Cortisol diurnal dynamic range but not total cortisol secretion is associated with chronic inflammation

Abstract Objectives Exposure to life stresses can lead to diminution in the capacity of stress response systems to mount a robust response to new challenges, with blunting of dynamic range—the spread between maximal attainable and minimal resting levels. We investigate the association between early-life adversity and the dynamic range of adult diurnal cortisol secretion. Method In 35- to 86-year-old adults, cortisol assayed from 16 saliva samples over 4 consecutive days was used to compute diurnal dynamic range and area under the curve (AUC). Economic adversity in childhood was indexed by recalled parental education, family welfare dependence, and perceived financial status; and childhood social adversity by parental separation, death, and abuse. Results Adjusted for age, gender, and race/ethnicity, both childhood adversities were strongly associated with smaller adult cortisol diurnal dynamic range, but not with AUC. The association with cortisol dynamic range was explained by adult social and economic variables. Discussion Early-life adversity appears to leave a long-term imprint on cortisol secretion dynamics, reducing diurnal dynamic range without increasing total secretion. This points to the importance of examining the adaptation capacity of physiological systems when studying the impact of early-life and chronic stresses on adult health.

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Chronic Stress in Cognitive Processes: Cortisol Dynamic Range of Secretion is Associated with Perception of Unsafety Environment in a Venezuelan Population

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-200886 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Carlos Ayala-Grosso ◽

Fátima Torrico ◽

Margot Ledezma-Ruiz ◽

Maria Busolo-Pons

Keyword(s):

Social Interaction ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Hpa Axis ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Dynamic Range ◽

World Health ◽

Cortisol Secretion ◽

Saliva Cortisol ◽

Health Organization ◽

Behavioral Attitudes

Background: Understanding diurnal secretion of cortisol in association with behavioral attitudes as a result of perception of unsafety environment is a main interest in prospective studies establishing the impact of chronic stress in cognitive processes. Adaptive secretion of cortisol, a biomarker of the hypothalamic-hypophysis-adrenal (HPA) axis, has been correlated with perception of uncertainty in surroundings as a consequence of perseverative cognition and unconscious thoughts. Objective: To determine whether diurnal secretion pattern of cortisol was associated with behavioral attitudes indexes generated from answers to standardized questionnaires from Panamerican Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) agencies. Methods: Saliva cortisol dynamic range was evaluated by immuno-essay. Cortisol awakening response (CAR) and total secreted cortisol was established in a cross-sectional study of four saliva samples per day from volunteers (n = 135) between 19 and 65 years old. Results: Saliva cortisol dynamic range followed a significant decay along the day. Reduction of social interaction and increase of defensive behavioral attitude was associated with older groups of age. In this study, two subgroups of subjects with a steeper cortisol secretion (slope significant non-zero), and flatter cortisol secretion (slope no significant non-zero) were detected. Noticeable, we detected and association between measurements of cortisol secretion from subjects with a flatter cortisol dynamic range and behavioral defensive and inhibition of social interaction indexes. Conclusion: These findings suggested chronical dysregulation of HPA axis as a result of perseverative cognitive perception of unsafety environment which may be precedent to cognitive impairment in the population.

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Dynamic Pituitary–Adrenal Interactions in the Critically Ill after Cardiac Surgery

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/clinem/dgz206 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 105 (5) ◽

pp. 1327-1342 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ben Gibbison ◽

Daniel M Keenan ◽

Ferdinand Roelfsema ◽

Jon Evans ◽

Kirsty Phillips ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Surgery ◽

Critical Illness ◽

Adrenal Insufficiency ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Hpa Axis ◽

Cortisol Secretion ◽

Acth Secretion ◽

Total Cortisol ◽

Male Patients ◽

Cardiac Critical Care

Abstract Context Patients with critical illness are thought to be at risk of adrenal insufficiency. There are no models of dynamic hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis function in this group of patients and thus current methods of diagnosis are based on aggregated, static models. Objective To characterize the secretory dynamics of the HPA axis in the critically ill (CI) after cardiac surgery. Design Mathematical modeling of cohorts. Setting Cardiac critical care unit. Patients 20 male patients CI at least 48 hours after cardiac surgery and 19 healthy (H) male volunteers. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Measures of hormone secretory dynamics were generated from serum adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) sampled every hour and total cortisol every 10 min for 24 h. Results All CI patients had pulsatile ACTH and cortisol profiles. CI patients had similar ACTH secretion (1036.4 [737.6] pg/mL/24 h) compared to the H volunteers (1502.3 [1152.2] pg/mL/24 h; P = .20), but increased cortisol secretion (CI: 14 447.0 [5709.3] vs H: 5915.5 [1686.7)] nmol/L/24 h; P < .0001). This increase in cortisol was due to nonpulsatile (CI: 9253.4 [3348.8] vs H: 960 [589.0] nmol/L/24 h, P < .0001), rather than pulsatile cortisol secretion (CI: 5193.1 [3018.5] vs H: 4955.1 [1753.6] nmol/L/24 h; P = .43). Seven (35%) of the 20 CI patients had cortisol pulse nadirs below the current international guideline threshold for critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency, but an overall secretion that would not be considered deficient. Conclusions This study supports the premise that current tests of HPA axis function are unhelpful in the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency in the CI. The reduced ACTH and increase in nonpulsatile cortisol secretion imply that the secretion of cortisol is driven by factors outside the HPA axis in critical illness.

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Increased Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity in Huntington’s Disease

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/endo.150.3.9999 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 150 (3) ◽

pp. 1558-1558

Author(s):

N. Ahmad Aziz ◽

Hanno Pijl ◽

Marijke Frölich ◽

A. W. Maurits van der Graaf ◽

Ferdinand Roelfsema ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Huntington's Disease ◽

Body Mass ◽

Hpa Axis ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Diurnal Variations ◽

Cortisol Secretion ◽

Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal ◽

Total Cortisol ◽

Cortisol Levels

Abstract Context: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and behavioral disturbances. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction could contribute to a number of HD signs and symptoms; however, no data are available on cortisol diurnal variations and secretory dynamics in HD patients. Objective: The aim of the study was to perform a detailed analysis of HPA axis function in HD patients in relation to clinical signs and symptoms. Design, Setting, and Participants: Twenty-four-hour cortisol secretion was studied in eight early-stage, medication-free HD patients and eight age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched controls in a clinical research laboratory. Cortisol levels were measured every 10 min. Main Outcome Measures: Multiparameter autodeconvolution and cosinor regression were applied to quantify basal, pulsatile, and total cortisol secretion rates as well as diurnal variations in cortisol levels. Results: Total cortisol secretion rate and the amplitude of the diurnal cortisol profile were both significantly higher in HD patients compared with controls (3490 ± 320 vs. 2500 ± 220 nmol/liter/24 h, P = 0.023; and 111 ± 14 vs. 64 ± 8 nmol/liter, P = 0.012, respectively). Cortisol concentrations in patients were particularly increased in the morning and early afternoon period. In HD patients, mean 24-h cortisol levels significantly correlated with total motor score, total functional capacity, as well as body mass index. Conclusions: HPA axis hyperactivity is an early feature of HD and is likely to result from a disturbed central glucocorticoid feedback due to hypothalamic pathology. HPA axis dysfunction may contribute to some signs and symptoms in HD patients.

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Slow-Scan CCD Observation of Backscattering Patterns in SEM

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100131176 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 1308-1309

Author(s):

F. Ouyang ◽

D. A. Ray ◽

O. L. Krivanek

Keyword(s):

Electron Beam ◽

Electron Microscope ◽

Scanning Electron Microscope ◽

Dynamic Range ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Lens System ◽

Wide Dynamic Range ◽

Peltier Cooler ◽

Diffraction Patterns ◽

Scanning Electron

Electron backscattering Kikuchi diffraction patterns (BKDP) reveal useful information about the structure and orientation of crystals under study. With the well focused electron beam in a scanning electron microscope (SEM), one can use BKDP as a microanalysis tool. BKDPs have been recorded in SEMs using a phosphor screen coupled to an intensified TV camera through a lens system, and by photographic negatives. With the development of fiber-optically coupled slow scan CCD (SSC) cameras for electron beam imaging, one can take advantage of their high sensitivity and wide dynamic range for observing BKDP in SEM.We have used the Gatan 690 SSC camera to observe backscattering patterns in a JEOL JSM-840A SEM. The CCD sensor has an active area of 13.25 mm × 8.83 mm and 576 × 384 pixels. The camera head, which consists of a single crystal YAG scintillator fiber optically coupled to the CCD chip, is located inside the SEM specimen chamber. The whole camera head is cooled to about -30°C by a Peltier cooler, which permits long integration times (up to 100 seconds).

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Acetaminophen: Macula densa hypersecretory activity by induced hepatotoxicity

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010012895x ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 934-935

Author(s):

S.S. Poolsawat ◽

C.A. Huerta ◽

S.TY. Lae ◽

G.A. Miranda

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Liver Function ◽

Chronic Inflammation ◽

Foam Cell ◽

Term Effect ◽

Short Term ◽

Drug Induced ◽

Experimental Induction ◽

Tissue Alterations ◽

Toxic Responses

Introduction. Experimental induction of altered histology by chemical toxins is of particular importance if its outcome resembles histopathological phenomena. Hepatotoxic drugs and chemicals are agents that can be converted by the liver into various metabolites which consequently evoke toxic responses. Very often, these drugs are intentionally administered to resolve an illness unrelated to liver function. Because of hepatic detoxification, the resulting metabolites are suggested to be integrated into the macromolecular processes of liver function and cause an array of cellular and tissue alterations, such as increased cytoplasmic lysis, centrilobular and localized necroses, chronic inflammation and “foam cell” proliferation of the hepatic sinusoids (1-4).Most experimentally drug-induced toxicity studies have concentrated primarily on the hepatic response, frequently overlooking other physiological phenomena which are directly related to liver function. Categorically, many studies have been short-term effect investigations which seldom have followed up the complications to other tissues and organs when the liver has failed to function normally.

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Quantitative energy-filtered electron diffraction

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100172693 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 992-993

Author(s):

R. Vincent

Keyword(s):

Electron Diffraction ◽

Inelastic Scattering ◽

Dynamic Range ◽

Electron Optics ◽

Surface Layers ◽

High Brightness ◽

Inclined Surfaces ◽

Perfect Symmetry ◽

Amorphous Surface ◽

The Ideal

Microanalysis and diffraction on a sub-nanometre scale have become practical in modern TEMs due to the high brightness of field emission sources combined with the short mean free paths associated with both elastic and inelastic scattering of incident electrons by the specimen. However, development of electron diffraction as a quantitative discipline has been limited by the absence of any generalised theory for dynamical inelastic scattering. These problems have been simplified by recent innovations, principally the introduction of spectrometers such as the Gatan imaging filter (GIF) and the Zeiss omega filter, which remove the inelastic electrons, combined with annual improvements in the speed of computer workstations and the availability of solid-state detectors with high resolution, sensitivity and dynamic range.Comparison of experimental data with dynamical calculations imposes stringent requirements on the specimen and the electron optics, even when the inelastic component has been removed. For example, no experimental CBED pattern ever has perfect symmetry, departures from the ideal being attributable to residual strain, thickness averaging, inclined surfaces, incomplete cells and amorphous surface layers.

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Direct measurement of electron-diffraction-pattern intensities using an energy loss spectrometer

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100155311 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 668-669

Author(s):

A. G. Jackson ◽

M. Rowe

Keyword(s):

Thermal Effects ◽

Dynamic Range ◽

Scattering Amplitude ◽

Dynamical Theory ◽

Site Symmetry ◽

Proof Of Concept ◽

Parallel Acquisition ◽

Kinematic Approximation ◽

Speed Up ◽

Structure Calculations

Diffraction intensities from intermetallic compounds are, in the kinematic approximation, proportional to the scattering amplitude from the element doing the scattering. More detailed calculations have shown that site symmetry and occupation by various atom species also affects the intensity in a diffracted beam. [1] Hence, by measuring the intensities of beams, or their ratios, the occupancy can be estimated. Measurement of the intensity values also allows structure calculations to be made to determine the spatial distribution of the potentials doing the scattering. Thermal effects are also present as a background contribution. Inelastic effects such as loss or absorption/excitation complicate the intensity behavior, and dynamical theory is required to estimate the intensity value.The dynamic range of currents in diffracted beams can be 104or 105:1. Hence, detection of such information requires a means for collecting the intensity over a signal-to-noise range beyond that obtainable with a single film plate, which has a S/N of about 103:1. Although such a collection system is not available currently, a simple system consisting of instrumentation on an existing STEM can be used as a proof of concept which has a S/N of about 255:1, limited by the 8 bit pixel attributes used in the electronics. Use of 24 bit pixel attributes would easily allowthe desired noise range to be attained in the processing instrumentation. The S/N of the scintillator used by the photoelectron sensor is about 106 to 1, well beyond the S/N goal. The trade-off that must be made is the time for acquiring the signal, since the pattern can be obtained in seconds using film plates, compared to 10 to 20 minutes for a pattern to be acquired using the digital scan. Parallel acquisition would, of course, speed up this process immensely.

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Development of imaging plate for a TEM and its characteristics

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100152471 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 100-101

Author(s):

N. Mori ◽

T. Oikawa ◽

Y. Harada ◽

J. Miyahara ◽

T. Matsuo

Keyword(s):

Dynamic Range ◽

Protective Layer ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Imaging Plate ◽

Phosphor Layer ◽

Imaging Device ◽

X Ray Imaging ◽

New Type ◽

Basic Characteristics ◽

Reading System

The Imaging Plate (IP) is a new type imaging device, which was developed for diagnostic x ray imaging. We have reported that usage of the IP for a TEM has many merits; those are high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and good linearity. However in the previous report the reading system was prototype drum-type-scanner, and IP was also experimentally made, which phosphor layer was 50μm thick with no protective layer. So special care was needed to handle them, and they were used only to make sure the basic characteristics. In this article we report the result of newly developed reading, printing system and high resolution IP for practical use. We mainly discuss the characteristics of the IP here. (Precise performance concerned with the reader and other system are reported in the other article.)Fig.1 shows the schematic cross section of the IP. The IP consists of three parts; protective layer, phosphor layer and support.

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Slow-scan CCD cameras and low-dose High-Resolution Electron Microscopy: Direct and quantitative

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100169791 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 412-413

Author(s):

M. Pan

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

High Resolution ◽

Structural Damage ◽

Low Dose ◽

Dynamic Range ◽

High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Digital Data ◽

Ccd Cameras ◽

Resolution Electron

It has been known for many years that materials such as zeolites, polymers, and biological specimens have crystalline structures that are vulnerable to electron beam irradiation. This radiation damage severely restrains the use of high resolution electron microscopy (HREM). As a result, structural characterization of these materials using HREM techniques becomes difficult and challenging. The emergence of slow-scan CCD cameras in recent years has made it possible to record high resolution (∽2Å) structural images with low beam intensity before any apparent structural damage occurs. Among the many ideal properties of slow-scan CCD cameras, the low readout noise and digital recording allow for low-dose HREM to be carried out in an efficient and quantitative way. For example, the image quality (or resolution) can be readily evaluated on-line at the microscope and this information can then be used to optimize the operating conditions, thus ensuring that high quality images are recorded. Since slow-scan CCD cameras output (undistorted) digital data within the large dynamic range (103-104), they are ideal for quantitative electron diffraction and microscopy.

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