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Genomic Counter-Stress Changes Induced by the Relaxation Response

posted by cmn32480 on Tuesday December 15 2015, @05:51PM   
from the i'm-too-fat-for-yoga-pants dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Abstract

Background

Mind-body practices that elicit the relaxation response (RR) have been used worldwide for millennia to prevent and treat disease. The RR is characterized by decreased oxygen consumption, increased exhaled nitric oxide, and reduced psychological distress. It is believed to be the counterpart of the stress response that exhibits a distinct pattern of physiology and transcriptional profile. We hypothesized that RR elicitation results in characteristic gene expression changes that can be used to measure physiological responses elicited by the RR in an unbiased fashion.

Methods/Principal Findings

We assessed whole blood transcriptional profiles in 19 healthy, long-term practitioners of daily RR practice (group M), 19 healthy controls (group N1), and 20 N1 individuals who completed 8 weeks of RR training (group N2). 2209 genes were differentially expressed in group M relative to group N1 (p<0.05) and 1561 genes in group N2 compared to group N1 (p<0.05). Importantly, 433 (p<10−10) of 2209 and 1561 differentially expressed genes were shared among long-term (M) and short-term practitioners (N2). Gene ontology and gene set enrichment analyses revealed significant alterations in cellular metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, generation of reactive oxygen species and response to oxidative stress in long-term and short-term practitioners of daily RR practice that may counteract cellular damage related to chronic psychological stress. A significant number of genes and pathways were confirmed in an independent validation set containing 5 N1 controls, 5 N2 short-term and 6 M long-term practitioners.

Conclusions/Significance

This study provides the first compelling evidence that the RR elicits specific gene expression changes in short-term and long-term practitioners. Our results suggest consistent and constitutive changes in gene expression resulting from RR may relate to long term physiological effects. Our study may stimulate new investigations into applying transcriptional profiling for accurately measuring RR and stress related responses in multiple disease settings.

You heard 'em, put on your yoga pants.

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Original Submission

• Nope. Nope. (Score: 1, Offtopic) by JeanCroix on Tuesday December 15 2015, @06:45PM

  by JeanCroix (573) on Tuesday December 15 2015, @06:45PM (#276753)

  I don't care about your karma I don't care about what's hip No space cadet's gonna tell me what to do I won't swim in your jacuzzi You can't make me settle down I'd rather kick and jump and bite and scratch And scream until I'm blue I may as well be hyper as long as I'm still around 'Cause I'll have lots of time to be laid back When I'm six feet underground I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead When are you cosmic cowboys Gonna get it through your heads? I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I can't stand the smell of incense I don't really like to jog No Joni Mitchell 8-tracks in my car, ooh I hate anything organic Even health food makes me sick You won't catch me sipping Perrier Down in some sushi bar, I tell you Now's the time to go for all the gusto you can grab You'll have plenty of time to be low-key When you're laid out on the slab I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead When are you cosmic cowboys Gonna get it through your heads? I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I don't want no part of that vegetarian scene I won't buy me a pair of designer jeans No redwood hot tub to my name I got all that I want and if it's all the same to you I don't need a course in self-awareness To find out who I am And I'd rather have a, a Big Mac or a Jumbo Jack Than all the bean sprouts in Japan So don't ask me what I'm into I don't need to prove I'm cool I'll break your arm if you ask me what's my sign I won't tell you where my head's at I don't need to see no shrink Psychosis may be in this year But I'm really not that kind And I'm in no hurry to be casual In fact, I think, I'll wait Until I'm pushing up the daisies Like wow, man, can you relate? I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead I'll be mellow when I'm dead

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• Re:Nope. (Score: 4, Funny) by JeanCroix on Tuesday December 15 2015, @06:47PM

  by JeanCroix (573) on Tuesday December 15 2015, @06:47PM (#276755)

  I guess that's when I'll remember to reformat text, too..

  Parent

• Re:Nope. Re:Nope. (Score: 2) by DECbot on Tuesday December 15 2015, @07:48PM

  by DECbot (832) on Tuesday December 15 2015, @07:48PM (#276771) Journal

  <br> ← you're missing this

  --
  cats~$ sudo chown -R us /home/base

  Parent

  • Re:Nope. (Score: 2) by JeanCroix on Tuesday December 15 2015, @08:07PM

    by JeanCroix (573) on Tuesday December 15 2015, @08:07PM (#276779)

    Thanks. I'll need around a hundred more, though.

    Parent