The psychophysiological mediators of stress as it relates to oncology in humans and animals

This study was designed to investigate the effect of stress on cancer development and treatment, and also to determine whether there is any cancer association personality profile. Human studies were supplemented by controlled animal studies. Twenty-nine male and female cancer subjects were studied along with twenty-nine controls. The animal study comprised ninety female Sprague-Dawley rats, which were divided into nine groups of ten. One group was treated with noise stress alone, while another group received no treatment at all. Three groups received the carcinogen 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene together with either noise stress, cortisone acetate or 6-mercaptopurine and the rate of tumour growth in these animals was compared to a group that received only the carcinogen, and after tumour growth these animals were subjected to chemotherapy. In addition to the chemotherapy, one of these groups received noise stress and another cortisone acetate. The stress level of the humans and animals was determined by physiological and psychological tests where applicable. The results of the human study revealed that the level of stress among the cancer subjects was higher than among the controls. Even though in some cases cancer development occured after an event that may be considered stressful, it was not easy to conclude whether stress occurred before or after the cancer development. The controlled animal studies revealed, though, that stress alone could not induce tumour development in the observation period of 280 days. Stress, however, influenced tumour growth when the rats were treated with the carcinogen. The findings of this study also suggested that immunosuppression might play a vital role in cancer development. A cancer associated personality profile, depicting among other things a schizophrenic character, was also detected among the human cancer subjects. The treatment of the cancer subjects who had high stress levels was less successful, and this was substantiated by the results of the animal study, which showed that stressed decreased the life span of the animals receiving chemotherapy and stress. The findings of this study suggest that even though stress may not initiate tumour growth, stress influences the growth of potential tumour cells, and may interfere with the response to treatment (AU)

The psychophysiological mediators of stress as it relates to oncology in humans and animals

This study was designed to investigate the effect of stress on cancer development and treatment, and also to determine whether there is any cancer association personality profile. Human studies were supplemented by controlled animal studies. Twenty-nine male and female cancer subjects were studied along with twenty-nine controls. The animal study comprised ninety female Sprague-Dawley rats, which were divided into nine groups of ten. One group was treated with noise stress alone, while another group received no treatment at all. Three groups received the carcinogen 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene together with either noise stress, cortisone acetate or 6-mercaptopurine and the rate of tumour growth in these animals was compared to a group that received only the carcinogen, and after tumour growth these animals were subjected to chemotherapy. In addition to the chemotherapy, one of these groups received noise stress and another cortisone acetate. The stress level of the humans and animals was determined by physiological and psychological tests where applicable. The results of the human study revealed that the level of stress among the cancer subjects was higher than among the controls. Even though in some cases cancer development occured after an event that may be considered stressful, it was not easy to conclude whether stress occurred before or after the cancer development. The controlled animal studies revealed, though, that stress alone could not induce tumour development in the observation period of 280 days. Stress, however, influenced tumour growth when the rats were treated with the carcinogen. The findings of this study also suggested that immunosuppression might play a vital role in cancer development. A cancer associated personality profile, depicting among other things a schizophrenic character, was also detected among the human cancer subjects. The treatment of the cancer subjects who had high stress levels was less successful, and this was substantiated by the results of the animal study, which showed that stressed decreased the life span of the animals receiving chemotherapy and stress. The findings of this study suggest that even though stress may not initiate tumour growth, stress influences the growth of potential tumour cells, and may interfere with the response to treatment.

A study of the relationship between stress and hypertension among factory workers in Jamaica

This study was designed to examine the relationship between stress and esssential hypertension among factory workers. Hypertensives were identified through screening, clinical investigations and questionnaire stating details of health related problems. Seven males and females under the age of 50, whose blood pressure remained above 140/90 and twenty-three matched normotensives were selected. The mean age for males and females was 34.4 and 44.2 respectively. Data were obtained by way of taking blood pressure readings at three intervals, a.m., noon and p.m., on Fridays (day 1) and repeated again on Monday(day 2), along with anxiety state and anxiety trait psychological inventory administered on both days. No significant differences between groups and sex were found on systolic, diastolic, age and measures of anxiety state and anxiety trait. Comparisions of correlation showed no significant relationships between anxiety state and anxiety trait compared with systolic and diastolic blood pressures. However, results showed significant positive relationships between anxiety state and anxiety trait, and between systolic and diastolic blood pressures. There was also, a negative correlation between anxiety state and age. The results of this finding indicate that as age increases, stress(anxiety state) decreases. Between systolic and diastolic blood pressures, there was no obvious linear relationship with age. However, when these variables were examined by means of graph, by age group, it was found that the 30-39 yers age group had a lower mean systolic pressure than either age groups, 20-29 and 40-49 years. Results showed that females in the 40-50 age group, tended to have higher blood pressure but lower anxiety than their male counterparts. There were significant differences between hypertensives and normotensives on measures of systolic and diatolic pressure. The hypertensives showed a trend of higher anxiety state, suggesting a greater level of stress than the normotensives. It is evident that psychological and social-environmental factors must be taken into account in the aetiology of essential hypertension. These results suggest that further research on essential hypertension and psychological factors on a longitudinal basis may be valuable in determining the aetiology of essential hypertension (AU)