Frontiers in Physiology最新文献

Objective: The aim is to systematically assess the impact of resistance exercise on patients diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on resistance exercise for MASLD/NAFLD were sourced from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI databases, (covering all entries from inception to 18 March 2025. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was utilized for quality evaluation, and RevMan 5.3 software was used for conducting the meta-analysis.

Results: Eleven RCTs, involving 395 participants, were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly decreased (MD = -4.44 U/L, 95% CI = -8.84 to -0.03, Z = 1.98, P = 0.05). No significant difference was observed in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (MD = -0.18 U/L, 95% CI = -6.70 to 6.34, Z = 0.05, P = 0.96). Among the eight imaging assessment studies, seven reported substantial reductions in liver fat content, whereas one study indicated no effect. No significant difference in clinical compliance was detected between the groups (RR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.89 to 1.10, P = 0.92), and no serious adverse events were documented.

Conclusion: Resistance exercise notably enhances ALT levels and hepatic steatosis in patients with MASLD. The recommended minimum effective dosage is whole-body multi-muscle training, consisting of 8-10 exercises at 60%-80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) intensity, performed at least three times weekly for a minimum of 12 weeks. This intervention is particularly advantageous for patients with elevated ALT levels who are unable to tolerate aerobic exercise, and it appears to be safe. Nonetheless, further research involving larger sample sizes is required to confirm its long-term efficacy.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251050504, identifier CRD420251050504.

Sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease, which remains one of the leading contributors to global morbidity and mortality. Beyond inducing endothelial dysfunction, prolonged sedentary patterns trigger chronic inflammation and disrupt endogenous antioxidant defenses, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes and subsequent impairment of cardiac health. In contrast, regular physical exercise serves as an effective lifestyle intervention that mitigates sedentary-related cardiac damage and improves cardiac function. Mitochondria, as central organelles governing cellular survival and death, are thought to play a pivotal role in mediating the cardioprotective effects of exercise. However, the precise mitochondrial mechanisms underlying these benefits remain incompletely defined. This review aims to summarize current evidence on how exercise regulates mitochondrial function in the heart, with particular emphasis on recent advances linking mitochondrial respiration, dynamics, calcium homeostasis, inflammatory signaling, and oxidative stress to cardiac health. We further propose that exercise-induced improvements in mitochondrial function constitute a core mechanism underlying its cardioprotective effects. By comparing mitochondrial alterations under sedentary and exercise conditions, we provide a clearer mechanistic perspective on how lifestyle behaviors shape cardiac health. Furthermore, this paper also discusses signaling pathways that position mitochondria as key targets of exercise-induced cardiac protection.

Cervical artery dissection (CAD), a critical etiological contributor of stroke in young adults, exerts direct influence on neurological prognosis through its vascular recanalization outcomes. However, pathological heterogeneity and ongoing controversies surrounding treatment strategies hinder the optimization of clinical decision-making; its prognosis is often not favorable. At present, there are a relative paucity of studies on recanalization of CAD. This review provides a concise overview of the pathological mechanisms and clinical challenges associated with CAD, along with recent advancements in advanced imaging modalities and clinico-anatomical classification systems. Furthermore, we critically evaluate current therapeutic paradigms and factors influencing recanalization while elucidating potential biological mechanisms underlying vascular restoration. A systematic analysis of translational utility in animal models is presented. Finally, based on the latest research progress in CAD and vessel recanalization, prospects are outlined aiming to establish a theoretical foundation for developing personalized and precise therapeutic approaches targeting CAD recanalization from multidimensional perspectives, and to offer reference for subsequent research.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00420.].

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize evidence on the effects of low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT) on body composition and cardiometabolic health in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Specifically, we sought to: (1) quantify the effects of LV-HIIT versus non-exercise controls; (2) directly compare LV-HIIT with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT); (3) identify participant- and program-level moderators prespecified subgroup and meta-regression analyses, to inform time-efficient pediatric exercise prescriptions.

Methods: Six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, and EBSCO) were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials comparing LV-HIIT with either MICT or inactive controls in participants aged 7-16 years with overweight or obesity were included. Using random-effects models to calculate standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to identify potential moderators.

Results: Twelve trials involving 609 participants were included. Compared with non-exercise controls, LV-HIIT reduced BMI (SMD = -1.15, 95% CI [-1.68, -0.61]), body fat percentage (SMD = -0.84, 95% CI [-1.09, -0.59]), waist circumference (SMD = -0.62, 95% CI [-0.93, -0.32]), systolic blood pressure (SMD = -0.80, 95% CI [-1.11, -0.49]), diastolic blood pressure (SMD = -0.47, 95% CI [-0.77, -0.17]), while increasing VO₂max (SMD = 2.10, 95% CI [1.32, 2.87]). Compared with MICT, LV-HIIT showed greater improvements in BMI (SMD = -0.27, 95% CI [-0.49, -0.04]), systolic blood pressure (SMD = -0.25, 95% CI [-0.55, -0.05]), and VO₂max (SMD = 0.76, 95% CI [0.39, 1.13]), while showing comparable effectiveness in reducing body fat percentage (SMD = -0.06, 95% CI [-0.35, 0.22]) and waist circumference (SMD = -0.37, 95% CI [-0.75, 0.01]). Subgroup analyses revealed greater BMI reductions with LV-HIIT among participants who were overweight at baseline and among males. Meta-regression with baseline adiposity as a continuous moderator indicated participants with lower baseline BMI may experience greater BMI reductions after LV-HIIT.

Conclusion: LV-HIIT significantly improves body composition, cardiometabolic health, and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese children and adolescents, offering comparable or superior benefits to traditional MICT in approximately half the time.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420250655540.

Purpose: Soccer referees are exposed to high aerobic and anaerobic demands during match play, yet evidence regarding training strategies that simultaneously enhance speed and agility in this population remains limited. This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week concurrent training program on sprint and agility performance in soccer referees and to evaluate the sustainability of these effects through a follow-up assessment. To our knowledge, few intervention studies have simultaneously examined both sprint speed and agility performance in soccer referees and evaluated whether these adaptations are retained during a follow-up period. Importantly, the inclusion of a follow-up assessment provides evidence on the retention of training-induced adaptations, which has rarely been examined in referee populations under applied field-based training conditions.

Methods: Fifty male soccer referees officiating in amateur leagues were assigned to a control group (n = 25) or an experimental group (n = 25). Both groups completed standard referee training twice weekly for 12 weeks, while the experimental group additionally performed concurrent training sessions combining endurance-based interval running and strength-power exercises twice per week. Sprint and agility performance were assessed using the 100 m sprint test and the Illinois Agility Test at pre-test, post-test, and 7-week follow-up. Data were analyzed using two-way mixed repeated measures ANOVA.

Results: Significant Group × Time interaction effects were observed for both sprint and agility performance (p < 0.01) with moderate-to-large interaction effects. The experimental group demonstrated greater improvements in 100 m sprint and Illinois Agility Test performance compared with the control group following the intervention. Importantly, these performance gains were largely maintained at follow-up, indicating sustained training adaptations.

Conclusion: A 12-week concurrent training program integrated into standard referee conditioning resulted in significant and sustained improvements in speed and agility performance. These findings highlight the effectiveness of concurrent training as a multidimensional approach to enhancing physical capacities that are critical for soccer refereeing and support its practical implementation within referee training programs. These results support the integration of concurrent training into referee conditioning programs to improve movement efficiency and match positioning capacity. Practitioners may consider concurrent training as a feasible strategy to improve and maintain key physical qualities required for match positioning across competitive phases.

Background: Countermovement jump performance is the gold standard for assessing lower limb power, and even minor improvements can significantly enhance performance in sports such as basketball and volleyball. Post-activation potentiation (PAP) and post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) are key mechanisms for acute performance enhancement, but the relative efficacy of different resistance training protocols (such as squats, deadlifts, flywheel training, and leg presses) remains unclear.

Objective: To quantify and rank the acute potentiating effects of four resistance training protocols (conventional squats, flywheel squats, deadlifts, and leg presses) on countermovement jump performance through a network meta-analysis, and to explore the optimal load intensity and rest interval for the best resistance training modality.

Methods: Six major databases were searched (up to May 2025), and 51 randomized controlled trials (involving 886 athletes) were included. A network meta-analysis within a frequentist framework was conducted, with standardized mean differences (SMD) and surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) used to assess the efficacy ranking. Subgroup analyses were performed based on load intensity (≥85% 1RM for high intensity, <85% 1RM for moderate-low intensity) and rest interval (short: 0-4 min; medium: 5-7 min; long: ≥8 min).

Results: A total of 51 studies were included. Flywheel training had the highest SUCRA value (95.8%), with a significant improvement in countermovement jump performance (SMD = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.22-1.12). This was followed by deadlifts (SUCRA = 62.4%, SMD = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.22%-0.78%) and back squats (SUCRA = 57.6%, SMD = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.03%-0.48%). Leg presses may have a negative impact on countermovement jump performance (SUCRA = 9.4%, SMD = -0.36, 95% CI: 1.18%-0.45%). For flywheel training, the best results were observed with moderate intensity (SMD = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.05%-1.80%) and medium rest intervals (SMD = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.04%-1.87%).

Conclusion: Based on evidence of high quality level, Flywheel training is the best way to enhance acute countermovement jump performance. Regarding training parameters, while subgroup analyses point towards moderate intensity and 5-7 min of rest, these should be viewed as preliminary indicators due to wide confidence intervals and residual heterogeneity. While the conclusions for deadlifts and squats are based on less conclusive evidence, they are recommended as alternative options when a flywheel device is not available. If conditions do not permit, deadlifts can be considered as the next best option. However, the current evidence is insufficient to support the positive role of leg press in enhancing acute jumping ability.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious complication of end-stage diabetes that manifests as cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. The present study performed a bioinformatics analysis to predict possible targets for aerobic exercise to improve DCM, and animal experiments were conducted to detect the relevant mechanisms. Oxidative stress (OS)-DCM-trained differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were retrieved from the GeneCards database and a Gene Expression Omnibus microarray dataset. Subsequently, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed to screen the hub genes of the OS-DCM-trained DEGs. In addition, a model of type 2 diabetes was established using streptozotocin and a high-fat diet. Rats were divided into the control, DCM and DCM plus exercise (DCME) groups. The DCME group underwent 8 weeks of moderate-intensity treadmill training. Assessment of cardiac function, myocardial enzymes and OS-related indicators in each group. Compared with the control group, the levels of BNP, CK-MB, c-TnT, LDH, MDA, LVEF, LVIDd, and LVIDs in the DCM group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while SOD, GSH, and LVFS were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); The above indicators were significantly improved in DCME group rats (P < 0.05). In addition, the expression levels of target genes predicted to be associated with the aerobic exercise-induced improvement of DCM were detected and western blotting was used to determine the relevant signaling pathways. Bioinformatics analysis identified nine hub genes, which, according to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, were mainly involved in "IL-17 signaling pathway," "TNF signaling pathway," "apoptosis" and "necroptosis." Aerobic exercise improved the heart function and myocardial enzymes of the rats in the DCM group, reduced myocardial damage, and inhibited fibrosis and OS. Detection of the nine core genes revealed that only protein C (PROC) met the predicted trend; PROC expression was lower in the DCM group than that in the control group and was higher in the DCME group than that in the DCM group (P < 0.05). Further confirmation using western blotting suggested that aerobic exercise may improve DCM by activating the PROC/proteinase-activated receptor 1 (PAR1)/nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway. In conclusion, aerobic exercise may mitigate DCM by activating the PROC/PAR1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. These findings could pave the way for further investigations into how exercise might regulate OS and influences DCM progression, providing novel insights into its diagnosis and prognosis.