Aims: Despite proven benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), currently proposed CR models are not acceptable for many heart failure (HF) patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new model of home-based telemonitored cardiac rehabilitation (HTCR) using walking training compared with an outpatient-based standard cardiac rehabilitation (SCR) using interval training on a cycle ergometer. Methods and results: The study included 152 HF patients (aged 58.1 ± 10.2 years, NYHA class II and III, ejection fraction ≤40%) who were randomized to HTCR (n = 77) or SCR (n = 75). All patients underwent 8 weeks of CR. Both groups were comparable in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics and medical therapy. The effectiveness of CR was assessed by changes in NYHA class, peak oxygen consumption, 6-min walking test distance, and SF-36 score. Cardiac rehabilitation resulted in a significant improvement of all parameters in both groups. All patients in the HTCR group completed the 8 weeks of CR, whereas 15 patients in the SCR group (20%) discontinued CR. Conclusion: In patients with HF, HTCR is equally as effective as SCR and provides a similar improvement in quality of life. Adherence to CR seems to be better for HTCR. Home-based telemonitored cardiac rehabilitation may be a useful alternative form of CR in patients with HF.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin, which plays an important role in the central nervous system, and systemic or peripheral inflammatory conditions, such as acute coronary syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). BDNF is also expressed in several nonneuronal tissues, and platelets are the major source of peripheral BDNF. Here, we reviewed the potential role of BDNF in platelet reactivity in T2DM and its association with selected inflammatory and platelet activation mediators. Besides that, we focused on adipocytokines such as leptin, resistin, and adiponectin which are considered to take part in inflammation and both lipid and glucose metabolism in diabetic patients as previous studies showed the relation between adipocytokines and BDNF. We also reviewed the evidences of the antidiabetic effect of BDNF and the association with circulating inflammatory cytokines in T2DM.

Magnetic resonance (MR) studies suggested cardiac involvement post‐Covid‐19 in a significant subset of affected individuals, including athletes. This brings serious clinical concerns regarding the potential need for in‐depth cardiac screening in athletes after Covid‐19 before return to play. The aim of this study was to gain further insight into the relation between Covid‐19 and cardiac involvement in professional athletes. This was a retrospective cohort study, in which 26 consecutive elite athletes (national team, Olympians, top national league players; median age 24 years, interquartile range [IQR] 21–27, 81% female) were included. At 1.5 T including balanced steady‐state free precession cine imaging, T1 and T2‐mapping using Myomaps software (Siemens), dark‐blood T2‐weighted images with fat suppression, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with phase‐sensitive inversion recovery sequence were used. The athletes had mainly asymptomatic or mild course of the disease (77%). They were scanned after a median of 32 days (IQR 22–62 days) from the diagnosis. MR data were reviewed by three independent observers, each with >10 years cardiac MR experience. Native T1, T2, extracellular volume, and T2 signal intensity ratio were calculated. Diagnosis of acute myocarditis was based on modified Lake Louise criteria. Statistical analyses used were Pearson correlation and Bland–Altman repeatability analysis. At the time of MR the athletes had no pathologic electrocardiogram abnormalities or elevated troponin levels. MR did not reveal any case of acute myocarditis. Cardiac abnormalities were found in five (19%) athletes, including four athletes presenting borderline signs of isolated myocardial edema and one athlete showing nonischemic LGE with pleural and pericardial effusion. Another athlete had signs of persistent lung congestion without cardiac involvement. We have shown that in a small group of elite athletes with mainly asymptomatic to mild Covid‐19, lack of electrocardiographic changes, and normal troponin concentration 1–2 months after the diagnosis, there were no signs of acute myocarditis, but 19% of athletes had some abnormalities as assessed by cardiac MR.Level of Evidence: 4Technical Efficacy Stage: 3

Platelet activation plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, which often leads to potentially fatal ischemic events at later stages of the disease. Platelets and platelet microvesicles (PMVs) contain large amounts of microRNA (miRNA), which contributes largely to the pool of circulating miRNAs. Hence, they represent a promising option for the development of innovative diagnostic biomarkers, that can be specific for the underlying etiology. Circulating miRNAs can be responsible for intracellular communication and may have a biological effect on target cells. As miRNAs associated to both cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes mellitus can be measured by means of a wide array of techniques, they can be exploited as an innovative class of smart disease biomarkers. In this manuscript, we provide an outline of miRNAs associated with platelet function and reactivity (miR-223, miR-126, miR-197, miR-191, miR-21, miR-150, miR-155, miR-140, miR-96, miR-98) that should be evaluated as novel biomarkers to improve diagnostics and treatment of CVD.

Background Coexisting polymorphisms of the genes affecting clopiogrel resistance may influence platelet activation. Methods and Results In 105 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention, platelet function was measured and registered as closure time in the test with collagen and adenosine diphosphate (CADP-CT). Patients were followed for 12 months for death or recurrent myocardial infarction (MI). Genotyping revealed 7 carriers of both the C allele of P2Y12 and A allele of CYP2C19 (group 1), 14 carriers of the T allele of P2Y12 and A allele of CYP2C19 (group 2), 17 carriers of the C allele of P2Y12 and G allele of CYP2C19 (group 3) and 67 carriers of the T allele of P2Y12 and G allele of CYP2C19 (controls). The median CADP-CT value was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 or 3 (p<0.01) or controls (p<0.002), but did not differ between group 2 or 3 and controls. There were 2 cardiovascular deaths and 4 MI during follow-up, and the median CADP-CT value was lower in these patients (p=0.09). Conclusions Coexisting, rather then single, polymorphisms of different genes may be related to persistent platelet activation while on clopidogrel, which raises concern about harm in patients with ACS. (Circ J 2008; 72: 1165 - 1169)