Saliva, popular for the measurement of cortisol concentrations, can be easily and painlessly obtained, so that study participants or medical patients may collect their own samples. This raises the question of whether cortisol concentrations are stable if samples are mailed unfrozen. Seventeen adult subjects (five males, 12 females, mean age=27.82, SD=7.55) participated in this study. One saliva sample from each subject was split. Half were frozen within 1 h. The other was exposed to conditions that would mimic a postal trip, including wide variations in temperature and movement over 5 days. A statistically significant positive correlation between cortisol concentration in the frozen and nonfrozen saliva samples was found (R2=0.92, p<.001). A paired t-test revealed no significant difference between samples (t(16)=1.56, n.s.). This indicates that cortisol concentrations are stable during extended periods without freezing when exposed to widely varying temperatures and movement.

Research documenting the level of work-related stress among therapy dogs is limited. This research was designed to measure salivary cortisol in working therapy dogs. Certified handler/dog (Canis lupus familiaris) teams were recruited to participate from teams currently volunteering in the Tri-Cities, Tennessee area. Male and female dogs of various sizes and breeds were recruited. Ten dogs contributed fivesaliva samples. Dogs were fasted for one hour prior to procedure. Samples were collected over a continuum of events, for comparison of salivary cortisol levels in multiple environments. Samples were collected as follows: (1) sample in the dogs’ homes, (1)sample upon arrival at the “work” place, (1) sample just prior to leaving the “work” place, (1) sample just prior to being groomed and (1) sample taken at the dogs’ regular veterinarians’ offices. This design provided 1 control sample, 2 work samples, and2 samples that may be indicative of elevated stress. It was hypothesized that: 1) Salivary cortisol concentrations will be higher in samples collected during grooming and at a veterinary clinic than in samples collected at home, and 2) Salivary cortisol concentrations will be lower in samples collected during “working” conditions than in samples collected during grooming and at a veterinary clinic. Saliva was collected by placing a Salimetrics Children’s Swab (P/N 5001.06) [dimensions 8 x 125 mm] into the dog’s mouth until saturated, or less than four minutes. After examination of the descriptive statistics of (n=10) across five different environmental conditions, it was decided that one of the cases represented an outlier and was removed from data as subsequent analysis revealed a cortisol level that was more than 23 standard deviations away from the mean. Three dogs had at least one sample with insufficient quantity of saliva for analysis, and were removed from the data. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to compare salivary cortisol levels during different environmental conditions (pre-therapy, post-therapy, home, veterinary clinic, and groomer). There was not a significant main effect for condition, Wilks’ Lambda =.299, F (9, 2) =1.17, p=.51,multivariate partial eta squared = .70. The hypotheses were not supported. This research suggests that salivary cortisol of working therapy dogs is not significantly different than home, veterinary, or grooming conditions.

Abstract available through the Developmental Psychobiology.

No description available.

Background: The effect of animal-assisted activities (AAA) on the animal participants has been minimally investigated and the welfare of these animals has been questioned. Cortisol, in conjunction with stress-associated behavior, has been utilized as an objective assessment of animal welfare. Objective: Salivary cortisol and behavior in AAA dogs were measured to test the null hypothesis that salivary cortisol concentration and behavior are not different in an AAA environment compared to home or neutral environments.  Hair cortisol was measured in AAA dogs to test the null hypothesis that there is no relationship between hair cortisol and salivary cortisol. Methods:  Fifteen healthy adult dogs registered with an AAA organization were recruited.  A hair sample was collected from each dog upon enrollment.  Saliva samples were collected from each dog every 30 minutes, starting 30 minutes prior to and 30 minutes after a standardized 60 minute session across 3 settings: an AAA session (AS) for college students in the communal area of a residence hall; a neutral session (NS) located in a novel room without interaction with a stranger; and a home session (HS).  Each session was videotaped continuously and behaviors were coded at three separate 5-minute intervals while the dog was petted by a stranger in the AS or handler in the NS and HS. Results:  Salivary cortisol levels were not different in the AS compared to HS, but were significantly higher in the NS compared to AS and HS.  Dogs exhibited significantly more standing and ambulating behavior in the AS compared to HS.  Salivary cortisol level was negatively correlated with panting and standing at specific time points in the NS and AS, respectively.  Hair cortisol level did not correlate with salivary cortisol level at any time point in any of the settings. Conclusions:  During a 60 minute AAA session, salivary cortisol concentration and stress-associated behavior were not different compared to when dogs spent the same amount of time in the home setting, suggesting that they were not stressed when being used as AAA animals. The physical environment may be an important consideration when evaluating the effect of AAA on dogs.  Hair cortisol did not correlate with salivary cortisol, suggesting that hair may not be a representative predictor of cortisol in these environments.  Additional investigation is required to support cortisol and behavior as measures of stress and welfare in AAA animals. / Master of Science

Post-exercise carbohydrate-protein consumption and tapering periods during training periodisation have been proposed as effective recovery strategies in several sports; however, limited attention has been given to judo. Apart from training and recovery, effective competition performance can also be influenced by several stimuli on the competition day, which may be manifested as distinct endocrine responses. The main objective of this thesis was to influence effective competition performance in judo, through examining strategies that can aid recovery from intense exercise/training and examining endocrine responses to competition. Three experimental studies on recovery were completed (chapters 3-5) followed by an observational study on a judo competition day (chapter 6) in elite, national level, male judo athletes. Studies 1 and 2 examined the effects 1000 ml of post-exercise chocolate milk (CM) consumption compared with water (W) following an intense judo training session (chapter 3) and five days of intense judo training with concomitant weight loss (chapter 4) on the recovery of salivary cortisol (sC), salivary testosterone (sT), salivary testosterone:cortisol (sT/C) ratio, salivary secretory IgA (SIgA) absolute concentrations and secretion rate, muscle soreness, mood state and judo-related performance. Study 1 (n=10) did not show any beneficial effects of acute CM consumption on aspects of recovery of any of the measured variables, except for a lower perception of soreness (p<0.05) and a tendency for better push-up performance (p=0.09). Study 2 (n=12) showed that post-exercise CM consumption resulted in significantly lower sC levels, a tendency for higher sT/C ratio (p=0.07), better judo-related performance, lower muscle soreness and reduced mood disturbance (p<0.05) with W. In addition, post-exercise consumption of CM resulted in a 1.1% decrease in body weight, indicating that CM is an effective recovery beverage during periods of intense judo training without affecting intentional weight loss. Study 3 (n=11) examined the effects of a 2-week exponential taper following 2 weeks of intense judo training on recovery of the aforementioned variables. Within 12 days of tapering there were evidence of enhanced performance, lower sC, higher sT and higher sT/C ratio, higher SIgA secretion rate, lower muscle soreness and reduced mood disturbance, indicating that a tapering period of ~10 days is an effective recovery strategy for optimising judo performance. Study 4 observed the responses of sC, sT, SIgA absolute concentrations and SIgA secretion rate and self-measured anxiety state in the winners (n=12) and losers (n=11) of a judo competition. Winners presented significantly higher morning sC levels and higher cognitive anxiety in anticipation of the competition, as well as a tendency for higher SIgA secretion rate (p=0.07) and significantly higher saliva flow rate mid-competition. These findings indicate that winners experienced higher arousal levels and that anticipatory sC might have some predictive value for winning performance in judo. This thesis concludes that nutrition and tapering are both important aspects of effective recovery; CM can be an effective nutritional recovery aid during periods of intense judo training and tapering for 7-12 days can optimise judo performance and can be implemented prior to competitions. In addition, elevated sC levels in anticipation of a judo competition and higher levels of arousal could have some predictive value for winning performance in judo. Further research could focus on strategies to increase levels of arousal in anticipation of competition.

PILEGGI, F.O. Análise do nível do cortisol salivar em crianças portadoras de fimose e tratadas com corticóide tópico. 2008. 60 f. Tese (Doutorado) Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 2008. O tratamento da fimose, apesar de muita controvérsia, tem como primeira escolha o uso de corticóide, topicamente e se realiza a postectomia apenas se existe falha do tratamento clínico. Os bons resultados relatados em diversos trabalhos publicados na literatura médica, desencadeou o uso indiscriminadamente, em vários ciclos, por prolongados períodos, sem orientação correta da higiene prepucial. O uso prolongado do corticóide ocasiona efeitos adversos tanto locais como sistêmicos, e a absorção desse corticóide, utilizado em pequenas dosagens, aplicado topicamente, ainda não foi bem esclarecida. Alguns trabalhos citam a ausência de efeitos adversos locais, alguns estudos mostram a absorção, mas sem estudar a supressão do eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-adrenal (H-H-A) (Kelly, Cains et al., 1991; Golubovic, Milanovic et al., 1996; Yanagisawa, Baba et al., 2000). Para analisar a absorção do corticóide, no tratamento tópico do anel fimótico, 31 crianças foram submetidas à coleta do cortisol salivar basal, às 9h, e em 10 destas crianças realizaram-se coletas às 9h e 23h, a fim de observar o ritmo circadiano e, também, para distinguir cortisol endógeno do exógeno. As dosagens do cortisol salivar variaram de 60 a 3790 ng/dl e não houve diferença (p=0,85), entre o período antes e após o tratamento, porém, apesar do teste estatístico não mostrar diferença, 2 crianças apresentaram supressão do eixo H-H-A, sugerindo que este tratamento não é inócuo. Pode-se então, concluir que o tratamento clínico da fimose, com aplicação de corticóide duas vezes ao dia, durante oito semanas é seguro, desde que a dosagem do cortisol salivar basal seja feito, para se obter um valor de referência, quando o tratamento for repetido ou prolongado por mais que duas semanas e necessitar de um controle. Palavras-chave: fimose, cortisol salivar, corticóide tópico, tratamento conservador, proprionato de clobetasol. / PILEGGI, F.O. Analysis of the level of salivary cortisol in children carryng of phimosis and treated with corticosteroid topical. 2008. 60 f. Thesis (Doctoral) Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 2008. Phimosis has always been the reason of much discussion. Currently, the use of topical steroid is a well established alternative that is indicated in great number of cases. Since good results has been showed in the literature an indiscriminate use of topical steroid has been observed with long and repeated cycles. The local absorption of low doses of topical steroid is still not well understood. Reports in the medical literature show that prolonged use of topical steroid can cause local and/or systemic adverse effects. (Kelly, Cains et al., 1991; Golubovic, Milanovic et al., 1996; Yanagisawa, Baba et al., 2000) Concerned with this, we analysed the absorption of clobetasol in the topical treatment of the phimotic ring. Thirty-one children were submitted to the dosage of salivary cortisol was done prior and after treatment at 9 oclock AM, and in 10 of these children at 9 AM and 11 PM, in order to observe the circadian rhythm and also differentiate endogenous from exogenous cortisol. Salivary cortisol values varied from 60 to 3790 ng/dl no statistical test of Wilcoxon (p=0,82). Although the values of prior and after treatment were similar we cannot state that the treatment is completely harmless due 2 children that presented dosages showing the suppression of axle hypothalamic- hypophysis- adrenal (H-H-A). In conclusion, the clinical treatment of phimosis with topical clobetasol, twice a day during 8 weeks is safe, however we suggest that dosage of cortisol should be done before and during the treatment when a prolonged treatment is proposed. Keywords: phimosis, salivary cortisol, topical corticosteroid, conservative treatment, clobetasol proprionate.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o uso de bagaço de cana como enriquecimento ambiental para suínos a partir do comportamento e respostas fisiológicas do estresse causado pelo confinamento e mudança de ambiente, na fase de creche. O projeto foi conduzido no Laboratório de Biometeorologia e Etologia, da Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos da Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga-SP, e no setor da Suinocultura da Prefeitura do Campus Administrativo Fernando Costa (PUSP-FC), entre os meses de abril e junho de 2015. Foram utilizados 66 leitões (NK75 X Naïma), machos e fêmeas desmamados aos 28 dias, separados em grupos homogêneos com relação ao peso, transferidos para baias da creche e distribuídos em dois tratamentos: Tratamento Enriquecido (TE) onde as baias foram fornecidas com cama profunda de bagaço de cana, de até 15 cm de profundidade e Tratamento Não Enriquecido (TNE) as baias foram utilizadas da forma convencional, sem cobertura no piso cimentado. Foram avaliadas diferentes respostas fisiológicas, especificamente, níveis de cortisol salivar, temperatura superficial por meio de um termómetro infravermelho e temperatura ocular a través de fotos termográficas. O comportamento dos leitões foi registrado e as análises das observações das atividades foram realizadas pelo efeito dos tratamentos e a interação do tempo. Os dados de desempenho dos animais foram analisados, igualmente como o Ganho de peso diário (GPD) e a conversão alimentar (CA). Animais que receberam enriquecimento ambiental apresentaram concentrações de cortisol mais baixas (P&LT;0,001) durante a primeira semana pós-desmama. A partir da segunda semana pós desmama até o final da fase da creche houve efeito do tratamento (P&LT;0,05), encontrando níveis de cortisol até quatro vezes mais altos para o TNE referentes aos níveis basais, enquanto o TE continua tendo níveis mais baixos (P&LT;0,05). Animais que receberam enriquecimento ambiental tiveram maior frequência em comportamentos exploratórios (P&LT;0,05) e maior atividade brincando (P&LT;0,05) durante toda a fase experimental. Leitões que foram criados em baias pobres manifestaram maior frequência em comportamentos agonísticos (P&LT;0,05) e em repouso (P&LT;0,05). A correlação entre a temperatura superficial do dorso e termografia ocular indicou uma associação moderada positiva (P&LT;0,0001) com a temperatura ocular mínima (r=0,43) e máxima (r=0,41). Apesar de não existir diferença estatística para o desempenho entre tratamentos (P&GT;0,05), o TE apresentou maior ganho de peso diário (0,47±0,015 kg.dia-1) e total (23,47±0,73 kg.dia-1). A conversão alimentar foi maior no TE (2,88±0,25), provavelmente porque os leitões precisavam de mais alimento para compensar a energia gasta pela sua atividade de fuçar e brincar. Ambientes enriquecidos durante a fase da creche melhoram o bem-estar dos animais em confinamento, diminuindo o estresse pela desmama, motivando o animal a expressar comportamentos próprios da espécie suína, tais como fuçar e explorar. / The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of sugarcane bagasse as environmental enrichment for pigs by analyzing the behavioral and physiological responses to stress caused by confinement and change of environment at the nursery phase. The project was conducted in Biometeorology and Ethology Laboratory, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga-SP, in the Swine sector of the Administrative Campus of Fernando Costa (PUSP-FC), from April to June, 2015. Sixty-six piglets (NK75 X Naïma), males and females weaned at 28 days were used in the study. the animals were separated in homogeneous groups respecting the weight, transferred to the nursery stalls and distributed into two treatments: Enriched Treatment (TE) the stalls were provided with deep bed of sugarcane bagasse, up to 15 cm deep and Enriched Treatment (TNE) the stalls were used in the conventional way, without coverage in the cemented floor. Different physiological responses were evaluated, specifically salivary cortisol levels, surface temperature by means of an infrared thermometer and temperature eyepiece through thermography images. The behavior of piglets were recorded and analysis of observations of the activities were carried out by the effect of the treatments and the interaction time. The animal performance data were analyzed also as daily weight gain (ADG) and feed conversion (CA).The animals that received environmental enrichment showed lower cortisol concentrations (P&LT;0.001) during the first post-weaning. From the second week after weaning until the end of the nursery phase, there was effect of treatment (P&LT;0.05), with four times higher cortisol levels to NET related to the baseline, and the ET for this phase continues to have lower levels (P&LT;0.05). The ones that received environmental enrichment had higher frequency in exploratory behaviors (P&LT;0.05) and playing activity (P&LT;0.05) throughout the whole experimental period. The piglets created in poor stalls had higher frequency of agonistic behavior (P&LT;0.05) and at rest (P&LT;0.05). The correlation between the dorsal\' surface temperature and ocular thermography indicated a moderate positive association (P&LT;0.0001) with the minimal eye temperature (r = 0.43) and maximum (r = 0.41). Although there is no difference statistical in performance between treatments (P&GT;0.05), ET showed higher daily gain (0,47±0,015 kg.dia-1) and total (23,47±0,73 kg.dia-1). weight. Feed conversion was higher in ET (2,88±0,25), probably because the piglets needed more food to compensate the energy used for its poke around and exploratory activities. Enriched environments during the nursery phase improve the animals\' welfare in confinement, reducing stress by weaning, prompting the animal to express specific behaviors of the species such as poke around and explore.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o uso de bagaço de cana como enriquecimento ambiental para suínos a partir do comportamento e respostas fisiológicas do estresse causado pelo confinamento e mudança de ambiente, na fase de creche. O projeto foi conduzido no Laboratório de Biometeorologia e Etologia, da Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos da Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga-SP, e no setor da Suinocultura da Prefeitura do Campus Administrativo Fernando Costa (PUSP-FC), entre os meses de abril e junho de 2015. Foram utilizados 66 leitões (NK75 X Naïma), machos e fêmeas desmamados aos 28 dias, separados em grupos homogêneos com relação ao peso, transferidos para baias da creche e distribuídos em dois tratamentos: Tratamento Enriquecido (TE) onde as baias foram fornecidas com cama profunda de bagaço de cana, de até 15 cm de profundidade e Tratamento Não Enriquecido (TNE) as baias foram utilizadas da forma convencional, sem cobertura no piso cimentado. Foram avaliadas diferentes respostas fisiológicas, especificamente, níveis de cortisol salivar, temperatura superficial por meio de um termómetro infravermelho e temperatura ocular a través de fotos termográficas. O comportamento dos leitões foi registrado e as análises das observações das atividades foram realizadas pelo efeito dos tratamentos e a interação do tempo. Os dados de desempenho dos animais foram analisados, igualmente como o Ganho de peso diário (GPD) e a conversão alimentar (CA). Animais que receberam enriquecimento ambiental apresentaram concentrações de cortisol mais baixas (P&LT;0,001) durante a primeira semana pós-desmama. A partir da segunda semana pós desmama até o final da fase da creche houve efeito do tratamento (P&LT;0,05), encontrando níveis de cortisol até quatro vezes mais altos para o TNE referentes aos níveis basais, enquanto o TE continua tendo níveis mais baixos (P&LT;0,05). Animais que receberam enriquecimento ambiental tiveram maior frequência em comportamentos exploratórios (P&LT;0,05) e maior atividade brincando (P&LT;0,05) durante toda a fase experimental. Leitões que foram criados em baias pobres manifestaram maior frequência em comportamentos agonísticos (P&LT;0,05) e em repouso (P&LT;0,05). A correlação entre a temperatura superficial do dorso e termografia ocular indicou uma associação moderada positiva (P&LT;0,0001) com a temperatura ocular mínima (r=0,43) e máxima (r=0,41). Apesar de não existir diferença estatística para o desempenho entre tratamentos (P&GT;0,05), o TE apresentou maior ganho de peso diário (0,47±0,015 kg.dia-1) e total (23,47±0,73 kg.dia-1). A conversão alimentar foi maior no TE (2,88±0,25), provavelmente porque os leitões precisavam de mais alimento para compensar a energia gasta pela sua atividade de fuçar e brincar. Ambientes enriquecidos durante a fase da creche melhoram o bem-estar dos animais em confinamento, diminuindo o estresse pela desmama, motivando o animal a expressar comportamentos próprios da espécie suína, tais como fuçar e explorar. / The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of sugarcane bagasse as environmental enrichment for pigs by analyzing the behavioral and physiological responses to stress caused by confinement and change of environment at the nursery phase. The project was conducted in Biometeorology and Ethology Laboratory, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga-SP, in the Swine sector of the Administrative Campus of Fernando Costa (PUSP-FC), from April to June, 2015. Sixty-six piglets (NK75 X Naïma), males and females weaned at 28 days were used in the study. the animals were separated in homogeneous groups respecting the weight, transferred to the nursery stalls and distributed into two treatments: Enriched Treatment (TE) the stalls were provided with deep bed of sugarcane bagasse, up to 15 cm deep and Enriched Treatment (TNE) the stalls were used in the conventional way, without coverage in the cemented floor. Different physiological responses were evaluated, specifically salivary cortisol levels, surface temperature by means of an infrared thermometer and temperature eyepiece through thermography images. The behavior of piglets were recorded and analysis of observations of the activities were carried out by the effect of the treatments and the interaction time. The animal performance data were analyzed also as daily weight gain (ADG) and feed conversion (CA).The animals that received environmental enrichment showed lower cortisol concentrations (P&LT;0.001) during the first post-weaning. From the second week after weaning until the end of the nursery phase, there was effect of treatment (P&LT;0.05), with four times higher cortisol levels to NET related to the baseline, and the ET for this phase continues to have lower levels (P&LT;0.05). The ones that received environmental enrichment had higher frequency in exploratory behaviors (P&LT;0.05) and playing activity (P&LT;0.05) throughout the whole experimental period. The piglets created in poor stalls had higher frequency of agonistic behavior (P&LT;0.05) and at rest (P&LT;0.05). The correlation between the dorsal\' surface temperature and ocular thermography indicated a moderate positive association (P&LT;0.0001) with the minimal eye temperature (r = 0.43) and maximum (r = 0.41). Although there is no difference statistical in performance between treatments (P&GT;0.05), ET showed higher daily gain (0,47±0,015 kg.dia-1) and total (23,47±0,73 kg.dia-1). weight. Feed conversion was higher in ET (2,88±0,25), probably because the piglets needed more food to compensate the energy used for its poke around and exploratory activities. Enriched environments during the nursery phase improve the animals\' welfare in confinement, reducing stress by weaning, prompting the animal to express specific behaviors of the species such as poke around and explore.

<p>This is to my knowledge the first time a ten-year follow-up study of salivary cortisol concentrations measured by immunoassays in relation to posttraumatic symptoms according to the Impact of Event Scale (IES) is made. The study was performed on 78 Swedish UN soldiers after a 6-months mission in the former republic of Yugoslavia. Follow-up investigations were performed six months, twelve months and ten years after their return to Sweden. Morning and evening salivary cortisol concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) and subjective posttraumatic avoidance and intrusion symptoms were measured with the IES (see Appendix I).</p><p> </p><p>This study concerns the methodological description of the EIA for determination of salivary cortisol and the comparison of the results from all three follow-up investigations. Post-traumatic stress symptoms according to IES (intrusion subscale and total score) increased significantly over ten years of time. There was an significant interrelationship between the change in both morning and evening salivary cortisol concentrations, measured with immunoassays, and changes in self-rated posttraumatic intrusive symptoms, according to IES, during ten years follow-up, after a six months mission in Bosnia in the way that salivary cortisol concentrations showed a tendency to decrease over ten years of time in subjects with a higher IES score. The rise in morning salivary cortisol, from awakening until 30 minutes later, was significantly correlated with the ratings of posttraumatic stress symptoms according to the IES ten years after the mission.   </p>