scholarly journals Scalp hair sweating as a predictor of hair cortisol level in human compared to obesity and other confounders

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Darya S. Abdulateef

AbstractInconsistent results were found throughout the literature regarding factors affecting hair cortisol levels. Hair cortisol level in humans was not studied for its associations to scalp hair sweating or hair wash frequency in a patient-based way. Factors affecting hair cortisol levels must be precisely known in order to interpret the results correctly. The aims of the study are to assess if BMI, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), hair wash frequency, and sweating with scalp hair affect hair cortisol levels. It will assess which of these factors are more significant predictors of hair cortisol levels. In a study on healthy adults, information about history, socio-demographics, PSS, hair wash frequency, hair treatment, and scalp hair sweating were collected, and hair samples were taken and analyzed for their hair cortisol level. Associations of hair cortisol levels with each of the variables were investigated and significant predictors of hair cortisol levels among the variables were found. Mean hair cortisol level in the study participants was 16.84 pg/mg hair. Hair cortisol has a significant positive association with weight, BMI, PSS, and scalp hair sweating, p < 0.05. Scalp hair sweating significantly predicts hair cortisol levels by 12.3%, while other variables did not significantly predict hair cortisol levels, p < 0.05. Scalp hair sweating significantly predicts hair cortisol levels. Age, hair wash frequency, hair treatment, and stressful events have no associations with hair cortisol levels. Although BMI and PSS are associated with hair cortisol levels, they do not significantly predict it. Obesity is significantly associated with profuse sweating, thus the increase in hair cortisol levels in obese individuals could partly be the result of a higher incidence of sweating in these individuals. Thus, scalp hair sweating should be taken into consideration during the study and interpretation of hair cortisol levels.

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahareh Sasanfar ◽  
Fatemeh Toorang ◽  
Ahmad Esmaillzadeh ◽  
Kazem Zendehdel

Abstract Background Previous studies on the link between macronutrients and breast cancer have mostly focused on individual macronutrients rather than their combination. This study investigates the association between adherence to a low carbohydrate diet and odds of breast cancer among women. Methods This hospital-based case-control study was carried out on 412 women with pathologically confirmed breast cancer within the past year and 456 apparently healthy controls that were matched in terms of age and residential place. Dietary data was collected using a 168-item validated FFQ. Participants were classified in terms of quintiles of percentages of energy intake from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Then, individuals in the highest quintile of fat and protein intake were given a score of 5 and those in the lowest quintile of these macronutrients were given a score of 1. Participants in the other quintiles of these macronutrients were given the corresponding score. In terms of carbohydrate intake, those in the highest quintile received a score of 1 and those in the lowest quintile received 5. The scores were then summed up to calculate the total low carbohydrate diet (LCD) score, which varied from 3 to 15. A higher score meant greater adherence to a low carbohydrate diet. Results The mean age of study participants was 45.2 y and mean BMI was 28.4 kg/m2. Mean LCD score of participants was 8.9 ± 2.5 (8.9 ± 2.6 in cases and 9.0 ± 2.5 in controls). Although no significant association was observed between adherence to the LCD score and odds of breast cancer in the study population, a trend toward significant positive association was seen between consumption of LCD and odds of breast cancer in postmenopausal women; after controlling for several potential confounders, individuals in the third quartile of LCD score were 1.94 times more likely to have breast cancer than those in the lowest quartile (95% CI: 1.00, 3.76). This association strengthened after controlling for dietary variables (2.50; 1.18–5.32). Even after further adjustment for BMI, this association remained significant (2.64, 1.23–5.67). No significant relationship was observed in premenopausal women, either before or after controlling for confounders. Conclusion Adherence to LCD may be associated with increased odds of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasanain Hamid Shukur ◽  
Yolanda B de Rijke ◽  
Elisabeth FC van Rossum ◽  
Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb ◽  
Charlotte Höybye

Abstract Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisymptomatic, rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder in adults mainly characterized by hyperphagia, cognitive dysfunction, behavioral problems and risk of morbid obesity. Although endocrine insufficiencies are common, hypocortisolism is rare and knowledge on long-term cortisol concentrations is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term cortisol levels in PWS by measurements of hair cortisol. Methods: Twenty-nine adults with PWS, 15 men and 14 women, median age 29 years, median BMI 27 kg/m2, were included. Scalp hair samples were analyzed for cortisol content using liquid-chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. In addition, a questionnaire on auxology, medication and stress were included. For comparison, 105 age- and sex-matched participants from the population-based Lifelines Cohort study were included as controls. The mean hair cortisol between the groups were compared and associations between BMI and stress were assessed by a generalized linear regression model. Results: In the PWS group large variations in hair cortisol was seen. Mean hair cortisol was 12.8±25.4 pg/mg compared to 3.8±7.3 pg/mg in controls (p=0.001). The linear regression model similarly showed higher cortisol levels in patients with PWS, which remained consistent after adjusting for BMI and stress (p=0.023). Furthermore, hair cortisol increased with BMI (p=0.012) and reported stress (p=0.014). Conclusion: Long-term cortisol concentrations were higher in patients with PWS compared to controls and increased with BMI and stress, suggesting an adequate cortisol response to chronic stress. Hair cortisol demonstrate promising applications in the context of PWS treatment and disease management.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasanain Hamid Shukur ◽  
Yolanda B de Rijke ◽  
Elisabeth FC van Rossum ◽  
Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb ◽  
Charlotte Höybye

Abstract Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisymptomatic, rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder in adults mainly characterized by hyperphagia, cognitive dysfunction, behavioral problems and risk of morbid obesity. Although endocrine insufficiencies are common, hypocortisolism is rare and knowledge on long-term cortisol concentrations is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term cortisol levels in PWS by measurements of hair cortisol.Methods: Twenty-nine adults with PWS, 15 men and 14 women, median age 29 years, median BMI 27 kg/m2, were included. Scalp hair samples were analyzed for cortisol content using liquid-chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. In addition, a questionnaire on auxology, medication and stress were included. For comparison, 105 age- and sex-matched participants from the population-based Lifelines Cohort study were included as controls. The mean hair cortisol between the groups were compared and associations between BMI and stress were assessed by a generalized linear regression model.Results: In the PWS group large variations in hair cortisol was seen. Mean hair cortisol was 12.8±25.4 pg/mg compared to 3.8±7.3 pg/mg in controls (p=0.001). The linear regression model similarly showed higher cortisol levels in patients with PWS, which remained consistent after adjusting for BMI and stress (p=0.023). Furthermore, hair cortisol increased with BMI (p=0.012) and reported stress (p=0.014).Conclusion: Long-term cortisol concentrations were higher in patients with PWS compared to controls and increased with BMI and stress, suggesting an adequate cortisol response to chronic stress. Hair cortisol demonstrate promising applications in the context of PWS treatment and disease management.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Roxanne Sopp ◽  
Tanja Michael ◽  
Johanna Lass-Hennemann ◽  
Shilat Haim-Nachum ◽  
Miriam J. J. Lommen

Several studies have found evidence of altered cortisol levels in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Based on these findings, it is assumed that these patients may show signs of cortisol dysregulation after trauma. Posttrauma cortisol levels are thus considered a potential biomarker of PTSD. However, longitudinal studies using indicators of long-term cortisol secretion (such as hair cortisol concentrations; HCC) are scarce. The current study investigated prospective associations between HCC and PTSD symptoms in a sample of Dutch firefighters taking into account varying levels of work-related trauma severity. In addition, we assessed posttraumatic sleep disturbances as a secondary outcome measure to investigate whether effects generalize to this frequent comorbidity of PTSD. Three hundred seventy-one Dutch firefighters with a mean of 14.01 years of work experience were included in the analyses. Baseline assessment included the collection of hair samples and the measurement of work-related trauma severity, PTSD symptoms, and sleep disturbances. PTSD symptoms and sleep disturbance were re-assessed after six and twelve months. Multilevel analyses indicate a significant positive correlation between HCC and baseline PTSD symptoms in those with average or above-average work-related trauma severity. A similar pattern was evident for posttraumatic sleep disturbances at baseline. Moreover, higher HCC predicted more posttraumatic sleep disturbances after 6 months in participants with above-average work-related trauma severity. No other associations emerged for PTSD symptoms or posttraumatic sleep disturbances at six or twelve months. As such, our study supports the existence of a cross-sectional association between HCC and trauma symptoms, which may vary for different levels of subjective trauma severity. The longitudinal stability of this association should be reinvestigated by future research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasanain Hamid Shukur ◽  
Yolanda B. de Rijke ◽  
Elisabeth F. C. van Rossum ◽  
Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb ◽  
Charlotte Höybye

Abstract Background Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisymptomatic, rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder in adults mainly characterized by hyperphagia, cognitive dysfunction, behavioral problems and risk of morbid obesity. Although endocrine insufficiencies are common, hypocortisolism is rare and knowledge on long-term cortisol concentrations is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term cortisol levels in PWS by measurements of hair cortisol. Methods Twenty-nine adults with PWS, 15 men and 14 women, median age 29 years, median BMI 27 kg/m2, were included. Scalp hair samples were analyzed for cortisol content using liquid-chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. In addition, a questionnaire on auxology, medication and stress were included. For comparison, 105 age- and sex-matched participants from the population-based Lifelines Cohort study were included as controls. The mean hair cortisol between the groups were compared and associations between BMI and stress were assessed by a generalized linear regression model. Results In the PWS group large variations in hair cortisol was seen. Mean hair cortisol was 12.8 ± 25.4 pg/mg compared to 3.8 ± 7.3 pg/mg in controls (p = 0.001). The linear regression model similarly showed higher cortisol levels in patients with PWS, which remained consistent after adjusting for BMI and stress (p = 0.023). Furthermore, hair cortisol increased with BMI (p = 0.012) and reported stress (p = 0.014). Conclusion Long-term cortisol concentrations were higher in patients with PWS compared to controls and increased with BMI and stress, suggesting an adequate cortisol response to chronic stress. Hair cortisol demonstrate promising applications in the context of PWS treatment and disease management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-393
Author(s):  
Sreten Nedić ◽  
Danijela Kirovski ◽  
Ivan Vujanac ◽  
Radiša Prodanović ◽  
Ljubomir Jovanović ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to compare hair corticosteroid concentrations in ectoparasiticide-treated (n = 10) and non-treated (n = 12) Holstein cows. Animals in the treated group received cyfluthrin three times, on days 0, 28 and 56 of the experiment. Hair samples were collected from all cows on days 0, 21, 42, 63, and 84 of the experiment for the determination of cortisol and corticosterone concentrations using immunoassays. The respective hair cortisol concentrations in the treated group averaged 209.78, 165.10, 260.78, 177.44 and 183.11 ng/g, while in the non-treated group hair cortisol concentrations averaged 172.58, 243.58, 309.73, 199.75 and 207.09 ng/g. These results indicate that the control of ectoparasites reduced hair cortisol levels in dairy cows. The respective hair corticosterone concentrations in the treated group averaged 19.06, 22.95, 21.95, 21.60 and 24.84 ng/g and in the non-treated group the hair corticosterone concentrations averaged 17.28, 21.94, 34.05, 26.27 and 26.91 ng/g. The results suggest that longterm stress can be estimated better by the determination of hair cortisol rather than corticosterone concentrations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Hoirun Nisa

AbstrakLatar belakang: Remaja perempuan sering memiliki pengetahuan yang kurang mengenai kesehatan reproduksi termasuk menstruasi, dan masalah menstruasi dapat mempengaruhi kehadiran siswi di sekolah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui faktor yang berhubungan dengan ketidakhadiran siswi sekolah dasar selama masa menstruasi.Metode: Penelitian cross-sectional dilakukan di sembilan sekolah dasar di Kota Tangerang Selatan. Informasi yang dikumpulkan antara lain karakteristik demografi, umur menarche, durasi menstruasi, dismenore, pengetahuan, dan sumber informasi mengenai menstruasi dari remaja siswi. Partisipan terdiri dari 133 siswi yang telah mengalami menstruasi. Uji chi-square dan regresi logistik digunakan dalam data analisis.Hasil: Frekuensi siswi yang tidak masuk sekolah saat menstruasi cukup tinggi (19%). Rata-rata ketidakhadiran sebanyak 2,4 hari setiap siklus menstruasi, dan alasan utama ketidakhadiran di sekolah antara lain takut tembus (69%), rasa sakit/tidak nyaman (62%), dan ejekan dari siswa laki-laki (19%). Pengetahuan yang buruk tentang menstruasi (AOR = 5,24; 95% CI = 1,69-16,30) dan dismenore (AOR = 6,05; 95% CI = 1,32-27,69) mempunyai hubungan positif yang signifikan dengan ketidakhadiran di sekolah (p<0,05), sementara pendidikan ibu secara signifikan dapat mencegah ketidakhadiran siswi pada masa menstruasi (p<0,05).Kesimpulan: Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi ketidakhadiran siswi di sekolah adalah pengetahuan tentang menstruasi, dismenore, dan status pendidikan ibu. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa memberikan pengetahuan dan manajemen menstruasi dapat bermanfaat dalam mengurangi ketidakhadiran siswi akibat menstruasi di sekolah. Kata kunci: menstruasi, menarche, pengetahuan, ketidakhadiran di sekolah AbstractBackground: Adolescent girls often have limited knowledge regarding reproductive health including menstruation, and challenges associated with menstruation may affect girls’ school attendance. This study aimed to examine factors associated with school absence during menstruation among schoolgirls.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in nine elementary schools in the South Tangerang City. The information included the schoolgirls’ demographic background, menarche age, duration of menstrual, dysmenorrhea, knowledge about menstruation, and source of information related to menstruation. Participants were 133 schoolgirls who had experienced first menstruation. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for data analysis.Results: The frequency of schoolgirls who missed school during menstruation was slightly high (19%). Absentee schoolgirls missed an average of 2.4 days each menstrual cycle, and main reasons for school absence were fear of leakage (69%), pain/discomfort (62%), and boys ridiculed (19%). Poor knowledge about menstruation (AOR = 5.24; 95 % CI = 1.69-16.30) and dysmenorrhea (AOR = 6.05; 95% CI: 1.32-27.69) revealed significant positive association with school absence during menstruation (p<0.05), while mother’s education had significantly prevented the schoolgirls from school absence during menstruation (p<0.05). Conclusion: Factors affecting school absence of schoolgirls included knowledge of menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and mother’s education status. The findings suggest that providing knowledge and menstrual management could benefit on reducing school absenteeism among schoolgirls due to menarche at school. Keywords: menstruation, menarche, knowledge, school absence


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ugochukwu A Eze ◽  
Kingsley I Ndoh Ndoh ◽  
Babalola A. Ibisola ◽  
Chinemerem D. Onwuliri ◽  
Adenakan Osiyemi ◽  
...  

Abstract AimTo assess the degree and determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine among NigeriansMaterials and methodsFollowing appropriate ethical protocol, a population-based cross-sectional study conducted from November 2020 to January 2021 using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire from a previous study adapted to suit the Nigeria setting and distributed among Nigerians aged 18 years and above. The country was grouped in to three regions: East, North and West representing the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Participants were recruited based on six different catchments: residential, marketplace recreational areas, cooperate organizations, schools, and Faith-based organizations. Information obtained include socio-demographics, medical history related pertinent to COVID-19, level of knowledge, risk perception, and attitudes towards of COVID-19 and the vaccine amongst others. Descriptive and inferential statistics were done on the variables and results were summarized into percentages and associations noted.ResultsA total of 358 responses were obtained out of the 120 questionnaires distributed in each of the three regions of which. The mean age of respondents was 32years (± 11.2SD). Igbo and Yoruba were the major ethnic groups comprising 38% and 31% of study participants respectively. Three-quarter had tertiary education, 43% of them were civil servants and professionals, 34% of them were unemployed, and 8.9% of them were roadside traders. Majority (66.2%) were willing to accept the approved vaccine with male gender, identifying as Christian, Hausa ethnicity and living in the northern Nigeria had a significant positive association with COVID-19 vaccine uptake.Conclusiontwo out of three Nigerian adults indicated interest in accepting the corona virus vaccine. This calls with critical stakeholders and leaders at all levels to be involved in public education based on sound evidence and the discouragement of the spread of conspiracy theories to eliminate the negative associated factors will reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in Nigeria.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasanain Hamid Shukur ◽  
Yolanda B de Rijke ◽  
Elisabeth FC van Rossum ◽  
Laith Hussain-Alkhateeb ◽  
Charlotte Höybye

Abstract Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a multisymptomatic, rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder in adults mainly characterized by hyperphagia, cognitive dysfunction, behavioral problems and risk of morbid obesity. Although endocrine insufficiencies are common, hypocortisolism is rare and knowledge on long-term cortisol concentrations is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term cortisol levels in PWS by measurements of hair cortisol. Methods: Twenty-nine adults with PWS, 15 men and 14 women, median age 29 years, median BMI 27 kg/m2, were included. Scalp hair samples were analyzed for cortisol content using liquid-chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. In addition, a questionnaire on auxology, medication and stress were included. For comparison, 105 age- and sex-matched participants from the population-based Lifelines Cohort study were included as controls. The mean hair cortisol between the groups were compared and associations between BMI and stress were assessed by a generalized linear regression model. Results: In the PWS group large variations in hair cortisol was seen. Mean hair cortisol was 12.8±25.4 pg/mg compared to 3.8±7.3 pg/mg in controls (p=0.001). The linear regression model similarly showed higher cortisol levels in patients with PWS, which remained consistent after adjusting for BMI and stress (p=0.023). Furthermore, hair cortisol increased with BMI (p=0.012) and reported stress (p=0.014). Conclusion: Long-term cortisol concentrations were higher in patients with PWS compared to controls and increased with BMI and stress, suggesting an adequate cortisol response to chronic stress. Hair cortisol demonstrate promising applications in the context of PWS treatment and disease management.


2021 ◽  
pp. 118-124
Author(s):  
Amsal Manatap Hamaloan ◽  
◽  
K. Dianta A. Sebayang ◽  
Corry Yohana ◽  
◽  
...  

Companies that organize family entertainment activities caught the attention of researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic, as family entertainment became one of the main ways to relieve stress and dispel boredom during quarantine. Employees are a key asset for these companies, which ensures their market competition, and therefore the demand for entertainment services depends on the productivity and quality of their work to some extent. The purpose of this study is to determine the mediating effects of motivation in the relationship between discipline, competence, and employee performance. The number of samples used is 142 respondents from family entertainment employees in Jakarta, Indonesia. Data collection was carried out by distributing questionnaires using a 5-point Likert scale. The data of the survey were analyzed and interpreted with Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). This study finds non-significant positive associations between discipline and employee performance but a significant positive association between discipline and motivation. The result indicates that competence has a direct effect on motivation and employee performance. Meanwhile, motivation (as a mediator variable) has a partial and full mediating effect, in which discipline and competence are independent variables, and employee performance is a dependent variable. Findings from this study can be used to address productivity problems in family entertainment companies. It was revealed that companies can grow and develop through discipline and competence, which lead to increased employee performance.


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