Effect of laughter on salivary endocrinological stress marker chromogranin A.

We investigated the effect of laughter on salivary endocrinological stress marker chromogranin A (CgA). In saliva samples collected from 11 healthy males before and after watching a comic film or a non-humorous control film, salivary CgA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples taken after watching the comic film showed increased levels of CgA. This tendency was more pronounced in individuals with lower initial levels of stress. The control samples showed no significant change in CgA levels. Stress score, subjectively evaluated using a visual analog scale, decreased significantly after watching the comic film. These findings suggest that, in addition to a stress relief effect, laughter can bring about feeling uplifted or fulfilled.

Circadian rhythm of human salivary chromogranin A.

We investigated the circadian rhythm of chromogranin A (CgA) concentrations in saliva and blood samples from 40 male college students collected at 7 : 00, 8 : 00, 10 : 30, 12 : 30, 17 : 30, and 22 : 30. CgA concentrations were determined by ELISA. Salivary CgA levels peaked upon awakening, and then quickly decreased to the nadir after 1 hour and maintained a low level throughout the day. On the other hand, plasma CgA did not show any obvious circadian rhythm. These findings suggest that salivary and plasma CgA has different routes of secretion.

Changes in cerebral blood flow under the prone condition with and without massage.

To investigate changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) under the prone condition with and without light massage on the back, we measured rCBF quantitatively in healthy human subjects using positron emission tomography with H(2)15O. Biochemical tests showed that the light massage (palm-pressure) reduced levels of stress-related serum cortisol and salivary stress protein chromogranin-A measured after the PET examination. Absolute rCBF significantly increased in the parietal cortex (precuneus) under the prone condition compared with the supine condition, and this rCBF increase was in parallel with comfortable sensation and slowing heart rate during the massage. Correlation analysis in statistical parametric mapping showed that the amygdalar and basal forebrain rCBF correlated with parasympathetic function (heart rate reduction), indicating involvement of the forebrain-amygdala system in mediating activities in the autonomic nervous system in the presence of comfortable sensation. To conclude, prone posture itself can stimulate the precuneus region to raise awareness, and the light massage on the back may help accommodate the brain to comfortable stimulation.

Evaluation of psychosomatic stress in children by measuring salivary chromogranin A.

AIM: To investigate the usefulness of salivary chromogranin A (CgA) and cortisol as stress markers, and the effects of distraction on the suppression of stress in children. METHODS: We examined salivary CgA and cortisol responses before and after venipuncture in hospitalized children with and without distraction using a kaleidoscope. RESULTS: Salivary CgA levels immediately after venipuncture were significantly higher than those immediately before it, and at 60 min after venipuncture they were significantly lower than those immediately after it. However, salivary cortisol showed no significant differences at any of the three time points. In contrast, distracted by the kaleidoscope, there were no significant differences in salivary CgA and cortisol levels at all three time points. CONCLUSION: In children, salivary CgA level is a useful marker of stress. As an index of the effect of distraction, the measurement of salivary CgA is useful.

Change in salivary physiological stress markers by spa bathing.

We assessed the stress relief effect of spa bathing by measuring sensitive salivary stress markers, cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA). From 12 healthy males, saliva samples were collected immediately before and after spa bathing, and 30 min after that. Salivary cortisol and CgA levels were determined by ELISA. Salivary cortisol levels decreased after spa bathing. This tendency was more pronounced in individuals with higher levels of stress. The high-stress group showed lower salivary CgA levels after spa bathing, while the low-stress group higher salivary CgA levels in the same condition. These findings suggest that the spa bathing has a moderate affect on the stress relief.

[Behavioral, stress and immunological evaluation methods of music therapy in elderly patients with senile dementia].

The purpose of this study was to clarify the efficacy of behavioral, stress and immunological evaluation methods in music therapy (MT) with elderly patients with senile dementia. The MT group consisted of 8 elderly patients with dementia and the control group included 8 similarly matched patients. A total of 25 sessions of music therapy were conducted for one hour, twice each week for three months. The Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Gottfries-Brane-Steen Scale (GBS), and Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (Behave-AD) were used to evaluate behavioral changes. Saliva Chromogranin A (Cg A) and Immunoglobulin A (Ig A) were used to assess changes in stress and immunological status, respectively. The results of the study were as follows: 1. In GBS, the mean score of "different symptoms common in dementia" improved significantly after MT. 2. The mean Behave-AD score of "paranoid and delusional ideation" was also significantly improved (p<0.05) after the intervention. 3. In the 25th session, mean saliva Cg A was significantly decreased after MT (p<0.05). IgA was slightly increased prior to intervention. Our results suggest that a combination of behavioral, stress and immunological evaluation methods were valuable for assessing changes that occurred during MT for elderly patients with dementia.

Relationship between lifestyle scores and salivary stress markers cortisol and chromogranin A.

The authors evaluated individuals' lifestyles and investigated the relationship between lifestyle scores and the incidence of salivary stress markers cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA). Saliva samples from 173 healthy male workers were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for salivary cortisol and CgA levels. Questionnaires concerning lifestyle were administered: respondents aged 20-39 years who had good scores for comprehensive lifestyle showed significantly lower levels of cortisol than did respondents with moderate or poor comprehensive lifestyle scores. Respondents aged 40-59 who scored better for general lifestyle than they did during the previous year showed significantly lower levels of CgA than did respondents reporting no improvement. These findings suggest that levels of salivary cortisol may be affected by current circumstances and that levels of CgA may be affected by changes in comprehensive lifestyle.

Behavioral and endocrinological evaluation of music therapy for elderly patients with dementia.

The present study investigated the effectiveness of music therapy for dementia patients using endocrinological and behavioral evaluations. The study comprised 10 patients with senile dementia who received music therapy; six had Alzheimer's dementia and four had vascular dementia. Music therapy was performed twice a week for 8 consecutive weeks (16 sessions). As a result, total scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) did not significantly change, but the scores of a subscale, "language", improved significantly. According to the Multidimensional Observation Scale For Elderly Subjects (MOSES), scores for "irritability" decreased significantly. Regarding changes in salivary chromogranin A (CgA) levels, the average was significantly decreased before session 16 compared to after this. These results suggest that the combination of endocrinological measurements, behavioral evaluations and functional assessment methods are useful in evaluating the effects of music therapy in persons with senile dementia.

Medical assessment of the health effects of short leisure trips.

Using responses to questionnaires and results of saliva samples from 40 women, the authors assessed the effects on health of participation in a short leisure trip (2 nights, 3 d) to Kyushu Island in Japan. They addressed transportation, sightseeing, and group activities during the tour, which might differ from participants' usual activities. Levels of the salivary endocrinological stress markers cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In each of the groups with characteristics considered healthy and related to lifestyle, patterns of behavior, perceived stressors, and stress reactions, a decrease in the cortisol levels and an increase in the CgA levels were apparent during the tour. The baseline for stress hormone changes was the levels on awakening on Day 1 (i.e., immediately before the tour). These findings suggest that even short periods of travel can bring about a reduction in di-stress and acquisition of eu-stress, experienced as feeling uplifted or fulfilled.

Effect of snack eating on sensitive salivary stress markers cortisol and chromogranin A.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of snack eating on salivary cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA). METHODS: From 14∶00 to 18∶00, starting two hours after consumption of a midday meal, saliva samples were collected every 30 minutes from 15 healthy males, 7 of whom (snack group) ate a snack immediately after the sampling at 15∶00. Salivary cortisol and CgA levels were determined by ELISA. Samples were controlled according to salivary flow rates. RESULTS: For the snack group, after snack consumption, salivary cortisol increased to exceed significance (p<0.05) at 15∶30 and rose even higher at 16∶00. In the control group, there was no such change. There was no significant change in salivary CgA in either the snack group or the control groups during the sampling period. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that no food should be consumed for at least 90 mins before saliva sampling for cortisol determination and that salivary CgA is probably not affected by snack eating.

Immunohistochemical localization of chromogranin a in the acinar cells of equine salivary glands contrasts with rodent glands.

We investigated the existence of chromogranin A (CgA) in salivary glands of the horse by Western blotting and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using an antiserum against a peptide sequence of equine CgA. We also compared its cellular distribution between the horse and rat salivary glands with a tyramide signal amplification immunofluorescence technique. Western blotting gave three significant immunoreactive bands (74, 56 and 48 kDa) in adrenal medulla and three major salivary glands of horses. Immunoreactivities for CgA measured by EIA in horses were 154.05 +/- 41.46, 20.32 +/- 5.59 and 4.43 +/- 2.23 pmol/g wet weight in the parotid gland, submandibular gland and sublingual gland, respectively, and 1.03 +/- 0.407 pmol/mg protein in the saliva. Immunohistochemically, the positive reactivity was mainly recognized at acinar cells in equine salivary glands. This exhibits a contrast to the finding in the rat salivary glands that the CgA immunoreactivity is localized at the duct cells of the submandibular gland. These results provide novel evidence that in the horse, CgA is stored in the acinar cells of salivary glands, and secreted into saliva.