Background: Resistance training (RT), as part of exercise prescriptions during cardiac rehabilitation for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), is often used as a supplement to aerobic training (AT). The effectiveness and safety of RT has not been sufficiently confirmed for coronary heart disease (CHD).Objective: To provide updated evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on efficacy and safety of RT for the rehabilitation of CHD.Method: Three English and four Chinese electronic literature databases were searched comprehensively from establishment of each individual database to Dec, 2020. RCTs which compared RT with AT, no treatment, health education, physical therapy, conventional medical treatment (or called usually care, UC) in CHD were included. Methodological quality of RCTs extracted according to the risk of bias tool described in the Cochrane handbook. The primary outcomes were the index of cardiopulmonary exercise testing and the quality of life (QOL). The secondary outcomes included the skeletal muscle strength, aerobic capacity, left ventricular function and structure.Results: Thirty-right RCTs with a total of 2,465 participants were included in the review. The pooling results suggest the RT+AT is more effective in the cardiopulmonary exercise function (peak oxygen uptake, peak VO2) [MD, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.40–2.31, P = 0.005; I2 = 81%, P < 0.00001], the physical score of QOL [SMD, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.33–1.08, P = 0.0003; I2 = 74%, P < 0.0001] and global score of QOL [SMD, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.43–1.14, P < 0.0001; I2 = 60%, P = 0.03], also in the skeletal muscle strength, the aerobic capacity and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) than AT group. However, there is insufficient evidence confirmed that RT+AT can improve the emotional score of QOL [SMD, 0.27; 95% CI, −0.08 to 0.61, P = 0.13; I2 = 70%, P = 0.0004] and decrease left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD). No significant difference between RT and AT on increasing peak VO2 [MD, 2.07; 95% CI, −1.96 to 6.09, P = 0.31; I2 = 97%, P < 0.00001], the physical [SMD, 0.18; 95% CI, −0.08 to 0.43, P = 0.18; I2 = 0%, P = 0.51] and emotional [SMD, 0.22; 95% CI, −0.15 to 0.59, P = 0.24; I2 = 26%, P = 0.25] score of QOL. Moreover, the pooled data of results suggest that RT is more beneficial in increasing peak VO2 [MD, 3.10; 95% CI, 2.52–3.68, P < 0.00001], physical component [SMD, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.57–1.14, P < 0.00001; I2 = 0%, P = 0.64] and the emotional conditions [SMD, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.31–1.18, P = 0.0009; I2 = 58%, P = 0.12] of QOL and LVEF, and decreasing LVEDD than UC. Low quality evidence provided that RT had effect in decreasing rehospitalization events than UC [RR, 0.33, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.62, P = 0.0006; I2 = 0%, P = 0.64]. There is no significant difference in the safety of RT compared to AT.Conclusions: RT combined with AT is more beneficial than AT alone for CHD. RT can effectively improve the capacity of exercise and the QOL compared with UC. But the difference between RT and AT is still unknown. More high-quality and large-sample studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Background/ObjectiveEndothelial dysfunction is associated with the long-term outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent evidence suggests that ticagrelor, a potent antiplatelet agent, improves endothelial function. However, several studies demonstrated contrasting results. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of ticagrelor treatment on endothelial function.Materials and MethodsA systematic literature study was conducted on databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. A historical search was performed for a reference list of the selected studies as of August 2021. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane tool. The weighted mean difference (WMD) 95% CI was treated as the overall effect size, and data were pooled using the fixed-effect model or random-effect model according to the heterogeneity. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to measure the effects of potential confounders.ResultsA total of 21 studies were included. The meta-analysis indicated that ticagrelor resulted in a significant increase of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) (WMD: 1.48; 95% CI: 0.36, 2.60), reactive hyperemia index (RHI) (WMD: 0.06; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.13), and circulating progenitor endothelial cells (CEPCs) (WMD: 13.84; 95% CI: 5.70, 21.98), and a reduction in the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) (WMD: −15.39; 95% CI: −25.11, −5.68).ConclusionTicagrelor has a significant effect on some markers of endothelial function in patients with CAD. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneity and limited studies.

Introduction: Perimenopausal depression is predominantly caused by hormone shock, but the underlying physical and psychological factors are still unclear.Objectives: To explore the constituent components of perimenopausal depression by dynamically depicting its influencing factors and interactive pathways from the perspective of embodied cognition.Methods: This is a randomized clinical controlled trial. In this study, electroacupuncture was compared with escitalopram. A total of 242 participants with mild to moderate perimenopausal depression were enrolled from 6 hospitals in China. Each participant had a 12-week intervention and a 12-week follow-up period. The primary outcome of this study is the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), and the secondary outcome is the menopause-specific quality of life scale (MENQOL), serum Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estrogen (E2) levels.Results: The structural equation model suggested that hormone levels were not directly associated with HAMD-17 (P = 0.852), while MENQOL was statistically correlated with HAMD-17 as an intermediary variable (P < 0.001). Electroacupuncture gradually showed positive impacts on MENQOL and HAMD-17 during the follow-up period (P < 0.05). Cognitive impairment is the dominant dimension of perimenopausal depression.Conclusions: Hormonal shock may affect clinical symptoms and poor quality of life to induce cognitive impairment leading perimenopausal depression, and this impact on cognition is embodied. Electroacupuncture has positive effect on perimenopausal depression and quality of life.