versus 17.6%, among patients who did not respond (SD/PD, p = 0.014). In multivariate analysis, independent pre-LT predictors of recurrence were response to TACE and largest radiologic size of tumor (>3 cm vs. ≤3 cm). HCC recurrence rate for patients with tumor size >3 cm and no response to TACE was 35.8%, compared with 1.9% for patients with tumor size ≤3 cm and response to TACE (p = 0.0007). We conclude that mRECIST criteria and tumor size differentiate patients with high or low likelihood of HCC recurrence after LT. These findings raise the possibility of incorporating response to TACE and largest tumor size to identify patients at highest risk for HCC recurrence.

Inosine triphosphatase deficiency helps predict anaemia, anaemia management and response in chronic hepatitis C therapy.

Anaemia frequently complicates peginterferon/ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection. Better prediction of anaemia, ribavirin dose reduction or erythropoietin (EPO) need, may enhance patient management. Inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) genetic variants are associated with ribavirin-induced anaemia and dose reduction; however, their impact in real-life clinic patient cohorts remains to be defined. We studied 193 clinic patients with chronic hepatitis C infection of mixed viral genotype (genotype 1/4 n = 123, genotype 2/3, n = 70) treated with peginterferon/ribavirin. Patients were genotyped for ITPA polymorphisms rs1127354 and rs7270101 using Taqman primers. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was present. Estimated ITPA deficiency was graded on severity (0-3, no deficiency/mild/moderate/severe, n = 126/40/24/3, respectively). Multivariable models tested the association with anaemia at 4 weeks of treatment [including decline in haemoglobin (g/dL); haemoglobin <10 g/dL and haemoglobin decline >3 g/dL]; ribavirin dose reduction and EPO use and explored sustained viral response (SVR) to peginterferon/ribavirin. More severe ITPA deficiency was associated with less reduction in haemoglobin level (P <0.001; R(2) = 0.34), less ribavirin dose reduction (OR 0.42; (95% CI = 0.23-0.77); P = 0.005) and less EPO use [OR 0.53; (0.30-0.94); P = 0.029]. ITPA deficiency was associated with SVR [OR: 1.70; (1.02-2.83); P = 0.041] independently of clinical covariates (adjusted R(2) = 0.31). In this clinical cohort, ITPA deficiency helped predict the risk of on-treatment anaemia, ribavirin dose reduction, need for EPO support and was associated with SVR. For patients on HCV regimens including peginterferon/ribavirin, testing for ITPA deficiency may have clinical utility.

Elevated serum CK18 levels in chronic hepatitis C patients are associated with advanced fibrosis but not steatosis.

Cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) is a major intermediate filament protein in liver cells. The M30 fragment of CK-18 has been identified as a useful marker of apoptosis associated with fibrosis and steatosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We sought to assess the relationship of this marker and steatosis in a cohort of adult patients with chronic hepatitis C. The study cohort included sera from 267 treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and 100 healthy controls with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Biopsies from CHC patients were assessed for METAVIR fibrosis stage, Histology Activity Index (HAI) inflammation score and steatosis grade by expert histopathologists. The M30 fragment of CK-18 was quantified by ELISA. Wilcoxon Rank Sum, Spearman Correlation and Linear Regression tests were performed for statistical analysis. Median CK-18 levels were higher in CHC patients compared to controls (411 vs 196 U/L, P < 0.0001). Fibrosis stage was associated with increasing serum CK-18 levels (P = 0.015) and CK-18 levels were higher for F2-F4 vs F0-F1 (500 vs 344 U/L; P = 0.001). There was no association between CK-18 and increasing steatosis grade 1, 2 or 3 (460.7 vs 416.8 vs 508.3 U/L; P = 0.35) and presence or absence of steatosis (445.3 vs 365.8 U/L; P = 0.075). Fibrosis stage was independently associated with serum M30 in a multivariable linear regression model (P = 0.03). CK-18 levels were higher in CHC compared to healthy controls and associated with hepatic fibrosis. There was no difference in CK-18 M30 levels between CHC patients with and without steatosis. Although apoptosis may still contribute to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-mediated steatosis, our results suggest that serum CK-18 will not be a clinically useful test for identifying significant steatosis in CHC.

Interleukin 28B polymorphisms are the only common genetic variants associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in genotype-1 chronic hepatitis C and determine the association between LDL-C and treatment response.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and interleukin 28B (IL28B) polymorphism are associated with sustained viral response (SVR) to peginterferon/ribavirin (pegIFN/RBV) for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. IL28B has been linked with LDL-C levels using a candidate gene approach, but it is not known whether other genetic variants are associated with LDL-C, nor how these factors definitively affect SVR. We assessed genetic predictors of serum lipid and triglyceride levels in 1604 patients with genotype 1 (G1) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by genome-wide association study and developed multivariable predictive models of SVR. IL28B polymorphisms were the only common genetic variants associated with pretreatment LDL-C level in Caucasians (rs12980275, P = 4.7 × 10(-17), poor response IL28B variants associated with lower LDL-C). The association was dependent on HCV infection, IL28B genotype was no longer associated with LDL-C in SVR patients after treatment, while the association remained significant in non-SVR patients (P < 0.001). LDL-C was significantly associated with SVR for heterozygous IL28B genotype patients (P < 0.001) but not for homozygous genotypes. SVR modelling suggested that IL28B heterozygotes with LDL-C > 130 mg/dL and HCV RNA ≤600 000 IU/mL may anticipate cure rates >80%, while the absence of these two criteria was associated with an SVR rate of <35%. IL28B polymorphisms are the only common genetic variants associated with pretreatment LDL-C in G1-HCV. LDL-C remains significantly associated with SVR for heterozygous IL28B genotype patients, where LDL-C and HCV RNA burden may identify those patients with high or low likelihood of cure with pegIFN/RBV therapy.

Effects of repeated voluntary or forced exercise on brainstem serotonergic systems in rats.

Voluntary exercise increases stress resistance by modulating stress-responsive neurocircuitry, including brainstem serotonergic systems. However, it remains unknown how exercise produces adaptations to serotonergic systems. Recruitment of serotonergic systems during repeated, daily exercise could contribute to the adaptations in serotonergic systems following exercise, but whether repeated voluntary exercise recruits serotonergic systems is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of six weeks of voluntary or forced exercise on rat brain serotonergic systems. Specifically, we analyzed c-Fos and FosB/ΔFosB as markers of acute and chronic cellular activation, respectively, in combination with tryptophan hydroxylase, a marker of serotonergic neurons, within subregions of the dorsal raphe nucleus using immunohistochemical staining. Compared to sedentary controls, rats exposed to repeated forced exercise, but not repeated voluntary exercise, displayed decreased c-Fos expression in serotonergic neurons in the rostral dorsal portion of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRD) and increased c-Fos expression in serotonergic neurons in the caudal DR (DRC), and interfascicular part of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRI) during the active phase of the diurnal activity rhythm. Similarly, increases in c-Fos expression in serotonergic neurons in the DRC, DRI, and ventral portion of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRV) were observed in rats exposed to repeated forced exercise, compared to rats exposed to repeated voluntary exercise. Six weeks of forced exercise, relative to the sedentary control condition, also increased FosB/ΔFosB expression in DRD, DRI, and DRV serotonergic neurons. While both voluntary and forced exercise increase stress resistance, these results suggest that repeated forced exercise, but not repeated voluntary exercise, increases activation of DRI serotonergic neurons, an effect that may contribute to the stress resistance effects of forced exercise. These results also suggest that mechanisms of exercise-induced stress resistance may differ depending on the controllability of the exercise.

Intact neurogenesis is required for benefits of exercise on spatial memory but not motor performance or contextual fear conditioning in C57BL/6J mice.

The mammalian hippocampus continues to generate new neurons throughout life. Experiences such as exercise, anti-depressants, and stress regulate levels of neurogenesis. Exercise increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis and enhances behavioral performance on rotarod, contextual fear and water maze in rodents. To directly test whether intact neurogenesis is required for gains in behavioral performance from exercise in C57BL/6J mice, neurogenesis was reduced using focal gamma irradiation (3 sessions of 5 Gy). Two months after treatment, mice (total n=42 males and 42 females) (Irradiated or Sham), were placed with or without running wheels (Runner or Sedentary) for 54 days. The first 10 days mice received daily injections of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to label dividing cells. The last 14 days mice were tested on water maze (two trials per day for 5 days, then 1 h later probe test), rotarod (four trials per day for 3 days), and contextual fear conditioning (2 days), then measured for neurogenesis using immunohistochemical detection of BrdU and neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN) mature neuronal marker. Consistent with previous studies, in Sham animals, running increased neurogenesis fourfold and gains in performance were observed for the water maze (spatial learning and memory), rotarod (motor performance), and contextual fear (conditioning). These positive results provided the reference to determine whether gains in performance were blocked by irradiation. Irradiation reduced neurogenesis by 50% in both groups, Runner and Sedentary. Irradiation did not affect running or baseline performance on any task. Minimal changes in microglia associated with inflammation (using immunohistochemical detection of cd68) were detected at the time of behavioral testing. Irradiation did not reduce gains in performance on rotarod or contextual fear, however it eliminated gain in performance on the water maze. Results support the hypothesis that intact exercise-induced hippocampal neurogenesis is required for improved spatial memory, but not motor performance or contextual fear in C57BL/6J mice.

Utility of eosinophilia as a diagnostic clue in lower abdominal pain in northern Australia: a retrospective case-control study.

Acute eosinophilic enteritis is a difficult diagnosis to make. Insufficient consideration of eosinophilia may commit patients to surgical treatment when medical therapy may be appropriate. The aim of the study was to determine whether the eosinophil count was considered in the diagnostic evaluation of patients presenting with acute abdominal pain who subsequently underwent appendectomy and whether eosinophilia was related to subsequent histology. The method used in the study was retrospective case-control. None of three patients with increased eosinophil counts had histologically proven appendicitis (Fisher's exact test 0.025); worm segments were seen in two patients. None of 39 patients who had histologically proven appendicitis had increased eosinophil counts. Eosinophilia may be underutilized and helminth infection may not be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. A normal eosinophil count in the setting of clinically suspected appendicitis may make the diagnosis of eosinophilic enteritis less likely, but does not exclude it. Patients with abdominal pain and peripheral eosinophilia appear less likely to have acute appendicitis on subsequent histology; however, further study is required to validate these findings. The decision to operate remains one of clinical judgement.

Liver-related mortality in countries of the developed world: an ecological study approach to explain the variability.

BACKGROUND: Liver-related mortality varies across developed nations. AIM: To assess the relative role of various risk factors in relation to liver-related mortality in an ecological study approach. METHODS: Data for liver-related mortality, prevalence data for hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), alcohol consumption per capita, Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), overweight and obesity were extracted from peer-reviewed publications or WHO databases for different developed countries. As potential other risk-modifying factors, purchase power parity (PPP)-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and health expenditure per capita were assessed. As an environmental 'hygiene factor', we also assessed the effect of the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori. Only countries with a PPP-adjusted GDP greater than $20 000 and valid information for at least 8 risk modifiers were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were utilised to quantify the contribution to the variability in liver-related mortality. RESULTS: The proportion of chronic liver diseases (CLD)-related mortality ranged from 0.73-2.40% [mean 1.56%, 95% CI (1.43-1.69)] of all deaths. Univariately, CLD-related mortality was significantly associated with Hepatitis B prevalence, alcohol consumption, PPP-adjusted GDP (all P < 0.05) and potentially H. pylori prevalence (P = 0.055). Other investigated factors, including hepatitis C, did not yield significance. Backward elimination suggested hepatitis B, alcohol consumption and PPP-adjusted GDP as risk factors (explaining 66.3% of the variability). CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B infection, alcohol consumption and GDP, but not hepatitis C or other factors, explain most of the variance of liver-related mortality.

Retention and structure of extracellular matrix in early chick embryos after quick-freezing and freeze-substitution.

Early chick embryos, stages 11 to 14, were isolated, quick-frozen by immersion in isopentane/propane cryogen (-185 degrees C) and freeze-substituted for study by scanning electron microscopy. Emphasis was placed on the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the axial region of the segmental plate and developing somites. Ultrarapid freezing, followed by delicate freeze-substitution, immobilizes and retains much more ECM than chemical fixatives that include tannic acid (TA). The matrix on the dorsal surface of the neural tube is preserved as delicate filaments which are expressed bilaterally over the tube in a dorso-ventral orientation. These parallel primary ridges of ECM have a spacing of 1 to 3 micron, forming grooves on the wall of the neural tube. Interrupting this pattern are funnel-shaped ridges about 80 to 100 micron apart along the neural tube. The ridges become decorated with cross-bridges creating a dense lattice in the region of somite development, to the extent that a basal lamina composed of dense fibrillar network and amorphous mats of matrix accumulates on the lateral wall of the neural tube. Heavy strands and fenestrated lamellae of ECM interconnect the neural tube, notochord and somites, and attach the overlying epithelium to the upper surface of the somites. The pattern of ECM is complimentary to the migratory pathways of ventrally migrating neural crest cells and is the basis for suggesting that a physical substratum influencing the direction of neural crest cell migration is an idea that should be revived.

Asbestos in water supplies of the United States.

The review of available data on the concentrations of asbestos in U.S. water supplies suggests that the majority of water consumers are not exposed to asbestos concentrations over 1 million fibers/Liter. A few populations, however, may be exposed to concentrations over 1 billion fibers/L. Of the 538 water supplies for which waterborne asbestos data are available, 8% have concentrations of fibers over 10 million fibers/L. The vast majority of asbestos fibers found in U.S. water supplies are under 5 micron in length.

Concentration and size of asbestos in water supplies.

A review of the results of over 1500 asbestos analyses from U.S. water supplies suggests that the majority of water consumers are not exposed to asbestos concentrations in their drinking water over 1 x 10(6) fibers per liter. There are, however, some populations that are exposed to waterborne asbestos concentrations over 10 x 10(6) fibers per liter caused by natural erosion, mine processing wastes, waste pile erosion, corrosion of asbestos cement pipe, or disintegration of asbestos tile roofs running into cisterns. The distribution of fiber sizes in the water is dependent on the source of the fibers. The average length of chrysotile fibers found in an asbestos cement distribution system was 4 micrometers, while the average fiber length of chrysotile fibers contributed to a water supply by natural erosion was 1 micrometer.

Safety and efficacy of the Alexandrite laser for the treatment of renal and ureteral calculi.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety and efficacy of the Alexandrite laser for intracorporeal lithotripsy of renal and ureteral stones in conjunction with ureterorenoscopy or percutaneous nephrostolithotomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 137 patients with 169 calculi in 143 renoureteral units who were treated with the Alexandrite laser via a retrograde (91.5%) or antegrade (8.5%) endoscopic approach. RESULTS: Adequate intraoperative fragmentation of the stone was observed in 88.8% of the cases. No intraoperative complications were attributable to the laser. At a mean follow-up of 34 days, the overall stone-free rate was 74.4%. The stone-free rate for ureteral stones (n = 115) was 80%, whereas the stone-free rate for renal stones (n = 22) was only 44%. In the best subgroup of ureteral stones (10 mm or less in the distal ureter), the stone-free rate was 97.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The Alexandrite laser is a safe modality for intracorporeal lithotripsy and is highly effective for ureteral stones less than 10 mm in size.

Puberty and olfactory preferences of males.

The preferences of 302 males, aged 8-9, 14 and 16 years, for ten food related odors were determined using a hedonic scale. The aim was to establish if major changes in preferences occur during the period which encompasses puberty. Small but significant differences between the 8-9 year group and the others were obtained for meat and chicken odors; between the 14 year group and the others for peanut butter odor; and there was a change from dislike to like with age for coffee odor. The results were almost all confirmed in a retest. The general lack of differences between the responses of the three age groups indicated that no major change occurs in preferences for food odors between the ages of 8 and 16 years. Although these results indicate that olfactory preferences for food odors are not affected by puberty, they do not eliminate the possibility that preferences may be altered for odors related to sex and emotion [13].

X-ray microanalysis of calcium, potassium, and phosphorus in liver mitochondria stressed by carbon tetrachloride.

Previous measurements of elemental concentrations in liver mitochondria have generally required homogenization and fractionation of liver tissue, a procedure in which it is difficult to rule out ion movement between subcellular units. New techniques involving cryoultramicrotomy of rapidly frozen tissue, high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray microanalysis were used to measure those elements in rat liver mitochondria reported to have changed following oral administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Increases in liver mitochondrial calcium were found 24 hr following intoxication by CCl4. Significant early (2 hr) mitochondrial increases in potassium and phosphorus were found following administration of CCl4. The electron microscope technique using quick-frozen samples promises to allow measurement of intracellular ionic concentrations under virtually lifelike conditions.

Evaluation of two lead-based paint removal and waste stabilization technology combinations on typical exterior surfaces.

A study was conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of a wet abrasive blasting technology to remove lead-based paint from exterior wood siding and brick substrates as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of two waste stabilization technologies to stabilize the resulting blast media (coal slag and mineral sand) paint debris thereby reducing the leachable lead content. The lead-based paint removal technology effectiveness was determined by the use of an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrum analyzer (L- and K-shell). The effectiveness of the technologies to stabilize the debris was evaluated through the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). Wet abrasive blasting effectively removed the lead-based paint coating from both the wood and brick substrates to below the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Guideline (1mg/cm(2)) with no minimal or no damage to the underlying substrates (P<0.0001). The mean area air levels of lead-containing particulate generated during paint removal were significantly below the personal exposure limit (PEL) (P<0.0001). However, the mean personal breathing zone lead levels were approximately three times higher than the PEL. Neither of the two stabilization technologies consistently stabilized the resultant paint debris to achieve a leachable lead content below the RCRA regulatory threshold of <5 mg/l.

Oestrus prediction in dairy cows using an ELISA progesterone test.

The commercially available test kit for assaying milk progesterone was used in the practice laboratory on samples taken daily from cows 17 to 24 days after service. Improved oestrus detection rates and accuracy were achieved by predicting the onset of oestrus. Similar results were obtained by sampling on days 18, 20, 22 and 24 or on days 19, 21 and 23 after service. Calving to conception intervals improved from 115 to 84 days in one herd and from 85 to 74 days in another and the potential economic benefits in these two herds outweighed the costs by 7.4:1 and 3.4:1, respectively.

Contamination of diagnostic ophthalmic solutions in primary eye care settings.

Pharmaceutical agents and irrigating solutions are widely used in both optometric and ophthalmologic practices. Contamination of these containers or solutions could possibly pose some risk of infection to a patient. We set out to investigate the possible contamination of a representative sample of these containers in small office practices. Representative bottles of two diagnostic pharmaceutical agents and an irrigating solution were obtained from primary care optometric and ophthalmologic practices in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay area. These bottles were tested to investigate the rate of contamination and to identify the types of microorganisms in the contaminated solutions. Sixty total samples (proparacaine, tropicamide, and an irrigating solution) were randomly cultured, and 11.7% of the samples showed contamination. Pseudomonas cepacia, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas putida, and Streptococcus species were the predominant organisms isolated from the contaminated bottles. In addition, 17 of the original 60 containers were further cultured for investigation of the dried residue particles around the threads of the containers. Of these 17 containers, 13 (76.5%) tested positive for Staphylococcus and Micrococcus species.

Children with HIV: an update.

Standard practices of care for HIV-infected pregnant women and newborns are undergoing rapid changes. Definitive HIV diagnosis in early infancy and improved medical care make it possible for children with HIV infection to live much longer. Widespread underdiagnosis, however, remains a major obstacle to implementing these advances.

Repeated fear-induced diurnal rhythm disruptions predict PTSD-like sensitized physiological acute stress responses in F344 rats.

AIM: To identify objective factors that can predict future sensitized stress responses, thus allowing for effective intervention prior to developing sensitization and subsequent stress-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: Adult male F344 rats implanted with biotelemetry devices were exposed to repeated conditioned fear or control conditions for 22 days followed by exposure to either no, mild or severe acute stress on day 23. Diurnal rhythms of locomotor activity (LA), heart rate (HR) and core body temperature (CBT) were biotelemetrically monitored throughout the study. In a subset of rat not implanted, corticosterone and indices of chronic stress were measured immediately following stress. RESULTS: Rats exposed to repeated fear had fear-evoked increases in behavioural freezing and HR/CBT during exposure to the fear environment and displayed indices of chronic stress. Repeated fear produced flattening of diurnal rhythms in LA, HR and CBT. Repeated fear did not sensitize the corticosterone response to acute stress, but produced sensitized HR/CBT responses following acute stress, relative to the effect of acute stress in the absence of a history of repeated fear. Greater diurnal rhythm disruptions during repeated fear predicted sensitized acute stress-induced physiological responses. Rats exposed to repeated fear also displayed flattened diurnal LA and basal increases in HR. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to repeated fear produces outcomes consistent with those observed in PTSD. The results suggest that diurnal rhythm disruptions during chronic stressors may help predict sensitized physiological stress responses following traumatic events. Monitoring diurnal disruptions during repeated stress may thus help predict susceptibility to PTSD.