OBJECTIVES: Although increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) is caused by stress accelerates collagen degradation, there was no data on the relationship between stress and urinary hydroxyproline (Hyp) and proline (Pro), a good marker of collagen degradation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) and concentrations of urinary Hyp and Pro. METHODS: 97 hospital employees aged 20 to 58 were asked to fill out comprehensive self-administrated questionnaires containing information about their medical history, lifestyle, length of the work year, shit-work and DAS. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) was applied to evaluate chronic mental disorders. Urine samples were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with double derivatization for the assay of hydroxyproline and proline. RESULTS: The mean value of Hyp and Pro concenturation in all subjects was 194.1+/-113.4 micromol/g and 568.2+/-310.7 micromol/g. DASS values and urinary Pro concentrations were differentiated by sex (female > male, p < 0.05) and type of job (nurse > others, p < 0.05). In the stepwise multiple linear regressions, urinary Hyp and Pro concentrations were influenced by stress (Adjusted r2 = 0.051) and anxiety and job (Adjusted r2 = 0.199), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We found that stress and anxiety were correlated with urinary Hyp and Pro concentrations. To identifying a definite correlation, further study in large populations will be needed.
Adult ; Anxiety/*urine ; Depression/*urine ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxyproline/urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Personnel, Hospital/*psychology ; Proline/*urine ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Stress, Psychological/*urine ; Young Adult

AIMTo identify the main metabolites of stachydrine in rat.

METHODSThe ionization, cleavage and chromatographic characteristics of stachydrine were studied by using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS) for the first time. These characteristics of stachydrine were used as the basis for the analyses of metabolites in rat urine. The 0 - 24 h urine samples of rats after ig 25 mg x kg(-1) stachydrine were collected and purified by using C10 solid-phase extraction cartridge, and then analyzed by HPLC-ESI/MS to identify stachydrine and its metabolites.

RESULTSThe parent drug (stachydrine), 6 phase I metabolites (N-demethyl, dehydrogenation, ring-oxidation) and 2 phase II metabolites (glycine conjugates of 2 ring-oxidation products) were identified existing in rat urine.

CONCLUSIONThe presented method was proved to be sensitive, rapid, high selective and specific for the identification of stachydrine and its metabolites in rat urine.

Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proline ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; urine ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Stachys ; chemistry