Obesity-Related High-Output Heart Failure: An Integrative Review.

Background: High-output heart failure (HF) is a type of HF characterized by signs and symptoms of HF and a cardiac output of 8 L/min or greater or a cardiac index greater than 3.9 L/min/m 2 . High-output HF occurs secondary to an underlying condition that requires high cardiac output due to an increase in oxygen consumption or decreased systemic vascular resistance.

Effects of Ubiquinol and/or D-ribose in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have few pharmacologic therapies, and it is not known if supplementing with ubiquinol and/or d-ribose could improve outcomes. The overall objective of this study was to determine if ubiquinol and/or d-ribose would reduce the symptoms and improve cardiac performance in patients with HFpEF. This was a phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 216 patients with HFpEF who were ≥ 50 years old with a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50%.

Mitochondrial bioenergetics and D-ribose in HFpEF: a brief narrative review.

Objective: In this review article, we briefly describe the status of treatment options for HFpEF and the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of HFpEF as an alternative therapeutic target. We also examine the mechanisms of D-ribose in cellular energy production and discuss the potential disadvantages and benefits of supplemental use of D-ribose in patients with HFpEF.

Background: Heart failure is a major cardiovascular disease that impacts over 6 million Americans and is one of the leading causes for morbidity and mortality.

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome.

Background: Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many individuals have reported persistent symptoms and/or complications lasting beyond 4 weeks, which is now called post-COVID-19 syndrome. SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and injury to the lungs is expected; however, there is often damage to numerous other cells and organs, leading to an array of symptoms. These long-term symptoms occur in patients with mild to severe COVID-19; currently, there is limited literature on the potential pathophysiological mechanisms of this syndrome.

Clinical Trial Visits in the Age of COVID-19: Implementation of Research Participant Safety Measures.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on how current clinical trials are being conducted in the U.S. Researchers have experienced the effects of COVID-19 through the halting and delaying of clinical trials, the lack of personal protection equipment (PPE), the closing of clinical sites, and a decrease in participant recruitment.

Using the NIH symptom science model to understand fatigue and mitochondrial bioenergetics.

The symptom of fatigue is prevalent among patients with chronic diseases and conditions such as congestive heart failure and cancer. It has a significant debilitating impact on patients' physical health, quality of life, and well-being. Early detection and appropriate assessment of fatigue is essential for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring disease progression.

Understanding Obesity-Related High Output Heart Failure and Its Implications.

Morbid obesity remains most common cause of high output failure. The prevalence of the obesity is growing when two-thirds of American adults already are overweight or obese. Obesity is the risk factor for heart disease and eventually leads to heart failure.

Potential use of ubiquinol and d-ribose in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

•Manuscript Highlights.•HFpEF is associated with reduced ATP production in the myocardium.•Ubiquinol and d-ribose both contribute to the generation of myocardial ATP.

Use of speckle tracking to assess heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) currently represents approximately 50% of heart failure (HF) cases in the USA and is increasingly recognized as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Recent data suggest that the prevalence of HFpEF relative to HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is increasing at a rate of 1% per year. With an aging population and increasing risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus, HFpEF will soon be the most prevalent HF phenotype.

Development of a point-of-contact technique to measure adenosine triphosphate: A quality improvement study.

Purpose: Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) experience fatigue due to impaired myocardial bioenergetics. Cardiomyocyte function depends on the delivery of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), yet there is no convenient bedside method to measure ATP. The purpose of this study was to develop a point-of-contact measurement of ATP that can be used in a clinical setting.

Understanding D-Ribose and Mitochondrial Function.

Mitochondria are important organelles referred to as cellular powerhouses for their unique properties of cellular energy production. With many pathologic conditions and aging, mitochondrial function declines, and there is a reduction in the production of adenosine triphosphate. The energy carrying molecule generated by cellular respiration and by pentose phosphate pathway, an alternative pathway of glucose metabolism.

Study protocol, randomized controlled trial: reducing symptom burden in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction using ubiquinol and/or D-ribose.

Background: Heart failure (HF), the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US, affects 6.6 million adults with an estimated additional 3 million people by 2030. More than 50% of HF patients have heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Ubiquinol treatment for TBI in male rats: Effects on mitochondrial integrity, injury severity, and neurometabolism.

Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is significant secondary damage to cerebral tissue from increased free radicals and impaired mitochondrial function. This imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the effectiveness of cellular antioxidant defenses is termed oxidative stress. Often there are insufficient antioxidants to scavenge ROS, leading to alterations in cerebral structure and function.

A pilot study exploring the effects of ubiquinol on brain genomics after traumatic brain injury.

Background: Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality that affects military service members and veterans.

Purpose: Explore the effects of ubiquinol before traumatic brain injury on cerebral gene expression to elucidate molecular mechanisms of ubiquinol neuroprotection.

Method: In this experimental study, Fisher rats in the untreated (n = 2) and ubiquinol-treated (n = 2) groups received respectively either normal saline or ubiquinol 30 min before traumatic brain injury induced by controlled cortical impact.

The use of antioxidants in the treatment of traumatic brain injury.

Aims: The aim of this study was to discuss secondary traumatic brain injury, the mitochondria and the use of antioxidants as a treatment.

Background: One of the leading causes of death globally is traumatic brain injury, affecting individuals in all demographics. Traumatic brain injury is produced by an external blunt force or penetration resulting in alterations in brain function or pathology.

Impaired Myocardial Bioenergetics in HFpEF and the Role of Antioxidants.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a significant cardiovascular condition for more than 50% of patients with heart failure. Currently, there is no effective treatment to decrease morbidity and mortality rates associated with HFpEF because of its pathophysiological heterogeneity. Recent evidence shows that deficiency in myocardial bioenergetics is one of the key pathophysiological factors contributing to diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF.

Systematic Review of Traumatic Brain Injury and the Impact of Antioxidant Therapy on Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired brain injury that occurs when there is sudden trauma that leads to brain damage. This acute complex event can happen when the head is violently or suddenly struck or an object pierces the skull or brain. The current principal treatment of TBI includes various pharmaceutical agents, hyperbaric oxygen, and hypothermia.

Traumatic brain injury and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the United States and causes mitochondrial damage leading to impaired brain function. The purpose of this review is to (1) describe TBI processes and manifestations, (2) examine the mitochondrial alterations after TBI, specifically increased reactive oxygen species production, decreased bioenergetics and apoptosis and (3) current TBI treatments. There are various degrees of severity of TBI, yet all affect mitochondrial function.

Myocardial energetics and ubiquinol in diastolic heart failure.

Diastolic heart failure, or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. There are no current therapies effective in improving outcomes for these patients. The aim of this article is to review the literature and examine the role of coenzyme Q10 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction related to mitochondrial synthesis of adenosine triphosphate and reactive oxygen species production.