Characterization of aortic aging using 3D multi-parametric MRI-long-term follow-up in a population study.

We comprehensively studied morphological and functional aortic aging in a population study using modern three-dimensional MR imaging to allow future comparison in patients with diseases of the aortic valve or aorta. We followed 80 of 126 subjects of a population study (20 to 80 years of age at baseline) using the identical methodology 6.0 ± 0.5 years later. All underwent 3 T MRI of the thoracic aorta including 3D T1 weighted MRI (spatial resolution 1 mm3) for measuring aortic diameter and plaque thickness and 4D flow MRI (spatial/temporal resolution = 2 mm3/20 ms) for calculating global and regional aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and helicity of aortic blood flow. Mean diameter of the ascending aorta (AAo) decreased and plaque thickness increased significantly in the aortic arch (AA) and descending aorta (DAo) in females. PWV of the thoracic aorta increased (6.4 ± 1.5 to 7.0 ± 1.7 m/s and 6.8 ± 1.5 to 7.3 ± 1.8 m/s in females and males, respectively) over time. Local normalized helicity volumes (LNHV) decreased significantly in the AAo and AA (0.33 to 0.31 and 0.34 to 0.32 in females and 0.34 to 0.32 and 0.32 to 0.28 in males). By contrast, helicity increased significantly in the DAo in both genders (0.28 to 0.29 and 0.29 to 0.30, respectively). 3D MRI was able to characterize changes in aortic diameter, plaque thickness, PWV and helicity during six years in our population. Aortic aging determined by 3D multi-parametric MRI is now available for future comparisons in patients with diseases of the aortic valve or aorta.

I Do Not Want to Miss a Thing! Consequences of Employees' Workplace Fear of Missing Out for ICT Use, Well-Being, and Recovery Experiences.

As more and more employees have access to work-related information and communication technologies (ICTs) anywhere and anytime, new challenges arise in terms of well-being and recovery experiences. Feelings of workplace fear of missing Out (wFoMO) and workplace telepressure may be personal demands that add to the literature of the job demands-resources (JD-R) theory. In this study, we proposed a model in which wFoMO and workplace telepressure were associated with employee well-being variables via the use of ICTs during leisure time. Therefore, we analyzed the data of N = 130 employees who answered two questionnaires in the interval of one work week. The results revealed negative indirect effects between wFoMO/workplace telepressure and psychological detachment/perceived stress via ICT use. The results were more ambivalent regarding the dependent variables burnout, relaxation, and control. This strengthens the literature that categorized ICT use as a job demand. However, we also found positive indirect effects on perceived informational benefits, which supports the idea of ICTs being both a job demand and a job resource in light of the JD-R theory. This study contributes to past research on work-related ICT use during leisure time and demonstrates the relevance of personal demands such as wFoMO for employees' well-being.