High-Intensity Interval Training in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background & Aim: Individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) have reduced cardiorespiratory fitness which is associated with poor prognosis and quality of life. Evidence shows that exercise is effective in the management of adults with CHD. However, uncertainties remain about the safety and efficacy of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in these patients.

Comment on: "exercise training and cardiac autonomic function following coronary artery bypass grafting: a systematic review and meta-analysis".

Background: Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with poor prognosis in individuals with coronary artery disease and after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Thus, we comment about a meta-analysis that adds important information about the effect of exercise training on cardiac autonomic function in individuals following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Main Body: The study by Kushwaha et al.

Vestibular function in severe GH deficiency due to an inactivating mutation in the GH-releasing hormone receptor gene.

Purpose: Body balance involves the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems. IGF-I is a GH-dependent key factor in the development and postnatal differentiation of the inner ear in mice and men, but its role in the vestibular function in adult humans is unknown. We have previously described a cohort of individuals with severe isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) caused by a mutation in the GHRH receptor (GHRHR) gene.

Walking and postural balance in adults with severe short stature due to isolated GH deficiency.

Objectives: Walking and postural balance are extremely important to obtain food and to work. Both are critical for quality of life and ability to survive. While walking reflects musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary systems, postural balance depends on body size, muscle tone, visual, vestibular and nervous systems.

Adult individuals with congenital, untreated, severe isolated growth hormone deficiency have satisfactory muscular function.

Purpose: While growth hormone (GH) and the insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I) are known to exert synergistic actions on muscle anabolism, the consequences of prolonged GH deficiency (GHD) on muscle function have not been well defined. We have previously described a large cohort of subjects with isolated GHD (IGHD) caused by a mutation in the GH-releasing hormone receptor gene, with low serum levels of GH and IGF-I. The aim of this study was to assess muscular function in these IGHD subjects.