The effect of hormone replacement therapy and/or exercise on skeletal muscle attenuation in postmenopausal women: a yearlong intervention

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been reported to exert a positive effect on preserving muscle strength following the menopause, however, the mechanism of action remains unclear. We examined whether the mechanism involved preservation of muscle composition as determined by skeletal muscle attenuation. Eighty women aged 50-57 years were randomly assigned to either: HRT, exercise (Ex), HRT + exercise (ExHRT), and control (Co) for 1 year. The study was double-blinded with subjects receiving oestradiol and norethisterone acetate (Kliogest) or placebo. Exercise included progressive high-impact training for the lower limbs. Skeletal muscle attenuation in Hounsfield units (HU) was determined by computed tomography of the mid-thigh. Areas examined were the quadriceps compartment (includes intermuscular adipose tissue), quadriceps muscles, the posterior compartment and posterior muscles. Muscle performance was determined by knee extensor strength, vertical jump height, and running speed over 20 m. Fifty-one women completed the intervention. Vertical jump height and running speed improved in the HRT and ExHRT groups compared with Co (interaction, P < 0.01). For both the quadriceps compartment and quadriceps muscles, HU significantly increased (interaction, P <= 0.005) for HRT, Ex, and ExHRT compared with Co. For the posterior compartment, HU for the HRT and ExHRT were significantly increased compared with Co, while for posterior muscles, ExHRT was significantly greater than Co. Although the effects were modest, the results indicate that HRT, either alone or combined with exercise, may play a role in preserving/improving skeletal muscle attenuation in early postmenopausal women and thereby exert a positive effect on muscle performance.

Muscle fiber conduction velocity of the upper trapezius muscle during dynamic contraction of the upper limb in patients with chronic neck pain

The purpose of this study was to compare average muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) and its changes over time in the upper trapezius muscle during a repetitive upper limb task in people with chronic neck pain and in healthy controls. Surface EMG signals were detected bilaterally from the upper trapezius muscle of 19 patients and nine healthy controls using linear adhesive arrays of four electrodes. Subjects were asked to tap their hands in a cyclic manner between targets positioned mid-thigh and 120 degrees of shoulder flexion, to the beat of a metronome set at 88 beats/min for up to 5 min. Muscle fiber CV and instantaneous mean power spectral frequency were estimated for each cycle at the time instant corresponding to 90 degrees of shoulder flexion. Average muscle fiber CV of the upper trapezius muscle was higher in people with chronic neck pain (mean +/- SE, 4.8 +/- 0.1 m/s) than in control subjects (4.4 +/- 0.1 m/s; P

Transient temperature rise in a mouse due to low-frequency regional hyperthermia

A refined nonlinear heat transfer model of a mouse has been developed to simulate the transient temperature rise in a neoplastic tumour and neighbouring tissue during regional hyperthermia using a 150 kHz inductive coil. In this study, we incorporate various bio-energetic enhancements to the heat transfer equation and numerical validations based on experimental findings for the mouse, in terms of nonlinear metabolic heat production, homeothermy, blood perfusion parameters, thermoregulation, psychological and physiological effects. The discretized bio-heat transfer equation has been validated with the commercial software FEMLAB on a canonical multi-sphere object before applying the scheme to the inhomogeneous mouse voxel phantom. The time-dependent numerical results of regional hyperthermia of mouse thigh have been compared with the available experimental temperature results with only a few small disparities. During the first 20 min of local unfocused heating, the temperature in the tumour and the surrounding tissue increased by around 7.5 degrees C. The objective of this preliminary study was to develop a validated electrothermal numerical scheme for inductive hyperthermia of a small mammal with the intention of expanding the model into a complete numerical solution involving ferromagnetic nanoparticles for targeted heating of tumours at low frequencies. In addition, the numerical scheme herein could assist in optimizing and tailoring of focused electromagnetic fields for hyperthermia.

Effects of early intensive postoperative physiotherapy on limb function after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs with deficiency of the cranial cruciate ligament

Objective-To determine effects of early intensive postoperative physiotherapy on limb function in dogs after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for deficiency of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). Animals-8 adult dogs with CCL deficiency. Procedure-After TPLO, dogs underwent a physiotherapy program 3 times/wk (physiotherapy group; n = 4) or a walking program (home-exercise group; 4). All dogs were evaluated before surgery, 1 and 10 days after surgery, and 3 and 6 weeks after surgery. Thigh circumference (TC), stifle joint flexion and extension range of motion (ROM), lameness, and weight-bearing scores were recorded. Results-Before surgery, CCL-deficient limbs had significantly reduced TC and reduced flexion and extension ROMs, compared with values for the contralateral control limb. Six weeks after TPLO, the physiotherapy group had significantly larger TC than the home-exercise group, with the difference no longer evident between the affected and nonaffected limbs. Extension and flexion ROMs were significantly greater in the physiotherapy group, compared with values for the home-exercise group, 3 and 6 weeks after surgery. Six weeks after surgery, the difference in flexion and extension ROMs was no longer evident between the affected and nonaffected limbs in the physiotherapy group. Both groups had improvements for lameness and weight-bearing scores over time, but no difference was found between the 2 groups. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-After TPLO in CCL-deficient dogs, early physiotherapy intervention should be considered as part of the postoperative management to prevent muscle atrophy, build muscle mass and strength, and increase stifle joint flexion and extension ROMs.

Low dietary protein during early pregnancy alters bovine placental development

To determine if low dietary protein concentration in the first two trimesters of pregnancy alters placental development, genetically similar heifers from closed herd were fed diets containing different levels of protein in the first and second trimesters of gestation. There were four animals per treatment group, the groups being: L/L = fed a diet containing 7% crude protein (CP) (low protein) in the first and second trimesters; H/H = fed a diet containing 14% (P thigh protein) in the first and second trimesters; L/H = fed low protein in the first trimester and high in the second trimester and vice versa for the H/L group. Low protein diets in the first trimester increased dry cotyledon weight at term. Trophectoderm volume density increased in the H/L and L/H group compared to the L/L and H/H groups. Blood vessel volume and volume density in foetal villi decreased in the H/L and L/H groups compared with the H/H and L/L groups. There was no effect of diet treatment on cotyledon number, diameter or wet weight and no effect on the volume density of connective tissue or fibroblasts in the foetal villi. These results show that a low dietary protein concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy followed by increased protein in the second trimester enhanced placental development. Further, trophectoderm volume was highly correlated with birth weight. Early protein restriction in the pregnant cow may enhance foetal growth in part by stimulating placental growth and function. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Caldo de cana desidratado na ração de codornas de corte

In order to evaluate the effect of levels of dehydrated cane juice sugar (DCJS) (0.0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5%) in the diet of European quail (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) on performance on performance, carcass characteristics and economical at 22 days of age indices, 192 quails cutting, were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replicates of eight birds each There was no significant difference to the performance of quail in any of the periods. Quadratic effects of levels of DCJS on carcass weight (y = 173.71 + 4.2767x – 1.2644x², R² = 0.99), thigh-thigh more about (y = 36,055 + 1,1263x – 0,2256x², R² = 0.91) and abdominal fat (y = 3,3295 - + 0.8903x 0,19x2, R ² = 0,97) where the optimum levels were estimated 1,69; 2.50 and 2.34%, respectively. There was a linear effect descending of DCJS levels on weight breast with skin (y = 66.267 – 0.5653x, R² = 0.83) and without skin (y = 60.286 – 0.7193x, R² = 0.58). In economic analysis, one can observe higher profit to the producer with the use of conventional feed. However, between the levels of inclusion of sugar cane juice is observed that the level of 1.5% DCJS obtained the best results in economic analysis, obtaining only a difference of relative gross margin of 0.47% compared to conventional. It is recommended 1.69 and 2.50% DCJS for higher carcass, thigh + drumstick weight and lower percentage of abdominal fat quails, respectively.

Step-count accuracy of three motion sensors for older and frail medical inpatients

Objectives: To measure the step-count accuracy of an ankle-worn accelerometer, a thigh-worn accelerometer and one pedometer in older and frail inpatients. Design: Cross-sectional design study. Setting: Research room within a hospital. Participants: Convenience sample of inpatients aged ≥65 years, able to walk 20 metres unassisted, with or without a walking-aid. Intervention: Patients completed a 40-minute programme of predetermined tasks while wearing the three motion sensors simultaneously. Video-recording of the procedure provided the criterion measurement of step-count. Main Outcome Measures: Mean percentage (%) errors were calculated for all tasks, slow versus fast walkers, independent versus walking-aid-users, and over shorter versus longer distances. The Intra-class Correlation was calculated and accuracy was visually displayed by Bland-Altman plots. Results: Thirty-two patients (78.1 ±7.8 years) completed the study. Fifteen were female and 17 used walking-aids. Their median speed was 0.46 m/sec (interquartile range, IQR 0.36-0.66). The ankle-worn accelerometer overestimated steps (median 1% error, IQR -3 to 13). The other motion sensors underestimated steps (40% error (IQR -51 to -35) and 38% (IQR -93 to -27), respectively). The ankle-worn accelerometer proved more accurate over longer distances (3% error, IQR 0 to 9), than shorter distances (10%, IQR -23 to 9). Conclusions: The ankle-worn accelerometer gave the most accurate step-count measurement and was most accurate over longer distances. Neither of the other motion sensors had acceptable margins of error.

Feasibility of MR-Based Body Composition Analysis in Large Scale Population Studies

Introduction Quantitative and accurate measurements of fat and muscle in the body are important for prevention and diagnosis of diseases related to obesity and muscle degeneration. Manually segmenting muscle and fat compartments in MR body-images is laborious and time-consuming, hindering implementation in large cohorts. In the present study, the feasibility and success-rate of a Dixon-based MR scan followed by an intensity-normalised, non-rigid, multi-atlas based segmentation was investigated in a cohort of 3,000 subjects. Materials and Methods 3,000 participants in the in-depth phenotyping arm of the UK Biobank imaging study underwent a comprehensive MR examination. All subjects were scanned using a 1.5 T MR-scanner with the dual-echo Dixon Vibe protocol, covering neck to knees. Subjects were scanned with six slabs in supine position, without localizer. Automated body composition analysis was performed using the AMRA Profiler™ system, to segment and quantify visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT) and thigh muscles. Technical quality assurance was performed and a standard set of acceptance/rejection criteria was established. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all volume measurements and quality assurance metrics. Results Of the 3,000 subjects, 2,995 (99.83%) were analysable for body fat, 2,828 (94.27%) were analysable when body fat and one thigh was included, and 2,775 (92.50%) were fully analysable for body fat and both thigh muscles. Reasons for not being able to analyse datasets were mainly due to missing slabs in the acquisition, or patient positioned so that large parts of the volume was outside of the field-of-view. Discussion and Conclusions In conclusion, this study showed that the rapid UK Biobank MR-protocol was well tolerated by most subjects and sufficiently robust to achieve very high success-rate for body composition analysis. This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource.

Inverse Association Between Gluteofemoral Obesity and Risk of Barrett's Esophagus in a Pooled Analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gluteofemoral obesity (determined by measurement of subcutaneous fat in hip and thigh regions) could reduce risks of cardiovascular and diabetic disorders associated with abdominal obesity. We evaluated whether gluteofemoral obesity also reduces risk of Barrett's esophagus (BE), a premalignant lesion associated with abdominal obesity.

METHODS: We collected data from non-Hispanic white participants in 8 studies in the Barrett's and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Consortium. We compared measures of hip circumference (as a proxy for gluteofemoral obesity) from cases of BE (n=1559) separately with 2 control groups: 2557 population-based controls and 2064 individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD controls). Study-specific odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using individual participant data and multivariable logistic regression and combined using random effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS: We found an inverse relationship between hip circumference and BE (OR per 5 cm increase, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.81-0.96), compared with population-based controls in a multivariable model that included waist circumference. This association was not observed in models that did not include waist circumference. Similar results were observed in analyses stratified by frequency of GERD symptoms. The inverse association with hip circumference was only statistically significant among men (vs population-based controls: OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.96 for men; OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.74-1.16 for women). For men, within each category of waist circumference, a larger hip circumference was associated with decreased risk of BE. Increasing waist circumference was associated with increased risk of BE in the mutually adjusted population-based and GERD control models.

CONCLUSIONS: Although abdominal obesity is associated with increased risk of BE, there is an inverse association between gluteofemoral obesity and BE, particularly among men.

Mobilisation des dépôts ectopiques de tissu adipeux : ses implications dans la résolution des comorbidités associées à l'obésité sévère suivant une chirurgie bariatrique

La prévalence de l’obésité sévère ne cesse d’augmenter. La problématique associée à l’obésité sévère est la présence possible de nombreuses comorbidités qui peuvent coexister et altérer le système cardiovasculaire, pulmonaire, endocrinien, articulaire et même favoriser le développement de certains cancers. L’excès de poids, plus particulièrement l’excès de tissu adipeux, sont tous deux liés au développement de ces comorbidités. Aucune donnée n’est disponible quant au rôle de la déposition ectopique du tissu adipeux. Considérant le caractère morbide de l’obésité sévère, la mortalité de toute cause augmentée et l’espérance de vie réduite, à ce jour le seul traitement dit efficace à long terme pour le traitement de l’obésité sévère est la chirurgie bariatrique. L’efficacité est définie par la perte de poids, le maintien à long terme de cette perte de poids ainsi que par l’amélioration ou la résolution des comorbidités. L’intérêt clinique et scientifique pour la chirurgie bariatrique est grandissant. Un nombre important d’études s’intéresse aux mécanismes sous-jacents de la résolution des comorbidités. Le diabète de type 2 est la comorbidité la plus étudiée et peu d’études se sont intéressées aux déterm meil.inants de la résolution de l’hypertension artérielle et de l’apnée obstructive du som Comme premier objectif, cette thèse visait à caractériser les différences de la composition corporelle et de la distribution du tissu adipeux de patients obèses sévères avec ou sans diagnostic de diabète de type 2, d’hypertension artérielle et d’apnée obstructive du sommeil. Le deuxième objectif de cette thèse visait à comparer l’évolution postopératoire suite à une chirurgie bariatrique sur les changements de la composition corporelle et de la distribution du tissu adipeux selon le statut de résolution du diabète de type 2, de l’hypertension artérielle et de l’apnée obstructive du sommeil. De plus, considérant le peu d’évidences dans la littérature au sujet des déterminants de la résolution de l’hypertension artérielle et de l’apnée obstructive du sommeil, l’évaluation du profil inflammatoire, des adipokines et de l’activité du système nerveux autonome ont aussi été caractérisés. Premièrement, nous avons documenté qu’en présence d’obésité sévère, la déposition ectopique du tissu adipeux était plus importante chez les patients avec un diabète de type 2, une hypertension artérielle et une apnée obstructive du sommeil comparativement à ceux n’ayant pas ces comorbidités. Nous avons par la suite montré que la résolution du diabète de type 2 et de l’hypertension artérielle était caractérisée par une réduction plus importante du tissu adipeux viscéral. Au contraire, la résolution de l’apnée obstructive du sommeil était plutôt caractérisée par une réduction plus importante du tissu adipeux sous-cutané à la mi-cuisse et par une tendance à une perte de poids plus élevée. De plus, nous avons observé que chez les patients qui n’avaient pas résolu leur diabète de type 2, leur hypertension artérielle et leur apnée obstructive du sommeil, la quantité de tissu adipeux viscéral, à 12 mois suivant la chirurgie bariatrique, était plus importante comparativement à celle mesurée chez les patients n’ayant pas résolu ces comorbidités. Spécifiquement à l’évaluation du profil inflammatoire et des adipokines, nous avons observé que chez les patients obèses sévères, la présence de l’hypertension artérielle et de l’apnée obstructive du sommeil n’était pas caractérisée par un profil altéré au niveau des marqueurs inflammatoires et des adipokines. Également, nous n’avons pas observé de changements majeurs qui pouvaient expliquer, en partie, la résolution de l’hypertension artérielle et de l’apnée obstructive du sommeil. Quant à l’activité du système nerveux autonome, nous avons observé une faible activité du système nerveux parasympathique chez les patients obèses sévères avec hypertension artérielle et apnée obstructive du sommeil. Nous avons également documenté que la résolution de l’hypertension artérielle et de l’apnée obstructive du sommeil était associée à une tendance à une augmentation plus importante de l’activité parasympathique du système nerveux autonome. Les résultats obtenus au cours de ce doctorat supportent l’importance de la déposition ectopique du tissu adipeux en situation d’obésité sévère, particulièrement le rôle du tissu adipeux viscéral, dans le développement du diabète de type 2, de l’hypertension artérielle et de l’apnée obstructive du sommeil ainsi que dans la résolution de ces comorbidités suivant une chirurgie bariatrique. D’autres recherches devront davantage s’intéresser à la mobilisation des dépôts ectopiques de tissu adipeux comme un déterminant important dans la résolution à plus long terme de ces comorbidités.

Anthropometric indicators of nutritional status and growth in very low birth-weight premature infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit

Background: Anthropometric indicators are difficult to interpret in very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants, including both appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Therefore, the purpose was to describe the anthropometric indicators of growth and nutritional status in VLBW premature infants AGA and SGA, hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Study design: The descriptive and prospective study design included 114 preterm infants, adequate for gestational age/small for gestational age hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Head, thigh, mid upper arm circumference, skin-fold measurements and weight/age, length/ age, and weight/length indices were obtained. Correlations were made among the anthropometric indices, and a multivariate regression analysis with weight/age as dependent variable was performed. Results: Weight/age in AGA premature infants had high number of significant anthropometric correlations. The SGA premature infants had few and weak correlations. The regression analysis showed that anthropometric indices better explain changes in the weight/age index in adequate for gestational age premature infants. Conclusion: Weight/age in the VLBW/AGA premature infants could reflect growth, nutritional status and energy stored as fat, but in the VLBW/SGA premature infants, thigh circumference and mid arm circumference would be better indicators just of nutritional status.

Effects of various salt purity levels on lipid oxidation and sensory characteristics of ground turkey and pork

Salt use in meat products is changing. Consumers desire sea salt which may also contain trace metals and the government is demanding a reduction in sodium. Therefore a need exists to understand how varying impurity levels in salt affect meat quality. This study evaluated the effects of various salt preparations on lipid oxidation, sensory characteristics, protein extractability, and bind strength of ground turkey and pork. This study was a completely randomized design with 5 treatment groups and 6 replications in 2 species. Ground, turkey and pork meat was formulated into one hundred and fifty gram patties with sodium chloride (1%) containing varying amounts of metal impurities (copper, iron, and manganese). Samples were randomly assigned to frozen storage periods of 0, 3, 6, and 9 weeks. After storage, samples were packaged in PVC overwrap and stored under retail display for 5 days. Samples were evaluated for proximate analysis to ensure the fat content was similar for all of the starting material.Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined on raw and cooked samples to evaluate lipid oxidation. A trained six member sensory panel evaluated the samples at each storage period for saltiness, off flavor, and oxidized odor. Break strength was conducted using a Texture Analyzer and compared with salt soluble proteins (increasing salt concentrations) to evaluate protein extractability characteristics. Statistical analyses were conducted using the MIXED procedure of SAS within repeated measures over time where appropriate. No significant differences were observed among the salt treatments for raw and cooked TBARS when the control group was removed (P>0.05). Sensory panelists detected increased levels of off flavor and oxidized odor over the entire storage duration. Less force was required to break the patties from the control group when compared with the salt treatments (P<0.05). As salt concentration increased salt-soluble protein extraction increased, but there was no effect of salt type. Overall, no meaningful statistical differences among the various salt treatments were observed for all of the parameters evaluated for turkey and pork. Salt at a 1% inclusion rate containing varying levels of copper, iron, and manganese impurities in ground turkey thigh meat and ground pork served as a prooxidant. However, if a meat processor uses a 1% inclusion rate of salt in turkey and pork regardless of impurities included, it is unlikely that differences in shelf life or protein functionality would be observed.

Tradução e validação do questionário de Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center para lesões causadas pelo esforço-sobrecarga e a sua aplicação, numa equipa portuguesa de atletismo

Introdução: No atletismo existe uma prevalência de lesões e sintomas de sobrecarga, havendo a possibilidade de monitorizar o início e a evolução das mesmas. Objetivos: Traduzir, validar e aplicar o Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire (OSTRC-O) a atletas de atletismo. Metodologia: O questionário OSTRC-O foi traduzido para português e aplicado por e-mail semanalmente (durante 7 semanas) a um grupo de atletas (n=23), verificando em que medida o esforço/sobrecarga a que estão sujeitos em duas regiões anatómicas específicas (anca e coxa) poderá afectar o seu rendimento e/ou mesmo ser alvo de lesão desportiva. Resultados/Discussão: A prevalência média de lesões de sobrecarga para todos os atletas, em qualquer área anatómica foi de 44,0% (95% IC 35-53). A prevalência média de lesões de sobrecarga substanciais, problemas que causam moderada/severa redução no volume de treino ou performance desportiva ou, completa incapacidade de participar em treino ou competição foi de 13,7% (95% IC 7-19). Não obstante os sintomas de sobrecarga serem prevalentes nas duas áreas, a prevalência semanal de problemas de sobrecarga foi maior na coxa (40%) do que na anca (15%) Conclusões: O OSTRC-O permitirá basear-nos na limitação da funcionalidade e não no tempo de paragem dos atletas, oferecendo a possibilidade de um controlo semanal mais real. Neste estudo sobre atletismo a prevalência média semanal de lesões de sobrecarga na coxa (40%) foi maior do que a prevalência semanal de lesões de sobrecarga na anca (15%).

Efeito de diferentes tempos de alongamento na flexibilidade da musculatura posterior da coxa

Projeto de Graduação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Licenciada em Fisioterapia

Avaliação da atividade muscular do vasto medial oblíquo em diferentes exercícios

Projeto de Graduação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Licenciado em Fisioterapia