Endurance training may improve exercise capacity, lung function and quality of life in Fontan patients.

Children born with univentricular hearts undergo staged surgical procedures to a Fontan circulation. Long-term experience with Fontan palliation has shown dramatically improved survival but also of a life-long burden of an abnormal circulation with significant morbidity. Many Fontan patients have reduced exercise capacity, oxygen uptake, lung function and quality of life.

Fontan circulation has improved life expectancy for infants born with complex heart disease over the last 50 years but has also resulted in significant morbidity.

The prognosis for infants born with complex heart disease improved dramatically with the introduction of the Fontan circulation 50 years ago. With today's carefully designed and staged operations to a Fontan circulation, life expectancy has increased and most children will survive into adult life. The Fontan circulation entails an unphysiological circulation with high risk for multiple organ system dysfunction.

Appropriate heart rate during exercise in Fontan patients.

Objective: To evaluate heart rate against workload and oxygen consumption during exercise in Fontan patients.

Method: Fontan patients (n = 27) and healthy controls (n = 25) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing with linear increase of load. Heart rate and oxygen uptake were measured during tests.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of discogenic cells, an investigational cell therapy for disc degeneration.

Background/context: Disc degeneration (DD) is a significant driver of low back pain and few treatments exist to treat the pain and disability associated with the disease.

Purpose: Our group has developed a method to generate therapeutic discogenic cells as a potential treatment for symptomatic DD. These cells are derived and modified from adult nucleus pulposus cells.

Physical exercise may improve sleep quality in children and adolescents with Fontan circulation.

Objective: To study physical activity and sleep in Fontan patients and healthy controls before and after an endurance training program, and after 1 year.

Method: Fontan patients (n = 30) and healthy controls (n = 25) wore accelerometers for seven consecutive days and nights during a school week before and after a 12-week endurance training program and after 1 year.

Results: Patients had similar sleep duration and sleep efficiency as healthy controls.