Body Mass Index Covariates Research Articles

Non-esterified erythrocyte linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and subjective sleep outcomes

ObjectiveThis study investigated whether non-esterified erythrocyte omega-6 PUFAs were associated with subjective assessment of sleep quality and duration, and risk for obstructive sleep apnea. MethodsIn this secondary analysis of the cross-sectional OPPERA-II study, 538 adults completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), reported their usual hours of sleep, and answered STOP screening questions for obstructive sleep apnea. Circulating non-esterified erythrocyte concentrations of omega-6 PUFA linoleic acid and arachidonic acid were quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy. Sleep outcomes were dichotomized as poor (PSQI ≤5) vs good (PSQI ≥6) sleep quality, insufficient or excessive (≤6 or >9 h) vs good (7-9 h) sleep duration, and high (≥2 affirmative responses) vs low (<2 affirmative responses) risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Non-esterified omega-6 PUFAs and the continuous covariates of body mass index, Short Form (SF) 12 Health Survey Physical and Mental Component scores and resting measures of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were standardized for multivariable analysis. Categorical covariates were study site, age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression first estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence limits (CL) for sleep outcomes using linoleic acid as the main exposure. Analysis was then repeated using arachidonic acid as the main exposure. ResultsIn the multivariable-adjusted model, each standard deviation increase in non-esterified erythrocyte linoleic acid was associated with higher odds of poor sleep quality (OR=1.2, 95% CL: 1.1, 1.5), insufficient or excessive sleep (OR= 1.3, 95% CL: 1.1, 1.6) and high-risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OR=1.3, 95% CL: 1.1, 1.6). Likewise, for each standard deviation increase in non-esterified erythrocyte arachidonic acid, odds increased of poor sleep quality (OR=1.2, 95% CL: 1.1, 1.5), and insufficient or excessive sleep (OR=1.2, 95% CL: 1.1, 1.5). Odds of being high risk for obstructive sleep apnea increased with greater circulating arachidonic acid, but the association did not reach statistical significance (OR=1.1, 95% CL: 0.9, 1.4). ConclusionNon-esterified erythrocyte linoleic acid and arachidonic acid were associated with poor sleep quality and insufficient or excessive sleep duration. Linoleic acid, but not arachidonic acid, was also associated with high risk for obstructive sleep apnea.

Relationship between short-term self-reported dietary magnesium intake and whole blood ionized magnesium (iMg2+) or serum magnesium (s-Mg) concentrations

Objective Since we and others have shown that supplemental magnesium raises whole blood ionized magnesium (iMg2+) we investigated the relationships between self-reported dietary magnesium intake and concentrations of whole blood iMg2+ and serum magnesium (s-Mg). Methods We obtained whole blood iMg2+ concentrations, as well as s-Mg concentrations, from a pilot, three-arm, randomized, controlled, crossover bioavailability study of magnesium supplements (n = 23; 105 measures). Dietary magnesium intake was assessed using three-day food records and the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR, University of Minnesota, MN, USA). Whole blood iMg2+ was measured with an electrode analyser (NOVA Biochemical, Waltham, MA, USA), whereas s-Mg was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. A linear mixed-effects model was employed with dietary magnesium as the outcome variable and iMg2+, s-Mg, study treatment and study visit as fixed effects. We adjusted age, gender, race and body mass index covariates. Results Values for dietary magnesium, iMg2+ and s-Mg were 303.8 ± 118.9 mg/day, 1.3 ± 0.1 mg/dL and 2.2 ± 4.1 mg/dL, respectively. No association was found between dietary magnesium intake and iMg2+ −125 ± 176.95 (p = .49) or s-Mg −9.33 ± 5.04 (p = .08). Conclusions Whole blood iMg2+ and s-Mg concentrations do not reflect short-term self-reported dietary intake in adults. Further research is needed to determine whether blood biomarkers of magnesium may reflect dietary magnesium intake. Key messages Dietary intake of magnesium, a shortfall nutrient, may be objectively measured using blood biomarkers of magnesium. Serum magnesium and whole blood iMg2+ were not associated with short-term dietary intake of magnesium.

A preliminary but methodologically improved investigation of the relationships between major personality dimensions and human ejaculate quality

Some research has reported relationships between personality dimensions and ejaculate quality, but this research has methodological limitations. In the current study, we investigated the relationships between six major personality dimensions and ejaculate quality in a design that offered several methodological improvements over previous research. Forty-five fertile men provided two masturbatory ejaculates and completed a measure of personality (HEXACO-60) assessing honesty-humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. Agreeableness was the only personality dimension associated with ejaculate quality, after controlling statistically for participant age, Body Mass Index (BMI), and abstinence duration, and this association was negative. However, once the covariates of BMI, age, and abstinence duration were included in a hierarchical regression (along with the six personality dimensions), agreeableness was no longer a statistically significant predictor of ejaculate quality, although the direction of the relationship remained negative. The current study adds to previous research documenting that psychological attributes—including major dimensions of personality—may be associated with ejaculate quality. We highlight limitations of the current research and identify directions for future study.

Lifestyle behaviours or socioeconomic characteristics? Gender differences in covariates of BMI in Hungary.

SummaryObjectiveLifestyle behaviours are everyday activities that result from individual's values, knowledge, and norms shaped by broader cultural and socioeconomic context. These behaviours affect body weight as well as overall health and are influenced by a number of social characteristics. The aim of this paper was to examine the net effects of lifestyle behaviours and socioeconomic factors on body mass index (BMI), and how these differed by gender.MethodsThis study used the 2009/2010 Hungarian Time Use Survey combining behavioural records, background information, and measures of self‐reported health and weight. The sample (n = 7765) was representative for the Hungarian population. Multivariate linear OLS regression models were employed to analyse the net effects of lifestyle and sociodemographic variables.ResultsDaily behaviours were associated with BMI for women, but not for men, except for smoking. Meals frequency and duration of sleep had negative effects on female BMI, whereas duration of TV viewing had a positive effect. Occupational class was associated with male BMI, but not with female. The strong negative effect of smoking was significant for both genders.ConclusionsLifestyle behaviours were linked with female BMI, with socioeconomic characteristics impacting on male BMI. These results suggest that a gender‐specific approach may be appropriate to address obesity issues in the Hungarian population.

Genetic and environmental influence on thyroid gland volume and thickness of thyroid isthmus: a twin study.

Decreased thyroid volume has been related to increased prevalence of thyroid cancer. One hundred and fourteen Hungarian adult twin pairs (69 monozygotic, 45 dizygotic) with or without known thyroid disorders underwent thyroid ultrasound. Thickness of the thyroid isthmus was measured at the thickest portion of the gland in the midline using electronic calipers at the time of scanning. Volume of the thyroid lobe was computed according to the following formula: thyroid height*width*depth*correction factor (0.63). Age-, sex-, body mass index- and smoking-adjusted heritability of the thickness of thyroid isthmus was 50% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35 to 66%). Neither left nor right thyroid volume showed additive genetic effects, but shared environments were 68% (95% CI, 48 to 80%) and 79% (95% CI, 72 to 87%), respectively. Magnitudes of monozygotic and dizygotic co-twin correlations were not substantially impacted by the correction of covariates of body mass index and smoking. Unshared environmental effects showed a moderate influence on dependent parameters (24-50%). Our analysis support that familial factors are important for thyroid measures in a general twin population. A larger sample size is needed to show whether this is because of common environmental (e.g. intrauterine effects, regional nutrition habits, iodine supply) or genetic effects.

Circulating Hepcidin Is Independently Associated with Systolic Blood Pressure in Apparently Healthy Individuals

Few studies have described the association between hepcidin levels and cardiometabolic risk in the general population and more so by considering robust adjustment for confounding factors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between circulating hepcidin and anthropometric, biochemical and vascular variables related to cardiometabolic risk in healthy individuals adjusting for relevant covariates. Two-hundred thirty nine individuals (20-65years old) were included in this cross-sectional study. Outcome variables were fasting glucose, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and the Framingham risk score. Multivariate linear regression and ANCOVA analyses including covariates of body mass index (BMI), menopausal status, physical inactivity, alcohol intake, insulin resistance, subclinical/chronic inflammation, ferritin and soluble transferrin receptors were used to describe the associations between hepcidin and cardiometabolic risk markers. In adjusted linear regression analyses, there was no significant association in men. In women, a relationship between hepcidin and triglycerides became significant after adjustments (p<0.05). By comparing quartiles of hepcidin levels, systolic blood pressure values in men were significantly higher in the upper quartile of hepcidin vs. the rest of quartiles independently of BMI, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and other iron markers (ANCOVA, p<0.05). There were no significant independent associations with the Framingham risk score (total points). We found a threshold effect of hepcidin levels on systolic blood pressure specifically in men. Further larger studies and experimental research are required to investigate possible mechanisms for the relationship between hepcidin metabolism and vascular function.

Biomarkers of Insecticide Exposure and Asthma in Children: A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2008 Analysis

Pesticide exposure is a potential risk factor for increased asthma prevalence among children. The authors used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2008) biomarker data to evaluate dialkylphosphate (DAP) urinary concentrations, serum dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and asthma among school-aged children (Mexican American, Non-Hispanic Black, Non-Hispanic White). Poisson logistic regression included age, sex, nativity, poverty index ratio, tobacco smoke exposure, and body mass index covariates. No association was found between DAP (N = 2,777) and asthma outcomes; adverse effect of DDE (N = 940) was suggested for Current Wheeze. Subgroup analyses identified positive associations with some asthma outcomes among Non-Hispanic Blacks, whereas inverse associations were identified among Mexican Americans. Results support previous associations observed among children's DDE exposure and wheeze. Characterization of risk factors for pesticide exposure and disease recognition among Mexican Americans is needed.

Trajectory avoiding kidney and ureter injury for percutaneous lumbar sympathetic block.

Trajectory avoiding kidney and ureter injury for percutaneous lumbar sympathetic block.

Determination of exacerbation predictors in patients with COPD in physical therapy - a longitudinal study.

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically presents the characteristic clinical condition of exacerbation, with more intense symptoms associated with greater functional loss and consequently lower chances of patient survival. Objectives This study sought to determine the predictors of exacerbation, alone or in combination, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who received physical therapeutic treatment over 6 months. Method This was an observational, longitudinal and prospective study in which 63 COPD patients residing within the municipality of São Carlos, SP, Brazil were evaluated. These patients had COPD stages II and III and were entered into a physical therapy program, consisting of 3 periods of assessment over 6 months. We evaluated the occurrence of acute exacerbation as well as the patients' body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), fat-free mass index, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), dyspnea, distance walked (DW) in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and handgrip strength. Results When applying Cox settings with each covariate separately, the results revealed 5% significance only for the DW in the 6MWT, which demonstrated an interaction between BMI and FFM. Comparison of the 3 periods of assessment across the covariates measured showed a significant difference only for the DW between evaluations in the 3rd and 6th months. Conclusion Upon analyzing the predictors of risk over 6 months of follow-up in patients with COPD, we found that the DW in the 6MWT was associated with the risk of exacerbation, although this risk also depended on the covariates BMI and FFM.

Hypertriglyceridemic waist and newly-diagnosed diabetes among remote-dwelling Indigenous Australians

Aims: Hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTgW) is predictive of cardiovascular disease. The HTgW relationship with diabetes is little studied.Methods: This study analysed data from diabetes and cardiovascular risk factor screening programmes in remote Indigenous Australian settlements. Elevated waist girth (EW) was defined as ≥90 cm for men (n = 1134) or ≥80 cm for women (n = 1313). Hypertriglyceridemia (ETg) was defined as ≥1.7 mmol/L. Diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L. Body mass index (BMI) was categorised as <22, 22–24.9 and >25.0 kg/m2. Logistic regression was used to analyse the odds of newly-diagnosed diabetes for individuals with either HTgW, ETg or EW, relative to individuals with values below cut-offs.Results: The prevalence of HTgW was 33.2% for men and 34.8% for women. Accounting for age-group and gender, newly-diagnosed diabetes was associated (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval)) with HTgW: 9.6 (6.6, 13.8). The relationship remained strong after accounting for the covariates BMI and smoking (OR = 4.9 (2.7, 8.8)). In BMI-stratified analyses the strongest odds were observed for the lowest category (<22 kg/m2: OR = 12.9 (4.0, 41.7)).Conclusions: HTgW has a high prevalence and is associated with newly-diagnosed diabetes in Indigenous people, particularly those with BMI <22 kg/m2, whom clinicians might not normally consider for screening.

Reproducibility of sonographic assessment of fetal liver length in diabetic pregnancies

Assessing fetal liver size might be useful in monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment of diabetes in pregnancy. We aimed to assess the reproducibility of fetal liver-length measurement in pregnant women with diabetes. From 3 April 2006 to 5 December 2006, we assessed intraobserver and interobserver variation of fetal liver-length measurements on 55 sonograms in 44 pregnant women with diabetes, 34 of whom had gestational diabetes. The mean maternal age was 33 years, the mean maternal weight was 92 kg and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 33.7 kg/m(-2). The effect of covariates BMI, gestational age and maternal age on the reproducibility of fetal liver length was assessed by calculating intraobserver SD ratios. We compared liver length with abdominal circumference and gestational age. Nine of 12 sonographers scanned, on average, six women (range, 3-12) as the first sonographer, and all 12 sonographers scanned, on average, four women (range, 1-10) as the second sonographer. The data were analyzed using a hierarchical linear model. Measurement of fetal liver length was reproducible. The intraobserver SD was 3.06 (95% CI, 2.68-3.59) mm; the interobserver SD was 2.17 (95% CI, 0.59-4.83) mm; the intraobserver correlation was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.63-0.87), and the interobserver correlation was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.51-0.99). The covariate effects were minimal, the SD for a 1-unit increase in the covariate was 1.06 for gestational age, 0.98 for BMI, and 0.97 for maternal age. Measurement of fetal liver length in the diabetic pregnancy is reproducible. It is worthy of further investigation as a parameter for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment of the diabetic pregnancy.

Effects Of Tai Chi On The Status Of Elderly Subjects With Knee Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability in the aging population and its management is costly. Tai Chi (TC), an ancient form of Chinese martial art that encompasses low impact, low intensity controlled movements, has been proposed as an inexpensive alternative to benefit people with knee OA. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a TC intervention program including both group and home video sessions followed by detraining session to the effects of an attention control (AC) program on knee pain, knee range of motion (ROM) and function of subjects with knee OA. METHODS Subjects >50 yrs with knee pain were recruited. Diagnosis of knee OA was based on the Classification Criteria of the American Rheumatism Association for Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Subjects were assigned to a TC or AC group using a match-paired random block design. TC group received 40 minutes of TC 3x/week for 6 weeks, followed by 6 weeks of TC home program 3x/week and 6 weeks of no TC. AC group received 6 weeks of 40-minute lectures 3x/week, followed by no activities for the following 12 weeks. Knee ROM, knee pain using Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) and the McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were recorded at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 weeks. Data analyses were performed using 2 (treatments) × 6 (times) mixed repeated measures analysis of covariance model, with baseline value and Body Mass Index covariates. RESULTS Forty one subjects (7M/34F, 70 ± 9.2 yrs) participated in the study, 19 in the AC group and 22 in the TC group. For the AC group, knee pain, WOMAC and knee ROM scores did not change significantly during the study. For the TC group, mean knee pain significantly decreased at weeks 3, 6 (p <0.05) and 9, 12, 15 (p <0.01) from a high of 4.67 ± 2.59 at week 0 to a low of 2.30 ± 1.43 at week 9 and then increased to 3.46 ± 2.45 at the end of the study. TC group recorded significantly less knee pain than AC group at weeks 9, 12 and 15 (p = 0.008, 0.035, 0.043, respectively). WOMAC score also significantly decreased in the TC group at weeks 9, 12 and 15 (p <0.05), from 65 at week 0 to 51 at week 9, and was significantly better for the TC group than the AC group at week 9 (p = 0.005). No significant differences were found for knee ROM between the TC and AC groups. CONCLUSION Group exercise plus home video program of TC can provide significant knee pain reduction and improvement of function in the elderly with knee OA, and it may offer a cost effective alternative to the management of knee OA. However, such effect of TC was not sustained after detraining.