Exploring the Relationship of Emotional Intelligence and Obesity among University Students

Objective: Obesity is related to emotional pressures and psychological disorders. Psychiatric disorders, acute psychological stress, psychological problems, and emotional factors induce obesity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between scale and subscale of emotional intelligence (EI) and obesity among university students in Golestan province, Iran. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study. The sample size contained 358 university students. The research instrument was Bar-On and Parker Emotional Intelligence (EI) Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 22. Moreover, descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analyses were also done. Results: There is a direct and inverse relationship between students’ total EI (-0.415) and its subscales including intrapersonal skills (-0.393), interpersonal skills (-0.313), adaptability (-0.359), stress management (-0.383), and general mood (-0.372) with overweight. Conclusion: The results of this research may not only open a new window to assist in achieving successful nutritional diet programs, providing people but it also can pave the way for further research conducted by experts in nutrition, medicine, and psychology. The findings of this study will enhance social public awareness on the side- effects of obesity equipping the public with some counseling to lose weight through using EI for people, especially students suffering from obesity.

Stress-induced changes in inflammatory and atherosclerosis markers during official basketball games in professional coaches

Objective: Top-level competitive sports coaches repeatedly cope with situations of acute stress in order to succeed and manage high team performance. Occupational stress-induced biochemical and immune system markers are not well studied for this specific group of people. The purpose of this study was to evaluate stress-induced alterations of inflammatory markers and atherosclerosis risk factors during an official basketball game in top-level professional basketball coaches (head and assistant). Methods: Blood samples and vital signs were obtained from 27 healthy coaches (Greek A1 Men National Basketball League), 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the games. We performed a full blood count and measured inflammatory cytokines, atherosclerosis markers and cortisol levels. Data were statistically analysed using two-tailed paired and independent samples t-tests and Pearson Correlation. Results: Post-game neutrophils (NEU) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels were significantly increased while lymphocytes (LYM) were significantly decreased in comparison to pre-game values. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) levels were considered as a pre-hypertension state at both measurements. We found significant alterations between head and assistant coaches in diastolic blood pressure and cortisol levels after the game. Cortisol was negatively correlated to inflammatory cytokine levels and positively correlated with ApoB levels. Conclusions: Game-induced acute psychological stress initiates an aseptic inflammatory response in top-level professional coaches and can be related to the atherosclerosis pathways posing as an acute as well as chronic health threat for top-level coaches who have to deal with long periods of stressful working conditions.

Effects of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris YRC3780 daily intake on the HPA axis response to acute psychological stress in healthy Japanese men

Background Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris (YRC3780), which is isolated from kefir, has been associated with anti-allergic effects in humans. However, it remains unknown whether daily intake of YRC3780 attenuates the response to psychological stress in humans in parallel with changes to the gut microbiome. We examined the fundamental role of YRC3780 in the gut microbiome, stress response, sleep, and mental health in humans. Methods Effects of daily intake of YRC3780 on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to acute psychological stress were investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 27 healthy young men (mean age and body mass index: 23.5 years and 21.5 kg/m2) who were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 13) or YRC3780 (n = 14) groups. The HPA axis response to acute psychological stress, the diurnal rhythm of HPA axis activity, and gut microbiome were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results The results showed that daily intake of YRC3780 significantly lowered morning salivary cortisol levels compared with placebo. In addition, salivary cortisol levels following a social stress test significantly decreased +40 min after beginning the TSST in the YRC3780-treated group compared to placebo. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of actigraphy-based sleep quality, but the subjective sleep quality and mental health were significantly improved in the YRC3780-treated group compared to placebo. Conclusions Our study suggests that daily intake of YRC3780 improves the HPA axis response to acute psychological stress, which might be associated with a decrease in morning cortisol levels.

Abstract MP10: A Novel Genetic Locus Influences Microvascular Reactivity To Acute Psychological Stress

Background: Excessive peripheral microvascular constriction during acute psychological stress, measured using peripheral arterial tonometry reflects similar changes in coronary blood flow.The ratio of digital pulse wave amplitude during stress compared to rest (sPAT) is used to estimate the degree of microvascular response to stress. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that genetic factors contribute to the degree of microvascular constriction during mental stress and that excessive vasoconstriction is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Methods: A total of 580 stable CAD subjects of European and African ancestries from two prospective cohort studies underwent mental stress testing with a standardized public speaking stressor. Digital pulse wave amplitude was continuously measured using PAT and the stress/rest PAT ratio (sPAT) of pulse wave amplitude during mental stress/baseline was calculated. Genotyping was performed using Illumina’s Multi-Ethnic Genotyping Array platform and imputed to the 1000 Genome reference panel. Ethnicity-specific genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of sPAT were conducted using linear regression of additive genetic mode adjusted for age, sex and population stratification in both cohorts. A trans-ethnic meta-analysis integrated the GWAS results from four sub-cohorts. Upon 5-year follow-up, Fine and Gray’s sub-distribution hazard ratios (sHR) were used to examine the association between sPAT ratio (> vs=< median) and the composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and hospitalization for heart failure. Results: Mean age was 63±9; 65% male, 35% African American. We identified three SNPs in linkage disequilibrium on chr7:111,666,943 T>C (rs6466396); chr7: 111,668,622 T>G (rs876170); chr7: 111,668,623 T>G (rs876169) that were associated with greater sPAT ratio by means of 0.13, 0.12 and 0.10, ( P = 1.42E-08). The sPAT-associated locus was within DOCK4 gene which encodes Dedicator of Cytokinesis 4, an essential protein for angiogenesis and brain development, and a known locus for obesity. After adjusting for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, medications, and rate-pressure product change during mental stress, those with low sPAT ratio were at significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes (sHR 1.8 [95% CI 1.1 - 2.8]). Conclusion: We have identified a genetic basis for stress-induced vasomotion. Presence of allele C (rs6466396) is associated with increased vasoconstriction during mental stress, and thus may predispose CAD patients to a higher risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes with stressful exposure.