No description available.

ABO blood type has been shown to be associated with both cardiovascular risk and toxicity‐preventing activity (TxPA) stress response in elderly males. Twenty middle‐aged, healthy males, 14 blood type A and six blood type O, were involved in this project. Volunteers completed a battery of psychological assessments, then gave blood and had several psychophysiological measures taken prior to, during and after two stressors. The stressors consisted of mental arithmetic tasks plus audiotapes of combat sounds and a baby crying. The anger‐out and hard‐driving scores of blood type O subjects were significantly higher than the blood type A means. TxPA decreased significantly as a function of stress and some suggestive blood type effects of TxPA were found. Plasma protein, microhematocrit, plasma cortisol, finger temperature, skin conductance, blood pressure and two facial electromyograph (EMG) variables were also significantly affected by stressors but not by the blood type factor. No significant differences of any kind were found for total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein or pulse variables. The importance of age and other individual subject characteristics was discussed.

Trough previous research we have knowledge about the connection between balance in daily life and the experience of health. The psychological or stressrelated ill health increases despite more people receiving care and treatment. It is therefore a central issue to shed further light on whether we provide the right care based on the perspective of the individuals. The purpose of the study was to describe experiences from adult individuals on sick leave due to psychological or stress related ill health regarding maintaining balance in everyday activities. Data were generated through individual narrative interviews with individuals with psychological or stress related illness, from primary care and analysed using a narrative analysis. The analysis of the data resulted in four themes called strategies for maintaining balance, barriers to balancing strategies to maintaining balance, roles and habits that affects the ability to maintain balance, new experiences that affects the ability to maintain balance. Results show that there is a complexity to maintain balance in daily living and there are many components that effects the ability and conditions to maintain a balance in daily life that promotes health. The results could give a deeper understanding about the need for care through the individuals experience and highlight occupational therapy and the occupational therapist role. This regarding working with the ability to delimit in activity as a step towards developing care and treatment for individuals with psychological or stress related illness. And raise the perspective on the importance of creating sustainability perspective and from socioeconomic gain

No description available.

Yes / The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions caused major disruption globally, shedding light on the unprecedented strain upon the mental health and wellbeing of individuals around the world. Poor mental health in the pandemic is reported to be greater in women, with mothers being at increased risk. It is unclear whether there are differences in the impact of mental wellbeing on some ethnic groups over others. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of British Muslim Pakistani women with family responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, two years on from the first lockdown. Methods Qualitative interviews with women were conducted via telephone using a semi-structured topic guide. The sample included 25 British Muslim Pakistani women with family responsibilities, both English and non-English speaking. Women lived in households that ranged in number and included extended family. Key themes were determined using thematic analysis. Results Results were grouped under three themes. These were (1) Community, cultural and religious contributors to poor mental wellbeing, (2) religious and cultural mediators of mental distress, and (3) perceived positive impact on lifestyle. British Muslim Pakistani women were psychologically distressed by the high rates of virus transmission and deaths in their communities and at the prospect of older members of their extended family developing the virus. The impact of restrictions on fundamental religious and cultural interactions further exacerbated poor mental wellbeing in this population. Religion, community social capital and larger household structures were all effective coping strategies for British Muslim Pakistani women. Positive impacts of the pandemic included becoming closer to family and faith, and increased work/life harmony. Conclusions An exploration of religious and cultural coping mechanisms should be used to inform future national pandemic preparedness plans, as well as effective strategies for building and maintaining social capital. This may increase adherence to physical distancing and other protective behaviours in populations. / Department of Health, United Kingdom, NIHR200166

Attempts to assess psychological stress rely heavily upon subjective techniques which measure changes in perceived mental loading and situational awareness (Hart and Staveland 1988, Reid and Nygren 1988, Lemyre and Tessier 2003, 1998). Although quantitative methodologies do exist, for example monitoring changes in the cardiopulmonary system (Gelfand et al. 2004, Harada et al. 2006), such parameters are subject to influence by factors other than stress. Psychological stress is known to influence the effectiveness of the innate immune system, leading to an increased risk of infection and immune-related disease (Dhabhar et al. 1996, Boscarino et al. 1999, Altemus et al. 2006). Leukocytes, primarily neutrophils have been identified as an essential component of this mechanism - periods of increased psychological stress have been shown to stimulate neutrophils to release reactive oxygen species into surrounding healthy tissues (Mian et al. 2003). The exact biochemical pathways by which this occurs have not yet been fully elucidated. However, this mechanism has become the basis for a novel in vitro technique (McLaren et al. 2003) which has the potential and sensitivity to rapidly quantify and discriminate between changes in psychological stress, resulting from exposure to short-term low-level everyday life-stressors. Aims The overall aim of this research was to further explore the relationship between short-term psychological stress and altered immune responsiveness. Leukocyte coping capacity (LCC) is a luminol-dependent chemiluminescent technique for the assay of reactive oxygen species production in whole blood samples. The feasibility of applying this test as an objective, quantitative, diagnostic measure of altered mental workload (mental stress), in the assessment of ergonomics within automotive research and development was examined. Methods Leukocyte activity was determined from whole blood, using a luminol-dependent, in vitro, chemiluminescent technique referred to as Leukocyte Coping Capacity (LCC). 2 The technique measures reactive oxygen species production following phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation. Subjective psychological measures, including likert scales and the NASA task load index were employed to assess perceived stress and altered mental workload. Other traditional physiological parameters including heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and core body temperature were also measured. The ability of each parameter to detect and discriminate between related short-term stressors was investigated, and results were correlated with post-test changes in leukocyte activity. To investigate the mechanism of stress induced leukocyte activation, standard ELISA was used to assess post-stressor plasma concentration changes in nine mediators including Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, Cortisol, E-Selectin, L-Selectin, Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-6, Endothelin-1, and Tumour Necrosis Factor-α. All 5 studies involved the use of mental stressors that were associated with either driving or the ergonomics of driving. Participants were moderately fit and healthy, aged between 20 and 65 years. Study one assessed the ability of the LCC technique to objectively discriminate between two closely related stressors (performing a simple manoeuvre in two different vehicles). Study two investigated leukocyte sensitivity, by testing whether a quantifiable response was elicited following exposure to a low-level stressor lasting seconds. The third study was used to explore the mechanism of leukocyte activation following short-term low-level stress. In addition to testing the viability of leukocyte responsiveness as an objective quantitative ergonomic assay for use within the motor industry, study four investigated how the magnitude of leukocyte responsiveness changed following repeated exposure to the same stressor. The final study used leukocyte reactivity to investigate how mental loading was affected during the interaction with three different motor vehicle control interfaces, whilst simultaneously maintaining lane discipline within a simulated driving environment.

This diploma thesis focuses on problems of mental hygiene in the current managerial practices. The theoretical part reveals to readers basic concepts and background to this isme for more understanding. It deals gradually with the role of mental hygiene in an individual life, self-knowledge and selfmanagement, and last but not least, managerial practice. The main practical part presents three case studies, relating to mental hygiene and its application in the world of managers. Research objective is trough a semi-structured interviews with managers to identify to which extent they apply mental hygiene in personal and professional life. After the discovery of deficiencies will attempt to find concrete advice and recommendations needed to improve some of the monitored questions. Finally will be respondents collating and analyzing each other. The main contribution of this thesis is a real insight into the life of managers and the discovery of the importance and the role attributed to mental hygiene.

As políticas de educação, no Brasil e no mundo, vêm sofrendo várias modificações em um curto espaço de tempo, o que tem obrigado as IES e os docentes que nelas atuam a se adequarem a essas mudanças, muitas vezes, sem tempo hábil e estrutura de apoio para tal. Essa necessidade de adaptação às novas regras e exigências gera sobrecarga no trabalho e, quase sempre, implica em sofrimento físico, psíquico e social, interferindo na qualidade de vida desses profissionais. Nesse contexto se inserem os docentes de Enfermagem e a resiliência, constructo do qual a Enfermagem tem se aproximado mais recentemente, se apresenta como estratégia segura para o enfrentamento das pressões geradas no ambiente trabalho. Com o objetivo de levantar os indicadores de resiliência e associá-los com os domínios de qualidade de vida dos docentes de Enfermagem, propôs -se a realização de estudo quantitativo, exploratório, descritivo, de corte transversal, com docentes de enfermagem das IES inseridas na área de abrangência das Subseções do Conselho Regional de Enfermagem de Londrina e Maringá (PR). Ao todo, participaram 90 enfermeiros docentes que responderam ao Quest_Resiliência (SOBRARE) e ao WHOQOL-bref, além de um questionário com dados sócio demográficos e ocupacionais. A maioria dos docentes participantes era de mulheres, com idade média de 43 anos, casadas, com renda familiar média que variou entre R$ 4.418,00 a R$ 12.926,00. Em relação às varáveis ocupacionais, 60 docentes trabalhavam em IES públicas e 30 em IES privadas. Estavam forma dos entre 20 e 29 anos atrás, vinculados a uma única IES, contratados em regime de 40 horas semanais (TIDE). A titulação mais frequente foi a de Mestre, seguida pela de Doutor, sendo esses mais frequentes nas IES públicas. Em relação à resiliência, não for am identificadas condições de vulnerabilidade ao estresse elevado e a maioria dos participantes apresentou-se em condição de excelente resiliência (equilíbrio) ou forte resiliência com tendência ao estilo comportamental de Intolerância(PC -I) de reagir às situações de estresse elevado. A QV geral e a condição de saúde foi considerada boa (64,40%), sendo mais bem avaliados os domínios físico (72,80%) e psicológico (69,35%). Houve correlação positiva entre Resiliência (MCDs) e QV (Domínios) e o MCD Sentido da Vida apresentou correlação com todos os domínios da QV. Também foram identificadas associações entre os MCDs e os domínios de QV. / The education politics, in Brazil and throughout the world, have suffered several changes in a short space of time, what has forced College Institutions (CI s) and faculties to adapt to those changes, most of the time, without time and support structure enough for such. The need to adapt to the new rules and demands generates overload in the work and, very often, it implicates in physical, psychological and social suffering, interfering i n the quality of life of those professionals. In this context the Nursing faculty and the resilience are inserted. It comes as a safe strategy to face the pressure generated within the work environment. With the purpose of identify the resilience indicators and to associate them with the domains of quality of life of Nursing faculties, the accomplishment of a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with Nursing professors from the CIs inserted in the area of Sub-sections of the Regional Council of Nursing of Londrina and Maringá (PR) was proposed. Altogether, 90 nursing professors took part on the study answering the Quest Resilience (SOBRARE) and to WHOQOLbref, as well as a questionnaire with demographic and occupational data. Most of the participant professors were female, average 43 years old, married, with family income that varied from R$ 4,418,00 to R$ 12, 926,00. Regarding occupational variables, 60 professors worked in public CIs and 30 of them in private CIs, they graduated 20-29 years ago, worked in only one CI, and they were hired in a 40 hours/week schedule (Tenure). The most frequent title was Master, followed by Doctorate, being those more frequent in public CIs. In relation to the resilience, no conditions of vulnerability to stress were identified, and most of the participants showed excellent resilience (balance), or strong resilience with tendency to the behavior style of Intolerance (PC-I) of reacting to the situations of high stress. Their general life condition (LQ) and their health condition were considered good (64.40%), being better appraised the physical (72.80%) and psychological (69.35%) domains. There was a positive correlation among Resilience (MCDs) and LQ (Domains) and the MCD Life Sense presented correlation with all the domains of LQ. Associations between MCDs and the domains of LQ were also identified.

Os trabalhos na área de neuroimumomodulação vêm contribuindo de forma marcante para o entendimento da regulação/modulação das respostas adaptativas dos organismos frente ao estresse ou às doenças. Sabe-se que o ato de um animal conviver com outro doente leva a alterações imunes e comportamentais, assim como acontece em humanos, nos caregivers. Nos animais foi comprovado que o odor liberado pelo outro doente é a fonte de estresse para todas essas alterações neuroimunes. Estudos em camundongos fêmeas mostraram uma diminuição de imunidade inata, alteração de comportamento; redução da atividade de neutrófilos e menor resistência ao crescimento de tumores em companheiros de animais doentes. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar alterações neuroimunes em camundos machos que conviveram por 11 dias com um companheiro doente portador de um tumor ascítico de Ehrlich, e avaliar a participação do eixo Hipotálamo-Pituitária-Adrenal (HPA) e do Sistema Nervoso Autônomo Simpático (SNAS) no fenômeno observado. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que esta convivência: 1) não alterou os níveis séricos de corticosterona; 2) não modificou o peso relativo da glândula adrenal; 3) aumentou os níveis plasmáticos de adrenalina e noradrenalina; 4) diminuiu o burst oxidativo de neutrófilos induzido por PMA e por S. aureus, porém não modificou a porcentagem e a intensidade de fagocitose; 5) diminuiu a resistência ao crescimento de um tumor ascítico de Ehrlich; 6) aumentou os níveis de TNF-α, INF-γ e IL-6 após 24 horas e de TNF-α e IL-6 após 48 horas de incubação de esplenócitos com LPS; 7) não modificou o comportamento avaliado no campo aberto; 8) aumentou o turnover de noradrenalina no córtex frontal, diminuiu os níveis de noradrenalina no bulbo olfatório, diminuiu os níveis de HVA, um metabólito da dopamina, no hipotálamo e no bulbo e aumentou os níveis de serotonina e seu metabólito 5HIAA no córtex frontal; 9) não modificou a expressão IL-1, IL-6 e TNF-α no hipotálamo e no córtex frontal. Em seu conjunto, os presentes resultados mostram que a convivência de camundongos machos com portadores de um tumor ascítico de Ehrlich, o que representa aqui um estresse prolongado, embora não tenha alterado o comportamento dos machos e a atividade do eixo HPA, modificou nestes animais a atividade do SNAS, reduzindo a imunidade inata dos animais. Conclui-se então, estar o SNAS envolvido com as alterações de imunidade inata desencadeadas em camundongos machos pela convivência com um companheiro doente. / Studies in the neuroimmunomodulation area have markedly contributed to the understanding of the regulation / modulation of the organisms adaptive responses against stressors or diseases. Cohabitation with a sick cage mate leads to immune and behavioral changes, similar to those reported in humans, called caregivers. In animals, it was shown that the odor released by the tumor injected partner is pivotal for the stress response they presented and for all the neuroimmune changes reported that included: a decreased innate immunity, altered behavior such as increased levels of locomotion and decreased resistance to tumor growth. Following this line of research, the present study aimed to evaluate the possible neuroimmune changes presented by males mice that lived for 11 days with a sick cage mate, i.e., carrier of an Ehrlich ascitie tumor; a search for the pathways responsible for the observed effects was also an objective of the present work. Our results showed that cohabitation with a sick cage mate produced in male mice: 1) increased levels of plasmatic adrenaline and noradrenaline, 2) decreased neutrophil oxidative burst after PMA and S. aureus stimulatior, but no changes in the percentage and intensity of neutrophil phagocytosis, 3) decreased organic resistance to an Ehrlich tumor growth 4) increased levels of TNF-α, INF-γ and IL-6 24 hours after and TNF-α and IL-6 48 hours after splenocytes stimulation with LPS, 5) increased turnover of norepinephrine in the frontal cortex, decreased levels of norepinephrine in the olfactory bulb, reduced levels of HVA in the bulb and hypothalamus and increased levels of serotonin and its metabolite 5HIAA in the frontal cortex. Further analysis, showed no changes in: 6) serum corticosterone; 7) the relative weight of adrenal glands; 8) behavior assessed by open field, 9) IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α expression in both hypothalamus and frontal cortex. Taken together our results, showed that cohabitation with a male sick cage mate taken here as a source of a prolonged stress induced in male mice a decrease in their innate immunity, most probably thought SANS stimulation and peripheral cytokine changes. As reported for female mice, the HPA axis was also not changed in male companion of tumor injected mice. Furthermore and importantly, our data showed some neuroimmune differences between male and female responses to the condition imposed, being the males less sensible than females. Differences in hormonal status and/or in the ethological predisposition and response of male and female mice the stress of living with a sick cage mate were discussed and taken as the possible causes for the observed discrepancies.

O enriquecimento ambiental (EA) é um modelo experimental capaz de promover a melhora no aprendizado e na formação de memórias hipocampo-dependentes, bem como a redução de manifestações comportamentais relacionadas ao estresse, incluindo a ansiedade. Embora a relação causal entre estresse e ansiedade ainda não está esclarecida, algumas evidências apontem para a importância da sinalização de hormônios glicocorticoides (via receptores GR e MR) no sistema nervoso central, principalmente na amígdala e no hipocampo, além do fator neurotrófico BDNF e de algumas vias de sinalização intracelular, como proteínas quinases MAPK e o fator de transcrição CREB. No presente trabalho verificamos que o EA previne o surgimento de sintomas do tipo ansioso desencadeado por estresse agudo em ratos, efeito verificado imediatamente após o estresse, e que tal efeito pode estar relacionado à modulação, no complexo amigdalóide basolateral, da sinalização nuclear de GR, da atividade de ERK (pertencente à família das MAPK) e de CREB, bem como à alteração na expressão do receptor de BDNF. / Environmental enrichment (EE) is an experimental model that promotes improvements in learning and memory, as well as reduction in stress-induced behaviors, including anxiety. Although the casual relationship between stress and anxiety remains unclear, some studies show the importance of glucocorticoids hormones signaling (via GR and MR receptors) in the central nervous system, primarily in the amygdala and the hippocampus. In addition, the significance of the neurotrophic factor BDNF and some intracellular signaling pathways, such as protein kinases MAPK and the transcription factor CREB, has been described. In this study we found that EE prevents the emergence of anxiety-related behavior triggered by acute stress in rats, an effect observed just after the stress stimulus. This effect may be related to the modulation, in the basolateral amygdala, of nuclear GR signaling, ERK (a MAPK protein) and CREB activity, as well as to changes in the expression of BDNF receptor.