Efficacy and Safety of Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent COVID-19 in Frontline Healthcare Workers. A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background. Associations between vitamin D (VD) deficiency and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been documented in cross-sectional population studies. Intervention studies in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 have failed to consistently document a beneficial effect. Objective. To determine the efficacy and safety of VD-supplementation in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in highly exposed… Continue reading Efficacy and Safety of Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent COVID-19 in Frontline Healthcare Workers. A Randomized Clinical Trial

Psychological Distress Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adults in the United Kingdom Based on Coordinated Analyses of 11 Longitudinal Studies

How population mental health has evolved across the COVID-19 pandemic under varied lockdown measures is poorly understood, and the consequences for health inequalities are unclear. Objective To investigate changes in mental health and sociodemographic inequalities from before and across the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 11 longitudinal studies. Design, Setting, and Participants This… Continue reading Psychological Distress Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adults in the United Kingdom Based on Coordinated Analyses of 11 Longitudinal Studies

Elevated Lipoprotein(a) and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: An Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cardiac arrhythmia associated with an elevated risk of stroke, heart failure, and mortality. However, preventative therapies are needed with ancillary benefits on its cardiovascular comorbidities. Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is a recognized risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which itself increases AF risk, but it remains unknown whether Lp(a) is a… Continue reading Elevated Lipoprotein(a) and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: An Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study

A molecular complex of Cav1.2/CaMKK2/CaMK1a in caveolae is responsible for vascular remodeling via excitation–transcription coupling

Elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) activates Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinases (CaMK) and promotes gene transcription. This signaling pathway is referred to as excitation–transcription (E-T) coupling. Although vascular myocytes can exhibit E-T coupling, the molecular mechanisms and physiological/pathological roles are unknown. Multiscale analysis spanning from single molecules to whole organisms has revealed essential steps in mouse vascular… Continue reading A molecular complex of Cav1.2/CaMKK2/CaMK1a in caveolae is responsible for vascular remodeling via excitation–transcription coupling

Antidepressants and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with depression: Analysis of the medical expenditure panel survey from the United States

BackgroundDespite the empirical literature demonstrating the efficacy of antidepressant medications for treatment of depression disorder, these medications’ effect on patients’ overall well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains controversial. This study investigates the effect of antidepressant medication use on patient-reported HRQoL for patients who have depression. MethodsA comparative cohort, secondary database analysis was conducted… Continue reading Antidepressants and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with depression: Analysis of the medical expenditure panel survey from the United States

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Myocarditis in a Nordic Cohort Study of 23 Million Residents

Reports of myocarditis after SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination have emerged. Objective To evaluate the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by vaccine product, vaccination dose number, sex, and age. Design, Setting, and Participants Four cohort studies were conducted according to a common protocol, and the results were combined using meta-analysis. Participants were… Continue reading SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Myocarditis in a Nordic Cohort Study of 23 Million Residents

Role of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on the Association Between Physical Activity and Brain Integrity Markers in Older Adults

Objective: Physical activity has been associated with a decreased risk for dementia, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain to be determined. Our objective was to assess whether cardiovascular risk factors mediate the association between physical activity and brain integrity markers in older adults. Methods: Participants from the Age-Well study underwent, at baseline, a physical… Continue reading Role of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on the Association Between Physical Activity and Brain Integrity Markers in Older Adults

Estimating disease severity of Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 infections

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to cause milder disease in adults but lead to increased hospital admissions in children. How can we compare disease severity in Omicron and Delta infections, and how should differences be interpreted? Measuring COVID-19 disease severity in a population has been important for understanding the public health impact… Continue reading Estimating disease severity of Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 infections

Smartphone use undermines enjoyment of face-to-face social interactions

Using a field experiment and experience sampling, we found the first evidence that phone use may undermine the enjoyment people derive from real world social interactions. In Study 1, we recruited over 300 community members and students to share a meal at a restaurant with friends or family. Participants were randomly assigned to keep their… Continue reading Smartphone use undermines enjoyment of face-to-face social interactions