Telomere length measurement by qPCR – summary of critical factors and recommendations for assay design
Telomeres are the protective complexes at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, consisting of short tandem DNA repeats and their associated proteins. Telomere maintenance is not only essential as a fundamental cellular process; it is also etiologically linked to a range of different human diseases (Stanley and Armanios, 2015). More importantly, recent works have explored telomere length as a biomarker for both the cumulative effects of environmental exposures and life experiences as well as future disease susceptibility (Blackburn et al., 2015; De Meyer et al., 2018; Haycock et al., 2017; Ridout et al., 2018; Willis et al., ...
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jue Lin, Dana Smith, Kyle Esteves, Stacy Drury Source Type: research
Differences in Pituitary-Adrenal Reactivity in Black and White Men with and without Alcohol Use Disorder
Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) display a wide array of neurophysiological disturbances, including dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, other contributing factors have been shown to influence this dysregulation including sex (Adinoff et al., 2010; Kudielka& Kirschbaum, 2005) and psychopathology (Brady et al., 2006). Racial minority status, although implicated in altered HPA axis function (Chong et al., 2008; Skinner et al., 2011), has never been evaluated as a potential factor in AUD-related HPA axis dysregulation. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 9, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Julianne L. Price, Ian R. Frazier, Ben Lewis, Robrina Walker, Martin A. Javors, Sara Jo Nixon, Bryon Adinoff Source Type: research
Chronic Stress Exposure, Diurnal Cortisol Slope, and Implications for Mood and Fatigue: Moderation by Multilocus HPA-Axis Genetic Variation
Some are more likely than others to succumb to health problems following stress exposure. Genetic risk likely contributes to this variability, but much is unknown about specific physiological mechanisms bridging genetic variation to health-related phenotypes. Here, we explore an important potential factor, diurnal cortisol slope, in relation to chronic stress and multilocus HPA-axis genetic variation. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 6, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Lisa R. Starr, Kimberly Dienes, Y. Irina Li, Zoey A. Shaw Source Type: research
Binge Drinking in Adolescence Predicts An Atypical Cortisol Stress Response in Young Adulthood
Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance among youth (Johnston et al., 2018). The rate of binge drinking (defined as the consumption of at least 5 drinks for males and 4 drinks for females in a 2-hour period) is alarmingly high in adolescence, with as many as 18% of youth reporting at least one binge drinking episode in a 30-day period (Kann et al., 2015). For adolescents who experience family disruption, such as parental divorce, the rate of problematic alcohol consumption is even higher (Barrett and Turner, 2006; Pilowsky et al., 2009). (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 6, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Melissa J. Hagan, Kathryn Modecki, Lucy Moctezuma, Linda Luecken, Sharlene Wolchik, Irwin Sandler Source Type: research
Association between baseline pro-inflammatory cytokines and brain activation during social exclusion in patients with vulnerability to suicide and depressive disorder
Inflammation and hypersensitivity to social rejection are both putative pathophysiological mechanisms in psychiatric illness. Growing evidences suggest the involvement of inflammation in mood disorders, and suicidal behaviors/vulnerability (Courtet et al., 2016). Two meta-analyses showed that basal blood inflammatory markers are increased during depressive episodes. Specifically, Dowlati et al. found that TNF- α and IL-6 are higher in depressed patients compared with healthy individuals (n = 24 studies included) (Dowlati et al., 2010). (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 4, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: I Conejero, I. Jaussent, A. Cazals, E. Thouvenot, T. Mura, E. Le Bars, S. Guillaume, S. Squalli, P. Courtet, E. Oli é Source Type: research
Raloxifene as a treatment for cognition in women with schizophrenia: the influence of menopause status
Cognitive problems are a core feature of schizophrenia, with up to 80% patients showing significant impairment (Keefe and Fenton, 2007). Cognitive deficits are closely aligned with functional outcome and present a significant obstacle in the recovery process (Green, 1996). Current treatment options do not successfully ameliorate cognitive impairments (Green, 2006; Minzenberg and Carter, 2012). The areas of neurocognition that are primarily impaired include attention, working memory, memory as well as executive functioning skills, such as decision making, inhibition and planning (Minzenberg and Carter, 2012). (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 3, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: C. Gurvich, A. Hudaib, E Gavrilidis, R. Worsley, N. Thomas, J. Kulkarni Source Type: research
Falling in Love is Associated with Immune System Gene Regulation
Falling in love is one of the most psychologically potent experiences in human life (Aron et al., 2005; Hatfield, 1987; Jankowiak& Fischer, 1992; Leckman& Mayes, 1999). New romantic love is accompanied not only by psychological changes, but physiological changes as well (e.g., Marazziti& Canale, 2004; Schneiderman et al., 2011; Ulmer-Yaniv et al., 2016). However, the somatic impact of falling in love remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the impact of new romantic love on immune-related gene regulation. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 3, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Damian R. Murray, Martie G. Haselton, Melissa Fales, Steven W. Cole Source Type: research
Androgen treatment effects on hippocampus structure in boys with Klinefelter Syndrome
Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is a highly prevalent sex chromosome aneuploidy condition that affects up to 1 in 450 male births (Herlihy et al., 2011). The majority of affected males exhibit a 47,XXY karyotype, although more than one supernumerary X chromosome is sometimes observed (Rey et al., 2011, Boada et al., 2009). The physical phenotype typically includes tall stature, hypogonadism, reduced testosterone, infertility and gynecomastia. Features comprising the behavioral phenotype include mood symptoms and deficits in specific domains of cognitive function, predominantly language, learning and memory, and executive functio...
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Lara C. Foland-Ross, Judith Ross, Allan L. Reiss Source Type: research
The preliminary investigation of orexigenic hormone gene polymorphisms on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
Orexigenic hormones are a group of hormones that regulate appetite. The main functions of orexigenic hormones include regulation of feeding behaviors, metabolism, and sleep-wake cycles. Recently, increasing evidence has shown that orexigenic hormones are also involved in regulation of stress through complex mechanisms (Mustafa, 2018) and may play a role in physiopathology of stress-related mental disorders (Labarthe et al., 2014; Lutter et al., 2008). (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Gen Li, Kunlin Zhang, Li Wang, Chengqi Cao, Ruojiao Fang, Ping Liu, Shu Luo, Israel Liberzon Source Type: research
Neighborhood Poverty and Hemodynamic, Neuroendocrine, and Immune Response to Acute Stress among Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Living in low-income neighborhoods characterized by poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage is an important predictor for developing coronary artery disease (CAD) (Diez Roux et al., 2001; Nordstrom et al., 2004; Sundquist et al., 2004) as well as poorer prognosis and decreased survival among patients with CAD (Engstrom et al., 2000; Tonne et al., 2005). There is growing interest in disentangling the physiological pathways through which the neighborhood environment, such as living in low income neighborhoods, may affect cardiovascular outcomes. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Samaah Sullivan, Heval M. Kelli, Muhammad Hammadah, Matthew Topel, Kobina Wilmot, Ronnie Ramadan, Brad D. Pearce, Amit Shah, Bruno B. Lima, Jeong Hwang Kim, Shakia Hardy, Oleksiy Levantsevych, Malik Obideen, Belal Kaseer, Laura Ward MSPH, Michael Kutner, Source Type: research
Ciliary neurotrophic factor is a key sex-specific regulator of depressive-like behavior in mice
Affective disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are highly prevalent in stress-related disorders and can be life-threatening (Ressler and Mayberg, 2007). Depression and anxiety are often linked together, with 85% of patients with depression have significant anxiety, and 90% of patients with anxiety disorder have depression (Tiller, 2013). Sex differences in the prevalence, incidence and treatment of affective disorders have been well established (Kessler et al., 2003). Women are approximately twice as likely as men to develop depression and anxiety (Essau et al., 2010) and have improved treatment responses than men to...
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - September 28, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Cuihong Jia, Russell W. Brown, Hannah M. Malone, Katherine C. Burgess, Drew W. Gill, Matthew P. Keasey, Theo Hagg Source Type: research
Steroid secretion in healthy aging
In most countries, life expectancy is continuously increasing and the population of older individuals is growing rapidly. Currently, more than 900 million people worldwide are aged 60 and above, and this number is expected to grow by more than 50% between 2015 and 2050 (United Nations, 2015). Nowadays, people spend considerably more time as older adults as compared to previous generations. Although this represents an overall positive trend, longer life does not necessarily mean more time in good health. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - September 28, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Serena Fiacco, Andreas Walther, Ulrike Ehlert Tags: Review Source Type: research
Genetic variation of the mineralocorticoid receptor gene (MR, NR3C2) is associated with a conceptual endophenotype of “CRF-hypoactivity”
One of the long-term goals of psychiatric research is to realize personalized treatment approaches based on the understanding of disease processes. The US National Research Council (2011) advocates a multi-level approach, integrating molecular, clinical, and environmental data, and health outcomes in a dynamic, iterative fashion. The resulting knowledge network generates subtypes mainly from individual characteristics of the genome, epigenome, microbiome, and exposome and the patient ´s signs and symptoms. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - September 27, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Robert Kumsta, David Kliegel, Michael Linden, Roel DeRijk, E. Ron de Kloet Source Type: research
No personality differences between oral contraceptive users and naturally cycling women: Implications for research on sex hormones
Nearly 10 million women in the United States take oral contraceptives (OCs) – the most widely-used contraception method in the world (Daniels et al., 2015). Biomedical and social scientists, practitioners, and users are increasingly interested in the psychological consequences of “the pill.” This is evidenced in research on the cognitive, affective, and neural correla tes of OC use, with many studies comparing OC users and non-users or naturally-cycling (NC) women on outcomes. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - September 27, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Adriene M. Beltz, Amy M. Loviska, Dominic Kelly Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
The psychobiology of using automated driving systems: A systematic review and integrative model
Visual abstract: The Embodied Driving (EMBODD) model of automated mobility.Abbreviations: SAE, SAE international ’s J3016, taxonomy and definitions for terms related to driving automation systems. (Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology)
Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - September 22, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Gunther Meinlschmidt, Esther Stalujanis, Marion Tegethoff Source Type: research
