Amount Of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Research Articles

Plasma pentraxin-3 levels and its role in childhood obesity-Is it anti-inflammatory? A matched group study.

Obesity has been associated with chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) with anthropometric measurements, dietary content and physical activity level in children. A matched group study. This study was conducted with 91 children aged 6-17 years, divided into two groups: "non-obese group" (Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Score [BMI SDS] <95th percentile) and "obese group" (BMI SDS ≥95th percentile). Plasma PTX-3 levels. The mean age of 91 children included in the study was 12.34 ± 2.86 years. Plasma PTX-3 levels were significantly higher in obese children (p = .028). No significant correlation was found between BMI SDS and plasma PTX-3 values, but a weak positive correlation was found when physical activity level was controlled (r = .176, p = .049). In addition, it was found that fat mass was a partial mediator of plasma PTX-3 level, and an increase in the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue negatively affected plasma PTX-3 level. Plasma PTX-3 level showed a weak positive correlation (r = .223, p = .017) with physical activity score and dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, while a weak negative correlation with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. One unit increase in physical activity score or polyunsaturated fatty acid level caused 0.730 and 2.061 unit increases in plasma PTX-3 level, respectively; while one unit increase in dietary fat intake caused 0.413-unit decrease. There was an indirect relationship between the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue and PTX-3 level. The results of our study suggested that plasma PTX-3 was associated with lower levels of inflammation in children.

Body Fat Distribution Contributes to Defining the Relationship between Insulin Resistance and Obesity in Human Diseases.

The risk for metabolic and cardiovascular complications of obesity is defined by body fat distribution rather than global adiposity. Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat (including hepatic steatosis) reflects insulin resistance and predicts type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In humans, available evidence indicates that the ability to store triglycerides in the subcutaneous adipose tissue reflects enhanced insulin sensitivity. Prospective studies document an association between larger subcutaneous fat mass at baseline and reduced incidence of impaired glucose tolerance. Case-control studies reveal an association between genetic predisposition to insulin resistance and a lower amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorgamma (PPAR-γ) promotes subcutaneous adipocyte differentiation and subcutaneous fat deposition, improving insulin resistance and reducing visceral fat. Thiazolidinediones reproduce the effects of PPAR-γ activation and therefore increase the amount of subcutaneous fat while enhancing insulin sensitivity and reducing visceral fat. Partial or virtually complete lack of adipose tissue (lipodystrophy) is associated with insulin resistance and its clinical manifestations, including essential hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, reduced HDL-c, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease. Patients with Prader Willi syndrome manifest severe subcutaneous obesity without insulin resistance. The impaired ability to accumulate fat in the subcutaneous adipose tissue may be due to deficient triglyceride synthesis, inadequate formation of lipid droplets, or defective adipocyte differentiation. Lean and obese humans develop insulin resistance when the capacity to store fat in the subcutaneous adipose tissue is exhausted and deposition of triglycerides is no longer attainable at that location. Existing adipocytes become large and reflect the presence of insulin resistance.

Distribution of subcutaneous and intermuscular fatty tissue of the mid-thigh measured by MRI-A putative indicator of serum adiponectin level and individual factors of cardio-metabolic risk.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with hypoadiponectinemia. On the contrary, studies revealed correlations between the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and higher serum adiponectin levels. Furthermore, independent association of intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) deposit in the thigh with cardiometabolic risk factors (including total blood cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides), and decreased insulin sensitivity, as MetS components, are sufficiently described. The combined relationship of thigh IMAT and SAT with serum adiponectin, leptin levels, and cardiometabolic risk factors have not been investigated till date. Since both SAT and IMAT play a role in fat metabolism, we hypothesized that the distribution pattern of SAT and IMAT in the mid-thigh might be related to adiponectin, leptin levels, and serum lipid parameters. We performed adipose tissue quantification using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the mid-thigh in 156 healthy volunteers (78 male/78 female). Laboratory measurements of lipid panel, serum adiponectin, and leptin levels were conducted. Total serum adiponectin level showed a significant correlation with the percentage of SAT of the total thigh adipose tissue (SAT/ (IMAT+SAT)) for the whole study population and in sex-specific analysis. Additionally, SAT/(IMAT+SAT) was negatively correlated with known cardiometabolic risk factors such as elevated total blood cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides; but positively correlated with serum high-density lipoprotein. In multiple linear regression analysis, (SAT/(IMAT+SAT)) was the most strongly associated variable with adiponectin. Interestingly, leptin levels did not show a significant correlation with this ratio. Adipose tissue distribution in the mid-thigh is not only associated to serum adiponectin levels, independent of sex. This proposed quantitative parameter for adipose tissue distribution could be an indicator for individual factors of a person`s cardiometabolic risk and serve as additional non-invasive imaging marker to ensure the success of lifestyle interventions.

Percentage of subcutaneous fatty tissue as an indicator of the physical status of volleyball players

Subcutaneous adipose tissue (skin folds) is a disruptive factor in many sports that overcome the force of gravity, including volleyball. In the field of volleyball, it is imperative to identify the anthropometric constitution, where the amount ofsubcutaneous adipose tissue plays a significant role. The study included 18 active players of the women's volleyball club Jahorina from Pale (BH=173±8.77cm;BW=66.04±9.09kg; BMI=22.03±2.19kg/m2, age=19.11±2.63), a member of thevolleyball Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the main goal to analyze and determine the percentage of adipose fat as an indicator of physical status. Yuhasz skinfold test (Biceps skinfold, Triceps skinfold, Subscapular skinfold, Suprailiac skinfold, Abdomen skinfold, Front thigh skinfold, Rear thigh skinfold) was applied to assess skin folds. Measurements were performed with a skin fat measuring instrument (Caliper GIMA-model Plicometro, Italy) in accordance with the ISAK protocol. Statistical data processing included central and dispersion parameters andPearson's correlation coefficients. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that 30% of significant ICC p&lt;,05;p&lt;0,01;p&lt;0,001 were achieved. The percentage of skin folds of Jahorina volleyball players in body weight is 16.16% (12 kg), and body fat mass is 54.04 kg. Based on the obtained results, the amount of adipose tissue can be concluded that our sample is within the allowed values recommended for this population, and that amount is lower compared to previous research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24040/sjss.2021.7.1.64-74

Brown adipose tissue is associated with healthier body fat distribution and metabolic benefits independent of regional adiposity

SummaryThe association of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and body fat distribution and their combined effects on metabolic health in humans remains unknown. Here, we retrospectively identify individuals with and without BAT on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and assemble a propensity score-matched study cohort to compare body fat distribution and determine its role in mediating the benefits of brown fat. We find that BAT is associated with lower amounts of visceral adipose tissue and higher amounts of subcutaneous adipose tissue, resulting in less central obesity. In addition, BAT is independently associated with lower blood glucose and white blood cell count, improved lipids, lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and decreased liver fat accumulation. These observations are most prominent in individuals with central obesity. Our results support a role of BAT in protection from visceral adiposity and improved metabolic health.

Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Measured by B-Mode Ultrasound to Assess and Monitor Obesity and Cardio-Metabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents.

Simple SummaryThe prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity raises the need for accurate body fat assessment. Precise methods are at high technical expense, require exposure to ionizing radiation and are limited to institutional investigations, while common body indicators fail to identify excess body fat. Subcutaneous adipose tissue measured by ultrasound is an alternative approach, which was evaluated in relation to commonly applied body indicators to assess cardio–metabolic risk and its applicability in the field. Subcutaneous adipose tissue measured by ultrasound indicated a clear advantage over commonly applied body indicators and implies that severe body fat assessment errors are to be expected when BMI is used as a measure for body fatness in children. Children or adolescents with identical BMIs may have large differences (>200%) in their amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Ultrasound provides an easily applicable, reliable and safe method for accurate assessment of obesity and monitoring treatment responses in children and adolescents at cardio–metabolic risk.Monitoring of children at heightened risk of cardio–metabolic diseases raises the need for accurate assessment of obesity. A standardized approach for measuring subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) by bright-mode ultrasound was evaluated in relation to body indices and anthropometry in a cross-sectional sample of 76 South African children (7–10 years) and 86 adolescents (13–17 years) to assess cardio–metabolic risk. SAT was higher in girls as compared to boys (children: 50.0 ± 21.7 mm > 34.42 ± 15.8 mm, adolescents: 140.9 ± 59.4 mm > 79.5 ± 75.6 mm, p < 0.001) and up to four times higher in adolescents than in children. In children, measures of relative body weight showed only a poor correlation to SAT (BMI: r = 0.607, p < 0.001), while in adolescents, BMI correlated high with SAT (r = 0.906, p < 0.001) based on high rates of overweight and obesity (41.8%). Children with identical BMIs may have large differences (>2–3-fold) in their amount of SAT. The moderate association to systolic (r = 0.534, r = 0.550, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.402, r = 0.262, p < 0.001) further substantiates that SAT measured by ultrasound provides an accurate, safe and easy applicable approach for monitoring in children and adolescents at cardio–metabolic risk.

Effects of body composition profiles on oncological outcomes and postoperative intraabdominal infection following colorectal cancer surgery.

Anthropometric data as prognostic factors of colorectal cancer are promising but contradictory. The aim of this study was to assess the preoperative body composition profiles as predictive factors for postoperative, oncologic, and inflammation outcomes. We sought to assess the impact of body composition profiles on short- and long-term outcomes and on postoperative inflammatory response in a clinical setting for patients following curative intent surgery for colorectal cancer. University hopsital METHODS: We analyzed 122 patients from a prospective cohort (IMACORS) with colorectal cancer undergoing curative-intent surgery from 2011 to 2014. Musculature, total, visceral, and subcutaneous adiposity were measured from a preoperative CT scan and outcomes were compared between profiles. Preoperative myopenia was an independent predictive factor of recurrence (HR = 3.3 95% CI = 1.6-6.9; P = .002) while subcutaneous adiposity was a protective factor (HR = .4 95% CI = .2-.9; P = .03). No anthropometric measurement was predictive of overall survival and postoperative intra abdominal infection was not determined by body composition profiles. Preoperative and D4 CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with subcutaneous adiposity. Myopenia and subcutaneous adiposity seemed to have independent and opposite prognostic effects on recurrence. Muscle mass loss may represent a modifiable risk factor while theamount of subcutaneous adipose tissue reflects an energetic storage favorable to face this pathologic process.

Limitation of adipose tissue by the number of embryonic progenitor cells.

Adipogenesis in adulthood replaces fat cells that turn over and can contribute to the development of obesity. However, the proliferative potential of adipocyte progenitors in vivo is unknown (Faust et al., 1976; Faust et al., 1977; Hirsch and Han, 1969; Johnson and Hirsch, 1972). We addressed this by injecting labeled wild-type embryonic stem cells into blastocysts derived from lipodystrophic A-ZIP transgenic mice, which have a genetic block in adipogenesis. In the resulting chimeric animals, wild-type ES cells are the only source of mature adipocytes. We found that when chimeric animals were fed a high-fat-diet, animals with low levels of chimerism showed a significantly lower adipose tissue mass than animals with high levels of chimerism. The difference in adipose tissue mass was attributed to variability in the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue as the amount of visceral fat was independent of the level of chimerism. Our findings thus suggest that proliferative potential of adipocyte precursors is limited and can restrain the development of obesity.

Association of Adipose Tissue Distribution With Type 2 Diabetes in Breast Cancer Patients.

Purpose:We examined the association of adipose tissue distribution with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in breast cancer patients.Methods:Participants (N = 238) diagnosed with breast cancer at 20-75 years old who received breast cancer treatment at a major hospital from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2017, with at least one completed and identifiable abdominal or pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan and data regarding race and ethnicity were included. Thirty-two breast cancer patients were identified as T2D patients after their breast cancer diagnoses. The adipose tissue distribution (visceral fat area [VFA], subcutaneous fat area [SFA], and the ratio of VFA to SFA [VFA/SFA]) was quantified on CT images of the third lumbar vertebra. T2D status was retrieved from patients’ electronic medical records. The association of adipose tissue distribution with T2D in women with breast cancer was examined using multivariable logistic regression.Results:Participants with T2D had significantly smaller SFA compared to those without T2D (odds ratio [OR] = 0.88, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.81-0.96, per 10 cm2 SFA). A positive association of VFA/SFA ratio with T2D was observed (OR = 19.57, 95% CI = 3.26-117.42, per unit VFA/SFA), although the estimate was imprecise.Conclusions:The amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue was inversely associated with T2D, and the ratio of the amount of visceral adipose tissue to the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue was positively associated with T2D in breast cancer patients.

Impact of Body Composition on the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Liver Transplantation.

Background: Body composition parameters are reported to influence the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver resection, yet data on patients undergoing liver transplantation are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the amount of abdominal adipose tissue and skeletal muscles on the risk of HCC recurrence after liver transplantation. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study performed on 77 HCC patients after liver transplantation. Subcutaneous fat area (SFA), visceral fat area, psoas muscle area and total skeletal muscle area were assessed on computed tomography on the level of L3 vertebra and divided by square meters of patient height. The primary outcome measure was five-year recurrence-free survival. Results: Recurrence-free survival in the entire cohort was 95.7%, 90.8%, and 86.5% after one, three, and five years post-transplantation, respectively. SFA was significantly associated with the risk of HCC recurrence (p = 0.013), whereas no significant effects were found for visceral fat and skeletal muscle indices. The optimal cut-off for SFA for prediction of recurrence was 71.5 cm2/m2. Patients with SFA < 71.5 cm2/m2 and ≥71.5 cm2/m2 exhibited five-year recurrence-free survival of 96.0% and 55.4%, respectively (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Excessive amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue is a risk factor for HCC recurrence after liver transplantation and may be considered in patient selection process.

Identifying the dissection plane for mastectomy-description and visualization of our technique.

In this visualized surgery paper, we present our experience identifying the optimal dissection plane in nipple-sparing mastectomy using hydrodissection through an inframammary incision. The surgical technique comprises of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) aiming to assess the thickness and expected quality of the mastectomy flaps, an inframammary incision, and hydrodissection to assist the surgeon in identifying the optimal dissection plane. This surgical method results in an adequate resection of breast parenchyma to obtain the best oncological outcome, while retaining the maximum amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue on the skin flaps to achieve a superior aesthetic result resembling the natural breast. The mastectomy flap thickness and quality can then be assessed prior to an immediate reconstruction.

Prediction of Circulating Adipokine Levels Based on Body Fat Compartments and Adipose Tissue Gene Expression

Background: Adipokines are hormones secreted from adipose tissue (AT), and a number of them have been established as risk factors for chronic diseases. However, it is not clear whether and to what extent adiposity, gene expression, and other factors determine their circulating levels. Objectives: To assess to what extent adiposity, as measured by the amount of subcutaneous AT (SAT) and visceral AT (VAT) using magnetic resonance imaging, and gene expression levels in SAT determine plasma concentrations of the adipokines adiponectin, leptin, soluble leptin receptor, resistin, interleukin 6, and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 156 participants from the EPIC Potsdam cohort study and analyzed multiple regression models and partial correlation coefficients. Results: For leptin and FABP4 concentrations, 81 and 45% variance were explained by SAT mass, VAT mass, and gene expression in SAT in multivariable regression models. For the remaining adipokines, AT mass and gene expression explained <16% variance of plasma concentrations. Gene expression in SAT was a less important predictor compared to AT mass. SAT mass was a better predictor than VAT mass for leptin (partial correlation r = 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.75–0.86, vs. r = 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.46–0.67), while differences between AT compartments were small for the other adipokines. Conclusions: While plasma levels of leptin and FABP4 can be explained in a large and medium part by the amount of AT and SAT gene expression, surprisingly, these predictors explained only little variance for all other investigated adipokines.

Intracutaneous delivery of gelatins induces lipolysis and suppresses lipogenesis of adipocytes.

Due to growing interest in cosmetics and medical applications, therapeutic medications that reduce the amount of local subcutaneous adipose tissue have potential for obesity treatment. However, conventional methods such as surgical operation are restricted due to risk of complications. Here, we report a simple and effective method for local reduction of subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) by using microneedle-assisted transdermal delivery of natural polymers. After in vitro screening tests, gelatin was selected as a therapeutic polymer to reduce accumulation of AT. An in vitro study showed that the level of released glycerol as an indicator of lipolysis was elevated in isolated adipocytes after gelatin treatment. In addition, gelatins suppressed expression levels of lipogenesis-associated genes. Following application of gelatin microneedle (GMN) patches to high-fat diet (HD)-induced obese rats, the amount of subcutaneous AT at the site of GMN application was significantly reduced, which was also confirmed by histological analysis and micro-computed tomography scanning. In addition, lipogenesis-associated genes were down-regulated in GMN-treated subcutaneous AT. These findings suggest that GMN patches induce lipolysis and simultaneously inhibit lipogenesis, thereby reducing deposition of subcutaneous AT. This platform using GMNs may provide a new strategy to treat excess subcutaneous AT with minimal complications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: (1) Significance This work reports a new approach for the local reduction of subcutaneous adipose tissue using a dissolving microneedle patch prepared using gelatin to enable suppression of lipogenesis and acceleration of lipolysis in adipocytes. The gelatin microneedle patch exhibited a significant reduction of local subcutaneous fat up to 60% compared to control groups without any change in total weight. (2) Scientific impact This is the first report demonstrating the direct anti-obesity effects of gelatin administrated in a transdermal route and the feasibility of natural polymer therapeutics for regional reduction of subcutaneous fat. We believe that our work will excite interdisciplinary readers of Acta Biomaterialia, those who are interested in the natural polymers, drug delivery, and obesity.

Deregulation of obesity-relevant genes is associated with progression in BMI and the amount of adipose tissue in pigs.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the relative impact of three phenotypes often used to characterize obesity on perturbation of molecular pathways involved in obesity. The three obesity-related phenotypes are (1) body mass index (BMI), (2) amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SATa), and (3) amount of retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPATa). Although it is generally accepted that increasing amount of RPATa is 'unhealthy', a direct comparison of the relative impact of the three obesity-related phenotypes on gene expression has, to our knowledge, not been performed previously. We have used multiple linear models to analyze altered gene expression of selected obesity-related genes in tissues collected from 19 female pigs phenotypically characterized with respect to the obesity-related phenotypes. Gene expression was assessed by high-throughput qPCR in RNA from liver, skeletal muscle and abdominal adipose tissue. The stringent statistical approach used in the study has increased the power of the analysis compared to the classical approach of analysis in divergent groups of individuals. Our approach led to the identification of key components of cellular pathways that are modulated in the three tissues in association with changes in the three obesity-relevant phenotypes (BMI, SATa and RPATa). The deregulated pathways are involved in biosynthesis and transcript regulation in adipocytes, in lipid transport, lipolysis and metabolism, and in inflammatory responses. Deregulation seemed more comprehensive in liver (23 genes) compared to abdominal adipose tissue (10 genes) and muscle (3 genes). Notably, the study supports the notion that excess amount of intra-abdominal adipose tissue is associated with a greater metabolic disease risk. Our results provide molecular support for this notion by demonstrating that increasing amount of RPATa has a higher impact on perturbation of cellular pathways influencing obesity and obesity-related metabolic traits compared to increase in BMI and amount of SATa.

Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue as a predictor of high-grade renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: information about the influence of abdominal adipose tissue on the prognosis and aggressiveness of renal cell carcinoma is scarce.OBJECTIVE: to identify and quantify the relationship between abdominal adipose tissue and histopathologic characteristics of renal cell carcinoma.MATERIALS AND METHODS: data on patients with renal cell carcinoma treated with partial or radical nephrectomy were retrospectively collected. Visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue were measured on preoperative computerized tomography scans. Histopathologic (pathologic 2002 TNM classification, tumor size, nuclear grade, necrosis, and metastasis) and clinical (sex, age, body mass index) variables were assessed. Visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue were adjusted by patient height (VAT-I and SAT-I). The association between adipose tissue measurements, patient characteristics, and histopathologic variables was assessed through a correlation, comparison, and regression analysis. A survival analysis was also carried out.RESULTS: one-hundred and five patients were included. No significant relationship between visceral adipose tissue and histopathologic characteristics was found. SAT-I was a significant variable inversely related to sex, but more importantly to nuclear grade, pN+, and necrosis. There was no influence of visceral adipose tissue or subcutaneous adipose tissue on survival.CONCLUSIONS: subcutaneous adipose tissue was related to the histopathologic characteristics of renal cell carcinoma. A larger amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue predicted a low nuclear grade and a lower frequency of pN+ and necrosis. Further study to clarify the interaction between adipose tissue and renal cell carcinoma biology is required.KEY WORDS: renal cell carcinoma, subcutaneous-abdominal adipose tissue, prognosis

Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue as a predictor of high-grade renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: information about the influence of abdominal adipose tissue on the prognosis and aggressiveness of renal cell carcinoma is scarce.OBJECTIVE: to identify and quantify the relationship between abdominal adipose tissue and histopathologic characteristics of renal cell carcinoma.MATERIALS AND METHODS: data on patients with renal cell carcinoma treated with partial or radical nephrectomy were retrospectively collected. Visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue were measured on preoperative computerized tomography scans. Histopathologic (pathologic 2002 TNM classification, tumor size, nuclear grade, necrosis, and metastasis) and clinical (sex, age, body mass index) variables were assessed. Visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue were adjusted by patient height (VAT-I and SAT-I). The association between adipose tissue measurements, patient characteristics, and histopathologic variables was assessed through a correlation, comparison, and regression analysis. A survival analysis was also carried out.RESULTS: one-hundred and five patients were included. No significant relationship between visceral adipose tissue and histopathologic characteristics was found. SAT-I was a significant variable inversely related to sex, but more importantly to nuclear grade, pN+, and necrosis. There was no influence of visceral adipose tissue or subcutaneous adipose tissue on survival.CONCLUSIONS: subcutaneous adipose tissue was related to the histopathologic characteristics of renal cell carcinoma. A larger amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue predicted a low nuclear grade and a lower frequency of pN+ and necrosis. Further study to clarify the interaction between adipose tissue and renal cell carcinoma biology is required.KEY WORDS: renal cell carcinoma, subcutaneous-abdominal adipose tissue, prognosis

Skinfold Thickness Affects The Physiological Response To Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

The amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue may affect the transmission of electrical stimuli through the skin and thus interfere with the torque evoked by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and with the associated discomfort. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of skinfold thickness (SFT) on maximal NMES current intensity, NMES-evoked torque and NMES-induced discomfort. METHODS: First, we correlated SFT to NMES current intensity, NMES-induced discomfort and NMES-evoked torque in 20 healthy women. Second, we compared NMES current intensity, NMES-induced discomfort and NMES-evoked torque between two subgroups of subjects with thicker vs. thinner SFT. The NMES-evoked torque was normalized to the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque. The discomfort induced by NMES was assessed with a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between NMES current intensity and SFT (r=0.540, p=0.017). A negative correlation was found between NMES-evoked torque and SFT (r=−0.563, p=0.012). No significant correlation was observed between discomfort scores and SFT. There was a significant difference between subgroups in NMES-evoked torque (p=0.013) which was 28% lower in subjects with thicker SFT while NMES current intensity was 24% lower in subjects with thinner SFT (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the amount of subcutaneous adipose thickness affects NMES current intensity and NMES-evoked torque but has no effect on the perception of discomfort. Our findings may help physical therapists to better understand the impact of SFT on NMES and to design more rational stimulation strategies.

Skinfold thickness affects the isometric knee extension torque evoked by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous adipose tissue may influence the transmission of electrical stimuli through to the skin, thus affecting both evoked torque and comfort perception associated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). This could seriously affect the effectiveness of NMES for either rehabilitation or sports purposes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of skinfold thickness (SFT) on maximal NMES current intensity, NMES-evoked torque, and NMES-induced discomfort. METHOD: First, we compared NMES current intensity, NMES-induced discomfort, and NMES-evoked torque between two subgroups of subjects with thicker (n=10; 20.7 mm) vs. thinner (n=10; 29.4 mm) SFT. Second, we correlated SFT to NMES current intensity, NMES-induced discomfort, and NMES-evoked knee extension torque in 20 healthy women. The NMES-evoked torque was normalized to the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque. The discomfort induced by NMES was assessed with a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: NMES-evoked torque was 27.5% lower in subjects with thicker SFT (p=0.01) while maximal current intensity was 24.2% lower in subjects with thinner SFT (p=0.01). A positive correlation was found between current intensity and SFT (r=0.540, p=0.017). A negative correlation was found between NMES-evoked torque and SFT (r=-0.563, p=0.012). No significant correlation was observed between discomfort scores and SFT (rs=0.15, p=0.53). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue (as reflected by skinfold thickness) affected NMES current intensity and NMES-evoked torque, but had no effect on discomfort perception. Our findings may help physical therapists to better understand the impact of SFT on NMES and to design more rational stimulation strategies.

A Lifetime on the Hips: Programming Lower-Body Fat to Protect Against Metabolic Disease

In the 60 years since Vague (1) described that an “android” pattern of adipose tissue (AT) distribution was associated with diabetes, atherosclerosis, gout, and kidney stones, many of the physiological mechanisms underlying this relationship have been illuminated. To date, most of the effort has been directed at understanding how accumulation of intra-abdominal fat, also known as visceral AT (VAT), promotes insulin resistance (IR). IR is the common defect underlying glucose intolerance, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. This phenotypic cluster, called the metabolic syndrome, is associated with a doubling of cardiovascular disease risk and a fivefold increased risk of type 2 diabetes (2). VAT is likely to promote IR in several ways. Enlarged adipocytes in VAT were originally thought to promote hepatic, and eventually systemic, IR via increased portal free fatty acid (FFA) flux (3). Other factors are likely to be involved, however, because although FFA flux from VAT does increase in obesity, it is not the major determinant of portal FFA concentrations (4). In obesity, VAT also may contribute to IR via alterations in its secreted products (adipokines), as well as proinflammatory molecules such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (5). Independently of VAT, parallel studies have established that a gynoid pattern of AT distribution, characterized by greater amounts of subcutaneous AT (SAT) in the lower body, is associated with improved glucose tolerance and lipid profile and that this fat pattern may protect against cardiovascular disease (6,7). These protective effects often vary with sex, but …

The levels of adipocyte protein, a transporter of fatty acids, and adiponectin in the adolescents presenting with obesity and their relationship with the distribution of the adipose tissue

This study included 130 patients at the age of 14-17 years presenting with constitutional exogenous obesity (CEO) and 24 children without obesity (controls). The levels of adipocyte protein, a transporter of fatty acids (FABP4), in the sera of the adolescents with CEO were significantly higher than in the absence of obesity. They did not depend on the stage of puberty and differed in the children of different sex. The serum adiponectin level in the boys showed negative correlation with the amount of visceral adipose tissue and decreased progressively with the increase in the degree of obesity. The rise in the serum FABP4 level in the girls was associated with the increase in the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue and positively correlated with the severity of obesity. Visceral obesity in the adolescents was accompanied by a variety of metabolic disorders while changes in the waist circumference did not reflect dynamics in the amount of visceral adipose tissue.