Order out of chaos: Sense of coherence and the mediating role of coping resources in explaining mental health during COVID-19 in 7 countries.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the universal chaos created by it, this study explores the role of sense of coherence (Soc, Antonovsky, 1979) and how it enables coping with a stressful situation and staying well. SOC is a generalized orientation which allows one to perceive the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful. In an attempt to understand 'how does the SOC work' we employed the salutogenic assumption that a strong SOC allows one to reach out in any given situation and find those resources appropriate to the specific stressor. Thus, we hypothesized that the positive impact of SOC on mental health outcomes would be mediated through coping resources that are particularly salient in times of crisis. One resource is related to the micro level (perceived family support) and the other concerns the macro level (trust in leaders and social-political institutions). Data collection was conducted in different countries during May-June 2020 via online platforms. The data included 7 samples of adult participants (age 18-90) from Israel (n â€‹= â€‹669), Italy (n â€‹= â€‹899), Spain (n â€‹= â€‹476), Germany (n â€‹= â€‹708), Austria (n â€‹= â€‹1026), Switzerland (n â€‹= â€‹147), and the U.S. (n â€‹= â€‹506). The questionnaires included standard tools (MHC-SF, SOC-13) as well as questionnaires of perceived family support and trust that were adapted to the pandemic context. As expected, SOC was associated with mental health in all the samples. Perceived family support and trust in leaders and social-political institutions mediated the relationships between SOC and mental health, controlling for age, gender, and level of financial risk. It appears that SOC has a universal meaning, not limited by cultural and situational characteristics. The discussion focuses on the theoretical, social, and political applications of the salutogenic model - and its core concept of SOC - in the context of coping with a global pandemic across different cultural contexts and countries.

Stress reaction in developing rats exposed to 1% lead acetate.

Effects of a three-month exposure of both male and female rats under their development to lead acetate in drinking water on the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-thyroid gland-suprarenals and sympathico-adrenal systems were evaluated by determining noradrenaline (NA) in the hypothalamus and striatum, thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-tri-iodothyronine (T3) and corticosterone (CS) in the serum and catecholamines (CA) in both blood and suprarenals. NA in the hypothalamus and striatum was decreased in exposed males. CA in blood and suprarenals and CS in the serum were increased and NA decreased in the hypothalamus and striatum in exposed females. No serum T3 and T4 changes were found in males or females. The exposure to lead resulted in increased weight of spleen and kidneys in both sexes and suprarenals in females only. Weights of hypothalamus, striatum, liver and thyroid gland did not change. Female rats exposed to lead grew more slowly than control animals. Retardation in the growth was not statistically significant in males. The results indicate a specific stress reaction in female rats. In males only the sympathico-adrenal system seems to be affected by such lead exposure.

Early detection of the nephrotoxic effects in the environment: a survey.

Number of potentially nephrotoxic substances is growing continuously. The objective of preventive measures taken is to find such concentrations of chemicals in the environment which do not represent any risk for renal function. Sensitive methods are thus required which are able to detect early changes in renal function which are still reversible and when changes of glomerular filtration do not appear yet. The paper points out practical problems associated with determining sensitive biochemical parameters utilized as noninvasive renal function tests both in man and experimental animals. The most recent literary reports and the authors' experience show that beta 2-microglobulin, retinol-binding protein and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase are the most suitable indicators of tubular cells damage and albumin is the best indicator of a damage located in glomerular cells.

Dose-related proximal tubular dysfunction in male rats chronically exposed to lead.

Male Wistar rats were given 0.5 and 2% lead acetate in drinking water for 2 months, 1% lead acetate for 3 months and sodium acetate equimolar to 2% lead acetate for 3 months. Glucose, total proteins, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lysozyme and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) were measured in 24-h urine every month. Kidney weight and histology were also examined. At the three doses, lead exposure produced a significant elevation of the kidney weight. No significant change in urinary parameters was observed in rats given 0.5% lead acetate. Exposure to 1% lead acetate increased the urinary excretion of beta 2-m only. At the 2% lead acetate dose the elevation of beta 2-m excretion was accompanied by an increased urinary output of glucose, total proteins, lysozyme and LDH. Observations of the kidneys by light microscopy were in agreement with these biochemical findings. The nephrotoxic effect of acetate was excluded by the lack of biochemical or histological effects of sodium acetate on the kidney. It is concluded that a proximal tubular dysfunction is induced in rats chronically exposed to high doses of lead.

Methods used for testing toxicity of industrial chemicals and the need of their international unification.

The work presented here provides a demonstration of approaches in testing chemical substances in the world, comparison of various guidelines, shows differences in them with the aim to unify them as much as possible and thus to achieve their international comparability. First chapter includes a comparison of American and European approaches to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Some parts of American GLP seem to be specific for the USA only and thus they are not suitable for application on the international level where countries having different systems of government and various levels of their economy would have to observe them. GLP published in OECD and ECETOC guidelines seem to be most beneficial for needs of socialist countries. OECD, EEC, EPA/FIFRA, EPA/TSCA, Japan/MAFF and UK/HSC guidelines are compared in subsequent chapters and recommendations given by ECETOC and the authors of this work for unification of the guidelines are presented as well. Some parts of OECD guidelines are specified in detail there especially those which are most suitable for CMEA countries. Differences or supplements contained in CMEA recommendations are presented in the end of each chapter. Acute, subchronic and chronic toxicity tests were compared as well as carcinogenicity, combined carcinogenicity/chronic toxicity studies and reproductive toxicity tests.

Lack of nephrotoxicity of styrene at current TLV level (50 ppm).

Biochemical markers of kidney damage were examined in 37 female workers exposed to an average concentration of 225 mg/m3 of styrene. The concentration of mandelic acid in urine was on the average 759 mg/g creatinine. The mean duration of employment of the exposed subjects was 11 years. The results were compared to those obtained in 35 control female workers matched for age and a number of demographic and lifestyle factors and with no history of exposure to organic solvents. No difference was found in the urinary excretion of albumin, beta 2-microglobulin, retinol-binding protein, total proteins, glucose, lysozyme, lactate dehydrogenase and beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase. The present study provides thus further evidence that exposure to styrene at the current TLV (215 mg/m3) does not entail any detectable risk for the renal function.

Biological methods for monitoring exposure to genotoxic chemicals.

This paper includes description and evaluation of methods for monitoring exposures to genotoxic materials which are currently most frequently used. A total of nine methods is presented here: 1. measuring of the chemical or its metabolites in biological media, 2. determination of mutagenic activity in biological materials, 3. cytogenetic observations on human somatic cells, 4 detection of gene mutations in somatic cells, 5. determination of protein or nucleic acid adducts, 6. determination of tumour markers, 7. determination of DNA repair, 8. sperm assays, and 9. determination of nucleic acid damage byproducts. Each test is accompanied by a brief characterization with respect to its applicability in the assessment of health hazards lying in the exposure to the monitored substance.

A subchronic inhalation study with unleaded petrol in rats.

The effect of intermittent 2 months' exposure to 2 g/m3 unleaded petrol on the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid-adrenal system was evaluated by measuring hypothalamic noradrenaline (NA), serum corticosterone (CS), thyroxine (T4) and adrenal catecholamine (CA) levels in male rats. Serum CS and adrenal CA were increased and hypothalamic NA was decreased by exposure. No changes were observed in serum T4. Exposure induced an increase in spleen, kidney, liver and lung weights; weights of adrenals and hypothalamus were not changed. All the petrol-induced effects depended on the length of exposure. Rats exposed to petrol gained less weight than controls. The results suggest a non-specific stress response in the rat.

Hormonal and organ weight changes in rats exposed to simultaneous chronic effects of CO and NO2.

UNLABELLED: Activity of the pituitary-adrenocortical, sympathico-adrenomedullary and thyroid gland systems was examined in groups of male adult rats, average weight 180 g, exposed for 2 months to a mixture of 7 mg.m-3 NO2 and 32 mg.m-3 CO in air and in groups of matched controls inhaling fresh air. Corticosterone (B) concentrations in the serum of rats were determined by the competitive protein-binding method, noradrenaline (NA) in the hypothalamus and catecholamines (CA) in suprarenals by fluorometry, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in the thyroid gland by the RIA technique. Measurements of organ weight were related to overall body weight. The data emerging from this study were evaluated using the Student t-test. CONCLUSIONS: one-month exposure led to a decrease in hypothalamic NA and an increase in rat spleen weight; increase in CA concentration in the adrenals was initially insignificant, by the end of a 2-month exposure it reached the level of statistical significance; serum concentrations of B, T3 and T4 remained unaffected and so was the weight of the body, liver, lungs, suprarenals and the hypothalamus of exposed rats; at the concentrations used, NO2 and CO acted as synergists producing a mild stressogenic reaction affecting the activity of the sympathico-adrenomedullary system of exposed rats.

The effect of carbon monoxide on hormone levels and organ weights in rats.

Male Wistar rats were exposed continuously for 1 or 2 months to 25 or 100 ppm CO. The concentrations of noradrenaline in the hypothalamus, corticosterone and thyroxine in serum and of adrenal catecholamines were estimated. After exposure to 25 ppm CO no significant changes were observed in the serum corticosterone and thyroxine, hypothalamic noradrenaline, adrenal catecholamines levels, or in the weights of lung, spleen, adrenal glands, liver and the whole body. Exposure to 100 ppm CO induced a decrease in hypothalamic noradrenaline and serum thyroxine and an increase in adrenal catecholamines and serum corticosterone. Whole-body and organ weights were unchanged except for a slight decrease in liver weight. The results suggest a non-specific stress response in the rat to 100 ppm CO whilst concentration of 25 ppm CO was without any stress effect.

The effect of chronic exposure to 3.5 ppm NO2 on hormone levels and organ weights in rats.

Male Wistar rats were exposed continuously for 1 or 2 months to 3.5 ppm NO2. Levels of histamine and serotonin in lung, noradrenaline in hypothalamus, corticosterone and thyroxine in serum and catecholamines in the adrenals were estimated. No significant changes were observed in lung histamine and serotonin, serum corticosterone, or adrenal catecholamine levels; or in the weights of lung, spleen, adrenal glands, hypothalamus, liver and the whole body. The only significant change was a decrease in the concentration of hypothalamic noradrenaline after 2 months of exposure. The results suggest that prolonged exposure to 3.5 ppm NO2 does not result in changes in hormone levels, organ and body weights, and therefore does not precipitate pulmonary defensive reactions or non-specific stress response.