Gender differences in associations of depressive symptoms and anxiety with inflammatory markers in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine gender differences of the associations between depressive symptoms and anxiety with inflammatory markers in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD).

Methods: Depressive symptoms and anxiety (Beck Depression Inventory BDI and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale HADS) were examined in 524 patients with NOCAD (52% women, mean age 64 ± 9 years) as part of the TweeSteden Mild Stenosis (TWIST) observational cohort study. Blood samples were analyzed for neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and leukocyte differentiation.

Depression and markers of inflammation as predictors of all-cause mortality in heart failure.

Background: In patients with heart failure (HF) depressive symptoms have been associated with mortality, as well as biological risk factors, including inflammation, nitric oxide (NO) regulation, and oxidative stress. We investigated the joint predictive value of depressive symptoms, inflammation and NO regulation on all-cause mortality in patients with HF, adjusted for covariates.

Methods: Serum levels of inflammation (TNFα, sTNFr1, sTNFr2, IL-6, hsCRP, NGAL), NO regulation (l-arginine, ADMA, and SDMA), and oxidative stress (isoprostane 8-Epi Prostaglandin F2 Alpha) were measured in 104 patients with HF (mean age 65.

Determinants of Dyspnea in Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: Dyspnea is a hallmark symptom of heart failure (HF), associated with impaired functional capacity and quality of life. The experience of dyspnea is multifactorial and may originate from different sources. This study set out to examine the relative importance of potential contributors to dyspnea, ie, disease severity, inflammation and psychologic distress in a large prospective cohort of chronic HF patients.

C-reactive protein and fibrinogen in non-obstructive coronary artery disease as related to depressive symptoms and anxiety: findings from the TweeSteden Mild Stenosis Study (TWIST).

Objective: The majority of acute coronary syndromes occur in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), and the underlying biobehavioral processes are not well understood. Depressive symptoms and anxiety are predictive of prognosis, and have been associated with markers of inflammation that play a role in atherosclerosis. This study examines whether depressive symptoms and anxiety are associated with higher levels of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen in patients with non-obstructive CAD.

Depressive symptoms in outpatients with heart failure: importance of inflammatory biomarkers, disease severity and personality.

Objective: Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent in heart failure (HF) patients, however the underlying etiology of depression in HF patients remains yet unclear. Hence, the goal is to examine the relative importance of inflammation, disease severity and personality as predictors of depression in HF patients.

Design: Depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, depression subscale) were assessed at baseline and one-year follow-up in 268 HF patients (75.

Positive affect dimensions and their association with inflammatory biomarkers in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: In cardiac patients positive affect has found to be associated with improved clinical outcomes, with reduced inflammation being one of the potential mechanisms responsible.

Methods: Positive affect was assessed using The Global Mood Scale (GMS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in patient with chronic heart failure (N=210; 67 ± 9 years, 79% men). Markers of inflammation (TNFα, sTNFr1, sTNFr2, IL-6 and CRP) were measured and averaged at three consecutive time points.

The analytic impact of a reduced centrifugation step on chemistry and immunochemistry assays: an evaluation of the Modular Pre-Analytics.

Background: The COBAS 6000 system can be completed by a Modular Pre-Analytics (MPA), an integrated laboratory automation system that streamlines preanalysis. For an optimal throughput, the MPA centrifuges blood collection tubes for 5 min at 1885 × g - a centrifugation time that is not in concordance with the World Health Organization guidelines which suggest centrifugation for 10/15 min at 2000-3000 × g.

Methods: In this study, the analytical outcome of 50 serum and 50 plasma samples centrifuged for 5 or 10 min at 1885 × g was investigated.