Risk of bias and reporting practices in studies comparing VO2max responses to sprint interval vs.continuous training:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:It remains unclear whether studies comparing _(max)imal oxygen uptake(VO_(2max))response to sprint interval training(SIT)vs.moderate-intensity continuous training(MICT)are associated with a high risk of bias and poor reporting quality.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of bias and quality of reporting in studies comparing changes in VO_(2max) between SIT and MICT.Methods:We conducted a comprehensive literature search of 4 major databases:AMED,CINAHL,EMBASE,and MEDLINE.Studies were excluded if participants were not healthy adult humans or if training protocols were unsupervised,lasted less than 2 weeks,or utilized mixed exercise modalities.We used the Cochrane Collaboration tool and the CONSORT checklist for non-pharmacological trials to evaluate the risk of bias and reporting quality,respectively.Results:Twenty-eight studies with 30 comparisons(3 studies included 2 SIT groups)were included in our meta-analysis(n=360 SIT participants:body mass index(BMI)=25.9±3.7 kg/m^(2),baseline VO_(2max)=37.9±8.0 mL/kg/min;n=359 MICT participants:BMI=25.5±3.8 kg/m^(2),baseline VO_(2max)=38.3±8.0 mL/kg/min;all mean±SD).All studies had an unclear risk of bias and poor reporting quality.Conclusion:Although we observed a lack of superiority between SIT and MICT for improving VO_(2max)(weighted Hedge’s g=0.004,95%con-fidence interval(95%CI):-0.08 to 0.07),the overall unclear risk of bias calls the validity of this conclusion into question.Future studies using robust study designs are needed to interrogate the possibility that SIT and MICT result in similar changes in VO_(2max).

Suppressive effects of exercise-conditioned serum on cancer cells:A narrative review of the influence of exercise mode,volume,and intensity

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,and the incidence is increasing,highlighting the need for effective strategies to treat this disease.Exercise has emerged as fundamental therapeutic medicine in the management of cancer,associated with a lower risk of recur-rence and increased survival.Several avenues of research demonstrate reduction in growth,proliferation,and increased apoptosis of cancer cells,including breast,prostate,colorectal,and lung cancer,when cultured by serum collected after exercise in vitro(i.e.,the cultivation of cancer cell lines in an experimental setting,which simplifies the biological system and provides mechanistic insight into cell responses).The underlying mechanisms of exercise-induced cancer suppressive effects may be attributed to the alteration in circulating factors,such as skeletal muscle-induced cytokines(i.e.,myokines)and hormones.However,exercise-induced tumor suppressive effects and detailed information about training interventions are not well investigated,constraining more precise application of exercise medicine within clinical oncology.To date,it remains unclear what role different training modes(i.e.,resistance and aerobic training)as well as volume and intensity have on exercise-condi-tioned serum and its effects on cancer cells.Nevertheless,the available evidence is that a single bout of aerobic training at moderate to vigorous intensity has cancer suppressive effects,while for chronic training interventions,exercise volume appears to be an influential candidate driving cancer inhibitory effects regardless of training mode.Insights for future research investigating training modes,volume and intensity are provided to further our understanding of the effects of exercise-conditioned serum on cancer cells.

Exercise training in heart transplantation

Heart transplantation remains the gold standard in the treatment of end-stage heart failure(HF).Heart transplantation patients present lower exercise capacity due to cardiovascular and musculoskeletal alterations leading thus to poor quality of life and reduction in the ability of daily self-service.Impaired vascular function and diastolic dysfunction cause lower cardiac output while decreased skeletal muscle oxidative fibers,enzymes and capillarity cause arteriovenous oxygen difference,leading thus to decreased peak oxygen uptake in heart transplant recipients.Exercise training improves exercise capacity,cardiac and vascular endothelial function in heart transplant recipients.Pre-rehabilitation regular aerobic or combined exercise is beneficial for patients with end-stage HF awaiting heart transplantation in order to maintain a higher fitness level and reduce complications afterwards like intensive care unit acquired weakness or cardiac cachexia.All hospitalized patients after heart transplantation should be referred to early mobilization of skeletal muscles through kinesiotherapy of the upper and lower limbs and respiratory physiotherapy in order to prevent infections of the respiratory system prior to hospital discharge.Moreover,all heart transplant recipients after hospital discharge who have not already participated in an early cardiac rehabilitation program should be referred to a rehabilitation center by their health care provider.Although high intensity interval training seems to have more benefits than moderate intensity continuous training,especially in stable transplant patients,individualized training based on the abilities and needs of each patient still remains the most appropriate approach.Cardiac rehabilitation appears to be safe in heart transplant patients.However,long-term follow-up data is incomplete and,therefore,further high quality and adequately-powered studies are needed to demonstrate the long-term benefits of exercise training in this population.