Spiritual well-being as a protective factor for endothelial dysfunction in clinically healthy adults

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is an early marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD), influenced by both physiological and psychosocial factors. While depression and anxiety are known contributors to ED, the role of spiritual well-being (SWB) in vascular health has been relatively less explored in the literature. To investigate the association between SWB and ED in clinically healthy adults, controlling for mental health variables and conventional cardiovascular risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, 148 individuals aged 18-60 years were assessed using validated instruments: FACIT-Sp for SWB, PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) for endothelial function. Logistic regression and discriminant analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of ED and the spiritual dimensions most associated with vascular health. ED was identified in 39.2% of participants. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that SWB (OR = 0.929; p = 0.005), body mass index (OR = 1.130; p = 0.016), generalized anxiety disorder (OR = 2.551; p = 0.035), and major depressive episode (OR = 3.740; p = 0.038), were significantly associated with ED. Among these, SWB was significantly inversely associated with ED even after excluding participants with anxiety or depression. Discriminant analysis further indicated that inner peace and life purpose-but not faith-significantly distinguished individuals with and without ED. SWB, particularly dimensions related to inner peace and meaning, is independently associated with preserved endothelial function in healthy adults. These findings support the inclusion of psychosocial and spiritual dimensions in cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention strategies.

Vascular Dysfunction in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

a disturbance of endothelial function is considered as a key event in the development of atherosclerosis ([63][1]). Thus reliable assessment of endothelial function in humans appears highly desirable. With respect to the major endothelial functions, this aim can be achieved by different approaches:

Background:The physical and psychological suffering of advanced-stage cancer patients has received attention recently, but the role of spiritual wellbeing (SpWB) in psychiatric morbidity is not adequately explored in the Indian context. Understanding this dimension may improve the quality of care among these patients.Aim:The present study aimed to identify the correlates of SpWB and its association with psychiatric comorbidity among patients with advanced-stage solid tumor cancer.Methodology:This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Radiation-oncology department of a tertiary-care hospital after obtaining ethical approval. Patients with advanced-stage solid tumors (n = 102) were assessed with clinical interview and rating scales [Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Spiritual Wellbeing 12 Item Scale (FACIT-Sp-12)]. The Chi-square test, Spearman’s correlation, and logistic regression were used to examine the association of SpWB with psychiatric morbidity.Results:Out of 102 patients, 36.27% had a psychiatric diagnosis, the most frequent being adjustment disorder. SpWB had a significant negative correlation with anxiety (ρ = -0.78) and depressive symptoms (ρ = -0.70). The family income (U = 848; P = 0.012) and belief about cancer prognosis (χ2 = 12.94, P = 0.002) were associated with psychiatric morbidity. In logistic regression, SpWB (OR = 0.834) was significantly associated with psychiatric comorbidity, and among its domains, only ‘Meaning’ was significantly associated.Conclusion:A higher level of SpWB is linked with lesser depressive and anxiety symptoms and is associated with psychiatric morbidity among advanced-stage cancer patients. The finding suggests a possible role of interventions facilitating spirituality and meaning in preventing psychiatric morbidity.

The phenomenon of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) relevant to this debate describes the vasodilation in a conduit vessel in response to elevations in flow-associated shear stress. Nitric oxide (NO) is thought to play a key role in vascular health due to its established vasoprotective characteristics (

La poursuite de l'integration de fonctions toujours plus complexes au sein d'un meme circuit constitue un des principaux enjeux de la microelectronique. L'integration tridimensionnelle par empilement de circuits (3D stacking) constitue une voie prometteuse pour y parvenir. Elle permet notamment de depasser certaines limitations atteintes par les circuits actuels, plus particulierement dans les circuits pour lesquelles les donnees sont distribuees et qui necessitent des bandes passantes importantes. Neanmoins, a ce jour, tres peu de travaux ont montre les avantages de l'integration 3D, en particulier ceux s'appuyant sur des resultats experimentaux et de circuits concrets notamment dans le domaine des imageurs. Le present travail de these a eu pour objectif d'exploiter la technologie 3D dans le cadre des capteurs d'images et depasser la preuve de concept presentee dans l'etat de l'art afin d'apporter une analyse concrete des apports de cette technologie dans le domaine des imageurs visibles. Nous avons identifie, d'une part l'extension de dynamique qui requiert un traitement proche pixel, d'autre part la compression locale, destinee a adresser les problemes d'integrite du signal, bande passante et consommation qui deviennent critiques avec l'augmentation des formats des imageurs. Ce choix permet d'apporter une reponse a la limitation de la dynamique des capteurs d'images 2D actuels, tout en gardant une architecture classique des pixels et en adressant le probleme de la reduction de la quantite de donnees a transmettre. Une nouvelle methode de codage flottant par groupe de pixels a ete proposee et implementee. Le principe s'appuie sur l'adaptation du temps d'integration par groupe de pixels via l'application d'un exposant commun au groupe. Le temps d'integration est ajuste a l'image suivante. Un premier niveau de compression est ainsi realise par le codage mantisse-exposant propose. L'implementation de cette technique a ete validee sur un demonstrateur 2D au detriment de pixels sacrifies aveugles de chaque groupe de pixels, comportant l'electronique de generation des signaux de commande de la HDR. La technique d'extension de dynamique proposee est suivie d'une compression a base de DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform} permettant de reduire le flux de donnees en sortie de la puce imageur. Les deux niveaux de compression permettent d'atteindre des taux de compression eleves allant jusqu'a 93% en maintenant un PSNR de 30dB et une qualite d'image acceptable pour des post-traitements. Une etude theorique de l'apport de l'integration 3D en termes de consommation a ete elaboree. Enfin, un demonstrateur 2D a ete realise en technologie CMOS 180 nm en vue de valider l'architecture grande dynamique proposee. L'utilisation de la technologie 3D, dans la suite des travaux, permet l'implementation d'une boucle courte, devenue possible grâce aux interconnexions verticales sans sacrifier des pixels morts. Le traitement local proche du pixel et la reduction de la latence, du flux de donnees et de la consommation sont les apports majeurs de l'integration 3D etudies dans ce travail

Context: Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental disorders that produce fear, worry, and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed. Spiritual well-being is a positive psychological factor linked to lower anxiety levels in GAD patients. One of the most important elements of having GAD is learning how to cope with persistent anxiety and physical symptoms.
 Aim: Evaluate the effect of the psychoeducational training Program on coping skills, spiritual well-being, and anxiety levels among patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
 Methods: A quasi-experimental (pre/post-test) design was used. This study was carried out at the General Psychiatric Clinic of El Abbassia Psychiatric and Mental Health Hospital. The study involved 80 patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Data was collected over six months utilizing four tools. They were used for data collection: A Structured Interview questionnaire, a Coping Strategies Questionnaire, a Spiritual Well-being Scale, and a Beck Anxiety Scale.
 Results: The present study shows that more than half of patients with generalized anxiety disorder under study were in the age of <30 years (57.5%) with a mean age of 24.5±8.33. While 28 % had satisfactory pre-program coping, this percentage increased to 52% post-program implementation. On the other hand, 63.7% of patients with generalized anxiety disorder understudy had low levels of spiritual well-being that decreased to 9% post-program. Also, more than half of 59% of patients had severe anxiety levels at pre-program; this percentage decreased to 21% post-program implementation with a statistically significant difference between coping skills, spiritual well-being, and anxiety level pre- and post-psychoeducational training. In addition, there was a highly statistically significant correlation between the total score of spiritual well-being, coping, and their total anxiety score during the pre/post-program implementation phase (P≤ 0.001).
 Conclusion: Psychoeducational training Program has a significant positive effect on improving coping skills, spiritual well-being, and levels of anxiety among patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Application of a psychoeducational nursing intervention can help patients with generalized anxiety disorder better understand the advantages of various spiritual pursuits and how to improve their spiritual well-being and coping skills.

The association of homocysteine and related factors to brachial artery diameter and flow-mediated dilation

Introduction. The issue of human well-being and the factors that ensure it is becoming increasingly important for psychologists and educators. The least studied area remains the issue of the nature of the relationship between different types of well-being, in particular spiritual and psychological. The study reveals insufficient study of spiritual well-being, where spirituality is often considered as a value category, and not as a component of mental health. This emphasizes the need to integrate the spiritual dimension into psychological research and the implementation of its results in pedagogical practice, which determines the novelty and theoretical significance of this study. The purpose of this study is to determine the specific relationship between spiritual and psychological well-being at different stages of maturity. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on a Russian-speaking sample of 959 respondents (761 women and 198 men, average age (38.6 ± 14 years). Spiritual well-being was studied using the «Spiritual Well-Being Scale» as adapted by I.A. Bakushkin and R.V. Ershova, 2025, and psychological well-being was studied using the «Psychological Well-Being Scale» by C. Ryff, as adapted by N.N. Lepeshinsky, 2007, methods of mathematical and statistical data processing. KEYWORDS Results. The study revealed age-related differences in indicators of spiritual and psychological well-being. The younger group was characterized by a moderate level of spiritual (74.1%) and religious well-being (56.3%), with no correlation between religious well-being and the subscales «Autonomy» 0.06 [-0.08; 0.2] p=0.413 and «Environmental management» 0.1 [-0.04; 0.24] p=0.146. The older group demonstrated high indicators of spiritual (59.6%) and religious well-being (80.1%), as well as a more pronounced positive attitude towards others (p<0.001), personal growth (p<0.001) and a purpose in life (p=0.047). Age, having children, and having a purpose in life are highlighted as significant predictors of spiritual well-being. Conclusion. Spiritual well-being, especially through the existential component, is closely related to psychological well-being through such components as «Self-acceptance», «Purpose in life», «Positive attitudes towards others», «Environment management» and the general indicator of psychological well-being. The study confirmed the hypothesis of a close connection between spiritual and psychological well-being, it enriches the understanding of spiritual well-being as a multidimensional construct integrating religious and existential aspects, and its connection with psychological well-being in the context of the Russian-speaking sample.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been reported to have subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and increased abdominal fat. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between visceral fat (VF) and early markers of CVD in PCOS women. Two hundred overweight PCOS women [(mean +/- SD) age 24.6 +/- 3.2 years, body mass index (BMI) 28.5 +/- 2.8 kg/m2] and 100 healthy age- and BMI-matched volunteer controls entered this cross-sectional study. In all subjects, the amount of VF was measured by ultrasonography. Anthropometric measurements [BMI and waist circumference (WC)], complete hormonal and metabolic pattern, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), brachial arterial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and inflammatory biomarkers [C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, white blood cells count and plasminogen activated inhibitor-1] were also obtained from all subjects. A stepwise linear regression model was used in PCOS patients to verify if IMT or FMD as dependent variables are affected by other independent variables. VF amount was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in PCOS subjects than in healthy controls [31.4 +/- 7.3 versus 28.0 +/- 6.1 (mean+/-SD) mm, respectively] and directly related to insulin resistance: HOMA (r = 0.918, P < 0.001) and AUC(INS) (r = 0.879, P < 0.001), and to WC (r = 0.658; P < 0.001). In PCOS, the two linear regression analyses showed that IMT is positively affected by VF and CRP, whereas FMD is positively affected by IMT and negatively by VF and CRP. VF amount is associated with subclinical CVD in PCOS patients.

The relationship between perceived stress, spiritual well-being and alexithymia in people with epilepsy: A path analysis

"The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships and connections within the family and the local Christian church community influencing spiritual wellbeing of young people engaged with Christian spirituality. Questions have arisen recently about the role of spiritual wellbeing in strengthening resilience of youth. To explore this association, this research focused on the relationships and connectedness of people who attend one religious organisation as one means of enhancing their spiritual wellbeing. Two separate but complementary theories underpinned this research: the bioecological theory of human development (Bronfenbrenner 2001a) and the international family strengths model (DeFrain &amp; Asay 2007a). In line with the purposes of an instrumental case study, different sources of data (quantitative and qualitative) were collected on the phenomenon of interest— spiritual wellbeing. Utilising a survey method, a theoretical purposive sample of sixty five people participated in this study. Through an abductive analysis process, the research identified a model of five spiritual strengths that enhance peace and life satisfaction and strengthen youth resilience within the lives of the young people in this study. Spiritual wellbeing and resilience were shown to be interrelated and ecologically bound. This case study presents one possible explanation for the often observed yet poorly understood relationship between spiritual wellbeing and positive youth outcomes, such as resilience. The author recommends measurement of resilience and strategies that aim to strengthen youth resilience should include spiritual wellbeing however, further research is required that considers how best to incorporate spiritual wellbeing into both resilience measures and health promoting strategies. It is also recommended that replica studies with people who belong to other spirituality types, and who may implement differing spiritual practices, are needed to test the proposed model of spiritual strengths and the identified relationship to resilience."

IntroductionLittle is known regarding associations between potentially modifiable lifestyle habits and early markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D), hindering early prevention efforts. Specific objectives are:...

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is an early marker of cardiovascular disease. Circulating angiogenic cells (CAC) are hypothesized to support endothelial health and repair and have been related to Framingham risk score. Both FMD and CAC have been investigated as early biomarkers of vascular dysfunction and are related to physical activity. Low physical activity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease however, the effect of a short-term reduction in physical activity on FMD and CACs is unclear. Purpose: To use a novel, objectively monitored model of rPA wherein participants maintain energy balance to evaluate changes in a physiological and cellular marker of vascular function. Hypothesis: rPA will result in lower FMD and CAC compared with baseline. Methods: Physical activity was measured via Actigraph GT3X before and during 10 days of rPA in healthy trained men (n=6). Baseline caloric intake was assessed and participants were instructed to reduce their intake to match the reduction in energy expenditure during rPA. FMD was assessed via duplex ultrasound of the brachial artery. Artery diameter and shear rate were analyzed with FMD Studio software (Quipu, Pisa). Data for baseline shear rate, baseline vessel diameter, peak shear rate, peak vessel diameter, absolute FMD, relative FMD, area under the curve (AUC), and normalized FMD were calculated for each subject. CAC colony forming units (CFU-EC) were measured before and after rPA. Paired T-tests were used to determine differences between variables before and after rPA. Results: Actigraph data revealed increased sedentary time (656 ± 42 to 758 ± 36 min/day, p=0.02) and decreased moderate to vigorous physical activity with rPA (MVPA, 87 ± 16 to 59 ± 9, p=0.03). Weight did not change with rPA. There was a 60 ± 27% increase in baseline shear rate (p=0.03) and a 22 ± 5% decrease in peak shear rate with rPA (p=0.003). We also found a 39% decrease in CAC with rPA (21 ± 5 to 14 ± 6, p=0.03). Conclusion: Our preliminary data show that short-term rPA results in significant changes in shear stress and CACs, two markers of vascular function. Future research should explore the independent influence of changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior on vascular function.

Introduction: Brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) is a well-established measure of vascular endothelial health and is pathologically low in chronic stroke survivors. Ischemic conditioning (IC) is a cardioprotective stimulus and has been shown to improve FMD and enhance motor function in healthy humans. We recently showed that IC can improve paretic muscle strength and increase self-selected walking speed in stroke survivors. These improvements could be, in part, mediated by improved peripheral vascular function and increased blood flow to the exercising muscle. The effects of IC on vascular endothelial function post-stroke have not been investigated. Hypothesis: Two weeks of IC on the paretic leg of chronic stroke survivors will improve FMD in the non-paretic brachial artery. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, blinded and controlled pilot study. Twenty chronic stroke survivors (&gt;1-year post-stroke) received either IC (cuff inflation on the paretic leg for five minutes to 225 mmHg) or Sham IC (cuff inflation to 10 mmHg) every other day for two weeks (five on-off cycles per session). Brachial artery FMD was assessed using ultrasonography within 48 hours of the beginning and end of the intervention period. Results: Eight men and twelve women participated in this study. The mean age was 59 ± 16 years and the mean time post-stroke was 9 ± 9 years. Brachial artery FMD increased in the IC group from 6.2 ± 4.9% to 8.9 ± 3.9% (n=10; p=0.023, 2-way Repeated Measures ANOVA) while no change was observed in the Sham IC group (pre- vs. post = 3.8 ± 3.9% vs. 2.7 ± 3.1%, respectively; p=0.32, n=10). Expressed as the mean change in FMD, IC increased FMD by 2.8 ± 3.7% while no change was observed in the Sham IC group (delta FMD = -1.1 ± 3.4%; p=0.024 IC vs. IC Sham, unpaired t-test). Conclusions: Two weeks of IC increases brachial artery FMD in chronic stroke survivors. Taken together with our previous work that shows IC increases paretic muscle strength and walking speed in chronic stroke survivors, IC has the potential to improve both motor and cardiovascular function post-stroke. Future larger studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of IC to improve stroke recovery and to identify the pathways involved which confer benefit to both the nervous and cardiovascular systems.