No abstract

Endurance exercise is widely assumed to improve cardiac function in humans, but the mechanisms involved in such changes are not clearly understood. The purpose of this study is to determine whether training elicits adaptations at the level of the L-type Ca(2+) channel. Sprague-Dawley rats performed swimming training at either moderate intensity (MOD) or high intensity (HIGH) during 8 weeks. The trained rats were studied by echocardiography and the whole-cell L-type Ca(2+) currents (I (Ca,L)) characteristics in a single cell were measured by standard whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique. Echocardiography showed that septal and posterior wall thickness in MOD and HIGH increased with the increased LV mass by 43 and 41%, respectively (P < 0.05). Training (P < 0.05) increased mean myocyte capacitance (approximately 38% in MOD and HIGH) and myocyte length (approximately 20% longer in MOD and 26% longer in HIGH), thus providing electrophysiological and morphological evidence that the training elicited LV cardiocyte hypertrophy. Mean peak I (Ca,L) was not different in three groups. However, whole-cell I (Ca,L) density was decreased in MOD and HIGH versus sedentary (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between MOD and HIGH. The present study provides the evidence of a training adaptation in intrinsic I (Ca,L) characteristics in ventricular myocardium, which demonstrates a remarkable adaptive plasticity of L-type channel characteristics in training rat heart.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising and non-invasive therapy for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Currently, the main image-guided methods for HIFU include magnetic resonance-guided (MR-HIFU) and ultrasound-guided (US-HIFU). However, there are few comparative studies on the therapeutic efficacy and safety of MR-HIFU and US-HIFU in treating symptomatic uterine fibroids with a volume <300 cm 3 . Objective: We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MR-HIFU and US-HIFU in treating symptomatic uterine fibroids with a volume <300 cm 3 . Methods: We searched relevant literature in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library CNKI from inception until 2021. The mean value, the proportion, and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured by random-effects models. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Results: 48 studies met our inclusion criteria-28 describing MR-HIFU and 20 describing US-HIFU. The mean non-perfused volume rate (NPVR) was 81.07% in the US-HIFU group and 58.92% in the MR-HIFU group, respectively. The mean volume reduction rates at month-3, month-6, and month-12 were 42.42, 58.72, and 65.55% in the US-HIFU group, while 34.79, 37.39, and 36.44% in the MR-HIFU group. The incidence of post-operative abdominal pain and abnormal vaginal discharge in the US-HIFU group was lower than that of MRI-HIFU. However, post-operative skin burn and sciatic nerve pain were more common in the US-HIFU group compared with MRI-HIFU. The one-year reintervention rate after MR-HIFU was 13.4%, which was higher than 5.2% in the US-HIFU group. Conclusion: US-HIFU may show better efficiency and safety than MR-HIFU in treating symptomatic fibroids with a volume <300 cm 3 .

Objective To explore the association between ovulation induction drugs and ovarian cancer. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Women without ovarian cancer who ever or never underwent ovarian induction. Intervention(s) An extensive electronic search of the following databases was performed: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library and CNKI, from inception until January 2022. A total of 34 studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria and were included in the final meta-analysis. The odds ratio (OR) and random-effects model were used to estimate the pooled effects. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of included studies. Funnel plots and Egger tests were used to assess publication bias. Main outcomes New diagnosed borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) and invasive ovarian cancer (IOC) between ovulation induction (OI) group and control (CT) group considering fertility outcome, OI cycles and specific OI drugs. Results Primarily, there was no significant difference in the incidence of IOC and BOT between the OI and CT groups. Secondly, OI treatment did not increase the risk of IOC and BOT in the multiparous women, nor did it increase the risk of IOC in the nulliparous women. However, the risk of BOT appeared to be higher in nulliparous women treated with OI treatment. Thirdly, among women exposed to OI, the risk of IOC and BOT was higher in nulliparous women than in multiparous women. Fourthly, the risk of IOC did not increase with increasing OI cycles. Lastly, exposure to specific OI drugs also did not contribute to the risk of IOC and BOT. Conclusion Overall, OI treatment did not increase the risk of IOC and BOT in most women, regardless of OI drug type and OI cycle. However, nulliparous women treated with OI showed a higher risk of ovarian cancer, necessitating their rigorous monitoring and ongoing follow-up.