Effects of Chronic Stress and Comfort Food in Testicular Morphology in Adult Wistar Rats.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of chronic stress on testicular morphology in adult Wistar rats, as well as the impact of comfort food consumption on these parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 32 Wistar rats (10 weeks old) were divided into four groups: control (C), stressed (S), control + comfort food (C+CF), and stressed + comfort food (S+CF). Chronic stress was induced by the restraint method during 8 weeks in groups S and S+CF, while groups C and C+CF were maintained under normal conditions. Groups C and S received a standard rat chow diet, while groups C+CF and S+CF received both the standard chow and comfort food (Froot Loops®). After 8 weeks of experiment, all animals were euthanized and the testes were collected for histomorphometric, immunohistochemical and gene expression analysis. RESULTS: Comfort food was preferred over standard chow in groups C+CF and S+CF, but this preference was more preeminent in stressed animals (S+CF). The consumption of comfort food resulted in testicular weight reduction. The seminipherous epithelium was reduced in group S in comparison to controls. While comfort food also reduced the epithelium in C+CF in comparison to controls, for group S+CF the comfort food ameliorated the stress-induced damage. The cell proliferation rate and the relative expression of StAR and BLC2 genes were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: Both chronic stress and comfort food consumption resulted in morphological alterations of the testes but the consumption of comfort foods during chronic stress partially prevented the stress-induced detrimental effects on testes.

Lifetime and Acute Stress Predict Functional Outcomes Following Stroke: Findings From the Longitudinal STRONG Study.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a sudden-onset, uncontrollable event; stroke-related stress may impede rehabilitation and recovery. Lifetime stress may sensitize patients to experiencing greater stroke-related stress and indirectly affect outcomes. We examine lifetime stress as predictor of poststroke acute stress and examine lifetime and acute stress as predictors of 3- and 12-month functional status. We also compare acute stress and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale as predictors of poststroke functional status. METHODS: Between 2016 and 2020 the STRONG Study (Stroke, Stress, Rehabilitation, and Genetics) enrolled adults with new radiologically confirmed stroke 2 to 10 days poststroke onset at 28 acute care US hospitals. Participants were interviewed 3 times: acute admission (acute stress; Acute Stress Disorder Interview), 3 months (Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity motor impairment [Fugl-Meyer Upper Arm Assessment; N=431], modified Rankin Scale [3 months; N=542], Stroke Impact Scale-Activities of Daily Living [3 months; N=511], Lifetime Stress Exposure Inventory), and 12 months (modified Rankin Scale, N=533; Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 Activities of Daily Living; N=485; Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment; N=484) poststroke. Structural equation models examined whether acute stress predicted 3- and 12-month functional outcomes, and mediated an association between lifetime stress and outcomes controlling for demographics and initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Standardized betas are reported. RESULTS: Sample (N=763) was 19 to 95 years old (mean=63; SD=14.9); 448 (58.7%) were male. Acute stress scores ranged from 0 to 14 (mean, 3.52 [95% CI, 3.31-3.73]). Controlling for age, gender, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and race and ethnicity, higher lifetime stress predicted higher acute stress (ß=0.18, P<0.001), which predicted lower 3-month Fugl-Meyer Upper Arm Assessment scores (ß=-0.19, P<0.001), lower Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 Activities of Daily Living scores at 3 months (ß=-0.21, P<0.001) and 12 months (ß=-0.21, P<0.001), higher modified Rankin Scale scores at 3 months (ß=0.23, P<0.001) and 12 months (ß=0.22, P<0.001), and lower 12-month Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores (ß=-0.20, P<0.001). Acute stress predicted 12-month tMoCA (χ2[1]=5.29, P=0.022) more strongly, 3-month and 12-month modified Rankin Scale and SIS scores as strongly (all Ps>0.18), but Fugl-Meyer scores (χ2[1]=7.01, P=0.008) less strongly than baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime stress/trauma is associated with more poststroke acute stress, which is associated with greater motor and cognitive impairment and disability 3 and 12 months poststroke. Poststroke interventions for acute stress may help mitigate stroke-related disability.

Incidence and Direct Medical Cost of Acute Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Korea: Based on National Health Insurance Service Claims Data from 2011 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the annual incidence of trauma and stress-related mental disorder including acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the National Health Insurance Service Database. In addition, we estimated direct medical cost of ASD and PTSD in Korea. METHODS: To examine the incidence, we selected patients who had at least one medical claim containing a 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems code for ASD (F43.0) and PTSD (F43.1) and had not been diagnosed in the previous 360 days, from 2010 to 2017. We estimated annual incidence and the number of newly diagnosed patients of ASD and PTSD. Annual prevalence and direct medical cost of ASD and PTSD were also estimated. RESULTS: The number of newly diagnosed cases of ASD and PTSD from 2011 to 2017 totaled 38,298 and 21,402, respectively. The mean annual incidence of ASD ranged from 8.4 to 13.7 per 100,000 population and that of PTSD ranged from 4.2 to 8.3 per 100,000 population, respectively. The incidence of ASD was found more in females and was highest among the 70-79 years of age group and the self-employed individuals group. The incidence of PTSD was also more common in the female group. However, the incidence of PTSD was highest in the 60-69 years of age group and in the medical aid beneficiaries group. The annual estimated medical cost per person of ASD ranged from 104 to 149 US dollars (USD). In addition, that of PTSD ranged from 310 to 426 USD. CONCLUSION: From 2011 to 2017, the annual incidence and direct medical cost of ASD and PTSD in Korea were increased. Proper information on ASD and PTSD will not only allows us to accumulate more knowledge about these disorders themselves but also lead to more appropriate therapeutic interventions by improving the ability to cope with these trauma related psychiatric sequelae.

[Progress of traumatic stress disorder in emergency rescue workers].

Emergency rescue workers are the high risk group of traumatic stress disorder. A large number of intervention studies on traumatic stress disorder have been carried out at home and abroad, but there are few applied researches on the emergency rescue population. As an occupational hazard faced by the emergency rescue population, traumatic stress disorder has not attracted enough attention. In this paper, the psychological intervention, drug intervention, psychological training and social support were reviewed.

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Acute Posttrauma Distress: A Randomized, Controlled Proof-of-Concept Study Among Hospitalized Adults With Burns.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Safety, Meaning, Activation and Resilience Training (SMART) intervention vs nondirective supportive psychotherapy (NDSP) in an acutely hospitalized adult survivor of burn injury sample; and (2) to assess the preliminary effect of SMART on acute stress disorder (ASD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and major depressive disorder (MDD) symptom reduction as secondary prevention. DESIGN: Proof-of-concept, parallel group RCT design. SETTING: Regional burn center. PARTICIPANTS: Acutely injured, hospitalized adult survivors of burn injury (N=50) were randomly assigned to SMART (n=28) or nondirective supportive psychotherapy (n=22). Due to dropout and missing data, final sample size was 40, SMART (n=21) and nondirective supportive psychotherapy (n=19). INTERVENTIONS: SMART is a manualized, 4-session cognitive behavioral therapy-based psychological intervention targeting ASD, PTSD, and MDD symptoms. NDSP is a manualized, 4-session protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Davidson Trauma Scale ([DTS]; diagnostic proxy for ASD and PTSD; clinical cutoff=40, with higher score=higher severity) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ([PHQ-9]; diagnostic proxy for MDD; clinical cutoff=10, with higher score=higher severity) at pretreatment, immediate posttreatment, and 1 month posttreatment. RESULTS: At baseline, median DTS scores and PHQ-9 scores were above clinical cutoffs and did not differ across groups. At 1 week and 1 month posttreatment, median DTS and PHQ-9 scores were beneath clinical cutoffs in the SMART group; scores remained above clinical cutoffs in the NDSP group at these time points. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to conduct an RCT of SMART in hospitalized adult survivors of burn injury. SMART has the potential to yield clinically significant outcomes. Additional studies are needed to replicate and extend these findings.

[The altered topology of brain structural network in patients with acute stress response after traffic accident].

Objective: To explore the changes of brain activities in traffic accident survivors with acute stress response (ASR) within a week by using complex networks analysis method based on graph-theory, and to find out the alteration of topological properties in structural brain network. Method: From January, 2013 to February, 2016, twenty traffic accidents survivors with acute stress disorders (Acute Stress Disorder Interview, ASDI>3)and twenty healthy controls underwent the 3T diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) magnetic resonance imaging scan in Nanjing General Hospital.The graph-theory analysis method was used to compare the structural brain network properties and nodal features between ASR survivors and controls.Statistical analyses were also performed by including anxiety and depression as covariates to evaluate their effect.In additional, Pearson correlation was performed between abnormal parametric values and clinical indices. Results: (1) The brain structural networks had small-world properties in both groups; (2) while compared with healthy controls, patients with ASR showed increased weighted connectivity strength (Si, 1.36±0.47 vs 0.92±0.38, P=0.008) and nodal betweenness centrality (BCi, 20±15 vs 7±6, P=0.002) in left triangular part of inferior frontal (IFG triang_L), increased Si in orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus (1.10±0.31 vs 0.77±0.30, P=0.004) and obviously decreased Si in left caudate (0.75±0.24 vs 1.04±0.35, P=0.004); (3) furthermore, the inclusion of anxiety and depression as covariates abolished nodal parameters differences in IFG triang_L, left caudate, thalamus and inferior temporal gyrus. Conclusions: The brain structure network in ASR patients has small world properties.But nodal parameters change obviously in some nodes compared with healthy controls and mainly locate in prefrontal lobe and striatum. High levels of anxiety and depression in ASR patients may partly account for these alterations.

Anxiety, depression, trauma-related, and sleep disorders among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Healthcare workers have been facing the COVID-19 pandemic, with numerous critical patients and deaths, and high workloads. Quality of care is related to the mental status of healthcare workers. This PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis, on Pubmed/Psycinfo up to October 8, 2020, estimates the prevalence of mental health problems among healthcare workers during this pandemic. The systematic review included 70 studies (101 017 participants) and only high-quality studies were included in the meta-analysis. The following pooled prevalences were estimated: 300 % of anxiety (95 %CI, 24.2-37.05); 311 % of depression (95 %CI, 25.7-36.8); 565 % of acute stress (95 %CI - 30.6-80.5); 20,2% of post-traumatic stress (95 %CI, 9.9-33.0); 44.0 % of sleep disorders (95 %CI, 24.6-64.5). The following factors were found to be sources of heterogeneity in subgroups and metaregressions analysis: proportion of female, nurses, and location. Targeted prevention and support strategies are needed now, and early in case of future health crises.

[Acute stress response after critical burn].

The stress response is a preexisting and adaptive behavioral mode of all living beings, which may bring deleterious consequences of dysfunction or failure of tissue and organ. This article aims to elaborate theories of stress response, summarize the manifestation and mechanism of acute stress response in critically burned patients, and help to improve clinical curative efficacy and prognosis of these patients by physiological, psychological and pharmacological methods.

Relationship Between Low Back Pain With Quality of Life, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Emergency Medical Technicians.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders have become increasingly common among healthcare providers. They have become the most common cause of work-related disabilities among nurses. OBJECTIVES: The current cross-sectional study aimed to measure the prevalence of back pains among emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and association of back pain with quality of life, depression, anxiety and stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eighty registered nurses working as EMTs at the Hamadan Emergency Medical Center were selected by consensus. Data collection tools were Demographic, Perceived Quality-of-Life, Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DAS21) and pain scale measurements. RESULTS: Data showed that while 50.7% of the participants had an average awareness of the basic principles of back care, the majority (71.8%) had at least one type of back pain. There were associations between the prevalence of pain and depression (P = 0.049), pain and awareness (P = 0.035), and stress and job satisfaction (P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: A large number (about two-thirds) of EMTs had some sort of back pain; it is highly recommended to promote the attitude and motivation of the individuals to take care to prevent back injury and inform them of the principles of back care. Implications for primary prevention and care practice include encouraging EMTs to apply accurate principles of back care.

Effect of intraoperative application of dexmedetomidine on acute post-traumatic stress disorder in female patients / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of intraoperative application of dexmedetomidine on acute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in female patients with lower limb fracture.Methods Ninety female patients with lower limb fractures caused by traffic accident,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,aged 20-35 yr,weighing 40-72 kg,scheduled for elective internal fixation,were divided into 3 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),low-dose dexmedetomidine group (group D1) and high-dose dexmedetomidine group (group D2).Ropivacaine (0.75％) 10-15 ml was injected into the epidural space,and operation was started after pain disappeared at the plane T8-10.Two percent lidocaine 5-10 ml was intermittently injected to maintain the anesthetic plane at T10.After successful epidural anesthesia,dexmedetomidine 0.5 and 1.0 μg/kg were intravenously infused over 30 min in D1 and D2 groups,respectively,while the equal volume of normal saline was given in group C.Patient-controlled epidural analgesia was performed with 0.15％ ropivacaine after operation and lasted until 48 h postoperatively,maintaining visual analogue scale score ≤ 3 (baseline).Morphine 3 mg was intravenously injected for rescue analgesia when visual analogue scale score＞3.The requirement for rescue analgesia within 48 h after operation was recorded.Acute Stress Disorder Scale (ASDS),Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores were assessed at 1 h before operation and on 1,3 and 7 days after operation.The patients were followed up for 3 months by telephone,and the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version score was evaluated.The occurrence of acute PTSD (PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version score ＞ 38) was recorded.Results Compared with group C,the ASDS,SAS and SDS scores were significantly decreased on 1,3 and 7 days after operation,and the incidence of acute PTSD was decreased in D1 and D2 groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group D1,the ASDS scores were significantly decreased on 1,3 and 7 days after operation,and the incidence of acute PTSD was decreased (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in SAS or SDS scores at each time point in group D2 (P＞ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the requirement for rescue analgesia between the three groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Intraoperative application of dexmedetomidine can reduce the occurrence of acute PTSD and it is dose-related in female patients.

Acute stress response after critical burn / 中华烧伤杂志

The stress response is a preexisting and adaptive behavioral mode of all living beings, which may bring deleterious consequences of dysfunction or failure of tissue and organ. This article aims to elaborate theories of stress response, summarize the manifestation and mechanism of acute stress response in critically burned patients, and help to improve clinical curative efficacy and prognosis of these patients by physiological, psychological and pharmacological methods.

The relationship between traumatic event exposure rate and major depressive disorder prevalence in community population in Tianjin / 天津医药

Objective To investigate the prevalence of traumatic event exposure and its relationship with major depressive disorder (MDD) in community population in Tianjin. Methods A multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used for the general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) in the population aged above 18 in 15538 families of 18 counties in Tianjin city. Among the 11748 subjects who completed the survey, they were divided into the high-risk group (100%), medium risk group (40%) and low risk group (10%) according to the risk level of mental disorders. Finally, 4438 residents were interviewed with the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-Ⅳ) axisⅠdiagnostic clinical interview version (SCID-Ⅰ/P). The prevalence of respondents exposed to traumatic events and MDD was calculated. Logistic regression analysis was applied to obtain the risk factors of MDD. Results A total of 469 people experienced traumatic events in 4438 subjects, and the adjusted total exposure rate was 10.3%. Seventy-six people suffered from MDD in 469 cases with traumatic events, and the adjusted total exposure rate was 6.7%. The prevalence of MDD was 3.3% in people with no traumatic events. Logistic regression analysis showed that female (OR=1.77,95%CI:1.27-2.46), widowed/divorced and experienced a traumatic event (OR=2.21,95%CI:1.46-3.34) were the risk factors of MDD. Conclusion The total exposure rate of traumatic events is 10.3% in community residents in Tianjin, and the prevalence of MDD is related with the traumatic event exposure. It is suggested that the whole society should mobilize and participate extensively, and pay more attention to the psychological health problems of high risk population.

Effects of cannabinoid 1 receptor on regulation of visceral sensitivity in rats with acute restraint stress / 中华消化杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) on regulating visceral sensitivity in rats with acute partial restraint stress. Methods Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into blank control (sham stress), acute stress and CB1R groups with 10 each. The frequency of discharge of electromyogram (EMG) was recorded at the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 8th day to evaluate the visceral sensitivity to colorectal distension (CRD) in rats. The expression of the CB1R mRNA was determined by means of RT-PCR at day 8. Results There was no significant difference in baseline discharge frequency among three groups at the 1st day. But the discharge frequencies corresponding to CRD at 40,60,80 mm Hg at the 2nd day were significantly lower in CB1R group [(22.37±1.49)/min, (42.24±3.03)/min and (69.09±5.54)/min, respectively] than in acute stress group [(39.71±1.84)/min, (84.45±8.85)/min and (112.56±11.66)/min, respectively, P<0.05)]. The discharge frequencies corresponding to CRD at 40, 60,80 mm Hg in acute stress group [(104.12±6.77)/min, (158.07±18.68)/min, (193.58±25.69)/min,respectively] showed a significant elevation at the 5th day in comparison with blank control group[(36.33±5.42)/min, (74.07±8.25)/min, (102.94±7.95)/min, respectively, P<0.05] or CB1R group [(74.66±6.44)/min,(140.10±4.68)/min and (160.39±5.60)/min,respectively, P<0.05]. However, at the 8th day after stress, there was no significant difference in discharge frequency among three groups. The expressions of CB1R mRNA in ileocecal junction, proximal colonic and distal colonic tissues were significantly higher in acute stress group (2.53±0.52, 2.29±0.42, 2.54±0.29 respectively) than in blank control group(0.56±0.15, 0. 73±0.12, 0.82±0.09, respectively, P<0.05). There was no effect of CB1R agonist on CB1R mRNA expression in rats. Conclusion The visceral sensitivity in rats induced by stress can trigger the accommodation of endogenous cannabinoid system that plays an important role in modulation of visceral sensitivity.

Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in acute and posttraumatic stress disorder: a case report study / Nível sérico do fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro no transtorno de estresse agudo e no transtorno de estresse pós-traumático: relato de casos

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in two patients, one with posttraumatic stress disorder and one with acute stress disorder, before and after treatment, and to compare those levels to those of healthy controls. METHOD: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor level, Davidson Trauma Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Global Assessment of Functioning, and Clinical Global Impression were assessed before and after 6 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were higher in patients than in matched controls before treatment. After 6 weeks, there was a reduction in symptoms and an improvement in functioning in both cases. At the same time, brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels decreased after treatment, even in case 2, treated with psychotherapy only. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, as opposed to what has been described in mood disorders, are increased in posttraumatic stress disorder as well as in acute stress disorder.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os níveis séricos do fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro em um paciente com transtorno de estresse pós-traumático e em um paciente com transtorno de estresse agudo antes e após o tratamento, comparando esses níveis aos de controles saudáveis. MÉTODO: Os níveis do fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro, a Escala Davidson de Trauma, o Inventário de Depressão de Beck, a Avaliação do Funcionamento Global e a Impressão Clínica Global foram medidos antes e após seis semanas de tratamento. RESULTADOS: Os níveis de fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro foram maiores nos pacientes, quando comparados aos controles, antes do tratamento. Depois de seis semanas houve redução dos sintomas e melhora do funcionamento nos dois casos. Ao mesmo tempo, houve redução dos níveis de fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro, mesmo no caso 2, tratado exclusivamente com psicoterapia. CONCLUSÕES: Esses resultados sugerem que o fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro está aumentado tanto no transtorno de estresse pós-traumático quanto no transtorno de estresse agudo, de forma oposta às alterações até então descritas nos transtornos do humor.

Assessment and Management of Conditions Specifically Related to Stress: mhGAP intervention guide module / Évaluation et prise en charge des affections spécifiquement liées au stress: Module Guide d'intervention mhGAP / Evaluación y manejo de condiciones específicamente relacionadas con el estrés: Módulo de la Guía de Intervención mhGAP

This mhGAP module on Conditions Specifically Related to Stress by WHO and UNHCR contains assessment and management advice related to acute stress, post-traumatic stress and grief in non-specialized health settings. It is an annex to the mhGAP Intervention Guide for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in non-specialized health settings (WHO, 2010).