Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries: The World Health Organization Study on Global Aging and Adult Health

Fundamental characteristics of ultrasonic green formulations using Avena sativa L. extract-mediated gold nanoparticles and electroconductive nanofibers for cardiovascular nursing care

In the pursuit of novel approaches to address chronic heart failure and enhance cardiovascular nursing care, environmentally sustainable nanomaterials have taken center stage. Recent progress in regenerative medicine has opened doors for the use of biocompatible biomaterials that provide mechanical support to damaged heart tissue and facilitate electrical signaling. This study was dedicated to developing advanced electroconductive nanofibers by incorporating eco-friendly Avena sativa L. extract-mediated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) into polyaniline to create an intricate cardiac patch. The AuNPs were synthesized through an environmentally friendly chemical process aided by ultrasonic conditions. Comprehensive physicochemical analyses, such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, DPPH assay, and XRD, were carried out to characterize the AuNPs. These AuNPs were then blended with a polycaprolactone/gelatin polymeric solution and electrospun to fabricate cardiac patches, which underwent thorough evaluation using various techniques. The resulting cardiac patch demonstrated excellent hemocompatibility, antioxidant properties, and cytocompatibility, offering a promising therapeutic approach for myocardial infarctions and the advancement of cardiovascular nursing care.

Greenspaces And Cardiovascular Health

Accumulating evidence suggests that living in areas of high surrounding greenness or even brief exposures to areas of high greenery is conducive to cardiovascular health, which may be related to the environmental, social, psychological, and physiological benefits of greenspaces. Recent data from multiple cross-sectional, longitudinal, and cohort studies suggest that living in areas of high surrounding greenness is associated with a lower risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. High levels of neighborhood greenery have been linked also to a decrease in the burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors as reflected by lower rates of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Those who live in greener environments report better mental health and more frequent social interactions, which can benefit cardiovascular health as well. In this narrative review, we discuss evidence linking greenspaces to cardiovascular health as well as the potential mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of greenspaces, including the impact of vegetation on air, noise and light pollution, ambient temperature, physical activity, mental health, and biodiversity. We review literature on the beneficial effects of acute and chronic exposure to nature on cardiovascular disease risk factors, inflammation and immune function, and we highlight the potential cardiovascular effects of biogenic volatile organic compounds that are emitted by trees and shrubs. We identify current knowledge gaps in this area and underscore the need for additional population studies to understand more clearly and precisely the link between greenness and health. Such understanding is urgently needed to fully redeem the promise of greenspaces in preventing adverse environmental exposures, mitigating the effects of climate change, and creating healthier living environments.

Implementing age-friendly policies in China: Assessing the impact on older adults' self-rated health

Using prefecture-level policy documents (2008-2018) and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2018), this study used fixed-effects regressions to examine the associations between the maturity of two age-friendly policies, i.e., old age care (OAC) and preferential treatment (PT) policies for older adults, and the self-rated health (SRH) of older adults. We use policy duration and policy density to measure policy maturity. The results showed positive relationships exist between the density of OAC and PT policy and older adults' SRH, whereas long policy duration often relates to lower SRH. Policy duration and policy density work synergistically. Furthermore, heterogeneity analyses indicated that older adults aged over 75 years, male, those with physical or mental impairment, and living in rural areas and in the first- and second-tier cities benefit significantly from denser OAC policy. The SRH of older adults suffering from physical disabilities or mental problems and living in rural areas is positively associated with denser PT policy. From a policy perspective, our findings suggest that age-friendly policies should be updated over time and be place- and characteristic-tailored.

Experimental and numerical investigation of the stenosed coronary artery taken from the clinical setting and modeled in terms of hemodynamics

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of the artery with different pulse values and stenosis rates on the pressure drop, the peristaltic pump outlet pressure, fractional flow reserve (FFR) and most importantly the amount of power consumed by the peristaltic pump. For this purpose, images taken from the clinical environment were produced as models (10 mm inlet diameter) with 0% and 70% percent areal stenosis rates (PSR) on a three-dimensional (3D) printer. In the experimental system, pure water was used as the fluid at 54, 84, 114, 132, and 168 bpm pulse values. In addition, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyzes of the test region were performed using experimental boundary conditions with the help of ANSYS-Fluent software. The findings showed that as PSR increases in the arteries, the pressure drop in the stenosis region increases and this amount increases dramatically with increasing effort. An increase of approximately 40% was observed in the pump outlet pressure value from 54 bpm to 168 bpm in the PSR 0% model and 51% increase in the PSR 70% model. It has been observed that the pump does more work to overcome the increased pressure difference due to increased pulse rate and PSR. With the effect of contraction, the power consumption of the pump increased from 9.2% for 54 bpm to 13.8% for 168 bpm. In both models, the Wall Shear Stress (WSS) increased significantly. WSS increased abruptly in the stenosis and arcuate regions, while sudden decreases were observed in the flow separation region.

A scale for measuring home-based cardiac rehabilitation exercise adherence: a development and validation study

BACKGROUND

The benefits of home-based cardiac rehabilitation exercise are well-established and depend on long-term adherence. However, there is no uniform and recognized cardiac rehabilitation criterion to assess home-based cardiac rehabilitation exercise adherence for patients with cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to develop a home-based cardiac rehabilitation exercise adherence scale and to validate its psychometric properties among patients with chronic heart failure.

METHODS

The dimensions and items of the scale were created based on grounded theory research, literature content analysis, and defined by a Delphi survey. Item analysis was completed to assess the discrimination and homogeneity of the scale. Factor analysis was adopted to explore and validate the underlying factor structure of the scale. Content validity and calibration validity were evaluated using the Delphi survey and correlation analysis, respectively. Reliability was evaluated by Cronbach's α coefficients, split-half reliability coefficients, and test-retest reliability coefficients.

RESULTS

A scale covering four dimensions and 20 items was developed for evaluating home-based cardiac rehabilitation exercise adherence. The content validity index of the scale was 0.986. In exploratory factor analysis, a four-factor structure model was confirmed, explaining 75.1% of the total variation. In confirmatory factor analysis, the four-factor structure was supported by the appropriate fitting indexes. Calibration validity of the scale was 0.726. In terms of reliability, the Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.894, and the Cronbach's α coefficients of dimensions ranged from 0.848 to 0.914. The split-half reliability coefficient of the scale was 0.695. The test-retest reliability coefficient of the scale was 0.745.

CONCLUSION

In this study, a home-based cardiac rehabilitation exercise adherence scale was developed and its appropriate psychometric properties were confirmed.

Protective effects and molecular mechanisms of tea polyphenols on cardiovascular diseases

Aging is the most important factor contributing to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and the incidence and severity of cardiovascular events tend to increase with age. Currently, CVD is the leading cause of death in the global population. In-depth analysis of the mechanisms and interventions of cardiovascular aging and related diseases is an important basis for achieving healthy aging. Tea polyphenols (TPs) are the general term for the polyhydroxy compounds contained in tea leaves, whose main components are catechins, flavonoids, flavonols, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, condensed phenolic acids and polymeric phenols. Among them, catechins are the main components of TPs. In this article, we provide a detailed review of the classification and composition of teas, as well as an overview of the causes of aging-related CVDs. Then, we focus on ten aspects of the effects of TPs, including anti-hypertension, lipid-lowering effects, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-proliferation, anti-angiogenesis, anti-atherosclerosis, recovery of endothelial function, anti-thrombosis, myocardial protective effect, to improve CVDs and the detailed molecular mechanisms.

Association between Feelings of Trust and Security with Subjective Health among Mexican Migrants in the New York City Area

The size of the foreign-born population living in the United States makes migrants' health a substantive policy issue. The health status of Mexican immigrants might be affected by the level of social capital and the social context, including the rhetoric around immigration. We hypothesize that a diminished perception of trust and safety in the community has a negative impact on self-reported health. In a cross-sectional study, we conducted a survey among 266 Mexican Immigrants in the New York City Area who used the Mexican Consulate between May and June 2019 for regular services provided to documented and undocumented immigrants. A univariate and bivariate descriptive analysis by trust and security items first shows the diversity of the Mexican population living in the US and the conditions of vulnerability. Then, logistic regression models estimate the association between trust and security items with self-reported health status. Results show that safety is consistently associated with good self-rated health, especially when rating the neighborhood, and trust showed mixed results, more reliant to the way it is operationalized. The study illustrates a pathway by which perceptions of the social context are associated with migrants' health.