Postural Control and Stress Exposure in Young Men: Changes in Cortisol Awakening Response and Blood Lactate
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Authors: Coco, Marinella; Buscemi, Andrea; Pennisi, Emanuele; Cavallari, Paolo; Papotto, Giacomo; Papotto, Giulio Maria Federico; Perciavalle, Vincenzo; Di Corrado, Donatella; Perciavalle, Valentina
Abstract
Background: It has recently been noticed that the quantity of stress affects postural stability in young women. The study was conducted with the goal of investigating whether increased stress may damagingly effect posture control in 90 young men (71 right-handed and 19 left-handed) while maintaining an upright bipedal posture, while keeping their eyes open or closed. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was administered and changes in free cortisol levels were monitored (Cortisol Awakening Response, CAR) in order to evaluate the amount of stress present during awakening, while the Profile of Mood States (POMS) was used to estimate distress on the whole. Posture control was evaluated with the use of a force platform, which, while computing a confidence ellipse area of 95%, was engaged by the Center of Pressure through five stability stations and was sustained for a minimum of 52 s, with and without visual input. Another goal of the experiment was to find out whether or not cortisol increases in CAR were linked with rises of blood lactate levels. Results: CAR, PSS and POMS were found to be extensively related. Furthermore, it has been observed that increases in salivary cortisol in CAR are associated with small but significant increases in blood lactate levels. As expected, stress levels did affect postural stability. Conclusions: The results of the present study confirm that the level of stress can influence postural stability, and that this influence is principally obvious when visual information is not used in postural control.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression in asthma: A glucocorticoid receptor polymorphism may protect
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Akurugu, Wisdom Alemya; Van Heerden, Carel Jacobus; Mulder, Nicola; Zollner, Ekkehard Werner
Abstract
Background Asthmatic children on corticosteroids can develop hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression (HPAS). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs242941 and rs1876828 of the corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) gene were associated with lower stimulated cortisol (F) levels, whereas rs41423247 of the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) gene was associated with higher basal F levels. The objective of the current study was to confirm whether these three SNPs are associated with HPAS in asthmatic children. Methods DNA was extracted from saliva obtained from 95 asthmatic children, who had previously undergone basal F and metyrapone testing. Thirty-six children were classified as suppressed. Non-suppressed children were subclassified according to their post-metyrapone adrenocorticotropin (PMTP ACTH) level into a middle (106-319 pg/mL) and a high (>319 pg/mL) ACTH response group. TaqMan(R)polymerase chain reaction assays were utilized. Results Only rs41423247 was inversely associated with HPAS (OR = 0.27 [95% CI 0.06-0.90]). Its GC genotype was inversely associated with HPAS (log odds = -1.28,P = .021). root PMTP ACTH was associated with CC (effect size = 10.85,P = .005) and GC genotypes (effect size = 4.06,P = .023). The C allele is inherited as a dominant trait (effect size = -1.31 (95% CI -2.39--0.33;P = .012). In the high ACTH response group, both genotypes affected the PMTP ACTH (effect sizes 1.41 and 15.46;P-values .023 and <2 x 10(-26)for GC and CC, respectively). Conclusions The C allele of rs41423247 was found to be protective against HPAS. CC genotype is associated with the highest PMTP ACTH response.