OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of occupational stress on the oxidation/antioxidant capacity in nurses.

METHODSA total of 131 nurses were included as study subjects. The occupational health information collection system (based on the Internet of things) was used for measurement of occupational stress. Levels of hydroxyl free radicals and antioxidant enzymes were determined.

RESULTSThe serum level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was the highest in nurses under the age of 30 and the lowest in those over 45 (P < 0.05). The serum levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and peroxidase (POD) were the highest in nurses of working age less than 5 years, followed by those of 5-15 years, and nurses with more than 25 years' working experience showed the lowest GSH-Px and POD levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, nurses with a university (college) degree had a higher GSH-Px level and a lower POD level compared with those with junior and senior high school degrees (P < 0.05). Job prospects and job control were positive occupational stress factors for SOD. Job hazards were negative occupational stress factors for POD. Psychological satisfaction was negative occupational stress reaction for hydroxyl free radicals. Calmness was positive occupational stress reaction for SOD, and daily stress was a negative one. The positive occupational stress reactions for GSH-Px were psychological satisfaction and job satisfaction, and daily stress was negative reaction.

CONCLUSIONNurses with higher occupational stress have stronger oxidation and weaker antioxidant capacity, which intensifies oxidant-antioxidant imbalance and leads to oxidative stress damage.

Adult ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Humans ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Nurses ; psychology ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; blood ; Stress, Psychological ; blood ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Animals ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stress, Physiological

Female ; Humans ; Male ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; blood

The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in the serum malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) levels between normal and T. gondii-infected patients. To this end, MDA, GSH, and NO levels in the sera of 37 seropositive patients and 40 participants in the control group were evaluated. In Toxoplasma ELISA, IgG results of the patient group were 1,013.0 +/- 543.8 in optical density (mean +/- SD). A statistically significant difference was found between patients and the control group in terms of MDA, GSH, and NO levels. A decrease in GSH activity was detected, while MDA and NO levels increased significantly. Consequently, it is suggested that the use of antioxidant vitamins in addition to a parasite treatment shall prove useful. The high infection vs control ratio of MDA and NO levels probably suggests the occurrence as a mechanism of tissue damage in cases of chronic toxoplasmosis. Moreover, it is recommended that the patient levels of MDA, GSH, and NO should be evaluated in toxoplasmosis.
Animals ; Glutathione/*blood ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde/*blood ; Nitric Oxide/*blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis/*blood/immunology

The diagnosis and management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have evolved dramatically over the past decade. Biomarkers play an important role in the diagnosis of ACS, especially in unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Among these, cardiac troponin and creatine kinase appear to be the most sensitive and specific markers of myocardial injury. Recent studies have revealed several novel biomarkers. Elevated levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 are strong independent markers of increased mortality among patients with ACS. However, the ideal biomarkers that offer early detection, risk stratification, selection of therapy, monitoring disease progression, and treatment efficacy remain to be elucidated. This review assesses limitations and contemporary needs for biomarkers in the context of diagnosis of ACS. It also discusses the newly developing technologies for novel biomarkers or novel biomarker protein signatures discovery, and importance of point-of-care testing for future management.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; pathology ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Myoglobin ; blood ; Necrosis ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Platelet Activation ; Troponin I ; blood ; Troponin T ; blood

OBJECTIVEElderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) has a higher risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. However, changes of homocysteine (Hcy) as markers of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease associated with OSAHS and their mechanism have not been elucidated so far. This study aims to investigate the changes of both serum Hey and oxidative stress and their possible links with OSAHS in elderly patients.

METHODSBased on polysomnogram (PSG) and age, 83 patients with OSAHS were recruited and divided into elderly-OSAHS (n=32) and non-elderly OSAHS groups (n=51). Fifty two subjects without OSAHS were divided into elderly control (n=29) and non-elderly control groups (n=23). A total of 135 subjects were included in the present study. All subjects were recorded for PSG variables and the contents of homocysteine (Hcy), malonaldehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) which were detected after sleep. Serum homocysteine was measured by cyclophorase. MDA and GSH were measured by spectrophotometer.

RESULTS(1) The serum levels of Hcy showed significant difference among the four groups (P < 0.05). The concentrations of Hey in elderly OSAHS patients were higher than in other groups, while those in the elderly control group were higher than in the non-elderly control; the concentrations in the non-elderly OSAHS group were higher than in the non-elderly control. (2) The concentrations of MDA and GSH changed at an equal pace with Hey in the four groups. (3) Multielement linearity regression analysis indicated a statistically significant relationship between Hcy concentration and age, MDA, GSH, and apnea hypopnea index (AHI).

CONCLUSIONS(1) The concentrations of Hey and oxidative stress have increased with advancing age. (2) The concentrations of Hey and oxidative stress have further increased in the elderly patients with OSAHS. (3) Oxidative stress might cause high-level serum Hey in the elderly patients with OSAHS.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; blood

OBJECTIVETo estimate the oxidative stress and oxidative damage induced by abnormal free radical reactions in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients' bodies.

METHODSSeventy-two IgA N patients (IgANP) and 72 healthy adult volunteers (HAV) were enrolled in a random control study design, in which the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in plasma, lipoperoxide (LPO) in plasma and in erythrocytes, and vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE) and beta-carotene (beta-CAR) in plasma as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in erythrocytes were determined with spectrophotometric methods.

RESULTSCompared with the HAV group, the averages of NO in plasma, and LPO in plasma and in erythrocytes in the IgANP group were significantly increased (P<0.0001), while those of VC, VE and beta-CAR in plasma as well as those of SOD, CAT and GPX in erythrocytes in the IgANP group were significantly decreased (P<0.0001). Linear correlation analysis showed that with the increase of the values of NO, and LPO in plasma and in erythrocytes, and with the decrease of those of VC, VE, beta-CAR, SOD, CAT and GPX in the IgAN patients, the degree of histological damage of tubulointerstitial regions was increased gradually (P<0.0001); and that with the prolongation of the duration of disease the values of NO, and LPO in plasma and erythrocytes were increased gradually, while those of VC, VE, beta-CAR, SOD, CAT and GPX were decreased gradually (P<0.005). The discriminatory correct rates of the above biochemical parameters reflecting oxidative damage of the IgAN patients were 73.8%-92.5%, and the correct rates for the HAV were 70.0%-91.3% when independent discriminant analysis was used; and the correct rate for the IgAN patients was increased to 98.8%, the correct rate for the HAV was increased to 100% when stepwise discriminant analysis was used. The above biochemical parameters' reliability coefficient (alpha) were used to estimate the oxidative damage of the IgAN patients as 0.8145, the standardized item alpha=0.9730, F=53273.5681, P<0.0001.

CONCLUSIONSA series of free radical chain reactions caused serious pathological aggravation in the IgANP' bodies, thus resulting in oxidative damage in their bodies. In treating IgANP, therefore, it is necessary that suitable dose antioxidants should be supplemented to them so as to alleviate the oxidative damage in their bodies.

Adult ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Female ; Free Radicals ; blood ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Oxidative Stress

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of breathing biofeedback training on the stress of nursing students in clinical practice. The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects of this study were 39 nursing students from the College of Nursing of K University. The study was conducted from July 20 to September 3, 1998. The subjects were assigned to one of two groups : the experimental group (19 students), and the control group (20 students). The breathing biofeedback training was performed 12 times with the experimental group. The level of psychological stress was measured using the State Anxiety Inventory, Profile of Mood State, and Visual Analogue Stress Scale. The level of physiological stress was measured using pulse rate and blood pressure. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, x2-test, t-test, and repeated measures of ANOVA. The results of study are as follows : 1) State anxiety scores were not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training. 2) Profile of mood state scores were not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training. 3) Visual Analogue Stress Scale scores were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training(F=11.68, p=0.002). 4) Pulse rates were not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training. 5) Systolic blood pressures were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training(F=5.44, p=0.025). 6) Diastolic blood pressures were not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after the biofeedback training. On the basis of the above findings, the following recommendations for further study are made ; 1) Identification of the effects of breathing biofeedback training at times of high stress during clinical practice. 2) Identification of the effects of stress reduction according to the frequency of the breathing biofeedback training.
Anxiety ; Biofeedback, Psychology* ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Research Design ; Respiration* ; Stress, Physiological ; Stress, Psychological ; Students, Nursing*

The relationship of stress perception and frequency of stressors with serum total Ig E level was investigated in 54 outpatients with bronchial asthma. The GARS (global assessment of recent stress) scale and SRRS (social readjustment rating scale) were used to measure the degree of stress perception and frequency of stressors during a one-year period Total serum Ig E was measured by the PRIST method. 56% of the patients were found to have psychosomatic disorders, but there was no significant difference in stress perception and frequency of stressors between psychosomatic and non-psychosomatic groups. A considerable number of patients (63%) rated their symptoms as severe, but no significant correlation was found between severity of symptoms and stress perception. Severity of stress perception and frequency of stressors did not correlate with serum total Ig E level. Multiple regression analysis revealed that female patients were significantly higher in stress perception than male ones, and that chronicity of illness was more likely to increase stress perception. Extrinsic asthmatics had significantly more negative stressors than intrinsic ones. In conclusion, serum Ig E is considered a stable indicator of allergy not influenced by stress. It was also indicated that patients with bronchial asthma were more likely to perceive physical symptoms than psychological stress.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Asthma/*blood/*psychology ; Female ; Human ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood ; Male ; Middle Age ; Stress/*blood ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov'

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of monoamine neurotransmitters, serum glucose, serum glycerinate and cholesterol as objective indices for evaluating occupational stress.

METHODSJob stressors, modifiers, job strains in 844 people with four kinds of occupation were investigated, and the concentration of monoamine neurotransmitters, glucose, glycerinate and cholesterol in blood were detected at the same time. The methods of multiple stepwise regression and covariance analysis were used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThere was close relationship between monoamine neurotransmitters and job stressors, the forecast of the equation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) was 0.7238, 0.5703, 0.4438 respectively, the critical values of them were 804.00, 226.00 and 275.00 ng/ml respectively. There was a little contribution of job stressors to the equation of glucose, glycerinate and cholesterol, the critical values were 6.40, 2.51 and 5.92 mmol/L respectively.

CONCLUSIONMonoamine neurotransmitters may be a direct objective evaluating indices. Sugar, glycerinate and cholesterol may be an indirect objective indices.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; blood ; Occupational Diseases ; metabolism ; Stress, Psychological ; metabolism