Factors associated with study completion in patients with premature acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Factors associated with study completion in younger adults are not well understood. This study sought to describe psychosocial, clinical, and demographic features associated with completion of a study of men and women with premature acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: As part of the GENdEr and Sex determInantS of cardiovascular disease: From bench to beyond-Premature Acute Coronary Syndrome (GENESIS-PRAXY) study, demographic, psychosocial, and clinical variables were assessed in 1213 patients hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (≤ 55 years; 30% women).

Plasma volume and flight duration effects on post-spaceflight soluble adhesion molecules.

Background: We examined the effects of plasma volume (PV) changes and flight duration on circulating soluble adhesion markers (sP-selection, sE-selection, and sICAM-1).

Methods: Study participants were 22 astronauts (2 women). Missions ranged from 5 to 16 d.

Comparison of stress-hemoconcentration correction techniques for stress-induced coagulation.

When examining stress effects on coagulation, arithmetic correction is typically used to adjust for concomitant hemoconcentration but may be inappropriate for coagulation activity assays. We examined a new physiologically relevant method of correcting for stress-hemoconcentration. Blood was drawn from healthy men (N = 40) during baseline, mental stress, and recovery, and factor VII activity (FVII:C), factor VIII activity (FVIII:C), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT%), fibrinogen, D-dimer, and plasma volume were determined.

Stress and hemostasis: an update.

Numerous naturalistic, experimental, and mechanistic studies strongly support the notion that-as part of fight-or-flight response-hemostatic responses to acute psychosocial stress result in net hypercoagulability, which would protect a healthy organism from bleeding in case of injury. Sociodemographic factors, mental states, and comorbidities are important modulators of the acute prothrombotic stress response. In patients with atherosclerosis, exaggerated and prolonged stress-hypercoagulability might accelerate coronary thrombus growth following plaque rupture.

Stress-induced alterations in coagulation: assessment of a new hemoconcentration correction technique.

Objective: For the examination of psychological stress effects on coagulation, the Dill and Costill correction (DCC) for hemoconcentration effects has been used to adjust for stress-induced plasma volume changes. Although the correction is appropriate for adjusting concentrations of various large blood constituents, it may be inappropriate for time-dependent or functional coagulation assays. Two new plasma reconstitution techniques for correcting hemoconcentration effects on stress-induced changes in coagulation were compared with the DCC.

Hemoconcentration and hemostasis during acute stress: interacting and independent effects.

Background: Acute psychological stress can produce significant hemoconcentration as well as prothrombotic changes in blood, both of which may have potentially harmful effects on the cardiovascular system. It is unclear whether these effects are independent or have influence on each other.

Purpose: This review discusses research investigating the effects of acute psychological stress on hemoconcentration and hemostasis and explores future directions for psychohematology research.