Modified Application of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Older Adults (MACRO) Trial: Protocol changes in a pragmatic multi-site randomized controlled trial in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Older adults are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and functional decline, often leading to deterioration and dependency. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) provides opportunity to improve clinical and functional recovery, yet participation in CR decreases with age. Modified Application of CR in Older Adults (MACRO) is a National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded pragmatic trial that responds to this gap by aiming to increase enrollment of older adults into CR and improving functional outcomes.

Metformin in Pulmonary Hypertension in Left Heart Disease.

Metformin is ubiquitously used in the management of Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DMII). Over the years, our growing knowledge of its therapeutic potential has broadened its use to the treatment of infertility in polycystic ovarian syndrome, gestational diabetes, and even obesity. Recently, it has been suggested as a novel therapy in cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Colchicine Toxicity: The Fatal Masquerader.

Colchicine toxicity results in fatal multiorgan failure. We present a case of colchicine toxicity resulting in transient biventricular failure and cardiogenic shock that were successfully treated with packed red blood cell exchange. ().

Dietary nitrate's effects on exercise performance in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a deadly and disabling disease. A key derangement contributing to impaired exercise performance in HFrEF is decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Scientists recently discovered the inorganic nitrate pathway for increasing NO.