Gut dysbiosis and neutrophil extracellular traps in chronic heart failure.

Background: Chronic heart failure (HF) patients have reduced microbiota diversity. Leakage of microbes and their metabolites into the bloodstream may activate neutrophils. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) consist of chromatin and proteases, and may contribute to HF pathogenesis.

Intestinal fatty acid binding protein is associated with infarct size and cardiac function in acute heart failure following myocardial infarction.

Background: In acute heart failure (HF), reduced cardiac output, vasoconstriction and congestion may damage the intestinal mucosa and disrupt its barrier function. This could facilitate the leakage of bacterial products into circulation and contribute to inflammation and adverse cardiac remodelling. We aimed to investigate gut leakage markers and their associations with inflammation, infarct size and cardiac function.

Telemedicine and Neurology: A Survey of Neurology Patients in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.

Background Telemedicine has been recognized as a viable solution for addressing the shortage of medical professionals in developing countries such as Nigeria. Tele-neurology has the potential to provide remote consultations and care for patients with neurological conditions, thereby reducing the burden of travel and improving access to medical care. Despite its growing popularity, there is a lack of research on patient's views on this mode of care delivery in Nigeria.

Microbial-derived imidazole propionate links the heart failure-associated microbiome alterations to disease severity.

Background: Interactions between the gut microbiota, diet, and host metabolism contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease, but a firm link between disease-specific gut microbiota alterations and circulating metabolites is lacking.

Methods: We performed shot-gun sequencing on 235 samples from 166 HF patients and 69 healthy control samples. Separate plasma samples from healthy controls (n = 53) were used for the comparison of imidazole propionate (ImP) levels.

Intestinal fatty acid binding protein is associated with cardiac function and gut dysbiosis in chronic heart failure.

Background: The gut microbiota in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) is characterized by low bacterial diversity and reduced ability to synthesize beneficial metabolites. These changes may facilitate leakage of whole bacteria or bacterial products from the gut into the bloodstream, which may activate the innate immune system and contribute to the low-grade inflammation seen in HF. In this exploratory cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate relationships between gut microbiota diversity, markers of gut barrier dysfunction, inflammatory markers, and cardiac function in chronic HF patients.

Gut Leakage Markers in Response to Strenuous Exercise in Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease.

Elevated levels of gut leakage markers have been shown after strenuous exercise in healthy individuals. Any association between a temporary increase in these markers and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown. We therefore aimed to explore circulating gut leakage markers in response to a bout of strenuous exercise in patients with symptoms of CAD.

Rifaximin or Saccharomyces boulardii in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Results from the randomized GutHeart trial.

Background: The gut microbiota represents a potential treatment target in heart failure (HF) through microbial metabolites such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and systemic inflammation. Treatment with the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii have been suggested to improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: In a multicentre, prospective randomized open label, blinded end-point trial, we randomized patients with LVEF <40% and New York Heart Association functional class II or III, despite optimal medical therapy, to treatment (1:1:1) with the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, the antibiotic rifaximin, or standard of care (SoC) only.

Gut related inflammation and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with CAD and type 2 diabetes: a sub-study of a randomized controlled trial on exercise training.

Aim: Gut leakage has been shown to associate with low-grade inflammation and lower cardiorespiratory fitness in diabetic subjects. We aimed to investigate whether gut leakage markers related to cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with both coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes, and whether these were affected by long-term exercise training.

Methods: Patients with angiographically verified coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 137) were randomized to either 12 months exercise intervention or conventional follow-up.

Low fibre intake is associated with gut microbiota alterations in chronic heart failure.

Aims: Recent reports have suggested that patients with heart failure (HF) have an altered gut microbiota composition; however, associations with diet remain largely uninvestigated. We aimed to explore differences in the gut microbiota between patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction and healthy controls, focusing on associations with diet and disease severity.

Methods And Results: The microbiota composition of two cross-sectional cohorts (discovery, n = 40 and validation, n = 44) of patients with systolic HF and healthy controls (n = 266) was characterized by sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene.

Effects of dietary intervention and n-3 PUFA supplementation on markers of gut-related inflammation and their association with cardiovascular events in a high-risk population.

Background & Aims: Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is associated with increased levels of circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and subsequent activation of systemic inflammation. Diet is an important modulator of the gut microbiome. We aimed to investigate whether circulating markers of gut-related inflammation, LPS binding protein (LBP) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) can be modulated by n-3 PUFA supplementation and/or diet counselling, and whether these markers are related to cardiovascular (CV) outcome.

Design of the GutHeart-targeting gut microbiota to treat heart failure-trial: a Phase II, randomized clinical trial.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a multifactorial disease. Current treatments target only a fraction of the putative pathophysiological pathways. In patients with HF, reduced cardiac output and congestion cause increased gut wall permeability.

Markers of metabolic endotoxemia as related to metabolic syndrome in an elderly male population at high cardiovascular risk: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions that conjoined represents a 1.5-2.5 fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).