Blood-based biomarkers for early frailty are sex-specific: validation of a combined in silico prediction and data-driven approach.

Frailty is characterized by loss of physical function and is preferably diagnosed at an early stage (e.g., during pre-frailty).

Effects of repeated weight cycling on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in diet-induced obese mice.

Lifestyle interventions remain the treatment of choice for patients with obesity and metabolic complications, yet are difficult to maintain and often lead to cycles of weight loss and regain (weight cycling). Literature on weight cycling remains controversial and we therefore investigated the association between weight cycling and metabolic complications using preexistent obese mice. Ldlr-/-.

Translatability of mouse muscle-aging for humans: the role of sex.

Muscle-aging drives sarcopenia and is a major public health issue. Mice are frequently used as a model for human muscle-aging, however, research investigating their translational value is limited. In addition, mechanisms underlying muscle-aging may have sex-specific features in humans, but it is not yet assessed whether these are recapitulated in mice.

A cross-sectional nationwide survey of guideline based syncope units in the Netherlands: the SU-19 score-a novel validation for best practices.

Aims: We aimed to identify all syncope units (SUs) in the Netherlands and assess the extent to which these SUs fulfil the essential requirements outlined by the consensus statements of the European Heart Rhythm Association and the European Society of Cardiology syncope guidelines. For this, we developed the SU-19 score, a novel guideline based validation tool for best practice.

Methods And Results: All outpatient clinics of cardiology, neurology, and internal medicine in the Netherlands were screened for presence of any form of structured specialized syncope care.

Syncope Diagnosis at Referral to a Tertiary Syncope Unit: An in-Depth Analysis of the FAST II.

Objective: A substantial number of patients with a transient loss of consciousness (T-LOC) are referred to a tertiary syncope unit without a diagnosis. This study investigates the final diagnoses reached in patients who, on referral, were undiagnosed or inaccurately diagnosed in secondary care.

Methods: This study is an in-depth analysis of the recently published Fainting Assessment Study II, a prospective cohort study in a tertiary syncope unit.

Sex differences in skeletal muscle-aging trajectory: same processes, but with a different ranking.

Sex differences in muscle aging are poorly understood, but could be crucial for the optimization of sarcopenia-related interventions. To gain insight into potential sex differences in muscle aging, we recruited young (23 ± 2 years, 13 males and 13 females) and old (80 ± 3.5 years, 28 males and 26 females) participants.

Diet and exercise reduce pre-existing NASH and fibrosis and have additional beneficial effects on the vasculature, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle via organ-crosstalk.

Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become one of the most common liver diseases and is still without approved pharmacotherapy. Lifestyle interventions using exercise and diet change remain the current treatment of choice and even a small weight loss (5-7%) can already have a beneficial effect on NASH. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of exercise and diet interventions remain largely elusive, and it is unclear whether they exert their health effects via similar or different pathways.

Diagnostic yield and accuracy in a tertiary referral syncope unit validating the ESC guideline on syncope: a prospective cohort study.

Aims: To assess in patients with transient loss of consciousness the diagnostic yield, accuracy, and safety of the structured approach as described in the ESC guidelines in a tertiary referral syncope unit.

Methods And Results: Prospective cohort study including 264 consecutive patients (≥18 years) referred with at least one self-reported episode of transient loss of consciousness and presenting to the syncope unit between October 2012 and February 2015. The study consisted of three phases: history taking (Phase 1), autonomic function tests (AFTs) (Phase 2), and after 1.

Pacing in vasovagal syncope: Physiology, pacemaker sensors, and recent clinical trials-Precise patient selection and measurable benefit.

The role of pacing in vasovagal syncope (VVS) is considered from a physiological basis. Most VVS patients lose consciousness due to hypotension before severe bradycardia/asystole occurs. Patients who benefit from dual-chamber pacing typically are older with highly symptomatic, late-onset, frequent and severe syncope with short/no prodrome and documented severe cardioinhibition.

Pacing in vasovagal syncope: A physiological paradox?

The physiological principles underlying pacemaker treatment in patients with vasovagal syncope have never been reviewed. Current knowledge suggests that pacing the right heart is unlikely to correct blood pressure during a vasovagal reaction. In adults, the reason for this is that stroke volume is dictated by central blood volume contained in the cardiopulmonary vessels within the chest (ie, left ventricular preload).

Second-Generation Inhibitors of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore with Improved Plasma Stability.

Excessive mitochondrial matrix Ca and oxidative stress leads to the opening of a high-conductance channel of the inner mitochondrial membrane referred to as the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mtPTP). Because mtPTP opening can lead to cell death under diverse pathophysiological conditions, inhibitors of mtPTP are potential therapeutics for various human diseases. High throughput screening efforts led to the identification of a 3-carboxamide-5-phenol-isoxazole compounds as mtPTP inhibitors.

Pacing Strategy in Short Cycling Time Trials.

Purpose: To reach top performance in cycling, optimizing distribution of energy resources is crucial. The purpose of this study was to investigate power output during 250-m, 500-m, and 1000-m cycling time trials and the characteristics of the adopted pacing strategy.

Methods: Nine trained cyclists completed an incremental test and 3 time trials that they were instructed to finish as quickly as possible.

Metabolic rate and cardiorespiratory response during hybrid cycling versus handcycling at equal subjective exercise intensity levels in people with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To compare the metabolic rate and cardiorespiratory response during hybrid cycling versus handcycling at equal subjective exercise intensity levels in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Centre | Reade, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.