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Objective. Individual stress tests characterized by social evaluative threat and uncontrollability are known to elicit strong neuroendocrine responses. We tested whether a psychosocial stressor submitted to a larger group of participants (up to 60) may elicit comparable stress responses. Methods. A total of 59 adult subjects (33 women, 26 men) participated in the study, whereas 24 of them suffered from allergy and 35 were healthy. The stress test consisted of a distraction stress task followed by a speech task, in which the participants were randomly subjected to questions related to a topic that they had to prepare as well as arithmetic questions in front of their peers and a committee that responded in standardized and non-supporting manner. State and trait anxiety inventory (STAI) for anxiety state was administrated before and after the test and salivary samples taking. The test was repeated after five months. Results. The results showed that the shared psychosocial stress application in a larger group of subjects was prosperous. The larger group test (LGST) resulted in an enhanced subjectively experienced stress and an intensive sympathetic nervous system activation, reflected by elevated salivary alpha-amylase activity and the heart rate. The cortisol increment after exposure to the stress test was not significant. Repeated exposure to the test failed to reproduce the original stress responses with exception of the heart rate rise. Conclusions. In a larger group of subjects, the psychosocial stress test did elicit stress responses similar to the individual stress tests. Our data indicate that the above-mentioned stress test is apparently not an appropriate approach for the repeated use.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline healthcare workers have been exposed to very stressful conditions. Measuring hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs), which reflect the integrated long-term cortisol levels, may elucidate the impact of COVID-19 related stress on healthcare professionals. In the current study, we investigated experienced stress in 693 healthcare workers, with hair samples for cortisol analysis collected from a subset of 67 female nurses. The HCCs in two 3 cm hair segments corresponding to periods before and during the peak of the first wave of COVID-19 were compared. To evaluate the effect of working in the first line, the sample was divided into two groups based on the COVID-19 risk estimated by the nurses. Covariates in the model included perceived stress (PSS), perceived social support (MSPSS), and quality of sleep (PSQI) measured via an online questionnaire. The data showed that more than 75% of healthcare workers agreed that COVID-19 led to increased stress at their workplace. The hair cortisol analysis showed higher HCCs in the hair segments corresponding to the time of the pandemic compared to hair corresponding to an earlier period (partial η290%CI = 0.123–0.397); in the same model, higher HCCs were also found in nurses from high-risk environments compared to low-risk ones (partial η290%CI = 0.002–0.176). None of the subjective questionnaire measures were significant predictors of HCCs. In conclusion, these data showed that HCCs reflect the increased stress among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the difference in nurses between high- and low-risk environments.

Patients with atopy were found to exhibit blunted cortisol responses to acute stress stimuli. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that cumulative cortisol concentrations in the hair of patients with atopy are lower than in healthy subjects when related to their perceived stress experience. The sample consisted of 31 participants. The most proximal 3 cm of hair (as close to the scalp as possible), reflecting the cumulative cortisol secretion during the previous 3 months, was used for the analysis. Only in 20 subjects (9 patients with atopy and 11 healthy controls), there was a sufficient amount of hair for precise analysis using a new methodology. The results showed lower hair cortisol concentrations in patients with atopy compared to those in controls. The perceived stress scores in patients with atopy and healthy controls were not statistically different. The cortisol concentration/perceived stress score ratios were lower in patients with atopy compared to those in controls. No statistically significant correlation between hair cortisol and long-term experienced stress assessed via perceived stress scale was observed. In conclusion, the cumulative cortisol secretion in the hair of atopic patients is lower than would be expected according to their subjective scores of perceived stress. Most importantly, the previously lower stress hormone increase found in acute stress situations and in children now was confirmed in adult patients with chronic stress load.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious and long-term stressor for healthcare workers, therefore hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) could be used to assess this prolonged stress. Method HCCs of 67 female nurses were measured during spring 2020, with a follow-up performed in autumn 2020 with 57 participants. Both times, HCCs were analyzed from two 3 cm hair segments corresponding to periods of hair growth before and during the spring wave of the pandemic, during the summer release, and the autumn wave of the pandemic. Results Data from spring 2020, showed higher HCCs in hair grown during the pandemic compared to older hair (90%CI η2=0.123-0.397), while nurses reporting a high risk of infection (n=33) had higher HCCs (90%CI η2=0.002-0.176) than nurses reporting low risk (n=34). In the follow-up, hair samples corresponding to worsening of the pandemic had higher HCCs than samples from summer release (90%CI η2=0.002-0.201). Three groups were compared instead of two, as only 9 nurses reported low risk, 25 high risk, and 23 daily work with COVID-19 patients. Group differences were not significant. Conclusion Data from the follow-up supported the findings of higher HCCs in nurses during the worsening of the pandemic.

It has been documented that cortisol release in response to acute stressors is reduced in patients with atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and other atopic diseases compared to that in healthy subjects. We aimed to test the hypothesis that atopic patients exert reduced salivary cortisol awakening response (CAR) in comparison with healthy subjects. The hypothesis was tested on a stressful and a relax day selected subjectively. Moreover, we evaluated the impact of trait anxiety. The sample consisted of 60 subjects, out of which 28 were patients with atopy and 32 healthy volunteers of both sexes. Saliva samples were collected in the morning to evaluate CAR as well as in the early afternoon and evening to look at cortisol concentrations during the rest of the day. The results showed reduced CAR in atopic patients compared to that in healthy subjects. This effect was modulated by sex with a significant difference observed in males. While CAR was reduced, atopic patients had unchanged cortisol concentrations throughout the day. The evening cortisol was even higher in atopic patients. If the subjects were stratified according to the trait anxiety, no significant differences in CAR between high and low anxiety were observed. No differences in cortisol variables including CAR were observed between the stressful and relax day. In conclusion, this study presents evidence on reduced CAR suggesting an insufficient HPA axis reactivity in atopy. Furthermore, the data in atopic patients demonstrate that reduced HPA axis reactivity does not necessarily mean lower cortisol concentrations throughout the day. This might be of relevance to immune system function and the course of the disease.

Summary A number of studies report heart rate variability (HRV) changes in allergic as well as high trait anxious people, and associations between allergic inflammation and trait anxiety. This study investigated HRV of 20 low anxious allergic, 19 healthy high trait anxious and 18 healthy low anxious, in naturalistic setting. On arranged research days, subjects performed measurements using portable ECG device and subjective self-assessment of perceived stress. Five repeated measurements data from each subject have shown increases in overall HRV, as well as HRV on respiratory frequencies in both allergy and high trait anxiety. Subject's sex was an important factor, because HRV increases in allergy were only apparent in women. Data from self-assessment show no differences in experienced stress attributable to allergy, only to trait anxiety.

A decreased responsiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis to stress stimuli in patients with atopy is well documented. The aim of this study was to investigate personality traits, salivary alpha-amylase activity and the aldosterone response to psychosocial stress procedure based on public speech in atopic patients with respect to sex and the menstrual cycle (MC) phase. The study was performed in 106 subjects of both sexes, 53 atopic patients suffering from allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma or atopic dermatitis and 53 age-, sex-, the MC phase- and BMI- matched healthy controls. Substantially attenuated activity of alpha-amylase and reduced secretion of aldosterone during the psychosocial stress were observed in the whole sample of patients with atopy. Higher activity of alpha-amylase observed in the follicular compared to the luteal phase in healthy women was not present in atopic patients. In both males and females, atopy was associated with blunted cortisol response but no changes in the heart rate. Psychological characterization revealed a significantly higher trait anxiety and higher preference for avoidance-oriented coping strategy in female but not male atopic patients. These findings provide evidence that patients with atopy exhibit insufficient alpha-amylase and aldosterone responsiveness to psychosocial stress, thus suggesting decreased sympathetic activity. Potential disturbances in sex hormone status during the MC in female patients with atopy have to be considered in future research. Changes in personality traits were demonstrated in female atopic patients, but not in male patients.

Repeated or chronic exposure to stressors is associated with changes in neuroendocrine responses depending on the type, intensity, number and frequency of stress exposure as well as previous stress experience. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that salivary cortisol and cardiovascular responses to real-life psychosocial stressors related to public performance can cross-adapt with responses to psychosocial stress induced by public speech under laboratory setting. The sample consisted of 22 healthy male volunteers, which were either actors, more precisely students of dramatic arts or non-actors, students of other fields. The stress task consisted of 15 min anticipatory preparation phase and 15 min of public speech on an emotionally charged topic. The actors, who were accustomed to public speaking, responded with a rise in salivary cortisol as well as blood pressure to laboratory public speech. The values of salivary cortisol, systolic blood pressure and state anxiety were lower in actors compared to non-actors. Unlike non-actors, subjects with experience in public speaking did not show stress-induced rise in the heart rate. Evaluation of personality traits revealed that actors scored significantly higher in extraversion than the subjects in the non-actor group. In conclusion, neuroendocrine responses to real-life stressors in actors can partially cross-adapt with responses to psychosocial stress under laboratory setting. The most evident adaptation was at the level of heart rate responses. The public speech tasks may be of help in evaluation of the ability to cope with stress in real life in artists by simple laboratory testing.

Miniaturization of biomedical sensors has increased the importance of microsystem technology in medical applications, particularly microelectronics and micromachining. This work presents a new approach to biomedical monitoring and analysis of selected human cognitive processes. The system is based on our preliminary described theory and experiments (Vavrinsky et al. 2010). We are primarily interested in biomonitoring of human cognitive processes and psychophysiological conditions of car drivers in order to enhance road safety. Actually often used method is evaluation of abnormal car driver actions (sudden changes of direction with no direction indicators or too hard cornering). Main disadvantage of such a system is that they offer no prediction. More effective are prediction systems, which offer enough reaction time before undesirable situations, and so they can minimize human error factors and improve road-traffic safety. Our present research is focused on sensing, processing and analysis of selected physiological signals for mental and medical condition recognition. They are known some studies describing interface between emotional condition and physiological responses, and we want also present some, since new ideas and research in psychological recognition and biomonitoring are very welcome. It is also proved that human decisions and reactions are affected by emotional and physical comfort. Emotional reconnoiter of a car driver conditions is influenced by many cognitive processes, such as mind organization, vigilance, planning or fatigue. Nervous and angry people can be very dangerous for traffic road safety. In our experiments, we have monitored: psycho-galvanic reflex (PGR) – skin conductivity changes, heart rate + electrocardiogram (ECG), body temperature, respiration frequency, emotions. To improve the reliability of our measurements, these parameters have been monitored often by duplicate methods, sometimes at macro level, sometimes by local microsystems technologies. In first step, we implemented our technology to the virtual reality driving simulator but preparations for real implementation have been already started, and the final car implementation will follow.

The achieved results have proven that the dedicated developed microelectrodes are able to sense the EDR in a very sensitive and fast way. Moreover, experiments, prior to the work presented here, prove that the achieved accuracy, input signal voltage and frequency ranges are suitable not only from biomedical monitoring point of view but also from the measurement system integration and miniaturization requirements. A non-invasive portable measurement system for the reliable and precise stress detection, based on the psycho-galvanic reflex monitoring, has been designed and developed. The system is based on an auto-balancing bridge measurement method offering digital processing and displaying of the measured data in the developed GUI operating under Windows XP platform. The measurement equipment uses microelectrodes developed for this purpose, and utilizes microcontrollers containing RF wireless communication modules to transfer data between the measurement unit and a personal computer. The complete measurement system has been designed with respect to the system accuracy, sensitivity and power management. Interesting outcome has been observed ­ the psychogalvanic reflex might be much more accurately sensed by the skin admittance phase, since this parameter reflects the human skin conductivity changes more significantly. The achieved measurement accuracy, input signal voltage and frequency ranges are suitable not only from human biomedical monitoring point of view but also from the measurement system integration and miniaturization requirements. Additionally, the proposed system is versatile and flexible, easy to be extended by other sensors' types (integrated or external with wireless communication feature) or different measurement approaches, which enables measurement of other physiologic parameters (e.g. body temperature, blood pressure, heart beat, etc.) There is no doubt that the developed measurement equipment offers new opportunities towards non-invasive wireless system for

This paper presents a new approach of the noninvasive biomedical monitoring of selected psychosomatic processes. The proposed method measures human skin conductivities (psycho-galvanic reflex - PGR) using the interdigitated array (IDA) of microelectrodes as well as skin temperature, which will allow continuous monitoring and analysis of complicated physiological, pathophysiological, and therapeutic processes. The psychological test was focused on short-time stress situation with a large scale of tasks, which had the probands to do during the test. The tasks were chosen in the way to charge the same part of human brain in order to amplify the stress situation.

This paper presents a new approach of the non-invasive biomedical monitoring of selected psychosomatic processes. The proposed method measures human skin conductivities (psycho-galvanic reflex - PGR) using the interdigitated array (IDA) of microelectrodes as well as skin temperature and skin reflectance using optical spectrometer, which will allow continual monitoring and analysis of complicated physiological and therapeutic processes. The psychological test was focused on short-time stress situation with a large scale of tasks.

mucosal humoral immunity has been identified in the small intestine, however little is known about the type of antibody response. We characterized the mucosal immunoglobulins (Ig) isotype and its association with IBS pathophysiology. Methods: Mucosal jejunal biopsies, stool and blood samples wereobtained fromhealthyvolunteers (H;n=18)andage-matched participantsmeeting diarrhoea-IBS Rome III criteria (IBS-D; n=20). Bowel movements, stool consistency and abdominal pain were monitored (10 days prior to biopsy). Psychological stress and depressionwere assessedwith validated questionnaires. The number and ultrastructure of mucosal plasma cells were determined by transmission electron microscopy, and mucosal IgG+ cells were quantifiedby immunofluorescence. Igswere quantified in stool and blood by ELISA technique. Results: The number of mucosal IgG+ cells and plasma cells was increased in IBS-D patients, the later in close proximity to nerve fibres, respect to H (P