United States

Background
Mental illness presents an evolutionary paradox – it is common, heritable, and deleterious to fitness. Under these circumstances, natural selection should deplete genetic variation underlying mental illness, decreasing its prevalence. Various evolutionary mechanisms may resolve this paradox, yet empirical investigations of these mechanisms are lacking. Prior studies have measured selection in one generation. However, if the relationship between the symptoms of mental illness and fitness changes between generations then fluctuating selection may be maintaining mental illness in populations. Here, we examine the relationship between depression
and fitness to provide an empirical test of this mechanism.
Methods
We obtained severity of depression (PHQ-9 scores) and fitness components (lifetime number of sexual partners, pregnancies, and births) for a nationally representative U.S. cohort of 10030 women ages 20-69 born between 1938-1994 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We compared mean PHQ-9 scores and fitness components among four generational cohorts (Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials). Using generalized linear
models, we examined the relationship between PHQ-9 scores and fitness components in each generation separately with age, BMI, education, ethnicity, and income as covariates. We corrected p-values using false discovery rate.
Results
Mean PHQ-9 score and fitness components differed among generations (all p&lt;0.0001). In each generation, women reporting higher PHQ-9 had more lifetime sexual partners (all p&lt;0.001). Women reporting higher PHQ-9 also had more lifetime pregnancies (all p&lt;0.01) except in the Silent Generation (p=0.95). The relationship between PHQ-9 and lifetime births was significant only in the Baby Boomer generation (p=0.02).
Conclusion
Our results demonstrate the relationship between depression and fitness changes between generations, supporting the hypothesis that fluctuating selection contributes to the persistence of depression in populations. Surprisingly, the correlation between severity of depression and number of sexual partners remained consistently positive. This finding suggests a conflict between sexual and natural selection, possibly weakening selection against depression. Our data is limited by the assessment of depression at a single timepoint and in one biological sex. Future
work should focus on biological and cultural mechanisms underlying the observed patterns. Investigating which mechanisms mediate relationships between depression and fitness may illuminate novel therapeutic targets.

AMA Research Challenge 2022

Fitness consequences of depression fluctuate across the 20th century in a large cohort of women

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AMA Research Challenge 2025 

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Background
Mental illness presents an evolutionary paradox – it is common, heritable, and deleterious to fitness. Under these circumstances, natural selection should deplete genetic variation underlying mental illness, decreasing its prevalence. Various evolutionary mechanisms may resolve this paradox, yet empirical investigations of these mechanisms are lacking. Prior studies have measured selection in one generation. However, if the relationship between the symptoms of mental illness and fitness changes between generations then fluctuating selection may be maintaining mental illness in populations. Here, we examine the relationship between depression
and fitness to provide an empirical test of this mechanism.
Methods
We obtained severity of depression (PHQ-9 scores) and fitness components (lifetime number of sexual partners, pregnancies, and births) for a nationally representative U.S. cohort of 10030 women ages 20-69 born between 1938-1994 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We compared mean PHQ-9 scores and fitness components among four generational cohorts (Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials). Using generalized linear
models, we examined the relationship between PHQ-9 scores and fitness components in each generation separately with age, BMI, education, ethnicity, and income as covariates. We corrected p-values using false discovery rate.
Results
Mean PHQ-9 score and fitness components differed among generations (all p<0.0001). In each generation, women reporting higher PHQ-9 had more lifetime sexual partners (all p<0.001). Women reporting higher PHQ-9 also had more lifetime pregnancies (all p<0.01) except in the Silent Generation (p=0.95). The relationship between PHQ-9 and lifetime births was significant only in the Baby Boomer generation (p=0.02).
Conclusion
Our results demonstrate the relationship between depression and fitness changes between generations, supporting the hypothesis that fluctuating selection contributes to the persistence of depression in populations. Surprisingly, the correlation between severity of depression and number of sexual partners remained consistently positive. This finding suggests a conflict between sexual and natural selection, possibly weakening selection against depression. Our data is limited by the assessment of depression at a single timepoint and in one biological sex. Future
work should focus on biological and cultural mechanisms underlying the observed patterns. Investigating which mechanisms mediate relationships between depression and fitness may illuminate novel therapeutic targets.

poster

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Background
Invisible wounds of war such as posttraumatic stress (PTS) account for a huge burden of disease for US military veterans. Studies have shown that 13.5% of deployed and non-deployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans screened positive for PTS while this number is estimated to be as high as 25% among Vietnam veterans. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) training has shown promise in aiding this population. HRV, which is a proxy measurement of nervous system health, is an important indicator of well-being, fitness, and stress resilience. While there have been many studies that have illustrated the benefits of HRV training for those coping with emotional distress, there is a lack of robust research exploring the benefits of training in group sessions versus individual sessions.

Methods
Enrollment will consist of 60 US military veterans, aged 20-75, who are proficient English speakers and have at least one invisible wound of war including PTS. HRV trends with be monitored using wearable devices. HRV data will be individually correlated to each participant’s baseline HRV prior to training. Training will occur either one-on-one with a certified HRV coach, or in a group setting led by the same HRV coach. The following outcome measures will be collected before and after coaching: Stress and Well-Being Assessment (SWBA), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, NIH PROMIS Global Health Short Form, and the NIH NeuroQOL Cognitive Function Index.

Results
We anticipate our group-trained cohort will have a greater degree of improvement from baseline, as reflected in the standardized index scores, when compared to our individually trained cohort. This idea is supported by prior studies illustrating the synergistic improvements in HRV seen in group settings which has been referred to as social coherence.

Conclusion
Providing veterans suffering from invisible wounds of war with tools to manage their overall stress is of great benefit to society. We hope that the results of this study can be used to guide future implementation of this non-invasive, easily accessible, evidence-based, and cost-effective intervention in groups that may be suffering from invisible wounds such as healthcare professionals. 


Heart Rate Variability in US Military Veterans: The Power of Teams

Music’s ability to evoke and communicate emotion is widely recognized, but the ways in which music can be used to change, dampen, maintain, or enhance various mood states warrants further investigation. While existing research has elucidated several strategies for using music to regulate emotion, the relationship between mood regulation strategy and the affective experience of music listening has not been explored. Understanding how methods of mood regulation relate to the affective dimensions of valence (positive-negative) and arousal (activating-relaxing) can help maximize music’s potential to promote emotional wellbeing. In this study, compositional strategies such as tempo, mode (major or minor), and instrumentation were used to produce four songs that targeted four dimensions of emotion: happy, calm, sad, and tense. A Qualtrics survey was used to collect valence and arousal ratings for each song (n = 142 respondents). The survey also included the Brief Music in Mood Regulation Scale (B-MMR), a validated measure that assesses seven strategies for using music to regulate mood: Entertainment, Revival, Strong Sensation, Diversion, Discharge, Mental Work, and Solace. Chi-squared analysis revealed that each song accurately conveyed its targeted emotion; however, paired t-test analysis of core affect ratings showed that the sad and tense songs had a more positive than negative valence. Correlation analysis and Fisher transformation unveiled relationships between positive valence and the regulation strategies of Revival, Strong Sensation, Diversion, and Mental Work; negative valence was related to emotional Discharge. Arousal was not related to mood regulation strategy. These results reveal that a song’s emotional valence can influence its compatibility with certain strategies of mood regulation. Applying these findings to everyday music listening can influence song selection based on the intended mood regulation strategy, thereby maximizing music’s effectiveness for regulating mood.

Keywords: music, affect, valence, arousal, mood regulation

Music and Mood: The Relationship Between Affective Experience and Mood Regulation in Music Listening

Background Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are the gold standard treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the use of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors in treatment of MDD remains unclear. The aim of our study was to compare the effect of PDE inhibitor + SSRI combination therapy to SSRI monotherapy for the treatment of MDD.
Methods We performed a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from inception to 07/08/2022, for studies that assess the impact of PDE inhibitor therapy on MDD patients. The primary outcome of our study was treatment response rate (defined as ≥50% reduction in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score) at the end of study time. Secondary outcomes included specific side effect rates. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Higgins I2 index (I2 values >50% implied the presence of significant heterogeneity).
Results A total of four randomized control trials (RCTs), including 270 patients with MDD (mean age: 34.9±8.4 years, 135 patients received PDE inhibitor + SSRI combination therapy and 135 received SSRI monotherapy), were included in the analysis. The follow up period ranged from 6 to 12 weeks. The PDE inhibitor group was associated with a significantly higher treatment response rate (OR:4.77; 95% CI:2.05-11.12; P = 0.0003). Additionally, there was no significant difference in side effect rates between the two treatment modalities.
Conclusion Our study supports the use of PDE inhibitor + SSRI combination therapy in patients with MDD, since it is associated with a significantly higher treatment response rate compared to patients receiving SSRI monotherapy (90.4% vs 64.4%, respectively). Further large-scale RCTs with long-term follow-up are necessary to validate our findings. Ultimately, use of PDE inhibitors in MDD patients should be considered on a case-by-case basis to maximize patient benefits.

Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor and SSRI Combination Therapy Versus SSRI Monotherapy for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Suicide continues to be one of America’s largest public health concerns. In response to the growing need for screening hospitalized patients for suicidal behavior and ideation, a Northeastern United States Hospital (NEUSH), in conjunction with Columbia University, implemented a screening version of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). The original project, published in 2020, evaluated the feasibility and initial results of using this screening tool in a NEUSH on the inpatient acute care floors. Now, this study aims to update the scientific community on the progression and effectiveness of this C-SSRS screening tool at the same NEUSH with a larger sample size.
Methods: A total of 261,681 patients aged 18 and over were screened by trained nurses during the time period of July 1st, 2011, to June 30, 2021. Data was collected using the Electronic Medical Record Systems that the hospital was using during that time frame (Clin Doc© and Epic©). 
Results: From the 261,681 adult patients who were screened with the C-SSRS Screener, 1,375 (44.6%) scored a Level 3, another 198 (6.4%) scored a Level 4, and 1,509 (49.0%) scored a Level 5. Overall, 1.18% (3,082/261,681) of admissions had a psychiatric consult recommended due to the level indicated by the C-SSRS and a total of 2730 consultations were performed by the psychiatry department as a result of a Level 3 or higher on the C-SSRS screening. Over 99% of the consults performed from C-SSRS score of Level 3 or higher were deemed appropriate. Regarding disposition of patients who scored a Level 3, 4, or 5 on C-SSRS screening, 976 (31.7%) were referred to either start or continue outpatient mental health care, another 689 (22.4%) were discharged to home, and 623 (20.2%) were discharged to the inpatient psychiatric facility of the NEUSH.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the C-SSRS Screener continues to be a low burden effective screening tool that can identify suicidal ideation and behavior in high-risk patients admitted to the hospital. Any hospital needing a method to screen for suicidal ideation and behavior should consider the C-SSRS Screener as a possible solution to their needs. 


Systematic Suicide Screening in a General Hospital Setting: Process and Updated Results 10-year Data Review

Variability in Researcher Dependent Data Collection, Rat Behavioral Testing

Title: Association and predictors of secondary pulmonary hypertension amongst patients suffering from Takayasu’s arteritis - a nationwide study.
Introduction: Most previous studies on patients with Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) along with PHTN have focused on clinical symptoms and imaging characteristics. Data on the predictors of secondary PHTN amongst patients suffering from takayasu’s arteritis are scarce.
Aims: Primary aim of our study was to identify predictors of developing secondary pulmonary hypertension amongst patients suffering from takayasu’s arteritis.
Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was performed in adult US hospitalizations from the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS-2016-2018). We identified patients with TA and subgrouped them into patients with and without PHTN using ICD-10 codes. Univariate analysis was performed using unpaired student's t test and chi-square test to identify prevalence of comorbidities amongst Takayasu’s arteritis patients with secondary pulmonary hypertension. Mix effects multivariate survey logistic regression analyses weighted for variables were performed to identify comorbidities (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] and 95% confidence interval [95%CI]) associated with PTHN amongst TA. p <0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: Out of 3560 patients with TA, prevalence of PHTN was 6.04%. The odds of developing secondary PHTN among TA patients is 1.56 times more than the patients who do not have TA (aOR 1.56, 95%CI 1.09-2.23). We noticed higher prevalence odds of secondary PHTN among patients with TA in age group of 50-75 years (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.21-1.25), age group of more than 75 years (1.14, 1.11-1.17), black race (1.35, 1.34-1.36), and female sex (1.33, 1.32-1.34). The odds of developing PHTN in patients with takayasu arteritis was seen to be 6.53 higher (6.53, 6.48-6.58) in the presence of CHF as a comorbidity than in the absence of it . Other comorbidities associated with PHTN among patients with Takayasu arteritis were essential HTN (1.23, 1.22-1.24), IHD (1.21, 1.20-1.22), atrial fibrillation (1.5, 1.49-1.51), AIDS (1.36, 1.28-1.44), renal failure (1.42, 1.42-1.43) and obesity (1.54, 1.53-1.55). 
Conclusion: Predictors of developing secondary PHTN in patients with TA are advanced age, black race, female sex, CHF, essential HTN, IHD, atrial fibrillation, AIDS, renal failure, and obesity. Early identification of these risk factors helps to mitigate the burden associated with pulmonary hypertension. Our findings are limited due to missing data on PHTN severity and long-term followup.


Association and Predictors of secondary pulmonary hypertension amongst patients suffering from Takayasu’s Arteritis - a Nationwide Study

Association and predictors of secondary pulmonary hypertension amongst patients suffering from Takayasu’s arteritis - a nationwide study

Characterizing chest radiographic patterns of small opacities in New Mexico coal miners

Mueez Rehman, Nour Assad, Charles Pollard, Orrin Myers, Xin Wang Shore, Linda Cook, and Akshay Sood

Abstract:
Rationale: Previous literature cites chest radiograph pneumoconiosis opacities to be different for Coal Miners vs other mineral miners. Our objective was to characterize chest radiograph patterns and compare the findings with other resource miners. Methods: Our chest radiographs and B- Reads were taken from a small cohort of coal miners in rural New Mexico, who had opacities consistent with pneumoconiosis. The chest radiograph patterns were characterized and compared to chest radiographs of non-coal miners diagnosed with pneumoconiosis. The primary study outcome was the chest radiographic pattern, determined by factors such as: shape, size, zonal development, and profusion score. The study predictor was the mining status with coal miners classified as 1. exclusively coal miners and 2. mixed coal and non-coal miners, and 3. Never coal miners (Control) Results: Our data showed no difference in chest radiograph patterns of opacities between coal miners and other resource miners. Furthermore, we found 95% of pneumoconiosis patterns to be the same between coal miners and other mineral miners. Conclusions: According to our data, the patterns for pneumoconiosis are the same amongst coal and non-coal miners. 

1. Laney, A. Scott, and Edward L. Petsonk. “Small Pneumoconiotic Opacities on U.S. Coal Worker Surveillance Chest Radiographs Are Not Predominantly in the Upper Lung Zones.” American Journal of Industrial Medicine 55, no. 9 (September 2012): 793–98. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22049.




Characterizing Chest Radiographic Patterns of Regular, Primary, & Small Pneumoconiotic Opacities in New Mexico Coal Miners

Introduction: Insufficient sleep results in a pro-inflammatory state (marked by elevated IL-6 and C-reactive protein), autonomic dysfunction (marked by decreased heart rate variability [HRV] and increased mean arterial pressure [MAP]) and is prospectively associated with increased disease risks, in particular cardiovascular disease (CVD). While studies suggest that the observed pro-inflammatory state and autonomic dysfunction following sleep loss may be a mechanism driving the increased CVD risk, this remains unclear. It is clear, however, that sleep loss presents an inflammatory and cardiovascular challenge to the body’s homeostatic functioning, and individuals respond with great variability to such challenges (i.e., some have increased inflammation and autonomic dysfunction after sleep loss while others are resilient). This variability represents a barrier to understanding the relationship between inadequate sleep and disease risk. The purpose of this study was to provide novel insight into factors that explain the variability in responses to prolonged experimental sleep disturbance as experienced by about 20% of the general population. We hypothesized that baseline levels of inflammatory markers (i.e., IL-6) and behavioral markers (i.e., habitual sleep duration) predict inflammatory and autonomic responses to a prolonged experimentally induced sleep loss challenge.

Methods: 23 healthy participants (ages between 18 and 42 years, 11 females) completed two 19-day stays in the Clinical Research Center, separated by at least 2 months. This included a control stay with an 8-hour sleep opportunity per night, and a sleep disturbance stay with three cycles of disturbed sleep for 3 nights (20-minute awakenings per hour; 4-hour sleep opportunity per night) followed by one night of recovery sleep (undisturbed sleep for 8 hours). Participants’ blood was drawn at baseline as well as every other day, and tested for levels of inflammatory markers (IL-6 and cortisol). Brachial blood pressure measurements were taken three times a day. HRV (tracked by the calculated HFnu) was measured every other day. Prior to enrollment in the study, subjects reported their sleep duration daily for 14 days using an online software. A multiple linear regression model (SPSS 27) was used to test if baseline plasma IL-6, cortisol, and habitual sleep duration significantly predicted the response of plasma IL-6 levels, HFnu, or MAP following exposure to sleep disturbance.

Results: Higher baseline plasma IL-6 levels predicted reduced HFnu following sleep disturbance (β = -.603, p = 0.019). Higher baseline plasma IL-6 levels predicted increased MAP following sleep disturbance (β = 0.401, p = 0.003). Also, higher baseline habitual sleep duration predicted reduced plasma cortisol levels by week three (β = -0.447, p = 0.024).

Conclusion: Findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of baseline IL-6 respond to sleep disturbance with increased inflammation and autonomic dysfunction, while those who habitually sleep for longer periods of time respond with less inflammation. Findings have the potential to be used clinically to identify individuals with increased cardiovascular disease vulnerability to sleep loss using their baseline inflammatory state and habitual sleep duration. 

Acknowledgment: A special thanks to the BIDMC Sleep and Inflammatory Systems Laboratory for their support. This work was supported by the Carmen Pettapiece Student Research Fellowship (to KO) and R01 NIH/NINDS NS091177 (to MH). IRB approval was granted by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center IRB committee (protocol 2014P-000354).

Predicting Inflammatory and Autonomic Responses to Sleep Disturbance: The Role of Baseline IL-6 and Habitual Sleep Duration

Role of inhalational epoprostenol in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients
– Literature Review

Background
Strategies in management of COVID-19 revolved around redirection of available drugs, with no large-scale clinical trials supporting their repurpose. Inhalational epoprostenol (iEPO) is a pulmonary vasodilator used off-label in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Although the role of iEPO and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) as rescue strategy has been extensively studied in ARDS, the current recommendations by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign on COVID-19 management on their utilization in mechanically ventilated adults with COVID-
19, severe ARDS and hypoxemia were weak.

Methods
Trip, Cochrane, and Pubmed databases were searched using keywords COVID-19, Coronavirus-2019, epoprostenol, and ARDS. Of the 11 identified studies, 3 were specific for the role of iEPO in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients with ARDS and refractory hypoxemia. These included 2 retrospective single-center and 1 retrospective two-center study involving 38, 43, and 80 patients respectively. The interventions were utilization of iEPO followed by introduction of iNO in the first, iEPO and prone position individually and in combination in the second, and
iEPO with and without prone position in the third study.

Results
No variables were available for comparison. In the first study, 41% patients responded to iEPO with < 10% increase in PaO2/FiO2 (PF) ratio. In the second study, 63% patients had > 20% improvement in the PF ratio with the combination of iEPO and prone position (p < 0.001), with resultant lower mortality in responders (p = 0.025). The third study demonstrated a 10% increase in PF ratio in 50% patients with iEPO alone (p-value < 0.01) and a 16-17% increase in PF ratio noted in patients with iEPO, prone position, and severe ARDS (p = 0.03).

Conclusion
The level of evidence on the role of iEPO in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients with refractory hypoxemia is weak. Studies are small, retrospective, and lack outcomes such as time for extubation, duration of ventilation, mortality outcomes. Large-scale randomized clinical trials are warranted to assess the role of iEPO alone and in combination with prone positioning in this patient population.

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Heart Rate Variability in US Military Veterans: The Power of Teams

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