Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-151). Also available online in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Advisor: Thomas Joiner, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 15, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains v, 35 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in psychology)--Washington State University, December 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 10, 2009). "Department of Psychology." Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-33).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1983. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-37).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Charles R. Figley, Florida State University, College of Human Sciences, Dept. of Family and Child Sciences. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Jan. 2, 2007). Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 69 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Research regarding the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is important because CVD is the leading cause of death in the United States (US) and many countries abroad. Risk factors, such as obesity and psychological stress, should be studied in order to understand contributing factors for CVD and the cellular mechanisms which link risk factors with the development of disease. Specifically, the combined influence of multiple risk factors on inflammation is of interest because many individuals have more than one risk factor, which additively increases an individual’s risk for CVD. Obesity is already characterized by disordered inflammation, which suggests that the additional burden of a psychological stressor could elicit a greater inflammatory response and a greater risk for CVD than either stressor alone. The documents included within this thesis include the significance and specific aims of the study in addition to a review of the relevant literature related to the effects of obesity and acute mental stress (AMS) on endocrine and inflammatory markers. Specifically, this study aims to address IL-1β, IL-1Ra, and leptin following an AMS task in non-obese and obese individuals. Additionally, a manuscript is included which evaluates the change in IL-1β, IL-1Ra, and leptin following a 20 minute AMS task. Variables were examined between groups at baseline and at two time points following AMS. Additionally, the relationships among the changes in the markers following AMS were examined. Appendices include expanded methodology and all questionnaires used.

Mental stress ischemia (MSI) is associated with poor prognosis for coronary artery disease (CAD) and is amenable to treatment, yet no easily administered test exists to diagnose it. Given the known increase in systemic vascular tone in response to stress, we studied the ability of peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), a noninvasive functional measure of arterial tone, to predict those vulnerable to MSI. Seventy-seven patients with chronic stable CAD were subjected to mental stress with concomitant assessment of myocardial perfusion and pulse wave amplitude. Nuclear perfusion imaging was used to document MSI, and PAT was used to measure pulse wave and microarterial tone. A ratio of PAT measurements during stress to those before stress was used to characterize vascular responses. Serum catecholamines and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were simultaneously measured. Subjects who experienced MSI had a lower average PAT ratio than those who did not (0.76 ¡À 0.04 vs. 0.91 ¡À 0.05, P = 0.03). A receiver operating characteristics curve for PAT ratio predicting MSI had an area under the curve of 0.613 (standard error, 0.065, one-sided P = 0.04). Maxima of sensitivity and specificity were observed at a threshold of 0.78 to define an abnormal PAT ratio. Cross-tabulation of groups above and below this threshold with groups of subjects with and without MSI showed a significant predictive relationship between PAT ratio and MSI (P = 0.03). Subjects at or below this threshold (¡Ü0.78) displayed a significant increase in norepinephrine levels during mental stress (235 pg/ml at baseline, 259 pg/ml during mental stress, P = 0.007). Subjects above this threshold (>0.78) displayed a significant decline in their ET-1 levels 24 hours after mental stress (1.15 pg/ml after mental stress, 0.93 pg/ml 24 hours later, P = 0.01), while those at or below threshold had a continued increase. PAT ratio is a complex functional measure of peripheral arterial tone that significantly predicts the occurrence of MSI. It may have clinical value as an easily administered screening test for MSI.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 109-129) Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 109-129) Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-143). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.