Production of He-4 and (4) in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV at the LHC

Results on the production of He-4 and (4) nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range vertical bar y vertical bar <1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0-10% central events are found to be dN/dy4(He) = (0.8 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) x 10(-6) and dN/dy4 = (1.1 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst)) x 10(-6), respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (T-chem = 156 MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of (4)/He-4 is 1.4 +/- 0.8 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst). (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Distress criterion influences prevalence rates of functional gastrointestinal disorders

BackgroundFunctional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) are defined by a combination of chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms. Prevalence rates of FGID are high. Symptoms are associated with distress, and sufferers show high stress levels. However, the current diagnostic criteria do not consider subjective distress elicited by the symptoms, thus potentially leading to overestimated prevalence rates. The aim of this study was to explore the reduction in prevalence rates when distress is considered in the diagnostic criteria.MethodsIn this web-based study, FGID were diagnosed using the Rome II criteria. Prevalence rates with and without subjective distress elicited by the symptoms were computed. Additionally, stress levels and stress reactivity were assessed.ResultsPrevalence rates of FGID in our sample were similar to those in other studies. However, when considering the distress criterion, on average, a decrease of 38.51% was found in the prevalence rates of FGID. Sufferers who were subjectively distressed by their symptoms reported significantly higher stress levels than non-distressed subjects (all p¿<¿0.001).ConclusionsThe consideration of a criterion of subjective distress in the diagnosis of FGID has consequences for actual prevalence rates of FGID. Distressed subjects differ markedly from non-distressed subjects in terms of their stress levels. The inclusion of a distress criterion in the ongoing development of diagnostic criteria for FGID is therefore warranted

Endocrine dysregulation in women with irritable bowel syndrome according to Rome II criteria

The etiology of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is unexplained: biological, psychological and social factors must be considered. This study examined if differences in HPA-axis activity already exist in those who do not yet fulfill IBS criteria (i.e. "subthreshold IBS"). We also investigated whether there were differences between those who reported clinically relevant (i.e. distressing) IBS symptoms and those who did not. Thirty-six women were subdivided into three groups (IBS group, subthreshold IBS group, control group). Results showed differences in morning cortisol levels (U = 11.58; p < 0.05), with IBS patients showing a lower cortisol response compared to controls. Subthreshold IBS patients were comparable to controls regarding endocrine function. Diurnal cortisol levels did not differ between groups. Group comparisons between distressed subjects and non-distressed subjects regarding cortisol levels did not reach significance. The finding of endocrine abnormalities (at least in a sub-set of patients) is important since these might be associated with deficient pain processing in IBS

Effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management training in individuals with functional somatic symptoms - an exploratory randomized controlled trial

Stress is discussed as a risk factor in the manifestation and maintenance of functional somatic (FS) symptoms. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management training (CBSM) on FS symptoms and the (potentially mediating) role of the neuroendocrine system. This study aims to examine stress-related psychological and neuroendocrine changes after receiving a brief CBSM in individuals with FS symptoms. Forty-three participants of both sexes, who reported at least one current FS symptom, were analyzed (treatment group (TG); n; = 21, waitlist control group (WCG); n; = 22) using mixed models. Number of symptoms, psychological stress, and salivary cortisol levels were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6 months later. Mixed model analyses did not reveal significant differences between the TG and the WCG regarding number of FS symptoms (; p; > 0.05), psychological stress measures (; p; > 0.05) or the cortisol awakening response (CAR) (; p; > 0.05). The TG presented lower diurnal cortisol levels at pretreatment, posttreatment and 6 months later (; p; < 0.05). We did not find significant beneficial effects that were specific to CBSM. Further research should be undertaken to investigate the effects of CBSM on real life stress or laboratory stressors in subjects with FS symptoms. Moreover, learning cognitive restructuring and establishing new coping strategies into everyday life might require more time. This study is a first step in filling the gap in understanding the influences of CBSM as a brief intervention on psychological and biological aspects of stress in participants with FS symptoms and will hopefully inform larger trials of CBSM for FS symptoms

Effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management training in individuals with functional somatic symptoms - an exploratory randomized controlled trial

Stress is discussed as a risk factor in the manifestation and maintenance of functional somatic (FS) symptoms. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management training (CBSM) on FS symptoms and the (potentially mediating) role of the neuroendocrine system. This study aims to examine stress-related psychological and neuroendocrine changes after receiving a brief CBSM in individuals with FS symptoms. Forty-three participants of both sexes, who reported at least one current FS symptom, were analyzed (treatment group (TG)  = 21, waitlist control group (WCG)  = 22) using mixed models. Number of symptoms, psychological stress, and salivary cortisol levels were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6 months later. Mixed model analyses did not reveal significant differences between the TG and the WCG regarding number of FS symptoms ( > 0.05), psychological stress measures ( > 0.05) or the cortisol awakening response (CAR) ( > 0.05). The TG presented lower diurnal cortisol levels at pretreatment, posttreatment and 6 months later ( < 0.05). We did not find significant beneficial effects that were specific to CBSM. Further research should be undertaken to investigate the effects of CBSM on real life stress or laboratory stressors in subjects with FS symptoms. Moreover, learning cognitive restructuring and establishing new coping strategies into everyday life might require more time. This study is a first step in filling the gap in understanding the influences of CBSM as a brief intervention on psychological and biological aspects of stress in participants with FS symptoms and will hopefully inform larger trials of CBSM for FS symptoms

Thyroid Functioning and Fatigue in Women With Functional Somatic Syndromes – Role of Early Life Adversity

Objective: Fatigue is a core feature of functional somatic syndromes (FSS). Fatigue is also prominent in patients with thyroid diseases, which is unsurprising given the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in regulating physiological energy demands. Research in healthy women has shown that early life adversity is linked with alterations in the HPT axis. In view of the substantial prevalence of early life adversity in patients with FSS, our aim was to investigate whether HPT functioning is related to (a) fatigue, and (b) early life adversity in these patients.Methods:N = 33 female patients with FSS and n = 30 age-matched controls were recruited. Fasting morning blood samples were taken to determine thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), and thyroxine (fT4). General, physical, and mental fatigue were measured via the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI). Early life adversity was measured using the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ).Results: Patients with FSS did not differ from controls in any thyroid parameters (all p &gt; 0.672). However, the lower the patients’ TSH and the higher their fT4, the greater was their general (β = -0.32, p = 0.064; β = 0.35, p = 0.038) and physical (β = -0.47, p = 0.007; β = 0.32, p = 0.077) fatigue. In addition, emotional neglect (β = -0.32, p = 0.057), physical neglect (β = -0.60, p = 0.001), physical abuse (β = -0.47, p = 0.015), and sexual abuse (β = -0.40, p = 0.026) were linked with lower TSH.Conclusion: The lower TSH and the higher fT4, the more fatigue was reported by patients with FSS. In addition, lower TSH was linked with more early life adversity. Larger, prospective studies are warranted to determine whether HPT functioning may be a mediating pathway between early life adversity and fatigue in FSS

Effects of acute psychosocial stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in healthy women

Objective: The individual set point of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis is largely genetically determined. Apart from this genetic predisposition, the HPT axis may also be malleable to environmental demands such as psychosocial stress. Indeed, previous research has indicated that critical life events often precede the onset of autoimmune thyroid diseases, and subtle abnormalities in HPT functioning are present in some patients with stress-related disorders such as depression. However, no studies have investigated whether exposure to psychosocial stress leads to an immediate activation of the HPT axis. Methods: A total of N = 30 healthy women attended two laboratory appointments in a randomized order. An intravenous catheter was inserted at the beginning of each appointment. In the stress session, this was followed by the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Plasma samples to determine thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) were taken at baseline and 20, 50, and 110 min after the TSST started. In the control session, participants rested and were instructed to read magazines, while the sampling schedule was maintained. Results: There was a significant rise in TSH concentrations in response to the TSST, with a peak observed 20 min after stressor onset, and a steady decline thereafter. No such response was observed in the control session. The TSST did not increase T3 or T4. Conclusion: The finding that acute psychosocial stress is able to elicit a significant increase in TSH is relevant to our understanding of a number of stress-related illnesses presenting with abnormalities of the HPT axis. Keywords: Psychosocial; Stress; Thyroid-Stimulating hormone; Thyroxine; Triiodothyronine