Modulation of immune response to rDNA hepatitis B vaccination by psychological stress

In a previous study it was shown that antibody formation after vaccination with a low-dose recombinant DNA (rDNA) hepatitis B vaccine was negatively influenced by psychological stress. The present study was designed to assess whether the same inverse relation between HBs-antibody levels and psychological stress could be observed, while administering the standard, and thus higher, dose of vaccine. Volunteers (n = 68) scoring extremely low or high on a combination of questionnaires measuring daily problems and psychoneurotic symptoms were selected for participation. Antibody levels were determined 2, 6, and 7 months after the first vaccination. Questionnaires were completed before entering the study and at month 6. In contrast to the previous study, psychological stress was not found to be related to the antibody levels at any timepoint. These results suggest that, under certain conditions, stress-induced immunomodulation in vivo might be dependent on antigen dose

Crying without tears: Dimensions of crying and relations with ocular dryness and mental well-being in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

This study examined dimensions of crying and its relations with ocular dryness and mental well-being in patients with Sjo¨gren’s syndrome, a systemic autoimmune disease with dryness as primary symptom. Three-hundred patients with Sjo¨gren’s syndrome completed questionnaires on crying, dryness, and well-being. The crying questionnaire revealed four dimensions: ‘‘Cryability’’ (comprising both crying sensibility and ability to cry), Somatic consequences, Frustration, and Suppression. Compared to 100 demographically-matched control participants from the general population, patients scored low on Cryability and high on Somatic consequences and Frustration. The crying dimensions generally showed significant but weak associations with ocular dryness and mental well-being in patients. This is the first quantitative study indicating that crying problems are more common in patients with Sjo¨gren’s syndrome than in the general population. Perhaps, patients who experience problems with crying could be helped to rely on other ways of expressing emotions than crying in tear-inducing situations