Five years is actually not a long time for science to understand a process as complex as the pathways of the oil after a large spill. Some of the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon spill on the marine life and ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico will only become visible in future years. We use oil products daily.
First the researchers examined the effects of lowering cortisol to below a normal (or baseline) level. Then they compared the effects of low, medium, high, and very high cortisol levels in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, a procedure that causes a lot of inflammation.
The pituitary gland, through the release of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) regulates the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands into the bloodstream. When the body encounters stress (physical or mental) in response to a trauma, cortisol is released, which in turn regulates the body's inflammatory response. Other effects of cortisol release include: 1) Stimulation of the liver to produce carbohydrates; the short-term fuel for the musculature. 2) Temporary elevation of blood glucose levels.