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Objectives: This preliminary study aims to examine the effects of tomato juice, which can be easily consumed regularly, on the physical and psychological states of healthy adults in the Coronavirus era., Design: Prospective observational study., Materials and Methods: Ten healthy adults (mean age, 39.7±4.2 years) who consumed 180 mL of tomato juice twice daily for 4 weeks were enrolled. Measurements were taken before and after 4 weeks of consumption for the items below. Five salivary stress biomarkers (cortisol, α-amylase, secretory immunoglobulin A, chromogranin A, and oxytocin) were measured using approximately 1ml of passively pooled saliva samples, which were stored at -20°C until measurement. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity was evaluated using an acceleration pulse wave meter. Skin moisture content and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured using Multi Display devices® MDD4 with specific probes. Subjective psychological states were assessed using Profile of Mood Status (POMS2®) and a survey on skin condition was conducted., Results: As for salivary stress biomarkers, tomato juice intake reduced cortisol and significantly increased oxytocin levels (p = 0.0427). No significant changes were observed in ANS activity. POMS2® results showed a significant decrease in confusion and bewilderment (p = 0.0207). Skin moisture content increased significantly (p = 0.0011), whereas TEWL decreased. The skin condition survey revealed significant changes in 10 parameters., Conclusions: Tomato juice, which can be easily consumed regularly, may alleviate the stress of healthy adults in the Coronavirus era, supported by positive changes in salivary stress biomarker levels, skin moisture content, TEWL, and POMS2® results of this preliminary study.

Objectives: It is necessary to objectively assess the stress state of workers, from the standpoint of holistic palliative care, in order to determine how the rapid change in work styles in the "live with coronavirus era"-in which people will coexist and live with the coronavirus (COVID-19)-will affect their physical and mental health. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of rapid changes in work patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic on the neuroendocrine stress response of workers., Design and Methods: A total of sixteen subjects, 9 telecommuters (2 males, 7 females; age, 37.1±2.6 years) and 7 office workers (3 males, 4 females; age, 37.3±3.0 years) who provided their informed consent were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Saliva was collected four times a day (after waking, noon, evening, and before bedtime) and three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) during May and June 2020. The saliva samples were stored at -20°C until measurement. Saliva components were analyzed by ELISA for cortisol, melatonin, s-IgA, and oxytocin., Results: The diurnal variation of salivary components between telecommuting and office work groups was investigated. Cortisol showed diurnal variation with higher secretion during waking hours and lower secretion toward nighttime in both groups, and no modulation was observed. In the office work group Melatonin showed diurnal variation, with increased secretion at night. In contrast, the telecommuting group showed modulation, with higher secretion at waking and lower secretion at night. s-IgA showed diurnal variation with a high level at waking and a low level thereafter in both groups, and no modulation was observed. The telecommuting group showed higher oxytocin levels in comparison to the office work group., Conclusions: These results suggest that the absence of commuting in the telecommuting group reduces anxiety due to infection, and that the diurnal variation of melatonin may be due to the alteration of circadian rhythm caused by being at home all day.

Objectives: This study aims to comprehensively investigate the changes of salivary stress biomarkers, psychological status, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) response due to horticultural activities (HAs)., Design and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in twenty Japanese healthy adults (mean age, 58.4 years). Flower appreciation, flower arrangement, and farm work experience were performed as three HAs with different working concepts. Five salivary stress biomarkers (cortisol, α-amylase, S-IgA, chromogranin A, and oxytocin) were measured to quantify the stress levels before and after each HA. The Profile of Mood Status 2nd edition (POMS2) was used as a subjective psychological evaluation. Wearable biosensors were used to visualize the continuous ANS response throughout the process., Results: In the POMS2 investigation, the negative factors, which included Anger-Hostility, Confusion-Bewilderment, Depression-Dejection, Tension-Anxiety, and Total Mood Disturbance, were significantly decreased (p=0.0135, p=0.0004, p=0.0024, p=0.0015, p=0.0063, respectively). In the measurement of salivary stress biomarkers, flower appreciation decreased cortisol (p=0.0134), and farm work experience not only decreased cortisol but also increased oxytocin (p=0.0041, p=0.0128 respectively). In the visualization results of the ANS response, a graph demonstrated that the difference in activity between the sympathetic nerve and the parasympathetic nerve was narrowed by a series of HAs., Conclusions: In healthy adults, HAs had a stress-reducing effect, which was evidenced by neuroendocrinological and psychological evaluations, a study of POMS2, salivary stress biomarkers, and visualization of the ANS response.

The traditional Japanese medicine yokukansan has an anxiolytic effect, which occurs after repeated administration. In this study, to investigate the underlying mechanisms, we examined the effects of repeated yokukansan administration on serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor density and affinity and its expression at both mRNA and protein levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of socially isolated mice. Moreover, we examined the effects of yokukansan on a 5-HT1A receptor-mediated behavioral response. Male mice were subjected to social isolation stress for 6 weeks and simultaneously treated with yokukansan. Thereafter, the density and affinity of 5-HT1A receptors were analyzed by a receptor-binding assay. Levels of 5-HT1A receptor protein and mRNA were also measured. Furthermore, (±)-8-hydroxy-2-(dipropylamino)tetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT; a 5-HT1A receptor agonist) was injected intraperitoneally, and rearing behavior was examined. Social isolation stress alone did not affect 5-HT1A receptor density or affinity. However, yokukansan significantly increased receptor density and decreased affinity concomitant with unchanged protein and mRNA levels. Yokukansan also enhanced the 8-OH-DPAT-induced decrease in rearing behavior. These results suggest that yokukansan increases 5-HT1A receptors in the PFC of socially isolated mice and enhances their function, which might underlie its anxiolytic effects.

The effects of yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, on aggressiveness and motor activities were examined in mice after injection of amyloid beta protein (Abeta) into the lateral ventricle of the brain. The results were compared with those of conventional (haloperidol) and atypical (risperidone) antipsychotic medicines. A significant increase in aggressiveness was observed on day 7 after injection of Abeta, and it lasted until day 28. A single oral administration of yokukansan (1.0 g/kg) did not ameliorate the aggressiveness observed on day 7. However, a tendency toward amelioration of the aggressiveness was observed after the administration of yokukansan (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) for 1 week (days 7-14). The 3 week administration (days 7-28) of yokukansan significantly ameliorated the aggressiveness in a dose-dependent manner without inhibition of motor activity. In contrast, a single administration of intraperitoneal haloperidol (0.03-0.1 mg/kg) or oral risperidone (0.1-0.3 mg/kg) on day 28 significantly reduced aggressiveness in a dose-dependent manner. However, motor activities were significantly suppressed. These results suggest yokukansan reduces aggressiveness without suppressing physical activity., (Copyright 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The deposition of amyloid beta (Abeta) protein is a consistent pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains; therefore, inhibition of Abeta fibril formation and destabilization of pre-formed Abeta fibrils is an attractive therapeutic and preventive strategy in the development of disease-modifying drugs for AD. This study demonstrated that Paeonia suffruticosa, a traditional medicinal herb, not only inhibited fibril formation of both Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42) but it also destabilized pre-formed Abeta fibrils in a concentration-dependent manner. Memory function was examined using the passive-avoidance task followed by measurement of Abeta burden in the brains of Tg2576 transgenic mice. The herb improved long-term memory impairment in the transgenic mice and inhibited the accumulation of Abeta in the brain. Three-dimensional HPLC analysis revealed that a water extract of the herb contained several different chemical compounds including 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (PGG). No obvious adverse/toxic were found following treatment with PGG. As was observed with Paeonia suffruticosa, PGG alone inhibited Abeta fibril formation and destabilized pre-formed Abeta fibrils in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that both Paeonia suffruticosa and its active constituent PGG have strong inhibitory effects on formation of Abeta fibrils in vitro and in vivo. PGG is likely to be a safe and promising lead compound in the development of disease-modifying drugs to prevent and/or cure AD.