MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Psychoneuroendocrinology' source. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:36:01 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665284&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453012000194%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665284 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665283&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453012000182%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665283 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665282&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453012000170%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665282 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665281&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011003611%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The publisher regrets that A. Leslie Morrow, United States, was accidentally omitted from the list of reviewers. The publisher would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665281 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665280&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011003672%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We welcome Dr. Goodson's response to our Steroid/Peptide (S/P) Theory of Social Bonds (2011, Psychoneuroendocrinology 36, 1365–1375) and appreciate the venue for additional discussion. We hope to clarify possible misreadings and foster dialogue about our differing levels of analysis. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665280 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665279&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011003660%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Nonapeptides (vasopressin, oxytocin, and homologues) broadly influence vertebrate social behavior, and the functions of nonapeptides and sex steroid hormones are extensively intertwined. In an effort to synthesize the nonapeptide and hormone literatures, van Anders et al. (2011, Psychoneuroendocrinology 36: 1365–1375) recently proposed a “steroid/peptide theory of social bonding.” This ambitious undertaking included the proposition of a model that predicts the release of nonapeptides and testosterone in relation to a variety of stimuli, and predicts the downstream effects on social bonding. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665279 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665278&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001934%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The neuropeptide oxytocin has a popular reputation of being the ‘love’ hormone. Here we test meta-analytically whether experiments with intranasal administration of oxytocin provide support for the proposed effects of oxytocin. Three psychological effects were subjected to meta-analysis: facial emotion recognition (13 effect sizes, N=408), in-group trust (8 effect sizes, N=317), and out-group trust (10 effect sizes; N=505). We found that intranasal oxytocin administration enhances the recognition of facial expressions of emotions, and that it elevates the level of in-group trust. The hypothesis that out-group trust is significantly decreased in the oxytocin condition was not supported. It is concluded that a sniff of oxytocin can change emotion perception and behavior in trust... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665278 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665277&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011002101%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Potent glucocorticoids (GC) administered early in life have improved premature infant survival dramatically. However, these agents may increase the risk for physical, neurological and behavior alterations. Anxiety, depression and attention difficulties are commonly described in adolescent and young adult survivors of prematurity. In the present study we administered vehicle, dexamethasone, or hydrocortisone to Sprague-Dawley rat pups on postnatal days 5 and 6, mimicking a short term clinical protocol commonly used in human infants. Two systems that are implicated in the regulation of stress and behavior were assessed: the limbic–hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis [LHPA; glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors within] and the Serotonin (5-HT) system. We found that as ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665277 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665276&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011002095%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Although not directly evaluated, the early rise of glucocorticoid (GC) levels, as occur after exposure to adverse early life experience, are assumed to affect hippocampal ontogeny by altering the hippocampus negative feedback on adult HPA axis. To test whether hippocampal ontogeny is affected by early exposure to stress we estimated the survival of recently formed hippocampal granule cells in rat pups subjected to periodic maternal separation (180min/day; MS180) from postnatal days (PND) 1 to 14. Accordingly, MS180 pups injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU, 50mg/kg, ip) at PND 5 showed decreased density of doublecortin (DCX) positive BrdU-labeled cells at PND 15. MS180 and AFR pups showed similar corticosterone (CORT) basal levels between PND 3 and 12, whereas adult MS180 rats pr... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665276 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665275&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011002071%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Increasing evidence in humans and other animals suggests that testosterone (T) plays an important role in modulating emotion. We previously reported that T treatment in rhesus monkeys undergoing chemically induced hypogonadism results in increased watching time of videos depicting fights between unfamiliar conspecifics (). In the current study, we aimed to further investigate the effect of T manipulations on attention and memory for emotional stimuli in male rhesus monkeys. Six males (7 years old) were administered Depot Lupron to suppress endogenous T levels and treated with either testosterone enanthate (TE, 5mg/kg) or oil, before crossing over to the alternate treatment. Animals were tested for 16 weeks on two computerized touchscreen tasks with both social and nonsocial emotio... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665275 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665274&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001946%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Many sex differences can be found in the expression of aggression and parental nurturing behaviors. It is important to determine if these are modulated by prenatal conditions. Here, using assisted reproduction technologies, we generated females that were (mixed-sex) or were not (same-sex) exposed to males during fetal development, raised them by cross fostering among fosters’ own female only pups to control for effects of postnatal environment, and compared their reproductive abilities and behavior. There were no differences between females from the two prenatal conditions in estrus cycle length and length of time spent at individual estrus cycle stages. Both types of females had similar ovulation efficiency and bred equally well yielding comparable litter size and progeny sex r... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665274 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665273&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001922%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined the individual and combined effects of estradiol and serotonin on working memory, emotion processing and task-related brain activation. Eight healthy predominantly early postmenopausal women underwent TD or sham depletion followed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) both before and after short-term transdermal estradiol 75–150μg/d administration. There was an estradiol treatment by TD interaction for brain activation during performance on both the N-back Task (working memory) and Emotion Identification Task (affective processing). During the 2-back condition, TD attenuated activation prior to, but not after, estradiol treatment in the right and left dorsal lateral prefrontal and middle frontal/cingulate gyrus. During emotion identification, TD heightened activati... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665273 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665272&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001910%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we examined whether TOMM40 variants, which have been reported to influence age of onset of AD, also had an effect on CSF cortisol levels, in healthy, cognitively intact individuals with or without APOE ɛ4. In our results, the increase in CSF cortisol associated with the presence of the APOE ɛ4 allele was only detected when a short TOMM40 poly-T variant, shown to associate with later age of onset of AD in ɛ4 carriers, was not present. These results are consistent with previous reports (e.g., ) suggesting that TOMM40 poly-T variants influence the effects of APOE alleles. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665272 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665271&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001909%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Metabolic and cognitive disorders are closely related. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this association is still elusive. Given the importance of energy metabolism in neuronal cells, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master switch of energy metabolism, could be an independent factor affecting cognitive as well as metabolic functions. Therefore, we examined the relationship between the AMPK γ2 gene, the PRKAG2 −26C/T polymorphism and cognitive impairment or diabetes in 1609 subjects aged from 60 to 80. We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses with adjustment for age, gender, education, smoking, alcohol, depression, waist circumference, APOE e4, and stroke history. We found a significant association between the −26C/T polymorphism (CC vs. CT/TT) a... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665271 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665270&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001892%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: A uniform pattern of PTSD-related alterations in the response to intravenous CRF was not found. Rather, PTSD-related alterations were found only in veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, and were characterized by an enhanced pituitary response to CRF which may reflect increased sensitivity of pituitary corticotrophs or CRF hyposecretion. Together with previous neuroendocrine findings, the data suggest the HPA axis is dysregulated in Gulf War veterans in unique ways which may reflect the long-term effects of environmental exposures in addition to disease effects. Further work is needed to characterize these effects and their impact on long-term psychological and medical outcomes. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665270 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665269&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001867%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, this study suggests an association between cortisol, DHEA, ageing and physical function. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665269 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665268&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001855%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Two clusters of FSS are differentially associated with the stress hormone cortisol. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665268 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665267&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001880%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Neither adulthood trauma exposure nor PTSD were associated with differences in HPA-axis functioning, although adulthood trauma may augment cortisol suppression after the DST. More evidence on other dynamic tests of HPA-axis functioning in PTSD and adulthood trauma exposure is needed. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665267 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665266&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011003702%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Exposure to psychosocial stress has been associated with increasing rates of morbidity in humans and in animal models, but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Major stress responsive systems, such as the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are under investigation as underlying pathways, but although acute stress reliably activates these systems, findings of long-term alternations in baseline activity are inconsistent at present. Emerging evidence suggests that stress-related changes in the sensitivity of target systems toward glucocorticoid (GC) regulation, i.e. development of GC resistance, might help explain inflammatory disinhibition and development of disease related to inflammation. More recent findings further... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665266 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5665265&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453012000042%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5665265 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:13:24 +0100 5665265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502780&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001831%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Shoulder and neck pain (SNP) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), two musculoskeletal conditions of unknown pathogenesis, share some common features in terms of altered neuroendocrine responses, pain and stress perception. However, the pain distribution in SNP is localized, whereas in FMS is more widespread. Because regional musculoskeletal pain may represent an intermediate stage along a continuum towards widespread musculoskeletal pain we compared the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in women with SNP with the CAR in FMS patients and healthy controls (HC) in a controlled hospital–hotel setting. The aim of the study was to investigate whether SNP is related to a deviant regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Eighteen women with SNP, 29 female FMS patients... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502780 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502779&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100182X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Eye gaze direction and facial expression are important social cues. Recent studies have shown that emotional expression affects interpretation of gaze direction in such a way that positive emotions are more favorably interpreted as making eye contact than negative or neutral expressions. Here we examine whether stress affects this positivity bias in gaze perception. Stress was induced in 25 healthy young adults by means of the cold pressure stress test (CPS), 24 participants serving as controls. Stimuli were created from three-dimensional face models of 8 actors expressing happy, fearful, angry and neutral emotions. From each of these 3D models we extracted 9 different views (0°, 2°, 4°, 6° and 8° to the left and to the right). This resulted in 288 stimuli, which were randoml... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502779 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502778&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001818%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The present experiments sought the effect of chronic treatment with 17β-estradiol on striatal dopaminergic activity and the Akt/GSK3 signaling pathway in the brain of monkeys. Eight female monkeys (Macacca fascicularis) were ovariectomized (OVX) and a month later, half received a month treatment with 17β-estradiol and the other with vehicle. The DA transporter (DAT) was measured by autoradiography with [125I]RTI-121 and the vesicular DA transporter (VMAT2) with [3H]TBZ-OH at three rostro-caudal levels (anterior, middle and posterior) of the caudate nucleus and putamen subdivided in their lateral/medial, ventral/dorsal sub-regions. Specific binding to DAT was increased in all sub-regions of the caudate nucleus and the putamen of 17β-estradiol-treated compared to vehicle-treated ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502778 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502777&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001806%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The mechanisms whereby maternal stress during pregnancy exerts organizational effects on fetal development require elaboration. The aim of this study was to assess the plausibility of cortisol as a biological link between maternal psychological distress during pregnancy and fetal development. Previous research has resulted in equivocal findings for between-persons differences in stress and cortisol. Ecological momentary assessment was used to simultaneously assess mood and cortisol 5 times daily for 3 days in 83 women (gestational ages 6–37 weeks). Results from multilevel analysis indicated a robust within-person association between negative mood and cortisol. For each 1.0% increase in negative mood there was a corresponding 1.9% increase in cortisol. This association was unaffe... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502777 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502777 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502776&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100179X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Circadian dysfunction has long been implicated in the etiology of mood disorders. The gene Clock and related molecules (e.g. Per1, Per2) represent key regulators of circadian rhythmicity, and their targeted disruption in mutant mice produces potentiated reward drive, novelty-seeking, impulsivity, disrupted sleep, reduced depression and anxiety – a behavioral profile highly reminiscent of our selectively bred high responder (bHR) rats compared to bred low responders (bLRs). The current study evaluated potential diurnal bHR–bLR differences in behavior, gene expression, and neuroendocrinology. Relative to bHRs, bLRs showed diminished homecage locomotion during the dark (but not light) phase and a delayed corticosterone peak. In situ hybridizations in hypothalamus, amygdala, and h... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502776 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502775&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001788%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: One challenge in examining stable individual differences in basal activity of the HPA axis is controlling for internally or externally based situational factors that lead to day-to-day variation in ambulatory cortisol. Disturbed basal activity is of particular interest in studies with children, for whom a dysregulated HPA axis may play an etiologic role in emotional or health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether trait vs. situationally specific sources of variation can be identified at different points of the diurnal cycle in children and if so, whether state and trait components vary according to time of measurement. Early morning and late evening salivary cortisol was collected from 164 children aged 7 to 11 years. Samples were collected 30min after wakeu... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502775 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502774&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001776%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: Sleep problems in children are associated with altered HPAA function, after controlling for actual sleep quantity measured by actigraphy. Boys with sleep problems had lower HPAA activity and girls with sleep problems had higher HPAA activity, compared to children without sleep problems. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502774 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502773&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001764%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Introduction: The renin–angiotensin–aldosterone-system (RAAS) is one of the most important systems involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Its role in stress response has been generally neglected, although the progression of cardiovascular disease is considerably increased in the presence of stress and especially in the presence of depression risk.With the present analysis we aimed to evaluate whether the activity of the RAAS correlates with depressive symptomatology and with chronic stress. Moreover, we aimed to analyse whether stress response is altered in the presence of depressed symptomatology. We chose “living alone” to be our paradigm of chronic stress.Methods and results: Aldosterone and renin levels were assessed in 1743 (829 men, 914 women) from ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502773 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502772&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001752%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition characterised by inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity; it is frequently co-morbid with anxiety and conduct disorders, sleep perturbation and abnormal consummatory behaviours. Recent studies have implicated the neurosteroid-modulating enzyme steroid sulfatase (STS) as a modulator of ADHD-related endophenotypes. The effects of steroid sulfatase deficiency on homecage activity, feeding/drinking behaviours, anxiety-related behaviours (assayed in light-dark box and open field paradigms), social dominance and serum steroid hormone levels were determined by comparing 40,XY and 39,XY*O mice. Subsequently, mice administered the steroid sulfatase inhibitor COUMATE acutely were compared to vehicle-... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502772 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502771&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001740%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study investigated the effect of the type of trauma experienced on both salivary and plasma cortisol responses during confrontation with trauma-related material. Participants were 30 survivors of war and torture, with and without rape among the traumatic events experienced. Participants of both groups (raped vs. non-raped) fulfilled DSM-IV criteria of PTSD. Plasma and salivary cortisol levels were measured at three time points during a standardized clinical interview: once before and twice after assessing individual traumatic experiences. Results show that groups did not differ in basal plasma and salivary cortisol levels. However, differential salivary cortisol responses were observed in PTSD patients who had been raped compared to those who had not been raped (p (Source: Psychoneuro... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502771 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502770&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001739%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Epidemiological and clinical life cycle studies indicate that favorable illness course and better response to antipsychotic drugs (APDs) in women with schizophrenia are positively correlated with estrogen levels. Accordingly, the estrogen hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes a neuroprotective role of estrogen in women vulnerable to schizophrenia. Previously we demonstrated in the rat that low levels of estrogen induced by ovariectomy led to disruption of latent inhibition (LI) reflecting impairment of selective attention, a core deficit of schizophrenia. LI disruption was reversed by 17β-estradiol and the atypical APD clozapine, whereas the typical APD haloperidol was ineffective unless co-administered with 17β-estradiol. Here we aimed to extend these findings by testing ovariec... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502770 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502769&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001727%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Increased hair cortisol concentrations have been associated with stress exposure in both human and nonhuman primates, and hair cortisol is now gaining attention as a biomarker for stress-related health problems. The present study examined the behavioral and physiological reactions of rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) infants reared in three different rearing environments to the major stressor of relocation. Infant monkeys (n=61) were studied from birth through 2 years of age. For the first 8 months of life, infants were either with their mothers and peers (MPR, n=21) or reared in a nursery using either peer-rearing (PR, n=20) or surrogate-peer-rearing (SPR, n=20). At approximately 8 months of age, infants were removed from their rearing group, simultaneously placed into a large socia... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502769 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502768&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001715%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study provides a benchmark against which to reference cortisol levels from industrialized populations, and expands the range of documented variation in HPA axis function in a nonwestern context. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502768 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502767&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001065%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: The results suggest that solitary sleeping in the first month of life is associated with heightened sensitivity of the HPA-axis to a mild stressor, possibly due to less nocturnal parental availability as external stress regulator. Whether this effect continues in later life, remains to be investigated. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502767 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5502766&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011003441%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5502766 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:32:25 +0100 5502766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484986&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011003295%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484986 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484985&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001636%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study tested the proposal that oxytocin administration, which enhances social bonding in humans, may enhance hypnotic responding by administering intranasal spray of oxytocin or placebo prior to hypnosis in 40 low hypnotizable male subjects. When low hypnotizable individuals were administered oxytocin via nasal spray, their level of hypnotic responding increased significantly compared to hypnotic responding levels prior to oxytocin administration. This is the first demonstration of a neurochemical basis for hypnotic responding, and points to a potential neural mechanism to explain hypnotizability. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484985 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484984&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001624%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: These findings indicate that the HPA axis is hyporesponsive in adolescents with NSSI. Therefore, reduced secretion of cortisol could play a role in promoting vulnerability of these individuals to acute stress and maladaptive stress responses. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484984 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484983&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001697%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Background: Stress and anxiety during pregnancy have been associated with premature and low birth weight babies, presumably through fetus over exposion to glucocorticoids. Antenatal stress also seems to have long-term effects upon infant development and adult health. However, medication for stress may carry risks to the expectant mother, therefore the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions should be investigated.Methods: Pregnant women (n=154) awaiting amniocentesis, were randomly assigned in the morning and the afternoon to three groups for 30min: (1) listening to relaxing music, (2) sitting and reading magazines, and (3) sitting in the waiting-room. Before and after that period, they completed the Spielberger's State and Trait anxiety inventory and provided blood samples ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484983 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484982&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001685%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Spaceflights are known to induce stress and immune dysregulation. Centrifugation, as hindlimb unloading, is a good ground based-model to simulate altered gravity which occurs during space missions. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of a long-term exposure to different levels of hypergravity on the stress response and the humoral immunity in a mouse model. For this purpose, adult C57Bl/6J male mice were subjected for 21 days either to control conditions or to 2G or 3G acceleration gravity forces. Corticosterone level and anxiety behavior revealed a stress response which was associated with a decrease of body weight, after 21-day of centrifugation at 3G but not at 2G. Spleen lymphocyte lipopolysaccharide (LPS) responsiveness was diminished by 40% in the 2G g... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484982 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484981&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001661%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Negative consequences of stress on working memory and delayed memory retrieval have been observed in adult humans. Little is known about the occurrence of similar effects in children. Forty-four German full-term children, aged 8–10 years, were randomly assigned to a stressful (Trier Social Stress Test for Children – TSST-C) or to a non-stressful control condition. Afterwards, delayed memory retrieval was tested using a computerized version of the well-known card game “Memory”. It contained positive, neutral and negative stimuli. In addition, working memory of verbal and non-verbal material was assessed. The stressed children showed pronounced cortisol increases accompanied by a decrease in mood. Children exposed to the stressor performed poorer in the delayed memory retrie... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484981 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484980&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100165X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is an effective psychosocial laboratory protocol for inducing stress in humans and has been used in numerous research studies. The stressor leads to a physiological response of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPAA) and the autonomous nervous system (ANS). Common biomarkers are cortisol levels and heart rate. In addition to the physiological stress response, the TSST also triggers a psychological response such as an increase in perceived stress, anxiety and emotional insecurity. Whereas HPA and ANS measures can easily be obtained for the TSST period itself, psychological measures are usually determined prior to (baseline) and after the TSST. This may exclude information of the stressful event itself. In the present study, we assessed... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484980 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484979&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001648%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The current study considered the influence of perceived discrimination on the diurnal cortisol rhythm of 50 African American older adults and a matched comparison groups of 100 Whites (Mage=56.6; 58% female). The role of socioeconomic status (SES) as a moderator of the effects of discrimination on the diurnal decline was also considered for each group. In support of the idea that perceptions of unfair treatment take on a unique meaning for stigmatized minority groups, results suggest that perceived discrimination is associated with a flatter (less healthy) diurnal slope among Whites but a steeper (more healthy) diurnal slope among African Americans. Perceived discrimination was also found to be more strongly associated with a steepening of the diurnal slope among lower SES African... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484979 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484978&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001612%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Autoantibodies reacting with alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), an anorexigenic neuropeptide, are involved in regulation of feeding. In this work we studied if intestinal inflammation (mucositis) may influence α-MSH autoantibodies production relevant to food intake and body weight. Mucositis and anorexia were produced in Sprague–Dawley rats by methotrexate (MTX, 2.5mg/kg/day, for three days, subcutaneously). Plasma levels of total IgG and of α-MSH autoantibodies were measured during and after MTX-induced mucositis and were compared with pair-fed and ad libitum-fed controls. Effects of intraperitoneal injections of rabbit anti-α-MSH IgG (3 or 10μg/day/rat) on MTX-induced anorexia and on plasma α-MSH peptide concentration were separately studied. Here we show that... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484978 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484977&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001600%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The evolutionarily highly conserved neuropeptide oxytocin seems to be involved in the regulation of complex forms of social behavior. It enhances the processing of positive social stimuli, reduces behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses and modulates amygdala activity in humans. Moreover, it has been proposed that oxytocin dampens sympathetic nervous system activity. This hypothesis was tested in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 38 men either receiving 24IU oxytocin intranasally or a placebo spray. While accomplishing an emotion classification task, electrodermal responses were measured as an index of sympathetic activity. Moreover, heart rate changes were recorded that are additionally mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system. Oxytocin enhanced different... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484977 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484976&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001594%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Childhood trauma in adults with personality disorder is associated with blunted cortisol and ACTH secretion following DEX/CRH challenge. These effects are independent of depression or posttraumatic stress disorder. Previous work would suggest that blunted pituitary–adrenal response is related to elevated central CRH drive. Corroborating this, CSF CRH levels were significantly and negatively correlated with peak level and AUC of both cortisol and ACTH. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484976 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484975&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001582%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, chronic psychosocial stress triggers reversible inflammation, persistent epithelial dysfunction, and colonic hyperalgesia. These findings support crowding stress as a suitable animal model to unravel the complex pathophysiology underlying to common human intestinal stress-related disorders, such as IBS. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484975 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484974&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001569%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Background: Work related fatigue has been suggested as a link in the assumed sequence of events between repeated adverse work demands and the development of work related stress, which may be associated with changes in concentrations of cortisol, psychological overload and, in the long run, health problems. Insufficient sleep is a contributing factor to lack of recovery, but previous studies on associations between subjective aspects of sleep and recovery, and cortisol, have been inconclusive. The aim with the present study was to examine possible associations between cortisol measures and (I) self-rated recovery, (II) occupational fatigue and (III) subjective sleep quality the night preceding cortisol sampling. Further, possible gender differences were tested.Methods: Salivary cor... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484974 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484973&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001405%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: Long-term but not current psychological distress is associated with severe CAC in healthy older subjects. Although psychological distress generally was not associated with cortisol stress responses, participants with both long-term distress and increased cortisol response were especially at risk for severe calcification. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484973 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484972&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001399%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Nearly 12% of US children are exposed to intense adverse experiences. Research has demonstrated that these experiences can negatively impact adult health, often resulting in psychopathology. Less attention, however, is given to the impact of childhood adverse experiences on childhood health and wellbeing. Using a rodent model of chronic juvenile stress (restraint 6h daily from postnatal day 20 to 41), we report that chronic stress has significant immediate morbidities in both males and females during this developmental window. Specifically, we demonstrate that chronic juvenile stress produces depressive-like behavior and significant neuronal remodeling of brain regions likely involved in these behavioral alterations: the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Chronically str... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484972 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484971&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001387%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Environmental stress has been demonstrated to increase susceptibility for mood and anxiety disorders, and hyperactivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, the primary endocrine response to stress, is often observed in these patients. HPA axis activation is initiated by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) from the hypothalamus, leading to the hypothesis that hypothalamic CRF overexpression contributes to HPA axis hyperactivity in psychiatric patients. In addition, elevated CRF in cerebrospinal fluid is observed in mood and anxiety disorder patients, suggesting that CRF is also being overproduced from extrahypothalamic sources such as the central amygdala (CeA) and overactivity of the amygdala in neuroimaging studies is a consistent finding in anxiety and depress... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484971 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484970&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001375%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, our findings indicate that ALS patients show a blunted CAR, correlated with disease and depression severity. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484970 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484969&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001673%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Chronic psychosocial stress has been repeatedly shown in humans to be a risk factor for the development of several affective and somatic disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). There is also a large body of evidence from rodent studies indicating a link between stress and gastrointestinal dysfunction, resembling IBD in humans. Despite this knowledge, the detailed underlying neuroendocrine mechanisms are not sufficiently understood. This is due, in part, to a lack of appropriate animal models, as most commonly used rodent stress paradigms do not adequately resemble the human situation and/or do not cause the development of spontaneous colitis. Therefore, our knowledge regarding the link between stress and IBD is largely based on rodent models with low face and predi... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484969 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5484968&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011003180%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5484968 Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:39:07 +0100 5484968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333147&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001557%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The authors regret that the authors’ affiliations were listed incorrectly. The correct affiliations appear above for each author. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333147 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333146&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001351%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: This study confirms earlier findings of an association between ESR1 and global anxiety in older women, however these associations varied depending on the anxiety syndrome and the use of HT. The results also suggest that the ESR2 may contribute to the genetic vulnerability to GAD, but these findings require further confirmation. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333146 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333145&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001363%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: An apparent clinical relationship between pain and depression has long been recognized. Depression and pain are often diagnosed in the same patients. The emerging concept for pain–depression pathogenesis is the dysfunction of biogenic amine-mediated pain–depression control and the possible involvement of nitrodative stress-induced neurogenic inflammation. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of curcumin on reserpine-induced pain–depression dyad in rats. Administration of reserpine (1mg/kg subcutaneous daily for three consecutive days) led to a significant decrease in nociceptive threshold as evident from reduced paw withdrawal threshold in Randall Sellitto and von-Frey hair test as well as significant increase in immobility time in forced swim test. This ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333145 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333144&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100134X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Background: The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key protein in maintaining neuronal integrity. The BDNF gene is thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time in a single study, the association between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, anxiety, alcohol consumption, and cortisol stress response.Method: 98 healthy university students (54 females and 44 males), genotyped for the Val66Met polymorphism, participated in a physical-stress procedure (cold pressure test, CPT) after having been informed that they would undergo a painful experience. Indices of anxiety and of stress were collected from repeated measurement of salivary cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate.Results: ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333144 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333143&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001338%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acute psychological stress on LPS-stimulated TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression. Twenty-one healthy male subjects participated in 20min of acute stress. Blood samples for norepinephrine and LPS-stimulated TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines and mRNA were drawn prior to, immediately after and 1-h after stress. Stress-induced increases in anxiety scores, cortisol, plasma norepinephrine, and heart rate demonstrated that the experimental protocol elicited an acute stress response. LPS-stimulated TNF-α mRNA decreased significantly immediately post-stress and partially recovered at 1h post-stress, whereas LPS-stimulated IL-6 mRNA exhibited a significant change across time, with an increase immediately after stress and a decrease 1h after stress... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333143 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333142&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001326%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined the effects of dexamethasone administration on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) function and fear-potentiated startle (FPS) in trauma-exposed individuals with and without PTSD. We used an established fear discrimination procedure, in which one visual stimulus (CS+, danger cue) was paired with aversive airblasts to the throat (unconditioned stimulus, US), and another stimulus (CS−, safety cue) was presented without airblasts. In addition to FPS, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was performed. The study sample (N=100) was recruited from a highly traumatized civilian population in Atlanta, GA. Half of the subjects (n=54, 16 PTSD, 38 controls) underwent conditioning at baseline and the other half (n=46, 17 PTSD, 29 controls) after DST, in a cross-sectional... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333142 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333141&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001314%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Prolactin does increase in response to psychosocial stress, however, with large individual variation in magnitude of response. The pattern of prolactin response does not differ between men and women. However, there was some indication that women might have higher magnitude of increase than men, and that the magnitude of response in women was dependent on estradiol levels, and this needs to be further studied. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333141 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333140&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001302%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus of adult laboratory animals has been widely reported to be vulnerable to many psychological and physical stressors. However, we have found no effects of acute restraint stress, acute or subchronic tailshock stress, or acute, subchronic, or chronic resident-intruder stress on neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation, short or long term survival of newborn cells, or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression in adult rats. In addition, we did not observe any effect of chronic resident-intruder stress on NPC proliferation in adolescent rats. A selectively bred stress-sensitive line was also found to exhibit no alterations in NPC proliferation following tailshock stress, although this line did exhibit a lower prolife... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333140 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333139&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001296%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Chronically stressed rodents who are allowed to eat calorie-dense “comfort” food develop greater mesenteric fat, which in turn dampens hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity. We tested whether similar relations exist in humans, at least cross-sectionally. Fifty-nine healthy premenopausal women were exposed to a standard laboratory stressor to examine HPA response to acute stress and underwent diurnal saliva sampling for basal cortisol and response to dexamethasone administration. Based on perceived stress scores, women were divided into extreme quartiles of low versus high stress categories. We found as hypothesized that the high stress group had significantly greater BMI and sagittal diameter, and reported greater emotional eating. In response to acute ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333139 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333138&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001284%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: In summary, there is evidence, that a hyperactive HPA axis is primarily present in MS patients expressing moderately elevated depressive symptoms. MS patients with only few depressive symptoms do not significantly differ in CAR when compared to healthy controls. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing that in early stage MS, a hyperactive HPA axis is primarily present in patients who express moderate depressive symptoms. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333138 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333137&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001144%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: Poorer self-rated health is associated with elevated serum inflammatory markers among generally healthy older adults. The relationship of self-rated health with inflammatory markers is not secondary to depressive symptoms, neuroticism, or recent changes in perceived health. Subjective ratings of health provide important clinical information regarding inflammatory status, beyond traditional objective risk factors, even among generally healthy individuals. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333137 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333136&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001132%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Recent findings suggest that elevated stress levels during the pre- and postpartum period are related to poor maternal and infant health outcomes; yet, few studies have prospectively examined the efficacy of stress management interventions on regulating stress levels among mothers and their infants. The current study examined whether a prenatal cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention would be effective in regulating salivary cortisol (a biological marker of stress) and self-reported stress levels among mothers and their infants at six and 18 months postpartum, relative to two control groups. Our sample was comprised of predominantly Spanish-speaking, low-income women (80%; mean age=25±5 years) who were screened for depression during their second trimester of pr... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333136 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333135&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001120%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Lower circulating FT and 3G were associated with worse self-reported depression symptoms. The relationship between mental health, sex steroids and corresponding metabolites in PCOS requires further investigation. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333135 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333134&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001090%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Polymorphisms of the GR-gene are factors which influence some clinical manifestations of BD, with respect to seasonal pattern of (hypo)mania and age of onset. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333134 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333133&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001089%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Investigators have administered the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, to interrogate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response under the assumption that this technique provides a measure of endogenous opioid activity. However it has never been tested whether provocation of the HPA axis with naloxone provides a surrogate marker for direct measurement of endogenous opioid activity using PET imaging as the gold standard. To test this hypothesis, eighteen healthy subjects underwent a PET scan with the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) selective ligand [11C]carfentanil (CFN). The following day ACTH and cortisol responses were assessed using a technique which allows administration of 5 incremental doses of naloxone (0, 25, 50, 100 and 250μg/kg) in a single session. Relationship... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333133 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333132&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001077%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: The significant heritability estimates later in the day reflect time-specific genetic effects for DHEAS, compared with prior twin and family designs studies which frequently used averaged morning-only measures. Additive genetic influences on DHEAS concentrations were consistent between at-home and DOT measures. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333132 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333131&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001879%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The macrophage (MΦ) is an essential cellular first responder in the innate immune system, sensing, alerting, removing and destroying intrinsic and extrinsic pathogens. While congenital aplasia of granulocytes, T or B lymphocytes leads to serious disease, lack of MΦs is incompatible with life. The MΦ, however, is not a monomorphic entity. These constructers, repairers and defenders of the body are diverse in form and function. What controls MΦ phenotype is beginning to be understood and involves a complex interplay of origination, location and microenvironment. Common to all MΦ developmental pathways are pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. MΦs respond to these bioactives in distinct ways developing recently recognized activation phenotypes that canonically suppo... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333131 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333131 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5333130&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011002915%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5333130 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:35:28 +0100 5333130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221121&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011002587%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In 2010 we published the article “Salivary cortisol in depressed patients versus control persons: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Knorr U, Vinberg M, Kessing LV, Wetterslev J. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2010 Oct;35(9):1275–1286”. The article included study sequential analyses (SSA) of the random-effects and fixed-effect meta-analyses considering repetitive testing and sparse data. We have discovered a flaw in the calculation of the required information size used for the analyses. The flaw was due to a formula error in the program resulting in a factor 2 error, making the estimate of the required information size the double of the correct value. The revised analyses slightly modifies our results and conclusion. We hereby present and along with the following modification of our r... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221121 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221120&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001053%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Sex steroid hormones have been implicated in the visuo-spatial abilities in the general population, as well as in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Nevertheless, almost nothing is known about the association between levels of testosterone and/or estrogen with brain activations during visuo-spatial processing in schizophrenia. The fMRI data collected during performance of a mental rotation task in 42 schizophrenia patients (21 women) and 42 matched controls, were correlated with the levels of testosterone and estrogen. Results revealed significant relationship between sex steroid hormones and cerebral activations in healthy men and in schizophrenia women, but no correlations were detected in healthy women or in male patients. The lack of correlations and the overall diminished ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221120 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221119&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001028%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Oxytocin has known stress-reducing and attachment-enhancing effects. We thus hypothesized that oxytocin would attenuate emotional and hormonal responses to stress in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Fourteen BPD and 13 healthy control (HC) adults received 40IU intranasal oxytocin or placebo in double-blind randomized order followed by the Trier Social Stress Test. Subjective dysphoria (Profile of Mood Changes) and plasma cortisol levels were measured. Childhood trauma history, attachment style, and self-esteem were also rated. A significant “Group×Drug×Time” interaction effect for dysphoria (p=.04) reflected a proportionately greater attenuation of stress-induced dysphoria in the BPD group after oxytocin administration. Additionally, a marginally significant “Group×... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221119 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221118&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001041%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Psychological stress prompts activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis resulting in increased release of cortisol. Long-term HPA aberrations have been observed for stress-related affective disorders but research into acute effects of cortisol on affect-regulation has only recently begun. Previous studies reported that exogenous cortisol acutely attenuated automatic attentional processing of task-irrelevant threatening information. This has been taken to suggest that cortisol may have acute anxiolytic properties, possibly through facilitating inhibition of threatening information. However, the role of cortisol in attentional inhibition of non-threatening arousing stimuli remained unclear. Therefore acute effects of 40mg cortisol on performance of a masked and un... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221118 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221117&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100103X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Discussion: Cognitive flexibility plays an important role in AN and may be modulated by abnormal levels of the appetite-regulating peptide AGRP. Even subtle impairments in cognitive flexibility can be relevant for the ability to fully engage in therapy and therefore may hinder a prosperous treatment. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221117 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221116&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001016%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: The swim stress animal model enabled observation of stress vulnerability and resilience; results point towards the existence of distinct behavioral, endocrine, and immunological profiles of the vulnerable and resilient animal, which may have important implications for mental health and stress research. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221116 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221115&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001004%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to improve many aspects of social cognitive functioning, including facial emotion recognition, and to promote social approach behaviour. In the present study, we investigated the modulatory effects of oxytocin on the recognition of briefly presented facial expressions. In order to diversify the degree of visual awareness for the facial stimuli, presentation duration was systematically varied. Fifty-six participants were administered intranasal oxytocin or a placebo in a double-blind, randomized, between-subjects design. Participants viewed angry and happy target faces or neutral distractors for 18, 35, or 53ms subsequently masked by neutral faces. Participants had to indicate the presence or absence of the briefly presented target face. Dis... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221115 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221114&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000990%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Adolescence is the transition from infancy to adulthood and encompasses major changes in the brain, the endocrine systems, and behavior. During late adolescence, male guinea pigs living in mixed-sex colonies exhibit a lower cortisol (C) response to novelty compared with animals in other ages and housing conditions. It was hypothesized that this reduction in stress responsiveness is induced by a high amount of social interactions in the colonies. In a previous study (), late adolescent colony-housed males (CM) were compared with similarly aged males that were housed in heterosexual pairs (PM) as well as with males that were also housed in pairs, but regularly received additional social stimulation by allowing them ten times to interact with unfamiliar adult animals of both sexes fo... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221114 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221113&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000989%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Background: Healthy sleep facilitates the consolidation of newly acquired memories. Although patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often complain of sleep disturbances and memory deficits, the interrelatedness of these symptoms is not well understood. Sleep may be disturbed in PTSD by increased awakenings during sleep, which has been associated with decreased growth hormone (GH) secretion. We conducted a controlled study in which we assessed sleep fragmentation, nocturnal secretion of GH, and memory consolidation in patients with PTSD.Methods: While sleep EEG was being monitored, 13 veterans with PTSD, 15 trauma controls (TC) and 15 healthy controls (HC) slept with an iv catheter, through which blood was collected every 20min from 23:00h to 08:00h. Declarative memory ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221113 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221112&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000977%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with depression can be reduced by antidepressants, which are thought to improve endogenous glucocorticoid-mediated negative feedback. A proportion of peripherally released glucocorticoids need to enter brain tissue, protected by the blood–brain barrier (BBB), in order to achieve this negative feedback effect at the level of the central nervous systems (CNS). The multidrug resistance transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) has been shown to actively transport glucocorticoid hormones and has been implicated in the regulation of glucocorticoid access to the CNS. Using an in situ brain/choroid plexus perfusion method, we tested the hypothesis that the antidepressant desipramine increases glucocorticoid accumulation... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221112 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221111&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000953%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Given that memory for the temporal order of events depends on the hippocampus to a greater extent than item memory, our findings suggest that NE activity during early SWS-rich sleep facilitates consolidation of memories that involve both, a strong amygdalar and hippocampal component. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221111 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221110&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100093X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The incidence of depression is 2–3× higher in women particularly during the reproductive years, an occurrence that has been associated with levels of sex hormones. The age-related decline of testosterone levels in men corresponds with the increased acquisition of depressive symptoms, and hormone replacement therapy can be efficacious in treating depression in hypogonadal men. Although it is not possible to model depression in rodents, it is possible to model some of the symptoms of depression including a dysregulated stress response and altered neuroplasticity. Among animal models of depression, chronic mild unpredictable stress (CMS) is a common paradigm used to induce depressive-like behaviours in rodents, disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and decrease hippocamp... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221110 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:08 +0100 5221110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221109&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000928%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Activation of corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) is necessary for establishing the classic endocrine response to stress, while activation of forebrain CRF neurons mediates affective components of the stress response. Previous studies have reported that mRNA for CRF2 receptor (CRFR2) is expressed in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) as well as hypothalamic nuclei, but little is known about the localization and cellular distribution of CRFR2 in these regions. Using immunofluorescence with confocal microscopy, as well as electron microscopy, we demonstrate that in the BNST CRFR2-immunoreactive fibers represent moderate to strong labeling on axons terminals. Dual-immunofluorescence demonstrated that CRFR2... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221109 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:07 +0100 5221109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221108&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000916%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The endogenous opioid system is involved in modulating a number of behavioral and physiological systems, including the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. In humans, a functional variant in the OPRM1 gene (OPRM1 A118G) is associated with a number of outcomes, including attenuated HPA axis responses to stress. A nonsynonymous variant (OPRM1 C77G) in the rhesus macaque has been shown to have similar effects in vivo to the human variant. The current study investigated whether OPRM1 C77G influences HPA axis response to stress in rhesus macaques. We analyzed plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels measured in response to three different stressors: (1) maternal separation in infant subjects at 6 months of age, (2) acute ethanol administration in adolesce... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221108 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:07 +0100 5221108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221107&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000904%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Stress is a multidimensional construct. To accurately represent stress physiology, multiple stress measures across multiple stress-related systems should be assessed. However, associations may be masked given that different systems underlie different time courses. Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (sAA) are reliable biological stress markers of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, respectively. Studies examining the link between sAA and cortisol levels in response to stress have produced inconsistent results. Here, we investigated whether the covariance of stress-induced sAA and cortisol release is dependent on the distinct temporal dynamics of the two stress markers. A total of 50 male participants were exposed to a psychologic... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221107 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:07 +0100 5221107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221106&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000540%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Behavioral persistence is required to reach a goal but may impede adaptations to changing environments. Given the well-documented effects of stress on learning and memory processes, we asked here whether stress affects the persistence of behavior. Participants were exposed to stress or a control condition before they learned an instrumental action to gain a food reward. During learning, we presented several extinction blocks in which the food reward was not presented. Stress rendered participants’ responding shortly after initial learning insensitive to the extinction procedure. Overall learning curves remained unaffected. Thus, the present findings suggest that stress increases the resistance of behavior to extinction. The cause of the behavioral persistence after stress may be... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221106 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:07 +0100 5221106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221105&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000941%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This article reviews studies examining the relationship between depression and diabetes, neurochemical underpinnings of the two disorders, and the diagnosis and treatment of depression associated with diabetes. We examine the validity of rating scales used to diagnose depression in diabetic patients and review the literature on psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic management for these patients. The challenges of optimal depression screening and treatment in primary care settings of diabetic patients are currently under close scrutiny, especially regarding their potential impact related to improvements in diabetes-related outcomes and decreased health care costs, be it “depression” or “diabetes” relevant. Much of the current literature regarding the intertwined nature of diabet... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221105 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:07 +0100 5221105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221104&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001703%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We describe the utility of the S/P Theory for classifying ‘tricky’ behavioral contexts on the basis of their hormonal responses using partner cuddling, a behavior which is assumed to be nurturant but increases T, as a test case of the S/P Theory. The S/P Theory provides a comparative basis for conceptualizing and testing evolved hormonal pathways to pair bonds with attention to species, context, and gender/sex specificities and convergences. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221104 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:07 +0100 5221104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221103&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011002423%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221103 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:05:07 +0100 5221103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138701&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100062X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study investigated whether the TTTAn polymorphism of the aromatase (CYP19A1) is equally linked to craving.An association between TTTAn and compulsive craving (p=0.029) was revealed in our sample of 118 male alcohol addicts at day of hospital admission. Genotype-dependent subgroups showed differences in that the patients with short alleles suffered from lower compulsive craving during withdrawal than those with the longer alleles (p=0.027). The additional inclusion of leptin revealed no further significant association in the present study.Our finding is a further step on the way to elucidate the genesis of craving for alcohol with its extensive underlying interactions of different genetic and non-genetic factors. Future investigations should enrol women and consider sex hormone levels ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138701 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:09:21 +0100 5138701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138700&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000564%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Preferences for sexually dimorphic traits in men's faces are consistent with a trade-off between cues to indirect (genetic) and direct (prosociality) benefits, associated perceptually with relative masculinity and femininity respectively. As the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has been shown to promote social perception, we hypothesized that temporary OT elevation would result in a preference for masculinity in men's faces, by reducing the apparent social costs of masculine traits. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 96 participants received either 24IU OT or placebo. They then completed a computer task in which they used the mouse to alter the shape of displayed men's and women's faces, making them look more or less masculine. Participants were instructed to make each face as... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138700 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:08:22 +0100 5138700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138699&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000965%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, 34 healthy married couples (n=68) ages 20–39 provided self reports of depressive symptoms (CESD) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale) before being randomly assigned to a 4-week intervention study enhancing partner support through “warm touch”, or to a “behavior monitoring” control group. Plasma oxytocin levels were obtained pre- and post-intervention, while salivary oxytocin was taken at home during week 1 and week 4. Results revealed that subjects with higher depressive symptoms scores had higher plasma OT levels at pre-intervention, and higher salivary OT levels at home during week 1 (p (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138699 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:07:44 +0100 5138699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138698&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000898%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Cognitive abilities, such as verbal fluency and mental rotation, are most sensitive to changes in sex steroids but poorly studied in the context of hormonal contraceptive usage. Therefore, we investigated the performance of mental rotation and verbal fluency in young (21.5±1.8years) healthy oral contraceptive (OC) users (23 women) and non-users (20 women) during the follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Salivary 17β-estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels were assayed to evaluate hormonal differences between groups and the phases of the menstrual cycle. To assess the effects of progestins having androgenic/anti-androgenic properties, OC users were subdivided into the third and new generation OC users. In addition, positive and negative affects a... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138698 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:07:00 +0100 5138698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138697&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000886%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Results reveal subtle normative sex differences in the influence of pubertal maturation on HPA regulation at the pituitary level. This normative shift may tip the balance towards stress response dysregulation in girls at high risk for depression, and may represent one potential mechanism underlying elevated rates of depression among pubescent girls. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138697 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:06:10 +0100 5138697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138696&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000874%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: In mammals, maternal care influences the developing offspring across multiple domains. In Long Evans rats, for example, the quality of maternal care received as a pup influences later cognitive function, neuroendocrine responses to stress and behavioral measures of emotionality. Data from humans, non-human primates, and rodents also suggest that early life events may similarly perturb measures of sexual reproduction, with possible consequences for reproductive fitness. The current study examined whether or not male conspecifics differentially prefer females, as adult mating partners, that were reared under varying maternal conditions (assessed via the quantity of licking and grooming received; LG). Additionally, the impact of maternal care on adult female sexual motivation and beh... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138696 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:05:22 +0100 5138696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138695&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000850%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: This prospective study aimed to determine whether salivary levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) change significantly during 6 months of treatment with methylphenidate (MPH), and to investigate long-term relationship between these levels and ADHD symptoms. Fifty ADHD patients aged between 6 and 12 years, and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were recruited. ADHD patients were prescribed oral MPH with a dose range of 5–15mg/day at the discretion of the psychiatrist. DHEA levels were determined from saliva samples collected from both ADHD patients and healthy subjects at pretreatment and 1, 3, and 6 months from pretreatment visit. ADHD symptoms were evaluated with the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, Version I... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138695 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:04:47 +0100 5138695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138694&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000849%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study takes advantage of a pedigreed nonhuman primate colony to investigate genetic and environmental influences on hair cortisol levels before and after an environmental change. A sample of 226 adult female vervet monkeys (age 3–18) living in multigenerational, matrilineal social groups at the Vervet Research Colony were sampled in a stable low stress baseline environment and 6 months after the entire colony was moved to a new facility with more frequent handling and group disturbances (higher stress environment). Variance components analysis using the extended colony pedigree was applied to determine heritability of hair cortisol levels in the two environments. Bivariate genetic correlation assessed degree of overlap in genes influencing hair cortisol levels in the low and higher ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138694 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:04:11 +0100 5138694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138693&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000837%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Previous research has mostly suggested general hypocortisolism in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, PTSD is a complex disorder and opposite neuroendocrinological changes have also been reported. Amongst other things, heterogeneous results might be related to differences in sample characteristics as well as methodological factors associated with the assessment of cortisol. The current study used the novel method of hair cortisol analysis to examine cumulative long-term cortisol secretion in a severely traumatized PTSD sample. Hair samples of 10 traumatized individuals with PTSD and 17 traumatized controls without PTSD from a civil war area of Northern Uganda were analyzed. Results revealed that hair samples of PTSD participants contained higher cortisol levels than tho... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138693 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:03:51 +0100 5138693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138692&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000825%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The acoustic startle response (ASR) is a withdrawal reflex to sudden or noxious auditory stimuli and, most importantly, an unbiased measure of emotional processing of appetitive and aversive stimuli. By exposing subjects to fearful situations, such as aversive pictures, the ASR may be enhanced, suggesting that amygdala modulates the startle circuit during threat situations. As one previous study, investigating affective modulation of the ASR in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), discovered no difference during picture viewing it is possible that the mood changes observed in PMDD relate to anxious anticipation rather than to direct stimulus responding. Hence we sought to examine the effects of PMDD on picture anticipation and picture response.Sixteen PMDD patients a... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138692 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:03:14 +0100 5138692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138691&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000618%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The relationships between positive emotional style and acute salivary cortisol and cardiovascular responses to laboratory stress tasks were examined in 40 young women (mean age=28.8years). Positive emotional style (PES) was measured by aggregating daily positive mood rating scales over one week. Negative affect was assessed with the short form Profile of Mood States. Salivary cortisol was measured in response to two behavioural tasks, a 5min speech task and a 5min mirror tracing task. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate responses were monitored using a Finometer during baseline, tasks and recovery. Higher PES was associated with more complete diastolic BP recovery (p=0.027) and lower acute cortisol response to stress (p=0.018), after adjusting for baseline measures, age, BMI and ne... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138691 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:02:50 +0100 5138691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138690&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000606%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we have begun to address this question by determining whether previous exposure to CIC stress could alter the subsequent neuro-immune response to an acute immunological challenge (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) or an acute heterologous stressor (footshock). We examined the response of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL1β and IL6, the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2, and the chemokines, CXCL1 and MCP-1 in plasma, hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex. There was no effect of CIC stress on basal expression of these markers 24h after the termination of stress. However, CIC stress enhanced the acute induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL1β and particularly IL6, and the chemokines, CXCL1 and MCP-1, in plasma, hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex in response to LPS, and also sensitized the... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138690 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:02:20 +0100 5138690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138689&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100059X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Molecular and behavioural evidence points to an association between sex-steroid hormones and autism spectrum conditions (ASC) and/or autistic traits. Prenatal androgen levels are associated with autistic traits, and several genes involved in steroidogenesis are associated with autism, Asperger Syndrome and/or autistic traits. Furthermore, higher rates of androgen-related conditions (such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, hirsutism, acne and hormone-related cancers) are reported in women with autism spectrum conditions. A key question therefore is if serum levels of gonadal and adrenal sex-steroids (particularly testosterone, estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and androstenedione) are elevated in individuals with ASC. This was tested in a total sample of n=166 participants. The ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138689 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:01:50 +0100 5138689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138688&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000588%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Several recent findings indicate that various interactions between nervous and immune system are important in the pathophysiology of alexithymia. These findings show that a significant role in developing alexithymia may play proinflammatory cytokines. Recent data also indicate that negative emotions related to depressive symptoms and anxiety are related to disturbed levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8). These findings suggest that IL-8 could present also useful immunological marker related to emotional dysregulation in alexithymia. In the present study we have performed psychometric measurement of alexithymia (TAS-20), depression (BDI-II) and anxiety (SAS), and immunochemical measure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum levels of IL-8 in 33 inpatients with non-inflammatory neurologica... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138688 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:00:57 +0100 5138688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138686&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000576%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study evaluated relationships between fatigue and both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity in breast cancer survivors. Norepinephrine and heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated at rest, as well as during and after a standardized laboratory speech and mental arithmetic stressor. The participants, 109 women who had completed treatment for stage 0–IIIA breast cancer within the past two years, were at least two months post surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, whichever occurred last. Women who reported more fatigue had significantly higher norepinephrine and lower HRV before and after the stressor than their less fatigued counterparts. Fatigue was not related to treatment or disease variables including treatment type, cancer stage, time since diagnosis, and time ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138686 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:00:53 +0100 5138686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138685&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000552%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Identifying a stressor paradigm that elicits mean increases in salivary cortisol in young children has proven elusive, possibly due to characteristics of the paradigms used and how and when cortisol is sampled. We therefore examined the validity of a standardized task (adapted from ) and procedures developed to assess cortisol reactivity in 215 preschool-aged children. Children participated in a standardized stress task during a home visit, which was videorecorded for future coding. Salivary cortisol samples were obtained at baseline and 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50min post-stress. In support of the validity of the task, significant increases in cortisol levels from baseline were found, followed by a significant decline, and a quadratic function provided a good fit to the data. Children... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138685 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:00:28 +0100 5138685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138684&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000862%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: The evidence shows that intranasal oxytocin: (1) produces no detectable subjective changes in recipients, (2) produces no reliable side-effects, and (3) is not associated with adverse outcomes when delivered in doses of 18–40IU for short term use in controlled research settings. Future research directions should include a focus on the dosage and duration of use, and application with younger age groups, vulnerable populations, and with females. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138684 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:00:02 +0100 5138684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138683&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001570%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Our brain operates by the way of interconnected networks. Connections between brain regions have been extensively studied at a functional and structural level, and impaired connectivity has been postulated as an important pathophysiological mechanism underlying several neuropsychiatric disorders. Yet the neurobiological mechanisms contributing to the development of functional and structural brain connections remain to be poorly understood. Interestingly, animal research has convincingly shown that sex steroid hormones (estrogens, progesterone and testosterone) are critically involved in myelination, forming the basis of white matter connectivity in the central nervous system. To get insights, we reviewed studies into the relation between sex steroid hormones, white matter and func... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138683 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 03:59:38 +0100 5138683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138682&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011002150%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138682 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 03:59:37 +0100 5138682 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062071&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001119%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We appreciate Tops and Wijers's interest in our findings. The authors’ main concern with our study () is better conceptualized as a limitation in our study design rather than a flaw in our statistical analysis strategy. We used a repeated measures design in which participants received cortisol and placebo in two different sessions in randomized order. This design does complicate interpretation of our findings, which we acknowledge in the Limitations section of our paper (Section 4.3). Our design does not allow us to directly test for interactions between drug and session, as they are two different ways to capture the same within-subjects data; hence our use of the between-subjects variable “drug-order”. Despite their concerns, we appreciate the fact that Tops and Wijers agree with ou... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062071 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:47 +0100 5062071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062069&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000060%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Recently, we showed that the circulating levels of insulin-related peptides and the secretory granule protein chromogranin A were increased in small cohorts of first onset schizophrenia patients. Assuming that this effect was associated with impaired insulin signalling, we investigated the possibility that secretion of other hormones is also affected in schizophrenia. Multiplex immunoassay analysis of 21 hormones and hormone-related molecules was carried out using sera from 236 first and recent onset schizophrenia patients and 230 matched controls. Serum concentrations of insulin and chromogranin A were increased in schizophrenia subjects, consistent with our previous study. In addition, we found elevated concentrations of pancreatic polypeptide, prolactin, progesterone and cortis... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062069 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:47 +0100 5062069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062068&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000357%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: An excellent strategy to treat overactive responses to stress is to exploit the body's inherent stress-inhibitory mechanisms. Stress responses are known to differ between individuals depending upon their level and distribution of adiposity and their experiences in early life. For instance, we have recently shown that female rats made obese by overfeeding during the neonatal period have exacerbated responses to psychological stress. The converse may be true for those that are underfed during this period. In this investigation we hypothesized that rats made lean by neonatal underfeeding would have reduced anxiety and attenuated hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis responses to psychological stress. Our findings show that male (but not female) rats, made smaller by being suc... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062068 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:46 +0100 5062068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062067&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000333%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Hostility is associated with a number of metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including waist–hip ratio, glucose, and triglycerides. Along with hostility, many of these measures have also been shown to be associated with reduced central serotonergic function. We have previously reported that a citalopram intervention was successful in reducing hostility by self-report assessment (). Here we examine the effects of this serotonergic intervention on metabolic risk factors in the same sample. 159 healthy adults with elevated hostility scores were randomized to citalopram or placebo for a 2-month period. Citalopram favorably changed metabolic risk factors, including waist circumference (p=.003), glucose (p=.02), HDL cholesterol (p=.04), triglycerides (p=.03), insulin se... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062067 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:46 +0100 5062067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062066&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000321%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The prevalence of major depression has increased in recent decades; however, the underlying causes of this phenomenon remain unspecified. One environmental change that has coincided with elevated rates of depression is increased exposure to artificial light at night. Shift workers and others chronically exposed to light at night are at increased risk of mood disorders, suggesting that nighttime illumination may influence brain mechanisms mediating affect. We tested the hypothesis that exposure to dim light at night may impact affective responses and alter morphology of hippocampal neurons. Ovariectomized adult female Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) were housed for 8 weeks in either a light/dark cycle (LD) or a light/dim light cycle (DM), and then behavior was assayed. DM-ham... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062066 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:46 +0100 5062066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062065&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100031X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Background: Depressive patients often have altered cortisol secretion, but few studies have investigated genetic variants in relation to both cortisol secretion and depression. To identify genes related to both these conditions, we: (1) tested the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal-axis (HPA-axis) candidate genes with a summary measure of total cortisol secretion during the day (cortisolAUC), (2) performed a genome wide association study (GWAS) of cortisolAUC, and (3) tested the association of identified cortisol-related SNPs with depressive symptoms.Methods: We analyzed data on candidate SNPs for the HPA-axis, genome-wide scans, cortisol secretion (n=1711) and depressive symptoms (the Centre for Epidemiology Studies Depress... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062065 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:45 +0100 5062065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062064&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000308%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: High levels of cortisol, a sign of potential hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, have been associated with poor cognitive outcomes in older adults. Most cortisol research has focused on hippocampal-related abilities such as episodic memory; however, the presence of glucocorticoid receptors in the human prefrontal cortex suggests that cortisol regulation is likely to be associated with prefrontally-mediated executive function abilities. We hypothesized that elevated cortisol levels would be associated with poorer frontal-executive function in addition to episodic memory. We assessed cortisol from 15 saliva samples paralleling individual diurnal rhythms across three non-consecutive days in a group of 778 middle-aged twin men ages 51–60. Cognitive domains c... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062064 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:45 +0100 5062064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062063&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000059%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Opiates and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most effective therapies for chronic pain, but their prolonged time of use can affect health conditions through physical and psychological side effects. They include the very common gastrointestinal effects and changes that can induce osteoporosis, depression, impaired cognition and a generally poor quality of life, which per se can induce and maintain a chronic painful condition. For this reason it is becoming imperative to expand our knowledge of the interaction of these substances with body functions apparently not directly involved in nociception and pain, such as neuroendocrine functions. The purpose of this study was to determine, in male and female patients suffering from chronic pain, the effect of ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062063 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:45 +0100 5062063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062062&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000047%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The objective of this study was to test the buffer hypothesis with respect to psychological (subjective well-being) and physiological (salivary cortisol) indicators of job strain, using an experimental study design. Seventy-seven men and women worked at a simulated computer workplace for more than two hours. Job demands and job control were manipulated in a 2 (job demands: high vs. low)×2 (job control: high vs. low)×7 (time of measurement) study design. Demands were operationalized in terms of workload, and pacing control (self-paced vs. machine-paced) was used as a job control manipulation. As dependent variables, subjective well-being and salivary cortisol were measured at seven time points during the experiment (T1–T7). In line with the buffer hypothesis, high control eliminated the... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062062 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:45 +0100 5062062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062061&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000035%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we analyzed the association of a common variant in the NPY gene promoter, rs16147, with cortisol and ACTH responses to acute psychosocial stress in young adults from the Mannheim Study of Children at Risk (MARS), an ongoing epidemiological cohort study following the outcome of early adversity from birth into adulthood. We found evidence of a GxE interaction between rs16147 and early adversity significantly affecting HPA axis responses to acute psychosocial stress. These findings suggest that the neurobiological mechanisms linking early adverse experience and later neuroendocrine stress regulation are modulated by a gene variant whose functional relevance is documented by increasing convergent evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062061 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:44 +0100 5062061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062060&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000023%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Steroids, including estrogens, participate in sleep regulation. For example estrogen replacement therapy improved sleep quality in postmenopausal women. Patients, who undergo a cross-gender hormone therapy, receive high doses of estrogens. The effects of this treatment on sleep are unknown. To clarify this issue, we examined seven male to female transsexual patients (age range 31–44 years, mean±SD 35.9±4.2 years). The patients spent two nights on 2 separate occasions in our sleep laboratory. The first night of each session served for adaptation to laboratory conditions. In the second night sleep electroencephalogram [EEG] was recorded from 2300h to 0700h. The first examination was performed before and the second about 3 months after initiation of cross-gender hormone therapy w... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062060 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:44 +0100 5062060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062059&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003203%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: When guinea pig pups are separated from their mothers in a novel environment, an initial period of active behavior (vocalizing, locomotor activity) wanes after an hour or so and is replaced by a second, passive stage characterized by a crouched stance, closed eyes, and extensive piloerection. If pups are given a peripheral injection of 7–14μg of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) prior to testing, the passive behaviors occur immediately upon separation. We found that intracerebroventricular infusion of 1–10μg of CRF did not increase passive behavior relative to vehicle infusion, but that peripheral injection of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10, attenuated the passive behavior induced by peripheral CRF injection. These results together with previous findings s... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062059 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:44 +0100 5062059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062058&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003197%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Gonadal hormones mediate both affiliative and agonistic social interactions. Research in estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) or beta (ERβ) knockout (KO) mice suggests that ERα increases and ERβ decreases male aggression, while the opposite is found for female ERαKO and ERβKO mice. Using a detailed behavioural analysis of the resident-intruder test, we have shown that the ERβ selective agonist WAY-200070 increased agonistic behaviours, such as aggressive grooming and pushing down a gonadectomized (gonadex) intruder, in gonadally intact but not gonadex male and female resident mice, while leaving attacks unaffected. The role of acute activation of ERα in agonistic behaviour in adult non-KO CD1 mice is presently unknown. The current study assesses the effects of the ERα selective ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062058 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:44 +0100 5062058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062057&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003185%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined the effects of oral administration of 20mg hydrocortisone on baseline and fear-potentiated startle in 63 male veterans with or without PTSD. The procedure was based on a two-session, within-subject design in which acoustic startle eyeblink responses were recorded during intervals of threat or no threat of electric shock. Results showed that the magnitude of the difference between startle responses recorded during anticipation of imminent shock compared to “safe” periods was reduced after hydrocortisone administration relative to placebo. This effect did not vary as a function of PTSD group nor were there were any significant group differences in other indices startle amplitude. Findings suggest that the acute elevations in systemic cortisol produced by hydrocortison... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062057 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:44 +0100 5062057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062056&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003161%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Male mice were reported to display greater methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity than females. The present study evaluated the involvement of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathways in this sex-dependent methamphetamine toxicity. Intact female and male mice were administered methamphetamine (20 or 40mg/kg) and euthanized a week later. Dopamine transporter (DAT) and vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) autoradiography in the lateral striatum showed a greater sensitivity in male mice treated with 20mg/kg methamphetamine compared to female mice. Striatal dopamine concentration and DAT autoradiography showed a more extensive depletion in male mice given 40mg/kg methamphetamine compared to female mice. Mice administered ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062056 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:43 +0100 5062056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062055&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003082%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, participants (N=46) received intravenous hydrocortisone (synthetic cortisol; 0.1mg/kg body weight) and placebo in randomized order over two sessions 48h apart. Following the infusion, participants rated neutral and unpleasant pictures. In Session 1, participants reported elevated negative affect (NA) following the picture-rating task, regardless of treatment. In Session 2, however, only participants who received cortisol (and thus who had received placebo in Session 1) reported elevated NA. Arousal ratings for unpleasant pictures followed a similar pattern. These findings suggest that the effects of cortisol on emotion vary based on situational factors, such as drug administration order or familiarity with the tasks and setting. Such factors can influence cortisol's effects ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062055 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:43 +0100 5062055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062054&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011000369%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Testosterone concentrations fluctuate rapidly in response to competitive and aggressive interactions, suggesting that changes in testosterone rather than baseline differences shape ongoing and/or future competitive and aggressive behaviors. Although recent experiments in animal models provide compelling empirical support for this idea, studies in humans have focused largely on how competitive interactions drive changes in testosterone concentrations and not how these changes influence subsequent behavior. In this paper, we provide a review of the literature on testosterone and human aggression with a main focus on the role of testosterone dynamics in modulating reactive aggression. We also speculate on one putative neural mechanism through which testosterone may bias human aggress... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062054 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:43 +0100 5062054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062053&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301100196X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062053 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:35:43 +0100 5062053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883384&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003112%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study tested for associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two thyroid hormone transporter genes with regional GM volume differences in a large sample population of patients with recurrent MDD and healthy volunteers.Methods: High-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were acquired at the Max Planck Institute, Munich, Germany. After quality control procedures were applied to images and genotypes, data for 134 patients and 144 well-matched controls were included in a stringent voxel-based morphometry analysis using non-stationary cluster-based inference. We first tested for associations between 10 candidate SNPs and regional GM volume differences across the combined sample population. We then tested for group-by-genotype interactions (i.e., differential associ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883384 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:49 +0100 4883384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883383&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301000301X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Introduction: Some postpartum women experience intrusive thoughts of harming the infant. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which has been linked to postpartum depression, may play a role in the aetiology of postpartum thoughts of harming the infant. We aimed to study whether HPA axis hormones measured early postpartum are related to postpartum intrusive thoughts.Method: 132 women who delivered a child at a university hospital participated in a follow-up study with visits at 2–3 days postpartum and 8th week postpartum. Participants were assessed for trait anxiety, social support, peripartum or postpartum anxiety or depression, stressful life events and obstetric variables including perinatal complications and lactation. Postpartum thoughts of harming the infant were ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883383 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:49 +0100 4883383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883382&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010002775%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Elevated serum levels of S100B have proven useful as an indicator of brain-injury but have also been shown in patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. Recently, associations were found between variations in the S100B gene and schizophrenia as well as bipolar affective disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether some of these genetic variations influence general aspects of human behaviour as portrayed by normal dimensions of personality. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms within the S100B gene, 2757C>G and 5748C>T, were genotyped in two population based cohorts consisting of 42-year-old women (n=270) and 51-year-old men (n=247), respectively. The two polymorphisms were analysed with respect to personality traits assessed using the Temperament and Charac... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883382 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:48 +0100 4883382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883381&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003173%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined neurobiological and behavioral stress reactivity in children who had been prenatally exposed to tobacco. Neurobiological stress reactivity was measured using salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels at five different time points throughout a stressful neuropsychological test session, which involved a competition against a videotaped opponent. Participants (mean age: 10.6 years, SD 1.3) were 14 prenatally exposed (PE) children, 9 children with disruptive behavior problems (DBD), and 15 normal controls (NC). For cortisol responses, no significant differences between the three groups were observed. Normal controls, however, had significantly higher alpha-amylase levels than PE-children throughout the test session, and their alpha-amylase levels also increased throughout ... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883381 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:48 +0100 4883381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883380&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301000315X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The cortisol awakening response (CAR) has been established as a useful marker of hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity and has become a standard tool for stress research in ambulatory settings. Although much knowledge has been accumulated on a variety of factors modulating the CAR, the impact of the female menstrual cycle, especially during ovulation, still remains unclear. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that measured the CAR during menses, the follicular phase, ovulation and the luteal phase in a repeated measurement design. For this purpose, a final sample of 29 naturally cycling, healthy, non-smoking, and medication-free women collected saliva samples directly after awakening as well as 30, 45, and 60min later during each of the four diff... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883380 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:48 +0100 4883380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883379&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003148%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Oxytocin facilitates stress regulation but little is known about individual differences in this effect. The present study investigates whether the effect of intranasal oxytocin on stress-contingent cortisol release differs between individuals with high vs. low emotional regulation abilities (ERA). In a double-blind study thirty-six healthy male students with either high or low ERA were randomly assigned to receive intranasally 24IU oxytocin or placebo. Cortisol was measured at several times before and after a social stressor (public speaking). Individuals with impaired ERA showed a reduced cortisol response to stress after oxytocin but an increased cortisol response after placebo application. The results suggest that healthy individuals with low ERA benefit from intranasal oxytoci... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883379 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:48 +0100 4883379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883378&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003136%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The oxytocin system plays a significant role in modulating stress responses in animals and humans; perturbations in this system may contribute to the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorder. Attempts to identify clinically relevant genetic variants in the oxytocin system have yielded associations between polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and both autism and major depression. To date, however, little is known about how such variants affect brain structures implicated in these disorders. Applying a manual tracing procedure to high-resolution structural magnetic resonance images, amygdala volumes were measured in 51 girls genotyped on OXTR rs2254298(G>A), a single nucleotide polymorphism associated with psychopathology. Results of this study indicate that despite having... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883378 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:48 +0100 4883378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883377&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003124%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: OT may have stress buffering effects on some immune parameters and possibly health status in low income ethnic minority WLWH reporting elevated stress. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883377 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:47 +0100 4883377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883376&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003094%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study examined the relationship between LE and prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, a tumor marker, and whether cortisol mediates or moderates a LE–PSA relationship. During a voluntary screening for prostate cancer risk, 139 men (mean age=57.3 years) were assessed with the Holmes and Rahe questionnaire about their LE during the past 1–5 years, and their PSA and serum cortisol levels were measured.Results: LE and cortisol alone were unrelated to PSA. However, statistically controlling for age, body mass index and the ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol, we found evidence for a synergistic interaction between LE and cortisol. Among men with low cortisol, number of LE were inversely and significantly correlated with PSA (r=−0.265, p (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883376 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:47 +0100 4883376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883375&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003045%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusions: In a large cohort of naturally postmenopausal Chinese women proxies of greater endogenous estrogen exposure were associated with better cognitive function. These findings support biological evidence for a cognitively protective role of endogenous estrogen. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883375 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:46 +0100 4883375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883374&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003033%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we examined the association between self-assessed lifetime parental depressive problems (PDP) and adolescent offspring’ cortisol responses to a social stress test. Data were collected as part of the third assessment wave of TRAILS (TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey), a large prospective population study of Dutch adolescents. Data of 330 adolescents (mean age 16.04; 40.9% girls) who participated in a laboratory session, including a standardized performance-related social stress task (public speaking and mental arithmetic) were examined. Four saliva cortisol samples were collected before, during and after the social stress task which were analyzed with repeated measures Analysis of Variance. Lifetime parental depressive problems were assessed by self-reports fr... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883374 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:46 +0100 4883374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883373&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010003021%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Early life stress poses a risk for the development of psychopathologies characterized by disturbed emotional, social, and cognitive performance. We used maternal separation (MS, 3h daily, postnatal days 1–14) to test whether early life stress impairs social recognition performance in juvenile (5-week-old) and adult (16-week-old) male Wistar rats. Social recognition was tested in the social discrimination test and defined by increased investigation by the experimental rat towards a novel rat compared with a previously encountered rat. Juvenile control and MS rats demonstrated successful social recognition at inter-exposure intervals of 30 and 60min. However, unlike adult control rats, adult MS rats failed to discriminate between a previously encountered and a novel rat after 60mi... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883373 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:46 +0100 4883373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883372&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010002957%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study evaluated level of salivary cortisol and perceived burden, stress and health of mothers and primary caregivers of children (4–11 years of age) with cerebral palsy (purpose group, n=37) and those for mothers of children of the same age without developmental problems (control group, n=38). Anthropometric and socioeconomic data were collected from the participants, who also completed the perceived stress questionnaire, the Burden Interview and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Cortisol level was assayed in saliva samples collected at various times in a single day and the area under the cortisol curve was then determined. Both groups presented low socioeconomic level and high, although equivalent, perceived stress index. However, the purpose group showed lower cortisol... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883372 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:45 +0100 4883372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883371&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010002829%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Progesterone withdrawal has been proposed as an underlying factor in premenstrual syndrome and postpartum depression. Progesterone withdrawal induces forced swim test (FST) immobility in mice, a depression-like behavior, but the contribution of specific receptors to this effect is unclear. The role of progesterone's GABAA receptor-modulating metabolite allopregnanolone in depression- and anxiety-related behaviors has been extensively documented, but little attention has been paid to the role of progesterone receptors. We administered the classic progesterone receptor antagonist mifepristone (RU-38486) and the specific progesterone receptor antagonist CDB-4124 to mice that had been primed with progesterone for five days, and found that both compounds induced FST immobility reliably... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883371 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:45 +0100 4883371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883370&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010002817%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, during the shortened photoperiod in winter, the cortisol response to awakening is attenuated in participants with self-assessed SAD in comparison to controls. These findings contribute to the understanding of the physiology of SAD. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883370 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:44 +0100 4883370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883369&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010002805%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study shows that lambs evaluate a reward according to their previous experience with that reward. They are able to form expectations, and a discrepancy from these expectations influences emotional responses, especially in the case of a negative shift. Given the appraisal criteria used by lambs and the matching emotions, we can assume that the emotional response to a negative shift expressed by lambs could reflect the despair caused by frustration. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883369 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:44 +0100 4883369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883368&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010002799%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Chronic stress causes stress hormones to strain many biological systems in a process referred to as allostatic load (AL) that is measurable using an index of biomarkers. While the AL framework has been successfully applied in studies of workplace stress, few studies have investigated burnout, a debilitating condition sometimes characterized by blunted stress hormone levels. Using an AL index based on clinical norms, we hypothesized that higher AL indices would be associated with increased chronic stress, burnout symptoms, as well as hypoactive diurnal and reactive stress hormone levels. Fifteen neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic, and cardiovascular biomarkers were collected for 30 healthy participants from various professions and values were transformed into an AL index using clini... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883368 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:43 +0100 4883368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883367&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010002787%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study suggests that the mechanism underlying the role of estrogen in reproductive-related mood disorders involves an abrupt and precipitous drop in its plasma level that can precipitate negative mood states. This finding has implications on the treatment of GS-related mood disorders. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883367 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:43 +0100 4883367 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883366&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453010002751%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: Previous studies have demonstrated that various type of stressors modulate messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for type 1 corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor (CRH-R1 mRNA) and type 2 CRH receptor (CRH-R2 mRNA). The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of social isolation stress of varying durations on the CRH, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 mRNAs expression in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and pituitary of socially monogamous female and male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Isolation for 1h (single isolation) or 1h of isolation every day for 4 weeks (repeated isolation) was followed by a significant increase in plasma corticosterone levels. Single or repeated isolation increased hypothalamic CRH mRNA expression, but no changes in CRH-R1 mRNA in the hypothalamus were ob... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883366 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:42 +0100 4883366 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883365&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS030645301000274X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Summary: The quality of social relationships may contribute to variations in biological stress responses, thereby affecting health risk. The association between an important indicator of social relationships, adult attachment style, and cortisol has been relatively unexplored. The present study examined adult romantic attachment style and cortisol responses to acute laboratory stress. Salivary cortisol was measured in response to two behavioural tasks, a colour/word interference task and mirror tracing task, in 498 healthy men and women from the Heart Scan study, a subsample of the Whitehall II cohort. Participants were classified as secure, fearful, preoccupied or dismissive on the basis of responses to the Relationship Questionnaire. Cortisol output was lowest in the fearful group, follo... Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883365 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:42 +0100 4883365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883364&cid=s_38638_172_f&fid=38638&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psyneuen-journal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS0306453011001429%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology) Psychoneuroendocrinology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883364 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:20:42 +0100 4883364