Maternal adiposity and inflammation: risk factors for iron deficiency in pregnancy.

Background: Obesity and iron deficiency (ID) are global health concerns in pregnancy, with serious consequences for mother and offspring. The inflammatory state associated with obesity and its potential contribution to ID/anemia is unclear.

Objective: To investigate the associations between maternal adiposity, the mediating role of inflammation and iron status.

Advancing Age and Risk From the Elevated Atherogenic Index: Triglyceride (TG) to High-Density Cholesterol (HDL-C) Ratio.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but this association diminishes with age. The triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, also known as the atherogenic index, is a surrogate marker for small-density low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C), a more specific LDL-C biomarker associated with ASCVD. It is unclear if age influences the association between the atherogenic index and incident ASCVD.

Clinical Considerations for Competitive Sports Participation for Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology.

This American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology scientific statement on clinical considerations for competitive sports participation for athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities or diseases is organized into 11 distinct sections focused on sports-specific topics or disease processes that are relevant when considering the potential risks of adverse cardiovascular events, including sudden cardiac arrest, during competitive sports participation. Task forces comprising international experts in sports cardiology and the respective topics covered were assigned to each section and prepared specific clinical considerations tables for practitioners to reference. Comprehensive literature review and an emphasis on shared decision-making were integral in the writing of all clinical considerations presented.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without statin-associated muscle symptoms treated with bempedoic acid in the CLEAR Outcomes trial.

Background: Cholesterol Lowering via bEmpedoic Acid Regimen (CLEAR) outcomes, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cardiovascular outcomes trial, and the largest prospective database of patients with statin intolerance (SI), demonstrated that bempedoic acid reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular risk in patients at high cardiovascular risk.

Objective: Assess baseline differences in SI symptoms and whether these influenced the clinical course during CLEAR outcomes.

Methods: Symptoms and impact of SI on daily living were recorded prior to randomization.

Muscle Strength and Size Relationships with Unilateral Progressive Resistance Training.

Purpose: This study defines correlative and causal relationships between muscle strength and size before and after unilateral resistance training (RT) in a large cohort of healthy adults, focusing on sex differences within these relationships.

Methods: Results from 1233 participants (504 males and 729 females) in a retrospective analysis were included. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction strength (MVC), one-repetition maximum strength (1RM), biceps cross-sectional area (CSA) and elbow flexor volume (VOL) measures of the non-dominant and dominant arm were evaluated from baseline and after 12-wk RT twice per week.

Association between Adiposity and Iron Status in Women of Reproductive Age: Data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008-2019.

Background: Overweight/obesity and iron deficiency (ID) are highly prevalent in women of reproductive age (WRA), impacting on women's health. Obesity is a risk factor for nutritional deficiencies but its association with ID is unclear.

Objectives: To determine the association between adiposity and markers of iron status and ID prevalence in WRA.

The relationship of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and coronary artery calcification to cardiovascular disease events in CARDIA participants.

Aims: Moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. While a U-shaped relationship between CRF or MVPA and CAC has been reported, the presence of CAC among highly fit individuals might be benign. We examined interactive associations of CRF or MVPA and CAC with outcomes and evaluated the relationship of CRF and MVPA to CAC incidence.

Reliability and Time Course of Postexercise Hypotension during Exercise Training among Adults with Hypertension.

Postexercise hypotension (PEH), or the immediate decrease in blood pressure (BP) lasting for 24 h following an exercise bout, is well-established; however, the influence of exercise training on PEH dynamics is unknown. This study investigated the reliability and time course of change of PEH during exercise training among adults with hypertension. PEH responders ( = 10) underwent 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training, 40 min/session at moderate-to-vigorous intensity for 3 d/weeks.

Skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity in patients with statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS).

Objective: The objective of this article is to evaluate near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a non-invasive technique to assess tissue oxygenation and mitochondrial function, as a diagnostic tool for statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS).

Methods: We verified SAMS in 39 statin-treated patients (23 women) using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over protocol. Subjects with suspected SAMS were randomised to simvastatin 20 mg/day or placebo for 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week no treatment period and then assigned to the alternative treatment, either simvastatin or placebo.

All-cause mortality risks among participants in mass-participation sporting events.

Objectives: Exercise transiently increases the risk for sudden death, whereas long-term exercise promotes longevity. This study assessed acute and intermediate-term mortality risks of participants in mass-participation sporting events.

Methods: Data of participants in Dutch running, cycling and walking events were collected between 1995 and 2017.

Associations of Lifelong Exercise Characteristics With Valvular Function and Aortic Diameters in Patients With a Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

Background: The potential impact of exercise on valvular function and aortic diameters in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve remains unclear. Therefore, we assessed the association between lifelong exercise characteristics, valvular dysfunction, and aortic dilatation in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve.

Methods And Results: In this cross-sectional study, exercise volume (metabolic equivalent of task minutes per week), exercise intensity, and sport type were determined from the age of 12 years to participation using a validated questionnaire.

Prolonged Moderate-Intensity Exercise Does Not Increase Muscle Injury Markers in Symptomatic or Asymptomatic Statin Users.

Background: Statin use may exacerbate exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury caused by reduced coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels, which are postulated to produce mitochondrial dysfunction.

Objectives: We determined the effect of prolonged moderate-intensity exercise on markers of muscle injury in statin users with and without statin-associated muscle symptoms. We also examined the association between leukocyte CoQ10 levels and muscle markers, muscle performance, and reported muscle symptoms.

Bempedoic Acid and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Statin-Intolerant Patients.

Background: Bempedoic acid, an ATP citrate lyase inhibitor, reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and is associated with a low incidence of muscle-related adverse events; its effects on cardiovascular outcomes remain uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving patients who were unable or unwilling to take statins owing to unacceptable adverse effects ("statin-intolerant" patients) and had, or were at high risk for, cardiovascular disease. The patients were assigned to receive oral bempedoic acid, 180 mg daily, or placebo.

The Relationship between Postexercise Hypotension and Heart Rate Variability before and after Exercise Training.

Because data are scarce, we examined the relationship between postexercise hypotension (PEH) and heart rate variability (HRV) before and after aerobic exercise training among adults with hypertension. Participants completed a 12 w aerobic training program. Before and after training, they performed a peak graded exercise stress test (GEST) and nonexercise control (CONTROL) and were left attached to an ambulatory BP monitor.