Ribosome changes elicit non-canonical translation for chemosurvival in G0 leukemic cells

Quiescent leukemic cells survive chemotherapy, with translation changes. Our data reveal that FXR1, a protein amplified in several aggressive cancers, increases in quiescent and chemo- treated leukemic cells, and promotes chemosurvival. This suggests undiscovered roles for this RNA- and ribosome-associated protein in chemosurvival. FXR1 depletion decreases translation and ribosome subunits, with altered rRNAs, snoRNAs, and ribosomal proteins (RPs). We find that FXR1 binds factors that promote ribosome gene transcription and bind snoRNAs. Ribosome changes increased in FXR1-overexpressing cells, including increased snoRNAs and RPLP0/uL10, activate eIF2α kinases. Accordingly, phospho-eIF2α increases, enabling non- canonical translation of survival and immune regulators in FXR1-overexpressing cells. Overriding these with inhibitors reduces chemosurvival. Thus, increased FXR1 in quiescent or chemo-treated leukemic cells, alters ribosomes that trigger stress signals to re-direct translation for chemosurvival.One Sentence SummaryFXR1 alters ribosomes in G0, which induce stress signals to elicit noncanonical translation for AML drug and immune survival.

Mechanical loading of primate fingers on vertical rock surfaces

Mechanical loading of finger bones (phalanges) can induce angular curvature, which benefits arboreal primates by dissipating forces and economising the recruitment of muscles during climbing. The recent discovery of extremely curved phalanges in a hominin, Homo naledi, is puzzling, for it suggests life in an arboreal milieu, or, alternatively, habitual climbing on vertical rock surfaces. The importance of climbing rock walls is attested by several populations of baboons, one of which uses a 7-m vertical surface to enter and exit Dronkvlei Cave, De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa. This rock surface is an attractive model for estimating the probability of extreme mechanical loading on the phalanges of rock-climbing primates. Here we use three-dimensional photogrammetry to show that 82–91% of the climbable surface would generate high forces on the flexor tendon pulley system and severely load the phalanges of baboons and H. naledi. If such proportions are representative of vertical rock surfaces elsewhere, it may be sufficient to induce stress-mitigating curvature in the phalanges of primates.

Stress increases impulsive punishment avoidance in unmedicated mood disorders

In an intriguing study designed to test whether and how stress affects learning and decision making in anxious individuals, Aylward et al. (2019)1 used a restless four-armed bandit task, where threat of electric shocks was used to induce stress. They hypothesized that anxious individuals would learn faster from punishments under stress, and as a result, exhibit choices that are more affected by those punishments. Unfortunately, these hypotheses were not confirmed.Here, we re-analyzed the original dataset using behavioral models that incorporate different mechanisms that could account for punishment-related behavioral biases. We found evidence that support the original hypotheses, namely increased punishment-avoidance for anxious individuals during stress. The avoidance-behavior was driven by punishments that were presented following a sequence of neutral outcomes, and in turn increased the tendency to elicit an immediate avoidance response (rather than larger learning rates). This impulsive avoidance bias was particularly pronounced in anxious individuals during stress.

Gastroprotective effect of fluvoxamine and ondansetron on stress-induced gastric ulcers in mice

Objectives The association between stress and gastric ulcers has been well reported. This study is divided into two parts: the first part of this study is consisted of analyzing the effect of fluvoxamine administration by intracerebroventricular (ICV) and intraperitoneal (IP) injections on stress-induced gastric ulcers. The second part investigates the effect of ondansetron in influencing the protection of the gastric mucous by giving fluvoxamine to the mice before being induced with stress. Methods Water immersion restraint stress (WIRS) was used to induce stress. Fluvoxamine 50 and 100 mg/kg by IP injection, fluvoxamine 9.3 µg, and 18.6 µg by ICV injection 30 min before the induction of stress. Meanwhile, single drug and in combination administered to the mice, ondansetron 3 mg/kg was given by IP at 60 min, and fluvoxamine 50, 100 mg/kg orally at 30 min before stress induction. Results The obtained results show fluvoxamine 50 and 100 mg/kg by IP, and fluvoxamine 18.6 µg by ICV had significantly reduced ulcer index with p<0.005, p<0.001, and p<0.005 while fluvoxamine 9.3 µg showed the insignificant result. Fluvoxamine 50 mg/kg, fluvoxamine 100 mg/kg, and ondansetron 3 mg/kg monotherapy have a significant reduction in ulcers with p<0.005, p<0.001, and p<0.05, while the combination drugs showed an insignificant reduction in ulcers. Conclusions Fluvoxamine with different administration routes and ondansetron monotherapy before stress reduce the occurrence of gastric ulcers, while the combination drugs did not increase the protective effect of the gastric mucosa.

Does visual exposure to one's pet regulate stress levels during the mental arithmetic task?

This thesis examined the role of viewing a picture of one’s pet as a mechanism for alleviating the symptoms of stress. The mental arithmetic task (MAT), a psychosocial stressor was used to induce stress. Participants were randomly assigned into one of six visual conditions: either a picture of their personal pet (n = 9), an unfamiliar animal (n = 9), a person who is supportive and important to the participant (n = 9), an unfamiliar person to the participant (n =8), a pleasant image (control 1) (n = 8) or no image (control 2) (n = 8). Stress reactivity, both physical (e.g., blood pressure) and subjective (self-reported anxiety), were measured. Findings indicated that contrary to the hypothesis, viewing a picture of one’s personal pet did not reduce stress reactivity, measured either subjectively (self-report) or objectively (physiological assessment). However, the study suggests that various images can influence stress reactivity.

Does visual exposure to one's pet regulate stress levels during the mental arithmetic task?

This thesis examined the role of viewing a picture of one’s pet as a mechanism for alleviating the symptoms of stress. The mental arithmetic task (MAT), a psychosocial stressor was used to induce stress. Participants were randomly assigned into one of six visual conditions: either a picture of their personal pet (n = 9), an unfamiliar animal (n = 9), a person who is supportive and important to the participant (n = 9), an unfamiliar person to the participant (n =8), a pleasant image (control 1) (n = 8) or no image (control 2) (n = 8). Stress reactivity, both physical (e.g., blood pressure) and subjective (self-reported anxiety), were measured. Findings indicated that contrary to the hypothesis, viewing a picture of one’s personal pet did not reduce stress reactivity, measured either subjectively (self-report) or objectively (physiological assessment). However, the study suggests that various images can influence stress reactivity.

Stress and Simulated Environments: Insights From Physiological Marker

Driving in a simulator might induce stress because of the confrontation with new environments, dealing with new technologies, and experience with symptoms of simulator sickness, which, in turn, may influence individuals’ driving performance. The present study aims to provide a better understanding of the association between simulated environments and humans’ stress level under consideration of age, simulator adaptation, experience with simulator sickness, and driving performance. Data from 164 participants (M = 61.62 years, SD = 12.66 years, ranging from 25 to 89 years, 42 women) were analyzed in the present study. During three measurement times, participants completed an advance first simulator drive (T0), followed by an online survey, assessing experience with simulator sickness (T1), and a second simulator drive (T2) including pre- and post-cortisol measurements. The hypothesized model shows no correlations of driving performance with experience with simulator sickness or stress level before and after a further simulator drive. Beyond the effect of age, previous experience with simulator sickness does further account for stress-level changes following a simulated drive but current driving performance did not. The present study provides relevant findings for future studies in the field of simulated environments.