Change in college student health and well-being profiles as a function of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has potential for long-lasting effects on college students' well-being. We examine changes from just before to during the pandemic in indicators of health and well-being and comprehensive profiles of health and well-being, along with links between covariates and profiles during the pandemic. PARTICIPANTS: 1,004 students participated in a longitudinal study that began in November 2019. METHODS: Latent class analysis identified health and well-being profiles at both waves; covariates were included in relation to class membership. RESULTS: Mental health problems increased, whereas substance use, sexual behavior, physical inactivity, and food insecurity decreased. Six well-being classes were identified at each wave. Baseline class membership, sociodemographic characteristics, living situation, ethnicity, coping strategies, and belongingness were associated with profile membership at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has had significant and differential impacts on today's students; their health and well-being should be considered holistically when understanding and addressing long-term effects of this pandemic.

Testosterone trajectories and reference ranges in a large longitudinal sample of male adolescents.

PURPOSE: Pubertal dynamics plays an important role in physical and psychological development of children and adolescents. We aim to provide reference ranges of plasma testosterone in a large longitudinal sample. Furthermore, we describe a measure of testosterone trajectories during adolescence that can be used in future investigations of development. METHODS: We carried out longitudinal measurements of plasma testosterone in 2,216 samples obtained from 513 males (9 to 17 years of age) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. We used integration of a model fitted to each participant's testosterone trajectory to calculate a measure of average exposure to testosterone over adolescence. We pooled these data with corresponding values reported in the literature to provide a reference range of testosterone levels in males between the ages of 6 and 19 years. RESULTS: The average values of total testosterone in the ALSPAC sample range from 0.82 nmol/L (Standard Deviation [SD]: 0.09) at 9 years of age to 16.5 (SD: 2.65) nmol/L at 17 years of age; these values are congruent with other reports in the literature. The average exposure to testosterone is associated with different features of testosterone trajectories such as Peak Testosterone Change, Age at Peak Testosterone Change, and Testosterone at 17 years of age as well as the timing of the growth spurt during puberty. CONCLUSIONS: The average exposure to testosterone is a useful measure for future investigations using testosterone trajectories to examine pubertal dynamics.

Daily stressors and adult day service use by family caregivers: effects on depressive symptoms, positive mood, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines effects of daily use of adult day service (ADS) programs by caregivers of individuals with dementia (IWD) on a salivary biomarker of stress reactivity, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), and whether these effects on DHEA-S are associated with daily variability in positive mood and depressive symptoms. METHODS: We used a daily diary design of 8 consecutive days with alternation of intervention (ADS) and nonintervention days to evaluate within- and between-person effects of the intervention. Family caregivers (N = 151) of IWD who were using ADS were interviewed daily by telephone at home. Saliva samples were collected from caregivers five times a day for 8 consecutive days and were assayed for DHEA-S. Daily telephone interviews assessed daily stressors and mood. RESULTS: DHEA-S levels were significantly higher on days after ADS use. Daily DHEA-S levels covaried significantly with daily positive mood but not with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate an association of ADS use by family caregivers and higher DHEA-S levels on the next day. Prior research has found that higher DHEA-S levels are protective against the physiologic damaging effects of stressor exposure and may reduce risks of illness. Regular use of ADS may help reduce depletion of DHEA-S and allow the body to mount a protective and restorative response to the physiologic demands of caregiving. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine DHEA-S levels across the day in connection with an intervention that affected daily exposure to stressors.

Caffeine administration does not alter salivary α-amylase activity in young male daily caffeine consumers.

BACKGROUND: To follow up on a recent report from our lab [Hum Psychopharmacol 25:359-367, 2010.] we examined the effects of caffeine on salivary α-amylase (sAA) activity in response to an engaging, non-stressful task in healthy young males (age 18-30 yrs) who consumed caffeine on a daily basis. Using a placebo-controlled, double-blind, between-subjects design, 45 men received either placebo, 200 mg or 400 mg of caffeine (Vivarin®). Participants then rested for 20 minutes, and performed a 20-minute computerized air traffic controller-like task that was cognitively engaging but not stressful. Saliva samples (assayed for sAA and cortisol), blood pressure, and heart rate were taken before (baseline) and 15 minutes after the computerized task. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and sAA activity increased across the laboratory session (F's > 9.20, p's < 0.05); salivary cortisol levels decreased (F = 16.17, p < 0.05). There were no main effects for caffeine administration on sAA, salivary cortisol, or cardiovascular measures, and caffeine did not interact with the task to alter these measures. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory administered caffeine does not alter sAA activity, even when sAA activity is stimulated by participating in a cognitively engaging task. These data demonstrate that caffeine administration does not affect sAA activity, at least in healthy young men who regularly consume caffeine. Results support recent findings that basal caffeine levels in habitual caffeine users are not associated with basal sAA activity and that daily caffeine intake and diurnal sAA activity are not related.

Age-specific locomotor response to nicotine in yellow and mottled yellow A(vy)/a mice.

BACKGROUND: Most Agouti viable yellow (Avy) mice display constitutive expression of agouti protein, which acts as an inverse agonist at the melanocortin receptor 4 (Mc4r), resulting in adult-onset obesity as well as an altered sensitivity to some drugs of abuse. We investigated the influence of excessive agouti expression on open-field locomotor response to daily 0.5 mg/kg (-)-freebase nicotine injections in 27 early adolescent and 27 young adult male Avy/a and a/a mice, and assessed the effects of nicotine administration (0.5 mg/kg) followed by open-field testing on serum corticosterone levels in a separate group of 25 young adult male Avy/a and a/a mice. FINDINGS: Young adult Avy/a mice displayed pronounced nicotine-induced hypolocomotion (a 24% reduction in distance traveled) compared to their a/a littermates. Early adolescent Avy/a mice did not differ from their a/a littermates or saline-matched controls in locomotion following nicotine administration. Young adult Avy/a mice also displayed increased thigmotaxis (a 5% increase in time spent outside the center of the apparatus) on the first day of nicotine administration as compared to saline-matched controls, while a/a mice did not. An increase in serum corticosterone levels 20 minutes after nicotine injection in a separate group of young adult male mice (n = 25) was proportionally similar between Avy/a and a/a mice. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results suggest an age- and epigenotype- or genotype-specific response to nicotine administration in young adult male Avy/a mice. It appears the Avy/a locomotor and thigmotaxic responses to acute nicotine administration are not mediated solely by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stimulation.

Elevated thyroid stimulating hormone is associated with elevated cortisol in healthy young men and women.

BACKGROUND: Recent attention has been given to subclinical hypothyroidism, defined as an elevation of TSH (4.5-10 uIU/L) with T4 and T3 levels still within the normal range. Controversy exists about the proper lower limit of TSH that defines patients in the subclinical hypothyroidism range and about if/when subclinical hypothyroidism should be treated. Additional data are needed to examine the relationship between markers of thyroid function in the subclinical hypothyroidism range, biomarkers of health and ultimately health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the relationship between serum TSH levels in the 0.5-10 uIU/L range and serum cortisol in a cohort of healthy young men and women without clinical evidence of hypothyroidism. Based on data in frank hypothyroidism, we hypothesized that serum TSH levels would be positively correlated with serum cortisol levels, suggesting derangement of the cortisol axis even in subclinical hypothyroidism. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional study in 54 healthy, young (mean 20.98 +/- 0.37 yrs) men (19) and women (35). Lab sessions took place at 1300 hrs where blood was drawn via indwelling catheter for later assessment of basal serum TSH, free T3, free T4, and cortisol levels. RESULTS: All but 1 participant had free T3 levels within the normal reference intervals; free T4 levels for all participants were within the normal reference intervals. Linear regression modeling revealed that TSH levels in the 0.5-10 uIU/L were significantly and positively correlated with cortisol levels. This positive TSH-cortisol relationship was maintained below the accepted 4.5 uIU/L subclinical hypothyroid cutoff. Separate regression analyses conducted by systematically dropping the TSH cutoff by 0.50 uIU/L revealed that the TSH-cortisol relationship was maintained for TSH levels (uIU/L) ≤4.0, ≤3.5, ≤3.0, and ≤2.5 but not ≤2.0. Linear regression modeling did not reveal a relationship between free T3 or free T4 levels and cortisol levels. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a positive relationship between TSH and cortisol in apparently healthy young individuals. In as much as this relationship may herald a pathologic disorder, these preliminary results suggest that TSH levels > 2.0 uIU/L may be abnormal. Future research should address this hypothesis further, for instance through an intervention study.

Caffeine and stress alter salivary alpha-amylase activity in young men.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of caffeine and a psychological stressor on salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) in healthy young males (age 18-30 years) who consumed caffeine on a daily basis. METHODS: Using a between-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 45 participants received either 200 or 400 mg of caffeine (Vivarin) or placebo, rested for 20 min, and then performed 20 min of mental arithmetic. Saliva samples (assayed for sAA and caffeine), blood pressure, and heart rate were taken before (baseline) and 15 min after the math stressor (stress). RESULTS: Baseline sAA activity did not differ among the treatment groups; however, there was a statistically significant time by caffeine group interaction. Changes in sAA activity across the session were dependent on the amount of caffeine consumed. Following the challenge period, sAA activity among the placebo group was the lowest and sAA activity among the 400 mg treatment group was the highest. Separate repeated-measures ANOVAs conducted for each drug treatment group revealed that sAA activity increased in response to stress and caffeine (i.e., 200 and 400 mg groups) but not to stress alone (i.e., placebo group). CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide evidence for acute sAA changes in response to caffeine and stress in habitual caffeine users.

Measuring DHEA-S in saliva: time of day differences and positive correlations between two different types of collection methods.

BACKGROUND: The anabolic steroid, dehydroepiandosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), is secreted from the adrenal cortex. It plays a significant role in the body as a precursor to sex steroids as well as a lesser known role in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) response to stress. DHEA-S can be measured reliably in saliva, making saliva collection a valuable tool for health research because it minimizes the need for invasive sampling procedures (e.g., blood draws). Typical saliva collection methods include the use of plain cotton swab collection devices (e.g., Salivette(R)) or passive drool. There has been some speculation that the plain saliva cotton collection device may interfere with determination of DHEA-S by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) bringing this saliva collection method into question. Because of the increasing popularity of salivary biomarker research, we sought to determine whether the cotton swab interferes with DHEA-S determination through EIA techniques. FINDINGS: Fifty-six healthy young adult men and women aged 18-30 years came to the lab in the morning (0800 hrs; 14 men, 14 women) or late afternoon (1600 hrs; 14 men, 14 women) and provided saliva samples via cotton Salivette and passive drool. Passive drool collection was taken first to minimize particle cross contamination from the cotton swab. Samples were assayed for DHEA-S in duplicate using a commercially available kit (DSL, Inc., Webster, TX). DHEA-S levels collected via Salivette and passive drool were positively correlated (r = + 0.83, p < 0.05). Mean DHEA-S levels were not significantly different between collection methods. Salivary DHEA-S levels were significantly higher in males than in females, regardless of saliva collection method (p < 0.05), and morning DHEA-S values were higher than evening levels (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that DHEA-S can be measured accurately using passive drool or cotton Salivette collection methods. Results also suggest that DHEA-S levels change across the day and that future studies need to take this time of day difference into account when measuring DHEA-S.

Disruption in Th1/Th2 immune response in young adult smokers.

Interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-10 cytokines, measures of Th1 and Th2 immunity, were examined in 20 healthy nonsmokers (12 males, 8 females) and 19 smokers (11 males, 8 females), aged 19-41 years (23.46+/-0.82 years). Nonsmokers came to the laboratory once; smokers came to the laboratory after ad lib smoking and following 24-h smoking abstinence. Salivary cotinine and expired CO confirmed smoking status. Plasma was collected at the end of each lab session and assayed for peripheral IFN-gamma and IL-10 levels. Among smokers, peripheral IFN-gamma, IL-10, or IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio levels did not change in response to 24-h smoking abstinence. IFN-gamma levels and IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratios were higher among female smokers while smoking and following 24-h abstinence compared to male smokers in both conditions and compared to male and female nonsmokers. There was no sex or smoking status difference in IL-10 levels. Results suggest that cigarette smoking may have at least short-term damaging effects on the body's normal immune balance, particularly for women.

Fecal corticoid metabolites in aged male and female rats after husbandry-related disturbances in the colony room.

We applied novel noninvasive fecal steroid measures to characterize aged rats' responses to a series of common animal room disturbances, including a direct comparison of male and female immunoreactive corticosterone metabolites in feces. The fecal measure provides a unique method to measure the physiologic responses of laboratory animals to altered husbandry procedures. This assay is noninvasive and, because rodents produce fecal pellets throughout the day, long-term monitoring can be conducted to capture abnormal levels associated with alterations in husbandry procedures. Over a 3-h period, 10 male and 10 female Fischer 344 rats (age, 82 wk) were exposed to a series of events that can occur in a colony housing room (keys jingling, cage lids opening, alteration of the light cycle). Fecal samples were collected at timed intervals on the day before and several days after the exposure, extracted, and analyzed for fecal corticoid metabolites by use of a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Fecal metabolites in these aged rats were elevated 3- to 5-fold above baseline levels approximately 20 h after exposure to the experimental events. Overall, we detected more immunoreactive fecal corticoid metabolites in feces from male rats than female rats, even though female rats normally secrete greater amounts of glucocorticoids into circulation. Our results indicate that this assay can be used to identify marked elevations in corticoid metabolite levels after alterations in laboratory husbandry procedures. We discuss the implications of these findings for animal researchers and those involved in animal husbandry.

Risk indicators of metabolic syndrome in young adults: a preliminary investigation on the influence of tobacco smoke exposure and gender.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and obesity. Limited investigations have studied early indicators of metabolic syndrome in healthy young adults before diagnosis of disease. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation is to identify shifts in cardiovascular (CV), metabolic, and immune variables consistent with metabolic syndrome but occurring before development of the disorder, and to determine whether these variables are influenced by gender or cigarette smoking. METHODS: A pilot study of 41 subjects ages 18 to 39 years, with 20 smokers and 21 nonsmokers, was undertaken. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured to evaluate CV status; cholesterol, body mass index, leptin, percent glycated albumin, and homocysteine were measured to evaluate metabolic status; C-reactive protein, interleukin-1beta, and interleukin-10 were measured to evaluate immunologic status. Risk scores were assigned to each indicator, and total risk score was computed. RESULTS: Men had higher SBP (P<.001), DBP (P=.046), and body mass index (P=.01), whereas women had higher leptin (P=.002). Total risk scores in men were greater (P=.02). There was no effect of smoking on risk score, related to the increase in two risks for smokers (SBP, P=.04, DBP; P=.027) reciprocated by a decrease in another (percentage of glycated albumin; P=.02). CONCLUSION: Risk factors contributing to metabolic syndrome are present and highest in young men compared with women, whereas the effects of cigarette smoking on the syndrome are mixed. Early intervention to reduce modifiable risks may prevent full expression of disease.

Sex differences in voluntary oral nicotine consumption by adolescent mice: a dose-response experiment.

Recent studies with adolescent rodents offer valuable information regarding the neurochemical and behavioral effects of adolescent nicotine exposure. One hundred twenty-one male and 125 female adolescent (35 days of age) C57BL/6J mice were tested for voluntary nicotine consumption by providing 24-h access to both saccharin-only (SAC) and one of six nicotine-containing solutions [10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 200 ug (-)-freebase nicotine/ml in 2% SAC] in the home cage for 7 days. Although males and females drank similar volumes (ml) of nicotine, the female mice consumed more nicotine adjusted for body weight (mg/kg) and as a percentage of total fluid intake than did the male mice. In contrast, there was no sex difference in overall serum cotinine levels (adjusted for liver weight). For all mice, nicotine consumption and serum cotinine levels increased in a dose-dependent manner, and the volume of nicotine intake (ml), percent nicotine intake, and nicotine dosage (mg/kg) on the last day of the experiment were positively correlated with cotinine levels. Cotinine levels were inversely related to body weight only for females. Sex differences in nicotine consumption, but not in cotinine levels, suggest sex differences in pharmacokinetic processes that may contribute to oral nicotine consumption behavior during periadolescence.