Exercise-induced biphasic increase in circulating NT-proBNP levels in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Exercise increases natriuretic peptide levels in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, but the effect is considered minor. We assessed acute and short-term release (<24 h) of NT-proBNP in CHF patients after a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and 2 different submaximal training sessions.

Methods And Results: 102 CHF patients either performed CPET (Group 1), a 1 h endurance (Group 2) or a combined endurance-resistance training session (Group 3).

Rate response and cardiac resynchronisation therapy in chronic heart failure: higher cardiac output does not acutely improve exercise performance: a pilot trial.

Background: Rate adaptive pacing (RAP) during cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) might improve exercise capacity through enhanced cardiac output (CO). Conversely, higher heart rates (HR) might set off a blunted force-frequency response (FFR).

Methods: Fourteen CRT-treated patients (62+/-3 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 30.

Quantification of circulating endothelial progenitor cells: a methodological comparison of six flow cytometric approaches.

Objectives: The validity of endothelial progenitor cells as biomarkers and their therapeutic potential depend on the accuracy of techniques used for enumeration. This study assessed the agreement between 6 flow cytometric methods and a CFU assay used for EPC quantification.

Methods: Two blood samples were obtained from 30 healthy volunteers (60 samples).

A maximal exercise bout increases the number of circulating CD34+/KDR+ endothelial progenitor cells in healthy subjects. Relation with lipid profile.

Mobilization of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) might explain exercise-induced improvement of endothelial function. We assessed whether a maximal exercise bout could alter the number of circulating EPC in healthy subjects and whether this effect is related to their cardiovascular risk profile. Additionally, we investigated possible mediators of this effect, namely nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release.

Heart failure and cachexia: insights offered from molecular biology.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an enormous medical and communal burden. The syndrome is common, carries a grim prognosis and severely impacts quality of life. Those patients who develop cardiac cachexia combat both important disability and a poor outlook.

The effect of endurance training on exercise capacity following cardiac resynchronization therapy in chronic heart failure patients: a pilot trial.

Background: Both endurance training (ET) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improve quality of life (QOL) and exercise tolerance in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF).

Design: A randomized intervention trial to study the effect on exercise capacity of ET in addition to CRT in patients with CHF and dyssynchrony.

Methods: Seventeen patients (eight men, aged 59+/-9 years) with CHF and dyssynchrony were randomized to CRT with (n=8) or without (n=9) ET and compared with two matched control CHF groups (standard care with ET: n=9, standard care only: n=10).