The association of maternal prenatal psychosocial stress with vascular function in the child at age 10-11 years: findings from the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children

Objective To investigate whether (1) maternal psychosocial stress (depression/anxiety) during pregnancy is associated with offspring vascular function and (2) whether any association differs depending on the gestational timing of exposure to stress. We also investigated whether any association is likely to be due to intrauterine mechanisms by (3) comparing with the association of paternal stress with offspring vascular function and (4) examining whether any prenatal association is explained by maternal postnatal stress. Methods and results Associations were examined in a UK birth cohort, with offspring outcomes (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, SBP and DBP, endothelial function assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD); arterial stiffness assessed by carotid to radial pulse wave velocity (PWV), brachial artery distensibility (DC), and brachial artery diameter (BD) assessed at age 10–11 years (n = 4318). Maternal depressive symptoms and anxiety were assessed at 18 and 32 weeks gestation and 8 months postnatally. Paternal symptoms were assessed at week 19. With the exception of DBP and BD, there were no associations of maternal depressive symptoms with any of the vascular outcomes. Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with lower offspring DBP and wider BD, though the latter attenuated to the null with adjustment for confounding factors. Paternal symptoms were not associated with offspring outcomes. Maternal postnatal depressive symptoms were associated with lower offspring SBP. Conclusions We found no evidence to support the hypothesis that maternal stress during pregnancy adversely affects offspring vascular function at age 10–12 years via intrauterine mechanisms

Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes, supplement 182, July 1978

This bibliography lists 165 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in June 1978

Progressive resistance training during maintenance hemodialysis in patients with end stage renal disease

Background: The global incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) continues to rise annually. Accompanying this rise is an increase in the number of patients on hemodialysis. These trends are being driven by an unprecedented burden of hypokinetic, non-communicable diseases, and particularly the type 2 diabetes-obesity pandemic. The progression of kidney disease is associated with an exponential increase in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated mortality. CVD is the leading cause of hospitalization and death in this cohort. As the ESRD patient population continues to grow, greater efforts must be directed toward improving patient outcomes in this cohort, including morbidity, mortality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Aims: This thesis addresses several gaps related to the investigation and application of progressive resistance training (PRT) in the hemodialysis setting. The specific aims were: (i) to systematically review the extant literature on PRT in patients with ESRD, and to outline recommendations for robust clinical trials; (ii) to assess the feasibility and efficacy of including a novel customized resistance training device within a comprehensive intradialytic PRT intervention in a conventional hemodialysis unit; (iii) to investigate the effect of a 12-week intradialytic PRT intervention on measures of CVD risk, specifically, arterial stiffness (i.e. pulse wave velocity; PWV) and associated outcomes (i.e. hemodynamic, anthropometric, and hematologic). Research Program: The research program was undertaken from March 2011 to March 2015 and culminated in a clinical trial enrolling 22 participants conducted across four dialysis centers in Adelaide, South Australia. Conclusions: Chapter 7 presents general conclusions to the thesis, as follows: (i) According to the systematic review of the extance literature (Chapter 4) clinical trials are required to investigate a range of novel research questions related to the benefits and application of PRT in this cohort and its patient subgroups (e.g. diabetes, depression, dyslipidemia, etc.). Future studies must be of high methodological quality to inform clinical practice guidelines. (ii) According to the study presented in Chapter 5, PRT using the novel training device was feasible and improved measures of physical and psychological health and HRQoL. This device can be utilized in most dialysis centers. Future studies are required to evaluate dose-response effects of PRT prescriptions in subpopulations, and the application of PRT in standard dialysis practice. (iii) According to the study presented in Chapter 6, 12 weeks of low-to-moderate intensity intradialytic PRT did not change PWV, hemodynamic, anthropometric or hematologic measures in patients with ESRD. More research is needed to determine whether different intensities or durations of PRT can affect vascular health or other outcomes related to survival in this patient group

Applications of aerospace technology in the public sector

Current activities of the program to accelerate specific applications of space related technology in major public sector problem areas are summarized for the period 1 June 1971 through 30 November 1971. An overview of NASA technology, technology applications, and supporting activities are presented. Specific technology applications in biomedicine are reported including cancer detection, treatment and research; cardiovascular diseases, diagnosis, and treatment; medical instrumentation; kidney function disorders, treatment, and research; and rehabilitation medicine

2013 Summer Research Symposium Abstract Book

2013 Summer volume of abstracts for science research projects conducted by students at Trinity College