Establishment and application of stress assessment system for health expectancy

抑郁症是公众关注的对象，也是生活方式疾病的重要危险因素，影响健康预期。本研究的目的是：(1)探讨心理应激与氧化应激之间的关系，并建立心身应激评价体系；(2)将氧化活性指标超弱化学发光（uwCL）应用于心理应激的测量。[方法]研究唾液发出的超弱光子uwCL是否可以作为急性心理变化的敏感生物标志物。我们还研究了如何利用唾液中的uwCL、皮质醇和sIgA来评估慢性应激的典型反应之一抑郁症状。[结果]愤怒和抑郁情绪引起的急性心理变化增加了氧化活性，唾液sIgA浓度检测到的免疫功能短暂减弱。与慢性心理状态相关的晨间反应分别为uwCL、皮质醇和sIgA；因此，即使在控制协变量后，醒后30min sIgA浓度和流速显著降低，皮质醇浓度和流速升高，uwCL下降。<结论>我们发现急性心理挑战引起的uwCL的时间变化可能被特质性愤怒所改变。虽然发现了心理应激和氧化应激之间的联系，但慢性心身应激的评估系统仍有待阐明。

<Aim>Depression is an object of public concern and a significant risk factor for life-style diseases, which affects health expectancy. The aim of this study was(1) to investigate associations between psychological stress and oxidative stress, and to establish assessment systems for psychosomatic stress, (2) to apply ultra-weak chemiluminescence(uwCL), an indicator of oxidative activity, to the measurement of psychological stress.<Methods>It was examined whether or not salivary uwCL, ultra-weak photons emitted from saliva, can be a sensitive biomarker for acute psychological changes. We also investigated the way to assess depressive symptoms, one of the typical responses for chronic stress, utilizing uwCL, cortisol and sIgA in saliva.<Results>Acute psychological changes induced by angry and depressive moods increased oxidative activity and transiently weaken immunity detected by salivary sIgA concentrations. In relation to chronic psychological status, morning responses of uwCL, cortisol and sIgA were measured ; consequently, the concentration and the flow rate of sIgA significantly decreased, those of cortisol increased and uwCL decreased in 30 min after awakening even after controlling for covariates.<Conclusion>We indicated temporal changes of uwCL induced by acute psychological challenges, which may be modified by trait anger. Although the association between psychological and oxidative stress was found, assessment systems for chronic psychosomatic stress remain to be elucidated.