Differences in heart rate variability and body composition in breast cancer survivors and women without cancer.

The aim of this study was to explore cardiac autonomic changes assessed by linear and nonlinear indexes of heart rate variability (HRV) and body composition modifications in breast cancer survivors and cancer-free control women. Women who were breast cancer survivors (BCS, n = 27) and without cancer with similar characteristics (Control, n = 31) were recruited for this study. We calculated some relevant linear and nonlinear parameters of 5 min of RR interval time series such as mean RR interval (RRave), the corrected Poincaré index (cSD1/SD2), the sample entropy (SampEn), the long-term fractal scaling exponent (α2) and 2UV from symbolic dynamics. Additionally, we indirectly assessed body composition measures such as body weight, fat mass, visceral fat rating (VFR), normalized VRF (nVFR), muscle mass, metabolic age, and total body water. We found that diverse HRV indexes and only one body composition measure showed statistical differences (p < 0.05) between the BCS and Control groups. RRave: 729 (648-802) vs. 795 (713-852) ms; cSD2/SD1: 3.4 (2.7-5.0) vs. 2.9 (2.3-3.5); SampEn: 1.5 (1.3-1.8) vs. 1.7 (1.5-1.8); α2: 0.6 (0.3-0.6) vs. 0.5 (0.4-0.5); 2UV: 7.1 (4.3-11.5) vs. 10.8 (6.4-15.7) and nVFR 0.12 (0.11-0.13) vs. 0.10 (0.08-0.12) points/kg, respectively. The nVFR was strongly significantly correlated with several indexes of HRV only in the BCS group.Our findings suggest that BCS exhibit lower parasympathetic cardiac activity and changes in HRV patterns compared to Controls. A concomitant increase of visceral fat, among other factors, may contribute to cardiac autonomic disturbances and changes in HRV patterns in BCS.

Older Subjects With ß-Cell Dysfunction Have an Accentuated Incretin Release.

Objective: Insulin secretion (IS) declines with age, which increases the risk of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in older adults. IS is regulated by the incretin hormones glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP). Here we tested the hypotheses that incretin release is lower in older adults and that this decline is associated with ß-cell dysfunction. Research Design: A total of 40 young (25 ± 3 years) and 53 older (74 ± 7 years) lean nondiabetic subjects underwent a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Based on the OGTT, subjects were divided into three groups: young subjects with normal glucose tolerance (Y-NGT; n = 40), older subjects with normal glucose tolerance (O-NGT; n = 32), and older subjects with IGT (O-IGT; n = 21). Main Outcome Measures: Plasma insulin, C-peptide, GLP-1, and GIP concentrations were measured every 15 to 30 minutes. We quantitated insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index) and insulin secretory rate (ISR) by deconvolution of C-peptide with the calculation of ß-cell glucose sensitivity. Results: Matsuda index, early phase ISR (0 to 30 minutes), and parameters of ß-cell function were lower in O-IGT than in Y-NGT subjects but not in O-NGT subjects. GLP-1 concentrations were elevated in both older groups [GLP-1 area under the curve (AUC)0-120 was 2.8 ± 0.1 in Y-NGT, 3.8 ± 0.5 in O-NGT, and 3.7 ± 0.4 nmol/L∙120 minutes in O-IGT subjects; P < 0.05], whereas GIP secretion was higher in O-NGT than in Y-NGT subjects (GIP AUC0-120 was 4.7 ± 0.3 in Y-NGT, 6.0 ± 0.4 in O-NGT, and 4.8 ± 0.3 nmol/L∙120 minutes in O-IGT subjects; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Aging is associated with an exaggerated GLP-1 secretory response. However, it was not sufficient to increase insulin first-phase release in O-IGT and overcome insulin resistance.