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.

Current advancements in pharmacotherapy for cancer cachexia.

Introduction: Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial metabolic syndrome associated with a pathophysiology intertwined with increased inflammatory response, anorexia, metabolic dysregulation, insulin resistance, and hormonal alterations, which together generate a negative energy balance in favor of catabolism. The development of therapeutic strategies to treat cancer cachexia has always been related to clinical interventions with increased food intake/supplementation, physical exercise regimens, and/or medication to attenuate catabolism and increase the anabolic response. However, the approval of drugs by regulatory agencies has always been a challenge.

Effects of exercise on platelet reactivity after myocardial infarction: a randomized clinical trial.

Exercise training (ET) can lower platelet reactivity in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. However, the effects of ET on platelet reactivity in higher-risk patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ET on platelet reactivity in patients with recent myocardial infarction (MI).

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).

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)].

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.

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).

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.

Cardiac and peripheral autonomic control in restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Autonomic dysfunction determines the advance of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and is related to poor outcomes. However, this autonomic imbalance is unknown in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) even though they have similar symptoms and poor quality of life as DCM patients have. The aim of this study was to evaluate if autonomic and neurovascular controls were altered in RCM patients.

Effect of Exercise Training and Testosterone Replacement on Skeletal Muscle Wasting in Patients With Heart Failure With Testosterone Deficiency.

Objective: To examine whether combined testosterone replacement and exercise training (ET) therapies would potentiate the beneficial effects of isolated therapies on neurovascular control and muscle wasting in patients with heart failure (HF) with testosterone deficiency.

Patients And Methods: From January 10, 2010, through July 25, 2013, 39 male patients with HF, New York Heart Association functional class III, total testosterone level less than 249 ng/dL (to convert to nmol/L, multiply by .03467), and free testosterone level less than 131 pmol/L were randomized to training (4-month cycloergometer training), testosterone (intramuscular injection of testosterone undecylate for 4 months), and training + testosterone groups.

Testosterone deficiency increases hospital readmission and mortality rates in male patients with heart failure.

Background: Testosterone deficiency in patients with heart failure (HF) is associated with decreased exercise capacity and mortality; however, its impact on hospital readmission rate is uncertain. Furthermore, the relationship between testosterone deficiency and sympathetic activation is unknown.

Objective: We investigated the role of testosterone level on hospital readmission and mortality rates as well as sympathetic nerve activity in patients with HF.