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Current Problems in Cardiology Apr 2024Rising incidence of heart failure (HF) in the Western world despite advanced clinical care necessitate exploration of further preventive tools and strategies.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Rising incidence of heart failure (HF) in the Western world despite advanced clinical care necessitate exploration of further preventive tools and strategies. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], recognized as one of the major cardiovascular risk factors has also been implicated as a risk factor for HF. However, existing evidence remains inconclusive and that has led us to perform this meta-analysis.
METHODS
PubMed/Medline, EMBASE and Scopus were systematically searched for studies evaluating an association of Lp(a) with occurrence of HF from inception-till November 2023. Random effects models and I statistics were used for pooled odds ratio (OR) and heterogeneity assessment. We performed leave one out sensitivity analyses by sequentially removing one study at a time and recalculating the pooled effect size.
RESULT
Our search rendered in total 360 studies and after final screening this resulted in 7 Mendelian randomization (MR) design. According to the MR analysis, increasing Lp(a) level were significantly associated with increased risk of HF (OR 1.064, 95 % CI: 1.043-1.086, I= 97.59 %, P < 0.001). In addition, Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis showed that the effect size did not change substantially by removal of any particular study in MR studies and ORs ranged from 1.051 (when excluding Levin) to a maximum of 1.111 (when excluding Wang or Jiang), hereby confirming the association.
CONCLUSION
We were able to show that by meta-analysis of MR data, increasing lipoprotein (a) levels are associated with an increased risk of HF. Whether this is due to a direct effect on heart muscle contraction or whether this is due to an increased risk of ischemic cardiac disease remains to be elucidated.
Topics: Humans; Coronary Artery Disease; Heart Disease Risk Factors; Heart Failure; Lipoprotein(a); Mendelian Randomization Analysis
PubMed: 38301917
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102439 -
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition Aug 2023It is unknown whether dietary protein consumption can attenuate resistance exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Managing EIMD may accelerate muscle recovery and allow... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
It is unknown whether dietary protein consumption can attenuate resistance exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Managing EIMD may accelerate muscle recovery and allow frequent, high-quality exercise to promote muscle adaptations. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of peri-exercise protein supplementation on resistance EIMD.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted on PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science up to March 2021 for relevant articles. PEDro criteria were used to assess bias within included studies. A Hedges' g effect size (ES) was calculated for indirect markers of EIMD at h post-exercise. Weighted ESs were included in a random effects model to determine overall ESs over time.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine studies were included in the systematic review and 40 trials were included in ≥1 meta-analyses (16 total). There were significant overall effects of protein for preserving isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) at 96 h (0.563 [0.232, 0.894]) and isokinetic MVC at 24 h (0.639 [0.116, 1.162]), 48 h (0.447 [0.104, 0.790]), and 72 h (0.569 [0.136, 1.002]). Overall ESs were large in favour of protein for attenuating creatine kinase concentration at 48 h (0.836 [-0.001, 1.673]) and 72 h (1.335 [0.294, 2.376]). Protein supplementation had no effect on muscle soreness compared with the control.
CONCLUSION
Peri-exercise protein consumption could help maintain maximal strength and lower creatine kinase concentration following resistance exercise but not reduce muscle soreness. Conflicting data may be due to methodological divergencies between studies. Standardised methods and data reporting for EIMD research are needed.
Topics: Humans; Myalgia; Muscle, Skeletal; Resistance Training; Dietary Proteins; Dietary Supplements; Creatine Kinase
PubMed: 36513777
DOI: 10.1038/s41430-022-01250-y -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023Although subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is related to abnormalities in left ventricular diastolic function, the use of levothyroxine as a regular treatment remains... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Although subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is related to abnormalities in left ventricular diastolic function, the use of levothyroxine as a regular treatment remains debatable. This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether thyroid hormone replacement therapy affects cardiac diastolic function in patients with SCH as measured by echocardiography.
METHODS
This meta-analysis included a search of the EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to May 18, 2023, for studies analyzing cardiac morphology and functional changes in patients with SCH before and after thyroid hormone replacement. The outcome measures were cardiac morphology and diastolic and overall cardiac function, as assessed using ultrasound parameters (including ventricular wall thickness, chamber size, mitral wave flow, tissue Doppler, and speckle tracking). The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The standard mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models.
RESULTS
Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 568 patients participated and completed the follow-up. All studies specifically stated that serum thyrotropin levels returned to normal by the end of the study period. Compared with baseline levels, no significant morphological changes were observed in the heart. In terms of diastolic function, we discovered that the ratios of E-velocity to A-velocity (E/A) had greatly improved after thyroid hormone replacement therapy, whereas the ratios of the mitral inflow E wave to the tissue Doppler e' wave (E/e') had not. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) increased significantly after treatment with levothyroxine.
CONCLUSION
In adult patients with SCH, thyroid hormone supplementation can partially but not completely improve parameters of diastolic function during the observation period. This meta-analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 statement, an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews (11) and was registered with INPLASY (INPLASY202320083).
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-2-0083.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Echocardiography; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Hypothyroidism; Thyroxine; Ventricular Function, Left; Diastole
PubMed: 37818087
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1263861 -
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &... Dec 2023Hamstring strain injury (HSI) remains a performance, economic, and player availability burden in sport. High-speed running (HSR) is cited as a common mechanism for HSI.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Hamstring strain injury (HSI) remains a performance, economic, and player availability burden in sport. High-speed running (HSR) is cited as a common mechanism for HSI. While evidence exists regarding the high physical demands on the hamstring muscles in HSR, meta-analytical synthesis of related activation and kinetic variables is lacking.
METHODS
A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, SportDiscus, and Cochrane library databases was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies reporting hamstring activation (electromyographic [EMG]) or hamstring muscle/related joint kinetics were included where healthy adult participants ran at or beyond 60% of maximum speed (activation studies) or 4 m per second (m/s) (kinetic studies).
RESULTS
A total of 96 studies met the inclusion criteria. Run intensities were categorized as "slow," "moderate," or "fast" in both activation and kinetic based studies with appropriate relative, and raw measures, respectively. Meta-analysis revealed pooled mean lateral hamstring muscle activation levels of 108.1% (95% CI: 84.4%-131.7%) of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) during "fast" running. Meta-analysis found swing phase peak knee flexion internal moment and power at 2.2 Newton meters/kilogram (Nm/kg) (95% CI: 1.9-2.5) and 40.3 Watts/kilogram (W/kg) (95% CI: 31.4-49.2), respectively. Hip extension peak moment and power was estimated as 4.8 Nm/kg (95% CI: 3.9-5.7) and 33.1 W/kg (95% CI: 17.4-48.9), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
As run intensity/speed increases, so do the activation and kinetic demands on the hamstrings. The presented data will enable clinicians to incorporate more objective measures into the design of injury prevention and return-to-play decision-making strategies.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Hamstring Muscles; Kinetics; Isometric Contraction; Muscle Strength; Running; Soft Tissue Injuries
PubMed: 37668346
DOI: 10.1111/sms.14478 -
Archives of Rehabilitation Research and... Sep 2023To investigate the differences between erector spinae muscle activation in healthy individuals and patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain (CLBP) by conducting (a)... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the differences between erector spinae muscle activation in healthy individuals and patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain (CLBP) by conducting (a) systematic review and (b) meta-analysis.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, ScienceDirect, SPORTDiscus, and Google Scholar were used to conduct the searches, which included studies up to the 31st of March 2023 with no start date specified.
STUDY SELECTION
Any study otherwise meeting eligibility criteria was included if it reported either (1) a standard mean difference effect size; or (2) the means, SDs, and sample sizes for both the patient group and the comparator group.
DATA EXTRACTION
A total of 7 case control trials were used for the systematic review and meta-analysis.
DATA SYNTHESIS
The systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that total standardized mean difference in erector spinae muscle activation between healthy individuals vs patients with CLBP expressed in % maximum voluntary isometric contraction was 0.48 (95% confidence interval=0.21-0.74; <.001) with the heterogeneity being I=0% (=.890). The electromyography (EMG) outputs showed significant differences in activation levels between the healthy and CLBP cohorts (<.001).
CONCLUSIONS
A small effect size was found in the meta-analysis. The muscle activation levels of the erector spinae during forward propulsion were higher in CLBP individuals compared with healthy cohorts. The findings provide more clarity about the muscles that were the focus of previous research, what procedures were used to evaluate muscular contributions and what speeds the participants were moving at during the test sessions. Given the limited methodological quality of the included studies, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Future research should evaluate the effect of other factors such as walking distance and any changes in walking surfaces and gradients (ie, non-flat surfaces).
PubMed: 37744192
DOI: 10.1016/j.arrct.2023.100280 -
The Knee Jun 2024Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a common orthopedic surgery procedure whose incidence has increased over the past few decades. Nevertheless, it is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a common orthopedic surgery procedure whose incidence has increased over the past few decades. Nevertheless, it is believed that neuromuscular control remains altered from the early stages after ACLR to later years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the magnitude of co-contraction during functional tasks in subjects with unilateral ACLR.
METHODS
A systematic review design was followed. The search strategy was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, PEDro, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases from inception to March 2024. The inclusion criteria involved studies using electromyography (EMG) data to calculate muscle pair activation via the co-contraction index (CCI) in ACLR individuals during functional tasks. The Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and study quality was evaluated using National Institutes of Health (NIH) Study Quality Assessment Tools.
RESULTS
The search strategy found a total of 792 studies, of which 15 were included in this systematic review after reviewing the eligibility criteria. The magnitude of co-contraction was assessed in a total of 433 ACLR individuals and 206 controls during functional tasks such as hop, drop-land, step-up/step-down, and gait. Overall, approximately 79.6% of individuals who had undergone ACLR exhibited increased levels of co-contraction magnitude in the ACLR limb, while 8.5% showed low co-contraction levels.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the review suggest that, during functional tasks, most individuals who have undergone ACLR exhibit changes of co-contraction magnitude in the involved limb.
Topics: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Humans; Electromyography; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal
PubMed: 38781829
DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2024.05.005 -
PloS One 2024Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually patient mortality. In recent years, neuromodulation techniques have emerged as promising potential therapeutic approaches to slow disease progression and improve the quality of life of ALS patients. A systematic review was conducted until August 8, 2023, to evaluate the neuromodulation methods used and their potential in the treatment of ALS. The search strategy was applied in the Cochrane Central database, incorporating results from other databases such as PubMed, Embase, CTgov, CINAHL, and ICTRP. Following the exclusion of papers that did not fulfil the inclusion criteria, a total of 2090 records were found, leaving a total of 10 studies. R software was used to conduct meta-analyses based on the effect sizes between the experimental and control groups. This revealed differences in muscle stretch measures with manual muscle testing (p = 0.012) and resting motor threshold (p = 0.0457), but not with voluntary isometric contraction (p = 0.1883). The functionality of ALS was also different (p = 0.007), but not the quality of life. Although intracortical facilitation was not seen in motor cortex 1 (M1) (p = 0.1338), short-interval intracortical inhibition of M1 was significant (p = 0.0001). BDNF showed no differences that were statistically significant (p = 0.2297). Neuromodulation-based treatments are proposed as a promising therapeutic approach for ALS that can produce effects on muscle function, spasticity, and intracortical connections through electrical, magnetic, and photonic stimulation. Photobiomodulation stands out as an innovative approach that uses specific wavelengths to influence mitochondria, with the aim of improving mitochondrial function and reducing excitotoxicity. The lack of reliable placebo controls and the variation in stimulation frequency are some of the drawbacks of neuromodulation.
Topics: Humans; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Quality of Life; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Exercise Therapy; Muscle Spasticity
PubMed: 38551974
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300671 -
European Journal of Sport Science Aug 2023Training and rehabilitation programmes involving neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed onto voluntary contractions (NMES+) have gained popularity in the last...
Training and rehabilitation programmes involving neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed onto voluntary contractions (NMES+) have gained popularity in the last decades. Yet, there is no clear consensus on the effectiveness of such intervention. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of chronic exposure to NMES+ on muscle strength and mass compared to conventional volitional training or passive electrical stimulation alone. Two authors conducted an electronic search to identify randomized controlled trials that investigated the effect of NMES+ training, involved healthy participants or orthopaedic patients, detailed a well-defined NMES training protocol, and provided outcomes related to muscle strength and/or mass. The authors extracted data on participants, intervention characteristics, muscle-related outcomes, and assessed the methodological quality of the studies. A total of twenty-four studies were included in the review. The majority of these reported an increase in muscle strength following NMES+ training compared to an equivalent voluntary or passive NMES training. The highest improvements were found when NMES was superimposed on sub-maximal exercises involving both concentric and eccentric contractions. Two studies reported an increase in muscle mass after NMES+, while two other studies exhibited no differences. This review indicated that chronic exposure to NMES+ determines muscle strength improvements greater or equal compared to volitional training alone. However, differences in the methodological characteristics of the stimulation and the type of exercise associated with NMES+ revealed significant discrepancies in the results. A deeper understanding of the neurophysiological adaptations to NMES+ is crucial to fully explain the muscle-related enhancement resulting from such intervention.NMES+ consists of simultaneously applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation while voluntarily contracting the stimulated muscle.Although a growing number of studies have suggested that intervention based on NMES+ have a strong potential in enhancing as well as preserving muscle function, there is still no clear consensus on the effectiveness of such technique.This review revealed that training based on NMES+ can induce a significant improvement of muscle strength in both healthy and orthopaedic individuals.
Topics: Humans; Muscles; Muscle Strength; Exercise Therapy; Electric Stimulation; Exercise; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscle Contraction
PubMed: 35856620
DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2022.2104656 -
Journal of Athletic Training Feb 2024To investigate whether lower limb strength is reduced in people with patellar tendinopathy (PT) compared with asymptomatic control individuals or the asymptomatic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether lower limb strength is reduced in people with patellar tendinopathy (PT) compared with asymptomatic control individuals or the asymptomatic contralateral limb.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
STUDY SELECTION
To be included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, studies were required to be peer reviewed, published in the English language, and case control investigations; include participants with a clinical diagnosis of PT and an asymptomatic control or contralateral limb group; and include an objective measure of lower limb maximal strength.
DATA EXTRACTION
We extracted descriptive statistics for maximal strength for the symptomatic and asymptomatic limbs of individuals with PT and the limb(s) of the asymptomatic control group, inferential statistics for between-groups differences, participant characteristics, and details of the strength-testing protocol. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool for analytical cross-sectional studies.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Of the 23 included studies, 21 reported knee strength, 3 reported hip strength, and 1 reported ankle strength. Random-effects models (Hedges g) were used to calculate the pooled effect sizes (ESs) of muscle strength according to the direction of joint movement and type of contraction. The pooled ESs (95% CI) for maximal voluntary isometric contraction knee-extension strength, concentric knee-extension strength, and concentric knee-flexion strength were 0.54 (0.27, 0.80), 0.78 (0.30, 1.33), and 0.41 (0.04, 0.78), respectively, with all favoring greater strength in the asymptomatic control group. Researchers of 2 studies described maximal eccentric knee-extensor strength with no differences between the PT and asymptomatic control groups. In 3 studies, researchers measured maximal hip strength (abduction, extension, and external rotation), and all within-study ESs favored greater strength in the asymptomatic control group.
CONCLUSIONS
Isometric and concentric knee-extensor strength are reduced in people with PT compared with asymptomatic control individuals. In contrast, evidence for reduced eccentric knee-extension strength in people with PT compared with asymptomatic control individuals is limited and inconsistent. Although evidence is emerging that both knee-flexion and hip strength may be reduced in people with PT, more examination is needed to confirm this observation.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Lower Extremity; Knee; Knee Joint; Muscle Strength; Tendinopathy; Muscle, Skeletal
PubMed: 37071550
DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0662.22 -
Physiotherapy Theory and Practice Jul 2023Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in stroke patients. Although pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a promising...
BACKGROUND
Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in stroke patients. Although pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a promising intervention, its effects on stroke patients have not been fully studied.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the effect of PFMT on PFM and urinary function of stroke patients.
METHODS
The databases AMED, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PEDro were searched for title/abstract on PFMT and stroke. RCTs and quasi-experimental trials that compared the effects of PFMT to a control intervention in stroke patients were included. The RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I were used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. The Standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.
RESULTS
The current review included three RCTs and one quasi-experimental study, all of which were moderate to high quality. The analysis revealed that PFMT significantly improved PFM contraction (SMD: 0.92; 95% CI, 0.47 to 1.38; < .0001), dynamic endurance (SMD: 0.61; 95% CI, 0.06 to 1.16; = .030), daytime frequency (SMD: -0.81; 95% CI, -1.37 to -0.25; = .004), ICIQ-SF (SMD: -1.64; 95% CI, -2.39 to -0.89; < .0001), and LUTS (SMD: -1.82; 95% CI, -2.67 to -0.96; < .0001). Differences in PFM strength, static endurance, nocturia, UI frequency, and 24-hour pad weight were insignificant or non-existent between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
This review demonstrates that PFMT improves PFM contraction, PFM dynamic endurance, daytime frequency, and overall LUTS in stroke patients. To validate these findings, well-designed RCTs with large sample sizes and reliable outcome measures should be conducted.
Topics: Humans; Pelvic Floor; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Exercise Therapy
PubMed: 35230216
DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2040668