Psychophysiological response to social stressors : relevance of sex and age

Understanding the factors involved in the psychophysiological response of people in acute stressful situations is crucial to the prevention and treatment of stress-related health problems. We aim to integrate the results of studies investigating the role of sex and age in the inter-individual variability in several biomarkers of the stress response Methods: We summarize the main findings of our research group and other laboratories regarding sex and age-related differences in the psychophysiological response to psychosocial stress. Results: Sexrelated differences in the stress response are observed in blood pressure and cortisol, but not in heart rate, heart rate variability, or salivary alphaamylase. Additionally, age may explain differences in cortisol levels and basal sympathetic nervous system activity. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of taking sex and age into account in order to understand the stress response and its possible negative effects on health. Antecedentes: entender los factores involucrados en la respuesta psicofisiológica ante situaciones de estrés agudo es crucial para prevenir y tratar problemas de salud relacionados con el estrés. El objetivo es integrar los resultados de estudios en humanos relacionados con el papel del sexo y la edad en las diferencias individuales en la respuesta de estrés en diferentes biomarcadores. Metodología: se integran los principales resultados de nuestro grupo de investigación y de otros laboratorios centrados en las diferencias debidas al sexo y la edad en la respuesta psicofisiológica a situaciones de estrés psicosocial. Resultados: se observan diferencias en la respuesta de estrés entre hombres y mujeres en presión sanguínea y en niveles de cortisol, pero no en frecuencia cardíaca, variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca y alfa-amilasa. Además, la edad influye en los niveles de cortisol y en la actividad basal del sistema nervioso simpático. Conclusiones: los resultados ponen de manifiesto la importancia de tener en cuenta el sexo y la edad de los participantes para poder entender la respuesta de estrés y sus posibles efectos en salud

Evaluación formal de blogs con contenidos académicos y de investigación en el área de Documentación

Weblogs –or blogs– are tools for editing and publishing any kind of contents in the Internet, in an easy and fast way. The research and academic community has taken advantage of these characteristics to interchange ideas and information, converting blogs in a new communication channel to disseminate and discuss new scientific advances. However, as it occurs in other traditional means of scientific communication, it seems positive to establish some quality criteria to determine the capabilities of a blog to be considered a reliable way to interchange scientific ideas. In this article formal quality aspects are analysed, not taking into account, in this first approach, the quality of contents

Rad-hard vertical JFET switch for the HV-MUX system of the ATLAS upgrade Inner Tracker

This work presents a new silicon vertical JFET (V-JFET) device, based on the trenched 3D-detector technology developed at IMB-CNM, to be used as switches for the High-Voltage powering scheme of the ATLAS upgrade Inner Tracker. The optimization of the device characteristics is performed by 2D and 3D TCAD simulations. Special attention has been paid to the on-resistance and the switch-off and breakdown voltages to meet the specific requirements of the system. In addition, a set of parameter values has been extracted from the simulated curves to implement a SPICE model of the proposed V-JFET transistor. As these devices are expected to operate under very high radiation conditions during the whole experiment life-time, a study of the radiation damage effects and the expected degradation on the device performance is also presented at the end of the paper.Comment: KEYWORDS: Radiation-hard electronics; Voltage distributions; Large detector systems for particle and astroparticle physics. 9 Pages, 7 Figure

Importance of personality for objective and subjective-physical health in older men and women

Objective and subjective health generally have a positive relationship, although their association may be moderated by factors such as gender and personality. We aimed to analyze the association between personality and objective (metabolic syndrome (MetS)) and subjective-physical health in older men and women. For this purpose, in 138 participants (53.6% women, Mage = 66.85), neuroticism, conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and agreeableness (NEO Five Factor Inventory), subjective-physical health (Short Form Health Survey, SF-36), and MetS (employing waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin) were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze whether personality was associated with MetS. Moreover, hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to analyze the relationship between personality or MetS, and subjective-physical health. Finally, gender and personality moderation analyses were performed with PROCESS. Results showed that higher neuroticism was associated with an increased likelihood of MetS, whereas higher neuroticism and lower extraversion were associated with lower subjective-physical health. Moreover, the negative relationship between MetS and subjective-physical health was stronger in individuals with low conscientiousness. Regarding gender differences, only in women, higher extraversion was related to a decreased likelihood of MetS, and MetS was related to lower subjective-physical health. In conclusion, higher neuroticism is the main vulnerability health factor, whereas to a lesser extent extraversion and conscientiousness are protective factors. Furthermore, the association between objective and subjective health is not direct, but it may vary depending on personality and gender

Personality and Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis in Older Men and Women

Personality has been related to health and mortality risk, which has created interest in the biological pathways that could explain this relationship. Although a dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis has been associated with health outcomes and aging, few studies have explored the association between personality and HPA axis functioning in older adults. In addition, it has been suggested that sex could moderate the relationship between personality and HPA axis functioning. Thus, our aim was to analyze the relationship between the big five personality traits and the diurnal cortisol pattern in older adults, as well as sex differences in this relationship. To do so, 79 older people (40 men and 39 women) from 59 to 81 years old (M = 69.19, SD = 4.60) completed the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (FFI) to measure neuroticism, conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and agreeableness. Saliva samples were provided on three consecutive days (awakening; 15, 30, and 45 min post-awakening; and bedtime) in order to analyze the diurnal cortisol pattern and, specifically, two cortisol indexes: the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and the diurnal cortisol slope (DCS). Results showed that neuroticism and conscientiousness moderated the diurnal cortisol pattern. Thus, individuals with higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness scores showed higher bedtime cortisol levels, suggesting a less healthy diurnal cortisol pattern. Regarding the cortisol indexes, higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness were related to greater CAR and DCS. Sex moderated the association between extraversion and the DCS. Specifically, higher extraversion was related to a lower DCS only in women. Openness and agreeableness were not related to the diurnal cortisol pattern. In conclusion, our results show that in older adults, neuroticism is a vulnerability factor for HPA axis dysregulation, with possible adverse effects on health. By contrast, conscientiousness, and extraversion only in women, appear to be protective factors of HPA axis functioning, with potential beneficial effects on health

Post-encoding stress does not enhance memory consolidation: The role of cortisol and testosterone reactivity

In contrast to the large body of research on the effects of stress-induced cortisol on memory consolidation in young people, far less attention has been devoted to understanding the effects of stress-induced testosterone on this memory phase. This study examined the psychobiological (i.e., anxiety, cortisol, and testosterone) response to the Maastricht Acute Stress Test and its impact on free recall and recognition for emotional and neutral material. Thirty-seven healthy young men and women were exposed to a stress (MAST) or control task post-encoding, and 24 h later, they had to recall the material previously learned. Results indicated that the MAST increased anxiety and cortisol levels, but it did not significantly change the testosterone levels. Post-encoding MAST did not affect memory consolidation for emotional and neutral pictures. Interestingly, however, cortisol reactivity was negatively related to free recall for negative low-arousal pictures, whereas testosterone reactivity was positively related to free recall for negative-high arousal and total pictures. This study provides preliminary evidence about a different reactivity of testosterone and cortisol to the MAST as well as on their effects on consolidation. Our results suggest a different pattern of relationships between these steroid hormones and the arousal of the negative images

Acute psychosocial stress effects on memory performance : relevance of age and sex

In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in investigating the effects of chronic and acute stress on cognitive processes, especially memory performance. However, research focusing on acute stress effects has reported contradictory findings, probably due to the many factors that can moderate this relationship. In addition to factors related to the individual, such as sex and age, other factors, such as the type of memory assessed, can play a critical role in the direction of these effects. This review summarizes the main findings of our research group and others about the effects of acute psychosocial stress on memory performance in young and older people of both sexes, taking into account the type and phase of memory assessed. In our opinion, an approach that addresses individual factors and other factors related to the type of stressor and temporal relationship between exposure to the stressor and performance will contribute to better understanding the mechanisms underlying the complex relationship between acute stress and memory. Finally, some new directions for future studies on this research topic are suggested

Inglés

The purpose of this study is to examine how online reviews from other users in a tourism service website generate emotions and cognitions that contribute to the formation of the image of a tourism service. We used a real website of a rural destination as a tourism service. We tested the proposed conceptual model using structural equation modeling. Our results show a correspondence between consumers’ thoughts and the cognitive dimension of image, as well as between the emotions expressed by subjects and the affective dimension of image. Results confirm that the image of a tourism service is an important predictor of tourism service preferences. This overall image influences consumers' future intentions, not only to buy the service but also to recommend it to other consumers. In summary, we propose and test a model that shows how online reviews significantly influence image formation and subsequent consumer behaviors. To date, little is known about to what extent online reviews are useful to generate cognitive and emotional responses in potential tourists. Consequently, understanding its role in a tourist's decision making process, and assessing the relationships between utility of online reviews, emotions, cognitions and image towards the tourism service will make both scientific and practical contributions. While contributing to the body of knowledge on image formation process, our results are also relevant for public administrations and tourism marketing managers

Enfermedad Renal Crónica

La génesis de las Enfermedades Crónicas No Transmisibles (ECTN), se encuentra asociada a factores de riesgo relacionados con estilos de vida nocivos para la salud. Las (ECNT) son un problema nacional e internacional de Salud Pública que afecta a la mayoría de naciones pero tiene un impacto muy importante sobre las poblaciones en situación de vulnerabilidad económica y social y actualmente son la principal causa de morbi-mortalidad a nivel mundial. La preponderancia adquirida por estos eventos y las opciones concretas para su prevención, las definen como prioritarias, e indican que se deben adelantar acciones para enfrentarlas. De acuerdo a la OMS, alrededor del 80% de todas las ECNT ocurren en países de bajos y medianos ingresos donde vive la mayoría de la población de todo el mundo. Estas generan o empeoran las condiciones de pobreza afectando el desarrollo económico y el bienestar de cualquier nación. Sin embargo, existe un importante conocimiento científico que permite prevenir y controlar estas enfermedades, a través de respuestas costo-efectivas. En su conjunto son responsables de más del 60% de las muertes, 80% de las cuales ocurren en países de bajos y medianos ingresos. Las principales ECNT son la diabetes, las enfermedades cardiovasculares, el cáncer, las enfermedades respiratorias crónicas y la enfermedad renal, y se caracterizan por compartir los mismos factores de riesgo: Tabaquismo, Mala alimentación, Falta de Actividad Física y Consumo excesivo de alcohol. (MSAL., s.f.). La Enfermedad Renal Crónica (ERC) o Insuficiencia Renal Crónica (ICR) se define como la pérdida progresiva, generalmente irreversible, de la tasa de filtración glomerular que se traduce en un conjunto de síntomas y signos, denominado uremia y que en su estadio terminal es incompatible con la vida. La insuficiencia renal crónica es un problema de Salud Pública a nivel mundial, el número de pacientes se viene incrementando tanto en países desarrollados como en desarrollo. Como consecuencia cada vez es mayor la necesidad de recurrir a procedimientos de diálisis y/o transplante renal y por lo tanto se incrementa progresivamente el costo de atención. Otra particularidad es que la edad de los pacientes que son admitidos a programa de hemodiálisis se va incrementando. Por ejemplo en Japón dos tercios del total de pacientes en diálisis están por encima de los 60 años y la mitad son mayores de 65 años. (Torres Zamudio, C., 2003). En las dos últimas décadas en la subregión de Centroamérica se ha notificado un número creciente de casos de personas que sufren de enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) y fallecen por esa causa. Entre esos casos se ha notificado un tipo de ERC cuya etiología no está relacionada con las causas más frecuentes de la ERC, como son la diabetes mellitus y la hipertensión arterial. Este tipo de ERC presenta una frecuencia mayor a la observada en la Región de las Américas y tiene una tendencia creciente. La enfermedad renal crónica de causas no tradicionales, que ha matado a miles principalmente en las comunidades agrícolas de Centroamérica, representa un problema grave de Salud Pública. (OPS/OMS, 2013). Es demostrado que la enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) e insuficiencia renal crónica (IRC) son problemas crecientes en algunas regiones de Nicaragua, entre las ciudades más afectadas se encuentran Chinandega y León. Los datos nacionales de mortalidad disponibles desde 1992 hasta 2005 indican que la tasa de mortalidad debido a ERC es mucho más alta en León y Chinandega que en otros departamentos. Además, estos datos muestran que la mortalidad en el país en su conjunto ha aumentado con el tiempo, de aproximadamente 4.5 por 100.000 habitantes en 1992 a 10.9 por 100.000 en 2005; los mayores aumentos han ocurrido en León y Chinandega. (Brooks D., 2009)