2024
Stress increases sperm respiration and motility in mice and men
Moon N, Morgan C, Marx-Rattner R, Jeng A, Johnson R, Chikezie I, Mannella C, Sammel M, Epperson C, Bale T. Stress increases sperm respiration and motility in mice and men. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 7900. PMID: 39261485, PMCID: PMC11391062, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52319-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEpididymal epithelial cellsIncreased mitochondrial respirationIn vitro stress modelsCells secrete extracellular vesiclesSperm RNASperm respirationMouse spermSperm maturationDNA regionsSperm functionTranslational signaling pathwaysSperm motilitySemen qualitySpermMitochondrial respirationMetabolic pathwaysSignaling pathwayEnvironmental stressorsExtracellular vesiclesHuman cohort studiesEpithelial cellsMotilityCellular mechanismsEmbryo developmentCohort studyTraumatic experiences and place of occurrence: An analysis of sex differences among a sample of recently arrived immigrant adults from Latin America
Vargas L, Sammel M, Richmond T, Ulrich C, Giano Z, Berkowitz L, Epperson C. Traumatic experiences and place of occurrence: An analysis of sex differences among a sample of recently arrived immigrant adults from Latin America. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0302363. PMID: 38875238, PMCID: PMC11178180, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302363.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHome countryLatin AmericaU.S. southern borderLatin American migrantsU.S.-Mexico borderCountry of originAmerican migrantsIncreased violenceMigration journeySexual assaultImmigrant adultsEconomic instabilitySexual traumaMigrantsGender differencesExposed to traumatic eventsSouthern borderCountriesAnalysis of sex differencesTraumatic experiencesTrauma exposureLatinTraumatic exposureCombat exposureHomeHarnessing technology to improve sleep in frontline healthcare workers: A pilot study of electronic noise-masking earbuds on subjective and objective sleep measures
Haller H, Moore S, Green K, Johnson R, Sammel M, Epperson C, Novick A. Harnessing technology to improve sleep in frontline healthcare workers: A pilot study of electronic noise-masking earbuds on subjective and objective sleep measures. Science Progress 2024, 107: 00368504241242276. PMID: 38614463, PMCID: PMC11016237, DOI: 10.1177/00368504241242276.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInsomnia Severity IndexHealthcare workersIntervention periodObjective sleep measuresSleep onset latencyBaseline assessmentCompared to baseline assessmentsSleep qualitySleep measuresReported sleep difficultiesPre-post designFrontline healthcare workersPilot studyInsomnia Severity Index scoreSelf-report assessmentsBaseline to interventionNonpharmacological interventionsLinear mixed modelsObjective sleep parametersImprove sleepObjective sleep onset latencySleep difficultiesInterventionSubjective sleep perceptionCompared to baselineApplication of glutamate weighted CEST in brain imaging of nicotine dependent participants in vivo at 7T
Jacobs P, Jee J, Fang L, Devlin E, Iannelli C, Thakuri D, Loughead J, Epperson C, Wilson N, Roalf D, Reddy R, Nanga R. Application of glutamate weighted CEST in brain imaging of nicotine dependent participants in vivo at 7T. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0297310. PMID: 38363747, PMCID: PMC10871471, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297310.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDorsal anterior cingulate cortexNon-smokersCingulate gyrusAnterior cingulate cortexContext of addictionTreating nicotine addictionApplication of glutamatePopulation of smokersWilcoxon rank sum testGluCEST imagingTraumatic brain injuryT1-weighted imagesInvestigated glutamateSignificant healthcare issueCingulate cortexGray matter regionsRank sum testNicotine useNicotine addictionNicotine dependenceBrain regionsChemical exchange saturation transferNegative age dependenceHealthy participantsUltra-high field MRI
2023
GABAergic neuroactive steroid response to sertraline in premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Miller K, Standeven L, Morrow A, Payne J, Epperson C, Hantsoo L. GABAergic neuroactive steroid response to sertraline in premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023, 160: 106684. PMID: 38091917, PMCID: PMC10846389, DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106684.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPremenstrual dysphoric disorderSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitorsGABAergic neuroactive steroidsNeuroactive steroid levelsNeuroactive steroidsSertraline treatmentGABA-A receptorsLuteal phasePregnanolone levelsPMDD groupSerum levelsProgesterone ratioDysphoric disorderSteroid levelsSerotonin reuptake inhibitorsPlacebo-controlled designSubsequent luteal phaseEffect of GABAMenstrual cycle phaseNegative mood symptomsGamma-aminobutyric acidPMDD treatmentSSRI treatmentSSRI sertralineReuptake inhibitors