Close Cardiovascular Monitoring during the Early Stages of Treatment for Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

There is an unmet medical need for the early detection of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced cardiovascular (CV) adverse events due to a lack of adequate biomarkers. This study aimed to provide insights on the incidence of troponin elevations and echocardiographic dynamics during ICI treatment in cancer patients and their role as potential biomarkers for submyocardial damage. In addition, it is the first study to compare hs-TnT and hs-TnI in ICI-treated patients and to evaluate their interchangeability in the context of screening.

Extensive CArdioVAscular Characterization and Follow-Up of Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Background: The increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the treatment of both advanced and early stages of various malignancies has resulted in a substantial increase in the incidence of cardiovascular (CV) immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The current follow-up guidelines are based on anecdotal evidence and expert opinions, due to a lack of solid data and prospective studies. As many questions remain unanswered, cardiac monitoring, in patients receiving ICIs, is not always implemented by oncologists.

The impact of drop-out in cardiac rehabilitation on outcome among coronary artery disease patients.

Background The effect of adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on outcome is not clear. Therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of drop-out for non-medical reasons of CR on event-free survival in coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods A total of 876 patients who attended CR after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) were included.

Comorbidities and Psychosocial Characteristics as Determinants of Dropout in Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Background: Despite the clear benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), a considerable number of patients drop out early.

Objective: Therefore, we wanted to evaluate dropout in CR with a special focus on comorbidities and psychosocial background.

Methods: Patients who attended CR after acute coronary syndrome, cardiac surgery, or heart failure (N = 489) were prospectively included.

Participation in cardiac rehabilitation after hospitalisation for heart failure: a report from the BIO-HF registry.

Objective: Participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after hospitalisation for heart failure (HF) is estimated to below, but specific data for Belgium are lacking. Therefore, we wanted to evaluate attendance after HF hospitalisation compared to patients after cardiac surgery or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Moreover, the improvement in exercise capacity was compared with the other patient groups.

Activation of the ergoreceptors in cardiac patients with and without heart failure.

Background: The presence of ergoreflex activity and its current relationship to hyperventilation and prognosis in cardiac patients is unclear. Therefore, we evaluated ergoreflex activity in cardiac patients with and without heart failure (CHF) as well as in healthy subjects, and we examined how ergoreceptor activity was related to a mortality risk score in CHF (MAGGIC).

Methods And Results: Twenty-five healthy subjects and 76 patients were included, among whom were 25 with ischemic heart disease (IHD), 24 with stable CHF, and 27 with unstable CHF.

Gender differences in the management and outcome of atrial fibrillation complicating acute heart failure.

Background: Little is known about sex differences in the prevalence, treatment, and outcome of atrial fibrillation complicating acute heart failure.

Methods And Results: Among 957 patients (429 women, 528 men), included in the BIO-HF registry, 45.2% (n = 194) of the women and 45.

Impact of the preoperative risk and the type of surgery on exercise capacity and training after valvular surgery.

Information on exercise capacity and training in patients who underwent valvular surgery is scarce. The aim of this study is to evaluate postoperative exercise capacity and functional improvement after exercise training according to the preoperative risk and type of surgery. In this prospective study, 145 patients who underwent aortic valve surgery (AVS) or mitral valve surgery (MVS) and who were referred for cardiac rehabilitation were stratified according to the preoperative risk (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation [EuroSCORE]) and type of surgery (sternotomy vs ministernotomy or port access).

Does cueing training improve physical activity in patients with Parkinson's disease?

Background: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are encouraged to stay active to maintain their mobility. Ambulatory activity monitoring (AM) provides an objective way to determine type and amount of gait-related daily activities.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a home cueing training program on functional walking activity in PD.

Evidence for motor learning in Parkinson's disease: acquisition, automaticity and retention of cued gait performance after training with external rhythmical cues.

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) have difficulty learning new motor skills. Evidence suggests external stimuli (cues) may enhance learning; however, this may be specific to cued rather than non-cued performance. We aimed to test effects of cued training on motor learning in PD.

Is impact of fatigue an independent factor associated with physical activity in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease?

To investigate the longitudinal association between fatigue and physical activity in Parkinson's disease (PD) and determine whether this association is distorted by potential confounders. Data from baseline, 3, 6, and 12 week assessments in a single blind randomized clinical trial with cross-over design were used (N = 153). The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) was used to assess fatigue and an activity monitor to measure amount of physical activity (defined as % dynamic activity during each monitoring session).

The short-term effects of different cueing modalities on turn speed in people with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Turning has been associated with instability, falls, and freezing in people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective: To investigate the effect of different modalities of rhythmic cueing on the duration of a functional turn in freezers and nonfreezers.

Methods: A total of 133 patients with idiopathic PD while in the on phase of the medication cycle participated in this study as part of a subanalysis from the RESCUE trial.

Identifying fallers with Parkinson's disease using home-based tests: who is at risk?

The objective of this work is to determine risk factors for falling in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using home-based assessments and develop a prediction model. Data on falls, balance, gait-related activities, and nonmotor symptoms were obtained from 153 PD patients (Hoehn-Yahr 2-4) in their home. Fifty-one candidate determinants for falling were independently tested using bivariate logistic regression analysis.

Walking speed during single and dual tasks in Parkinson's disease: which characteristics are important?

The impact of dual tasks on gait in Parkinson's disease (PD) reveals lack of automaticity and increased cognitive demands. We explored which characteristics explained walking speed with and without dual task interference and if they reflected the cognitive demands of the task. In 130 people with PD, gait performance was quantified in the home using accelerometers allowing estimates of single and dual task walking speed and interference (difference between dual and single task).

Validity of the trunk impairment scale as a measure of trunk performance in people with Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To evaluate construct validity of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) as a measure of trunk performance in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Design: A cross-sectional study of PD patients and healthy subjects.

Setting: University rehabilitation research unit.

Turning in Parkinson's disease patients and controls: the effect of auditory cues.

Turning is an impaired activity in persons with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). The current study examines the turning characteristics in PwPD (9 freezers and 10 nonfreezers) and 9 controls, and explores the effect of rhythmic auditory cues while turning. Turning parameters were collected from a 180 degrees left U-turn during a noncued and a cued condition, using a 3D measuring system.

Gait and gait-related activities and fatigue in Parkinson's disease: what is the relationship?

Purpose: To explore the relationship between gait and gait-related activities and fatigue in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method: Twenty people with idiopathic PD (12 male, 8 female; mean age 64.6 +/- 7.

Quantitative gait analysis in Parkinson's disease: comparison with a healthy control group.

Objective: To compare gait parameters in Parkinson's disease (PD) during the on-phase of medication cycle with those of healthy elderly control subjects.

Design: A group-comparison study.

Setting: Gait analysis laboratory of a university hospital.

The effect of external rhythmic cues (auditory and visual) on walking during a functional task in homes of people with Parkinson's disease.

Objectives: To evaluate (1) the influence of rhythmic cues on gait interference during a functional activity and (2) the relationship of clinical symptoms to gait interference.

Design: Repeated-measures study.

Setting: Participants' homes.

Attending to the task: interference effects of functional tasks on walking in Parkinson's disease and the roles of cognition, depression, fatigue, and balance.

Objective: To evaluate the interference effects on walking of functional activities in the home in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and the contribution of clinical symptoms to disturbance of gait.

Design: A repeated-measures trial, using a dual-task paradigm to evaluate the attentional demands of functional activities.

Setting: Participants' homes and a clinic.