Evaluation of myocardial work and exercise capacity in patients recovered from the severe form of COVID-19.

Background: The impact of COVID-19 goes beyond its acute form and can lead to the persistence of symptoms and the emergence of systemic disorders, defined as long-term COVID.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study that included patients over 18 years of age who recovered from the severe form of COVID-19 at least 60 days after their discharge. Patients and controls were enrolled to undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) using a more sensitive tool, myocardial work, in combination with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Association of statins with peak oxygen consumption in 4,941 adults: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality, with statins widely used to reduce its risk. Despite extensive research, the nuanced impact of statin therapy on cardiorespiratory fitness, particularly the reduction in peak oxygen consumption (VO), is still an open question. This study aims to contribute fresh insights to the ongoing discussion, highlighting the unresolved nature of this clinical matter.

Association of Sarcopenia and Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope in Male Patients With Heart Failure.

Purpose: Sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass and function, is a common comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF). The skeletal muscle modulates the respiratory response during exercise. However, whether ventilatory behavior is affected by sarcopenia is still unknown.

Coronary Inflammation by Computed Tomography Pericoronary Fat Attenuation and Increased Cytokines in Young Male Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Users.

Background: Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse has been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Pericoronary fat attenuation (pFA) is a marker of coronary inflammation, which is key in the atherosclerotic process.

Objective: To evaluate pFA and inflammatory profile in AAS users.

Decreased Native T1 Values and Impaired Myocardial Contractility in Anabolic Steroid Users.

Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse leads to myocardial toxicity. Human studies are conflicting about the myocardial fibrosis in AAS users. We evaluated cardiac tissue characterization, left ventricle (LV) function, and cardiac structure by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Sacubitril/valsartan versus enalapril on exercise capacity in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study.

Unlabelled: Sacubitril/valsartan reduces mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) when compared with enalapril. However, it is unknown the effect of both treatments on exercise capacity. We compared sacubitril/valsartan versus enalapril in patients with HFrEF based on peak oxygen consumption (VO) and 6-minute walk test (6-MWT).

Aerobic exercise and inspiratory muscle training increase functional capacity in patients with univentricular physiology after Fontan operation: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The effect of exercise training and its mechanisms on the functional capacity improvement in Fontan patients (FP) are virtually unknown. This trial evaluated four-month aerobic exercise training and inspiratory muscle training on functional capacity, pulmonary function, and autonomic control in patients after Fontan operation.

Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial with 42 FP aged 12 to 30 years and, at least, five years of Fontan completion.

Muscle mass, muscle strength, and functional capacity in patients with heart failure of Chagas disease and other aetiologies.

Aims: Patients with Chagas disease and heart failure (HF) have a poor prognosis similar to that of patients with ischaemic or dilated cardiomyopathy. However, the impact of body composition and muscle strength changes in these aetiologies is still unknown. We aimed to evaluate these parameters across aetiologies in two distinct cohort studies [TESTOsterone-Heart Failure trial (TESTO-HF; Brazil) and Studies Investigating Co-morbidities Aggravating Heart Failure (SICA-HF; Germany)].

Galectin-3 Levels in Patients with Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis.

Background Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a proinflammatory, profibrotic molecule implicated in the pathogenesis of heart failure. The role of Gal-3 in patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) is not clear. Objective The aim of this study was to assess plasma Gal-3 in patients with CCP and correlate it with clinical, functional and histologic parameters.

Android to gynoid fat ratio and its association with functional capacity in male patients with heart failure.

Aims: We studied the association between android (A) to gynoid (G) fat ratio and functional capacity (peak VO ) in male patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods And Results: We enrolled 118 male patients with HFrEF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%. Body composition (by using dual x-ray absorptiometry) and peak VO (by cardiopulmonary exercise testing) were measured.

Discriminating sarcopenia in overweight/obese male patients with heart failure: the influence of body mass index.

Aims: The definition of sarcopenia based on appendicular lean mass/height (ALM/height ) is often used, although it can underestimate the prevalence of sarcopenia in overweight/obese patients with heart failure. Therefore, new methods have been proposed to overcome this limitation. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia by three methods and compare body composition in this population.

Impact of pericardiectomy on exercise capacity and sleep of patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis.

Background: Heart failure is associated with exercise intolerance and sleep- disordered breathing; however, studies in patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis are scarce. The purpose of our study was to assess exercise capacity and sleep in patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) undergoing a pericardiectomy.

Methods: We studied consecutive patients scheduled for pericardiectomy due to symptomatic CCP.

Sympatho-Vagal Imbalance is Associated with Sarcopenia in Male Patients with Heart Failure.

Background: Resting sympathetic hyperactivity and impaired parasympathetic reactivation after exercise have been described in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the association of these autonomic changes in patients with HF and sarcopenia is unknown.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of autonomic modulation on sarcopenia in male patients with HF.

Diminished cholesterol efflux mediated by HDL and coronary artery disease in young male anabolic androgenic steroid users.

Background And Aims: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) have been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). AAS abuse leads to a remarkable decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) plasma concentration, which could be a key factor in the atherosclerotic process. Moreover, not only the concentration of HDL, but also its functionality, plays a pivotal role in CAD.

Retrograde and oscillatory shear rate in young anabolic androgenic steroid users.

Disturbed shear rate (SR), characterized by increased retrograde and oscillatory SR in the brachial artery, is associated with inflammation, atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, and sympathetic hyperactivity. Young subjects do not have disturbed SR; however, elderly subjects do, which seems to be associated with sympathetic hyperactivity. Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) abuse in young is associated with increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA).

Blunted peripheral blood supply and underdeveloped skeletal muscle in Fontan patients: The impact on functional capacity.

Background: Changes in circulatory physiology are common in Fontan patients due to suboptimal cardiac output, which may reduce the peripheral blood flow and impair the skeletal muscle. The objective of this study was to investigate the forearm blood flow (FBF), cross-sectional area (CSA) of the thigh and functional capacity in asymptomatic clinically stable patients undergoing Fontan surgery.

Methods: Thirty Fontan patients and 27 healthy subjects underwent venous occlusion plethysmography, magnetic resonance imaging of the thigh musculature and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Neurovascular Response during Exercise and Mental Stress in Anabolic Steroid Users.

Purpose: Increased resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and lower forearm blood flow (FBF) were observed in young men who use anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). However, the response of MSNA and FBF in AAS users triggered by muscle mechanoreflex and central command has never been tested. In addition, we evaluated the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) responses during these maneuvers.