Co-exposure to urban particulate matter and aircraft noise adversely impacts the cerebro-pulmonary-cardiovascular axis in mice

Worldwide, up to 8.8 million excess deaths/year have been attributed to air pollution, mainly due to the exposure to fine particulate matter (PM). Traffic-related noise is an additional contributor to global mortality and morbidity. Both health risk factors substantially contribute to cardiovascular, metabolic and neuropsychiatric sequelae. Studies on the combined exposure are rare and urgently needed because of frequent co-occurrence of both risk factors in urban and industrial settings. To study the synergistic effects of PM and noise, we used an exposure system equipped with aerosol generator and loud-speakers, where C57BL/6 mice were acutely exposed for 3d to either ambient PM (NIST particles) and/or noise (aircraft landing and take-off events). The combination of both stressors caused endothelial dysfunction, increased blood pressure, oxidative stress and inflammation. An additive impairment of endothelial function was observed in isolated aortic rings and even more pronounced in cerebral and retinal arterioles. The increase in oxidative stress and inflammation markers together with RNA sequencing data indicate that noise particularly affects the brain and PM particularly affects the lungs. Noise also increased levels of circulating stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, while PM increased levels of circulating cytokines CD68 and MCP-1. The combination of both stressors has additive adverse effects on the cardiovascular system that are based on PM-induced systemic inflammation and noise-triggered stress hormone signaling. We demonstrate an additive upregulation of ACE-2 in the lung, suggesting that there may be an increased vulnerability to COVID-19 infection. The data warrant further mechanistic studies to characterize the propagation of primary target tissue damage (lung, brain) to remote organs such as aorta and heart by combined noise and PM exposure.Copyright © 2023

Effects of forest environment (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing) on health promotion and disease prevention -the Establishment of "Forest Medicine".

Humans have enjoyed forest environments for ages because of the quiet atmosphere, beautiful scenery, mild climate, pleasant aromas, and fresh, clean air. In Japan, since 2004, serial studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of forest environments (Forest bathing/Shinrin-yoku) on human health. My research team has established a new medical science called Forest Medicine. The Forest Medicine is a new interdisciplinary science, belonging to the categories of alternative medicine, environmental medicine and preventive medicine, which studies the effects of forest environments (Forest bathing/Shinrin-yoku) on human health. It has been reported that Forest bathing/Shinrin-yoku has the following beneficial effects on human health:1 Shinrin-yoku increases human natural killer (NK) activity, the number of NK cells, and the intracellular levels of anti-cancer proteins, suggesting a preventive effect on cancers. 2 Shinrin-yoku reduces blood pressure and heart rate showing preventive effect on hypertension and heart diseases. 3 Shinrin-yoku reduces stress hormones, such as urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline and salivary/serum cortisol contributing to stress management. 4 Shinrin-yoku increases the activity of parasympathetic nerves and reduces the activity of sympathetic nerves to stabilize the balance of autonomic nervous system. 5 Shinrin-yoku improve sleep. 6 Shinrin-yoku increases the levels of serum adiponectin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. 7 In the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test, Shinrin-yoku reduces the scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion, and increases the score for vigor, showing preventive effects on depression. 8 Shinrin-yoku may apply to rehabilitation medicine 9 Shinrin-yoku in city parks also has benefits on human health. 10 Shinrin-yoku may have preventive effect on COVID-19 by boosting immune function and by reducing mental stress.Taken together, these findings suggest that Shinrin-yoku may have potential preventive effects on non-communicable diseases.

Understanding mental stress and skin aging connection among dermatologists and psychologists through real world evidence

Preaging is an emerging concept in China whereby young women are looking for skin aging solutions. Among the intrinsic and extrinsic causes of skin aging, mental stress was highlighted as a possible cause of preaging in young women. The COVID-19 pandemic has further impacted the mental well-being of the younger generation, with 44% of Asian women aged 18 to 34 under poor mental well-being based on WHO-5. While 76.5% of dermatologists agreed that there is a strong connection between stress and skin aging, there is limited evidence on the pathophysiology. The aim of this research is to explore how clinicians understand the impact of stress and the biologic pathways connecting stress and skin aging. A quantitative survey with 60 dermatologists and 60 psychologists from China and Japan was conducted to assess the link between stress and skin aging. Overall, 69.2% of both health care professionals agree that psychological stress has a significant link to skin aging. Three meta-themes were perceived by clinician as possible pathways connecting psychological stress and skin aging, including stress hormone, inflammation, and overactive immune system. While all health care professionals have heard of inflammaging, only 52% are very familiar with the concept. Both groups agree that unresolved acute inflammatory response can accelerate skin aging. Surprisingly, a significant difference was observed in that psychologists believe more strongly than dermatologists that chronic low-grade inflammation accelerates skin aging. This study highlights the need for further fundamental research, which could help clinicians provide appropriate recommendations for patients under psychological stress.

BIOLOGICAL PREDICTOR OF BURNOUT: THE HAIR CORTISOL CHANGE AT COVID-19 PANDEMIC ONSET PREDICTS BURNOUT SYMPTOMS AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Context: Since March 2020, healthcare workers have been under continued stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Biological variables have been largely neglected in studies exploring burnout and psychopathology, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder among healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19. Methods: Of 467 Quebec, Canada healthcare workers who responded to our electronic survey three months after the beginning of the pandemic, 372 (which corresponds to 80%) furnished a sample of their hair. The survey included questionnaires on mental health outcomes and associated factors. The length of the hair sample was 3 to 6 cm, providing an estimation of the cortisol, a stress hormone, secreted in the three months preceding the pandemic and the three months following its onset. We applied a multivariable regression model and a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) to examine hair cortisol as an early indicator of burnout and mental health, combined with individual, occupational, social, and organizational factors. Results: As we anticipated, hair cortisol levels soared after the beginning of the pandemic (relative change: +38% [SD = 67%]). Burnout symptoms and cortisol were significantly associated, healthcare workers in the second quarter experiencing lower burnout odds. There was no association between cortisol change and depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Introducing cortisol in our burnout model with individual-occupational-socio-organizational factors strengthens its predictability pronouncedly. Conclusion: A modest relative change in hair cortisol levels (second quarter of change) forecasted burnout in this population. A non-invasive biological indicator of stress exposure, hair cortisol levels, could profit from additional clinical or research efforts. The final aim would be to prevent and control burnout in health personnel facing a significant stress factor.

Fetal Effects of COVID-19 Infection: Targeted Metabolomic profiling of cord blood

Objective: The impact of maternal COVID-19 infection on fetal health remains to be determined. Using targeted metabolomic analysis of newborn umbilical cord blood, we aimed to evaluate the biological consequences of maternal infection on the fetus and develop metabolite biomarkers for the identification of newborn intrauterine exposure. Study Design: Cord blood serum samples from 23 COVID-19 cases (mother infected/ newborn negative) and 23 gestational age-matched controls were analyzed using nuclear magnetic spectroscopy and direct injection liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry. Logistic regression models were developed using metabolites to predict intrauterine exposure with Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics curve [AUC (95% CI)], sensitivity, and specificity. Metabolite set enrichment analysis was used to evaluate altered biochemical pathways to highlight biological mechanisms of COVID-19 intrauterine exposure. Results: There were no significant differences in gestational age at delivery between groups (p >0.05). All neonates tested negative for COVID-19 infection. Significant concentration differences (p-value < 0.05 or -log10=1.301) were observed in 19 metabolites between groups. The top metabolite model [cortisol and Ceramide (d18:1/20:0)] achieved an AUC (95% CI) = 0.839 (0.722 - 0.956) with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 69% (Table 1). Enrichment analysis revealed significantly (p< 0.05) altered metabolic pathway of steroidogenesis and gluconeogenesis (Figure 1). Cortisol is the stress hormone that increases glucose production through gluconeogenesis resulting in higher oxidative metabolism and energy generation. Ceramides are known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Elevated hypoxanthine has also been correlated with tissue hypoxia and inflammation. Conclusion: We found evidence of intrauterine stress, altered energy metabolism and inflammation in fetal life in cases of maternal COVID-19 infection but ultimately negative newborn culture. Elucidation of long-term consequences is imperative considering the large number of exposures in the population. [Formula presented] [Formula presented]