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Jun 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-6694.jbbs-19-2784
Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior ErnestoCorresponding author
Laboratory of Phototherapy and Innovative Technologies in Health, Nove de Julho University – UNINOVE, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The aim of this clinical study was to determine the efficacy of bilateral alternating somatosensory stimulation for the management of stress and anxiety during and after the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a laboratory procedure for reliably inducing stress in human subjects. For this, a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded clinical trial of 80 qualified subjects was conducted. Subjects were randomized into two groups, a treatment group (n=40) and a control (placebo) group (n=40). Metrics of emotional stress assessed were a subjective rating of the level of emotional stress and salivary cortisol levels, both obtained at 3 timepoints: before treatment (baseline), immediately following completion of the TSST, and after 20 minutes of rest following completion of the TSST. Results showed that the treatment group had a statistically greater decrease in the subjective rating of stress relative to the control group both immediately following the TSST and 20 minutes after the TSST. Salivary cortisol levels in the treatment group were also lower than the control group at those same time points. These results suggest that bilateral alternating somatosensory stimulation may be effective in reducing subjective levels of stress and anxiety. It also may actively attenuate stress-related cortisol levels, which may reflect a mechanism for reducing cortisol-induced inflammation back to baseline after exposure to stressful situations.
Apr 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-6655.jcap-19-2737
Köhler-Dauner FranziskaCorresponding author
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm
Background Mothers with a history of childhood maltreatment (CM) are likely to transmit their own experiences to the next generation. This is highly influenced by the quality of maternal behavior that enables to buffer infant’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress. From a transgenerational perspective the research question is, if infant’s cortisol stress response is influenced by maternal CM experiences or rather by the behavioral pathways during the first year of life. Methods 53 mother-child-dyads were measured at 12 months of infant’s age in a laboratory visit assessing the maternal quality of interactive behavior using the Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification (AMBIANCE) measured during the strange situation procedure (SSP). Maltreatment experiences were assessed using the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). Salivary cortisol of mother and infant were collected prior to and directly, 15 and 30 minutes after the SSP. Results Infants of disruptive mothers showed a significant increase in cortisol (F (3; 147) = 2.897, p= 0.048) after the SSP compared to infants of mothers with sensitive caregiving. Maternal CM did not influence the infant’s cortisol stress response due to the SSP. However maternal cortisol response was altered by trend due to CM (F (1.392; 71.008) = 3.157, p= 0.066). Conclusions Our data indicate that infant’s cortisol stress reactivity is influenced by the quality of maternal behavior and not by the transgenerational transmission of maternal CM experiences per se. These findings implicate that helping mothers to improve their caregiving behavior may help to improve stress-reactivity of their infant.
Mar 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2476-1710.jdt-15-719
Dhikav VikasCorresponding author
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, INDIA
This clinical study explores associations among basal serum cortisol, depressive symptoms, and medial temporal lobe atrophy in patients with MCI and Alzheimer's disease. It discusses stress‑axis dysregulation as a potential contributor to neurodegeneration and outlines implications for assessment and intervention.
May 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-4518.jsdr-25-5773
Peres de Sousa LucasCorresponding author
Introduction Sleep quality is a fundamental determinant of human health and well-being. Modified Intravascular Laser Irradiation of Blood (ILIB), a non-invasive therapeutic modality, has emerged as a potential intervention for sleep-related disturbances. Proposed mechanisms include reduced blood viscosity and platelet aggregation, activation of superoxide dismutase, increased oxygen bioavailability, enhanced microcirculation, elevated serotonin levels, and decreased cortisol concentrations—physiological processes intricately involved in sleep regulation, mood modulation, and the stress response. Objective To evaluate the effects of Modified Intravascular Laser Irradiation of Blood (ILIB) on sleep quality in individuals with self-reported sleep disturbances. Methods A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted with participants who reported poor sleep quality. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the intervention group received ILIB using a 660 nm red laser, while the control group received a placebo treatment (light emission with sub-therapeutic power, <1 mW). Both groups underwent the same treatment schedule. Sleep quality was assessed at baseline and after six treatment sessions using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Results Participants in the ILIB group showed statistically significant improvements in the primary outcome of global sleep quality. PSQI scores decreased from 10.24 at baseline to 6.47 post-treatment. ESS scores showed a non-significant change from 10.44 to 10.12. These results suggest enhanced overall sleep quality and reduced sleep latency, although the observed reduction in daytime sleepiness did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion Modified Intravascular Laser Irradiation of Blood appears to be a promising non-invasive approach for improving sleep quality. The clinical outcomes observed are comparable to those reported in both pharmacological and behavioral sleep interventions, particularly in terms of PSQI improvements. These preliminary findings support the need for further research to clarifyunderlying mechanisms, optimize treatment parameters (e.g., dosimetry and duration), and expand outcome assessments to include biomarkers and polysomnographic data.
Feb 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-25-5420
Nagaraj NitashaCorresponding author
South Asian women in the United States face disproportionate health challenges, including higher rates of intimate partner violence as well as higher rates of Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes compared to other racial and ethnic groups. This cross-sectional study examines the association between intimate partner violence (psychological, physical, and sexual) and the diagnosis of gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. A web-based survey recruited 2,634 South Asian women in the U.S., collecting data on socio-demographics, intimate partner violence experiences, stress levels, and diabetes diagnosis. Logistic regression models adjusted for significant sociodemographic factors revealed that women with a history of intimate partner violence were 5.82 significantly more likely to report a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and 3.91 more likely to report a gestational diabetes diagnosis. Furthermore, stress as measured by the perceived stress scale, was also higher among women with intimate partner violence, potentially moderating the relationship between intimate partner violence and adverse health outcomes through cortisol dysregulation. Despite high levels of educational attainment and employment, the prevalence of intimate partner violence was alarmingly high (66.7%), highlighting its pervasive impact on socioeconomic strata. These findings underscore the urgent need for culturally tailored interventions addressing intimate partner violence and its health consequences within South Asian communities. Further research is warranted to elucidate causal pathways and inform integrated public health strategies to mitigate disparities in chronic disease and intimate partner violence-related health outcomes.