Stress as a spectrum: Associations of stress and trauma with disordered eating

Objective: Multiple stressors are critical in the development of eating disorders (EDs). The most widely studied forms of stress associated with EDs are childhood trauma, sexual assault, weight-related criticism, and pressure to obtain the appearance ideals. However, it is unclear how relatively underexplored forms of stress (i.e., sexual minority stress, non-interpersonal trauma, and posttraumatic stress) are associated with EDs in vulnerable populations. Methods: The tripartite influence model of EDs proposes that body dissatisfaction and subsequent ED behavior are the result of social pressure, thin ideal internalization, and social appearance comparison. Study 1 integrated sexual minority stressors into the tripartite influence model in a sample of young adult sexual minority men (n = 479) and women (n = 483) to determine whether integrating chronic stressors improved model explanation of variance. Study 2 examined the association of traumatic events with eating disorders, specifically to differentiate whether war-related trauma, non-interpersonal trauma, non-sexual interpersonal trauma, or sexual interpersonal trauma were associated with EDs in a nationally representative sample of 36,309 US adults. Study 3 examined the longitudinal associations in a network analysis of ED symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a sample of US undergraduates (N = 50) with elevated symptoms of these disorders. Results: Study 1 demonstrated that the tripartite influence model and minority stress theory could be successfully integrated and explained more variance in ED outcomes as compared to models that do not incorporate both theories. Study 2 found that sexual interpersonal trauma was significantly positively associated with anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder (BED). BED was found to be equally associated with sexual interpersonal, other interpersonal, and non-interpersonal trauma. Study 3 found that loss of control eating, concentration impairment related to shape and weight, purging, fear of weight gain, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and body dissatisfaction demonstrated the strongest associations in the network. Discussion: Studies 1, 2, and 3 confirmed that minority stress, traumatic events, and PTSD symptoms are associated with eating pathology. The consideration of these stressors in explanatory models of EDs could help refine prevention and intervention efforts with various vulnerable populations

Comparison of saline and fludrocortisone as fluid-loading countermeasures following exposure to simulated microgravity

Saline loading (SL) within hours of reentry is currently used as a countermeasure against postflight orthostatic hypotension in astronauts. However, its effects on blood volume expansion is not quantified and its effectiveness has proved marginal at best. The purposes of the present study were: (1) to quantify the effects of SL on plasma volume and orthostatic tolerance following exposure to simulated microgravity and (2) to compare these effects with the use of a pharacological fluid expander, fludrcortisone (F). Method: Eleven men (30-45 yr.) underwent a 15-minute stand test before and immediately after 7 days of head-down bedrest (BR). Five subjects ingested SL (8 g salt tablets with 1 liter of water) 2 hours before standing at the end of BR while the other 6 subjects received 0.2 mg oral doses of F at 0800 and 2200 hours the day before and 0800 hours the day the subjects got out of bed (i.e., 2 hours before standing). Plasma volume (PV) was measured before BR on day 7 of BR and after the final SL and F treatments just before the post-BR stand test. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured continuously during the stand tests. Results: BR decreased PV from 40.7 plus or minus 1.9 mml/kg to 35.9 plus or minus 1.1 ml/kg (minus 11.8 percent P less than 0.05). Following SL, PV remained at 36.4 plus or minus 1.5 ml/kg while F returned PV to 39.1 plus or minus 1.8 ml/kg. The post BR stand test was completed without syncopal symptoms by 5 of 6 F subjects but only 2 of 5 SL subjects. Conclusions: SL may be ineffective in restoring PV to preflight levels and may provide inadequate protection against postflight orthostatic hypotension. In contrast, F may provide a promising countermeasure since it restored PV and reduced the incidence of syncope following exposure to simulated microgravity in the present study

Heat stress and a countermeasure in the Shuttle rescueman's suit

Rescue of the astronaut flight crew from a contingency landing may risk exposure of the rescue crew to toxic propellants spilling from potentially ruptured tanks in the crew module area. An Aquala dry diver's suit has been in service by the rescue team to preclude exposure, especially in the water rescue scenario. Heat stress has become a factor of concern in recent years when older and less physically-fit team members work in this suit. Methods: Field testing was initiated using fully instrumented rescue men in a simulated scenario to determine the extent of heat stress. Two tests were accomplished, one in the normal (N) configuration and one with a proposed cooling countermeasure, the Steele vest (S). Results: Heat stress was high as indicated by average rectal temperatures (Tre) of 38.28 degrees C(100.9 degrees F) after the 45 minute protocol. Slopes of the regression equations describing the increase in Tre with time were greater (P less than 0.05) with N (0.073 plus or minus .008) compared to S (0.060 plus or minus .007). Projection of time to the 38.89 degree C (102 degree F) limit was increased by 15.3 percent with the vest. Mean skin temperature (Tsk) was higher (P less than 0.05) in N (38.33 plus or minus .11 degrees C) compared to S (34.33 plus or minus .39 degrees C). Average heart rate was higher (P less than 0.05 in N than S. Sweat loss, as measured by weight loss, was more (P less than 0.05) for N (1.09 plus or minus .09 kg versus 0.77 plus or minus .06 kg). Air usage, while slightly less for S, was not statistically different. Conclusion: The use of the cool vest provided significant relief from thermal stress in spite of the addition of 3.4 kg (7.5 pounds) weight and some loss in mobility

Economic and Environmental Impacts of Harmful Non-Indigenous Species in Southeast Asia

10.1371/journal.pone.0071255PLoS ONE88-POLN

Inflammatory Related Reactions in Humans and in Canine Breast Cancers, A Spontaneous Animal Model of Disease

Inflammatory cells are emerging markers in various cancers in human trials. The relationship between the inflammatory cells response, cancer grade, and progression has been investigated experimentally in a spontaneous canine model of breast cancer and in the unselected population (18–64 years.o.) under anti-HER2 treatments that represent the most prevalent population in this cancer type. The canine data (N samples = 101) were collected retrospectively for diagnosis in our regional area and evaluated by immunohistochemistry and haemato-chemistry. The inflammatory and immune-related adverse reactions (ADR) in humans were evaluated using EudraVigilance. The “Proportional Reporting Ratio” (PRR) of the mabs was calculated for each ADR with values >2 indicative of high risk. In dogs, we found elevated immunostaining of CD68-macrophages in the lymph node of the aggressive cancer G3 and infiltrating CD20+-lymphocyte. A high density of CD20 + lymphocytes was observed in G1 and a decrease in the density was observed with the histological degree of the tumors. The animals with the sample in G1 showed reduced serum platelet and neutrophil count and elevated lymphocytes and the opposite in severely affected animals. Inflammatory reactions with edema, skin reactions, extravasation, loss of effectiveness, and platelet count decrease (PRR > 13) were found with trastuzumab emtansine in humans, in the absence of immune system reactions. Trastuzumab i.v.-s.c. showed immune system reactions, loss of effectiveness, intolerances with drug withdrawal, technological issues (PRR > 7), and neutrophil count decrease reports. These reactions were less frequently reported for pertuzumab i.v. Case reports of platelet and neutrophil count decrease were not associated with disease progression with a better outcome in humans as in canine breast cancer. Therefore, infiltrating CD68-macrophages are associated with G3, while infiltrating CD20+ and elevated serum lymphocytes in parallel with reduced platelet and neutrophil count play a favorable role in human and canine breast cancer

Gender differences in endocrine responses to posture and 7 days of 6 deg head down bed rest

Endocrine regulation of fluids and electrolytes during seven days of 6 deg head down bed rest (HDBR) was compared in male (n = 8) and, for the first time, female (n = 8) volunteers. The subjects' responses to quiet standing for 2 hr before and after HDBR were also tested. In both sexes, diuresis and natriuresis were evident during the first 2-3 days of HDBR, resulting in a marked increase in the urinary Na/K ratio and significant Na retention on reambulation. After the first day of HDBR, plasma renin activity (PRA) was increased relative to aldosterone, plasma volume was decreased, and the renal response to aldosterone appeared to be appropriate. Circulating levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP), cortisol, and ACTH were unchanged during HDBR. Plasma testosterone decreased slightly on day 2 of HDBR in males. The ratio of AM ACTH to cortisol was lower in females than in males because ACTH was lower in females. Urinary cortisol increased and remained elevated throughout the HDBR in males only. There were no gender differences in the responses to 7 day HDBR, except those in the pituitary-adrenal system; those differences appeared unrelated to the postural change. The provocative cardiovascular test of quiet standing before and after bed rest revealed both sex differences and effects of HDBR. There were significant sex differences in cardiovascular responses to standing, before and after HDBR. Females had greater PRA and aldosterone responses to standing before bedrest and larger aldosterone responses to standing after HDBR than males. Cardiovascular responses to standing before and after bedrest differed markedly: arterial pressure and heart rates increased with standing before HDBR, by contrast, arterial pressure decreased, with greater increases in heart rates after HDBR. In both sexes, all hormonal responses to standing were greater after HDBR. The results show clearly that similar responses to standing as well as to HDBR occur in both sexes, but that females exhibit greater PRA and aldosterone responses than males

Terahertz detection by epitaxial-graphene field-effect-transistors on silicon carbide

We report on room temperature detection of terahertz radiation by means of antenna-coupled field effect transistors (FETs) fabricated using epitaxial graphene grown on silicon carbide. The achieved photoresponsivity (similar to 0.25 V/W) and noise equivalent power (similar to 80 nW/root Hz) result from the combined effect of two independent detection mechanisms: over-damped plasma wave rectification and thermoelectric effects, the latter ascribed to the presence of carrier density junctions along the FET channel. The calculated plasmonic and thermoelectric response reproduces qualitatively well the measured photovoltages; the experimentally observed sign-switch demonstrates the stronger contribution of plasmonic detection compared to the thermoelectric one. These results unveil the potential of plasmonic detectors exploiting epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide for fast large area imaging of macroscopic samples

Increasing the active surface of titanium islands on graphene by nitrogen sputtering

Titanium-island formation on graphene as a function of defect density is investigated. When depositing titanium on pristine graphene, titanium atoms cluster and form islands with an average diameter of about 10nm and an average height of a few atomic layers. We show that if defects are introduced in the graphene by ion bombardment, the mobility of the deposited titanium atoms is reduced and the average diameter of the islands decreases to 5nm with monoatomic height. This results in an optimized coverage for hydrogen storage applications since the actual titanium surface available per unit graphene area is significantly increased