Browsing by Author "Emery, Michael S."

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    Acute effects of leg heat therapy on walking performance and cardiovascular and inflammatory responses to exercise in patients with peripheral artery disease
    (Wiley, 2021) Monroe, Jacob C.; Song, Qifan; Emery, Michael S.; Hirai, Daniel M.; Motaganahalli, Raghu L.; Roseguini, Bruno T.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Lower-extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events and impaired exercise tolerance. We have previously reported that leg heat therapy (HT) applied using liquid-circulating trousers perfused with warm water increases leg blood flow and reduces blood pressure (BP) and the circulating levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in patients with symptomatic PAD. In this sham-controlled, randomized, crossover study, sixteen patients with symptomatic PAD (age 65 ± 5.7 years and ankle-brachial index: 0.69 ± 0.1) underwent a single 90-min session of HT or a sham treatment prior to a symptom-limited, graded cardiopulmonary exercise test on the treadmill. The primary outcome was the peak walking time (PWT) during the exercise test. Secondary outcomes included the claudication onset time (COT), resting and exercise BP, calf muscle oxygenation, pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇O2 ), and plasma levels of ET-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Systolic, but not diastolic BP, was significantly lower (~7 mmHg, p < .05) during HT when compared to the sham treatment. There was also a trend for lower SBP throughout the exercise and the recovery period following HT (p = .057). While COT did not differ between treatments (p = .77), PWT tended to increase following HT (CON: 911 ± 69 s, HT: 954 ± 77 s, p = .059). Post-exercise plasma levels of ET-1 were also lower in the HT session (CON: 2.0 ± 0.1, HT: 1.7 ± 0.1, p = .02). Calf muscle oxygenation, V̇O2 , COT, IL-6, and TNF-α did not differ between treatments. A single session of leg HT lowers BP and post-exercise circulating levels of ET-1 and may enhance treadmill walking performance in symptomatic PAD patients.
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    Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts
    (Elsevier, 2022-06-16) Torabi, Asad J.; Nahhas, Omar D.; Dunn, Reginald E.; Martinez, Matthew W.; Tucker, Andrew M.; Lincoln, Andrew E.; Kovacs, Richard J.; Emery, Michael S.; Graduate Medical Education, School of Medicine
    Background: The presence of T-wave abnormalities (TWA) on an athlete's electrocardiogram (ECG) presents as a diagnostic challenge for physicians. Types of TWA patterns classified as abnormal by inexperienced readers have not been systematically analyzed. Methods: ECGs from the 2011-2015 National Football League Scouting Combine (initially interpreted by general cardiologists) were retrospectively reviewed by expert sports cardiologists with strict application of the 2017 International Criteria. Patterns of TWA that were altered from the original interpretation were analyzed. Results: The study included 1643 athletes (mean age 22 years). There was a 67 % reduction in the number of athletes with any TWA (p < 0.001) with 111 ECGs changed to normal. Inferior TWA was the most common interpreted initial ECG abnormality altered followed by anterior and lateral. Discussion: This analysis revealed an initial high rate of TWA by non-expert readers. Tailored education programs to physicians who interpret athlete ECGs should highlight these specific T-wave patterns. We see this as an opportunity to make more clinicians aware of ECG interpretation guidelines as sports trained cardiologists are mostly self-taught.
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    Athlete ECG T-wave abnormality interpretation patterns by non-experts
    (Elsevier, 2022-05) Torabi, Asad J.; Nahhas, Omar D.; Dunn, Reginald E.; Martinez, Matthew W.; Tucker, Andrew M.; Lincoln, Andrew E.; Kovacs, Richard J.; Emery, Michael S.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background The presence of T-wave abnormalities (TWA) on an athlete's electrocardiogram (ECG) presents as a diagnostic challenge for physicians. Types of TWA patterns classified as abnormal by inexperienced readers have not been systematically analyzed. Methods ECGs from the 2011–2015 National Football League Scouting Combine (initially interpreted by general cardiologists) were retrospectively reviewed by expert sports cardiologists with strict application of the 2017 International Criteria. Patterns of TWA that were altered from the original interpretation were analyzed. Results The study included 1643 athletes (mean age 22 years). There was a 67 % reduction in the number of athletes with any TWA (p < 0.001) with 111 ECGs changed to normal. Inferior TWA was the most common interpreted initial ECG abnormality altered followed by anterior and lateral. Discussion This analysis revealed an initial high rate of TWA by non-expert readers. Tailored education programs to physicians who interpret athlete ECGs should highlight these specific T-wave patterns. We see this as an opportunity to make more clinicians aware of ECG interpretation guidelines as sports trained cardiologists are mostly self-taught.
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    Interassociation Consensus Statement on Cardiovascular Care of College Student-Athletes
    (American College of Cardiology Foundation, 2016-04) Hainline, Brian; Drezner, Jonathan; Baggish, Aaron; Harmon, Kimberly G.; Emery, Michael S.; Myerburg, Robert J.; Sanchez, Eduardo; Molossi, Silvana; Parsons, John T.; Thompson, Paul D.; Kinesiology, School of Physical Education and Tourism Management
    Cardiovascular evaluation and care of college student-athletes is gaining increasing attention from both the public and medical communities. Emerging strategies include screening of the general athlete population, recommendations of permissible levels of participation by athletes with identified cardiovascular conditions, and preparation for responding to unanticipated cardiac events in athletic venues. The primary focus has been sudden cardiac death and the utility of screening with or without advanced cardiac screening. The National Collegiate Athletic Association convened a multidisciplinary task force to address cardiovascular concerns in collegiate student-athletes and to develop consensus for an interassociation statement. This document summarizes the task force deliberations and follow-up discussions, and includes available evidence on cardiovascular risk, pre-participation evaluation, and the recognition of and response to cardiac arrest. Future recommendations for cardiac research initiatives, education, and collaboration are also provided.
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    International Criteria for Electrocardiographic Interpretation in Athletes
    (Elsevier, 2017-02) Sharma, Sanjay; Drezner, Jonathan A.; Baggish, Aaron; Papadakis, Michael; Wilson, Mathew G.; Prutkin, Jordan M.; La Gerche, Andre; Ackerman, Michael J.; Borjesson, Mats; Salerno, Jack C.; Asif, Irfan M.; Owens, David S.; Chung, Eugene H.; Emery, Michael S.; Froelicher, Victor F.; Heidbuchel, Hein; Adamuz, Carmen; Asplund, Chad A.; Cohen, Gordon; Harmon, Kimberly G.; Marek, Joseph C.; Molossi, Silvana; Niebauer, Josef; Pelto, Hank F.; Perez, Marco V.; Riding, Nathan R.; Saarel, Tess; Schmied, Christian M.; Shipon, David M.; Stein, Ricardo; Vetter, Victoria L.; Pelliccia, Antonio; Corrado, Domenico; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality in athletes during sport. A variety of mostly hereditary, structural, or electrical cardiac disorders are associated with SCD in young athletes, the majority of which can be identified or suggested by abnormalities on a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Whether used for diagnostic or screening purposes, physicians responsible for the cardiovascular care of athletes should be knowledgeable and competent in ECG interpretation in athletes. However, in most countries a shortage of physician expertise limits wider application of the ECG in the care of the athlete. A critical need exists for physician education in modern ECG interpretation that distinguishes normal physiological adaptations in athletes from distinctly abnormal findings suggestive of underlying pathology. Since the original 2010 European Society of Cardiology recommendations for ECG interpretation in athletes, ECG standards have evolved quickly over the last decade; pushed by a growing body of scientific data that both tests proposed criteria sets and establishes new evidence to guide refinements. On February 26-27, 2015, an international group of experts in sports cardiology, inherited cardiac disease, and sports medicine convened in Seattle, Washington, to update contemporary standards for ECG interpretation in athletes. The objective of the meeting was to define and revise ECG interpretation standards based on new and emerging research and to develop a clear guide to the proper evaluation of ECG abnormalities in athletes. This statement represents an international consensus for ECG interpretation in athletes and provides expert opinion-based recommendations linking specific ECG abnormalities and the secondary evaluation for conditions associated with SCD.
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    The role of exercise in atrial fibrillation prevention and promotion: Finding optimal ranges for health
    (Elsevier, 2017) Elliott, Adrian D.; Maatman, Benjamin; Emery, Michael S.; Sanders, Prashanthan; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
    The cardiovascular benefits of regular exercise have been well described, including a significant reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality for those meeting recommended guidelines. Yet the impact of physical activity on the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been less clear. This review seeks to define the optimal dose and duration for the prevention and treatment of AF. In doing so, we review the evidence that supports a decline in AF risk for those who achieve a weekly physical activity dose slightly above the current recommended guidelines. Furthermore, we identify the reduced AF incidence in those individuals who attain a cardiorespiratory fitness of 8 METs (metabolic equivalents of task) or more during maximal exercise testing. Finally, we review the evidence that shows an excess of AF among regular participants of endurance exercise.
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    Skin Sympathetic Nerve Activity as a Biomarker of Fitness
    (Elsevier, 2021) Liu, Xiao; Kumar, Awaneesh; O’Neil, Joseph; Wong, Johnson; Saadoon, Osama; Kadire, Siri; Mitscher, Gloria A.; Li, Xiaochun; Chen, Peng-Sheng; Emery, Michael S.; Everett, Thomas H., IV; Biostatistics, School of Public Health
    Background: Exercise stress testing is frequently used to expose cardiac arrhythmias. Aerobic exercise conditioning has been used as a nonpharmacologic antiarrhythmic intervention. Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that noninvasively recorded skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) is increased during exercise and that SKNA response varies according to fitness levels. Methods: Oxygen consumption (VO2) and SKNA were recorded in 39 patients undergoing an incremental exercise test. Patients were grouped by 5 levels of fitness based on age, sex, and VO2max. Results: With exercise, all patients had a significant increase in average SKNA (aSKNA) (1.58 ± 1.12 μV to 4.50 ± 3.06 μV, P = .000) and heart rate (HR) (87.40 ± 20.42 bpm to 154.13 ± 16.82 bpm, P = .000). A mixed linear model of aSKNA was used with fixed effects of fitness, exercise time, and recovery time, and random effects of subject level intercept and slopes for exercise time and recovery times. The poor fitness group had significantly higher aSKNA than the other groups (P = .0273). For all subjects studied, aSKNA increased by 5% per minute with progression of exercise and decreased by 15% per minute with progression of recovery. The fitness variable encodes information on both comorbidities and body mass index (BMI). Once fitness level is known, comorbidities and BMI are not significantly associated with aSKNA. In all groups, aSKNA positively correlated with HR (R2 = 0.47 ± 0.23) and VO2 (R2 = 0.68 ± 0.25). Conclusion: Fitness level determines the magnitude and time course of SKNA increase during exercise. SKNA may be a useful fitness biomarker in exercise stress testing.