Physical activity and postural control in the elderly: Coupling between visual information and body sway

Background: Aging is characterized by a decline in the postural control performance, which is based on a coherent and stable coupling between sensory information and motor action. Therefore, changes in postural control in elderlies can be related to changes in this coupling. In addition, it has been observed that physical activity seems to improve postural control performance in elderlies. These improvements can be due to changes in the coupling between sensory information and motor action related to postural control. Objective: the purpose of this study was to verify the coupling between visual information and body sway in active and sedentary elderlies. Methods: Sixteen sedentary elderlies ( SE), 16 active elderlies ( AE) and 16 young adults ( YA) were asked to stand upright inside a moving room in two experimental conditions: ( 1) discrete movement and ( 2) continuous movement of the room. Results: In the continuous condition, the results showed that the coupling between the movement of the room and body sway was stronger and more stable for SE and AE compared to YA. In the discrete condition, SE showed larger body displacement compared to AE and YA. Conclusions: SE have more difficulty to discriminate and to integrate sensory information than AE and YA indicating that physical activity may improve sensory integration. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

INFLUENCE OF DIETARY-PROTEIN INTAKE AND RECOMBINANT HUMAN SOMATOTROPIN ADMINISTRATION ON GROWTH AND BODY-COMPOSITION OF JUVENILE TAMBACU (A PIARACTUS-MESOPOTAMICUS X COLOSSOMA-MACROPOMUM CROSS)

This experiment was undertaken to study the interaction between level of dietary protein and recombinant human somatotropin (rhGH) administration on performance and body composition of juvenile tambacu (a crossbred Brazilian fish). A total of 72 juvenile tambacu, initially weighing and measuring (mean +/- s.e.m.) 23 +/- 2 g and 9 +/- 0.5 cm, respectively, were randomly divided into 18 groups of 4 fish each. Water temperature was 28 degrees C. Triplicate groups received one of two levels of dietary protein (15 and 30% as fed basis) and one of 3 doses of rhGH (0, 2 and 4 mu g/g) via intraperitoneal injection twice a week for 6 weeks, using a randomized complete block design. Somatotropin was noted to stimulate linear and body weight gain. The higher protein level supported increased growth in weight and length, but there was no interaction between protein level and rhGH dose for either parameter. Protein efficiency ratio and percentage protein deposited showed higher values on diets containing 15% protein. Somatotropin treatment did not significantly affect body composition, but there was a trend towards improved protein retention and reduced carcass lipid. In conclusion, the results of this experiment suggest that rhGH is able to stimulate linear gain in tambacu.

Uroflow studies in children: Correlation with age, weight and body surface area.

Peak flow rate data (Q(max)) are important for diagnosis of lower urinary tract obstruction. However, the lack of uroflowmetry studies in children, makes their interpretation difficult. With this aim, we studied 167 boys classified in four groups according to their age (G1 : n = 48, 6-7 years; G2 : n = 43, 8-9 years; G3 : n = 37, 10-11 years; G4: n = 39, 12-14 years). We studied in all children, weight, height, body surface area, peak flow rate (Q(max) and the correspondant urinary volume (Vol). Means and standard deviations of Q(max) (ml/sec) were : 15 +/- 5 (G1), 15 +/- 5 (G2), 17 +/- 5 (G3) and 22 +/- 7 (G4) respectively. Corresponding urinary volumes (Vol) (mean standard deviation - in ml) were : G1 = 123 +/- 75; G2 = 122 +/- 79; G3 = 158 +/- 96 and G4 = 162 +/- 101. We found a significant correlation (p < 0,01) between Q(max) and Vol in groups G2, G3 and G4; and between Q(max) and height in groups G1 and G4.The authors demonstrated a positive correlation between maximum flow and voided volume, and an increase of Q(max) with age.

Effect of chronic treatment with Clomipramine on food intake, macronutrient selection and body weight gain in rats

Long-term treatment with clomipramine (CMI), a tricyclic antidepressant, induces food craving and body weight gain in patients. The present study investigated the effects of chronic treatment with CMI on total food intake, macronutrient selection, and body weight gain in rats. Male Wistar rats were maintained on a dietary self-selection regime with separate sources of protein, fat and carbohydrate. Animals received i.p. injections of CMI (0, 3, 10, 30 mg/kg) during 27 consecutive days. Food consumption and body weight were recorded daily and results were calculated as average of three consecutive days, namely during pre-treatment (3 d before pharmacological treatment), treatment (7th-9th; l6th-l8th and 25th-27th days), and post-treatment (28th-33rd days). Results showed that CMI (30 mg/kg) significantly decreased energy intake during all treatment period, an effect that was related to a decrease in both carbohydrate-rich diet intake and body weight gain. At dose of 3 mg/kg CMI increased the total energy intake in the 16th-18th days, suggesting an apparent biphasic effect of chronic treatment with CMI on caloric intake. Chronic administration with CMI (27 d) did not alter protein-rich or fat-rich diet consumption. The main result of this study indicated that chronic treatment with CMI decreases rather than increase food consumption and body weight gain in rats exposed to a macronutrient self-selection procedure.

Commissural nucleus of the solitary tract lesions reduce food intake and body weight gain in rats

This study investigated the effects of an electrolytic lesion of the commissural subnucleus of the nucleus of the solitary tract (commNTS) on bodyweight, daily food and water intake, and plasma glucose and insulin in rats. In the first 6 days following brain surgery, commNTS lesioned rats reduced daily food intake by 80% compared to rats with sham lesions. After this period rats with lesions of commNTS started recovering food intake, but intake remained significantly reduced until the 12th day after surgery. A reduction in body weight was observed 4 days after surgery and reached a maximum on the 12th day. After this, a partial recovery of body weight was observed, but weight remained significantly reduced compared to weights of rats with sham lesions through the conclusion of the study. Food intake and body weight gain in other rats with partial lesions of the commNTS or with lesions outside the commNTS did not differ from rats with sham lesions with regard to those variables. Daily water intake and plasma glucose and insulin were not changed by the commNTS lesions. These results suggest that commNTS is involved with mechanisms that control food intake and body weight in rats.

Visual information and body sway coupling in infants during sitting acquisition

The purpose of this study was to examine if there is any developmental change in the coupling between visual information and trunk sway in infants as they acquire the sitting position. Twenty-four infants distributed in four groups (6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-month-old) were sat inside a moving room that oscillated back and forward at frequencies of 0.2 and 0.5 Hz. The results revealed that trunk sway matched to the moving room at both frequencies but did not differ among the four age groups. Coherence and gain revealed that the coupling was weaker at 0.2 than at 0.5 Hz. Relative phase showed that at 0.2 Hz, infants were swaying with no lag but at 0.5 Hz they were lagging the room. These results showed that the coupling between visual information and trunk sway in infants varies with the visual stimulus but does not change as infants acquire the sitting position. © 2001 Elsevier B.V.

Static lung compliance and body pressures in Tupinambis merianae with and without post-hepatic septum

The surgical removal of the post-hepatic septum (PHS) in the tegu lizard, Tupinambis merianae, significantly reduces resting lung volume (VLr) and maximal lung volume (VLm) when compared with tegus with intact PHS. Standardised for body mass (MB), static lung compliance was significantly less in tegus without PHS. Pleural and abdominal pressures followed, like ventilation, a biphasic pattern. In general, pressures increased during expiration and decreased during inspiration. However, during expiration pressure changes showed a marked intra- and interindividual variation. The removal of the PHS resulted in a lower cranio-caudal intracoelomic pressure differential, but had no effect on the general pattern of pressure changes accompanying ventilation. These results show that a perforated PHS that lacks striated muscle has significant influence on static breathing mechanics in Tupinambis and by analogy provides valuable insight into similar processes that led to the evolution of the mammalian diaphragm. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of sex, age, and fasting on blood parameters and body, bursa, spleen and yolk sac weights of broiler chicks

The effects of water and feed fasting for 24, 48 and 72 hours post-hatching on blood parameters (mean corpuscular volume, MCV; red blood-cell, RBC; hematocrit, HCT; hemoglobin, HGB; plasma glucose, CGP; plasma total protein, PP, and differential leukocytes count), and on body, liver, spleen, bursa, and yolk sac weights were analyzed. Erythrogram data were obtained with a blood cell counter. Total plasma protein and plasma glucose were determined by using the Bradford method (1976) and a glucose PAP liquiform kit (Labtest, cat. n. 84), respectively. Specific leukocyte counts were carried out on blood smears stained with Rosenfeld solution. According to the obtained data, water and feed post-hatching fasting reduced MCV values, which also were lower in males than that in females. Fasting for 48 hours promoted an increase in PP, while fasting for 72 hours reduced HCT. Chicks submitted to fasting presented lower body weights as compared to fed chicks, but their liver weight did not increase between 48 and 72 hours of age. Fasting decreased spleen weight, but bursa and yolk sac weight were not affected. Data showed that female and male chicks react in a similar way to post-hatching fasting, which affects body weight, liver and spleen weight, and HCT and PP values. Moreover, 72 hours of fasting affected more intensely HCT and MCV values.

Muscular strength, bone density and body composition of a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus submitted to a resistance training program: A case report

Introduction. Physical activity can provide long-term benefits for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objective. This study sought to demonstrate the effects of progressive resistance training on the muscular strength, bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition of pre-menopausal women with SLE undergoing glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. Materials and Methods. This is the case report of a 43-year-old African-South American premenopausal woman with non-extensive SLE and low bone density. A six-month program with three bimonthly cycles of 70%, 80%, and 90% intensity according to the 10 maximum-repetition test was used. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure the BMD, T-scores and body composition, and indirect fluorescence was used to measure the levels of antinuclear antibodies. Student's t-test was used. Results. Statistical improvement was noted in all strength exercises, including the 45° leg press (Δ%=+50%, p<0.001) and knee extension (Δ%=+15%, p=0.003) to maintain the BMD of the L2-L4 lumbar (Δ%=+0.031%; p=0.46) as well as the trochanter (Δ%=+0.037%; p=0.31) and BMI (Δ%=-0.8, p=0.54). Conclusion. In this case study, the presented methodology had a positive effect on strength and contributed to the maintenance of BMD and body composition in a woman with SLE undergoing GC treatment. © 2012 Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte.