Decreased stress resilience in young men significantly increases the risk of subsequent peptic ulcer disease - a prospective study of 233 093 men in Sweden

Dose-dependent protective effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG against stress-induced ulcer

BACKGROUND

Stress-related diseases are on the rise and stress is one of the common factors that lead to ulcer. Stress-induced mucosal bleeding is a serious complication observed in many critically ill patients. Due to the harmful side effects of proton pump inhibitors, natural and active alternative treatment methods for peptic ulcer treatment that are safe in terms of side effects are an urgent need for human health. We aimed to investigate the dose-dependent protective effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) against stress ulcer induced by cold restraint stress in rats. This study was performed in a total of 42 rats, in control group (C), stress group (S), pantoprazole (20 mg kg-1 day-1) group (P), LGG (3 × 108 cfu mL-1 day-1) + stress group (M1), LGG (15 × 108  mL-1 day-1) + stress group (M5) and LGG (30 × 108  mL-1 day-1) + stress group (M10) (each n = 7). Ulceration areas (mm2) were determined quantitatively with ImageJ software. Glucocorticoid, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were determined by ELISA and malondialdehyde levels were determined by spectrophotometric measurement. Histopathological examinations were performed in gastric tissue.

RESULTS

Therapeutic dose of LGG increased CAT, SOD and GPx levels; prevented excessive activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; reduced ulceration and bleeding in the gastric mucosal layer; and provided stabilization of mast cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We can suggest that LGG may be beneficial for reducing the negative effects of stress on the body, for protecting against ulcer disease and for reducing or preventing the risk of stress-induced gastrointestinal bleeding in patients staying in intensive care units. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The dual gastro- and neuroprotective effects of curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles against cold restraint stress in rats

Stress is a condition affecting different body systems. Curcumin (CUR) is a natural compound that has various pharmacological benefits. However, its poor oral bioavailability limits its therapeutic value. This study aimed to formulating curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CS.CUR.NPs) and investigate its gastroprotective and neuroprotective effects in rats subjected to cold restraint stress (CRS), in reference to conventional oral CUR preparation, and explore its underlying mechanism. Treated groups received either CUR or CS.CUR.NPs (100 mg∕kg) orally for 14 days before exposure to CRS. CRS elicited marked behavioral changes and gastric ulcer accompanied by histopathological abnormalities of the brain and stomach along with elevation of pain score. CUR and CS.CUR.NPs improved stress-induced gastric ulcer, cognitive performance, and pain sensation. Mechanistically, CRS disrupts oxidative and inflammatory status of the brain as manifested by high malondialdehyde and IL-6 and low total antioxidant capacity and IL-10, along with high C-reactive protein level. CRS decreased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor2 (Nrf2) and increased nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) expressions. Furthermore, brain levels of unphosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (U-STAT3) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were upregulated with stress. CUR and CS.CUR.NPs provided beneficial effects against harmful consequences resulting from stress with superior beneficial effects reported with CS.CUR.NPs. In conclusion, these findings shed light on the neuroprotective effect of CUR and CS.CUR.NPs against stress-induced neurobehavioral and neurochemical deficits and protection against stress-associated gastric ulcer. Moreover, we explored a potential crosslink between neuroinflammation, U-STAT3, NF-κB, and GFAP in brain dysfunction resulted from CRS.

Association of Psychological Resilience with All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in a General Population in Italy: Prospective Findings from the Moli-Sani Study

Psychological resilience (PR) is the capacity to adapt positively in face of adversity. Its role as an independent protective factor has been acknowledged in recent years. We aimed to test the association of PR with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in a general adult population. We performed longitudinal analyses on 10,406 CVD-free individuals from the Moli-Sani cohort (follow up = 11.2 year). PR was assessed by the 25-item Connor and Davidson resilience scale. PR factors were identified through polychoric factor analysis. Associations with mortality were tested using multivariable Cox regressions. Higher levels of PR were associated with reduced all-cause mortality in a model including sex and age (HR = 0.78; 95%CI 0.62-1.00). The association decreased after inclusion of socioeconomic, clinical, and behavioral factors into the model (HR = 0.80; 95%CI 0.62-1.03). No relation was observed with cardiovascular mortality in the fully adjusted model (HR = 0.89; 95%CI 0.56-1.39). An inverse association of Factor 1 (reflecting positive acceptance of change) with all-cause mortality (HR = 0.89; 95%CI 0.82-0.98; p value = 0.01) was found. However, at a borderline non-significant way, PR predicts all-cause mortality in a general population of Italian adults. This is supported by the findings demonstrating a significant association between the PR's domain reflecting a positive acceptance of change and all-cause mortality.

Activating Transcription Factor 3 Protects against Restraint Stress-Induced Gastrointestinal Injury in Mice

Psychological stress increases the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases, which involve bidirectional communication of the GI and nerves systems. Acute stress leads to GI ulcers; however, the mechanism of the native cellular protection pathway, which safeguards tissue integrality and maintains GI homeostasis, remains to be investigated. In a mouse model of this study, restraint stress induced GI leakage, abnormal tight junction protein expression, and cell death of gut epithelial cells. The expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a stress-responsive transcription factor, is upregulated in the GI tissues of stressed animals. ATF3-deficient mice displayed an exacerbated phenotype of GI injuries. These results suggested that, in response to stress, ATF3 is part of the native cellular protective pathway in the GI system, which could be a molecular target for managing psychological stress-induced GI tract diseases.

Sex, drugs, risk and resilience: analysis of data from the Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study

Background

Risk-taking behaviour among adolescents, particularly those experiencing childhood adversities, can predispose to injury, unwanted pregnancy, long-term morbidity and death. Resilience, i.e. adapting to threats and thriving, has rarely been examined as a protective factor for adolescent risk-taking. We studied whether the malleable traits of empathy, confidence, self-control and optimism, all markers of resilience, align with decreased risk-taking despite adversity, among 11-15 year olds.

Methods

From responses of 22 643 Canadian youth to the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (2014) survey we validated a five-item resilience scale. Using regression analyses, this scale and a single measure of self-control were considered as potential protective factors for a composite measure of risk-taking behaviour and of initiation of sexual activity before age 14.

Results

There was a dose-dependent association between greater resilience and diminished risk-taking for boys and, even more so, among girls. This relationship remained significant after controlling for family and social support, implying that greater resilience may override the detrimental impact of childhood adversity on risk-taking. The least resilient youth were most likely to report early sexual activity, although this relationship was not linear. Generally, the impact of self-control on risk-taking was not statistically significant, perhaps because of shortcomings of the self-control indicator.

Conclusion

Brief screening protocols can identify assets that protect against risk-taking behaviours among adolescents. The malleable nature of these traits offers primary care providers and public health personnel a novel and effective route to decreasing adolescent risk-taking and fostering future health.

Atopic dermatitis, educational attainment and psychological functioning: a national cohort study

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis (AD) might adversely affect academic performance, possibly through influences on psychological functioning such as stress resilience.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association of atopic dermatitis with stress resilience, cognitive function and educational attainment.

METHODS

We used data from a national cohort of men who underwent a military conscription examination at ages 17-20 years in Sweden between 1969 and 1976. All potential conscripts met a physician who assessed current or previous history of AD. Stress resilience was measured by a psychologist using a semistructured interview. The conscription assessment included a written cognitive function test. The highest level of education achieved was identified through record linkage.

RESULTS

The study population included 234 715 men, 1673 (0·7%) of whom had a diagnosis of AD. AD was associated with a greater risk of low stress resilience [adjusted relative risk ratio (RRR) 1·60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·38-1·86]. AD was associated with higher cognitive function (β-coefficient 0·15, 95% CI 0·05-0·24) and higher educational level (RRR 1·29, 95% CI 1·13-1·47). However, adjustment for socioeconomic characteristics of the family of origin attenuated the magnitude of the associations and eliminated the statistical significance (β-coefficient 0·06, 95% CI -0·03 to 0·15; RRR 1·16, 95% CI 1·00-1·35).

CONCLUSIONS

Swedish men with AD had lower stress resilience in late adolescence but did not have lower cognitive function or poorer educational attainment. The lower stress resilience associated with AD is consistent with an increased risk of possible long-term adverse health outcomes.

Stress Resilience in Late Adolescence and Survival among Cancer Patients: A Swedish Register-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Chronic stress has been suggested to play a role in cancer progression, but few studies have so far examined the potential influence of stress susceptibility. This national register-based cohort study utilizes a unique data source to investigate whether a stress resilience measure is associated with survival in cancer patients.

METHODS

The cohort includes 9,318 Swedish male cancer patients born during 1952 to 1956 who had their stress resilience evaluated at a semistructured interview with a psychologist during mandatory conscription examination in late adolescence.

RESULTS

Over a median of 3 years of follow-up from cancer diagnosis, a total of 2,541 patients died (2,322 from cancer). Overall, low (23%) compared with high (25%) stress resilience was associated with increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio estimated by Cox regression 1.45; 95% confidence interval 1.28-1.65), particularly among men with carcinomas of the oropharynx (2.62, 1.24-5.56), upper respiratory tract (4.64, 1.05-20.41), and prostate (2.20, 1.04-4.62), as well as with Hodgkin lymphoma (3.52, 1.40-8.86). An association was evident for both cancer types associated with smoking (1.35, 1.10-1.66) and malignancies without an established smoking etiology (1.32, 1.12-1.56). The association between low stress resilience and mortality could partly be explained by tumor stage, marital status, and psychiatric comorbidity at cancer diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed an association between low stress resilience and mortality among men diagnosed with cancer, particularly oropharyngeal cancer, upper respiratory tract cancers, prostate cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma.

IMPACT

These results suggest that individual variation in stress resilience may influence survival among men with some cancer types.

Resilience to stress and risk of gastrointestinal infections

Background

Exposure to psychological stress can elicit a physiological response that may influence characteristics of the gastrointestinal mucosa, including increased intestinal permeability, in turn possibly increasing susceptibility to gastrointestinal infections. We investigated whether low stress resilience in adolescence is associated with an 'increased' risk of gastrointestinal infections in subsequent adulthood.

Methods

Data were provided by Swedish registers for a cohort of 237 577 men who underwent military conscription assessment in late adolescence (1969-76). As part of the assessment procedure, certified psychologists evaluated stress resilience through semi-structured interviews. The cohort was followed from conscription assessment until 31 December 2009 (up to age 57 years). Cox regression assessed the association of stress resilience with gastrointestinal infections (n = 5532), with adjustment for family background measures in childhood and characteristics in adolescence. Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in adulthood was modelled as a time-dependent covariate.

Results

Compared with high stress resilience, lower stress resilience was associated with a 'reduced' risk of gastrointestinal infections after adjustment for family background in childhood, characteristics in adolescence and PUD in adulthood, with hazard ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) of 0.88 (0.81-0.97) and 0.83 (0.77-0.88) for low and moderate stress resilience, respectively.

Conclusion

Lower stress resilience in adolescence is associated with reduced risk of gastrointestinal infections in adulthood, rather than the hypothesized increased risk.

An investigation into psychological stress and its determinants in Xinjiang desert oil workers

The present study aims to investigate psychological stress and its determinants in Xinjiang field oil workers. Specifically, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms underlying psychological stress by comprehensively and quantitatively evaluating the processes involved in psychological stress, the factors which influence it, and their relationship.The participants were 1200 field oil workers in Xinjiang who had been in service for at least 1 year. A structural equation model based on data from the symptom checklist, social support research scale, personality questionnaire, occupational burnout questionnaire, and occupational stress questionnaire was constructed to investigate the social (environmental) factors that influence physiological stress and the interplay among these factors.The positive incidence of psychological stress in the field oil workers in Xinjiang was 12.54%. The structural equation model indicated that the main factors that influenced psychological stress in these workers included social support (0.077), occupational role (0.165), personal strain response (0.139), personality (0.189), and occupational burnout (0.380). Among these factors, occupational role, personality, and occupational burnout had a relatively strong predictive power for psychological stress reactions. The cortisol level in workers with positive psychological stress was significantly higher than that in workers with negative psychological stress.Occupational stress, personality, and occupational burnout exert an impact on psychological stress in field oil workers. Therefore, interventions to address these factors should be taken to reduce the incidence of psychological stress.

Association of Late Adolescent Personality With Risk for Subsequent Serious Mental Illness Among Men in a Swedish Nationwide Cohort Study

IMPORTANCE

Understanding of personality as an independent risk factor for serious mental illness (SMI) remains limited. Recently, overlap between the polygenic basis for specific personality traits and specific SMIs has been identified.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association of the adolescent personality domains of social maturity, mental energy, and emotional stability with later diagnosis of SMI.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This longitudinal cohort study enrolled Swedish male military conscripts aged 18 or 19 years from January 1, 1974, through December 31, 1997. The diagnosis of an SMI was extracted from the National Patient Register for all inpatient treatment episodes in Sweden from January 1, 1974, through December 31, 2011. Data were analyzed from May 3 to September 16, 2016.

EXPOSURES

Social maturity, mental energy, and emotional stability assessed at conscription interview.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Inpatient diagnoses of bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, and other nonaffective psychoses occurring until December 31, 2011.

RESULTS

Of the 1 017 691 men included in the cohort, 4310 developed bipolar disorder; 784, schizoaffective disorder; 4823, schizophrenia; and 5013, other nonaffective psychoses. After adjustment, with use of mean scores as a reference, low social maturity (hazard ratio [HR], 1.61; 95% CI, 1.48-1.74), low mental energy (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24-1.44), and low emotional stability (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.40-1.63) were inversely associated with schizophrenia in a dose-dependent fashion. Other nonaffective psychoses displayed a similar pattern. Bipolar disorder was associated with high (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09-1.35) and low (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.25) social maturity and low emotional stability (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.46-1.78). Schizoaffective disorder was associated with low emotional stability (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.26-1.85).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Emotional stability is inversely associated with all SMI. Bipolar disorder has a unique U-shaped association with social maturity. Premorbid personality may reflect subtle changes in cerebral function, may combine with symptoms and other neurocognitive deficits to influence illness presentation, and/or may be owing to shared genetic architecture.

Stress resilience and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a cohort study of men living in Sweden

OBJECTIVE

To determine if low psychosocial stress resilience in adolescence (increasing chronic stress arousal throughout life) is associated with an increased inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) risk in adulthood. Subclinical Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) can exist over many years and we hypothesise that psychosocial stress may result in conversion to symptomatic disease through its proinflammatory or barrier function effects.

DESIGN

National register-based cohort study of men followed from late adolescence to middle age.

SETTING

A general population cohort of men in Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Swedish population-based registers provided information on all men born between 1952 and 1956 who underwent mandatory Swedish military conscription assessment (n=239 591). Men with any gastrointestinal diagnoses (except appendicitis) prior to follow-up were excluded.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

An inpatient or outpatient diagnosis of CD or UC recorded in the Swedish Patient Register (1970-2009).

RESULTS

A total of 938 men received a diagnosis of CD and 1799 UC. Lower stress resilience in adolescence was associated with increased IBD risk, with unadjusted HRs (95% CIs) of 1.54 (1.26 to 1.88) and 1.24 (1.08 to 1.42), for CD and UC, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, including markers of subclinical disease activity in adolescence, they are 1.39 (1.13 to 1.71) and 1.19 (1.03 to 1.37).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower stress resilience may increase the risk of diagnosis of IBD in adulthood, possibly through an influence on inflammation or barrier function.

Perceived stress as a risk factor for peptic ulcers: a register-based cohort study

Background

The association between stress and peptic ulcers has been questioned since the discovery of helicobacter pylori. This study examined whether high perceived everyday life stress was associated with an increased risk of either receiving a triple treatment or being diagnosed with a peptic ulcer.

Methods

Cohen’s perceived stress scale measured the level of stress in a general health survey in 2010 of 17,525 residents of northern Jutland, Denmark, and was linked with National Danish registers on prescription drugs and hospital diagnoses. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate the risk of either receiving a triple treatment or being diagnosed in a hospital with a peptic ulcer, in relation to quintiles of stress levels.

Results

A total of 121 peptic ulcer incidents were recorded within 33 months of follow-up. The lowest stress group had a cumulative incidence proportion of either receiving triple treatment or being diagnosed with peptic ulcer of approximately 0.4%, whereas the highest stress group had a cumulative incidence proportion of approximately 1.2%. Compared with that of the lowest stress group, those in the highest stress group had a 2.2-fold increase in risk of either receiving triple treatment or being diagnosed with peptic ulcer (HR 2.24; CI 95% 1.16:4.35) after adjustment for age, gender, socioeconomic status, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug use, former ulcer and health behaviours. There was no difference in risk between the four least stressed quintiles. Subgroup analysis of diagnosed peptic ulcer patients revealed the same pattern as the main analysis, although the results were not significant.

Conclusion

The highest level of perceived everyday life stress raised the risk of either receiving triple treatment or being diagnosed with peptic ulcer during the following 33 months more than twice compared with that of the lowest level of perceived stress.

Stress resilience and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes in 1.5 million young men

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Psychosocial stress in adulthood is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, possibly mediated by behavioural and physiological factors. However, it is unknown whether low stress resilience earlier in life is related to subsequent development of type 2 diabetes. We examined whether low stress resilience in late adolescence is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

METHODS

We conducted a national cohort study of all 1,534,425 military conscripts in Sweden during 1969-1997 (97-98% of all 18-year-old men nationwide each year) without prior diagnosis of diabetes, who underwent standardised psychological assessment for stress resilience (on a scale of 1-9) and were followed up for type 2 diabetes identified from outpatient and inpatient diagnoses during 1987-2012 (maximum attained age 62 years).

RESULTS

There were 34,008 men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 39.4 million person-years of follow-up. Low stress resilience was associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes after adjusting for BMI, family history of diabetes, and individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic factors (HR for lowest vs highest quintile: 1.51; 95% CI 1.46, 1.57; p < 0.0001), including a strong linear trend across the full range of stress resilience (p trend < 0.0001). This association did not vary by BMI level, family history of diabetes or socioeconomic factors.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

These findings suggest that low stress resilience may play an important long-term role in aetiological pathways for type 2 diabetes. Further elucidation of the underlying causal factors may help inform more effective preventive interventions across the lifespan.

Aggravation of Helicobacter pylori stomach infections in stressed military recruits

Objective

To investigate the effect of military stress on immune response and Helicobacter pylori stomach infections.

Methods

In this prospective, observational study, the Symptom Checklist-90 questionnaire was completed by military recruits before and following a 3-month basic training programme. H. pylori immunoglobulin (Ig)G levels, C¹⁴-urea breath-test values and levels of cortisol, catecholamine, and certain humoral and cellular immune responses were measured before and after the basic training.

Results

For 60 military recruits, somatization, depression and paranoid ideation scores were significantly increased after, compared with before, basic training. Post-training H. pylori IgG detection revealed three additional cases of H. pylori infection. Post-training C¹⁴-urea breath-test values were significantly higher compared with before training – thus suggesting higher levels of H. pylori colonization in the stomach. Post-training cortisol and catecholamine levels were increased, while serum IgG levels were decreased; complement component (C)3 and C4 levels remained unchanged. Post-training CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell percentages and the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were significantly reduced compared with before training. Serum interleukin (IL)-2 levels were lower and IL-10 levels were higher following training and there was a significant decrease in the IL-2/IL-10 ratio.

Conclusion

Military stress may reduce humoral and cellular immune responses and may aggravate the severity of H. pylori infection.

Environmental control of microRNAs in the nervous system: Implications in plasticity and behavior

The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) a little over 20 years ago was revolutionary given that miRNAs are essential to numerous physiological and physiopathological processes. Currently, several aspects of the biogenic process of miRNAs and of the translational repression mechanism exerted on their targets mRNAs are known in detail. In fact, the development of bioinformatics tools for predicting miRNA targets has established that miRNAs have the potential to regulate almost all known biological processes. Therefore, the identification of the signals and molecular mechanisms that regulate miRNA function is relevant to understanding the role of miRNAs in both pathological and adaptive processes. Recently, a series of studies has focused on miRNA expression in the brain, establishing that their levels are altered in response to various environmental factors (EFs), such as light, sound, odorants, nutrients, drugs and stress. In this review, we discuss how exposure to various EFs modulates the expression and function of several miRNAs in the nervous system and how this control determines adaptation to their environment, behavior and disease state.

Stress resilience in adolescence and subsequent antidepressant and anxiolytic medication in middle aged men: Swedish cohort study

It is unclear whether psychological resilience to stress in adolescence represents a persistent characteristic relevant to the subsequent risk for depression and anxiety in later adulthood. We aimed to test whether low psychological stress resilience assessed in adolescence is associated with an increased risk of receiving medication for depression and anxiety in middle age. We utilized Swedish register-based cohort study. Men born between 1952 and 1956 (n = 175,699), who underwent compulsory assessment for military conscription in late adolescence were followed to examine subsequent risk of pharmaceutically-treated depression and anxiety in middle age, from 2006 to 2009 corresponding to ages between 50 and 58 years, using Cox regression. The associations of stress resilience with prescription of antidepressant and anxiolytics medication through potential mediating factors cognitive and physical function and adult socioeconomic factors were calculated. Low stress resilience was associated with elevated risks for antidepressant (hazard ratio (HR):1.5 (95% CI 1.4 1.6)) and anxiolytics (HR:2.4 (CI 2.0 2.7)) medication. Adjustment for measures of childhood living circumstances attenuated the associations somewhat. Around a third of association with low stress resilience, and a half of that with moderate resilience, was mediated through cognitive and physical function in adolescence and adult socioeconomic factors. The magnitude of the inverse association of higher cognitive function with antidepressant medication was eliminated among those with low stress resilience. These results indicate that low stress resilience in adolescence is associated with an increased risk for antidepressant and anxiolytics medication over 30 years later, in part mediated through developmental factors in adolescence and socioeconomic circumstances in adulthood, and low stress resilience can diminish or eliminate the inverse association of higher cognitive function with antidepressant medication.