Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Social Motivation Is Associated With Elevated Salivary Cortisol In Boys With An Asd, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher Sharpley, Linda Agnew, Nicholas Andronicos

Vicki Bitsika

Because social communication difficulties and stress are common in children with an ASD, and because it has been hypothesised that the two are related, the association between these two variables was investigated in a sample of 90 boys with an ASD and who were aged between 6 years and 12 years of age. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) was completed by the parents of these boys about their sons, plus salivary cortisol samples were collected from the boys. Results indicated that only one aspect of the boys' SRS was significantly correlated with cortisol—Social Motivation (SM). Factor analyses revealed two discrete …

Which Aspects Of Sensory Features Are Associated With Elevated Cortisol Concentrations In Boys With An Autism Spectrum Disorder?, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher Sharpley, Nicholas Andronicos, Linda Agnew, Richard Mills

Vicki Bitsika

Difficulties in Sensory Features (SF) have been included in the most recent diagnostic processes for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are more common in children with an ASD than their non-ASD peers. In addition, these difficulties with SF have been suggested as causing elevated stress and concentrations of salivary cortisol in young people with an ASD. However, previous studies have not examined the specific aspects of SF that are associated with elevated cortisol and that was the focus of this study with 135 boys with an ASD aged 6–18 years. The boys’ mothers assessed their sons’ SF with the Sensory …

Disadvantages Of Being An Individualist In An Individualistic Culture: Idiocentrism, Emotional Competence, Stress, And Mental Health, Gregory Scott, Joseph Ciarrochi, Frank Deane

joseph Ciarrochi

Based on past cross-cultural research, it was hypothesised that people who had strong individualistic values and beliefs within an individualistic culture would have smaller social support networks, lower emotional competence, lower intentions to seek help from a variety of sources, and poorer mental health. A total of 276 first-year students attending an Australian university completed an anonymous survey assessing individual differences in individualism (i.e., idiocentrism), social support, emotional competence, hopelessness, depression, and suicide ideation. As expected, idiocentrism was associated with smaller and less satisfying social support networks, less skill in managing both self and others' emotions, lower intentions to seek …

Emotional Intelligence Moderates The Relationship Between Stress And Mental Health, Joseph Ciarrochi, Frank Deane, Stephen Anderson

joseph Ciarrochi

Despite a great deal of popular interest and the development of numerous training programs in emotional intelligence (EI), some researchers have argued that there is little evidence that EI is both useful and different from other, well established constructs. We hypothesized that EI would make a unique contribution to understanding the relationship between stress and three important mental health variables, depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation. University students (n=302) participated in a cross-sectional study that involved measuring life stress, objective and self-reported emotional intelligence, and mental health. Regression analyses revealed that stress was associated with: (1) greater reported depression, hopelessness, and …

Semen Quality In Fertile Men In Relation To Psychosocial Stress, A. Gollenberg, F. Liu, C. Brazil, E. Drobnis, D. Guzick, J. Overstreet, J. Redmon, Amy Sparks, C. Wang, S. Swan

Amy E.T. Sparks

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between stressful life events and semen parameters. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis in a pregnancy cohort study. SETTING: Prenatal clinics in five U.S. cities. PATIENT(S): Fertile men (n = 744) in the Study for Future Families, a cohort study of pregnant women and their partners. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm concentration, percent motile, and percent normal morphology and classification above/below World Health Organization (WHO) cutoffs for semen quality. RESULT(S): After adjusting for confounders, men reporting 2+ recent stressful life events had an increased risk of being classified below WHO thresholds for "normal" defined by concentration, motility, …

Cytoplasmic Metadherin (Mtdh) Provides Survival Advantage Under Conditions Of Stress By Acting As Rna-Binding Protein, Xiangbing Meng, Danlin Zhu, Shujie Yang, Xinjun Wang, Zhi Xiong, Yuping Zhang, Pavla Brachova, Kimberly Leslie

Xiangbing Meng

Overexpression of metadherin (MTDH) has been documented in many solid tumors and is implicated in metastasis and chemoresistance. MTDH has been detected at the plasma membrane as well as in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and the function of MTDH in these locales remains under investigation. In the nucleus, MTDH acts as a transcription co-factor to induce expression of chemoresistance-associated genes. However, MTDH is predominantly cytoplasmic in prostate tumors, and this localization correlates with poor prognosis. Herein, we used endometrial cancer cells as a model system to define a new role for MTDH in the cytoplasm. First, MTDH was primarily localized …

Maternal Parenting Stress And Mothers' Reports Of Their Infants' Mastery Motivation, T. Sparks, Stephen Hunter, T. Backman, G. Morgan, R. Ross

Stephen K. Hunter

No abstract provided.

Social Support, Psychological Distress, And Natural Killer Cell Activity In Ovarian Cancer, S. Lutgendorf, A. Sood, B. Anderson, S. Mcginn, H. Maiseri, M. Dao, J. Sorosky, Koen De Geest, J. Ritchie, D. Lubaroff

Koen De Geest

PURPOSE: Psychosocial stress has been related to impaired immunity in cancer patients. However, the extent to which these relationships exist in immune cells in the tumor microenvironment in humans has not been explored. We examined relationships among distress, social support, and natural killer (NK) cell activity in ovarian cancer patients in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), ascitic fluid, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients awaiting surgery for a pelvic mass suspected of being ovarian cancer completed psychological questionnaires and gave a presurgical sample of peripheral blood. Samples of tumor and ascites were taken during surgery, lymphocytes were then isolated, …

Diurnal Cortisol Dysregulation, Functional Disability, And Depression In Women With Ovarian Cancer., Aliza Weinrib, Sandra Sephton, Koen De Geest, Frank Penedo, David Bender, Bridget Zimmerman, Clemens Kirschbaum, Anil Sood, David Lubaroff, Susan Lutgendorf

Koen De Geest

BACKGROUND: Multiple alterations in circadian rhythms have been observed in cancer patients, including the diurnal rhythm of the adrenal hormone cortisol. Diurnal cortisol alterations have been associated with cancer-related physiological processes as well as psychological stress. Here we investigate alterations in diurnal cortisol rhythm in ovarian cancer patients, and potential links with depression, life stress, and functional disability.

METHODS: Women (n = 177) with suspected ovarian cancer completed questionnaires and collected salivary cortisol 3× daily for 3 consecutive days before surgery. One hundred women were subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 77 with benign disease. In addition, healthy women (n …

Social Isolation Is Associated With Elevated Tumor Norepinephrine In Ovarian Carcinoma Patients., Susan Lutgendorf, Koen De Geest, Laila Dahmoush, Donna Farley, Frank Penedo, David Bender, Michael Goodheart, Thomas Buekers, Luis Mendez, Gina Krueger, Lauren Clevenger, David Lubaroff, Anil Sood, Steve Cole

Koen De Geest

Noradrenergic pathways have been implicated in growth and progression of ovarian cancer. Intratumoral norepinephrine (NE) has been shown to increase with stress in an animal cancer model, but little is known regarding how tumor NE varies with disease stage and with biobehavioral factors in ovarian cancer patients. This study examined relationships between pre-surgical measures of social support, depressed mood, perceived stress, anxiety, tumor histology and tumor catecholamine (NE and epinephrine [E]) levels among 68 ovarian cancer patients. We also examined whether associations observed between biobehavioral measures and tumor catecholamines extended to other compartments. Higher NE levels were found in advanced …

Development Of The Distraction Coaching Index, Charmaine Kleiber, Ann Mccarthy, Kirsten Hanrahan, L. Myers, N. Weathers

Kirsten M. Hanrahan

Children's distress during medical procedures can be decreased when professionals or parents provide distraction coaching, but the quality of distraction may contribute to the variation in the results. This article describes the development of the Distraction Coaching Index (DCI), a tool for measuring the quality and frequency of distraction coaching. Nominal group technique and consensus agreement were used for concept clarification and development of behavioral indicators and descriptors. Videotapes of untrained parents, trained parents, and expert professional coaches, who provided distraction to children (4-10 years old) undergoing peripheral intravenous catheter insertion, were used to assess interrater reliability and construct validity. …

Strategies For Salivary Cortisol Collection And Analysis In Research With Children, Kirsten Hanrahan, Ann Mccarthy, Charmaine Kleiber, S. Lutgendorf, E. Tsalikian

Kirsten M. Hanrahan

Salivary cortisol has emerged in pediatric research as an easy-to-collect, relatively inexpensive, biologic marker of stress. Cortisol is highly variable and is responsive to a wide range of factors that should be considered when incorporating this measure into research with children. Strategies for sample collection include: (1) standardizing the time for sample collection, including baseline samples; (2) using consistent collection materials and methods; (3) controlling for certain drinks, foods, medications, and diagnoses; and (4) establishing procedures and protocols. Other strategies for laboratory analyses include: (1) selecting the appropriate assay and laboratory; (2) identifying units of measure and norms; and (3) …

Factors Explaining Children's Responses To Intravenous Needle Insertions, Ann Mccarthy, Charmaine Kleiber, Kirsten Hanrahan, M. Zimmerman, N. Westhus, S. Allen

Kirsten M. Hanrahan

BACKGROUND: Previous research shows that numerous child, parent, and procedural variables affect children's distress responses to procedures. Cognitive-behavioral interventions such as distraction are effective in reducing pain and distress for many children undergoing these procedures. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report was to examine child, parent, and procedural variables that explain child distress during a scheduled intravenous insertion when parents are distraction coaches for their children. METHODS: A total of 542 children, between 4 and 10 years of age, and their parents participated. Child age, gender, diagnosis, and ethnicity were measured by questions developed for this study. Standardized instruments were …

The Sensitivity And Specificity Of A Simple Test To Distinguish Between Urge And Stress Urinary Incontinence., Jeanette Brown, Catherine Bradley, Leslee Subak, Holly Richter, Stephen Kraus, Linda Brubaker, Feng Lin, Eric Vittinghoff, Deborah Grady

Catherine S. Bradley

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is common in women. Because treatments differ, urge incontinence should be distinguished from stress incontinence. To make this distinction, current guidelines recommend an extensive evaluation that is too time-consuming for primary care practice. OBJECTIVE: To test the accuracy of a simple questionnaire to categorize type of urinary incontinence in women. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective study of the accuracy of the 3 Incontinence Questions (3IQ) compared with an extended evaluation to distinguish between urge incontinence and stress incontinence. SETTING: 5 academic medical centers in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: 301 women enrolled from April to December 2004 who were older …

Diurnal Cortisol Dysregulation, Functional Disability, And Depression In Women With Ovarian Cancer., Aliza Weinrib, Sandra Sephton, Koen De Geest, Frank Penedo, David Bender, Bridget Zimmerman, Clemens Kirschbaum, Anil Sood, David Lubaroff, Susan Lutgendorf

David P Bender

BACKGROUND: Multiple alterations in circadian rhythms have been observed in cancer patients, including the diurnal rhythm of the adrenal hormone cortisol. Diurnal cortisol alterations have been associated with cancer-related physiological processes as well as psychological stress. Here we investigate alterations in diurnal cortisol rhythm in ovarian cancer patients, and potential links with depression, life stress, and functional disability.

METHODS: Women (n = 177) with suspected ovarian cancer completed questionnaires and collected salivary cortisol 3× daily for 3 consecutive days before surgery. One hundred women were subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 77 with benign disease. In addition, healthy women (n …

Social Isolation Is Associated With Elevated Tumor Norepinephrine In Ovarian Carcinoma Patients., Susan Lutgendorf, Koen De Geest, Laila Dahmoush, Donna Farley, Frank Penedo, David Bender, Michael Goodheart, Thomas Buekers, Luis Mendez, Gina Krueger, Lauren Clevenger, David Lubaroff, Anil Sood, Steve Cole

David P Bender

Noradrenergic pathways have been implicated in growth and progression of ovarian cancer. Intratumoral norepinephrine (NE) has been shown to increase with stress in an animal cancer model, but little is known regarding how tumor NE varies with disease stage and with biobehavioral factors in ovarian cancer patients. This study examined relationships between pre-surgical measures of social support, depressed mood, perceived stress, anxiety, tumor histology and tumor catecholamine (NE and epinephrine [E]) levels among 68 ovarian cancer patients. We also examined whether associations observed between biobehavioral measures and tumor catecholamines extended to other compartments. Higher NE levels were found in advanced …

Cytoplasmic Metadherin (Mtdh) Provides Survival Advantage Under Conditions Of Stress By Acting As Rna-Binding Protein, Xiangbing Meng, Danlin Zhu, Shujie Yang, Xinjun Wang, Zhi Xiong, Yuping Zhang, Pavla Brachova, Kimberly Leslie

Kimberly K. Leslie

Overexpression of metadherin (MTDH) has been documented in many solid tumors and is implicated in metastasis and chemoresistance. MTDH has been detected at the plasma membrane as well as in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and the function of MTDH in these locales remains under investigation. In the nucleus, MTDH acts as a transcription co-factor to induce expression of chemoresistance-associated genes. However, MTDH is predominantly cytoplasmic in prostate tumors, and this localization correlates with poor prognosis. Herein, we used endometrial cancer cells as a model system to define a new role for MTDH in the cytoplasm. First, MTDH was primarily localized …

Guidelines For The Use And Interpretation Of Assays For Monitoring Autophagy, Catherine Mcdermott, Et Al.

Catherine M. McDermott

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is …

The Role Of Rate Of Force Development On Vertical Jump Performance, Christopher Mclellan, Dale Lovell, Gregory Gass

Chris McLellan

The purpose of this study was to examine a) the relationship between rate of force development (RFD) and vertical jump (VJ) performance during a counter movement jump (CMJ), and b) the reliability of RFD recorded during the CMJ and squat jump (SJ) forms of the VJ. Twenty-three physically active men aged 23 ± 3.9 years participated in the study. Subjects completed 3 unloaded CMJ and 3 unloaded SJ in random order on a force plate. The RFD was measured during CMJ and SJ movements with vertical jump displacement (VJD) measured simultaneously during the CMJ only. Subjects incorporated arm swing to …

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder In A Group Of Australian General Practices., Charis Gauvin, Ian Wilson

Ian G Wilson

Some authorities regard post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a well characterised condition that is under diagnosed in general practice. We aimed to explore its prevalence in Australian general practice. METHOD: 'Medic-GP' contains the records of 58,941 patients over a period of six years. We searched the database for PTSD and synonyms in individual records, looking for diagnostic criteria and comorbidities. RESULTS: Post-traumatic stress disorder was diagnosed in 337 patients, an annual incidence of 88/100,000 patients over a 6.5 year period. Specialists diagnosed 312 (93%) after referral by general practitioners. The GPs diagnosed 25 (7%) themselves, of whom only five patients …

Perceived Stress In Prodromal Huntington Disease, Nancy Downing, M. Smith, L. Beglinger, J. Mills, K. Duff, K. Rowe, E. Epping, J. Paulsen, Group Predict-Hd Investigators Of Huntington Study

Nancy R Downing

This study examines perceived stress and its relationship to depressive symptoms, life changes and functional capacity in a large sample of individuals who are positive for the Huntington disease (HD) gene expansion but not yet diagnosed. Participants were classified by estimated proximity to HD diagnosis (far, mid, near) and compared with a non-gene-expanded comparison group. Persons in the mid group had the highest stress scores. A significant interaction between age and time since HD genetic testing was also found. Secondary analyses using data from a different data collection point and including a diagnosed group showed the highest stress scores in …

Developing Strategic Interventions To Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Law Enforcement Officers: The Art And Science Of Data Triangulation, Sandra Ramey, Nancy Downing, A. Knoblauch

Nancy R Downing

The purpose of this study was to use data triangulation to inform interventions targeted at reducing morbidity from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors among law enforcement officers. Using the Precede-Proceed Health Promotion Planning Model, survey data (n = 672) and focus group data (n = 8 groups) from the Milwaukee Police Department were analyzed. Narrative transcripts disclosed that law enforcement officers encounter potential barriers and motivators to a healthy lifestyle. Survey results indicated rates of overweight (71.1% vs. 60.8%) and hypertension (27.4% vs. 17.6%) were significantly (p < or = .001) higher among Milwaukee Police Department law enforcement officers than the general population of Wisconsin (n = 2,855). The best predictor of CVD was diabetes (p = .030). Occupational health nurses are uniquely positioned to identify health risks, design appropriate interventions, and advocate for policy changes that improve the health of those employed in law enforcement and other high-risk professions.

Commentary On "How Family, Community, And Work Structured High Blood Pressure Accounts: From African Americans In Washington State", Janette Taylor

Janette Y. Taylor

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Method For Extracting Macrophages From Zebrafish, Danio Rerio And Their Use In Assessing Stress, Ahmed Mustafa, Shree Dhawale, Shrikrishna Dhawale

Ahmed Mustafa Dr.

No abstract provided.

Hospital Extra. Understanding The Sources Of Stress For Nurses, Diane Huber

Diane Huber

Can knowing the sources of our professional stress lead to significant health care reforms?

Geriatric Mental Health: Staff Stress On An Alzheimer's Unit, Paula Mobily, Meridean Maas, Kathleen Buckwalter, Lisa Skemp Kelley

Paula Mobily

Nurses who work with patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are especially vulnerable to the effects of stress and burnout. Many are poorly trained to cope with the emotional and behavioral problems of these residents and are repeatedly frustrated by their inability to manage these recurrent problems. Specialized care units (SCUs) reduced stress in the areas of staff knowledge, abilities, and resources. The SCU was designed specifically to provide the special environmental structures, support, and service systems required for the care of persons with AD that would enhance functioning and decrease associated behavioral problems. Support groups can assist nurses to recognize …

Factors Explaining Children's Responses To Intravenous Needle Insertions, Ann Mccarthy, Charmaine Kleiber, Kirsten Hanrahan, M. Zimmerman, N. Westhus, S. Allen

Ann Marie McCarthy

BACKGROUND: Previous research shows that numerous child, parent, and procedural variables affect children's distress responses to procedures. Cognitive-behavioral interventions such as distraction are effective in reducing pain and distress for many children undergoing these procedures. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report was to examine child, parent, and procedural variables that explain child distress during a scheduled intravenous insertion when parents are distraction coaches for their children. METHODS: A total of 542 children, between 4 and 10 years of age, and their parents participated. Child age, gender, diagnosis, and ethnicity were measured by questions developed for this study. Standardized instruments were …

Psychological Screening Of Children For Participation In Nontherapeutic Invasive Research, Ann Mccarthy, L. Richman, R. Hoffman, L. Rubenstein

Ann Marie McCarthy

BACKGROUND: The need for children to participate in research has raised concerns about ethical issues surrounding their participation. OBJECTIVES: To describe a protocol of preresearch psychological screening and postresearch outcomes and to present the results of the screening process for a nontherapeutic, invasive research study. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study carried out at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight children (mean age, 10.6 years) were screened, with 4 not completing the research study and another 4 unavailable for psychological follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prescreening interviews with parent and child and screening measures of appropriate child …

Development Of The Distraction Coaching Index, Charmaine Kleiber, Ann Mccarthy, Kirsten Hanrahan, L. Myers, N. Weathers

Ann Marie McCarthy

Children's distress during medical procedures can be decreased when professionals or parents provide distraction coaching, but the quality of distraction may contribute to the variation in the results. This article describes the development of the Distraction Coaching Index (DCI), a tool for measuring the quality and frequency of distraction coaching. Nominal group technique and consensus agreement were used for concept clarification and development of behavioral indicators and descriptors. Videotapes of untrained parents, trained parents, and expert professional coaches, who provided distraction to children (4-10 years old) undergoing peripheral intravenous catheter insertion, were used to assess interrater reliability and construct validity. …

Children's Responses To Sequential Versus Simultaneous Immunization Injections, M. Horn, Ann Mccarthy

Ann Marie McCarthy

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to compare distress behaviors and perceptions of distress in 4- to 6-year-old children who received two immunization injections simultaneously with those in children who received their immunizations sequentially. METHOD: This experimental study used a convenience sample of 46 children scheduled for pre-kindergarten examinations. The children were randomly assigned to either a sequential injection or a simultaneous injection group. Direct observation and videotapes were made of the children's behaviors before and after injection. Distress behaviors were analyzed with the Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress-Revised, and perceptions of distress were obtained from both children (with …