Subjective Assessment of Stress and its Relationship with Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of its Development in Obstetricians-Gynecologists against the Background of Professional Burnout

The purpose of this сase-control study was to investigate the factors of subjective assessment of stress and their relationship with neuroendocrine mechanisms of its development in obstetricians-gynecologists against the background of professional burnout. Methods and Results: A total of 96 physicians and nurses from the different clinics specializing in both obstetrics and gynecology were surveyed. The Russian versions of MBI, BDI, SF-12, FFMQ, MAAS, and Coping strategies (the Ways of Coping Checklist) were applied. Blood serum/plasma was tested on the concentration of hormones (DHEA-C and TSH), melatonin, serotonin, and dopamine. Saliva cortisol was also estimated. In the present study, 43.75% of the physicians and nurses showed a high degree of burnout, which was comparable to that among physicians and nurses in other studies. Physicians and nurses with a high degree of burnout had more expressed coping strategies like Confrontive coping, Distancing, Self-controlling, Seeking social support and Escape-avoidance. Also, they have more expressed level of depressive manifestations. We found significant correlations between some factors of subjective assessment of stress (like coping and mindfulness) and neuroendocrine biomarkers. Adaptive coping like Planful problem-solving correlated negatively with the level of melatonin, and subscales of the mindfulness questionnaire were correlated negatively with levels of some biomarkers. Thus, we concluded that coping strategies and mindfulness could theoretically contribute to a decrease in the secretion of several hormones. Conclusion: Physicians and nurses with a low degree of burnout have a greater level of mindfulness and a lower level of some maladaptive coping strategies – Confrontive coping, Distancing, Escape-avoidance. Our results focus on the predictive role of these factors of subjective assessment of stress, in particular, Confrontive coping and mindfulness, in burnout syndrome. The present data confirm that there are some psychological and physiological aspects related to stress in the medical profession.

Koro Presenting in the Prodromal Phase of Schizophrenia in a Patient With Klinefelter Syndrome

Klinefelter syndrome (KS), a disorder of abnormal sexual differentiation, is characterized by the presence of an excess X chromosome in males (47, XXY). KS is associated with various neuropsychiatric manifestations such as anxiety, depression, schizotypy, and frank psychosis. Psychosocial factors including stigma and poor coping or psychobiological comorbidities due to neuroendocrine mechanisms have been posited to explain these symptoms. We report the case of a young male with an anxious temperament who presented with the culture-bound neurosis of Koro, which evolved into schizophrenia. The patient also had gender dysphoria and significant social anxiety. The report highlights the implications of anxious traits leading to developing culture-bound neurosis in the prodromal phase of schizophrenia in a patient with KS and its influence on treatment strategies. Integrated psychopharmacological, psychological, and psychosocial interventions are required to promote recovery in patients with KS.

Biological basis of aggressive behavior

The review analyzes the role of serotonergic, dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and glutamatergic systems and neuroendocrine mechanisms, neuropeptides, and inflammatory mediators in aggression manifestation. We discuss the inconsistency of modern concepts about the neurochemical nature of aggressive behavior and the urgency of determining biological markers of social danger. Finally, questions of psychopharmacotherapy of aggressive behavior are reviewed.

SARS-CoV-2 Psychiatric Sequelae: A Review of Neuroendocrine Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies

From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been reports of significant neurological and psychological symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This narrative review is designed to examine the potential psychoneuroendocrine pathogenic mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 elicits psychiatric sequelae, as well as to posit potential pharmacologic strategies to address and reverse these pathologies. Following a brief overview of neurological and psychological sequelae from previous viral pandemics, we address mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 could enter or otherwise elicit changes in the CNS. We then examine the hypothesis that COVID-19-induced psychiatric disorders result from challenges to the neuroendocrine system, in particular the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress axis and monoamine synthesis, physiological mechanisms that are only further enhanced by the pandemic-induced social environment of fear, isolation, and socioeconomic pressure. Finally, we evaluate several FDA-approved therapeutics in the context of COVID-19-induced psychoneuroendocrine disorders.

Emerging roles of epigenetics in the control of reproductive function: Focus on central neuroendocrine mechanisms

Reproduction is an essential function for perpetuation of the species. As such, it is controlled by sophisticated regulatory mechanisms, which allow a perfect match between environmental conditions and internal cues, to ensure adequate pubertal maturation and achievement of reproductive capacity. Besides classical genetic regulatory events, mounting evidence has documented that different epigenetic mechanisms operate at different levels of the reproductive axis to finely tune the development and function of this complex neuroendocrine system along the lifespan. In this mini-review, we will summarize recent evidence on the role of epigenetics in the control of reproduction, with special focus on the modulation of the central components of this axis. Particular attention will be paid to the epigenetic control of puberty and Kiss1 neurons, as major developments have taken place in this domain recently. In addition, the putative role of central epigenetic mechanisms in mediating the influence of nutritional and environmental cues on reproductive function will be also discussed.

Social boldness in male green anole lizards correlates with baseline vasopressin activity

Across species, individuals within a population differ in their level of boldness in social encounters with conspecifics. This boldness phenotype is often stable across both time and social context (e.g., reproductive versus agonistic encounters). Various neural and hormonal mechanisms have been suggested as underlying these stable phenotypic differences, which are often also described as syndromes, personalities, and coping styles. Most studies examining the neuroendocrine mechanisms associated with behavioral boldness examine subjects after they have engaged in a social interaction, whereas baseline neural activity that may predispose behavioral variation is understudied. The present study tests the hypotheses that physical characteristics, steroid hormone levels, and baseline variation in Ile3-vasopressin (VP, a.k.a., Arg8-vasotocin) signaling predispose social boldness. Behavioral boldness in agonistic and reproductive contexts was extensively quantified in male green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis), an established research organism for social behavior research that provides a crucial comparison group to investigations of birds and mammals. We found high stability of boldness across time, and between agonistic and reproductive contexts. Next, immunofluorescence was used to colocalize VP neurons with phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (pS6), a proxy marker of neural activity. VP-pS6 colocalization within the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus was inversely correlated with aggression boldness, but not reproductive behavior boldness. Our findings suggest that baseline vasopressin release, rather than solely context-dependent release, plays a role in predisposing individuals toward stable levels of aggressive boldness toward conspecifics by inhibiting behavioral output in these contexts.

Neuroendocrine Mechanisms Underlying Non-breeding Aggression: Common Strategies Between Birds and Fish

Aggression is an adaptive behavior that plays an important role in gaining access to limited resources. Aggression may occur uncoupled from reproduction, thus offering a valuable context to further understand its neural and hormonal regulation. This review focuses on the contributions from song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) and the weakly electric banded knifefish (Gymnotus omarorum). Together, these models offer clues about the underlying mechanisms of non-breeding aggression, especially the potential roles of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and brain-derived estrogens. The orexigenic NPY is well-conserved between birds and teleost fish, increases in response to low food intake, and influences sex steroid synthesis. In non-breeding M. melodia, NPY increases in the social behavior network, and NPY-Y1 receptor expression is upregulated in response to a territorial challenge. In G. omarorum, NPY is upregulated in the preoptic area of dominant, but not subordinate, individuals. We hypothesize that NPY may signal a seasonal decrease in food availability and promote non-breeding aggression. In both animal models, non-breeding aggression is estrogen-dependent but gonad-independent. In non-breeding M. melodia, neurosteroid synthesis rapidly increases in response to a territorial challenge. In G. omarorum, brain aromatase is upregulated in dominant but not subordinate fish. In both species, the dramatic decrease in food availability in the non-breeding season may promote non-breeding aggression, via changes in NPY and/or neurosteroid signaling.

Social correlates of variation in urinary oxytocin concentrations of mantled howler monkeys Alouatta palliata (Gray, 1849) (Primates: Atelidae): A preliminary assessment

There is growing evidence that non-human primate sociality is linked to proximate neuroendocrine mechanisms. Arginine vasopressin, endorphins, and oxytocin may be involved in such mechanisms. Here, we perform a preliminary analysis of the social correlates of variation in urinary oxytocin concentrations in mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). From January to December 2017, we studied 13 adult mantled howler monkeys belonging to two groups. We recorded the occurrence of social interactions (547.5 observation hours); assessed proximity among group members (2,194 instantaneous recordings); and collected 172 urine samples. Urine samples were assayed (ELISA) for oxytocin concentrations, which were corrected for specific gravity, resulting in 54 analyzed samples. Hormone concentrations increased by approximately 62% when individuals were involved in affiliative interactions. With respect to when no affiliative interactions occurred, urinary oxytocin concentrations were higher when dyads with a low-quality social relationship affiliated. These results agree with previous contentions that this hormone is linked to participation in affiliative interactions. Convergence between these and results from other taxa supports the hypothesis that the biological mechanisms that allow for primate sociality are shared among species.

The Role of Neuropeptide Y in the Nucleus Accumbens

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), an abundant peptide in the central nervous system, is expressed in neurons of various regions throughout the brain. The physiological and behavioral effects of NPY are mainly mediated through Y1, Y2, and Y5 receptor subtypes, which are expressed in regions regulating food intake, fear and anxiety, learning and memory, depression, and posttraumatic stress. In particular, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has one of the highest NPY concentrations in the brain. In this review, we summarize the role of NPY in the NAc. NPY is expressed principally in medium-sized aspiny neurons, and numerous NPY immunoreactive fibers are observed in the NAc. Alterations in NPY expression under certain conditions through intra-NAc injections of NPY or receptor agonists/antagonists revealed NPY to be involved in the characteristic functions of the NAc, such as alcohol intake and drug addiction. In addition, control of mesolimbic dopaminergic release via NPY receptors may take part in these functions. NPY in the NAc also participates in fat intake and emotional behavior. Accumbal NPY neurons and fibers may exert physiological and pathophysiological actions partly through neuroendocrine mechanisms and the autonomic nervous system.