A phase I, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of nirsevimab in healthy Chinese adults.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants worldwide. Nirsevimab, an extended half-life monoclonal antibody against RSV, is approved in China for the prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract disease in infants; however, global nirsevimab trials did not enroll Chinese infants. To inform the investigation of nirsevimab for the prevention of RSV LRTI in Chinese infants, this Phase I, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of nirsevimab in healthy Chinese adults.

Physiological Changes in QRS Fragmentation in Athletes and Nonathletes without Cardiac Disease.

QRS fragmentation has not been linked with increased mortality in individuals without known cardiac disease. We aimed to investigate the physiological determinants of QRS fragmentation in individuals without cardiac disease. Study participants were 163 (54 athletes, 109 nonathletes) asymptomatic individuals with QRS fragmentation but without cardiac disease.

Ergophysiological evaluation of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction undergoing exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to explore in heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF) undergoing exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation the following: 1) the comparison of temporal changes between peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and first ventilatory threshold (VO2VT1), 2) the association of VO2peak and VO2VT1 changes with physiological factors, and 3) the differential effects of continuous aerobic exercise (CAE) and interval training (IT) on VO2peak and VO2VT1.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CENTRAL, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria were 1) original research articles using exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation, 2) stable HF patients with reduced EF, 3) available values of VO2peak and VO2VT1 (in mL/kg/min) both at baseline and after exercise training with comparison between these time points.

Effects of Hypoglycemia on Cardiovascular Function in Patients with Diabetes.

Hypoglycemia is common in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1D, T2D), treated with insulin or sulfonylureas, and has multiple short- and long-term clinical implications. Whether acute or recurrent, hypoglycemia significantly affects the cardiovascular system with the potential to cause cardiovascular dysfunction. Several pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed linking hypoglycemia to increased cardiovascular risk, including hemodynamic changes, myocardial ischemia, abnormal cardiac repolarization, cardiac arrhythmias, prothrombotic and proinflammatory effects, and induction of oxidative stress.

An echocardiographic study of acute, progressive cardiac changes following a 246 km running race.

We describe the case of an ultra-marathon runner who finished first the "Spartathlon", a 246 km running race. The finishing time was the second fastest time ever in "Spartathlon". After finishing the race, the athlete suffered non-cardiac syncope and was administered intravenously 3 L of fluids for 5 hours.

Unraveling the role of resistin, retinol-binding protein 4 and adiponectin produced by epicardial adipose tissue in cardiac structure and function: evidence of a paracrine effect.

Purpose: Adipokines produced by adipose tissue have been found to be involved in the pathophysiology of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate the relationships of resistin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and adiponectin produced by epicardial adipose tissue with coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiac structure and function.

Methods: Forty-one non-diabetic males scheduled for cardiothoracic surgery were examined.

The Associations of Dietary Vitamin K Intake and Circulating Vitamin 25(OH)D with Serum Lipoprotein Levels: The Vitamin Deficiency Matters.

A synergistic interplay between vitamins K and D appears to exist. We aimed to investigate for the first time whether the associations of dietary vitamin K intake and circulating 25(OH)D with serum lipoprotein levels are influenced by the existence of deficiency of either or both vitamins K and D. Sixty individuals [24 males, 36(18-79) years old] were examined.

Prolonged QT Interval in Athletes: Distinguishing between Pathology and Physiology.

Background: The physiological QT prolongation in athletes is expected to widen the gray zone between physiology and pathology of QT, increasing the diagnostic challenges encountered in athletes with QT prolongation.

Summary: According to international recommendations for electrocardiogram in athletes, further evaluation for long QT syndrome (LQTS) is indicated in male athletes with corrected QT (QTc) ≥470 ms and in female athletes with QTc ≥480 ms. Apart from QTc ≥500 ms, diagnostic challenges arise in borderline cases of QTc prolongation, where further clinical investigations are needed to be performed to clarify whether LQTS exists.

Exploring the Anthropometric, Cardiorespiratory, and Haematological Determinants of Marathon Performance.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the main anthropometric, cardiorespiratory and haematological factors that can determine marathon race performance in marathon runners.

Methods: Forty-five marathon runners (36 males, age: 42 ± 10 years) were examined during the training period for a marathon race. Assessment of training characteristics, anthropometric measurements, including height, body weight ( = 45) and body fat percentage (BF%) ( = 33), echocardiographic study ( = 45), cardiopulmonary exercise testing using treadmill ergometer ( = 33) and blood test ( = 24) were performed.

Impact of a 246 Km ultra-marathon running race on heart: Insights from advanced deformation analysis.

Although previous studies suggest that prolonged intense exercise such as marathon running transitorily alters cardiac function, there is little information regarding ultramarathon races. Aim of this study was to investigate the acute impact of ultra-endurance exercise (UEE) on heart, applying advanced strain imaging. Echocardiographic assessment was performed the day before and at the finish line of "Spartathlon": A 246 Km ultra-marathon running race.

Arterial Function after a 246 km Ultra-marathon Running Race.

There is little research about the effects of ultra-endurance exercise on arterial morphological and functional properties. The aim was to assess the acute changes of the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and carotid doppler-derived parameters following an ultra-marathon race as well as the intima-media thickness of the carotid artery in ultra-marathon runners. Twenty athletes were examined at baseline and within 10 mins after a 246 km running race.

Pretreatment antimüllerian hormone levels and outcomes of ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins/intrauterine insemination cycles.

Objective: To evaluate the association, if any, between serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels and probability of clinical pregnancy and spontaneous abortion (SAB) in the infertility setting.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic fertility center.

The role of cardiac computed tomography in pre-participation screening of mature athletes.

The overwhelming majority of sports-related sudden cardiac deaths in mature athletes is attributed to coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary plaques of mature athletes appear to be more calcified compared to sedentary individuals and thus may be more stable and less likely to be associated with an acute coronary event. Cardiac computed tomography (CT), including unenhanced CT for coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) and contrast-enhanced coronary CT angiography, is characterized by very high negative predictive value to rule out CAD.

A critical review of the effects of vitamin K on glucose and lipid homeostasis: its potential role in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes.

In recent years, our knowledge regarding the physiological role of vitamin K has expanded beyond regulation of coagulation to include many other aspects of human health. In the present review, we aimed to evaluate the existing evidence for beneficial effects of vitamin K on type 2 diabetes and components of the metabolic syndrome as risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Increased dietary intake of vitamin K has been linked to lower incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), possibly through its enhancement of insulin production and sensitivity.

The regulation of serum resistin levels in metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese individuals.

Purpose: We have recently demonstrated that absolute counts of circulating proinflammatory monocytes were lower in obese patients without metabolic syndrome (MS) (metabolically healthy obese, MHO) compared with those with MS (metabolically unhealthy obese, MUO), but higher compared with healthy lean controls (MHL). We hypothesized that circulating resistin, a cytokine secreted by white blood cells (WBC), is involved in obesity-related low-grade inflammation. The aim of this study was to (a) determine serum resistin levels among MUO and MHO subjects and (b) investigate the role of circulating WBC subsets as potential determinants of resistin.

The impact of demographic, anthropometric and athletic characteristics on left atrial size in athletes.

The structural adaptations of the "athlete's heart" include left atrial (LA) enlargement. A literature search was performed based on PubMed listings up to November 2, 2019 using "athletes AND left atrium," "athletes AND LA," "sports AND left atrium," "sports AND LA," "exercise AND left atrium," and "exercise AND LA" as the search terms. Eligible studies included those reporting the influence of demographic, anthropometric and athletic characteristics on LA size in athletes.

High Tolerability of Pitavastatin Therapy: A Case Report of Comparison with other Statins.

Introduction: Myopathy is possibly the most clinically relevant statin-induced side effect.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 63-year-old healthy male with mixed dyslipidemia. He developed bilateral myalgia of the forearms with fluvastatin 40 mg/day, pravastatin 20 mg/day, and combination of atorvastatin 10 mg and ezetimibe 10 mg/day.

The effect of follicular phase length on cycle outcomes and endometrial development in gonadotrophin ovarian stimulation/intrauterine insemination cycles.

Research Question: Does a shorter follicular phase length (FPL) affect cycle outcomes and endometrial development among women undergoing gonadotrophin ovarian stimulation/intrauterine insemination (OS/IUI)?

Design: Retrospective cohort study of 4773 OS/IUI cycles among 2054 patients. FPL was analysed first continuously, then dichotomously using an arbitrary cut-off at the 15th percentile (8 days) to divide cycles into shorter and longer FPL groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to further analyse the impact of FPL on all outcomes.

Exploring the determinants of the cardiac changes after ultra-long duration exercise: The echocardiographic Spartathlon study.

Aim: The investigation of the pathophysiological determinants of cardiac changes following ultra-long duration exercise.

Methods: Twenty-seven runners who finished a 246 km running race were examined both before and after the finish of the race. Examinations included echocardiography and measurement of body weight and blood biochemical parameters.

Indirect clinical markers for the detection of anabolic steroid abuse beyond the conventional doping control in athletes.

Growing analytical challenges have arisen for the detection of misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) in athletes the last years. Therefore, consideration of additional indirect markers can substantially aid the efforts to detect AAS abuse in athletes. Moreover, this approach can also help physicians to suspect AAS abuse when treating athletes.

Metabolically Healthy Obesity Is Characterized by a Proinflammatory Phenotype of Circulating Monocyte Subsets.

Obesity is associated with macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue that induces insulin resistance and contributes to the development of metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of this study was to investigate whether circulating monocyte subsets (macrophage precursors) differ among obese subjects with MS [metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO)], obese subjects without MS [metabolically healthy obese (MHO)], and metabolically healthy lean (MHL) individuals. Fifty-eight obese (33 MUO, 25 MHO) and 25 MHL individuals participated in the study.