Body COM Research Articles

Fourteen weeks of multicomponent training associated with flexibility training modifies postural alignment, joint range of motion and modulates blood pressure in physically inactive older women: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Body relaxation and pain reduction are some of the reported benefits of flexibility training (through active stretching exercises), however their effects on posture and blood circulation are uncertain. We aimed to investigate the effects of flexibility training (through active stretching exercises) in combination with multicomponent training (MT) on blood pressure (BP), and the correlation with changes in body alignment and flexibility in physically inactive women. Methods: Women aged 60-70years were into three groups: multicomponent training group (MT), multicomponent training plus flexibility training group (FT), and control group (CG). After randomization, the resting blood pressure was measured and the participants were reallocated into subgroups according to pressure values >130/80mmHg (This classification is according to the American Heart Association (AHA), resulting in the subgroups: flexibility training (FT); flexibility training for hypertensive patients (FTSAH); multicomponent training (MT); multicomponent training for hypertensive patients (MTSAH); control group (CG); control group of hypertensive patients (CGSAH). The interventions lasted 14weeks. Systolic (sBP) and diastolic (dBP) BP, range of motion (flexion and extension), and postural analysis by asymmetry in the frontal plane and asymmetry in the sagittal plane, displacement and the flexibility test were collected before (Pre) and after training (Post). In total, 141 women participated in the study (without SAH: FT = 23, MT = 20, and CG = 21; with SAH: FTSAH = 28, MTSAH = 23, and CGSAH = 26). Results: Systolic blood pressure, in the pre and post moments were: FT (116 ± 6.7 vs. 114 ± 4.7); FTSAH (144 ± 16.5 vs. 121 ± 10.1); MT: (120 ± 6.8 vs. 121 ± 7.3); MTSAH: (137 ± 10.6 vs. 126 ± 13.0); CG: (122 ± 5.3 vs. 133 ± 19.2); and CGSAH: (140 ± 9.7 vs. 143 ± 26.2), presenting an F value (p-value - group x time) of 12.00 (<0.001), with improvement in the groups who trained. The diastolic blood pressure in the pre and post moments were: FT (71 ± 4.7 vs. 74 ± 6.8); FTSAH (88 ± 9.6 vs. 70 ± 12.0); MT: (74 ± 4.5 vs. 77 ± 11.7); MTSAH: (76 ± 10.4 vs. 76 ± 10.2); CG: (69 ± 7.11 vs. 82 ± 11.4); and CGSAH: (76 ± 13.4 vs. 86.6 ± 7.7), presenting an F value (p-value - group x time) of 8.00 (p < 0.001), with improvement in the groups who trained. In the Elastic Net Regression, sBP was influenced by height (β: -0.044); hip flexion (β: 0.071); Shoulder extension (β: 0.104); low back flexion (β: 0.119) and dBP (β: 0.115). In the Elastic Net Regression, dBP was influenced by asymmetry in the sagittal plane variables (0.040); asymmetry in the frontal plane (β: 0.007); knee flexion (β: -0.398); BM (β: 0.007); Shoulder flexion (β: -0.142); Hip flexion (β: -0.004); sBP (β: 0.155) and Ankle Flexion (β: -0.001). Conclusion: The displacement of the asymmetry in the frontal plane and asymmetry in the sagittal plane, and the increase in the flexion position in the hip, lumbar, head, and knee regions, influenced the highest-pressure levels. Multicomponent training associated with flexibility training promoted improvement in body alignment, COM, and joint angles, and decreased blood pressure.

The influence of athletic background, lower limb dominance and cutting angle on the center of mass kinematics during a sidestep cutting task

BACKGROUND: Successful performance in futsal depends on athletes' ability to change direction efficiently. AIM: To investigate the effect of athletic background on COM kinematics during sidestep cutting maneuver performed at different cutting angles towards both sides. METHOD: Eighteen futsal athletes participated, comprised of nine high-level training (Group high-level) and nine recreational (Group Control, GC). Twenty reflective markers were placed on the participant's trunk and upper and lower limbs. Participants performed acceleration at maximum speed and in a straight line for 10 meters, followed by a change of direction (30º, 60º, and 90º). The whole body's COM trajectory was identified using a body model for each trial. Differences in angular error and COM speed were evaluated with a three-way analysis of variance [Group (GH vs. GC) X Cutting angle (30º vs. 60º vs. 90º) X Side (dominant and non-dominant), with repeated measures for the last two factors]. RESULTS: The main results indicated that the angular error increased as the cutting angle increased. The high-level futsal athletes performed a cutting task for the dominant side with greater speed and higher angular errors than the control group. These findings provided important information for understanding the trajectory of the center of mass at different angles and velocities and the possible repercussions on body dynamics. CONCLUSION: Athletic background affected the kinematic patterns of the center of mass during sidestep cutting maneuvers; when sidestep is performed with the dominant side, high-level futsal athletes changed direction faster with more significant angular error than recreational athletes.

소뇌성 운동실조증 환자의 자발적 및 보상적 스텝 특성 규명 : Ⅰ. 발 동작의 운동학적 특성을 중심으로

Taking a step is a fundamental human movement to maintain balance and execute functional activities in daily living, while such movement is challenging to properly perform in patients with cerebellar ataxia (CA). We examined the kinematic characteristics of foot movement and ranges of body mass center (COM) by comparing voluntary and reactive stepping actions in patients with CA. A total of 12 individuals with CA and 12 age-matched normal controls participated in the study. We used a forward “lean-and-release” balance perturbation method to evaluate the balance recovery responses using foot step. We had 2 step task conditions (2% of body weight for voluntary step and 10% of body weight for reactive step tasks) and 3 step distance conditions (near, middle, and far). The results indicated that reaction time was not much different between groups, but cerebellar patients were slower and took longer to recover their body stability using foot step than normal controls. The movement range of the body COM was significantly larger than that of the normal controls during recovering their balance. These findings suggest that CA patients exhibited a tendency to use inefficient first step movement strategies and more variable to maintain body stability after balance perturbation.

Effects of initial foot position on postural responses to lateral standing surface perturbations in younger and older adults.

An age-related decline in standing balance control in the medio-lateral direction is associated with increased risk of falls. A potential approach to improve postural stability is to change initial foot position (IFP). In response to a lateral surface perturbation, how are lower extremity muscle activation levels different and what are the effects of different IFPs on muscle activation patterns and postural stability in younger versus older adults? Ten younger and ten older healthy adults participated in this study. Three IFPs were tested [Reference (REF): feet were placed parallel, shoulder-width apart; Toes-out with heels together (TOHT): heels together with toes pointing outward; Modified Semi-Tandem (M-ST): the heel of the anterior foot was placed by the big toe of the posterior foot]. Unexpected lateral translations of the standing surface were applied. Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lower extremity muscles, standard deviation (SD) of the body's CoM acceleration (SD of CoMAccel), and center of pressure (CoP) sway area were compared across IFPs and age. Activation levels of the muscles serving the ankle and gluteus medius were greater than for the knee joint muscles and gluteus maximus in the loaded leg across all IFPs in both groups. TOHT showed greater EMG peak amplitude of the soleus and fibularis longus compared to REF, and had smaller SD of CoMAccel and CoP sway area than M-ST. Compared to younger adults, older adults demonstrated lower EMG peak amplitude and delayed peak timing of the fibularis longus and greater SD of CoMAccel and CoP sway area in all IFPs during balance recovery. During standing balance recovery, ankle muscles and gluteus medius are important active responders to unexpected lateral surface perturbations and a toes-out IFP could be a viable option to enhance ankle muscle activation that diminishes with age to improve postural stability.

Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

The role of IL-6 gene polymorphisms in the risk of lipedema.

Lipedema is a disorder of adipose tissue characterized by abnormal subcutaneous fat deposition, leading to swelling and enlargement of the lower limbs and trunk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipedema phenotype by investigating the role of polymorphisms related to IL-6 (rs1800795) gene in people with diagnosis of lipedema. The second aim was to identify indicators of body composition, useful for a differential analysis between subjects with lipedema and the control group. Two groups are involved in the study, 45 women with lipedema (LIPPY) and 50 women randomly chosen from the population as Control (CTRL). Clinical and demographical variables recorded include weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and circumference measurements. Body composition (Fat mass, FM; lean mass, LM) was assessed by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). The genetic tests for IL-6 (rs18oo795) gene were performed for both groups, using a saliva sample. The study of the relationship between the IL-6 (rs1800795) gene polymorphism, the anthropometric values and the body composition indices has provided the following significant results: subjects with diagnosis of lipedema present statistically significant increased values with regard to weight, BMI, waist, abdomen and hip circumferences, arms, legs and whole FM (% and kg), gynoid FM (kg), legs LM (kg) and ASMMI. Moreover, the value of the waist hip ratio was found to be decreased. For the first time, we suggested that IL-6 gene polymorphism could characterize subjects with lipedema respect to Normal Weight Obese and obese subjects. The intra-group comparisons (LIPPY carriers vs. LIPPY non-carriers and CTRL carriers vs. CTRL non-carriers) showed no statistically significant values. In contrast, the inter-group comparisons (LIPPY non-carriers vs. CTRL non-carriers and LIPPY carriers vs. CTRL carriers) resulted statistically significant. We have identified other indices, such as leg index, trunk index, abdominal index, total index, that could be promising clinical tools for diagnosis of the lipedema phenotype and for predicting the evolution of the disease.

Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, the elderly are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

Relationship of High Circulating Cystatin C to Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover and Bone Mineral Density in Elderly Males with a Chronic Heart Failure.

SummaryBackgroundThe aim of the study was to investigate the association of Cystatin C (CysC) to biochemical markers of bone turnover and bone mass, and to evaluate its prognostic significance in elderly males with chronic heart failure (CHF).MethodsA prospective cohort study was executed on sixtyeight males (mean age 68±7 years) with mild to moderate CHF, together with 19 of corresponding age- and body mass index-matched healthy individuals who underwent cardio vascular, bone mineral density (BMD), and body com position assessment. Biochemical assessment of all subjects included NT-pro-BNP, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), CysC, and biochemical markers of bone turnover including osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), β-CrossLaps (β-CTx), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL).ResultsSerum CysC was significantly increased in males with CHF in comparison to healthy control ones. A significant positive association was found between CysC levels and OC in males with CHF, while OC and β-CTx increased in increasing CysC tertiles. In multivariate regression analysis, OC and smoking were a significant determinant of CysC in males with CHF. Level of CysC was found to be positively associated with an increased fatal risk in males with CHF.ConclusionsSerum osteocalcin is an independent predictor of CysC level in elderly males with CHF. Higher CysC level showed a negative relation to survival and bone loss in males with CHF. Further research is needed to confirm the potential role of CysC in the crosstalk between heart, kidney, bone, and energy metabolism in CHF.

지면 경사도에 따른 후방 낙상 시 소뇌성 운동실조증 환자의 자세제어 특성 연구

The Cerebellar damage leads to falls due to the impairments in balance control, and secondary damage is a terrifying factor that may cause injuries. Concerning the fear of falls in patients with cerebellar disease (CD), this study examined the kinematic characteristics on body control abilities such as the movements of the upper and lower limbs and the motion of stepping to recover the balance when a back fall is occurred with increased ground inclination. Eight patients diagnosed with CD and 8 age-matched normal controls (NC) participated in the study. We evaluated the ability to recover the balance independently through stepping movements by causing the situation of a backward fall with the lean-and-release method and four different ground inclination conditions. The results demonstrated that there were no differences between two groups in overall stepping characteristics such as total steps, initiation time and step distance. However, the distance between the foot and body COM was shorter and velocity of COM movement at landing of first step was higher in CD than NC as the ground inclination increased. These findings indicate that patients with cerebellar disease used an inefficient movement strategy that does not help to recover their trunk motion from falling when fear of falling is elevated.

Sensory integration of a light touch reference in human standing balance.

In upright stance, light touch of a space-stationary touch reference reduces spontaneous sway. Moving the reference evokes sway responses which exhibit non-linear behavior that has been attributed to sensory reweighting. Reweighting refers to a change in the relative contribution of sensory cues signaling body sway in space and light touch cues signaling finger position with respect to the body. Here we test the hypothesis that the sensory fusion process involves a transformation of light touch signals into the same reference frame as other sensory inputs encoding body sway in space, or vice versa. Eight subjects lightly gripped a robotic manipulandum which moved in a circular arc around the ankle joint. A pseudo-randomized motion sequence with broad spectral characteristics was applied at three amplitudes. The stimulus was presented at two different heights and therefore different radial distances, which were matched in terms of angular motion. However, the higher stimulus evoked a significantly larger sway response, indicating that the response was not matched to stimulus angular motion. Instead, the body sway response was strongly related to the horizontal translation of the manipulandum. The results suggest that light touch is integrated as the horizontal distance between body COM and the finger. The data were well explained by a model with one feedback loop minimizing changes in horizontal COM-finger distance. The model further includes a second feedback loop estimating the horizontal finger motion and correcting the first loop when the touch reference is moving. The second loop includes the predicted transformation of sensory signals into the same reference frame and a non-linear threshold element that reproduces the non-linear sway responses, thus providing a mechanism that can explain reweighting.

Relationship of High Circulating Cystatin C to Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover and Bone Mineral Density in Elderly Males with a Chronic Heart Failure

SummaryBackground:The aim of the study was to investigate the association of Cystatin C (CysC) to biochemical markers of bone turnover and bone mass, and to evaluate its prognostic significance in elderly males with chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods:A prospective cohort study was executed on sixtyeight males (mean age 68±7 years) with mild to moderate CHF, together with 19 of corresponding age- and body mass index-matched healthy individuals who underwent cardio vascular, bone mineral density (BMD), and body com position assessment. Biochemical assessment of all subjects included NT-pro-BNP, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), CysC, and biochemical markers of bone turnover including osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), β-CrossLaps (β-CTx), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL).Results:Serum CysC was significantly increased in males with CHF in comparison to healthy control ones. A significant positive association was found between CysC levels and OC in males with CHF, while OC and β-CTx increased in increasing CysC tertiles. In multivariate regression analysis, OC and smoking were a significant determinant of CysC in males with CHF. Level of CysC was found to be positively associated with an increased fatal risk in males with CHF.Conclusions:Serum osteocalcin is an independent predictor of CysC level in elderly males with CHF. Higher CysC level showed a negative relation to survival and bone loss in males with CHF. Further research is needed to confirm the potential role of CysC in the crosstalk between heart, kidney, bone, and energy metabolism in CHF.

특발성 성조숙증으로 진단받은 환아 2례에 대한 증례보고

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the case of precocious puberty in two children treated by taking herbal medicine. Methods Two patients diagnosed with precocious puberty were prescribed Jogyeongseongjang-tang and were observed the effect of treatment on height, body weight, body com...

Effects of constrained trunk movement on frontal plane gait kinematics

Previously it has been shown that constraining step width in gait coincides with decreased trunk displacements. Conversely, external stabilization of the upper body in gait coincides with decreased step width, but this may in part be due to changes in passive dynamics of the leg. In the present study, trunk kinematics during gait were constrained without external stabilization by using an orthosis, to investigate whether step width and dynamic gait stability in the ML direction are changed in relation to trunk kinematics. Nine healthy young adults walked on a treadmill at three different speeds with no intervention and while wearing a thoracolumbar orthosis. Based on marker trajectories, trunk COM displacement, body COM displacement and velocity, step width, and margin-of-stability in ML direction were calculated. The results showed that the orthosis significantly reduced trunk and body COM displacements. As hypothesized, the restriction of trunk movement coincided with significantly decreased step width, while the margin-of-stability was not affected. These findings indicate that, when trunk movements are constrained, humans narrow step width, while maintaining a constant margin-of-stability. In conclusion, the present results in combination with previous work imply that in gait a reciprocal coupling between trunk kinematics and foot placement in the frontal plane subserves control of stability in the frontal plane.

Improving beef cattle welfare

Animal welfare is at the epicenter of values-based and science-based reasoning. A question which must be posed is "Do scientific professionals consider animal welfare an established scientific field?" In many areas of animal production and research, the answer is a resounding yes. However, it must be established in all areas of science involving animals, and it must be maintained as a scientific field. To do so, we must be able to show that animal welfare can be measured and assessed using both subjective and objective measures. Animal welfare can be measured on a day-to-day basis by the producers and veterinarian who work directly with the animals, using outcome-based measures. When outcome based measures are used, we can assess why certain management practices are put into place, and what impact those practices are making on production and welfare. According to the OIE (2008), the criteria for measurement of animal welfare include cattle behavior, morbidity rates, mortality rates, changes in weight and body condition, reproductive efficiency, physical appearance, handling responses, and com¬ plications due to routine procedure management. By using these and other outcome-based measures, animal welfare will become an established scientific field in which observations can be measured and recorded so that management changes and improvements can be implemented to maintain and improve welfare on production units.

Perioperative care in older adults.

1 Background Over the last 20 years, the number of older adults requir- ing surgical interventions has substantially increased and will continue to escalate as the population ages. Periopera- tive management of older patients poses challenges not en- countered in younger individuals. People over 70 years of age are more likely to have multiple comorbidities, physical and cognitive impairments, and reduced cardiac, pulmonary, and renal reserve. These factors predispose older patients to increased risk for perioperative complications and pro- longed length of hospital stay, which in turn increase risk for iatrogenesis, nosocomial infections, and perioperative mortality. Current recommendations for perioperative assessment and management for older patients are derived from data collected in predominantly younger cohorts. Given the pau- city of evidence-based guidelines for this patient population, it is vital to understand the pathophysiologic changes that occur in the older patient in order to reduce their periopera- tive risk. The objectives of this review are to briefly summarize age-related effects on organ system reserve, identify comor- bidities and geriatric conditions that pose increased risk for perioperative complications, and increase awareness of the essentials of perioperative evaluation and therapy in the older surgical patient. The overall goals are to ensure ap- propriate perioperative assessment and medical manage- ment and to minimize the risk of complications in older patients undergoing surgical procedures. ogic reserve of all organ systems, even in the absence of any underlying pathology, and these changes predispose to the development of perioperative adverse events. In addition, older patients often have multiple comorbidities requiring complex medical regimens that may further complicate pe- rioperative management. In this context, age-related changes in gastrointestinal physiology, kidney function, body com- position (such as reduction in muscle mass and intravascular volume) and metabolism lead to alterations in the pharma- codynamics and pharmacokinetics of most drugs. As a re- sult, older patients are often more sensitive to anesthetic and analgesic agents administered during the perioperative period. Other age-related physiologic alterations increase the li- kelihood of postoperative cardiac (e.g., atrial fibrillation, heart failure) and non-cardiac (e.g., delirium, pneumonia) complications. For these reasons, older patients undergoing major surgery require a comprehensive preoperative evalua- tion that should include assessment of functional status, cognition, and frailty. Combining these factors with conven- tional perioperative risk assessments facilitates the identifi- cation of older patients at risk for specific postoperative complications, and may enable implementation of manage- ment strategies designed to reduce perioperative risk and minimize delays in recovery.

Role of Leptin in Growth, Reproduction and Milk Production in Farm Animals: A Review

Livestock species of agri-based countries, like Pakistan, need special attention for the improvement and sustainability of their productive traits because the economy and huge population is largely dependent on livestock. Therefore it is necessary to adopt some strategies to get more adaptive and productive animals. Leptin, a hormone pro- duced mostly by white adipose tissues of body, has many roles including body energy balance, tissue growth, body com- position, reproduction and immunity. Leptin helps in reducing feed intake of animal through feed-back mechanism by informing CNS about body energy and fat reserves. The gene responsible for leptin production has many forms which are associated with leptin production, its level in blood and working. The physiological role of leptin and association of different forms of leptin (LEP) gene with multiple economic traits has made it a potential candidate to be studied and improve animals through proper breeding and management strategies. This current review article discusses the role of leptin in various economic traits of farm animals.

Effects of aging on whole body and segmental control while obstacle crossing under impaired sensory conditions

The ability to safely negotiate obstacles is an important component of independent mobility, requiring adaptive locomotor responses to maintain dynamic balance. This study examined the effects of aging and visual–vestibular interactions on whole-body and segmental control during obstacle crossing. Twelve young and 15 older adults walked along a straight pathway and stepped over one obstacle placed in their path. The task was completed under 4 conditions which included intact or blurred vision, and intact or perturbed vestibular information using galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS). Global task performance significantly increased under suboptimal vision conditions. Vision also significantly influenced medial–lateral center of mass displacement, irrespective of age and GVS. Older adults demonstrated significantly greater trunk pitch and head roll angles under suboptimal vision conditions. Similar to whole-body control, no GVS effect was found for any measures of segmental control. The results indicate a significant reliance on visual but not vestibular information for locomotor control during obstacle crossing. The lack of differences in GVS effects suggests that vestibular information is not up-regulated for obstacle avoidance. This is not differentially affected by aging. In older adults, insufficient visual input appears to affect ability to minimize anterior–posterior trunk movement despite a slower obstacle crossing time and walking speed. Combined with larger medial–lateral deviation of the body COM with insufficient visual information, the older adults may be at a greater risk for imbalance or inability to recover from a possible trip when stepping over an obstacle.