Digital phenotyping of student mental health during COVID-19: an observational study of 100 college students.

This study assessed the feasibility of capturing smartphone based digital phenotyping data in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic with the goal of understanding how digital biomarkers of behavior correlate with mental health. Participants were 100 students enrolled in 4-year universities. Each participant attended a virtual visit to complete a series of gold-standard mental health assessments, and then used a mobile app for 28 days to complete mood assessments and allow for passive collection of GPS, accelerometer, phone call, and screen time data.

A comparison of the effects of selective and non-selective mineralocorticoid antagonism on glucose homeostasis of heart failure patients with glucose intolerance or type II diabetes: A randomized controlled double-blind trial.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) decrease morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). However, spironolactone, a non-selective MRA, has been shown to exert a harmful effect on glucose homeostasis. The objective of this multicenter, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial was to compare the effects of spironolactone to those of the selective MRA eplerenone on glucose homeostasis among 62 HF patients with glucose intolerance or type II diabetes.

A prospective study of the impact of AGTR1 A1166C on the effects of candesartan in patients with heart failure.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of AGTR1 A1166C (rs5186) on the response to candesartan in patients with heart failure.

Materials & Methods: Prospective, multicentre, open-label study. We studied 299 symptomatic patients with heart failure presenting a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%.

Heart failure with anemia: novel findings on the roles of renal disease, interleukins, and specific left ventricular remodeling processes.

Background: Anemia is a highly prevalent and strong independent prognostic marker in heart failure (HF), yet this association is not completely understood. Whether anemia is simply a marker of disease severity and concomitant chronic kidney disease or represents the activation of other detrimental pathways remains uncertain. We sought to determine which pathophysiological pathways are exacerbated in patients with HF, reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and anemia in comparison with those without anemia.

Changes in cardiopulmonary reserve and peripheral arterial function concomitantly with subclinical inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background. Changes in cardiopulmonary reserve and biomarkers related to wall stress, inflammation, and oxidative stress concomitantly with the evaluation of peripheral arterial blood flow have not been investigated in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) compared with healthy subjects (CTL). Methods and Results.

Circulating levels of linoleic acid and HDL-cholesterol are major determinants of 4-hydroxynonenal protein adducts in patients with heart failure.

Objective: Measurements of oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with heart failure (HF) have yielded controversial results. This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that circulating levels of the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal bound to thiol proteins (4HNE-P) are strongly associated with those of its potential precursors, namely n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).

Methods And Results: Circulating levels of 4HNE-P were evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in 71 control subjects and 61 ambulatory symptomatic HF patients along with various other clinically- and biochemically-relevant parameters, including other oxidative stress markers, and total levels of fatty acids from all classes, which reflect both free and bound to cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides.

Sex-specific interaction effects of age, occupational status, and workplace stress on psychiatric symptoms and allostatic load among healthy Montreal workers.

Socio-demographics and workplace stress may affect men and women differently. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess sex-specific interactions among age, occupational status, and workplace Demand-Control-Support (D-C-S) factors in relation to psychiatric symptoms and allostatic load levels representing multi-systemic "wear and tear". It was hypothesized that beyond main effects, D-C-S factors would be moderated by occupational status and age in sex-specific directions predictive of subjective psychiatric symptoms and objective physiological dysregulations.

Left ventricular versus simultaneous biventricular pacing in patients with heart failure and a QRS complex ≥120 milliseconds.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) pacing alone may theoretically avoid deleterious effects of right ventricular pacing.

Methods And Results: In a multicenter, double-blind, crossover trial, we compared the effects of LV and biventricular (BiV) pacing on exercise tolerance and LV remodeling in patients with an LV ejection fraction ≤35%, QRS ≥120 milliseconds, and symptoms of heart failure. A total of 211 patients were recruited from 11 centers.

Differences in biomarkers in patients with heart failure with a reduced vs a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background: The differences in concentrations of biomarkers between heart failure (HF) patients with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), or HF-PEF, and patients with HF with reduced LVEF (HF-REF) have yet to be defined. The objectives of this study were to compare the concentrations and correlation of biomarkers of inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover and neurohormonal activation between these populations.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 29 subjects with symptomatic HF-REF (LVEF = 25.

Defensiveness and metabolic syndrome: impact of sex and age.

The association between defensiveness and metabolic burden, as well as the moderating effects of sex and age were evaluated in 199 healthy working men (N=81) and women (N=118), aged 20-64 years (M=41; S.D.=11.

Effects of AGTR1 A1166C gene polymorphism in patients with heart failure treated with candesartan.

Background: The benefits of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with heart failure who are treated with standard pharmacotherapy, including an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, were demonstrated in 2 large randomized trials. It is currently impossible to determine which patient will benefit from the addition of an ARB.

Objective: To explore the impact of selected candidate genes on the hemodynamic, neurohormonal, and antiinflammatory effects of candesartan in patients with heart failure who are already being treated with an ACE inhibitor.

Effects of combined candesartan and ACE inhibitors on BNP, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and glucose regulation in patients with symptomatic heart failure.

Background: We assessed the effects of candesartan in addition to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on N-terminal pro-type natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP), systemic markers of inflammation and oxidative stress as well as on glucose regulation in patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: Eighty patients with HF ages 62.5 +/- 8.

Randomized controlled trial of pericardial blood processing with a cell-saving device on neurologic markers in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Processing of pericardial shed blood with a cell-saving device was claimed to prevent lipid microembolization and to protect from neurocognitive dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass. The present study tested the hypothesis that processing of pericardial shed blood with a cell-saving device during cardiopulmonary bypass would significantly decrease serum levels of protein S100B, and improve brain oxygen saturation and neurologic outcome, all markers of brain injury in elderly patients.

Methods: Forty patients, 65 years of age and older, undergoing coronary artery bypass graft with cardiopulmonary bypass, were prospectively randomly assigned to processing of pericardial shed blood with a cell-saving device or to conventional use of a standard closed venous reservoir where cardiotomy blood was collected and reinfused through the arterial circuit (control group).

Prednisone prevents atrial fibrillation promotion by atrial tachycardia remodeling in dogs.

Background: There is evidence suggesting involvement of oxidative stress, inflammation, and calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cell pathways in atrial fibrillation. This study evaluated the efficacy of anti-inflammatory and calcineurin-inhibitory drugs on promotion of atrial fibrillation by atrial tachycardia-induced remodeling in dogs.

Methods And Results: Dogs were subjected to atrial tachypacing at 400 bpm in the absence and presence of treatment with prednisone (15 or 50 mg/day) or ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory) or cyclosporine-A (calcineurin inhibitor).

Increased systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with worsening congestive heart failure: improvement after short-term inotropic support.

In the present study, we evaluated circulating pro-inflammatory mediators and markers of oxidative stress in patients with decompensated CHF (congestive heart failure) and assessed whether clinical recompensation by short-term inotropic therapy influences these parameters. Patients with worsening CHF (n=29, aged 61.9+/-2.

Prognostic significance of blood markers of inflammation in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty and effects of pexelizumab, a C5 inhibitor: a substudy of the COMMA trial.

Aims: Pexelizumab, a monoclonal antibody inhibiting C5, reduced 90 day mortality and shock in the COMplement inhibition in Myocardial infarction treated with Angioplasty (COMMA) trial without apparent reductions in infarct size. Inflammation is a critical component of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI); this substudy examines prognostic values of selected markers and treatment effects.

Methods And Results: C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) serum levels were assessed in 337 patients enrolled in either the placebo or the pexelizumab 24 h infusion group.

Effect of simvastatin and antioxidant vitamins on atrial fibrillation promotion by atrial-tachycardia remodeling in dogs.

Background: There is evidence for a role of oxidant stress and inflammation in atrial fibrillation (AF). Statins have both antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. We compared the effects of simvastatin with those of antioxidant vitamins on AF promotion by atrial tachycardia in dogs.

Reduced pulmonary clearance of endothelin in congestive heart failure: a marker of secondary pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels are elevated in congestive heart failure (CHF) in relation with the severity of pulmonary hypertension. We evaluated whether a reduced pulmonary ET-1 clearance could contribute to this elevation.

Methods And Results: We determined pulmonary ET-1 clearance in 24 patients with CHF in relation with hemodynamics, plasma ET-1, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels.

Cardioplegic arrest with L-arginine improves myocardial protection: results of a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Background: Blood cardioplegic arrest remains the method of choice for myocardial protection. L-arginine has been suggested to improve protection through an increase in nitric oxide production.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial comparing standard blood cardioplegic solution to L-arginine-enriched solution (7.