Biological Pathways
In addition to measures related to the assessment of infection and colds, the 5 studies included numerous other biological measurements that were taken at baseline (i.e, pre-viral challenge). While not all measures were included in each study, many variables were assessed in two or more. Examples of such assessments include screening measures used to verify study eligibility (e.g., complete blood cell counts, HIV seropositivity), anthropometric measures, and assessments of basal cardiovascular and endocrine activity. The table below lists all of the baseline biological measures that were collected across the 5 studies and identifies which studies included each measure. More detailed information on how each biological variable was assessed can be obtained by clicking on the name of the specific measure.
Category |
Measure |
BCS |
PCS1 |
PCS2 |
PMBC |
PCS3 |
Anthropometry |
Height, weight, waist circumference, etc. |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Biological Aging |
Lymphocyte telomere length* |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
ENT Measures |
Nasal exam |
Gross mucosal pathology, physician report |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Ear exam |
Middle ear pressure |
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Genotyping |
Polymorphisms relevant to inflammation and sympathetic & HPA response |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
Handedness |
Study questionnaire |
|
✔ |
|
|
|
Immunity |
Functional |
Glucocorticoid resistance* |
|
✔ |
|
✔ |
|
Functional |
Latent virus infection* |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
Functional |
Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity |
|
✔ |
|
|
|
Functional |
Local (nasal) cytokine response to challenge |
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Functional |
Local (nasal) bradykinin response to challenge |
|
✔ |
|
|
|
Functional |
Stimulated cytokine production |
|
|
|
✔ |
|
Quantitative |
Lymphocyte subsets |
✔ |
✔ |
|
|
|
Resting Biological Activity |
Cardiovascular |
Blood pressure and heart rate (baseline and post-challenge) |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Cardiovascular |
Heart rate variability |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
Endocrine |
Catecholamines, 24-hour urine |
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Endocrine |
Cortisol, 24-hour urine |
|
✔ |
|
|
|
Endocrine |
Cortisol, hair* |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
Endocrine |
Cortisol, plasma |
|
✔ |
|
|
|
Endocrine |
Cortisol, salivary |
|
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Endocrine |
Creatinine, 24-hour urine |
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Metabolic |
Body temperature (baseline & post-challenge) |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Metabolic |
Total cholesterol |
|
✔ |
|
✔ |
|
Oxidative Stress |
F2-isoprostanes, urine |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
Screening |
|
Antibody to challenge virus |
|
|
|
✔ |
✔ |
|
Blood chemistry |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
CBC w/platelets & differential |
✔ |
✔ |
|
✔ |
✔ |
|
HIV antibody |
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Pregnancy test |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Screen for pre-challenge infection with nonspecific respiratory viruses |
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Urinalysis |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Viral-specific neutralizing serum Ab |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Stress Reactivity |
Cardiovascular |
Blood pressure |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
Cardiovascular |
Heart rate |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
Cardiovascular |
Heart rate variability |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
Endocrine |
Cortisol, salivary |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
* Measured in a subsample of participants