Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning on Acute Recovery in Elite Judo Athletes: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Crossover Trial

PURPOSE

The ischemic preconditioning (IPC) method has been shown to aid the recovery processes; however, no studies have been done to assess its acute recovery use in judo. This study aimed to examine IPC of lower limbs effects on recovery after a judo-specific performance in highly trained male judokas and its applicability during a competition day.

METHODS

A single-blind, placebo-randomized crossover study was carried out on a sample of 13 elite male judo athletes. They undertook measurements of body composition, judo-specific task (Special Judo Fitness Test), jump performance, handgrip strength, lactate, blood pressure, perceived exertion, and delayed-onset muscle soreness. IPC was applied on the legs and inflated 50 mm Hg above the systolic blood pressure for 5 minutes and repeated 3 times for each leg, with 5 minutes of reperfusion. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measurements was used to determine changes between interventions and measurement times. Paired-sample t test and 1-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to determine the difference among measurement times. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.

RESULTS

The IPC intervention resulted in (1) decreased heart rate at 30 and 60 minutes during recovery (P = .002; P = .001), (2) better countermovement jump performance at 60 minutes (P = .05), (3) lower perceived-muscle-soreness scores (P = .006), and (4) maintained handgrip strength compared with placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study revealed that IPC applied to judo athletes following judo-specific exercise resulted in better cardiovascular and neuromuscular recovery and could be a useful tool to enhance recovery during judo competition breaks between preliminaries and final block.

Direct Ischemic Postconditioning After Carotid Endarterectomy in the Prevention of Postoperative Cerebral Ischemic Complications—Observational Case–Control Study

Introduction:

Ischemic postconditioning (IPCT) represents one of the several therapeutic strategies to attenuate ischemic reperfusion injury (IR) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). We here present the first in-human study of IPCT in carotid surgery.

Methods:

The study represents an observational case-control study, with the data collected in our Institution carotid database. From December 2015 to December 2020, a total of 300 patients were included in our study; IPCT group consisted of 148 patients in whom ischemic postconditioning was performed while control group consisted of 152 patients in whom IPCT was not performed. Indications for IPCT technique were: severe unilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (>90%), severe bilateral ICA stenosis (>80%), severe ICA stenosis (>80%) with contralateral ICA occlusion and ICA subocclusion. IPCT was performed by applying 6 cycles of 30 sec reperfusion (declamping of ICA)/30 sec ischemia (clamping of ICA) after finishing the procedure and initial declamping. Two groups of patients were compared in terms of occurrence of intrahospital and early postoperative stroke, TIA (transient ischemic attack) and neurologic morbidity.

Results:

Cumulative incidence of intrahospital postoperative stroke or TIA was significantly higher in the control group (5.3% vs 0.7%, P = .036). According to carotid plaque characteristics, patients in the IPCT group had significantly more frequent presence of heterogenous plaque, as well as ulcerated plaque, which was associated with the absence of postoperative stroke and significantly lower cumulative rate of TIA/stroke when compared to the control group (43.9% vs 8% and 47.3% vs 1.5%). During the follow-up period of 1 month after the surgery, there were no cases of stroke, TIA and deaths due to neurological causes in both groups of patients.

Conclusion:

Our results showed that IPCT significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative cerebral ischemic complications after CEA in high-risk patients for IR injury when compared to the control group.

Therapeutic Potential of Remote Ischemic Conditioning in Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a heterogeneous disease caused by a variety of cerebrovascular diseases. Patients with VCI often present with slower cognitive processing speed and poor executive function, which affects their independence in daily life, thus increasing social burden. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a non-invasive and efficient intervention that triggers endogenous protective mechanisms to generate neuroprotection. Over the past decades, evidence from basic and clinical research has shown that RIC is promising for the treatment of VCI. To further our understanding of RIC and improve the management of VCI, we summarize the evidence on the therapeutic potential of RIC in relation to the risk factors and pathobiologies of VCI, including reducing the risk of recurrent stroke, decreasing high blood pressure, improving cerebral blood flow, restoring white matter integrity, protecting the neurovascular unit, attenuating oxidative stress, and inhibiting the inflammatory response.

Remote ischemic conditioning for acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19

Acute respiratory distress syndrome and subsequent respiratory failure remains the leading cause of death (>80%) in patients severely impacted by COVID-19. The lack of clinically effective therapies for COVID-19 calls for the consideration of novel adjunct therapeutic approaches. Though novel antiviral treatments and vaccination hold promise in control and prevention of early disease, it is noteworthy that in severe cases of COVID-19, addressing "run-away" inflammatory cascades are likely more relevant for improvement of clinical outcomes. Viral loads may decrease in severe, end-stage coronavirus cases, but a systemically damaging cytokine storm persists and mediates multiple organ injury. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) of the limbs has shown potential in recent years to protect the lungs and other organs against pathological conditions similar to that observed in COVID-19. We review the efficacy of RIC in protecting the lungs against acute injury and current points of consideration. The beneficial effects of RIC on lung injury along with other related cardiovascular complications are discussed, as are the limitations presented by sex and aging. This adjunct therapy is highly feasible, noninvasive, and proven to be safe in clinical conditions. If proven effective in clinical trials for acute respiratory distress syndrome and COVID-19, application in the clinical setting could be immediately implemented to improve outcomes.

Effect of remote ischaemic conditioning on platelet reactivity and endogenous fibrinolysis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a substudy of the CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI randomized controlled trial

AIMS

Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) has been shown to reduce myocardial infarct size in animal models of myocardial infarction. Platelet thrombus formation is a critical determinant of outcome in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Whether the beneficial effects of RIC are related to thrombotic parameters is unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a substudy of the Effect of Remote Ischaemic Conditioning on clinical outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (ERIC-PPCI) trial, we assessed the effect of RIC on thrombotic status. Patients presenting with STEMI were randomized to immediate RIC consisting of an automated autoRIC™ cuff on the upper arm inflated to 200 mmHg for 5 min and deflated for 5 min for four cycles (n = 53) or sham (n = 47). Venous blood was tested at presentation, discharge (48 h) and 6-8 weeks, to assess platelet reactivity, coagulation, and endogenous fibrinolysis using the Global Thrombosis Test and thromboelastography. Baseline thrombotic status was similar in the two groups. At discharge, there was some evidence that the time to in vitro thrombotic occlusion under high shear stress was longer with RIC compared to sham (454 ± 105 s vs. 403 ± 105 s; mean difference 50.1 s; 95% confidence interval 93.7-6.4, P = 0.025), but this was no longer apparent at 6-8 weeks. There was no difference in clot formation or endogenous fibrinolysis between the study arms at any time point.

CONCLUSION

RIC may reduce platelet reactivity in the first 48 h post-STEMI. Further research is needed to delineate mechanisms through which RIC may reduce platelet reactivity, and whether it may improve outcomes in patients with persistent high on-treatment platelet reactivity.

Effect of remote ischaemic conditioning on coagulation function as measured by whole blood impedance aggregometry and rotational thromboelastometry in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: A randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) has been shown to prevent platelet activation during ablation for atrial fibrillation. RIC has also been associated with more postoperative transfusion in the off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB) patients. We evaluated the effects of RIC on coagulation function in OPCAB patients.

METHODS

A total of 58 patients undergoing OPCAB were randomised to the RIC or control group. In the RIC group, four cycles of 5 min of ischaemia and 5 min of reperfusion were applied twice to the upper arm after the induction of anaesthesia (preconditioning), and after the completion of coronary anastomoses (postconditioning). Whole blood impedance aggregometry (Multiplate®) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) were performed before the induction of anaesthesia, at the end of surgery, and at postoperative day 1.

RESULTS

The trend towards a decrease in adenosine diphosphate-induced whole blood aggregation at the end of surgery was greater in the RIC group than in the control group, but this effect was not statistically significant (-10.4 [18.1] vs. -5.7 [24.8] U, P = 0.424). In ROTEM® analysis, the EXTEM area under the velocity curve was lower in the RIC group than in the control group at the end of surgery (3567 [1399-5794] vs. 5693 [4718-6179] mm∗100, respectively; P = 0.030). A tendency of larger perioperative blood loss was identified in the RIC group.

CONCLUSIONS

Although some parameters indicated a tendency for hypocoagulation in the RIC group at the end of surgery, most effects were not statistically significant. RIC does not significantly affect perioperative platelet aggregability and coagulation in patients undergoing OPCAB.