This study will investigate the link between previous COVID-19 infection and future heart disease risk.

The primary objective of this protocol, Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Disease (MCD) is to collect biological specimens and data from patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) to study the mechanisms that contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction and disease.

If you decide to participate in this study, you will be asked to provide a blood sample and possibly additional optional samples, either immediately or later. Additional samples may include saliva, cheek swab, urine, waste tissue or nasal swabs. You will decide whether you are willing to provide these other samples. Clinical data will be included in the dataset along with your sample.

Endometriosis, is a disorder that occurs in women, is when tissue that should be normally found inside the womb is also found in sites outside of the womb. Endometriosis is a disorder that is associated with systemic inflammation. This disorder impairs the function of the endothelium, the cells that line the body’s blood vessels (endothelium). The endothelium helps to control blood flow in healthy vessels. Women with endometriosis not only have an increased risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, they also have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. With this study, we will learn how systemic inflammation in endometriosis impairs the lining of blood vessels and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease.We will use a short term intervention with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory to examine how inflammation impact endothelial function in women with endometriosis

There will be 4 in person visits, at all visits blood will be drawn. Two of the visits will be experimental visits where we will measure skin blood flow and blood flow in the brachial artery. Participants will be required to take a placebo or the drug salsalate for 4 days prior to each experimental visit.

$420

The purpose of this study is determine if an increase in interstitial pressure has an effect on the venous distension reflex.

This study involves a single visit with 2 trials.You will receive an infusion of saline in your arm before and after a procedure to cause a temporary swelling in your arm.

You will receive $25 per hour for your participation in this research study

This pilot study aims explore the health literacy and medication adherence found among African Americans and Latinos with hypertension receiving care at Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg PA. We also aim to determine the feasibility of the iPad or smartphone as a tool for accessing health related information among African American and Latino patients with hypertension receiving care at clinics at Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg PA. The expected outcomes of this project are to obtain a better understand of the literacy levels and adherence behaviors of African Americans and Latinos in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The findings from this study will provide valuable insights into the health management behaviors of this community and determine if there is a need to develop a mobile health application for the management of hypertension.

The earth’s climate is warming, and the number of heat waves has increased in recent years. At the same time, the number of adults over the age of 65 is growing. Humans sweat and increase blood flow to the skin to cool their body when they get hot. Older adults do not do this as well as young adults. This makes it harder to safely exercise in warm and/or humid conditions. It is important to learn about safe limits of heat and humidity for older adults to exercise. Also, nearly 40% of adults over age 50 take aspirin to lower their risk for heart disease. Our lab has shown that aspirin lowers the control of body heat.In this study, we will determine critical temperature and humidity environments above which normal body temperature cannot be maintained in young and older adults. We will also look at how aspirin may change critical temperature and humidity thresholds in older adults.

There will be 4 in person visits and sit, walk, or cycle at a low intensity in an environmental chamber.

360

The study will examine a condition known as orthostatic hypertension, which is a sudden increase in blood pressure when a person stands up. Orthostatic hypertension is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This project will also examine the differences in blood pressure responses to standing between African Americans and other races, since African Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure than other races.

If you are eligible, you will be asked to complete the following activities in a single visit:• Lie down for 10 minutes while the team completes anelectrocardiogram (EKG) and blood pressure measurements• Stand up for 10 minutes while the team continues the EKGand blood pressure measurements

$25

We will investigate the effects of the hormone angiotensin-(1-7) on energy expenditure in patients with obesity.

This is an outpatient study that requires a screening visit, and if eligible, one study visit in the Clinical Research Center within the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The screening visit will take about one hour and includes a brief physical examination and medical history, urine pregnancy test if female and of childbearing potential, measurement of heart rhythm, collection of blood samples, and measurements of body composition. If eligible based on the results of the screening visit, participants will be invited to participate in one study visit that will take about four hours. Participants will complete food recall and activity questionnaires prior to the study visit and asked not to change eating or physical activity patterns. A urine pregnancy test will be given for females of childbearing potential. Participants will lie down on a bed and a catheter (small plastic tube) will be placed in a vein in each arm to draw blood samples and to give study medications. Equipment will then be placed to measure heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and the amount of oxygen in the blood. After placing this equipment, participants will be allowed to rest for at least 20 minutes. Resting energy expenditure will then be measured by asking participants to breathe through a canopy placed over their head that is connected to a metabolic cart for 45 minutes. Blood samples will be taken to measure hormones influencing resting energy expenditure. Participants will then receive either angiotensin-(1-7) or normal saline (salt water) through the catheter in the arm for up to two hours. Angiotensin-(1-7) is a substance that the body produces naturally; however, in this form, it is considered experimental, which means the Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for this use. Participants will receive either angiotensin-(1-7) or normal saline. The treatment will be randomly assigned meaning that it is determined purely by chance, and neither the participant nor study investigators will know which treatment is received. Blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and oxygen in the blood will be measured continuously while giving angiotensin-(1-7) or normal saline. During the last 45 minutes of the treatment, resting energy expenditure will be measured again and additional blood samples taken. Participants will also have the option of allowing for a small piece of fat to be taken from under the skin in the abdominal region (fat tissue biopsy). Participants will then be allowed to recover for at least 20 minutes and then all equipment will be removed. After the study visit, a nurse will contact participants to check on general well-being and answer any questions.

$25 per hour; additional $75 for fat tissue biopsy

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic syndrome in which the heart beats too quickly when standing. POTS primarily affects young women. People with POTS also experience symptoms such as feeling faint, fatigue, nausea, and mental clouding or "brain fog." “Brain fog” is one of the most bothersome symptoms of POTS and it is unknown why people with POTS experience this symptom. Some studies have shown that POTS patients have problems with attention, memory and executive function (ability to plan, organize information, and adapt to changes) while seated and when upright. In this study, we will evaluate how brain function during mental tasks is affected in people with POTS compared to healthy volunteers. All volunteers will complete mental tasks while lying down and standing. If eligible, we will measure brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).The findings from this study will increase our understanding of the mental complaints in people with POTS, to hopefully help with development of new treatments.

There will be three in person visits for this study. At the screening visit, participants will undergo a detailed medical history and physical examination and then will complete a mental test while lying down and standing. If eligible based on the results of the mental test, participants will undergo a pregnancy test if female and of childbearing potential, measurements of blood pressure and heart rate and blood draws while lying down and standing up, and a test to determine if they can tolerate being in a lower body negative pressure (LBNP) device that distributes more blood to the legs to mimic standing. If eligible based on the results of the screening visit, participants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire and two study visits that are separated by at least one week. At these study visits, they will perform a mental test in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The LBNP device will also be used while in the MRI scanner to distribute more blood to the legs to mimic standing.

$25 per hour; additional $25 for completion of online questionnaire

The purpose of this study is to see if the hormone angiotensin-(1-7) improves the function of blood vessels and lowers blood pressure in obese subjects with hypertension.

This is an outpatient study that requires a screening visit, and if eligible, two study visits in the Clinical Research Center within the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The screening visit will take about one hour and includes a brief physical examination and medical history, a urine pregnancy test if female and of childbearing potential, measurement of heart rhythm, collection of blood samples, and measurements of body composition. If eligible based on the results of the screening visit, participants will be invited to participate in two study visits that are about four hours and are separated by at least one week. Participants will complete food recall and activity questionnaires prior to each study visit. A urine pregnancy test will be given for females of childbearing potential. Participants will lie down on a bed and a catheter will be placed in a vein in each arm to draw blood samples and to give study medications. Equipment will then be placed to measure heart rate, blood pressure, and the amount of oxygen in the blood. A blood pressure cuff on the arm will be inflated for up to five minutes to measure blood flow in the arm using ultrasound and blood samples will be collected. Small electrodes will then be inserted into a nerve and just under the skin on one leg to measure nerve activity, which will remain in place until the end of the study. Participants will then receive either angiotensin-(1-7) or normal saline through the catheter in the arm for up to 100 minutes. Angiotensin-(1-7) is a substance that the body produces naturally; however, in this form, it is considered experimental, which means the Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for this use. Participants will receive angiotensin-(1-7) at one study visit and normal saline at the other study visit. The treatments will be randomly assigned so that the order in which they receive each treatment will be determined purely by chance, and neither the participant nor study investigators will know which treatment is received at each study visit. Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen in the blood, and leg nerve activity will be measured continuously while giving angiotensin-(1-7) or normal saline. Near the end of treatment, blood flow in the arm will be measured again and one hand will be placed in a bucket of ice water for two minutes to measure the blood pressure, flow, and nervous system response. At the end of the last dose, another blood sample will be taken. Participants will then be allowed to recover for at least 20 minutes and then all equipment will be removed. After the study visit, participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire if they had the nerve activity measurements, and a nurse will contact them to check on general well-being and answer any questions.

$25 per hour

The purpose of this study is to examine if nervous system and blood pressure responses to exercise will be less with heat exposure in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and healthy controls.

Site For CLOVERS

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of pecans replacing one snack daily on heart health, diet quality and blood sugar control. Participants will be randomized into one of two groups. Group 1 will consume ½ cup of pecans per day in place of normally consumed snacks for 12 weeks. Group 2 will be asked to continue consuming their current snacks for 12 weeks. Measures to evaluate heart health and blood sugar will be taken at the beginning and end of the 12 weeks.

There will be 4 in person visits (two at the beginning and two after 12-weeks) with blood draws and vascular measures on both days. Additionally, participants will be required to pick up study foods or gift cards monthly and complete 9 dietary recalls over the course of the 12 week study.

$200

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of cardiometabolic disease risk factors on cognitive performance and brain vascular function, as well as, to see if beetroot juice supplementation can improve these outcomes and reduce risk of cognitive decline and brain vascular dysfunction that is seen with aging and disease.

Participants with and without high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar will be recruited. These are all considered cardiovascular disease risk factors.Individuals without multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors will have 2 visits and complete cognitive and blood vessel function assessments. There involves a blood draw in each visit. All study assessments are non-invasive. Total compensation is $30. Individuals with cardiovascular disease risk factors will have 5 total visits and complete cognitive and blood vessel function assessments. Additionally, participants will drink beetroot juice for 4 weeks to determine the potential health benefits on cognitive, blood vessel function, and metabolic health. There will involve blood draws and all assessments are non-invasive. Total compensation is up to $170.

$30 -170

This study is looking at how blood pressure control is altered by increased volume in veins.

This study continues our exploration into the mechanisms underlying the control of blood flow. During the experiments, we noninvasively measure skin blood flow (SkBF) and forearm blood flow (FBF) with a FLPI and venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP), respectively. The FLPI uses a low energy laser to measure SkBF. VOP uses blood pressure cuffs on the upper arm and wrist, and an elastic strain gauge encircling the forearm between the cuffs to measure the change in forearm-circumference over time from which we calculate FBF. For each experiment, we collect SkBF and FBF data for a 20-minute baseline, expose the skin of the forearms to negative pressure and then collect SkBF and FBF data for an additional 30-90 minutes. Each subject participates in 2 experiments that differ only in the protocol for the application of negative pressure (i.e. continuous, pulse).

Site For Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial (HAT)

The study is being done to find out whether wearing blue light-blocking glasses in the evening improves subsequent sleep. This is a 21-day study where participants will be asked to wear a sleep-monitoring “actiwatch”, an activity monitor, and a heart tracker, as well as to provide screenshots of their smartphone’s screen time app for three weeks. Participants will also be given the option to wear a blood pressure cuff on their arm for three days during the second half of each week, for a total of nine days.

Study participants will be asked to wear small devices on their wrist, hip, and shirt collar, and provide screenshots of their smartphone screen time app for three weeks. During the second and third weeks, participants will be asked to wear a pair of blue light-blocking glasses. Halfway through each week, participants will also be asked to wear a blood pressure monitor for 3 days/nights.There will be a total of seven in-person visits. At the first visit we will explain the study, ask interested participants to sign a consent form, collect information, and distribute study materials and devices. During all subsequent visits, participants will answer questionnaires and be provided additional study materials and devices.

150.00

To determine if the drug Amiloride will reduce exercise related muscle pain and improve exercise tolerance in healthy volunteers.

In each visit, you will be asked to perform foot exercise with, and without a blood pressure cuff inflated on your leg. You will also be asked to take pills prior to visit 2 and 3. One of these pills will be a drug called amiloride (10mg), which was traditionally used to lower blood pressure. The other pill will be a placebo (no active medication). During each visit, we will collect the following measurements:•We will collect a nerve recording from the leg not performing exercise, which will require a small needle-like electrode to be inserted behind your knee, just under the skin (a procedure called microneurography).•We will collect blood pressure from cuffs placed on your finger and upper arm.•We will collect blood lactate by sticking your finger with a small pin-prick (similar to taking a blood sugar measurement).•We will place to light-sensing device over the skin of your leg(s) to measure the oxygen level in your muscle.•We will hold a doppler ultrasound probe over your hip/leg region to measure blood flow.•We will use sticky-gel electrodes to measure heart rate and muscle activity.

You will receive $25 per hour for your participation in this research study

The purpose of the study is to determine the effects of amiloride on the blood pressure response to walking in PAD patients and healthy controls.

In each visit, you will be asked to walk on a treadmill. You will also be asked to take capsules prior to visit 2 and 3. The capsules for one visit will be a drug called amiloride (10mg, in 2 capsules with 5mg of amiloride in each capsule), which was traditionally used to lower blood pressure. The other capsules will be a placebo (no active medication). A blood sample will be drawn at each visit.

You will receive $25 per hour for your participation in this research study

This study aims to examine the effect of pedaling a compact elliptical device at the desk on employees' work productivity. This study also aims to evaluate the effect of different types of incentives on promoting desk-based pedaling.

The purpose of this voluntary research study is to test if the drug amiloride can decrease blood pressure during exercise.

This project includes 3 visits to the research lab. Each visit last approximately 3.5-4 hours (~11-12 hours altogether). In each visit, you will be asked to perform foot exercise before and after a blood pressure cuff on your leg was inflated. You will also be asked to take pills prior to visit 2 and 3. One of these pills will be a drug called amiloride (10mg), which was traditionally used to lower blood pressure. The other pill will be a placebo (no active medication).

You will receive $25 per hour for your participation in this research study

This research is being conducted to determine how oxygen extraction within exercising muscles is altered in younger and older women when beta-1 receptors (receptors that contribute to the rise in heart rate with exercise) are temporarily blocked through a medication infused into an arm vein. The findings will help us understand how aging affects the regulation of oxygen supply to working muscles is regulated with normal aging.

There will be 3 in person visits.Visit 1) Subjects will undergo a physical and one blood draw in the Clinical Research Center and then perform two recumbent cycling exercise trials on a stationary bike.Visit 2) Subjects will undergo a DXA scan and then perform two recumbent cycling exercise trials.Visit 3) Subjects will have an IV catheter inserted into an arm vein. They will then perform two recumbent cycling exercise trials. During one trial the will receive esmolol via the IV catheter and during the other they will receive saline via the IV catheter (random order).

$150

The purpose of the study is to test how social decisions are affected by possible risk of infection. We aim to examine how choices in a risky social decision-making situation can influenced by viewing images of infection threat (e.g., person with runny nose) vs. images of neutral scenes or other threatening scenes.

There will be one 90-minute in-person visit. Participants will be asked to have electrodes placed on their skin to record their physiological signals, answer questionnaires, and complete a decision-making task on the computer while looking at different images.

$30

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of sickness and death. Studies have shown higher risk of CVD in African Americans (AA). The reasons for this higher risk are not well understood. Vitamin D may play a role in blood vessel health and reduce risk of CVD. Darker skin absorbs light from the sun, and reduces the amount of vitamin D made by the body. We think that lower vitamin D in AA may lead to reduced blood vessel health and increased risk of CVD. We also think that risk of low vitamin D levels in those with increasingly darker skin pigmentation may predispose them to vascular dysfunction over time. This study will look at differences in nitric oxide that helps blood vessels relax across individuals with a wide range of skin pigmentation. We will also look at “oxidant stress,” which can reduce nitric oxide. In this study, we will examine the function of blood vessels in the skin. The blood vessels in the skin are a model for blood vessels in other organs in the body. We will also look at the function of other, larger blood vessels in the body.This research is being done to find out why blood vessel function is reduced in young AA adults who are healthy, and to determine if reduced vitamin D in those with darker skin may cause reduced blood vessel function. The research is also being done to find out if vitamin D will improve blood vessel function. Approximately 30 people will take part in this study at the Noll Lab.

For this study, you will be asked to take vitamin D tablets every day for four weeks. You will be asked to come into the lab for testing on two days; once before vitamin D treatment and once after. During each testing visit we will perform tests of blood vessel function.

430

This study will examine the relationships among time-of-day, light exposure, stress markers, and self-reported eating. Physiological measures of stress will be assessed both in and out of the laboratory using a gold-standard emotion induction task, along with out-of-lab questionnaires and ambulatory sensors.

This is a week-long study consisting of two in-person visits and five out-of-lab days. During the in-person visits, you will be connected to equipment that measures your physiological data and participate in a task with different sounds. During the out-of-lab days, you will wear a sensor that will collect your physiological data and answer questionnaires.

$135

This study will examine how the brain controls blood pressure responses during exercise, and will include 2 separate visits. In one visit, you will perform a series of handgrip exercises followed by inflation of a blood pressure cuff while we collect muscle nerve activity and blood pressure. In the other two sessions you will perform a similar task while laying in an MRI machine.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The loss of estrogen from menopause puts women at a greater risk of developing heart disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of drinking beetroot juice on measures of blood vessel health and blood pressure. Participants will drink beetroot juice and placebo juice each for one week followed by blood pressure measurements and ultrasound imaging of an artery in the upper arm. A sub-aim of this study is to investigate the effects of estrogen status on blood vessel function between pre- and post-menopausal women.

There are a total of 6 in-person visits to the Clinical Research Center. You will be asked to drink beetroot juice (2 oz) every day for 7 days. Participants will undergo vascular assessments, blood pressure measurements, and blood draws (11 in total for 6 visits).

$120

Aging and obesity are independently associated with impairments in the body's responses to heat stress. However, the compounding effects of middle age and obesity on those responses during heat stress at rest or during physical activity have not investigated in obese, middle-aged individuals. This study aims to characterize heat stress responses in obese vs. non-obese middle-aged adults (aged 40-65 yrs) during passive (resting) and active (light physical activity) whole-body heat stress.

There will be five in-person visits. The first visit is a screening visit that will last a maximum of 1.5 hours, during which we measure your height, weight, blood pressure, and collect a blood sample to check markers of health. The second visit is a maximal exercise test which will last approximately 1 hour, during which you will perform an incremental exercise test on a treadmill. The other three visits are experimental visits. During one of those visits, you will lie in a hospital bed wearing a tub-lined suit through which warm water flows, heating up your body. We measure your internal body temperature with an ingestible pill, and we measure skin temperature with probes that we tape to the skin. During the body heating period, we measure your skin blood flow and sweat rate with small probes and capsules, respectively, that are placed on your forearm. During the other two visits, you perform light physical activity on a recumbent bicycle in a hot environment while we monitor your body temperature.

230

Endometriosis, is a disorder that occurs in women, is when tissue that should be normally found inside the womb is also found in sites outside of the womb. This disorder impairs the function of the endothelium, the cells that line the body’s blood vessels (endothelium). The endothelium helps to control blood flow in healthy vessels. Women with this disorder not only have an increased risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, they also have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. They have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, too. With this study, we will learn how endometriosis impairs the lining of blood vessels and increases the risk for disease. We will test two different intervention strategies to reduce long-term cardiovascular disease risk in women with endometriosis.

There will be 3 in person visits, blood draws will occur at all visits. On 2 of the visits blood flow experiments will be conducted. Participants will take oral medications.

360