Critikon dinamap plus vital signs monitor

Blood pressure and heart rate were assessed using a monitor (Critikon Dinamap Plus Vital Signs Monitor, GE Healthcare Technologies, Waukesha, WI). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated using the formula MAP=2/3*Diastolic + 1/3*Systolic. Minute-to-minute changes in heart rate during the tasks were assessed using a Polar chest band and monitor (Mini-Logger, Mini Mitter/ Respironics, Bend, OR). Heart rate data was averaged over consecutive 10-min periods (baseline, preparation, task, recovery 1, recovery 2, recovery 3). Salivary cortisol samples were collected using Salivette® cotton wads (Sarstedt Inc., Newton, NC) and analyzed by the Core Laboratory at the University of Chicago Hospitals General Clinical Research Center (Salimetrics LLC, State College, PA, sensitivity=0.003 ug/dL). Outliers who exhibited changes ±3SD from the mean were excluded.

Heart rate was measured continuously using a Polar^® S610 monitor (Polar Electro Inc., Lake Success, NY) and blood pressure was measured using a portable monitor (Critikon Dinamap Plus Vital Signs Monitor, GE Healthcare Technologies, Waukesha, WI) before and 60min after drug administration, and at 10, 20 and 60 minutes after the tasks. Saliva samples were collected using Salivette® cotton wads (Sarstedt Inc., Newton, NC). Samples were analyzed by the Core Laboratory at the University of Chicago Hospitals General Clinical Research Center for levels of cortisol (Salimetrics LLC, State College, PA, sensitivity=0.003 μg/dL).