The Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Depression and Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been conducted to prove the bidirectional relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression. These two major illnesses share several common risk factors such that the development of either condition may increase the risk of the occurrence of the other. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been suggested as a reliable biomarker for depression and a strong predictor of CVD because it plays an important role in neuron survival and growth, serves as a neurotransmitter modulator, and promotes neuronal plasticity. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the bidirectional relationship between CVD and depression, focusing on the potential role of low serum BDNF levels in the development of either disease in the presence of the other. METHODS: A systematic search strategy was developed using PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Six studies (comprising 1251 patients) were identified, all of which examined the association between CVD and depression. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that there may be a strong association between low serum BDNF levels and the risk of post-stroke depression. However, the studies on the role of altered serum BDNF levels and other types of CVD are few. Therefore, the inverse association between depression and CVD cannot be proven.

Right ventricle-pulmonary artery coupling in repaired tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary regurgitation: Clinical implications.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling is a strong prognostic marker in several clinical settings, but few studies have focused on its role in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rToF) with pulmonary regurgitation. AIM: To assess whether differences exist in RV-PA coupling, estimated by echocardiography, between patients with rToF and pulmonary regurgitation with or without an indication for pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). METHODS: The study population included 40 patients with rToF, who were allocated to two groups: 20 with an indication for PVR (i-PVR group); and 20 without an indication for PVR (ni-PVR group). Forty healthy controls were also included. All subjects underwent echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was available in 27/40 patients with rToF. RV-PA coupling was assessed by echocardiographic tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) and right ventricular stroke volume/right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVSV/RVESV) by CMR. RESULTS: TAPSE was similar in the i-PVR and ni-PVR groups (19.0±3.4 vs 18.8±2.7mm; P=0.97) whereas RV-PA coupling was significantly worse in the i-PVR group versus the ni-PVR group (TAPSE/PASP 0.8±0.3 vs 1.1±0.5mm/mmHg; P=0.001), and in the i-PVR group versus the control group (P=0.02); there was no difference between the ni-PVR and control groups (P=0.29). CMR data confirmed the echocardiography results, with a significant difference in RV-PA coupling between the i-PVR and ni-PVR groups (RVSV/RVESV 0.9±0.2 vs 1.2±0.3mL/min/mL; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates worse RV-PA coupling, despite normal RV systolic function, in patients with rToF with an indication for PVR. RV-PA coupling could be a sensitive marker of a progressive maladaptive RV response to long-standing volume overload in rToF before the onset of clinical symptoms and RV systolic dysfunction.

Novel Cytokine Score and Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy.

To date, there are no established noninvasive biomarkers available for prediction of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Inflammatory processes are supposed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of CAV. Recent studies have suggested that immune mediators could serve as biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases. We hypothesized particular cytokines or a combination thereof may serve as noninvasive biomarkers for CAV. Plasma cytokines were screened from 27 patients with CAV and 27 patients without CAV after OHT. The concentrations of interleukins-4, -6, -10, -21, -23, -31, -33, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and the soluble activation marker CD40 ligand were determined using Luminex-based multiplex analyses. Although concentrations of all cytokines except interferon gamma were on average higher in the CAV group, there were no significant differences between the groups for any 1 cytokine. Using a binary logistic regression model, we were able to develop a probability score for detecting patients at elevated risk for advanced CAV with a sensitivity of 92.31% and a specificity of 60.71% (receiver-operating characteristic area under the curve 0.799 ± 0.06; p<0.0001). In conclusion, analyzing the concentration of specific inflammatory cytokines could be meaningfully included in evaluation of CAV after OHT.

How does the activity level of the parents influence their children's activity? The contemporary life in a world ruled by electronic devices.

INTRODUCTION: Apart from many positive changes associated with technical civilization, there are also - from the health point of view - some threats. The reduction in the level of physical activity is one of them. The aim of the study was to investigate whether there are any relationships between children's physical activity and behaviors, and to assess the impact of the adults' activity on their children's habits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved a group of 340 children aged 7-12 years (mean age: 9.81 ±1.7) and their parents. In order to evaluate children's physical activity and the amount of time that they spend with electronic devices, an original questionnaire and the IPAQ questionnaire were used. RESULTS: Children usually use electronic devices between 2 and 7 days per week (mean: 4.74 ±0.86), regardless of sex (p > 0.09) and spend between 5 and 1620 min per week (mean: 459.46 ±308.1) with their mobile phone, tablet, PCs and TVs. 67.92% of boys and 69.61% of girls lead an active lifestyle. The children's activity level depends on their parents' level of activity (p < 0.000001). Parents of semi-active children lead a lifestyle with a moderate level of physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The level of physical activity in younger children depends on the children's relationship with their parents and their level of activity. Children spend a lot of free time with their electronic devices. It is necessary to develop and implement activities intended to raise awareness of children and their families about the effects of hypokinesis.

Occupation and metabolic syndrome: is there correlation? A cross sectional study in different work activity occupations of German firefighters and office workers.

BACKGROUND: The treatment and prevention of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is currently one of the major challenges in medicine. The impact of working conditions on metabolic risk has not been adequately studied. Our objective was to compare the prevalence of MetS and metabolic risk in two extremely different occupational groups: firefighters and office workers. METHODS: A total of 143 male subjects (97 firefighters and 46 office workers) from Germany participated in the study. Anthropometric characteristics, metabolic risk parameters as well as laboratory parameters were collected. MetS was diagnosed according to criteria of the International Diabetes Federation. RESULTS: Sedentary occupation showed a significant tendency towards obesity. Abdominal waist circumference was significantly greater in office workers than in firefighters [5.08 CI (1.44-8.71), p = 0.007]. Concerning metabolic risk factors, abnormal HDL, triglycerides, BMI, blood pressure and waist circumference values were more frequently found in office workers than in firefighters. The MetS was detected in almost 33 % of office workers as compared with only 14 % in firefighters (p = 0.015). Regarding MetS in an international comparison, the prevalence of MetS in German office workers was high and in firefighters it was extremely low. CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary occupation as an office worker is associated with a high risk of MetS. Both groups need to be made aware of the metabolic risks, and health promoting concepts such as corporate sports activities or education in healthy nutrition need to be implemented to counteract the development of the MetS and cardiovascular risk factors.