scholarly journals Does Experience Make Hucul Horses More Resistant to Stress? A Pilot Study

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3345
Author(s):  
Jadwiga Topczewska ◽  
Wanda Krupa ◽  
Zofia Sokołowicz ◽  
Jadwiga Lechowska
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Stress Level ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Conservation Program ◽  
Evaluation Of Performance ◽  
Free Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Resources Conservation

The aim of the study was to determine whether experience related to horse age and number of starts in championships influences stress level, measured by salivary cortisol concentration. The study involved 18 clinically healthy Hucul mares who participated in the Polish Championships for Hucul Horses. Evaluation of performance value was carried out in accordance with the guidelines specified in the breeding and genetic resources conservation program for this breed. The championship lasted two days, consisting of conformation evaluation, endurance, and Hucul path. Saliva was collected at baseline (T1), after arena assessment (T2), after endurance (T3), and on the second day after the Hucul path (T4). Cortisol levels increased from an average of 2.73 ± 1.18 ng/mL (T1) to 10.46 ± 8.03 ng/mL after T3. Significantly lower levels of free cortisol were detected in the saliva of the younger mares, up to 9 years old, and mares who participated in only one qualifying path after each element of the championship. The highest levels of cortisol (T3) were found in mares competing repeatedly on the qualifying path. No correlation was found between cortisol levels and the championship results. Participation of mares in the championship was associated with stress, which was reflected in the increase in cortisol levels in saliva.

scholarly journals Correlation analysis of cortisol concentration in hair versus concentrations in serum, saliva and urine.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukasz Cieszynski ◽  
Jaroslaw Jendrzejewski ◽  
Piotr Wisniewski ◽  
Przemyslaw Klosowski ◽  
Krzysztof Sworczak
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Serum Cortisol ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Reference Ranges ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Free Cortisol ◽  
Hair Samples ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Abstract Background: Cortisol concentration is measured in blood, urine, and saliva samples. It has been recently proven that cortisol could be also detected in hair samples. Cortisol measurements in different samples have their own individual characteristics and clinical utility. We aimed to investigate the correlation between hair cortisol concentration and standard cortisol measurements used in clinical practice. Methods: Fifty adult volunteers with a negative history of endocrine disorders were enrolled into the study. Morning serum cortisol (MSC), evening serum cortisol (ESC), evening free salivary cortisol (EFSC), urine free cortisol (UFC) and hair cortisol were analyzed in all participants. Eventually, 41 volunteers were included into the study, whose cortisol concentration in the 1 mg overnight dexamethason suppression test (1mgONDST) were <50 nmol/l, and cortisol levels in serum, saliva and urine were within reference ranges. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was performed for 20 mg of hair strands of the proximal 1 cm hair segments. Results: HCC ranged from 0.3036 to 2.65 nmol/l/mg, and the average value was 0.8125±0.4834 nmol/l/mg. No significant correlations were found between HCC and MSC (rho=0.04419, p=0.7838), HCC and ESC (rho=-0.2071, p=0.1938), HCC and EFSC (rho=0.1005, p=0.532), and HCC and UFC (rho = 0.1793, p = 0.262). Conclusions : This work is another step in the discussion on the application of HCC determinations in clinical practice. Our results have showed no correlations between HCC and single point cortisol assessment in blood, saliva and urine in patients with reference cortisol levels. Keywords: Hair cortisol, Serum cortisol, Salivary cortisol, Urine cortisol, Cortisol assessment, Cortisol correlation

scholarly journals Stress among nurses: an examination of salivary cortisol levels on work and day off

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1187-1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Cecilia Pires da Rocha ◽  
Milva Maria Figueiredo De Martino ◽  
Dora Maria Grassi-Kassisse ◽  
Aglecio Luiz de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Stress Level ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physiological Index ◽  
Sociodemographic Data ◽  
Cortisol Levels

The present study evaluates the use of salivary cortisol concentration as a physiological index of the stress level among nurses on their work day and day off and correlates it with the questionnaire used to measure occupational stress in nurses (Inventário de Estresse em Enfermeiros - IEE). This is a comparative, cross-sectional descriptive study in which sociodemographic data, IEE results and salivary cortisol levels were used. Fifty-seven nurses participated in the study (80.7% females and a mean age of 37.1 years old). The IEE average score was 124.5. The average cortisol level was 564.1 ng/m on work day and 354.1 ng/mL on day off. Nurses who had double workdays presented high values of salivary cortisol during the work day (638.1 ng/mL). In conclusion, salivary cortisol identified the nurses’ stress level, and differences were found between a work day and day off. On the nurses’ day off, their salivary cortisol levels and stress scores were lower.

scholarly journals Diurnal Salivary Cortisol in Sarcopenic Postmenopausal Women: The OsteoLaus Cohort

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Gonzalez Rodriguez ◽  
Pedro Marques-Vidal ◽  
Bérengère Aubry-Rozier ◽  
Georgios Papadakis ◽  
Martin Preisig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Body Composition Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Free Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractSarcopenia, similar to hypercortisolism, is characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength. Cortisol circadian rhythm changes with aging (blunted late-day nadir values) were suggested to contribute to this decline. We aimed to explore the relationship between diurnal salivary cortisol values and sarcopenia diagnosis and its components in postmenopausal women. This is a cross-sectional study within the OsteoLaus population-based cohort in Lausanne (Switzerland). Participants had a body composition assessment by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), a grip strength (GS) measure, and salivary cortisol measures (at awakening, 30 min thereafter, 11 AM (sc-11AM) and 8 PM (sc-8PM)). Associations between salivary cortisol and sarcopenia diagnosed by six different criteria (based on appendicular lean mass (ALM) assessed by DXA, and muscle strength by GS), and its components, were analyzed. 471 women aged > 50 years (63.0 ± 7.5) were included. Various definitions identified different participants as sarcopenic, who consistently presented higher salivary cortisol at 11 AM and/or 8 PM. There were no associations between salivary cortisol levels and ALM measures, either absolute or after correction to height squared (ALM index) or body mass index. GS was inversely correlated to sc-11AM (r = − 0.153, p < 0.001) and sc-8PM (r = − 0.118, p = 0.002). Each 10 nmol/l increase of sc-11AM, respectively sc-8PM, was associated with a GS decrease of 1.758 (SE 0.472) kg, respectively 2.929 (SE 1.115) kg. In postmenopausal women, sarcopenia is associated with higher salivary cortisol levels at 11 AM and 8 PM. An increase of daily free cortisol levels in the physiological range could participate to sarcopenia development by decreasing muscle function in postmenopausal women.

scholarly journals Salivary Cortisol Levels and Depressive Symptomatology in Consumers and Nonconsumers of Self-Help Books: A Pilot Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Raymond ◽  
Marie-France Marin ◽  
Anne Hand ◽  
Shireen Sindi ◽  
Robert-Paul Juster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Book Industry ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
The Self ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
The Impact

The self-help industry generates billions of dollars yearly in North America. Despite the popularity of this movement, there has been surprisingly little research assessing the characteristics of self-help books consumers, and whether this consumption is associated with physiological and/or psychological markers of stress. The goal of this pilot study was to perform the first psychoneuroendocrine analysis of consumers of self-help books in comparison to nonconsumers. We tested diurnal and reactive salivary cortisol levels, personality, and depressive symptoms in 32 consumers and nonconsumers of self-help books. In an explorative secondary analysis, we also split consumers of self-help books as a function of their preference for problem-focusedversusgrowth-oriented self-help books. The results showed that while consumers of growth-oriented self-help books presented increased cortisol reactivity to a psychosocial stressor compared to other groups, consumers of problem-focused self-help books presented higher depressive symptomatology. The results of this pilot study show that consumers with preference for either problem-focused or growth-oriented self-help books present different physiological and psychological markers of stress when compared to nonconsumers of self-help books. This preliminary study underlines the need for additional research on this issue in order to determine the impact the self-help book industry may have on consumers’ stress.

scholarly journals Provision Point-Source Materials Stimulates Play in Sows but Does Not Affect Aggression at Regrouping

Animals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Greenwood ◽  
William van Wettere ◽  
Jessica Rayner ◽  
Paul Hughes ◽  
Kate Plush
Keyword(s):  
Point Source ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Square Root ◽  
Large White ◽  
Object Play ◽  
Free Cortisol ◽  
Play Behaviors ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Source Materials

When sows are mixed into groups, hierarchies form and resulting aggression and stress can affect production and welfare. This study determined the effect of providing point-source materials on aggressive and play behaviors in gestating sows. Large white cross Landrace sows were mixed after insemination; six pens of 12 sows were housed in ‘standard’ pens, and six pens of 12 sows were housed in ‘enhanced’ pens. The ‘enhanced’ pens each contained two rubber mats, eight strands of 24 mm-thick sisal rope and two yellow plastic disks, suspended from the roof. The sows remained in these pens until pregnancy confirmation. Salivary cortisol concentration, injury counts, and sow behaviors were recorded the day before mixing (day 1), mixing (day 0) and post-mixing day 1, day 4, day 7 and day 20. At farrowing, reproductive outcomes were obtained. Play was observed (including locomotor and object play) in the ‘enhanced’ pen, and percentage of time spent playing was greater on d4 (1.48 ± 0.3 Square root transformed data (2.84% non-transformed adjusted mean)), d7 (1.43 ± 0.3 (2.97%)) and d20 (1.64 ± 0.3 (3.84%)), compared to d0 (0.56 ± 0.3 (0.70%)) and d1 (0.87 ± 0.3 (1.67%) (p < 0.05)). No play was observed in standard housing. Aggression, salivary free cortisol concentrations and injuries were unaffected (p > 0.05). The provision of materials had no impact on aggression, although their presence maintained sow interest and play behavior, suggesting a positive effect.

Is the Correlation between Salivary Cortisol and Serum Cortisol Reliable Enough to Enable Use of Salivary Cortisol Levels in Preterm Infants?

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (13) ◽  
pp. 1302-1305
Author(s):  
Katherine Wynne-Edwards ◽  
Parthiv Amin ◽  
Ruokun Zhou ◽  
Arun Sundaram ◽  
Tania Martinez-Soto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adrenal Insufficiency ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Saliva Sample ◽  
Serum Cortisol ◽  
Relative Adrenal Insufficiency ◽  
Free Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Paired Serum ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth

Background Newborn premature infants are susceptible to development of relative adrenal insufficiency following transition from fetal to extrauterine life. However, the best diagnostic test for adrenal insufficiency in neonates has yet to be developed. Objectives and Methods The aim of this study was (1) to assess the feasibility of obtaining sufficient saliva sample to allow measurement of cortisol by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry and (2) to assess the correlation, if any, between salivary and serum cortisol in preterm infants of ≤32 weeks' gestational age at birth. Results Samples for 230 paired serum and saliva cortisol levels from 90 preterm infants were analyzed. 87.5% of samples collected had sufficient salivary volumes for measurement. Despite being statistically significant (p < 0.0001), the correlation (Spearman r = 0.674) between serum and salivary cortisol was not strong. Conclusion Salivary free cortisol measurement is feasible but cannot be used to accurately reflect serum total cortisol. Further studies comparing salivary free cortisol to serum free cortisol and establishing normative data are needed before salivary cortisol can be used for diagnostic purposes.

scholarly journals Is There Value in Routine Screening for Cushing’s Syndrome in Patients with Diabetes?

2010 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 2262-2265 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Mullan ◽  
N. Black ◽  
A. Thiraviaraj ◽  
P. M. Bell ◽  
C. Burgess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Cushing’S Syndrome ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Serum Cortisol ◽  
Cushing's Syndrome ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Diabetes Clinic ◽  
Free Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Dexamethasone Test

Abstract Context: Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome has been described among diabetic populations in recent years, but no consensus has emerged about the value of screening. Methods: We enrolled 201 consecutive patients attending our diabetes clinic and 79 controls. Patients with at least two of the following three criteria were offered screening using a 2300 h salivary cortisol test: glycosylated hemoglobin of at least 7%, body mass index of at least 25 kg/m2, and a history of hypertension or blood pressure of at least 140/90 mm Hg. Results are expressed as mean ± sem. Results: Mean nighttime salivary cortisol levels were similar in the two groups (8.5 ± 1.0 nmol/liter for diabetic patients vs. 5.8 ± 1.0 nmol/liter for controls). Forty-seven patients (23%) had a value of at least 10 nmol/liter, which was set as a conservative threshold above which further investigation would be performed. Thirty-five (75%) agreed to further testing with a 1-mg overnight dexamethasone test. Of the remaining 12 patients, 10 were followed up clinically for at least 1 yr, and no evidence was found of the syndrome evolving. In 28 patients, serum cortisol suppressed to 60 nmol/liter or less. Of the seven patients who failed this test, four agreed to a 2 mg/d 48-h dexamethasone test, with serum cortisol suppressing to 60 nmol/liter or less in all four. Three declined this test but had normal 24-h urinary free cortisol levels. No patient had clinical features of hypercortisolism. Conclusions: The 1–3% detection rates of three recently published series have not been realized at our center where we studied a group using criteria making patients more likely to have hypercortisolism. Our results do not support the validity of screening patients without clinical features of Cushing’s syndrome in the diabetes clinic.

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