Repeatability of endocrine traits and dominance rank in female guinea pigs

Background Glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol) are associated with variation in social behavior, and previous studies have linked baseline as well as challenge-induced glucocorticoid concentrations to dominance status. It is known that cortisol response to an acute challenge is repeatable and correlates to social behavior in males of many mammal species. However, it is unclear whether these patterns are also consistent for females. The aim of this study was to investigate whether baseline and response cortisol concentrations are repeatable in female guinea pigs (Cavia aperea f. porcellus) and whether dominance rank is stable and correlated to baseline cortisol concentration and/or cortisol responsiveness. Results Our results show that cortisol responsiveness (after 1 h: R = 0.635, 95% CI = 0.229, 0.927; after 2 h: R = 0.764, 95% CI = 0.433, 0.951) and dominance rank (R = 0.709, 95% CI = 0.316, 0.935) of females were significantly repeatable after six weeks but not correlated. Baseline cortisol was not repeatable (R = 0, 95% CI = 0, 0.690) and also did not correlate to dominance rank. Furthermore, the difference in repeatability estimates of baseline and response values was due to high within-individual variance of baseline cortisol concentration; the amount of between-individual variance was similar for baseline cortisol and the two measures of cortisol responsiveness. Conclusions Females occupying different dominance ranks did not have long-term differences in cortisol concentrations, and cortisol responsiveness does not seem to be significantly involved in the maintenance of dominance rank. Overall, this study reveals the remarkable stability of cortisol responsiveness and dominance rank in a female rodent, and it remains an open question whether the magnitude of cortisol responsiveness is adaptive in social contexts for females.

Feasibility of Combining Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Active Fully Embodied Virtual Reality for Visual Height Intolerance: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study

Background: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) are individually increasingly used in psychiatric research. Objective/Hypothesis: Our study aimed to investigate the feasibility of combining tDCS and VRET with the features of wireless, 360° full immersion and embodiment and an active task to reduce height-induced anxiety. Methods: We carried out a pilot randomized, double-blind, controlled study associating VRET (two 20 min sessions with a 48 h interval, during which, participants had to cross a plank at rising heights in a building in construction) with online tDCS (targeting the ventromedial prefrontal cortex) with 28 participants. The primary outcomes were the sense of presence level and the tolerability. The secondary outcomes were the anxiety level (Subjective Unit of Discomfort) and the salivary cortisol concentration. Results: We confirmed the feasibility of the association between tDCS and fully embodied VRET associated with a good sense of presence without noticeable adverse effects. In both groups, a significant reduction in the fear of height was observed after two sessions, with only a small effect size of add-on tDCS (0.1) according to the SUD. The variations of cortisol concentration differed in the tDCS and sham groups. Conclusion: Our study confirmed the feasibility of the association between wireless online tDCS and active, fully embodied VRET. The optimal tDCS paradigm remains to be determined in this context to increase effect size and then adequately power future clinical studies assessing synergies between both techniques.

Endocrine Dysfunction Criteria in Critically Ill Children: The PODIUM Consensus Conference

CONTEXT Endocrine dysfunction is common in critically ill children and is manifested by abnormalities in glucose, thyroid hormone, and cortisol metabolism. OBJECTIVE To develop consensus criteria for endocrine dysfunction in critically ill children by assessing the association of various biomarkers with clinical and functional outcomes. DATA SOURCES PubMed and Embase were searched from January 1992 to January 2020. STUDY SELECTION We included studies in which researchers evaluated critically ill children with abnormalities in glucose homeostasis, thyroid function and adrenal function, performance characteristics of assessment and/or scoring tools to screen for endocrine dysfunction, and outcomes related to mortality, organ-specific status, and patient-centered outcomes. Studies of adults, premature infants or animals, reviews and/or commentaries, case series with sample size ≤10, and non–English-language studies were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment for each eligible study were performed by 2 independent reviewers. RESULTS The systematic review supports the following criteria for abnormal glucose homeostasis (blood glucose [BG] concentrations >150 mg/dL [>8.3 mmol/L] and BG concentrations <50 mg/dL [<2.8 mmol/L]), abnormal thyroid function (serum total thyroxine [T4] <4.2 μg/dL [<54 nmol/L]), and abnormal adrenal function (peak serum cortisol concentration <18 μg/dL [500 nmol/L]) and/or an increment in serum cortisol concentration of <9 μg/dL (250 nmol/L) after adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation. LIMITATIONS These included variable sampling for BG measurements, limited reporting of free T4 levels, and inconsistent interpretation of adrenal axis testing. CONCLUSIONS We present consensus criteria for endocrine dysfunction in critically ill children that include specific measures of BG, T4, and adrenal axis testing.

Salivary Cortisol Concentration in Fattening Heifers Kept in an Enriched Environment at Different Stocking Densities

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of environmental enrichment and different stocking densities on the level of stress in the fattening cattle by measuring salivary cortisol concentration. A total of 320 saliva samples obtained from heifers during the final four-month fattening period was analyzed by a colorimetric competitive enzyme immunoassay. The heifers were housed at 3.3 and 4.5 m2/animal in standard production conditions that were additionally enriched with a mechanical grooming brush and salt blocks in experimental groups. The study results have demonstrated that a cortisol concentration at the end of fattening was significantly higher, as compared with the initial levels in all heifer groups, without significant intergroup differences. There was no significant correlation between the usage of a grooming brush and cortisol concentration, whereas a significant negative correlation was detected between the salt block usage and cortisol concentration, suggesting a beneficial effect of this simple, commercially available and relatively inexpensive environmental enrichment.

Unraveling the Complexity to Observe Associations Between Welfare Indicators and Hair Cortisol Concentration in Dairy Calves

Using levels of the stress hormone cortisol as an indicator for welfare is a common, but debated practice. In this observational study, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) of samples from 196 dairy calves from 7 to 302 days of age collected from 12 Swedish farms was determined using a commercially available ELISA. An assessment of animal welfare, assessed using animal-based indicators, was performed on the day of sampling. First, methodological factors with the potential to impact HCC and the effect of age were analyzed using generalized additive models. This revealed a significant peak in hair cortisol in young calves (around 50 days of age) and an association between fecal contamination of hair samples and the level of cortisol extracted. Second, associations between welfare indicators and HCC were explored using cluster analysis and regularized regression. The results show a complex pattern, possibly related to different coping styles of the calves, and indicators of poor welfare were associated with both increased and decreased hair cortisol levels. High cortisol levels were associated with potential indicators of competition, while low cortisol levels were associated with the signs of poor health or a poor environment. When running the regularized regression analysis without the contaminated hair samples and with the contaminated samples (including a contamination score), the results did not change, indicating that it may be possible to use a contamination score to correct for contamination.

The state of the adrenal cortex in cows with different levels of productivity and their breed affiliation

Purpose: the goal is to study the condition and functional reserves of adrenal cortex in cows with different levels of dairy productivity and their breed accessories.Materials and methods. In the first experience, the object of the study was cows of a holstered black-motley breed with a high and relatively low level of milk productivity (n = 10 in each group). The second experience was carried out on four breeds of lactating cows: Holsteinated black-made, red-made, Montbeliard and Jersey (n = 10 in each group). The blood of animals were taken from the tail vein 1 time per month during lactation to morning feeding. In both experiments, in the third month of lactation, all animals were performed by a two-time functional load of ACTH (dose – 0,5 units / kg of alive mass intramuscularly). After one hour, blood selection was performed and re-injected by adrenocorticotropic hormone in the same dose. After the second introduction, the ACTH was selected through 1.2 and 3 hours. The calculation of the index of the functional activity of the adrenal cortex was carried out according to the JACN = K2 / K1 formula where K1 is the level of cortisol 1 hour after the first load, K2 is the level of cortisol after the second load of the ACTH.Results. In the 1st experience of the highest values, the level of cortisol reached a 3 month lactation. In a highly productive group, the level of cortisol was 86,1 ± 5,3 nmol / l, and in the low product group 74,5 ± 5,7 nmol / l. At 8 months, the lowest cortisol concentration levels are fixed, followed by an increase of 10 months. Differences between groups on 2, 3 and 4 months of lactation are noted as statistically significant (p<0,05). After the load of the ACTH, an index of the functional activity of the adrenal cortex (JACN) was established - in the first high productive group, it was 1.42, and in the second less productive group it was lower and amounted to 1,04.In the 2nd experience at the peak of lactation, which also corresponded to 3 months, the level of cortisol concentration increased from a holstered black-motley breed, Mont Belärd, Red-motley and Jersey to 79,3 ± 5,5; 70,2 ± 3,7; 80,3 ± 3,2; 80,5 ± 3,6 nmol / l, respectively. For 8 months of lactation, this figure decreased with the subsequent increase of the 10th month. After establishing Jacnes in a holstered black-motley breed, Montbeliard, red-motley and jersey recorded the following indicators: 1,21; 1,24; 1,18 and 0,89, respectively.Conclusion. The studies have indicated that in all periods of lactation relative to the high level of cortisol recorded in cows with a higher level of milk productivity. When comparing different rocks, it was established that the limit of the functioning of the adrenal glands in the cows of the Jersey breed was implemented after the first functional load of the ACTH, which gives reason to consider it less stress-resistant with respect to rocks a holstered black and motley, red-motley and monobeldam.

Exercise-induced hormone and blood fatigue factor responses to branched-chain amino acids administration in the recovery period after exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) can boost anabolism through an increase in the internal concentration of BCAA, which leads to facilitating anabolic hormone release to stimulate the power of the muscles. Studies on administration of BCAA to minimize fatigue substances during long periods of high intensity exercise have been conducted. However, there are disagreements concerning the results of these studies.Method: A comprehensive search was performed on electronic databases up to November 2019 for trials evaluating the effects of BCAA on recovery following exercise. Mean ± standard deviation of follow-up cortisol, insulin, ammonia, and lactate concentrations were extracted to calculate the effect size for meta-analysis.Results: A total of 146 participants for cortisol and 279 participants for lactate were found from the 7 and 15 studies, respectively. The results revealed a significant effect of BCAA supplementation on cortisol concentration during 120≤ min post exercise follow-up. Moreover, without considering follow-up times, an overall analysis showed that BCAA was effective in reducing blood lactate in aerobic exercise and the trained status of athletes.Conclusions: The advantages of BCAA administration relate to a reduction in cortisol concentration after 2h and ameliorated muscle function because of a probable attenuation of fatigue substances immediately after exercise.

BLOOD CORTISOL CONCENTRATION, HEMODYNAMICS AND METABOLISM OF PATIENTS WITH SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM, POSSIBILITIES OF PERIOPERATIVE CORRECTION

A clinical case of severe bleeding from the wells of extracted teeth in a 9-year-old girl with Glanzman’s thrombasthenia is reported. Literature data on diagnosis and management of such patients are given. The authors emphasize that in the treatment of such patients sometimes it is necessary to make extraordinary decisions that can save the patient’s life. In this case, a direct blood transfusion was performed.