Resting ECG findings in male Brazilian soccer players of different ethnicities: Results from the B-Pro Foot ECG study.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of training-related ECG findings in white, mixed-race, and black male Brazilian soccer players.

Design: Multicenter observational study.

Methods: This study involved athletes aged 15 to 35 years from 82 professional clubs across Brazil's five regions.

A combination of left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral and lung ultrasound to predict mortality in ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Development of ventricular failure and pulmonary edema is associated with a worse prognosis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aimed to evaluate the prognostic ability of a novel classification combining lung ultrasound (LUS) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) velocity time integral (VTI) in patients with STEMI. LUS and LVOT-VTI were performed within 24 h of admission in STEMI patients.

Independent and Added Value of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing to New York Heart Association Classification in Patients With Heart Failure.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the independent and added value of a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) to New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional analysis in patients with heart failure (HF) and ejection fraction (EF) <50%.

Methods: Patients (n = 613) with HF and EF < 50% underwent CPX and were followed for 28 ± 17 mo with respect to primary outcomes (death or heart transplantation).

Results: Mean patient age was 56 ± 12 yr, and 64% were male.

Imaging associations enhance the understanding of ECG abnormalities in male Brazilian football players: findings from the B-Pro Foot ECG study.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of abnormal ECG findings and their association with imaging results in male Brazilian football players.

Methods: The 'B-Pro Foot ECG' is a multicentre observational study conducted in 82 Brazilian professional clubs. It analysed 6125 players aged 15-35 years (2496 white, 2004 mixed-race and 1625 black individuals) who underwent cardiovascular screening from 2002 to 2023.

Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Biomarkers Responses after Aerobic Training in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Physical exercise (PE) may improve plasma concentration of interleukin- 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and adiponectin (adpN) in heart transplant (HT) patients. However, no consistent data is available on this population.

Aim: Thus, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of PE over these pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in HT patients.

Long-term reduced functional capacity and quality of life in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Background: Persistent symptoms and exercise intolerance have been reported after COVID-19, even months after the acute disease. Although, the long-term impact on exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is still unclear.

Research Question: To assess the long-term functional capacity and HRQoL in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Pre-percutaneous coronary intervention sudden cardiac arrest in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Incidence, predictors, and related outcomes.

Background: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a frequent cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with increased survival. Despite constant improvements in SCA management, survival remains poor. We aimed to assess pre-PCI SCA incidence and related outcomes in patients admitted with STEMI.

Functional assessment based on cardiopulmonary exercise testing in mild heart failure: A multicentre study.

Aims: In this multicentre study, we compared cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) parameters between heart failure (HF) patients classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I and II to assess NYHA performance and prognostic role in mild HF.

Methods And Results: We included consecutive HF patients in NYHA class I or II who underwent CPET in three Brazilian centres. We analysed the overlap between kernel density estimations for the per cent-predicted peak oxygen consumption (VO ), minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO ) slope, and oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) by NYHA class.

Prognostic value of right ventricular strain and peak oxygen consumption in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Our purpose is to evaluate the combined predictive value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) strain in predicting mortality and heart transplant (HTx) in a series of outpatients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). A retrospective cohort study of 66 patients with HFrEF (median age, 57 years; 51% women) who underwent CPET and echocardiography (up to 90 days apart) to assess prognosis. The primary outcome was a composite of death and need for HTx.

Aerobic exercise and telomere length in patients with systolic heart failure: protocol study for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a syndrome that leads to fatigue and reduced functional capacity due to disease-related pathophysiological mechanisms. Aerobic exercise (AERO) plays a key role in improving HF outcomes, such as an increase in peak oxygen uptake (VOpeak). In addition, HF promotes cell senescence, which involves reducing telomere length.

The Role of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Patients With Heart Failure, Regardless of Diabetes Status: Focus on Cardiovascular Disease.

Objective: To provide clinical guidance and an overview of the available data on the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), regardless of the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Data Sources: We searched the MEDLINE database via PubMed (from January 2015 to November 2020) for the following key terms: , and .

Study Selection And Data Extraction: To be included in the review, the articles needed to assess the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in the heart failure (HF) scenario.

Acute inspiratory muscle exercise effect on glucose levels, glucose variability and autonomic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: A crossover randomized trial.

Inspiratory muscle exercise (IME) can be an alternative to conventional exercise. We aimed to evaluate the effect of IME on glucose, glucose variability, and autonomic cardiovascular control in type 2 diabetes. Fourteen diabetic subjects were randomly assigned to IME with 2% maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) or 60% PImax wearing a continuous glucose monitoring system for three days.

Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation: What's New in the Literature.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and it is associated with a significant risk of adverse events, especially ischemic stroke. Oral anticoagulation is the cornerstone for stroke prevention in AF; for many years, only vitamin K antagonists were used for this purpose, with an absolute risk reduction >60%. However, these agents have limitations, such as narrow therapeutic margins and drug-food and drug-drug interactions.

Effects of Different Rehabilitation Protocols in Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL.

Purpose: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery typically experience loss of cardiopulmonary capacity in the post-operative period. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different rehabilitation protocols used in inpatient cardiac rehabilitation on functional capacity and pulmonary function in patient status post-CABG surgery.

Methods: This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing may not predict appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapies in heart failure patients.

The prognostic value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) variables for major cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure (HF) is widely established. However, the prognostic value of these variables as predictors of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapies has not been sufficiently well addressed. This study aimed to evaluate CPET variables such as peak oxygen uptake (VO peak), relationship between change in minute ventilation (VE) and carbon dioxide output (VCO) during incremental exercise (VE/VCO slope) and exercise-related periodic breathing (EPB) as appropriate ICD therapy predictors in HF patients.

The "Hypertension Approaches in the Elderly: a Lifestyle study" multicenter, randomized trial (HAEL Study): rationale and methodological protocol.

Background: Hypertension is a clinical condition highly prevalent in the elderly, imposing great risks to cardiovascular diseases and loss of quality of life. Current guidelines emphasize the importance of nonpharmacological strategies as a first-line approach to lower blood pressure. Exercise is an efficient lifestyle tool that can benefit a myriad of health-related outcomes, including blood pressure control, in older adults.

Impact of treatment with glibenclamide or vildagliptin on glucose variability after aerobic exercise in type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

Aims: To evaluate the glucose variability, oxidative stress, metabolic and cardiovascular responses after an aerobic exercise session in diabetic patients on treatment with metformin plus vildagliptin or glibenclamide.

Methods: Parallel clinical trial including patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin plus vildagliptin or glibenclamide for 12 weeks. Glucose variability, oxidative stress, metabolic (plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon-like-peptide-1) and cardiovascular responses were evaluated at rest, during and after a 30 min aerobic exercise session (70% of the peak heart rate).

Reduction in Post-Marathon Peak Oxygen Consumption: Sign of Cardiac Fatigue in Amateur Runners?

Background: Prolonged aerobic exercise, such as running a marathon, produces supraphysiological stress that can affect the athlete's homeostasis. Some degree of transient myocardial dysfunction ("cardiac fatigue") can be observed for several days after the race.

Objective: To verify if there are changes in the cardiopulmonary capacity, and cardiac inotropy and lusitropy in amateur marathoners after running a marathon.

Tai Chi Chuan improves functional capacity after myocardial infarction: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Patients with a recent myocardial infarction (MI) present a reduction in functional capacity expressed as a decrease in peak oxygen consumption (Vo2 peak). The impact of a Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) cardiac rehabilitation program for patients recovering from recent MI has yet to be assessed. Our goal is to evaluate functional capacity after a TCC-based cardiac rehabilitation program in patients with recent MI.