Background While aldosterone plays an important role in blood pressure regulation, its role in essential hypertension (EHT) remains unclear. Here, we systematically investigated the secretion of ...biologically-active free aldosterone in saliva in response to awakening (AldAR) and during the day (AldDay) in EHT compared to normotensive controls (NT). Methods In 30 men with EHT and 30 age-matched NT, AldAR saliva samples were collected immediately after awakening and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min thereafter and AldDay samples were collected from 08:30–22:00 h on two consecutive days. Results Over the course of the day, men with EHT had higher repeated AldDay levels compared to NT ( p = .002) with higher concentrations in the morning hours ( p 's ≤ .047), a steeper decline over the course of the day ( p 's ≤ .018), and similar concentrations in the evening ( p 's ≥ .21). Regarding AldAR, we observed higher concentrations in EHT at awakening ( p = .017) and borderline higher concentrations at 15 min ( p = .086). No differences were found 30–60 min after awakening ( p 's ≥ .34). Analyses with repeated and aggregated AldAR levels resulted in borderline significantly higher free aldosterone in EHT ( p 's ≤ .077). Complementary analyses confirmed linear associations between higher blood pressure and higher AldAR and AldDay levels. Conclusions Our data point to elevated salivary free aldosterone secretion in EHT over the course of the day, particularly in the morning hours. As the free aldosterone fraction is considered biologically active, our data may point to a biological mechanism underlying EHT.
Abstract
Context
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis and its dysfunction relates to negative health consequences. Acute psychosocial ...stress seems to activate the RAAS in humans, but stress kinetics and interrelations of RAAS parameters compared with a nonstress control group remain inconclusive.
Objective
We systematically investigated in a randomized placebo-controlled design stress kinetics and interrelations of the reactivity of RAAS parameters measured in plasma and saliva to standardized acute psychosocial stress induction.
Methods
58 healthy young men were assigned to either a stress or a placebo control group. The stress group underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), while the control group underwent the placebo TSST. We repeatedly assessed plasma renin, and plasma and salivary aldosterone before and up to 3 hours after stress/placebo. We simultaneously assessed salivary cortisol to validate successful stress induction and to test for interrelations.
Results
Acute psychosocial stress induced significant increases in all endocrine measures compared with placebo-stress (all P ≤ .041). Highest renin levels were observed 1 minute after stress, and highest aldosterone and cortisol levels 10 and 20 minutes after stress, with salivary aldosterone starting earlier at 1 minute after stress. Renin completed recovery at 10 minutes, cortisol at 60 minutes, salivary aldosterone at 90 minutes, and plasma aldosterone at 180 minutes after stress. Stress increase scores of all endocrine measures related to each other, as did renin and cortisol areas under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) and salivary and plasma aldosterone AUCi (all P ≤ .047).
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that in humans acute psychosocial stress induces a differential and interrelated RAAS parameter activation pattern. Potential implications for stress-related cardiovascular risk remain to be elucidated.
The mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone is a key regulator of the sodium–potassium balance and blood pressure. In excess, aldosterone relates to hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here, ...we systematically investigated aldosterone secretion during the day in terms of salivary aldosterone awakening response (AldAR) and salivary aldosterone daytime levels (AldDay) under controlled conditions in participants’ natural environment including assessment of potential confounding variables.
In 40 healthy young men, saliva samples for AldAR were collected immediately after awakening and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min thereafter. AldDay levels were measured in 1 h intervals from 9:00–22:00 h. Analyses were complemented by salivary cortisol assessment. Fluid and food intake was standardized and as potential confounders, we assessed awakening time and sleep duration, age, BMI and MAP, as well as chronic stress.
Awakening was followed by significant increases in salivary aldosterone (p = .004, f= 0.31), returning to baseline levels > 60 min later. Longer sleep duration was associated with lower AldAR (p < .001, f= 0.36). Over the course of the day we observed a continuous decrease of AldDay (p < .001, f= 0.45). Longer sleep duration (p = .097, f= .21), later time of awakening (p < .001, f= .29), and higher chronic stress (p = .041, f= .23) were associated with AldDay characteristics. Circadian aldosterone secretion was positively associated with most cortisol measures.
We observed an awakening response in salivary aldosterone and could confirm a decrease in aldosterone levels during the day, comparable to cortisol. Significant confounders were sleep-related variables and chronic stress. Clinical implications of circadian aldosterone secretion with respect to CVD risk remain to be elucidated.
•Salivary aldosterone showed a response to awakening.•Salivary aldosterone levels decreased over the course of the day.•Sleep duration was associated with the salivary aldosterone awakening response.•Sleep duration, awakening time, and chronic stress related to daytime aldosterone.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Essential hypertension is a pivotal risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hypertensives exhibit greater stress-induced responses in various physiological systems considered ...to contribute to CVD progression. Whether this stress hyperreactivity extends to the adrenal hormone aldosterone has not yet been investigated in essential hypertension. Here, we investigated reactivity of plasma aldosterone to acute psychosocial stress induction in hypertensive and normotensive men. 21 hypertensive men and 25 normotensive controls underwent the standardized Trier-Social-Stress-Test (TSST). We repeatedly assessed plasma aldosterone before and up to 1 h after TSST cessation. Acute psychosocial stress induced significantly greater increases in hypertensives as compared to normotensives (F(3.60, 158.50) = 3.75; p = .008, f = 0.29). Our findings suggest stress-induced hyperreactivity of aldosterone in essential hypertension. Potential implications for stress-related cardiovascular risk remain to be elucidated.
•We found TSST-induced aldosterone increases in hypertensive and normotensive men.•Our results suggest aldosterone hyperreactivity to stress in essential hypertension.•Aldosterone reactivity differed 1 and 10 min after stress cessation between groups.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a relevant role in regulating blood pressure and thus maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Although it was recently shown that RAAS parameters ...are responsive to acute psychosocial stress, the psychobiological determinants of the acute stress-induced RAAS activation have not yet been investigated. In a randomized placebo-controlled design, we investigated potential psychological and physiological determinants of the RAAS response and underlying mechanisms.
Fifty-seven young healthy male participants underwent either an acute standardized psychosocial stress test or a nonstress placebo task. We measured aldosterone in plasma and saliva, as well as renin, and the stress-reactive endocrine measures adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), epinephrine, and norepinephrine in plasma at rest, immediately after the task and several times up to 3 hours thereafter. Moreover, we assessed stress-reactive psychological (anticipatory cognitive stress appraisal, mood, physical discomfort) and basal demographic-physiological measures (age, body mass index, blood pressure).
Acute psychosocial stress elicited changes in all assessed endocrine (p values ≤ .028, ηp2 values ≥ 0.07) and stress-reactive psychological measures (p values ≤ .003, ηp2 values ≥ 0.15). The basal parameter body mass index, the stress-reactive endocrine parameters ACTH and norepinephrine, and the psychological parameter anticipatory stress appraisal were identified as determinants of higher RAAS parameter reactivity to acute psychosocial stress. The association between anticipatory cognitive stress appraisal and plasma RAAS measures was fully mediated by ACTH increases (p values ≤ .044, ηp2 values ≥ 0.05).
Cognitive stress appraisal processes seem to modulate RAAS stress reactivity. This points to potential clinical implications for psychoeducative therapeutical interventions targeting stress appraisal processes to reduce endocrine stress reactivity.
Abstract
Background
Higher trait anger has inconsistently been associated with hypertension and hypertension development, but social context in terms of recognition of other persons’ anger has been ...neglected in this context.
Purpose
Here, we investigated anger recognition of facial affect and trait anger in essential hypertensive and normotensive men in addition to prospective associations with blood pressure (BP) increases.
Methods
Baseline assessment comprised a total of 145 participants including 57 essential hypertensive and 65 normotensive men who were otherwise healthy and medication-free. Seventy-two eligible participants additionally completed follow-up assessment 3.1 (±0.08 SEM) years later to analyze BP changes over time. We assessed emotion recognition of facial affect with a paradigm displaying mixed facial affect of two morphed basic emotions including anger, fear, sadness, and happiness. Trait anger was assessed with the Spielberger trait anger scale.
Results
Cross-sectionally, we found that with increasing BP, hypertensive men overrated anger displayed in facial expressions of mixed emotions as compared to normotensive men (ps ≤ .019) while there were no differences in trait anger (p = .16). Prospectively, the interaction between mean anger recognition and trait anger independently predicted BP increases from baseline to follow-up (ps ≤ .043), in that overrating displayed anger predicted future BP increases only if trait anger was high.
Conclusions
Our findings indicate an anger recognition bias in men with essential hypertension and that overrating displayed anger in combination with higher trait anger seems to predict future BP increases. This might be of clinical relevance for the development and progression of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Overrating anger displayed in facial expressions as observed in men with essential hypertension in combination with high trait anger predicted higher future blood pressure.
Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Real-world data on vaccine-elicited neutralising antibody responses for two-dose AZD1222 in African populations are limited. We assessed baseline SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and levels of protective ...neutralizing antibodies prior to vaccination rollout using binding antibodies analysis coupled with pseudotyped virus neutralisation assays in two cohorts from West Africa: Nigerian healthcare workers (n = 140) and a Ghanaian community cohort (n = 527) pre and post vaccination. We found 44 and 28% of pre-vaccination participants showed IgG anti-N positivity, increasing to 59 and 39% respectively with anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG-specific antibodies. Previous IgG anti-N positivity significantly increased post two-dose neutralizing antibody titres in both populations. Serological evidence of breakthrough infection was observed in 8/49 (16%). Neutralising antibodies were observed to wane in both populations, especially in anti-N negative participants with an observed waning rate of 20% highlighting the need for a combination of additional markers to characterise previous infection. We conclude that AZD1222 is immunogenic in two independent West African cohorts with high background seroprevalence and incidence of breakthrough infection in 2021. Waning titres post second dose indicates the need for booster dosing after AZD1222 in the African setting despite hybrid immunity from previous infection.
As a unique form of assessment, authentic assessment tends to focus on contextualised tasks that enable learners to exhibit their proficiency in a more realistic setting. The study was aimed at ...exploring teachers perceptions and practices of authentic (performance-based) assessment at the basic school level in Ghana. A descriptive survey design was adopted with an accessible population estimated at 1,000. However, 286 respondents were sampled for data collection using the purposive and accidental sampling technique. A 10-item questionnaire with r = .90 was used to collect data which were analysed using mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed that most teachers at the basic school level have positive perceptions about authentic assessment. Also, it was revealed that most teachers practise authentic (performance-based) assessments at the basic school level. The researchers recommended that the education agencies and heads of schools should periodically organise in-service training, workshops, and seminars to equip teachers with contemporary issues on an authentic assessment like computer-assisted programs. Again the government should liaise with other stakeholders to make available adequate funds and instructional time for teachers to facilitate the smooth practice of authentic assessment in schools.
Cysticercosis caused by the larval stages of Taenia hydatigena has a significant global impact on livestock production, particularly of goats and sheep. Despite this, global data on prevalence and ...genetic variance of this parasite are still scarce. In Ghana, as in most African countries, numerous anecdotal observations agree that it is widespread and frequent. To obtain baseline data, we screened 251 goats and 248 sheep in northern Ghana (Upper East Region) for T. hydatigena metacestode and molecularly characterized the isolates using the mtDNA cox1 gene sequence. Prevalence was 58.57% in goats and 60.48% in sheep, confirming the abundance of this parasite in the region. Gene sequences revealed high diversity (π 0.00346, hd 0.809) and significant negative Tajima D and Fu's Fs values, a characteristic of a population experiencing an expansion after a recent bottleneck. This is the first account of the genetic structure of T. hydatigena in Ghana, intended as a basis for subsequent studies in the region.
•Prevalence of Taenia hydatigena in goat and sheep from Ghana's Upper East Region is above 50%.•Taenia hydatigena populations exhibit high genetic variance and expanding demography.•Taenia hydatigena haplotypes in northern Ghana are in a star-like distribution.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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