No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain
Abstract
Alterations in monoaminergic neurotransmission in the brain are thought to underlie seasonal variations in mood, behaviour, and affective disorders. We took blood samples from internal jugular veins in 101 healthy men, to assess the relation between concentration of serotonin metabolite in these samples and weather conditions and season. We showed that turnover of serotonin by the brain was lowest in winter (p=0.013). Moreover, the rate of production of serotonin by the brain was directly related to the prevailing duration of bright sunlight (r=0.294, p=0.010), and rose rapidly with increased luminosity. Our findings are further evidence for the notion that changes in release of serotonin by the brain underlie mood seasonality and seasonal affective disorder.
... Figure 1 shows the results in a word cloud. DST research also strongly focuses on impacts on human health, as evidenced by terms such as "circadian rhythm" (29), "human" (25), "humans" (21), and "sleep" (14). These terms indicate a significant interest in exploring how DST affects biological rhythms, sleep, and overall well-being. ...
... Several terms related to energy use, such as "electric power utilization" (13), "energy use" (12), "energy policy" (11), "energy efficiency" (10), and "electricity-consumption" (9), DST research also strongly focuses on impacts on human health, as evidenced by terms such as "circadian rhythm" (29), "human" (25), "humans" (21), and "sleep" (14). These terms indicate a significant interest in exploring how DST affects biological rhythms, sleep, and overall well-being. ...
... Other studies show an increase in sexually transmitted diseases and road accidents [20]. On the other hand, proponents of summertime time argue that the increased amount of sunlight can improve people's mood and physical activity [21]. It is also known that some people enjoy the longer days of summertime, while others report discomfort from the disruption to their daily rhythms [22]. ...
The absence of standardized time zones has profound implications, influencing social, economic, and energy dynamics. It also disrupts personal aspects, such as sleep patterns and family routines. One specific dimension of this issue is the transition to daylight saving time (DST), which entails shifting between standard time (winter) and daylight saving time (summer). This practice has sparked global debates due to its varying impacts across regions and sectors. Although DST primarily aims to optimize energy consumption by leveraging natural daylight, much attention has focused on its broader societal effects. However, the energy performance of commercial buildings under DST remains an underexplored yet equally significant area. This article presents a literature review to critically evaluate the effects of the winter-to-summer time shift on commercial buildings, concentrating on three key factors: energy consumption, where seasonal variations in lighting, heating, and cooling demands may alter anticipated energy savings; occupant thermal comfort, as time changes can disrupt the circadian rhythms of building occupants, impacting productivity and well-being; and operational considerations, as building systems like HVAC and automated controls must adjust to shifting daylight schedules. Accordingly, this review seeks to offer a comprehensive understanding of how the winter–summer time transition affects commercial buildings by analyzing energy consumption patterns, occupant comfort levels, and operational challenges. In doing so, it contributes to optimizing building management practices under varying daylight conditions to enhance energy efficiency and occupant satisfaction.
... Moreover, psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia, as well as suicide and suicide attempts all display seasonality 2,4 . Seasonal variations have been observed for serotonin and dopamine signalling, which are neurotransmitter systems important for mood and reward, but we still do not know how seasonal patterns of mood and related behaviours are regulated [5][6][7][8] . ...
... Human studies have reported that in healthy individuals, brain serotonin levels and serotonin turnover display annual rhythm with troughs in the winter 5,37 . Conversely, a major metabolite of serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, is highest in the cerebrospinal fluid in the summer 38 . ...
Our brain adapts to seasonal changes. Mis-adaptations may lead to seasonal patterns in several psychiatric disorders, but we know little regarding the underlying mechanisms. Our previous work identified two variants in the human circadian clock gene PERIOD3 (PER3), that is, P415A and H417R, which are associated with winter depression, but whether and how these variants lead to the disorder remain to be characterized. Here we find that male mice carrying human P415A and H417R display winter depression-like behaviours that are caused by the actions of P415A and H417R in the adrenal gland. Systemic corticosterone level is downregulated in adaptation to shortening of day length, while P415A and H417R eliminate this downregulation by increasing corticosterone synthesis. Enhanced glucocorticoid signalling represses the transcription of Tph2, which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme of serotonin synthesis, leading to increased depression-like behaviours. Taken together, our findings unveil a mechanism according to which human variants contribute to seasonal mood traits.
... However, many of these associations were not very strong and many authors concluded the results were hardly of any significance. A point must be made that the conclusions of these various studies might undermine the significance of the weathers' effect on pain [19]. It has been well established that pain is a multifactorial entity, therefore one would not expect to find that weather is unilaterally responsible for causing pain events but rather that it could be a contributing factor [20]. ...
... Another study also from the 1970s showed that when the weather changed from "normal" to anything else, serotonin is increased for the duration of the new weather front and returns to baseline levels when the weather is once again "normal [18]." It is also true that the human brain produces more serotonin in the summer than in the winter [19]. Given the above evidence, it seems reasonable to propose that weather fluctuations might affect migraine through neurotransmitters in congruence to how hormonal mechanisms influence the phenomenon of menstrual migraine [20]. ...
Purpose of Review
Many patients with migraine report their attacks are triggered by various weather anomalies. Studies have shown mixed results regarding the association of migraine to weather changes. The purpose of the current review is to compile the most up-to-date research studies on how weather may affect migraine. In addition, we explore the association between weather and other inflammatory disease states as well as neurotransmitters.
Recent Findings
Migraine attacks can be related to weather variables such as barometric pressure, humidity, and wind. However, the results of recent studies are inconsistent; weathers’ effect on migraine attacks is around 20%. However, very strong weather factors have a more significant effect on migraine attack variables.
Summary
Many individuals identify weather as a migraine attack trigger, yet we see no causative relationship between weather and migraine patterns. The outcomes of studies indicate mixed results and reflect individual variation in how weather can impact migraine patterns. Similar relationships can be seen with other rheumatologic and pain conditions in general. Overall, the combination of weather plus other factors appears to be a more significant migraine trigger.
... 15,16 In addition, mood can be influenced by latitude and climate factors such as daytime, daily temperature, daylight, and humidity, as suggested by some studies. 17,18 In the present study, victims were from the jurisdiction of 44 police stations from different parts of Delhi and NCR. About two-fifths (41.96%) of the total cases were from the area under the jurisdiction of adjoining police stations, namely Vasant Kunj North, Vasant Kunj South, Vasant Vihar, and Kishangarh of southwest Delhi. ...
The aim of this retrospective socio-demographic analysis is to identify those at higher risk of suicidal hanging in the region of Delhi and the National Capital Region. All deaths due to suicidal hanging from January 2016 to December 2019 reported in the Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital were included. Suicidal hanging accounted for 2.67% of total autopsied cases; 21-30 years old represented 42.62% of the victims. Male:female ratio was 1.7:1 and 38.37% of cases were from the adjoining areas of Vasant Kunj and Vasant Vihar. Therefore, a preventive strategy should focus concern on young adults, the male sex, and areas of Vasant Kunj and Vasant Vihar.
... Secondly, outdoor activity during infancy offer unique opportunities for social interaction and emotional support, which are crucial for the development of secure attachment relationships and the regulation of emotions [30]. Infants and toddlers who engage in regular outdoor activity are more likely to interact with caregivers and peers in positive and supportive ways, fostering a sense of safety and trust that can mitigate the risk of anxiety later in life.Thirdly, exposure to natural light and outdoor environments has been shown to have profound effects on mood and anxiety levels across the lifespan, but these effects may be particularly pronounced during infancy when the circadian system is still maturing [31]. Previous research has shown that the provision of more outdoor activity spaces is associated with lower anxiety levels in children in a given area. ...
Background
Recently, a decreasing trend has been observed in the frequency and duration of outdoor activity among children, which has garnered concern regarding the potential impacts of this decline during mental health in early childhood. Currently, the association between outdoor activity in early childhood and the symptoms of anxiety disorders in preschoolers remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the frequency and duration of outdoor activity in children aged 0–1 and 1–3 years and anxiety symptoms in preschoolers.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 using questionnaires, included 69,571 preschoolers residing in Longhua District, Shenzhen. Data on family social demographics, outdoor activity frequency and duration in children aged 0–3 years, and the anxiety symptoms of preschoolers were collected through parent-completed questionnaires. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Chinese version of the Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale (SPAS), which assesses symptoms across various dimensions. The association between early childhood outdoor activity and anxiety symptoms in preschoolers was analyzed using a binary logistic regression model.
Results
Children 0–1 years of age who were outdoors < 1 times/week had a higher risk of screening positive for anxiety symptoms in preschool age compared with children who were outdoors ≥ 7 times/week (OR = 2.55, 95% confidence interval(CI): 2.22–2.94). Children in this age group who were outdoors < 30 min/session had a higher risk of screening positive for anxiety symptoms in preschool age compared with children who were outdoors ≥ 120 min/ session (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.38–1.90). Children 1–3 years of age, who were outdoors < 1 time/week had a higher risk of screening positive for anxiety symptoms in preschool age compared with children who were outdoors ≥ 7 times/week, (OR = 3.10, 95%CI: 2.72–3.54). Children in this age group who were outdoors for < 30 min/session had a higher risk of screening positive for anxiety symptoms in preschool age compared with children who were outdoors time ≥ 120 min/ session (OR = 2.07, 95%CI: 1.73–2.48).
Conclusion
Lower frequency and shorter duration of outdoor activity during infancy (0–1 and 1–3 years) had higher odds of screening positive for anxiety symptoms in preschoolers. A frequency of ≥ 7 outdoor activity per week and a duration of ≥ 120 min/session during infancy were associated with lower levels of anxiety symptoms in preschoolers.These findings provide actionable insights for parents and caregivers, highlighting the importance of promoting outdoor activity in early childhood care and parenting practices. Future studies should further explore the causal relationship between outdoor activity and the prevention of anxiety.
... ipRGCs as well as other types of RGCs project to the DRN 30 to regulate serotonergic and GABAergic activity 31 ultimately affecting depression-like behaviour 32 . This pathway may also exist in humans as indirectly evidenced by variation of serotonin levels in blood samples collected in different seasons and lighting conditions 33 . However, the molecular details of how light may affect serotonin and GABA levels in the DRN are unknown. ...
Light is a crucial environmental factor that influences various aspects of life, including physiological and psychological processes. While light is well-known for its role in enabling humans and other animals to perceive their surroundings, its influence extends beyond vision. Importantly, light affects our internal time-keeping system, the circadian clock, which regulates daily rhythms of biochemical and physiological processes, ultimately impacting mood and behaviour. The 24-h availability of light can have profound effects on our well-being, both physically and mentally, as seen in cases of jet lag and shift work. This review summarizes the intricate relationships between light, the circadian clock, and mood-related behaviours, exploring the underlying mechanisms and its implications for health.
... Otro efecto de la luz podría explicarse a partir de la liberación de gonadoliberinas a la hipófisis, que está mediada entre otros neuroquímicos, por la serotonina, cuyo recambio en el cerebro humano está fuertemente influenciado por la luz (Lambert et al, 2002). ...
La relación entre vida, mito y cultura es entendida como un espacio en el que se clarifican los acontecimientos de la naturaleza a partir de los diferentes elementos proporcionados por dichas narraciones ( Ramírez Angarita, C., & Santos, C. R. 2018 ), los mitos resultan muchas veces de observaciones cuidadosas de las conductas sociales, podemos poner de ejemplo las visiones prehispánicas en torno a la salud, incluida la menstruación, que buscaban un equilibrio entre lo natural y espiritual, entre el individuo y la comunidad para mantener el orden social y armonía espiritual. Dada la importancia de estos conocimientos, el objetivo del trabajo fue identificar estudios relacionados con la fisiología con cuatro creencias prehispánicas de la menstruación: la menstruación sensible a los ritmos del cosmos, la sangre menstrual y los poderes curativos, regulaciones conductuales dependientes del ciclo menstrual y la salud reproductiva. Se analizaron veintiún artículos de condiciones fisiológicas que cumplían con los criterios observados en los mitos y creencias prehispánicas de la menstruación, los artículos incluidos van de 2002 a 2024. Entre las ideas que podemos destacar, se encuentra el de los poderes curativos del sangrado menstrual, ahora se conoce que el sangrado menstrual, tiene presentes de células madre que secretan altos de factores angiogénicos (VEGF, HGF, ANG y MMP-1), citoquinas proinflamatorias (L-6, IL-8 e IFN-gamma) y citoquinas antiinflamatorias (IL-4, IL10 e IL-13) con un potencial de regeneración e inmunorregulación.
... This is because sunlight, as the primary light source, has accompanied human evolution for millions of years. 25,26 During this time, the human body and its organs have adapted to sunlight, making it considered the healthiest and most comfortable light. Numerous studies have shown that sunlight can stimulate the brain to release neurotransmitters like serotonin, thereby enhancing mood and alleviating mental stress. ...
Semitransparent organic photovoltaics (ST-OPVs), due to their transparency, can be integrated into building designs through building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) to address the energy challenges posed by urbanization. While current BIPVs such as photovoltaic windows meet the criteria for both the power supply and urban esthetics, a crucial aspect remains underexplored in the existing research: the human experience under such modulated sunlight. In this study, we conduct a systematic analysis of the interaction between spectrally tunable ST-OPV materials and human cognition and emotion, proposing a framework for selecting user-friendly ST-OPVs. Our results reveal that predominant high-performance donor polymer materials negatively influence user emotions. To address this issue, we employed spectrum shaping optical structures to optimize the device transmittance and color rendering properties, to achieve desirable human emotion feedback. This groundbreaking study delves into the user experience of ST-OPV devices, playing a crucial role in addressing the energy demands of urbanization and paving the way for the realization of smart, sustainable, and healthy cities.
... Sunlight exposure is another environmental factor with a significant impact on psychological traits. Sunlight has been shown to influence serotonin levels (Lambert, Reid, Kaye, Jennings, & Esler, 2002), which in turn affect mood regulation and cognitive functions (Kent et al., 2009;Sari & Yuniarti, 2023). Higher levels of sunlight have been associated with positive mood states, increased energy levels, and a reduction in depressive symptoms (Cui et al., 2021). ...
Given its capacity to foster pro-social behavior and enhance subjective well-being, the investigation of determinants influencing generalized trust has assumed particular importance. While extensive prior research has delved into individual-level and social-level factors affecting generalized trust, the role of natural environmental factors has remained relatively unexplored. Since humans consistently experience and respond to ambient temperature, this study sought to examine the potential association between ambient temperature and generalized trust in the expansive geographic context of China. Drawing on data from a nationwide survey in China (N = 26,910), the consistent findings from zero-order correlation, multilevel models, and machine learning analyses collectively unveil a negative correlation between temperature clemency and generalized trust. This implies that individuals residing in regions characterized by comfortable temperatures (approximating 22 °C) in China are less inclined to place trust in strangers within society. Furthermore, random forests analyses demonstrate that temperature clemency surpasses several influential variables (such as sex and population) in predicting generalized trust, underscoring the role of ambient temperature as one of the determinants of generalized trust.
... Sunlight positively impacts mental health by boosting mood and reducing the risk of depression, a known risk factor for dementia, through the elevation of serotonin levels [17,18]. Regular exposure to natural light has been associated with improved cognitive function and slower cognitive decline in older adults [19]. ...
Background and Aims
This study investigates the global impact of ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on dementia incidence, addressing its controversial association with dementia risk. UVR, through both vitamin D‐dependent and independent mechanisms, influences physiological processes essential for brain health, such as reducing neuroinflammation, improving sleep regulation, and enhancing neuroplasticity. This study aims to clarify the relationship between UVR and dementia incidence and evaluate its role in public health strategies for dementia prevention.
Methods
An ecological analysis across 204 countries was conducted using country‐specific data on UVR levels and dementia incidence rates. Bivariate analysis, partial correlation, and multiple linear regression models were employed to assess the relationship between UVR and dementia incidence. Confounding factors, including aging, economic affluence, genetic predisposition, and urbanization, were controlled to ensure robust results. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore differences across income classifications, regional groupings, and developmental statuses, based on World Bank and United Nations criteria.
Results
A significant inverse correlation between UVR and dementia incidence was identified (r = −0.764, p < 0.001), which persisted after adjusting for confounding factors. UVR emerged as the strongest predictor of dementia incidence, explaining a substantial portion of the variance, followed by aging as the second strongest predictor. Subgroup analyses revealed that the protective effects of UVR were particularly pronounced in developing countries, where limited access to vitamin D supplementation, combined with greater exposure to natural sunlight may enhance its influence.
Conclusion
Lower ambient UVR levels are associated with higher dementia incidence rates worldwide, suggesting a critical role for UVR in mitigating dementia risk. Public health strategies should consider environmental factors like UVR, particularly in regions with limited sunlight. Incorporating interventions to optimize UVR exposure could offer a cost‐effective approach to reducing the global dementia burden and improving brain health outcomes.
... For instance, studies have shown that exposure to blue light can significantly impact alertness and cognitive performance, which is particularly relevant in designing lighting for work environments (Cajochen et al., 2005). Additionally, the role of light in regulating mood and emotional states has been explored, with findings indicating that light exposure can influence the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation (Lambert et al., 2002). The psychological effects of light and color are equally significant. ...
This article explores the hypothesis that light, through different color gradients within it, can influence individuals' moods and emotions while doing simple operations like reading a text. This premise is rooted in the theory of color psychology, which suggests that colors can evoke certain emotions and behaviors. Light, being a spectrum of colors, may thus have the potential to influence mood and emotions, particularly during reading when the reader's engagement is high and they are more susceptible to subtle environmental cues. To test this hypothesis, this study employs a series of psychological questionnaires designed to measure participants' emotions, arousal, and anxiety levels. These questionnaires are administered after exposure to different lighting conditions, with varying brightness levels, CCTs, and color gradients. The aim is to establish a correlation between the lighting conditions and the emotional and behavioral responses of the participants. The research builds on previous studies that have demonstrated the influence of light on mood and cognitive performance. Küller (Küller et al., 2006) found that light quality affects employees' mood and well-being in work environments. Knez (Knez, 2001) highlighted how different color temperatures of light can influence cognitive performance and mood. Recent research (Bortolotti et al., 2022) has delved deeper into the influence of perceived color lightness on psychological functions. This research investigates how the perception of color lightness can affect various psychological processes, adding another layer to our understanding of the complex relationship between light, color, and human psychology. The study examines how light, particularly its color and intensity, can influence mood and emotions through its impact on circadian rhythms and the production of hormones such as melatonin and serotonin. Many researches have shown that intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) play a crucial role in this interaction, influencing circadian rhythms and acute behavioral responses to light. As a premise for this research, we have raised the question of whether colour and light affect physiology and psychology in proportional ways. Our research suggests a complex interplay between the physical properties of light and colour and their psychological and physiological effects, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of these relationships. The findings of this study could have implications for various fields; optimizing lighting conditions in education and office settings could enhance reading comprehension and productivity. In conclusion, this article presents a comprehensive investigation into the potential influence of light, through its color gradients, on individuals' moods and emotions during text reading. Integrating psychological measures with exploring physiological mechanisms provides a thorough and credible understanding of this phenomenon.
... Evidence shows an increase in violence and agitation at higher temperatures (Tiihonen et al., 2017), suggesting heat may impact affect and agitation. The serotonin theory linking heat and mood could contribute to both elevated and depressed mood across both mild and extreme heat (Lambert et al., 2002;Lowry et al., 2009). In extreme heat, physiological and cognitive effects of heat stress (Kovats and Hajat, 2008), sleep disturbance (Mullins and White, 2019), and impaired thermoregulation due to psychotropic medication (Martin-Latry et al., 2007;Stöllberger et al., 2009) may all cause an exacerbation of mood disorder symptoms. ...
Background
Environmental heat exposure can negatively impact mental health. Evidence for its effect on mood disorder symptoms is inconsistent. Current studies are limited by poor temporal and geographical resolution.
Methods
We used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data from the smartphone app juli to investigate the association between real-time mean and maximum ambient temperature collected from smartphone geolocation, and depressive and manic symptom scales, every two weeks, in adults with depression and bipolar disorder. We used negative binomial mixed-effects regression models, controlled for demographic and weather variables, and stratified by season.
Results
We analysed data from 4,000 participants with depressive symptom scores and 2,132 with manic symptom scores, between 2021 and 2023. We found that each 1°C increase in mean daily temperature in the preceding two weeks was associated with a 0.2% reduction in depressive symptom scores (coeff 0.998, 95%CI 0.997-0.999) and a 0.4% increase in manic symptom scores (coeff 1.004, 95%CI 1.001-1.007). Associations between maximum temperature and symptom scores followed a similar pattern.
Limitations
We were unable to capture several socio-demographic covariates, had limited geographical information due to privacy regulations, and included a non-random sample.
Conclusions
We found evidence that higher temperatures were associated with increased manic symptoms and decreased depressive symptoms, indicating an important relationship between temperature and the mood disorder continuum. With global heating, there is a need to understand the impact of temperature on mood symptoms, to provide targeted clinical prevention and support. This study demonstrates potential for EMA methods to inform our understanding of these links.
... The rate of production of serotonin by the brain is directly related to the prevailing duration of bright sunlight. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved not only in mood, but also in cognition, regulation of feeding behavior, anxiety, aggression, pain, sexual activity, and sleep [302]. There are substantial amounts of evidence linking variants of genes coding for tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (the enzyme involved in the synthesis of serotonin), the serotonin transporter and the serotonin receptor 2A gene with suicidal behavior [303]. ...
As identified in 1936 by Hans Selye, stress is shaping diseases through the induction of inflammation. But inflammation display some yin yang properties. On one hand inflammation is merging with the innate immune response aimed to fight infectious or sterile insults, on the other hand inflammation favors chronic physical or psychological disorders. Nature has equipped the cells, the organs, and the individuals with mediators and mechanisms that allow them to deal with stress, and even a good stress (eustress) has been associated with homeostasis. Likewise, societies and the planet are exposed to stressful settings, but wars and global warming suggest that the regulatory mechanisms are poorly efficient. In this review we list some inducers of the physiological stress, psychologic stress, societal stress, and planetary stress, and mention some of the great number of parameters which affect and modulate the response to stress and render it different from an individual to another, from the cellular level to the societal one. The cell, the organ, the individual, the society, and the planet share many stressors of which the consequences are extremely interconnected ending in the domino effect and the butterfly effect.
... Sunny days are considered better than other weather types. Previous research has shown that sunny days elicit positive moods and increase consumer expenditure [73]. Cloudy, overcast, and other similar weather types have more cloud cover and less sunlight exposure, which can elicit negative moods. ...
Previous studies have acknowledged the impact of weather changes on retail uncertainty. They primarily focus on understanding how weather conditions affect offline consumer behavior and aim to develop effective marketing strategies. However, there is little research on the complex impact of weather on online shopping behavior. To bridge this gap, we conduct a study with a sample of 261 consumers from China with shopping experience in community retail shops (CRSs). We utilize the S-O-R model and theories, including meteorological emotional effect theory, emotional coherence, and meteorological psychology, to model and elucidate the relationship between weather and consumers’ online shopping behavior in CRS. Our findings reveal that weather conditions affect consumers’ spending patterns and purchase diversity, mediated by consumers’ emotions and risk aversion when they comfortably shop online at home. Furthermore, employing the fsQCA model, we identify the critical path through which weather conditions and consumer types influence risk-aversion awareness. The results provide management implications for retailers to develop online marketing strategies for different consumer types.
... Sunny days are considered better than other weather types. Previous research has shown that sunny days elicit positive moods and increase consumer spending [78]. Cloudy, overcast and other similar weather types have more cloud cover and less sunlight exposure, which can elicit negative moods. ...
Previous studies have acknowledged the impact of weather changes on retail uncertainty. They primarily focus on understanding how weather conditions affect offline consumer behavior and aiming to develop effective marketing strategies. However, there is little research on the complex impact of weather on online shopping behavior. To bridge this gap, we conduct a study with a sample of 261 consumers from China with shopping experience in Community Retail Shops (CRSs). We utilize the S-O-R model and theories including meteorological emotional effect theory, emotional coherence and meteorological psychology to propose and validate models elucidating the relationship between weather and consumers' online shopping behavior in CRS. Our findings reveal that weather conditions affect consumers' spending patterns and purchase diversity, mediating by consumers' emotion and risk aversion, when they comfortably shop online at home. Furthermore, employing the fsQCA model, we identify the critical path through which weather conditions and consumer types influence risk aversion awareness. The results provide management implications for retailers to develop online marketing strategies for different consumer types.
... Research by Keller et al. (2005) highlighted that exposure to sunlight significantly affects both mood and cognition. Additionally, seasonal effects, as discussed by Lambert et al. (2002), could have played a role. Spending time outdoors during spring, as explored by Keller et al. (2005), correlates with increased receptiveness to new information, improved mood, and cognitive abilities. ...
Recognizing the prevailing negative public opinion on mining, it is important to understand how firsthand encounters with mining activities might influence these perceptions. This study investigates how field trips to open pit coal mines and their reclamation sites in the Czech Republic affected the attitudes of 148 university students toward mining and mine reclamation. Using pre and post trip questionnaires, we observed significant changes: Students became less neutral about mining, saw it as a temporary disruptive activity, expressed reduced concern for social conflicts in mining areas, and showed increased support for the ecological restoration of post mining sites. These findings underscore the transformative impact of direct engagement with mine reclamation activities on shaping attitudes. Understanding these effects offers promise for positively shifting public perceptions of mining practices, emphasizing the potential for constructive changes in attitudes through field experiences with reclamation efforts in the Global North.
... The effect of sunlight on the daily mood and cognition of animals and humans has been reported in previous studies (Denissen et al., 2008;Knoop et al., 2020;Wirz-Justice et al., 2021). From a neurochemical perspective, increased sunlight prompts the pineal gland to send out melatonin to areas of the brain known to be involved with feelings of love, and an increase in dopamine and serotonin occurs in the body (Fisher, 2006;Lambert et al., 2002). From the human lived experience perspective, anthropologist Hauge (2015) studied the effect of daylight as a bio-social phenomenon on people's mundane everyday lives. ...
Love is a cornerstone of the multispecies family. It has implications for how companion animals and their human companions know and treat each other. Descending through the universe of living to the universe of information, this paper aims to understand information in the deep engagement between humans and companion cats and dogs. A phenomenological lens of Information Experience and Posthumanism is combined with ethnographic methods to guide the research. I start with the represented affective information in human-animal material and embodied encounters, including in relation to human beds, house doors, room lights, animal cuddles, and touch. Then, I describe human and animal ways of understanding the inner and emotional lives of the other as another existential layer of information interaction in these encounters. To inform the examination of loving and living with cats and dogs, I show how human participants, who have more power in the relationship, learn to give their animals more agency and let the animal be through informational activities of recognizing species differences, imitation, and considering the animal’s best interests within the family. The study provides insights for applying love as a way of understanding information in more-than-human relations, highlighting meaningful information shared between lovers (or knowers), encompassing both humans and animals, as they contribute to each other’s information making and taking.
... Additionally, certain psychotropic drugs may interfere with the body's temperature regulation system, increasing susceptibility to temperature changes (51). Neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are known to regulate body temperature through the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid and hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenal axes (52)(53)(54). Consequently, high temperature has been found to negatively impact cognitive function, leading to increased plasma serotonin levels and dopamine suppression (55). In the context of schizophrenia, the dopamine hypothesis suggests that an excess of dopamine activity may underlie its symptoms (56). ...
Introduction
The precise associations between temperature-related indices and mental and behavioral disorders (MBDs) have yet to be fully elucidated. Our study aims to ascertain the most effective temperature-related index and assess its immediate impact on emergency ambulance dispatches (EADs) due to MBDs in Shenzhen, China.
Methods
EADs data and meteorological data from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2020, in Shenzhen were collected. Distributed lag non-linear models (DLNMs) were utilized to examine the non-linear and lagged effects of temperature-related indices on EADs due to MBDs. The Quasi Akaike Information criterion (QAIC) was used to determine the optimal index after standardizing temperature-related indices. After adjusting for confounding factors in the model, we estimated the immediate and cumulative effects of temperature on EADs due to MBDs.
Results
The analysis of short-term temperature effects on EADs due to MBDs revealed Humidex as the most suitable index. Referring to the optimal Humidex (3.2th percentile, 12.00°C), we observed a significant effect of Humidex over the threshold (34.6th percentile, 26.80°C) on EADs due to MBDs at lag 0–5. The cumulative relative risks for high temperature (90th percentile, 41.90°C) and extreme high temperature (99th percentile, 44.20°C) at lag 0–5 were 1.318 (95% CI: 1.159–1.499) and 1.338 (95% CI: 1.153–1.553), respectively. No significant cold effect was observed on EADs due to MBDs.
Conclusion
High Humidex was associated with more EADs due to MBDs in subtropical regions. Health authorities should implement effective measures to raise public awareness of risks related to high temperature and protect vulnerable populations.
... We found that short-term exposure to sunlight (< 2 h) was associated with beneficial changes of brain structural markers. This may be due to the following reasons: (1) Most of the vitamin D in the body is synthesized from sunlight exposure to the skin 32 , and moderate sunlight exposure can maintain adequate levels of vitamin D which participates in maintaining brain function by regulating the expression of neurotrophic factors, the immune system and oxidative stress 1,33 ; (2) Sunlight projects through atypical intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the brain, regulating the circadian rhythm to maintain brain health 34,35 ; (3) Exposure to sunlight can regulate the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin in the brain, contributing to brain health [36][37][38] . ...
Sunlight is closely intertwined with daily life. It remains unclear whether there are associations between sunlight exposure and brain structural markers. General linear regression analysis was used to compare the differences in brain structural markers among different sunlight exposure time groups. Stratification analyses were performed based on sex, age, and diseases (hypertension, stroke, diabetes). Restricted cubic spline was performed to examine the dose–response relationship between natural sunlight exposure and brain structural markers, with further stratification by season. A negative association of sunlight exposure time with brain structural markers was found in the upper tertile compared to the lower tertile. Prolonged natural sunlight exposure was associated with the volumes of total brain (β: − 0.051, P < 0.001), white matter (β: − 0.031, P = 0.023), gray matter (β: − 0.067, P < 0.001), and white matter hyperintensities (β: 0.059, P < 0.001). These associations were more pronounced in males and individuals under the age of 60. The results of the restricted cubic spline analysis showed a nonlinear relationship between sunlight exposure and brain structural markers, with the direction changing around 2 h of sunlight exposure. This study demonstrates that prolonged exposure to natural sunlight is associated with brain structural markers change.
... Clinical epidemiology affirms clear seasonal effects in the pattern of recurrence of severe illness episodes and hospitalization in bipolar disorder (BD), with excess depressive and mixed episodes in autumn and spring, and mania in summer [1]. Changes in mood across seasons are parallel to the effects of changes in the photoperiod on brain neurotransmitters, with serotonin (5-HT) release increasing, and the serotonin transporter density decreasing, together with the amount of daily light [2,3], a correlational effect enhanced in patients with mood disorders and associated with the severity of depression in winter, when 5-HT is lower and rapidly cleared from the extracellular space by more transporters [4,5]. ...
Seasonal rhythms affect the immune system. Evidence supports the involvement of immuno-inflammatory mechanisms in bipolar disorder (BD), with the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII; platelets × neutrophils/lymphocytes) consistently reported to be higher in patients with BD than in HC, but seasonal rhythms of innate and adaptive immunity have never been studied. We retrospectively studied NLR and SII in 824 participants divided into three groups: 321 consecutively admitted inpatients affected by a major depressive episode in course of BD, and 255 consecutively admitted inpatients affected by obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD; positive psychiatric control), and 248 healthy controls (HC). Patients with BD showed markedly higher markers of systemic inflammation in autumn and winter, but not in spring and summer, in respect to both HC and patients with OCD, thus suggesting a specific effect of season on inflammatory markers in BD, independent of a shared hospital setting and drug treatment. Given that systemic inflammation is emerging as a new marker and as target for treatment in depressive disorders, we suggest that seasonal rhythms should be considered for tailoring antidepressant immuno-modulatory treatments in a precision medicine approach.
... Therefore, we believe that sun exposure also has an important effect on sleep cycle and sleep quality [31], and sleep cycle and sleep quality may have an impact on the prevention or treatment of depression. Sun exposure has an impact on serotonin [32], a mood-boosting neurotransmitter, and a lack of sun exposure leads to decreased serotonin production, which can lead to negative ...
... Evidence from rodent models suggests that light also affects alertness via direct pathways from the ipRGCs to monoaminergic and orexinergic centers and the VLPO, and mood via projections to the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and perihabenular nucleus (82,84). Serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels and activity of neurons expressing these neurotransmitters are also strongly influenced by photoperiod length (85), and positive correlations between serotonin synthesis and hours of sunlight have been reported (86). ...
Sleep, circadian rhythms, and mental health are reciprocally interlinked. Disruption to the quality, continuity, and timing of sleep can precipitate or exacerbate psychiatric symptoms in susceptible individuals, while treatments that target sleep—circadian disturbances can alleviate psychopathology. Conversely, psychiatric symptoms can reciprocally exacerbate poor sleep and disrupt clock-controlled processes. Despite progress in elucidating underlying mechanisms, a cohesive approach that integrates the dynamic interactions between psychiatric disorder with both sleep and circadian processes is lacking. This review synthesizes recent evidence for sleep—circadian dysfunction as a transdiagnostic contributor to a range of psychiatric disorders, with an emphasis on biological mechanisms. We highlight observations from adolescent and young adults, who are at greatest risk of developing mental disorders, and for whom early detection and intervention promise the greatest benefit. In particular, we aim to a) integrate sleep and circadian factors implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of mood, anxiety, and psychosis spectrum disorders, with a transdiagnostic perspective; b) highlight the need to reframe existing knowledge and adopt an integrated approach which recognizes the interaction between sleep and circadian factors; and c) identify important gaps and opportunities for further research.
... Second, changes in serotonin metabolism in the brain have been suggested to play a causal role in depression. Sunlight and global radiation have been found to influence the rate of serotonin production in brain (Lambert et al., 2002). Third, less exposure to sunlight decreases the production of vitamin D that has been associated with the pathogenesis and Table 3 Odds Ratios for one MJ/m 2 increase in three-month a and four-month b averaged global radiation and symptoms of depression and sleep disturbance. ...
Objectives:
Knowledge on how sunlight impacts SERT activity via SLC6A4 promoter methylation in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the effect of daily sunshine duration on SLC6A4 promoter methylation in 28 patients with SAD and 40 healthy controls (HC).
Methods:
Daily sunlight data for Vienna, Austria (mean of 28 days before blood sampling), were obtained from ©GeoSphere Austria. A general linear model analysed SLC6A4 promoter methylation as the dependent variable, with sunlight hours as the independent variable, and group (SAD, HC), age, sex, and 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 as covariates. Exploratory analyses examined the effects of sunlight hours and methylation on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores.
Results:
Sunlight had a significant effect on SLC6A4 promoter methylation (p = 0.03), with more sunlight hours resulting in lower methylation (r = -0.25). However, the interaction between sunlight and group was non-significant, suggesting a rather general effect across both groups. Sunlight also influenced BDI scores (p < 0.01), with fewer sunlight hours leading to higher scores (r = -0.25), which aligns with previous research. SLC6A4 promoter methylation had no significant effect on BDI scores.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that sunlight influences SLC6A4 methylation without SAD specificity.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition driven by immune system dysfunction, genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Patients with psoriasis experience a well‐known clinical phenomenon of ‘winter severity and summer relief’, in which seasonal environmental factors play critical roles in the onset and progression of psoriasis. These factors include temperature, humidity, infection, light exposure and psychological stress. Seasonal changes in temperature and humidity can compromise skin barrier function and exacerbate inflammatory responses, thereby worsening psoriasis symptoms. Notably, during the winter, decreased light exposure leads to reduced vitamin D (VD) levels, reaching their lowest levels from late winter to early spring. This decline in VD levels is associated with increased disease activity, greater disease severity and more frequent flare‐ups in patients with psoriasis. During the winter, influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections are more prevalent, which can further exacerbate psoriasis symptoms. Moreover, the environmental conditions in winter can trigger or intensify feelings of depression, which may adversely affect psoriasis through the brain–skin axis. In this comprehensive review, we thoroughly examined the influence of seasonal environmental factors on the incidence, recurrence and severity of psoriasis. By clarifying these complex relationships, we aimed to support the future development of more personalised and effective treatment and management strategies for patients with psoriasis.
Alcohol-based drinking consumption has increasingly become an important part of residents' daily leisure life. There is a geographical tradition cognition that people from northern China would have higher preference for drinking than those from southern China, but geographers have not provided scientific answers for this question yet. Starting from this gap, this study attempts to verify the existence of such a regional preference and further reveal its general impact factors of spatial distribution. This study uses Baidu keyword search indexes and Amap alcohol POI data to represent the alcohol-based drinking preferences in each city of China, by considering the interferences of the size of population, structure of population, average income of the citizens, and the prosperity of urban economies. In order to better understand the research results, this study frames the leisure preference of alcohol-based drinking consumption as the "Libai Index", which is composed of Libai expected consumption index and Libai actual consumption index. The results show that: (1) The sptial distribution of the Libai Index is inconsistent with the geographical tradition cognition of Chinese drinking behavior. The Libai Index does not show obvious north-south and east-west differentiation or follow the geographical distribution of the famous Hu Huanyong Line. The region with the highest preference is not the most economically developed cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, but the Sichuan-Chongqing region with Chengdu and Chongqing as the core. (2) In terms of natural environment, the lower the temperature is, the higher the Libai expected consumption index will be; the lower the temperature and the shorter the sunshine duration are, the higher is the Libai actual consumption index; however, precipitation, humidity and wind speed do not have significant impact on the two Libai indexes. (3) In terms of socio-economic environment, housing price level and night light are significantly positively correlated with the two Libai indexes. The findings of this study correct the traditional misunderstanding of the geographical distribution of alcohol-based drinking preference. It reveals the influence of natural environmental factors such as temperature and sunshine duration and social economic factors such as housing price and night light index on alcohol consumption. This work resonates with the neo-environmental determinism and affirms that this theory still has good explanatory power. At the same time, this paper is also a pro-active attempt for the utilization of multi-structure geo-data.
The object of the study is cybercrime. The subject of the study is those aspects of the object that can be quantified: the registration of crimes classified as crimes in the field of computer information depending on the period of year. In other words, the crime seasonality index. Special attention should be paid to the fact that this indicator is used relatively rarely in Russian criminology. Modern research on individual (private) issues of crime seasonality is insufficient. We pay special attention to the methodological aspects of calculating such an index, the specifics of extracting the initial statistical information. The main disadvantages in the implementation of the method are indicated. It is proposed to use two ways to calculate the crime seasonality index. The author analyzes the consequences resulting from the formation of a seasonal distribution of cybercrimes. The discovered patterns are compared with the results of our foreign colleagues. We refer to the statistical summary and grouping of material, the documentary method, the calculation of averages, the calculation of the rate of dynamics and the specific weight of a particular statistics in the structure of crime as methods of research. As a result, criminologically significant conclusions were obtained. The calculation of the standard deviation of the dynamics indicators allowed us to determine a reliable interval of the dynamic data series on the state of cybercrimes. The methodology for calculating the values of the seasonality index over a 6-year period, taking into account a significant change in the volume of registered crimes, was tested, compared with the current one and recommended for use. It turned out that all the calculation methods known today are not without drawbacks, since they are unable to take into account the exponential increase in crime. The dependence of the crime seasonality index on the structure over long time intervals was revealed. A pattern has been found indicating that the seasonality index for all crime reflects rather an accounting and registration discipline, while objective dependencies can be detected only when switching to certain types of crime. Some manifestations of the seasonality index of crimes committed using information and communication technologies are analyzed. These features are compared with the seasonal distribution of computer crimes observed by our foreign colleagues. Recommendations and conclusions are given on the prospects for further use of the seasonality index in studying the dynamics of computer crime.
Background
In Northern latitudes, winter is the darkest time of the year, and depressive episodes during winter are prevalent. Although changing weather patterns due to climate change are projected to result in warmer and wetter and, thus, even darker winters, research on the impact of winter-time natural light and precipitation on mental health is scarce. We examined associations of exposure to solar radiation and precipitation with psychotropic medication and antidepressant purchases in winter months.
Methods
Of the 251,268 eligible participants from the Finnish public sector study, aged ≥18 years, 72% were women. Associations for municipality-level 4-week average solar radiation and precipitation with register-based medication purchases from 1999 to 2016 were analyzed using random effects method with Poisson regression. A 6-month washout period with no purchases was applied to each purchase. Confounding by region and year, and effect modifications by sex, age, and socioeconomic status were examined.
Results
No association was observed for an increase in 4-week average of solar radiation by standard deviation (585 kJ/m ² ) with any psychotropic medications (incidence rate ratio: 0.99; 95% confidence interval: 0.98, 1.00) or antidepressants (1.00; 0.99, 1.01). No difference in any psychotropic medication or antidepressant purchases in participants exposed to high solar radiation (≥2000 kJ/m ² ) compared with those with the lowest exposure (<500 kJ/m ² ) was observed. No associations were observed for precipitation.
Conclusion
No evidence linking higher solar radiation exposure to reduced psychotropic medication purchases, nor higher precipitation exposure to increased medication purchases in winter was observed. Further research is needed to validate and expand upon these findings.
Of experiencing rain and being fond of the rainfall, the poet Langston Hughes neatly sums it up by saying, “Let the rain kiss you, let the rain beat upon your head with silver beads, let the rain sing you a lullaby.” However, few studies have investigated the link between rainfall and emotions and even less is known about individual differences in people's responses to the weather. This study examines this 'classic notion', in relation to the Monsoon season and state of mind of people in Kerala. Located along the Malabar Coast in southwest India, Kerala popularly known as 'God’s own country' has two major Monsoon seasons that come in June and Mid - October respectively. For the people who live here, the monsoon is not just a geographic phenomenon, but a recurring, living, gasping character in their lives. It's a trope for hope, peace, observance, adventure etc. The inquiry considers four different emotions: Vigor, Satisfied, Baneful and Burnout. Vigor is a positive affective state of high activation, Satisfaction is a positive well-being state of low activation, Baneful is a state of destruction in productivity or woe and Burnout is a negative well-being state of low activation, comprising exhaustion and disengagement . Study comprises the extensive interviews with 200 people having age range of 10 to 80, aiming to explain such individual differences in weather reactivity. By analyzing the data gathered from this study, it's evident that people seem to differ in their reactivity to weather and contribute to the understanding of affective well-being of people by pointing at the role environmental factors such as monsoons can play. This study can also provide possible explanations for previous deficient findings on the role of weather for well-being in Kerala.
Keywords: Monsoon and Emotions, Weather Psychology, Interpersonal Communication, Environmental Communication
Suicide is one of the important public health issues among mental health problems. Given that suicide significantly increases the risk of premature death, it is essential to identify potential risk factors for its prevention. It has been known that meteorological variables have an impact on suicide, but the influence of temperature variations on suicide has been undetermined. A generalized additive model utilizing a Gaussian distribution was used to assess the association between diurnal temperature range (DTR) and YLLs from suicide after rigorous adjustment for confounders, including temperature. Moreover, the lag effects of DTR up to 7 days were considered when performing the main analysis and subgroup analyses by sex, age, level of education, occupation, marital status, place of death, suicide method, and season. DTR and YLLs from suicide showed a significant positive association over various lag structures. The best-fitting lag structure was lag 0–6 (7.03 years, 95% confidence intervals: 3.49, 10.58 years). In subgroup analyses, DTR and YLLs from suicide showed the most significant associations in males (3.79 years), those in the age group of 36–64 years (4.22 years), unemployed (5.02 years), unmarried (3.98 years), death inside buildings (5.42 years), violent method (6.66 years), and spring (4.30 years). Our study offers new evidence that DTR may contribute as a risk factor for YLLs from suicide. Our finding can be considered when establishing preventive measures for premature death from suicide.
Variations in day length, or photoperiodism, whether natural or artificial light, significantly impact biological, physiological, and behavioral processes within the brain. Both natural and artificial light sources are environmental factors that significantly influence brain functions and mental well-being. Photoperiodism is a phenomenon, occurring either over a 24 h cycle or seasonally and denotes all biological responses of humans and animals to these fluctuations in day and night length. Conversely, artificial light occurrence refers to the presence of light during nighttime hours and/or its absence during the daytime (unnaturally long and short days, respectively). Light at night, which is a form of light pollution, is prevalent in many societies, especially common in certain emergency occupations. Moreover, individuals with certain mental disorders, such as depression, often exhibit a preference for darkness over daytime light. Nevertheless, disturbances in light patterns can have negative consequences, impacting brain performance through similar mechanisms albeit with varying degrees of severity. Furthermore, changes in day length lead to alterations in the activity of receptors, proteins, ion channels, and molecular signaling pathways, all of which can impact brain health. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms by which day length influences brain functions through neural circuits, hormonal systems, neurochemical processes, cellular activity, and even molecular signaling pathways.
Meteorological factors affect the serotonergic system, potentially influencing SLC6A4 promoter methylation in seasonal affective disorder (SAD). However, studies on how sunlight impacts methylation and modulates SERT activity in this context remain limited. This study aims to investigate the effect of average daily sunshine duration on SLC6A4 promoter methylation in a cohort consisting of both patients with SAD as well as healthy controls (HC). Methylation data were collected from 28 patients with SAD and 40 healthy controls (HC). Average methylation from four SLC6A4 promoter CpG sites was assessed. Daily sunlight data for Vienna, Austria (mean of 28 days before blood sampling), were obtained from ©GeoSphere Austria. A general linear model (GLM) analyzed SLC6A4 promoter methylation as the dependent variable, with sunlight hours as the independent variable, and group (SAD, HC), age, sex, and 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 as covariates. Exploratory analyses examined sunlight hours and methylation effects on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores. Sunlight had a significant effect on SLC6A4 promoter methylation (p = 0.03), with more sunlight hours resulting in lower methylation (r = -0.25). However, the interaction between sunlight and group was non-significant, suggesting a rather general effect across both groups. Sunlight also influenced BDI scores (p < 0.01), with fewer sunlight hours leading to higher BDI scores (r = -0.25), which aligns with previous research. SLC6A4 promoter methylation had no significant effect on BDI scores. Our findings suggest that sunlight impacts SLC6A4 promoter methylation, but this effect appears general, not specific to SAD pathophysiology.
Nature connectedness refers to the emotional and cognitive bond of an individual with nature, a concept widely studied due to its benefits for the well-being of people. However, there is a tendency to ignore the aversive elements of nature. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to study the role of these elements with respect to connectedness. The first study conducted ( N = 160) found that different types of aversive elements have a different impact on people. This impact is not related to connectedness, since people usually focus only on the positive elements of nature when reporting on their connectedness. The second study ( N = 143) provides evidence that people consider the positive elements of nature as being more representative. Therefore, it is important to take nature into account in a global way, considering not only its positive aspects but also the negative ones, when studying nature connectedness.
Trace Transformation Theory posits that episodic memories progressively transform into gist-based representations during consolidation. Prior research has primarily investigated memory transformation during consolidation through laboratory-based experiments at sparse intervals, emphasizing the relationship between these transformations and neural changes at the systems level, while largely neglecting the role of synaptic-level neural changes. We aim to bridge the existing gap by systematically characterizing the daily progression of memory trace transformation. We achieve this by quantifying the degree of linguistic detail and abstraction in a comprehensive field dataset of episodic memories and plotting these metrics against the time elapsed since encoding. We observe a biphasic pattern alternating between high-detail and low-detail representations, which challenges the idea of gradual memory specificity decay and aligns with temporal dynamics observed in synaptic plasticity, specifically late-phase LTP and LTD decay constants.
Acetaminophen (APAP) is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug known worldwide for its safety and efficacy. However, in Japan, OTC drug overdose has become a prominent social problem in recent years due to stricter regulations for other drugs, especially among young people, and APAP is an increasing cause of acute liver injury due to overdose. This report describes three consecutive cases of acute liver failure in young women (22, 22 and 19 years old) due to APAP overdose in December 2023. Despite severe liver injury, indicated by high ALT levels and coagulopathy, these cases recovered without requiring liver transplantation. This report discusses three cases of acute liver failure in young Japanese women following APAP overdose, reflecting a national increase in such cases due to increased misuse of OTC drugs and societal factors. Key findings include the need for early treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and the importance of mental health assessment in the management of overdose patients. The cases underscore the need for prompt team-based care to prevent serious outcomes and highlight the complexity of liver transplantation decisions in Japan, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to address the escalating problem of APAP overdose.
Worldwide, the incidence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is increasing annually, resulting in greater economic and social burdens. Moreover, the pathological mechanisms of MDD and the mechanisms underlying the effects of pharmacological treatments for MDD are complex and unclear, and additional diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for MDD still are needed. The currently widely accepted theories of MDD pathogenesis include the neurotransmitter and receptor hypothesis, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hypothesis, cytokine hypothesis, neuroplasticity hypothesis and systemic influence hypothesis, but these hypothesis cannot completely explain the pathological mechanism of MDD. Even it is still hard to adopt only one hypothesis to completely reveal the pathogenesis of MDD, thus in recent years, great progress has been made in elucidating the roles of multiple organ interactions in the pathogenesis MDD and identifying novel therapeutic approaches and multitarget modulatory strategies, further revealing the disease features of MDD. Furthermore, some newly discovered potential pharmacological targets and newly studied antidepressants have attracted widespread attention, some reagents have even been approved for clinical treatment and some novel therapeutic methods such as phototherapy and acupuncture have been discovered to have effective improvement for the depressive symptoms. In this work, we comprehensively summarize the latest research on the pathogenesis and diagnosis of MDD, preventive approaches and therapeutic medicines, as well as the related clinical trials.
This study aimed to investigate the associations between environmental temperature and schizophrenia admissions in Liuzhou, China. A Poisson generalized linear model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to analyze the effects of daily mean temperature on schizophrenia admissions from 2013 to 2020 in Liuzhou. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate possible modifications stratified by gender, marital status, and age. In this study, 10,420 schizophrenia admissions were included. The relative risks of schizophrenia admissions increased as the temperature rose, and the lag effects of high temperature on schizophrenia admissions were observed when the daily mean temperature reached 21.65°C. The largest single effect was observed at lag0, while the largest cumulative effect was observed at lag6. The single effects of high temperatures on schizophrenia admissions were statistically significant in both males and females, but the cumulative effects were statistically significant only in males, with the greatest effect at lag0–7. The single effect of high temperatures on admissions for unmarried schizophrenics was greatest at lag5, while the maximum cumulative effect for unmarried schizophrenia was observed at lag0–7. The single effects of high temperatures on schizophrenia admissions were observed in those aged 0–20, 21–40, and 41–60. The cumulative effects for schizophrenics aged 21–40 were observed from lag0–3 to lag0–7, with the maximum effect at lag0–7. In conclusion, the risk of schizophrenia admissions increased as the environmental temperature increased. The schizophrenics who were unmarried appeared to be more vulnerable to the single and cumulative effects of high temperature.
Previous studies show that rapid tryptophan depletion reverses the effects of therapy with serotonergic, but not noradrenergic, antidepressant drugs in patients with remitted nonseasonal depression. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of rapid tryptophan depletion in patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) that was in clinical remission after light therapy.
Patients who met DSM-III-R criteria for recurrent major depressive episodes, seasonal (winter) pattern (equivalent to SAD), were treated with a standard course of light therapy. Ten patients with SAD in clinical remission after light therapy underwent rapid tryptophan depletion in a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study. Behavioral ratings and plasma tryptophan levels were obtained before and after rapid tryptophan depletion.
Plasma total and free tryptophan levels were significantly reduced to 20% of normal levels by the rapid tryptophan depletion. The depletion session resulted in significant increases in depression scores compared with the sham control session. Six of 10 patients had a clinically significant relapse of their depression following the tryptophan depletion session.
Rapid tryptophan depletion appears to reverse the antidepressant effect of bright light therapy in patients with SAD. This suggests that the therapeutic effects of bright light in SAD may involve a serotonergic mechanism.
In the present investigation the brains of 56 humans (32 males and 24 females, age 26 to 91 years), in most of the cases dying from myocardial infarction or malignancies but in no case with any known neurological or psychiaric disorder have been analysed post mortem for monoamines and some of their precursors and metabolites. The analysis of post-mortem brain data is difficult. Great care must be taken to exclude false correlations owing to heterogeneity of the material with respect to various factors such as age, sex, diagnosis, agonal states and post-mortem delay. In the present investigation the authors tried to check for these factors. They cannot exclude that the shape of the biorhythmic curves presented here have been distorted by such heterogeneities, but the analyses indicate that circadian and seasonal fluctuations of biogenic amines and their metabolites do indeed occur in the human brain. The observations are supported by animal data, which like the human observations indicate marked regional differences.
Veno-arterial plasma concentration differences and regional organ plasma flows were used to quantify the relative amounts of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) contributed by various sites into the peripheral circulation. Positive venoarterial concentration gradients were found in the hepatosplanchnic, forearm, cardiac and jugular vessels in the healthy subjects. The renal circulation was determined to be the principal site of 5-HIAA clearance, extracting 18 +/- 2 nmol/min. The gut was the greatest contributor to the total 5-HIAA plasma pool with the relative contributions of the various organs being as follows: hepatosplanchnic organs 58%, skeletal muscle 26%, brain 6% and the heart 3%. The source of 5-HIAA stemming from these regional beds remains unknown, it may derive from serotonin taken up by and deaminated in ubiquitous endothelial cells, enterochromaffin cells of the gut, peripheral serotonergic nerves, serotonin turnover in platelets or perhaps the metabolism of serotonin taken up by sympathetic nerves. To test the latter hypothesis we examined 23 patients with chronic congestive heart failure and 9 patients with pure autonomic failure to investigate the possible effects of sympathetic nervous system overactivity and underactivity on peripheral 5-HIAA production and plasma 5-HIAA concentration. The resting arterial plasma 5-HIAA concentration in the heart failure patients was increased three-fold. This elevated plasma 5-HIAA concentration was attributable to an increased rate of whole body 5-HIAA production. The arterial 5-HIAA plasma concentration in the autonomic failure patients was paradoxically elevated, being 70% greater than that of the healthy subjects. The increased 5-HIAA plasma concentration in these patients was accounted for by a reduction in 5-HIAA plasma clearance. In all subjects studied there was a weak relationship only between total body norepinephrine spillover to plasma and the arterial 5-HIAA plasma concentration. We found that in healthy subjects the overflow of 5-HIAA into the hepatic vein was significantly related to the underlying degree of sympathetic activity. It can be concluded that 5-HIAA is produced at a number of sites throughout the body with the arterial plasma concentration being dependent on both the level of production and plasma clearance. By far the majority of 5-HIAA in plasma is derived from the gut with only minimal contribution from the brain.
Wintertime measures of central and peripheral monoamine neurotransmitter system activity in 17 medication-free depressed patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) were compared with those in eight healthy volunteers. Mean cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of the principal metabolites of norepinephrine (NE), serotonin, and dopamine did not differ between the two groups, nor did mean basal or orthostatically stimulated plasma NE levels. Patients' pretreatment depression ratings were inversely correlated with resting plasma NE concentrations. Fourteen SAD patients were clear responders to 2 weeks of full-spectrum bright light treatment. Neither the transmitter measures nor their interrelatedness was affected significantly by phototherapy.