Psychosocial stress based on public speech in humans: is there a real life/laboratory setting cross-adaptation?

Repeated or chronic exposure to stressors is associated with changes in neuroendocrine responses depending on the type, intensity, number and frequency of stress exposure as well as previous stress experience. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that salivary cortisol and cardiovascular responses to real-life psychosocial stressors related to public performance can cross-adapt with responses to psychosocial stress induced by public speech under laboratory setting. The sample consisted of 22 healthy male volunteers, which were either actors, more precisely students of dramatic arts or non-actors, students of other fields. The stress task consisted of 15 min anticipatory preparation phase and 15 min of public speech on an emotionally charged topic. The actors, who were accustomed to public speaking, responded with a rise in salivary cortisol as well as blood pressure to laboratory public speech. The values of salivary cortisol, systolic blood pressure and state anxiety were lower in actors compared to non-actors. Unlike non-actors, subjects with experience in public speaking did not show stress-induced rise in the heart rate. Evaluation of personality traits revealed that actors scored significantly higher in extraversion than the subjects in the non-actor group. In conclusion, neuroendocrine responses to real-life stressors in actors can partially cross-adapt with responses to psychosocial stress under laboratory setting. The most evident adaptation was at the level of heart rate responses. The public speech tasks may be of help in evaluation of the ability to cope with stress in real life in artists by simple laboratory testing.

Postural changes associated with public speech tests lead to mild and selective activation of stress hormone release.

We tested whether simulation of postural changes, which occur during public speech test procedures, activates cardiovascular system and stress hormone release that could interfere with the effect of psychosocial stress load. Young healthy male volunteers (n=8) underwent procedure imitating exactly all postural changes present in the psychosocial stress model based on public speech used in this laboratory (namely changes from sitting to standing and repeated sitting). Postural changes were associated with increases in heart rate, blood pressure, plasma concentrations of noradrenaline and aldosterone and elevation in plasma renin activity. In contrast to cardiovascular parameters, adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol and adrenaline, the main characteristics of hormonal response during mental stress, were not significantly influenced. The overall magnitude of all observed alterations was much smaller than that seen following mental stress procedures in our previous studies. This study provides evidence that changes in body posture during public speech test procedure influence hemodynamics and endocrine responses in a mild manner. Though this influence may represent a source of unspecific variance, substantial confounding effects on responses to the psychosocial component of the procedure are unlikely. In any case, models combining mental stressors and changes in body posture must be interpreted as complex stress stimuli.

[Prevalence of hepatitis B virus in women of childbearing age in Mali]. / Prévalence du virus de l'hépatite B chez les femmes en age de procréer au Mali.

A serological investigation on adult female in Mali show a high degree of positivity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers, of which 42% HBs Ag +. Only 6% exhibit active replication. The low prevalence of anti-HBs (+) with a high degree of anti-HB (+) explain a high incidence of infection with a low immune response to HBs antigen. The existence of anti-Delta (+) asymptomatic carriers is an additional support to a vaccination programme.

[Role Of Emigration In The Spread Of HIV Infection In The Region Of Kayes, Mali]. / Place De L'Emigration Dans La Propagation De L'Infection A VIH Dans La Region De Kayes, Mali.

AIM: To determine the impact of emigration on HIV transmission in the Kayes region. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2007 in the Fousseyni DAOU Hospital of Kayes. A total of 109 subjects were included - all participants were over 14 years old and were diagnosed as HIV positive. The variables studied were knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding HIV/AIDS, the notion of traveling outside of Mali and emigration. Pearson Chi2 and Fisher test were used for a bivariate analysis. RESULTS: The female/male sex ratio was of 2.51. In this data pool, 32.3% (10/31) of men were emigrants. More than a third 37.2% (29/78) of women had an emigrant as a sexual partner. There was no significant difference in the levels of knowledge regarding HIV between emigrants and those who never went abroad. The likelihood of having had relations with a sex worker in the preceding 12 months was nine times higher for an emigrant than to a non-emigrant [OR=9.13, CI 95% (2.20 - 37.84)].An emigrant was five times more likely to have at least two sexual partners [OR=5.11, CI 95% (1.37-18.94)]. CONCLUSION: This study showed that emigration is an important factor regarding the spread of HIV in the region of Kayes Mali. Sensitization of the candidates to emigration must be reinforced.

OBJECTIF: Déterminer la place de l'émigration sur la transmission du VIH dans la région de Kayes. PATIENTS ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale menée en 2007 à l'hôpital Fousseyni DAOU de Kayes. Au total 109 sujets de plus de 14 ans dépistés VIH positif ont été inclus. Les variables ont été les connaissances, attitudes et comportements par rapport au VIH/SIDA, la notion de voyage à l'extérieur du Mali et l'émigration. Le Chi2 de Pearson et le test exact de Fischer ont été utilisés pour l'analyse bivariée. RÉSULTATS: Le sex ratio a été de 2,51 en faveur du sexe féminin. Dans cette série, 32,3% (10/31) des hommes étaient des émigrants. Plus d'un tiers soit 37,2% (29/78) des femmes avaient comme partenaire sexuel un émigré. Il n'y a pas eu de différence significative entre les niveaux de connaissance en matière de VIH selon qu'on soit émigré ou non. Les risques qu'un émigré fréquente une professionnelle de sexe, 12 mois avant notre interview ont été 9 fois supérieurs à ceux d'un non émigré [OR=9,13 ; IC 95% (2,20 ­ 37,84)]. Un émigré était cinq fois plus susceptible d'avoir au moins deux partenaires sexuels [OR=5,11, 95% IC, (1,37 ­ 18,94)]. CONCLUSION: Cette étude a montré que le phénomène de l'émigration est un facteur d'expansion du VIH dans la région de Kayes au Mali. La sensibilisation des candidats à l'émigration doit être renforcée.