Effects of Psychological and Physical Stress on Oxidative Stress, Serotonin, and Fatigue in Young Females Induced by Objective Structured Clinical Examination: Pilot Study of u-8-OHdG, u-5HT, and s-HHV-6.

Background: To establish a method to prevent and manage fatigue caused by psychological and physical stress in young females, early detection factors, such as understanding of fatigue and causes of psychological and physical stress, as well as a review of early management of psychiatric disease, are important. With increasing knowledge regarding the diverse causes of stress, it is important to select biomarkers with consideration of the types of stress burden and mechanisms underlying the development of physical symptoms. The methods used to search for stress characteristics is an issue that needs to be addressed. However, consensus regarding objective assessment methods for impaired mental health is lacking.

Methods: We examined the effects of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), considered to be a uniform source of psychological and physical stress, on biomarkers of oxidative stress and fatigue in 16 third-year female medical university students (21.3 ± 2.1 years old) in Japan with a normal menstrual cycle. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to assess subjective stress. Furthermore, stress-related biomarkers (urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [u-8-OHdG], urinary 5-hydroxytryptamine [u-5-HT], and salivary human herpesvirus-6 [s-HHV-6]) were examined at 1 month, 1 week, and 1 day before, and 1 week after the OSCE.

Results: The results indicated that the OSCE did not have effects on u-8-OHdG, a biomarker of oxidative stress. However, u-5-HT and s-HHV-6 were found to be elevated in examinations performed prior to the OSCE.

Conclusions: The present findings suggest that u-5-HT and s-HHV-6 levels can be used for objective assessment of mental and physical fatigue in young females, including that produced not only by knowledge regarding an upcoming OSCE, but also by skill and attitude aspects related to that examination.