OBJECTIVETo study the effect of occupational stress on cardiovascular function of different vocational population.

METHODSThe occupational stressors, risk factors of cardiovascular diseases were investigated by questionnaire in 839 people with 4 kinds of jobs. Blood pressure, sugar, and lipid were detected at the same time.

RESULTSBlood pressure were higher in the groups of old age, long standing and teachers, and the abnormal rate of blood pressure was 21.69%. There was no difference in abnormal ECG among ages, standing and occupation, and the abnormal rate of ECG was 19.07%. Job control, job demands, job responsibility, role in a job and shift work were the main stress factors affecting systolic and diastolic blood pressure. More conflict in job, less chance of participation, severe job loads were the risk factors of primary hypertension. Accident due to job responsibility, job responsibility, role in a job were the main risk factors of abnormal electrocardiograph. Self-respect and activity beyond work were the good modifiers of heart function.

CONCLUSIONOccupational stress has certain effect on cardiovascular function.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; physiopathology ; Stress, Psychological ; physiopathology

The long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and the plasma glucocorticoids level were observed in rats to study the effects of physical exercise on chronic stress-induced hippocampal damages. Eight-week spontaneous wheel running exercise could attenuate the suppression of LTP induced by 21-day restraint stress, and maintain the normal plasma glucocorticoids levels. It is suggested that long-term physical exercise may protect the hippocampus from stress-induced damages.
Animals ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Restraint, Physical ; Stress, Psychological ; blood ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo establish social stress induced depression-like model in mice of C57BL/6 strain, and to assess its reliability using differenf behavioral methods.

METHODSTotally 20 male mice of C57BL/6 strain were divided into the normal group and the stress model group by random digit table,10 in each group. Another 10 CD1 mice were subjected to social stress. Mice in the normal control group received no stress, while those in the model group received social stress for 10 successive days. Behavioral assessment was performed using social interaction test (SIT), the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, tail suspension test (TST), respectively. Serum cortisol level was detected by ELISA to assess the reliability of the model.

RESULTSIn the social interaction test when the social target (CDI mice) was inexistent, mice in the normal control group spent longer time in the social interaction zone and less time in the corner zone (P < 0.05); mice in the model group spent less time in the social interaction zone and more time in the corner zone (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group when CDI mice existed, mice in the model group spent less time in the social interaction zone and more time in the corner zone (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the total times for entry into open arms, close arms, and the maze were obviously reduced (P < 0.05), and the proportion of entering open arms was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the model group. In TST, the motionless time within the last 4 mm was prolonged in the model group (P < 0.05). The serum cortisol level in the model group was obviously elevated (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSocial stress induced depression-like animal model in mice of C57BL/6 straineasquite reliable and possibly suitable to be used in integrative medicine research of combination of disease and syndrome model.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Depression ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Social Behavior ; Stress, Psychological

INTRODUCION: Cardiovascular disease has the potential to lead to sudden in-flight incapacitation and permanent grounding. The aims of this study are to examine the relationships between lifestyle, job stress and blood lipid levels of male aircrew personnel of a Korean airline and to identify which factors influence their hyperlipidemia. METHODS: Two hundred sixteen male aircrew personnel completed a questionnaire by self-report and consented to participate in the study. The questionnaire collected data related to job stress, life style, serum cholesterol levels and general characteristics of the aircrew. The cholesterol levels of the subjects were collected from their most recent health check-up records. Subjects were divided into two groups (the desirable group and the risk group) based on their serum cholesterol level, 200 mg/dl. RESULTS: Mean age and marital status were significantly different between the two groups. More subjects in the risk group had habits of eating high lipid foods, while more subjects in the desirable group exercised more frequently than the risk group. In logistic regression analysis, after controlling age and marital status, types of working situation (domestic duty or international duty, odds ratio=.390, p=.018), diet (odds ratio=.429, p=.037), and exercise (odds ratio=.320, p=.055) were influencing factors on aircrew's serum cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: The cholesterol level of aircrew personnel is closely related to their lifestyle, such as lipid diet and exercise. The type of work situations, e.g. staying in an airplane for long periods of time or staying abroad, may influence these diet patterns and exercise habits.
Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology ; Risk Factors ; Occupational Diseases/*physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Logistic Models ; *Life Style ; Korea/epidemiology ; Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology/etiology/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Cholesterol/blood ; Aerospace Medicine ; Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of chronic psychological stress on vascular endothelial dysfunction rats and to explore the intervention and mechanism of Tongxinluo (TXL) on it.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (with no modeling), the endothelial dysfunction group (the HCY group), the psychological stress group (the model group), and TXL group, ten in each group. Rats in the latter three groups were fed with 3% high methionine diet to duplicate vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED) model. In addition, chronic psychological stress was applied in VED rats using repeated binding method. TXL at the dose of 1.2 g/kg body weight was given by gastrogavage. The plasma endothelin (ET) and angiotensin II (Ang II), serum cortisone (CORT) were detected by radioimmunoassay. The serum nitric oxide (NO) was detected by nitrate reductase. Ultrastructural changes of aortic endothelial cells were observed by transmission electron microscope. Serum levels of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSCompared with the plasma ET level and the serum NO level in the HCY group (161.70 +/- 13.96 pg/mL and 26.82 +/- 13.03 micromol/L), the plasma ET level obviously increased (178.25 +/- 21.85 pg/mL) (P < 0.05) and the serum NO level decreased (24.91 +/- 9.95 micromol/L, P > 0.05), levels of CORT, NE, and E obviously increased in the model group (all P < 0.05). Ultrastructural changes of aortic endothelial cells were obviously injured. Compared with the model group, the plasma ET level (154.74 +/- 13.27 pg/mL), Ang II, CORT, NE, and E obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), the serum NO level obviously increased (34.44 +/- 18.35 micromol/L, P < 0.05). Ultrastructural changes of aortic endothelial cells were obviously improved.

CONCLUSIONSChronic psychological stress could obviously aggravate endothelial injury in VED rats. TXL showed protection on the vascular endothelial structure and function.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Psychological ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qianjin Fubao (QJFB) on behavior and estradiol level in femal chronic stress model rats.

METHODTwenty four female Wistar rats (2 month old) were evenly randomized into normal control, animal model and QJFB (0.7 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) group. The QIFB group and the stress group were exposed to a chronic unpredictable stress for 21 days. Rats of the QJFB group received perfusion of Qianjin Fubao, and rats of stress and control group were perfused with normal saline. The behavior of three groups were determined with the method of Open-field before and after right stress respectively. Serum level of estradiol was detected with radioim munoassay.

RESULTThe behavioral score and the serum level of estradiol of the stressed group were significantly lower than those of the control group after stress (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences of behavioral score and the serum level of estradiol between QJFB group and control group.

CONCLUSIONThe chronic unpredictable stress can induce the stressful change of behavior, and QJFB may recover the rats'abnormal behavior and improve the serum level of estradiol. QJFB may have protective effect on stress.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Psychological ; blood ; physiopathology

BACKGROUNDThe prevalence reported of maternal depression from the first to the third trimester was 7.4%, 12.8%, 12.0% respectively, which implies that around one-tenth of pregnant women suffer from psychological disorder during the whole pregnancy. It is assumed that during pregnancy the maternal-fetal circulation unit is also affected by maternal psychological status. The aim of this study is to explore the association between maternal psychological status and fetal dynamic blood flow circulation during pregnancy.

METHODSWe recruited 102 singleton low risk pregnant women between 30 to 33 gestational weeks. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) was used to assess maternal psychological status. Ultrasound Doppler was used to measure blood flow changes in maternal-fetal circulation. Pulsatility index (PI) value was measured in umbilical artery (UA), fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) and maternal uterine arteries (UTA). Peak systolic velocity (PSV) was measured in MCA and velocity was measured in umbilical vein (UV). Statistical analysis was performed with standard nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests. Two-tailed P values <0.05 were considered statistical significance.

RESULTSOf the 102 pregnant women, 12 patients show high levels of poor mental health. Women with poor mental health have higher umbilical artery PI values than good mental health patients (P = 0.020). A higher MCA PI value is found in poor mental health patients but this does not reach statistical significance (P = 0.053). Women with hostility show lower placental scores (P = 0.030). Women with somatization demonstrate higher values in UA PI, MCA PI and MCA PSV (P = 0.049, 0.030 and 0.035 respectively). A higher MCA PSV value is also found in phobic anxiety patients (P = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONSPoor mental health during pregnancy is found to have an adverse effect on maternal-fetal circulation. Umbilical artery and fetal cerebral circulation are more sensitive and affected by maternal psychological disorder.

Adult ; Blood Flow Velocity ; physiology ; Female ; Fetus ; blood supply ; physiology ; Gestational Age ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Stress, Psychological ; physiopathology

AIMTo explore the effects of different doses of tyrosine modulation on behavioral performances in open field test of psychological stress rats.

METHODSThe animal model of psychological stress was developed by restraint stress for 21 days. Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10) as follows: control group (CT), stress control group (SCT), low, medium and high-doses of tyrosine modulation stress groups (SLT, SMT and SIT). The changes of behavioral performances were examined by open-field test. Serum levels of cortisol, norepinephrine and dopamine were also detected.

RESULTSThe levels of serum cortisol were all increased obviously in the four stress groups, and their bodyweight gainings were diminished. The behavioral performances of SCT rats in open-field test were changed significantly in contrast to that of CT rats. However, The behavioral performances of SMT and SHT rats were not different from that of CT rats. In addition, the serum levels of norepinephrine and dopamine were downregulated obviously in SCT and SLT groups, and no differences were observed in other groups.

CONCLUSIONPsychological stress can impair body behavioral performances, and moderate tyrosine modulation may improve these abnormal changes. The related mechanisms may be involved with the changes of norepinephrine and dopamine.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Dopamine ; blood ; Male ; Norepinephrine ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Restraint, Physical ; psychology ; Stress, Psychological ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Tyrosine ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of rat red blood cells on T, B lymphocytes proliferation in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS).

METHODSThirty Wistar rats were averagely divided into control group and the CUMS group. The relevant behavioral performance and red blood cells on lymphocytes proliferation Changes by MTT colorimetric were observed.

RESULTSAfter fourteen days, the growth of weight and organic coefficient of brain decreased in model group (P < 0.05), with a significantly reduced consumption and preference of sucrose solutions, and increased pure water consumption as compared with control group (P < 0.05). Plasma corticosterone levels peaked at seven days but on a declining trend after fourteen days. The rate of red blood cells on T, B lymphocyte proliferation in depression group was lower than non-stress in 7, 14, 21 days (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe repeated chronic mild stress stimulation can induce long-time changes in acts and activities and decrease the rate of red blood cells on T, B lymphocytes proliferation, which can provide a new experimental method to observe the red blood cell immune function under the stress.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Depression ; blood ; etiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Psychological ; physiopathology

AIMTo study the role of NO in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) in the development of stress-induced hypertension (SIH).

METHODSThe model of stress-induced hypertension (SIH) rat was established by electric-foot in company with noise, NADPH-d histochemistry technique was used to investigate the change of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) positive neurons. Selecting and using microinjection and radioimmunoassay, we studied the effects of blood pressure and the content of Ach in rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) after microinjection of L-NNA into PAG.

RESULTS(1) The blood pressure increased, the cell number decreased and the grey degree value increased for the NOS positive neurons of PAG dorsolateral subdivision in SIH rats, and the content of Ach increased in RVLM. (2) Following microinjection of 100 mmol/L 0.1 microl L-NNA into PAG, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the content of Ach in RVLM increased in control rats, whereas the change of MAP was significantly smaller in SIH rats than control.

CONCLUSIONThe plastic change of NOS positive neurons of PAG in SIH rats may be involved in the development of SIH, which may be mediated by Ach in RVLM.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Hypertension ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Periaqueductal Gray ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Psychological