An increasing body of evidence indicates that psychological stress, i.e., stress hormones and mediators, are involved in the development and progression of cancer – affecting directly or indirectly tumor growth, angiogenesis, and migration or invasion of tumor cells.

Psychological stress is known to aggravate asthma, migraines and certain autoimmune/inflammatory diseases.

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (Ucp2) is a critical determinant of fatty acid utilization by adult neurons and is involved in cell proliferation, neuroprotection and synaptogenesis in the adult brain.

Recent evidence indicates the involvement of an abnormal immune system activity in the pathogenesis of autism and the autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS) is an international organization for researchers in a number of scientific and medical disciplines, including psychology, neurosciences, immunology, physiology, pharmacology, psychiatry, behavioral medicine, infectious diseases, endocrinology and rheumatology, who are interested in interactions between the nervous and immune systems, and the relationship between behavior and health.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a class of immune suppressor cells that represent less than 1% of circulating cells in normal individuals.

Social relationships such as social support, social integration and negative interaction are known to affect health outcomes through different mechanisms.

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is a major branch of the autonomic nervous system and the peripheral stress system.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 controls bone and calcium metabolism but is also involved in immunoregulation via the nuclear Vitamin D receptor (VDR) expressed in antigen-presenting cells and activated T cells.

Oxytocin is a nine amino acid neuropeptide, discovered by Sir Henry Dale in 1906 and the first peptide hormone to be sequenced and synthesized by Vincent du Vigneaud in 1953.

Type 1 T-helper (Th)1 and proinflammatory cytokines are major activators of Th1-dependent cellular immunity, and anti-tumor effects of IL-12 are reported in various animal models.

Recent evidence indicates that psychological stress may affect the onset or progression of several common human diseases at least in part by up-regulating acute or chronic inflammatory processes.

Bungee jumping may represent an interesting and natural model for stress research in humans.

Recent evidence indicates that, besides their hormonal actions at the genetic level, estrogens such as 17beta-estradiol also influence brain function by direct effects on neuronal membranes.

Metabolic syndrome represents a spectrum of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and hypertension, all of which increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Low circulating thyroid hormone levels are common in critically ill patients with severe infections and about 60% of these patients have abnormally low plasma T4 levels, with the lowest levels being observed in patients with sepsis.

Dendritic cells (DCs) cytokine and chemokine profiles are able to shape CD4+ T cell pathways and phenotypes and thus affect several T cell-related inflammatory conditions. DC-associated IL-12 and IL-23 cytokine production has a key role in dictating DC ability to instruct CD4+ T cell phenotypes.

Acute stress in humans is known to cause a rapid and transient leukocytosis.

Recent evidence indicates that social stressors may trigger inflammation, but the neurocognitive pathways and neural regions involved in this process remain poorly understood.

Substance P (SP) has been shown to stimulate the inflammatory response, contributing to control of infections primarily by enhancing Th1 pathways. In addition, psychological stress leads to increases in SP, and chronically stressed individuals are more vulnerable to infections.