Objective: Previous studies have suggested that self-critical perfectionism (SCP) may play a role in the development and maintenance of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). In this study we investigated whether SCP is related to a hypofunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which has been shown to be a key factor in the pathophysiology of CFS.
Method: We conducted a quasi-experimental study to examine the association between SCP (as measured with the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire) and stress reactivity in a sample of 41 female CFS patients. Participants were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Both subjective stress and salivary cortisol levels were measured until 90 min after the TSST. We also examined the relationship between stress reactivity and illness characteristics (i.e., duration and severity of symptoms).
Results: The results showed that SCP was associated with increased subjective stress reactivity, but with decreased HPA-axis reactivity as indicated by a blunted cortisol response to the TSST. Furthermore, we found an inverse relationship between cortisol reactivity and symptom severity. There was no relationship between cortisol reactivity and illness duration.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SCP is associated with loss of resilience of the neurobiological stress response system in CFS.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/hea0000299 | DOI Listing |
Metab Brain Dis
January 2025
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre, CEP 90610-000, RS, Brazil.
Phenylketonuria is a genetic disorder characterized by high phenylalanine levels, the main toxic metabolite of the disease. Hyperphenylalaninemia can cause neurological impairment. In order to avoid this symptomatology, patients typically follow a phenylalanine-free diet supplemented with a synthetic formula that provides essential amino acids, including L-carnitine.
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Radiotherapy (RT) is widely applied in tumor therapy, but inevitable side effects, especially for skin radiation injury, are still a fatal problem and life-threatening challenge for tumor patients. The main components of topical radiation protection preparations currently available on the market are antioxidants, such as SOD, which are limited by their unstable activity and short duration of action, making it difficult to achieve the effects of radiation protection and skin radiation damage treatment. Therefore, we designed a drug-free antioxidant hydrogel patch with encapsulated bioactive epidermal growth factor (EGF) for the treatment of radiation skin injury.
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University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland.
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January 2025
Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Reproduction in males is one of the complicated processes that is mediated by many environmental factors, as well as by diet (e.g. supplements, nutritional value).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Physiology, Zunyi Medical University, Campus No.1 Road, Xinpu New District, Zunyi, 563006, Guizhou, China.
In the vascular system, angiotensin II (Ang II) mediated vasoconstriction by inducing the production of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE). However, the role of 20-HETE in Ang II-induced cardiac dysfunction had yet to be fully elucidated. This study investigated the effects of Ang II on CYP4A expression and 20-HETE production in H9c2 cells using RT-qPCR, Western blot, and ELISA.
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