Traumatic loss, adult separation anxiety and childhood asthma

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Maurice Preter MD

Prenatal Stress and Risk of Asthma Hospitalization in the Offspring: A Swedish Population-Based Study

  1. Ali S. Khashan, PhD,
  2. Susanne Wicks, PhD,
  3. Christina Dalman, MD, PhD,
  4. Tine B. Henriksen, PhD,
  5. Jiong Li, PhD,
  6. Preben B. Mortensen, DMSc and
  7. Louise C. Kenny, MRCOG, PhD

+ Author Affiliations


  1. From the Anu Research Centre (A.S.K., L.C.K.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Division of Public Health Epidemiology (S.W., C.D.), Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; and Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit (T.B.H.), Department of Paediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby; and The Danish Epidemiology Science Centre (J.L.), Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health, and National Centre for Register-based Research (P.B.M.), University of Aarhus, Denmark.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Ali S. Khashan, PhD, Anu Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland. E-mail: a.khashan@ucc.ie

Abstract

Objective Recent research suggested that maternal stress and anxiety increase the risk of asthma and eczema in the offspring. In this study, we aimed to study whether maternal exposure to death of a spouse or a child is associated with risk of asthma hospitalization in the offspring using a very large population-based cohort.

Methods In a cohort of 3.2 million births in Sweden between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 2004, mothers were considered exposed if their spouse or child died up to 6 months before or during pregnancy. Offspring were followed up from birth to their death, migration, first hospitalization with asthma, or December 31, 2006, whichever came first; hospital admissions were identified by linkage of several national Swedish registers. Log-linear Poisson regression was used for data analysis.

Results Overall, the risk of offspring asthma was increased with any prenatal exposure to bereavement in any exposure period (adjusted relative risk [RR] = 1.20 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 1.03–1.39]). The risk was higher when the exposure period was restricted to pregnancy only (adjusted RR = 1.43 [95% CI = 1.06–1.92]). Furthermore, the risk of asthma was increased in relation to death of a spouse during pregnancy (adjusted RR = 1.59 [95% CI = 1.10–2.30]).

Conclusions These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to severe life events increases the risk of hospitalization for asthma in the offspring. Fetal programming may be a plausible explanation for the association.

Key words

Posted in Affective Neuroscience, development, epigenetics, Forensic Neuropsychiatry, Health | Tagged , , , , , , |

Unpredictable chronic mild stress and endothelial damage

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Maurice Preter MD

Just like “mild” traumatic brain injury, mild stress is relative.

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Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Promotes Atherosclerosis in High Cholesterol–Fed Rabbits

  1. Xiao-Ting Lu, PhD,
  2. Yun-Fang Liu, PhD,
  3. Lei Zhang, PhD,
  4. Rui-Xue Yang, PhD,
  5. Xiao-Qiong Liu, PhD,
  6. Fang-Fang Yan, PhD,
  7. Ying-Bin Wang, PhD,
  8. Wen-Wu Bai, PhD,
  9. Yu-Xia Zhao, MD and
  10. Fan Jiang, PhD

+ Author Affiliations


  1. From the Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research (Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Health) (X.-T.L., L.Z., F.J.), Departments of Traditional Chinese Medicine (X.-T.L., X.-Q.L., F.-F.Y., Y.-B.W., W.-W.B., Y.-X.Z.) and Electrocardiogram Cardiology (R.-X.Y.), Qilu Hospital, and Department of Diagnosis (Y.-F.L.), Medical School, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Yu-Xia Zhao, MD, or Fan Jiang, PhD, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, 107, Wen Hua Xi Rd, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, People’s Republic of China. E-mail: zhchsir@163.com; or fjiang@sdu.edu.cn

Abstract

Objectives Chronic psychological stress is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis in humans. Experimental studies using various stress models have yielded controversial results. This study investigated the effects of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) on atherogenesis in New Zealand white rabbits.

Methods Rabbits were fed with a cholesterol-enriched (1%) diet for 4 to 16 weeks, with or without concomitant UCMS treatment. Atherosclerosis was assessed in the abdominal aorta by serial sectioning and morphological analysis. Expressions of inflammatory factors were measured with immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Serum nitrate/nitrite levels were determined with Griess assay, and corticosterone and inflammatory markers were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results High-cholesterol feeding resulted in hypercholesterolemia and formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta. UCMS exposure significantly increased the plaque size (p = .003) and decreased the plaque stability (decreased the contents of collagen and smooth muscle and increased the amount of macrophage and matrix metalloproteinases). The proatherogenic effects of UCMS were unrelated to changes in serum cholesterol level but accompanied by increased blood pressure (p < .001) and vascular inflammation (up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor α, C-reactive protein, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, all p values < .01). Serum concentrations of nitrate/nitrite were lower in UCMS-treated animals (p = .01). Vessels from UCMS-treated animals exhibited augmented phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase and activation of nuclear factor κB.

Conclusions Chronic psychological stress may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis by enhancing vascular inflammation and decreasing endothelial nitric oxide bioavailability.

Key words

Posted in Affective Neuroscience, epigenetics, Forensic Neuropsychiatry, Health, Psychiatry/Neurology | Tagged , , , , , |

A panic mimic?

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Maurice Preter MD

Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality in Finnish Men and Women Separated Temporarily From Their Parents in Childhood—A Life Course Study

  1. Hanna Alastalo, MHS,
  2. Katri Räikkönen, PhD,
  3. Anu-Katriina Pesonen, PhD,
  4. Clive Osmond, PhD,
  5. David J.P. Barker, MD,
  6. Kati Heinonen, PhD,
  7. Eero Kajantie, MD, PhD and
  8. Johan G. Eriksson, MD, DMSc, PhD

+ Author Affiliations


  1. From the Department of Chronic Disease Prevention (H.A., E.K., J.G.E.), National Institute for Health and Welfare; Department of Public Health (H.A.),Hjelt Institute, Institute of Behavioural Sciences (K.R., A.-K.P., K.H.), Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care (J.G.E.), University ofHelsinki; Hospital for Children and Adolescents (A.-K.P., E.K.), Unit of General Practice (J.G.E.), Helsinki University Central Hospital; Folkhälsan Research Center (J.G.E.), Helsinki; Vaasa Central Hospital (J.G.E.), Vaasa, Finland; MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit (C.O.), University of Southampton; DOHaD Division (D.J.P.B.), Southampton, United Kingdom; and Oregon Health and Science University (D.J.P.B.), Portland, Oregon.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Hanna Alastalo, MSc, MHS, Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, FIN-00271 Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: hanna.alastalo@thl.fi

Abstract

Objective Early-life stress may influence health later in life. We examined morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease over 60 years in individuals separated temporarily from their parents in childhood due to World War II.

Methods We studied 12,915 members of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study born from 1934 to 1944, of whom 1726 (13.4%) had been evacuated aboard without their parents to temporary foster families for an average of 1.8 (standard deviation = 1.1) years at an average age of 4.6 (standard deviation = 2.4) years. Data on parental separations were extracted from the Finnish National Archives. Information on use of medication for coronary heart disease and hypertension was derived from the National Register of Medication Reimbursement, and information on coronary events, stroke, and cardiovascular deaths was derived from Finnish Hospital Discharge Register and Causes of Death Register between Years 1971 and 2003.

Results Participants who were separated in childhood used medications for coronary heart disease more frequently than those who were not separated (7.2% versus 4.5%, respectively; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04–1.59; p = .02). No associations between separation and all-cause mortality (HR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.90–1.20) or cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.72–1.21) or hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease or stroke were observed.

Conclusions Early-life stress may possibly be a factor predisposing to coronary heart disease decades later, but no evidence was found for increased risk of hospitalizations or mortality.

Key words

Posted in Affective Neuroscience, Aging, epigenetics, Forensic Neuropsychiatry, Health, Psychiatry/Neurology | Tagged , , , , , , |

To what extent is mortality predictable from facial photographs?

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Maurice Preter MD

Nifty paper on the predictive validity of the impression of “old age”. Here is the abstract:

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Predicting Mortality From Human Faces

  1. Dominika Dykiert, PhD,
  2. Timothy C. Bates, PhD,
  3. Alan J. Gow, PhD,
  4. Lars Penke, PhD,
  5. John M. Starr, MA, FRCPE and
  6. Ian J. Deary, PhD, FRCPE

+ Author Affiliations


  1. From the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology (D.D., T.C.B., A.J.G., L.P., J.M.S., I.J.D.), Department of Psychology (D.D., T.C.B., A.J.G., L.P., I.J.D.), and Geriatric Medicine Unit (J.M.S.), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Ian J. Deary, PhD, FRCPE, or Timothy C. Bates, PhD, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Sq, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom. E-mail: i.deary@ed.ac.uk; tim.bates@ed.ac.uk

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether and to what extent mortality is predictable from facial photographs of older people.

Methods High-quality facial photographs of 292 members of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1921, taken at the age of about 83 years, were rated in terms of apparent age, health, attractiveness, facial symmetry, intelligence, and well-being by 12 young-adult raters. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to study associations between these ratings and mortality during a 7-year follow-up period.

Results All ratings had adequate reliability. Concurrent validity was found for facial symmetry and intelligence (as determined by correlations with actual measures of fluctuating asymmetry in the faces and Raven Standard Progressive Matrices score, respectively), but not for the other traits. Age as rated from facial photographs, adjusted for sex and chronological age, was a significant predictor of mortality (hazard ratio = 1.36, 95% confidence interval = 1.12–1.65) and remained significant even after controlling for concurrent, objectively measured health and cognitive ability, and the other ratings. Health as rated from facial photographs, adjusted for sex and chronological age, significantly predicted mortality (hazard ratio = 0.81, 95% confidence interval = 0.67–0.99) but not after adjusting for rated age or objectively measured health and cognition. Rated attractiveness, symmetry, intelligence, and well-being were not significantly associated with mortality risk.

Conclusions Rated age of the face is a significant predictor of mortality risk among older people, with predictive value over and above that of objective or rated health status and cognitive ability.

Key words

  • Abbreviations:
    BLSA
    Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
    BP
    blood pressure
    FA
    fluctuating asymmetry
    ICC
    intraclass correlation
    LBC1921
    Lothian Birth Cohort 1921
    MMSE
    Mini Mental State Examination
    SPM
    Standard Progressive Matrices
  • Received December 6, 2011.
  • Revision received February 6, 2012.
Posted in Aging, Health | Tagged , |

the psychiatryneurology.net – legal

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Maurice Preter MD

I created a new e-newspaper, the psychiatryneurology.net – legal, a digest of legal news related to medical tort, traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma and related topics. Looks beautiful. Hard not to love technology. Please subscribe.

Link http://paper.li/DrMauricePreter/1343869858

 

Posted in Events, Forensic Neuropsychiatry, News, Psychiatry/Neurology | Tagged , , , , |