Intra and interspecific audience effect on domestic dogs' behavioural displays and facial expressions.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of both intra- and interspecific audiences on dogs' facial expressions and behaviours. Forty-six dogs were exposed to three test conditions in which a food reward, initially available, was denied when in the presence of either a human (Human condition) or a dog audience (Dog condition), or in the absence of a visible audience (Non-social condition). Salivary cortisol was collected to evaluate the stress/arousal activation in the different conditions. Compared to the Non-social condition, the presence of a conspecific evoked more facial expressions, according to the DogFACS (Facial Action Coding System, an anatomically based tool to analyze facial expressions in domestic dogs), (EAD105-Ears downward), displacement behaviours (AD137-Nose licking, AD37-Lip wiping), tail wagging, whining, and panting (AD126). When facing a conspecific, dogs assumed a more avoidant attitude, keeping a distance and not looking at the stimuli, compared to when in the presence of the human partner. Dogs also exhibited more facial expressions (EAD102-Ears Adductor, EAD104-Ears Rotator), displacement behaviours (AD137-Nose licking, AD37-Lip wiping), panting (AD126) and whining when facing the conspecific than the human partner. Post-test cortisol was not influenced by any condition, and no association between pre-test cortisol and behavioural variables was found, thus strong differences in the levels of stress/arousal were unlikely to be responsible for differences in behavior between conditions. Considering the current results in the context of the available literature, we suggest that the higher displacement behaviors exhibited with the conspecifics were likely due to an increased level of uncertainty regarding the situations.

Interplay of Adolescents' and Parents' Mindsets of Socioeconomic Status on Adolescents' Stress-Related Outcomes.

The reciprocity and variation of values and beliefs are dynamic features of the parent-child relationship. Parents and adolescents may hold congruent or incongruent views regarding the malleability of socioeconomic status (mindset of SES), potentially influencing adolescents' psychological and physiological stress outcomes, as reflected in stress perceptions and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning. The current study investigated how patterns of parent-adolescent congruence and incongruence in mindset of SES were associated with adolescents' perceived stress and diurnal cortisol patterns four months later. A total of 253 adolescents (Mage = 12.60, 46.2% girls) and their parents (Mage = 40.09 years, 59.5% mothers) participated in this study. Polynomial regression analyses and response surface analyses showed that adolescents perceived lower levels of stress when they themselves or their parents reported a stronger growth mindset of SES. Additionally, adolescents with a stronger growth mindset of SES also exhibited a steeper diurnal cortisol slope. Moreover, parents' mindset significantly interacted with adolescents' mindset to influence adolescents' diurnal cortisol patterns such that when adolescents hold weaker growth mindset of SES, those with higher parental growth mindsets had significantly higher cortisol awakening response and steeper diurnal cortisol slope. Furthermore, adolescents who showed incongruence with their parents but had averagely stronger growth mindsets of SES reported a significantly steeper diurnal cortisol slope than those who had averagely weaker growth mindsets with their parents. The findings point to the beneficial impacts of the growth mindset of SES on stress-related outcomes among adolescents, as well as the significance of considering both parents' and adolescents' mindsets when exploring these associations.

Systematic evaluation of benzoylation for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of different analyte classes.

LC-MS is an indispensable tool for small molecule analysis in many fields; however, many small molecules require chemical derivatization to improve retention on commonly used reversed-phase columns and increase ionization. Benzoyl chloride (BzCl) derivatization is commonly used for derivatization of primary and secondary amines and phenolic alcohols, though evidence exists that with proper reaction conditions (i.e., specific bases), other hydroxyl groups may be derivatized too. Previous studies have examined BzCl concentration, reaction times, and reaction temperatures for derivatization of amines and phenols for LC-MS analysis; however, use of different bases, base concentration, and extending to conditions to hydroxyl groups for LC-MS analysis has not been well-studied. To address this understudied area and identify reaction conditions for both amino and hydroxyl groups, we performed a systematic study of reaction conditions on multiple classes of potential targets. For selected derivatization methods, detection limits and performance in a variety of biological matrices were assessed. Results highlight the importance of tailoring derivatization methods for a given application as they varied by molecule and/or molecule class. Compared to the standard BzCl method commonly used, alternative methods were identified to better derivatize challenging analytes (glucosamine, choline, cortisol, uridine, cytidine) with detection limits reaching 1100, 9, 38, 170, and 67 nM compared to undetectable, 170, 86, 1000, and 86 nM respectively. Sub-nanomolar detection limits were achieved for norepinephrine with alternative derivatization approaches. Improved derivatization methods for several classes and molecules including nucleosides, steroids, and molecules containing hydroxyl groups were also identified.

Hair cortisol levels are associated with overweight and obesity in the ELSA-Brasil cohort.

Introduction: Hair cortisol level has recently been identified as a promising marker for detecting long-term cortisol levels and a marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA) axis activity. However, research on the association between obesity and an altered cortisol metabolism remains controversial. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hair cortisol levels and overweight and obesity in participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 2,499 participants from the second follow-up (visit 3, 2017-2019) attending research centers in Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul states. Hair samples were collected, and cortisol levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Cortisol levels were classified as low (< 40 pg/mg), medium (40-128 pg/mg), or high (> 128 pg/mg). The participants were classified as eutrophic, overweight, or obese according to their weight (kg) and height (m2). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. Results: Of the 2499 individuals, 30% had eutrophic weight, 40% were overweight, and 30% were obese. Notably, cortisol levels gradually increased with increasing body weight. Among participants with high hair cortisol levels, 41.2% were classified as overweight and 34.2% as obese. Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that participants with high cortisol levels were 43% (OR =1.43; 95%CI: 1.02-2.03) more likely to be overweight and 72% (OR =1.72; 95%CI:1.20-2.47) more likely to be obese than participants with low hair cortisol levels. After adjustment for all covariates, high cortisol levels remained associated with obesity (OR = 1.54; 95%CI:1.02-2.31) and overweight (OR =1.33; 95%CI:0.91-1.94). Conclusion: In the ELSA-Brazil cohort, hair stress were positively associated with overweight and obesity. These results underscore the importance of considering stress and cortisol as potential factors in obesity prevention and intervention efforts, and highlight a novel aspect of the complex relationship between stress and obesity in the Brazilian population.

Wearable Sensing Device Integrated with Prestored Reagents for Cortisol Detection in Sweat.

Wearable sweat sensors have achieved rapid development since they hold great potential in personalized health monitoring. However, a typical difficulty in practical processes is the control of working conditions for biorecognition elements, e.g., pH level and ionic strength in sweat may decrease the affinity between analytes and recognition elements. Here, we developed a wearable sensing device for cortisol detection in sweat using an aptamer as the recognition element. The device integrated functions of sweat collection, reagent prestorage, and signal conversion. Especially, the components of prestored reagents were optimized according to the inherent characteristics of sweat samples and electrodes, which allowed us to keep optimal conditions for aptamers. The sweat samples were transferred from the inlet of the device to the reagent prestored chamber, and the dry preserved reagents were rehydrated with sweat and then arrived at the aptamer-modified electrodes. Sweat samples of volunteers were analyzed by the wearable sensing device, and the results showed a good correlation with those of the ELISA kit. We believe that this convenient and reliable wearable sensing device has significant potential in self-health monitoring.

Monitoring adrenal insufficiency through salivary steroids: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Various glucocorticoid replacement therapies (GRTs) are available for adrenal insufficiency (AI). However, their effectiveness in restoring glucocorticoid rhythm and exposure lacks adequate biochemical markers. We described the diurnal salivary cortisol (SalF) and cortisone (SalE) rhythm among different GRTs and analysed the associations between saliva-derived parameters and life quality questionnaires. METHODS: Control subjects (CSs, n = 28) and AI patients receiving hydrocortisone (HC, n = 9), cortisone acetate (CA, n = 23), and dual-release hydrocortisone once (DRHC-od, n = 10) and twice a day (DRHC-td, n = 6) collected 9 saliva samples from 07:00 to 23:00. Patients compiled Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Addison disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaires. SalE and SalF were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Exposure was monitored using SalE for HC and DRHC and SalF for CA. Area under the curve (AUC) was computed. Different GRTs were compared by Z-scores calculated from saliva-derived parameters. Questionnaire results predictors were evaluated with multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with controls, all GRTs resulted in glucocorticoid overexposure in the morning. Hydrocortisone, CA, and DRHC-td caused overexposure also in afternoon and evening. Compared with other treatments, CA determined increased Z-score-07:00 (P < .001), DRHC-td determined increased Z-score-AUC07:00→14:00 (P = .007), and DRHC-od induced lower Z-score-AUC14:00→23:00 (P = .015). Z-scores-AUC14:00→16:00 ≥ .619 best predicted questionnaire scores. CONCLUSIONS: None of the GRTs mimics normal glucocorticoid rhythmicity and exposure. SalE, SalF, and Z-score may be useful markers for monitoring and comparing different GRTs. Excess glucocorticoid in early afternoon best associated with depressive symptoms and worse life and sleep quality.

Canine and feline foetal fluids: Volume, hormonal and biochemical characterization during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the volume, the concentration of steroid hormones, and biochemical composition of the foetal fluids at different gestational ages in dogs and cats. METHODS: Following the ovariohysterectomy, the allantoic and amniotic fluid samples were collected from pregnant bitches and queens and were assigned to different groups according to their gestational age. RESULTS: The canine and feline allantoic fluid volume increased during pregnancy, reached its maximum values on days 40-49 and then decreased. The canine and feline amniotic fluid volume increased steadily by the last days of pregnancy. In spite of significant changes of sex hormones in the foetal fluids, their concentration and ratios were not significantly different between male and female fetuses. The canine amniotic cortisol concentration increased until days 40-49 and decreased significantly afterwards. The maximum cortisol concentrations in the feline allantoic and amniotic fluids were observed on days 50-60 and 40-49, respectively. During the canine pregnancy, the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, chloride, sodium, triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein, albumin and the activities of aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), amylase and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in the amniotic fluid were higher than the allantoic fluid. The magnesium, potassium, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, creatine and lipase were higher in the allantoic fluid. In the feline allantoic fluid, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, creatinine, albumin and glucose concentrations and the activities of creatine kinase (CK), GGT, LDH and lipase were higher. The ALP, AST activities, sodium and calcium concentrations were higher in the amniotic fluid (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Volume of foetal fluids was determined in dogs and cats. Concentration of sex hormones did not different between male and female fetuses.

Advancements in Cortisol Detection: From Conventional Methods to Next-Generation Technologies for Enhanced Hormone Monitoring.

The hormone cortisol, released as the end-product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, has a well-characterized circadian rhythm that enables an allostatic response to external stressors. When the pattern of secretion is disrupted, cortisol levels are chronically elevated, contributing to diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, mental health disorders, and diabetes. The diagnosis of chronic stress and stress related disorders depends upon accurate measurement of cortisol levels; currently, it is quantified using mass spectroscopy or immunoassay, in specialized laboratories with trained personnel. However, these methods are time-consuming, expensive and are unable to capture the dynamic biorhythm of the hormone. This critical review traces the path of cortisol detection from traditional laboratory-based methods to decentralised cortisol monitoring biosensors. A complete picture of cortisol biology and pathophysiology is provided, and the importance of precision medicine style monitoring of cortisol is highlighted. Antibody-based immunoassays still dominate the pipeline of development of point-of-care biosensors; new capture molecules such as aptamers and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) combined with technologies such as microfluidics, wearable electronics, and quantum dots offer improvements to limit of detection (LoD), specificity, and a shift toward rapid or continuous measurements. While a variety of different sensors and devices have been proposed, there still exists a need to produce quantitative tests for cortisol ─ using either rapid or continuous monitoring devices that can enable a personalized medicine approach to stress management. This can be addressed by synergistic combinations of technologies that can leverage low sample volumes, relevant limit of detection and rapid testing time, to better account for cortisol's shifting biorhythm. Trends in cortisol diagnostics toward rapid and continuous monitoring of hormones are highlighted, along with insights into choice of sample matrix.

The effect of cognitive reappraisal and early-life maternal care on neuroendocrine stress responses.

Early-life adversity (ELA) is related to profound dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, reflected in both, blunted or exaggerated cortisol stress responses in adulthood. Emotion regulation strategies such as cognitive reappraisal might contribute to this inconsistent finding. Here, we investigate an interaction of early-life maternal care (MC), where low MC represents a form of ELA, and instructed emotion regulation on cortisol responses to acute stress. Ninety-three healthy young women were assigned to a low (n = 33) or high (n = 60) MC group, based on self-reported early-life MC. In the laboratory, participants received regulation instructions, asking to cognitively reappraise (reappraisal group, n = 45) or to focus on senses (control group, n = 48) during subsequent stress exposure, induced by the Trier Social Stress Test. Salivary cortisol and subjective stress levels were measured repeatedly throughout the experiment. Multilevel model analyses confirmed a MC by emotion regulation interaction effect on cortisol trajectories, while controlling for hormonal status. Individuals with low MC in the control compared with the reappraisal group showed increased cortisol responses; individuals with high MC did not differ. These results highlight the significance of emotion regulation for HPA axis stress regulation following ELA exposure. They provide methodological and health implications, indicating emotion regulation as a promising target of treatment interventions for individuals with a history of ELA.

Prenatal stress and hair cortisol in a sample of Latina women.

BACKGROUND: Stress during pregnancy adversely impacts maternal and infant health. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic pituitary axis is a mediator of the relationship between stress and health. Evidence supporting an association between prenatal chronic stress and cortisol is limited, and the majority of research published has been conducted amongst White participants, who experience less chronic stress than people of color. AIM: This study investigated associations between various measures of prenatal stress and hair cortisol concentrations which is a biomarker of the integrated stress response in a sample of Latina participants during the third trimester of pregnancy. METHOD: Pregnant women (n=45) were surveyed with scales measuring chronic stress, perceived stress, pregnancy-related and pregnancy-specific anxiety. Hair samples were collected as an objective neuroendocrine measure of chronic stress. Linear regression analyses were performed to assess associations between stress measures and hair cortisol. Pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking during pregnancy, and steroid use during pregnancy were used as covariates in adjusted models. RESULTS: Chronic stress, operationalized as maternal reports of neighborhood/housing strain, daily activities and relationship strain, discrimination, and financial strain, was significantly associated with higher hair cortisol concentrations. No significant associations were found between hair cortisol and perceived stress, pregnancy-related anxiety, nor pregnancy-specific anxiety in adjusted models. CONCLUSION: Chronic stress may be a more robust correlate of physiological stress, as measured by hair cortisol in pregnancy, than other common measures of prenatal stress and anxiety.

Salivary and serum biomarkers to evaluate psychological disorders in burning mouth syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Burning mouth syndrome is a chronic pain syndrome mainly characterized by an intensive burning sensation of tongue. Previous studies have suggested that saliva/serum biomarkers in burning mouth syndrome might be associated with psychological disorders. The aim of systematic review was to observe whether the biomarkers in serum/saliva could be an alternative method to evaluate the psychological disorders in patients with burning mouth syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for papers published up to March 15, 2023. Risk of bias was measured by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RevMan was used for meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 467 articles were screened, which of 12 studies were included. These studies collected 43 different biomarkers in saliva and 35 in serum. Of these biomarkers, only three (cortisol, α-amylase, and IL-6) were analyzed in two or more studies. Only salivary cortisol levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared to the controls (Mean Difference = 1.39; 95% CI [0.80-1.97]; p < 0.001). Moreover, cortisol might be relevant to psychological scores, especially anxiety. CONCLUSION: Different papers have investigated salivary and serum biomarkers in burning mouth syndrome patients with controversial results. This meta-analysis showed that cortisol levels in saliva may be a potential biomarker to assess the psychological disorders in burning mouth syndrome patients.

An LC-MS/MS-based method for the simultaneous quantification of melatonin, cortisol and cortisone in saliva.

Disturbances in the diurnal pattern are associated with several clinical and psychological conditions, including depression and fatigue. Salivary sampling for melatonin, cortisol and cortisone provides a non-invasive method for frequent sampling and obtaining biochemical insight into the diurnal pattern of individuals. Therefore, a new liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based method for the measurement of salivary melatonin, cortisol and cortisone was developed and validated. The method required 250 µl saliva, used isotope dilution methodology and was based on a liquid-liquid extraction for sample preparation, reversed-phase chromatography and multiple reaction monitoring on a mass spectrometer for quantitation. The lower limits of quantification obtained were 0.010 nmol/L for melatonin, 0.5 nmol/L for cortisol and 1.00 nmol/L for cortisone and the limits of detection were 0.003 nmol/L, 0.15 nmol/L and 0.1 nmol/L respectively. The method imprecision was ≤14% for all measurands, and the method comparison showed highly comparable results with high correlation coefficients (all ≥0.964). Potential interference of cortisol and cortisone by prednisolone was observed and could be detected by chromatogram review. Typical diurnal patterns for melatonin, cortisol and cortisone were observed in the saliva of 20 cancer survivors who collected saliva throughout the day.

Black Phosphorus-Based Reusable Biosensor Platforms for the Ultrasensitive Detection of Cortisol in Saliva.

A black phosphorus (BP)-based reusable biosensor platform is developed for the repeated and real-time detection of cortisol using antibody-conjugated magnetic particle (MP) structures as a refreshable receptor. Here, we took advantage of the low-noise characteristics of a mechanically exfoliated BP-based field-effect transistor (FET) and hybridized it with anti-cortisol antibody-functionalized MPs to build a highly sensitive cortisol sensor. This strategy allowed us to detect cortisol down to 1 aM in real time and discriminate cortisol from other hormones. In this case, we could easily remove MPs with used antibodies from the surface of a BP-FET and reuse the chip for up to eight repeated sensing operations. Moreover, since our platform could be fabricated using conventional photolithography techniques and the sensor can be reused multiple times, one should be able to significantly reduce operation costs for practical applications. Furthermore, this method could be utilized to detect different hormones with high sensitivity and selectivity in complex environments such as artificial saliva solutions. In this respect, our reusable BP-FET biosensing platform can be a powerful tool for versatile applications such as clinical diagnosis and basic biological analysis by conjugating various antibodies.

A stability indicating RP-HPLC-UV assay method for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone, tretinoin, hydrocortisone, butylated hydroxytoluene and parabens in pharmaceutical creams.

Multicomponent drugs are medications that combine two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients in a single dosage form. These dosage forms improve the patient compliance, reduce the risk of drug interactions, and simplify dosing regimens. However, quality control of these multicomponent dosage forms can be challenging, especially if the final product contains four or more ingredients that are active (comprise stabilizers, preservatives, excipients, and other components). This problem can be more pronounced if the excipients can interfere with the analysis. In this work, a stability indicating assay method was developed and validated (according to the ICH International Guidelines) for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone (HQ), tretinoin (TRT), hydrocortisone (HCA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), methyl paraben (MP) and propyl paraben (PP) in commercially available pharmaceutical creams. The proposed method is based on gradient elution using X-Bridge C18 (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The linear ranges (µg/mL) were 240-560 for HQ, 24-56 for MP, 132-308 for HCA, 6-14 for PP, 12-28 for BHT, 6.6-15 for TRT. During the validation process, the intra- and interday precision and trueness (evaluated as recovery) were found to be below 2.0% and between 100-102%, respectively. System suitability tests (SST) allow validating the herein proposed procedure specifically for pharmaceutical and industrial applications. SST test shows that the reported procedure fulfill with the Guidelines, allowing excellent separation of the analytes with very sensitive, accurate (precise and true) and reproducible quantitation of each analytes. The method was successfully applied in forced degradation studies of the six analytes. Specifically, acid degradation slightly affected HCA and BHT (91% recovery), while alkaline degradation drastically reduced HCA recovery (5.5%) and moderately affected BHT (85%). Photodegradation primarily influenced TRT quantity, and oxidative degradation intensified the BHT peak (130%).

A cross-sectional study observing the association of psychosocial stress and dietary intake with gut microbiota genera and alpha diversity among a young adult cohort of black and white women in Birmingham, Alabama.

BACKGROUND: The relationships between psychosocial stress and diet with gut microbiota composition and diversity deserve ongoing investigation. The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations of psychosocial stress measures and dietary variables with gut microbiota genera abundance and alpha diversity among young adult, black and white females. The secondary aim was to explore mediators of psychosocial stress and gut microbiota diversity and abundance. METHODS: Data on 60 females who self-identified as African American (AA; n = 29) or European American (EA; n = 31) aged 21-45 years were included. Cortisol was measured in hair and saliva, and 16S analysis of stool samples were conducted. Discrimination experiences (recent and lifetime), perceived stress, and depression were evaluated based on validated instruments. Spearman correlations were performed to evaluate the influence of psychosocial stressors, cortisol measures, and dietary variables on gut microbiota genus abundance and alpha diversity measured by amplicon sequence variant (ASV) count. Mediation analyses assessed the role of select dietary variables and cortisol measures on the associations between psychosocial stress, Alistipes and Blautia abundance, and ASV count. RESULTS: AA females were found to have significantly lower ASV count and Blautia abundance. Results for the spearman correlations assessing the influence of psychosocial stress and dietary variables on gut microbiota abundance and ASV count were varied. Finally, diet nor cortisol was found to partially or fully mediate the associations between subjective stress measures, ASV count, and Alistipes and Blautia abundance. CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, AA females had lower alpha diversity and Blautia abundance compared to EA females. Some psychosocial stressors and dietary variables were found to be correlated with ASV count and few gut microbiota genera. Larger scale studies are needed to explore the relationships among psychosocial stress, diet and the gut microbiome.

Prospective associations of technostress at work, burnout symptoms, hair cortisol, and chronic low-grade inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Working conditions in the age of digitalization harbor risks for chronic stress and burnout. However, real-world investigations into biological effects of technostress, that is stress in the context of digital technology use, are sparse. This study prospectively assessed associations between technostress, general work stress, burnout symptoms, hair cortisol, and chronic low-grade inflammation. METHODS: Hospital employees (N = 238, 182 females, Mage = 28.5 years) participated in a prospective cohort study with two follow-ups six months apart (T2, T3). Participants answered standardized questionnaires on general job strain (job demand-control ratio), technostressors (work interruptions, multitasking, information overload), burnout symptoms (exhaustion, mental distance), and relevant confounders. Moreover, they provided capillary blood samples for C-reactive protein (CRP) and hair strands for hair cortisol concentration (HCC) analysis. Structural equation modelling was performed. RESULTS: The factorial structure of survey measures was confirmed. Burnout symptoms (MT2 = 2.17, MT3 = 2.33) and HCC (MT2 = 4.79, MT3 = 9.56; pg/mg) increased over time, CRP did not (MT2 = 1.15, MT3 = 1.21; mg/L). Adjusted path models showed that technostress was negatively associated with HCC (ß = -0.16, p =.003), but not with burnout and CRP. General work stress in contrast, was not significantly associated with burnout, HCC or CRP. Furthermore, there were reciprocal effects of CRP on HCC (ß = 0.28, p =.001) and of HCC on CRP (ß = -0.10, p ≤.001). Associations were robust in additional analyses including further confounders. CONCLUSION: This is the first study on prospective effects of technostress on employees' endocrine and inflammatory systems. Results suggest differential effects of technostress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity. Given its key role for long-term health, the findings have important implications for occupational health and safety in digitalized work environments.

Nociception related biomolecules in the adult human saliva: A scoping review with additional quantitative focus on cortisol.

Nociception related salivary biomolecules can be useful patients who are not able to self-report pain. We present the existing evidence on this topic using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and a more focused analysis of cortisol change after cold pain induction using the direction of effect analysis combined with risk of bias analysis using ROBINS-I. Five data bases were searched systematically for articles on adults with acute pain secondary to disease, injury, or experimentally induced pain. Forty three articles met the inclusion criteria for the general review and 11 of these were included in the cortisol-cold pain analysis. Salivary melatonin, kallikreins, pro-inflammatory cytokines, soluable TNF-α receptor II, secretory IgA, testosterone, salivary α-amylase (sAA) and, most commonly, cortisol have been studied in relation to acute pain. There is greatest information about cortisol and sAA which both rise after cold pain when compared with other modalities. Where participants have been subjected to both pain and stress, stress is consistently a more reliable predictor of salivary biomarker change than pain. There remain considerable challenges in identifying biomarkers that can be used in clinical practice to guide the measurement of nociception and treatment of pain. Standardization of methodology and researchers' greater awareness of the factors that affect salivary biomolecule concentrations are needed to improve our understanding of this field towards creating a clinically relevant body of evidence.

Hair cortisol concentration and its association with acute stress responses and recovery in a sample of medical students in Germany.

INTRODUCTION: Experiencing acute and chronic stress can contribute to adverse health outcomes. Responses to acute stress differ between individuals (i.e., stress reactivity) and the experience of chronic stress has been discussed to be associated with acute stress responses and stress recovery. This study thus aims to investigate whether hair cortisol concentration (HCC), being an indicator for hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity over a prolonged period of time, is associated with acute stress responses and recovery in a sample of medical students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From July 2020 to July 2021, medical students (n = 54) underwent a virtual-reality Trier Social Stress Test in which their blood pressure and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured, and hair samples were taken to determine HCC. Piecewise linear growth analyses were used to investigate whether HCC (categorized into low, medium and high levels) is associated with acute stress responses and recovery regarding blood pressure and HRV. RESULTS: Significant interaction effects in piecewise linear growth analyses showed that participants with higher levels of HCC had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure responses compared to participants with medium levels of HCC. No significant interaction effects were observed for HRV responses or for recovery measures. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that higher levels of HCC are associated with a lower cardiovascular response in terms of blood pressure to an acute stressor in medical students. Therefore, long-term HPA-axis activity may contribute to different magnitudes of acute stress responses in the autonomic nervous system. As the shown lower blood pressure responses to acute stress in individuals with increased long-term HPA-axis activity may represent inadequate stress responses, these should be further studied in order to find out more about their interaction and potential subsequent disease risks.

Extensive comparison of salivary collection, transportation, preparation, and storage methods: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Human saliva as a bodily fluid-similar to blood-is utilized for diagnostic purposes. Unlike blood sampling, collecting saliva is non-invasive, inexpensive, and readily accessible. There are no previously published systematic reviews regarding different collection, transportation, preparation, and storage methods for human saliva. DESIGN: This study has been prepared and organized according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. This systematic review has been registered at PROSPERO (Registration ID: CRD42023415384). The study question according to the PICO format was as followed: Comparison of the performance (C) of different saliva sampling, handling, transportation, and storage techniques and methods (I) assessed for analyzing stimulated or unstimulated human saliva (P and O). An electronic search was executed in Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed. RESULTS: Twenty-three descriptive human clinical studies published between 1995 and 2022 were included. Eight categories of salivary features and biomarkers were investigated (i.e., salivary flow rate, total saliva quantity, total protein, cortisol, testosterone, DNA quality and quantity, pH and buffering pH). Twenty-two saliva sampling methods/devices were utilized. Passive drooling, Salivette®, and spitting were the most utilized methods. Sampling times with optimum capabilities for cortisol, iodine, and oral cancer metabolites are suggested to be 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM, and 14:00 PM to 20:00 PM, respectively. There were 6 storage methods. Centrifuging samples and storing them at -70 °C to -80 °C was the most utilized storage method. For DNA quantity and quality, analyzing samples immediately after collection without centrifuging or storage, outperformed centrifuging samples and storing them at -70 °C to -80 °C. Non-coated Salivette® was the most successful method/device for analyzing salivary flow rate. CONCLUSION: It is highly suggested that scientists take aid from the reported categorized outcomes, and design their study questions based on the current voids for each method/device.

Comparison of the Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale with physiological and self-reported stress responses during ecological momentary assessment and during participation in a virtual reality version of the Trier Social Stress Test.

Valid approaches to conveniently measure stress reactivity are needed due to the growing evidence of its health-impairing effects. This study examined whether the Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale (PSRS) predicts cardiovascular and psychological responses to psychosocial stressors during daily life and during a virtual reality (VR) Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Medical students answered a standardized baseline questionnaire to assess perceived stress reactivity by the PSRS. The PSRS asks participants to rate the intensity of their typical affective responses to common stressors during daily life. They were further asked to participate in a VR-TSST and in an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) over a period of three consecutive workdays during daily life. Blood pressure and self-reported stress were repeatedly, heart rate variability (HRV) continuously measured during the VR-TSST and EMA. Furthermore, participants repeatedly assessed task demands, task control and social conflict during the EMA. Data was analysed using multilevel analysis and multiple linear regression. Results indicate that the PSRS moderates associations between blood pressure (but not HRV) and demands and control during daily life. Furthermore, the PSRS directly predicted self-reported stress, but did not moderate associations between self-reported stress and demands, control and social conflict. The PSRS did not predict physiological and self-reported stress responses to the VR-TSST. This study partly confirmed convergent validity of the PSRS to stress reactivity in daily life. Furthermore, the lack of association between the PSRS and stress responses to the VR-TSST calls for future studies to search for reliable and valid ways to assess stress reactivity.