Irisin Predicts Cardiac Contractile and Postural Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.

Objective: Irisin, a myokine, has been observed to be dysregulated in various pathological conditions. However, its role in regulating chronic heart failure (CHF)-induced physical disability in older adults remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the associations between plasma irisin levels, cardiac parameters, and physical disability in patients with CHF.

Circulating osteonectin predicts postural imbalance and cardiac dysfunction in heart failure.

Osteonectin, a secreted glycoprotein, plays a role in muscle-wasting disease. However, its role in chronic heart failure (CHF) -induced systemic inflammation and postural control is unknown. Here we aim to assess the potential association of soluble osteonectin with cardiac dysfunction and postural imbalance in CHF.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors attenuate circulating CAF22 and physical decline in congestive heart failure: Diagnostic implications of CAF22.

Aims: Age-associated muscle loss, termed sarcopenia is the major cause of physical disability in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) are commonly used to treat CHF patients; however, their impacts on the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and sarcopenia in CHF patients remain poorly understood. We aim to investigate the potential impact of ACEi on NMJ and CHF-induced sarcopenia.

Circulating H-FABP as a biomarker of frailty in patients with chronic heart failure.

Increased vulnerability to physiologic stressors, termed frailty, is a common occurrence in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the definite biomarkers to assess frailty in CHF patients are not known. Here, we assessed the frailty phenotype and its potential association with heart failure (HF) markers in CHF patients.

Statin Therapy Induces Gut Leakage and Neuromuscular Disjunction in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure.

Statins are commonly used to limit the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart attack and stroke. However, treatment often leads to myopathy and muscle weakness. Therefore, a better understanding of underlying pathomechanism is needed to improve the clinical outcomes.

Plasma Galectin-3 and H-FABP correlate with poor physical performance in patients with congestive heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is often associated with compromised physical capacity in patients. However, it is unclear if established HF markers correlate with the physical performance of patients with congestive HF (CHF). We assessed the left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) and ejection fraction (LVEF) and, physical performance parameters, including short physical performance battery (SPPB), gait speed (GS), and handgrip strength (HGS) in 80 patients with CHF along with 59 healthy controls.

Plasma zonulin correlates with cardiac dysfunction and poor physical performance in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aims: An aberrant intestinal permeability is often associated with systemic inflammation and cardiovascular diseases accompanied by compromised physical performance. However, the link between these complications is poorly defined. Here we investigated the potential association of zonulin, a regulator of intestinal permeability, with ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure (HF) and, associated physical disability.

Relationship of Haptoglobin Phenotypes With Sarcopaenia in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure.

Background: Systemic inflammation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) contributes to age-related muscle loss or sarcopaenia. However, the relationship of plasma haptoglobin (Hp), an acute-phase reactant, with muscle and physical health in CHF is unknown.

Methods: This study investigated the associations of plasma haptoglobin levels and phenotypes with handgrip strength (HGS), appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) and physical capacity in healthy controls (n=67) and CHF patients (n=61) aged 55-73 years.

Circulating MicroRNAs as Biomarkers of Accelerated Sarcopenia in Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: Sarcopenia is a critical finding in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the search for a definitive biomarker to predict muscle and functional decline in CHF remains elusive.

Objectives: We aimed to correlate the circulating levels of selected miRs with the indexes of sarcopenia during healthy aging and in patients with CHF.

Prediction of sarcopenia using a battery of circulating biomarkers.

Loss of muscle mass and strength with aging, termed sarcopenia is accelerated in several comorbidities including chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). However, the effective circulating biomarkers to accurately diagnose and assess sarcopenia are not known. We recruited male healthy controls and patients with CHF and COPD (n = 81-87/group), aged 55-74 years.