Decreased Body Fat Research Articles

Effects of dapagliflozin on body composition and its relation to hemodynamics in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the CAMEO-DAPA randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background Excess fat, particularly visceral fat, plays an important role in the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors improve hemodynamics, reduce symptom severity, and decrease risk of hospitalization, but their impact on body composition, as well as potential relationships between changes in body composition and hemodynamic effects, are unknown in HFpEF. Purpose Evaluate the effect of dapagliflozin on body and blood composition and examined the potential correlation of such changes on cardiac hemodynamics. Methods The CAMEO-DAPA trial, a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, showed that 24 weeks of dapagliflozin reduced resting and exercise pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (PCWP) in patients with HFpEF. This prespecified secondary analysis reports the effects of dapagliflozin on body composition using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), blood composition (radiolabeled iodinated albumin), and cardiac hemodynamics using high-fidelity micromanometers. Analysis was performed based on the intention-to-treat. Relative change was calculated by dividing the absolute change on the baseline value. Results Overall, 37 patients (67 years, 65% women, 70% with obesity, 27% overweight) completed the trial. As compared with baseline, dapagliflozin decreased total body fat compared with placebo [mean (SD) absolute change: -2.29 (2.94) kg vs -0.32 (1.84) in placebo, p=0.03; relative change: -4.6% (5.4) vs -0.8% (4.3), p=0.02], Figure 1. This was primarily due to greater loss of upper body trunk fat [absolute change: -1.53 (1.70) kg vs +0.31 (0.99) in placebo, p<.001; relative change: -5.2% (5.6) vs +1.1% (4.1), p<.001], Figure 1. Reductions in trunk fat were correlated with decreases in PCWP (r=0.41, p=0.03), Figure 2. Total body fat-free mass (FFM) tended to decrease in the dapagliflozin group [absolute change: -0.63 (1.85) kg vs +0.34 (1.76), p=0.12]; reductions in leg, android, and gynoid FFM were all greater than placebo (p<0.05). Dapagliflozin reduced plasma volume [absolute change: -170 (343) ml vs +112 (346), p=0.02] compared with placebo, and the decrease in plasma volume was correlated with the reduction in FFM (r=0.47, p=0.006), Figure 2. Treatment with dapagliflozin had no effect on resting metabolic rate but was associated with modest reduction in bone mineral content [-16 (47) g vs +26 (61), p=0.03]. Conclusions In patients with HFpEF, dapagliflozin decreases body fat, particularly trunk fat, suggesting greater effect on visceral adipose, which is correlated with favorable hemodynamic effects. Dapagliflozin also tends to reduce FFM, which may relate to reduction in total body water with or without reduction is muscle mass, in tandem with modest decreases in bone mineral content.Figure 1:Relative change in fat massFigure 2

Somatotype and body composition profiles of children and adolescent male basketball players.

Somatotype and body composition (BC) are related to athletes' physical fitness and performance. The aims of this study were (a) to determine the somatotype and BC profiles of children and adolescent male basketball players and (b) to investigate the relationship between somatotype and BC. Four hundred forty-nine children and adolescent male basketball players between the ages of 7-17 participated in the study voluntarily. Somatotype scores were determined according to the Heath & Carter method, and BC was evaluated by the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method. Pearson correlation test was used to determine the relationship between somatotype and BC. A significant positive relationship between body mass (BM), body fat (BF), body mass index (BMI), and fat mass (FM) with endomorphy and mesomorphy scores; a significant negative relationship between body height (BH) with endomorphy and mesomorphy scores were found. In addition, ectomorphy scores were significantly positively correlated with BH and negative with other parameters. This current research shows that as age increases, BH, BM, BMI, and FM increase, and BF, endomorphy, and mesomorphy scores decrease. With increasing age, the somatotype score changes from endomorphic mesomorphy (5-7-2) to balanced mesomorphy (3-6-3). The comprehensive data presented in this study can serve as a reference value and be used as an indicator for children and adolescent basketball coaches.

Maintained cognitive gains after 10 weeks of cognitively engaging exercise via reducing body fat in overweight children

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine whether the exercise-induced cognitive benefits persist after the interventions end and whether the persistence of cognitive gains following the intervention depends on the post-intervention exercise behaviour. Overweight children aged 10–12 years were enrolled in a 16-week afterschool program. During the first 10 weeks, children were randomised to receive the cognitively engaging movement games (CEMG) (N = 27) or the sedentary control (N = 27) interventions. During the subsequent 6-week post-intervention period, children self-selected either CEMG or sedentary activities daily. Perceptual discrimination performance, fitness, and body fat were measured before, immediately after, and 6-week after the intervention. Immediately after the intervention, the CEMG group improved aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, muscle power, body fat, and perceptual discrimination performance compared with the control group, and most of these benefits persisted after 6 weeks following the cessation of intervention. During the 6-week post-intervention period where CEMG and sedentary activities were both available, the CEMG group chose to engage in CEMG more frequently and with higher intensity on those days than the control group. The post-intervention exercise behaviours were positively related to the persistence of cognitive gains, and these associations were mediated through decreased body fat. Collectively, the 10-week CEMG intervention has positive effects not only on physical and cognitive outcomes, but also post-intervention self-selected exercise behaviours that may help maintain intervention-induced cognitive gains in overweight children. Future research controlling for factors impacting children’s behavioural choice and determining the differential effects of CEMG versus traditional exercise regimen is needed. Trial registration: Thai Clinical Trials Registry identifier: TCTR20220913006.

The translation initiation factor eIF2α regulates lipid homeostasis and metabolic aging.

Aging is usually accompanied by excessive body fat gain, leading to increased susceptibility to comorbidities. This study aimed to explore an unexpected function for the eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF2α) during aging. Reducing the eIF2α dose led to a reconfiguration of the metabolic equilibrium, promoting catabolism, facilitating lipolysis, and decreasing body fat accumulation while maintaining healthy glucose and lipid metabolism during aging. Specifically, eIF2α enhanced the expression of distinct messenger RNAs encoding mitochondrial electron transport chain proteins at the translation level. The mitochondrial respiration increased in eIF2α heterozygotes, even during aging. Deceleration of translation was demonstrated as a conserved mechanism for promoting longevity across various species. Our findings demonstrated that the restriction of translation by reducing eIF2α expression could fend off multiple tissue damage and improve metabolic homeostasis during aging. Hence, eIF2α was a crucial target for benefiting mammalian aging achieving delayed mammalian aging.

Orexins mitigate obesity-associated dysfunctions in mice.

Obesity is a chronic disease that affects more than 400 million adults with severe comorbidities. The search for new treatments to reduce its negative consequences is necessary. Orexins are hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in various physiological processes related to obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of chronic orexin-A treatment in mouse models. Female wild-type C57BL/6 mice that were obesity-prone or obesity-resistant and mice that were deficient for orexin receptors were fed with a high-fat diet. Glucose tolerance, indirect calorimetry, expression of brain neuropeptides and receptors, microglial activation, and microbiota were determined to evaluate the role of orexins on metabolic flexibility. Orexin-A reduces weight gain in obesity-prone mice. This reduction is associated with a decrease in body fat, food intake, steatosis, and insulin resistance, as well as alterations of intestinal microbiota composition. A decreased expression of orexin receptors and neuropeptides involved in food intake was also observed in the hypothalamus. Our data support the notion that orexin receptor signaling is involved in different aspects of energy metabolism and can mitigate several dysfunctions associated with obesity, suggesting that orexin receptors can represent new targets for obesity treatment.

Sirt2 Regulates Liver Metabolism in a Sex-Specific Manner.

Sirtuin-2 (Sirt2), an NAD+-dependent lysine deacylase enzyme, has previously been implicated as a regulator of glucose metabolism, but the specific mechanisms remain poorly defined. Here, we observed that Sirt2-/- males, but not females, have decreased body fat, moderate hypoglycemia upon fasting, and perturbed glucose handling during exercise compared to wild type controls. Conversion of injected lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol boluses into glucose via gluconeogenesis was impaired, but only in males. Primary Sirt2-/- male hepatocytes exhibited reduced glycolysis and reduced mitochondrial respiration. RNAseq and proteomics were used to interrogate the mechanisms behind this liver phenotype. Loss of Sirt2 did not lead to transcriptional dysregulation, as very few genes were altered in the transcriptome. In keeping with this, there were also negligible changes to protein abundance. Site-specific quantification of the hepatic acetylome, however, showed that 13% of all detected acetylated peptides were significantly increased in Sirt2-/- male liver versus wild type, representing putative Sirt2 target sites. Strikingly, none of these putative target sites were hyperacetylated in Sirt2-/- female liver. The target sites in the male liver were distributed across mitochondria (44%), cytoplasm (32%), nucleus (8%), and other compartments (16%). Despite the high number of putative mitochondrial Sirt2 targets, Sirt2 antigen was not detected in purified wild type liver mitochondria, suggesting that Sirt2's regulation of mitochondrial function occurs from outside the organelle. We conclude that Sirt2 regulates hepatic protein acetylation and metabolism in a sex-specific manner.

Exploring the Impact of Swimming on Body Mass Index and Body Fat in Individuals with Down Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of swimming training in reducing body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage among individuals with Down syndrome (DS), utilizing a meta-analysis approach. We conducted a systematic search for studies examining the clinical impact of swimming training on individuals with DS. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies involving DS patients who underwent swimming training for a minimum duration of 4 weeks. The primary focus was to compare changes in BMI and body fat percentage from baseline to post-training. Our analysis incorporated four studies comprising a total of 48 participants. The results demonstrated that swimming training lasting from 8 to 36 weeks did not significantly decrease BMI among DS patients, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) post-training of −0.428 (95% confidence interval (CI): −1.721–0.865) and an I2 of 0%. Subgroup analysis based on age or duration (≥33 weeks or 8 weeks) also showed no notable decrease in BMI. Conversely, the analysis of body fat percentage demonstrated a significant decrease, with a WMD of −2.946 (95% CI: −5.056–−0.837). Subgroup analysis indicated a consistent reduction in body fat percentage across all duration groups. Swimming training does not lead to a significant reduction in BMI among individuals with DS. This outcome may be attributed to concurrent muscle gain alongside decreased body fat, resulting in a notable decrease in body fat percentage.

Effects of Sulfonylureas and Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors on Percentage Body Fat Change in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients on Metformin at 4 and 12 Weeks.

Introduction Anti-diabetic drugs used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a unique effect on the body weight and fat distribution of a patient. This study aimed to find out the change inpercentage body fat and body composition with the addition of sulfonylureas or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors to metformin monotherapy. Methods An observational 12-week follow-up study was conducted with a sample size of 52 patients. All patients enrolled in the study were evaluated forbaseline percentage body fat and body composition parameters including total body weight, total body water, and skeletal muscle mass using the ACCUNIQ BC300, added on to either sulfonylureas or DPP-4 inhibitors over a stable dose of metformin; repeat assessment performed at 4 weeks and 12 weeks, and change in values was noted. Results Of the 52 patients, 28 patients were on sulfonylureas and 24 were on DPP-4 inhibitors. In the sulfonylurea group, there was an increase in percentage body fat from 31.97 ± 8.77% at baseline to 32.65 ± 8.94% at 12 weeks (p = 0.041), while in the DPP-4 inhibitor group, there was a decrease in percentage body fat from 31.87 ± 7.41% at baseline to 31.24 ± 8.5% at 12 weeks (p = 0.102). In the sulfonylurea group, there was a decrease in body weight from 67.25 ± 14.79 kilograms (kg) at baseline to 66.97 ± 14.62 kg at 12 weeks (p = 0.429). In the DPP-4 inhibitor group, there was a decrease in body weight from 66.56 ± 10.82 kg at baseline to 65.76 ± 12.56 kg at 12 weeks (p = 0.079). In the sulfonylureagroup, total body water decreased from32.54 ±6.65 L at baseline to 32.06 ±6.51 L at 12 weeks (p = 0.084), while in the DPP-4 inhibitor group, the total body water decreased from 32.46 ±5.39 L at baseline to 32.18 ±5.48 L at 12 weeks (p = 0.741).Skeletal muscle mass decreased from 24.78 ±5.12 kgto 24.4 ±5.04 kg (p = 0.041) in the sulfonylurea group and from 24.74 ±4.2 kgto 24.53 ±4.25 kg(p = 0.666) in the DPP-4 inhibitor group. Conclusion Our study shows that sulfonylureas are associated with an increase in percentage body fat, while there were no significant changes associated with DPP-4 inhibitors when given in addition to metformin. There are no significant changes in body weight associated with sulfonylureas or DPP-4 inhibitors in addition to metformin. Also, sulfonylureas are associated with a decrease in skeletal muscle mass after 12 weeks.

Diabetes-specific formula with standard of care improves glycemic control, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Medical nutrition therapy is important for diabetes management. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a diabetes-specific formula (DSF) on glycemic control and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Participants (n = 235) were randomized to either DSF with standard of care (SOC) (DSF group; n = 117) or SOC only (control group; n = 118). The DSF group consumed one or two DSF servings daily as meal replacement or partial meal replacement. The assessments were done at baseline, on day 45, and on day 90. There were significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin (-0.44% vs. -0.26%, p = 0.015, at day 45; -0.50% vs. -0.21%, p = 0.002, at day 90) and fasting blood glucose (-0.14 mmol/L vs. +0.32 mmol/L, p = 0.036, at day 90), as well as twofold greater weight loss (-1.30 kg vs. -0.61 kg, p < 0.001, at day 45; -1.74 kg vs. -0.76 kg, p < 0.001, at day 90) in the DSF group compared with the control group. The decrease in percent body fat and increase in percent fat-free mass at day 90 in the DSF group were almost twice that of the control group (1.44% vs. 0.79%, p = 0.047). In addition, the percent change in visceral adipose tissue at day 90 in the DSF group was several-fold lower than in the control group (-6.52% vs. -0.95%, p < 0.001). The DSF group also showed smaller waist and hip circumferences, and lower diastolic blood pressure than the control group (all overall p ≤ 0.045). DSF with SOC yielded significantly greater improvements than only SOC in glycemic control, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with T2D.

Exercise During Work Hours Improves Fitness: An Evidence-Based Case Report

Relatively tight working hours are problems for employees in urban areas, affecting less time for physical activities. About 59% of office workers in Jakarta are classified as sedentary. The high number of sedentary workers can cause productivity problems due to low fitness. Appropriate interventions are needed to overcome it. We have done literature searches from 7 journal databases in the last 20 years, including ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, ClinicalKey, and Cochrane. Inclusion criteria include research design in the form of systematic review/meta-analysis/randomized controlled trials, outcomes in the form of physical fitness or work performance, and interventions in the form of workplace exercise or stretching. Three selected articles showed a significant relationship (p-value &amp;lt;0.05) between programmed physical exercise at work and several fitness factors, such as decreased body fat and fat mass, increased lean mass, and increased sit-up and push-up fitness test results. Physical activity at work decreased cardiovascular risk as assessed by VO2max. In conclusion, physical activity during working hours effectively improves health-related fitness. The minimal intervention types needed are aerobics, strength training, and muscle endurance. We recommend providing interventions for workplace fitness and education programs (WFEP).

Evaluating Weight Loss Efficacy in Obesity Treatment with Allurion's Ingestible Gastric Balloon: A Retrospective Study Utilizing the Scale App Health Tracker.

Obesity represents a growing public health concern, affecting more than 15% of the global adult population and involving a multi-billion market that comprises nutritional, surgical, psychological, and multidisciplinary interventions. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy and body weight measurements associated with differing levels of physical activity following the use of Allurion's ingestible gastric balloon that was designed to increase feelings of fullness and decrease food consumption, being naturally eliminated after approximately 16 weeks. This study involved 571 individuals who qualified for the intervention for being older than 20 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or more. Utilizing the Scale App Health Tracker and Allurion's smartwatch, this study was able to track vital signs and physical activity in real time. The participants had an average initial BMI of 34.1 kg/m2 and a median age of 41 years. Notable outcomes were observed in both study groups, "Less Active" and "More Active", which were classified by achieving less or more than a median number of 8000 daily steps. Specifically, body fat percentage saw a reduction from 33.1 ± 9.4 to 28.3 ± 10.2 in the less active group and from 32.2 to 27.5 in the more active group, with both groups achieving statistical significance (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in average weight, dropping from 98.2 ± 22.8 kg to 84.6 ± 19.3 kg in the less active group and from 97.7 ± 21.0 kg to 82.1 ± 22.9 kg in the more active group (both p < 0.001). Interestingly, those in the more active group also experienced a significant increase in lean mass compared to their less active counterparts (p = 0.045), although no substantial differences in weight loss, BMI reduction, and total body fat decrease were observed between the two groups. This investigation confirms the hypothesis that Allurion's ingestible gastric balloon significantly reduces weight in the short term and enhances several physical health metrics, demonstrating effectiveness as an autonomous method for challenging weight management, regardless of the level of daily physical activity.

Effectiveness of dietetic care for cancer survivors in the primary care setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Nutrition plays an important role in cancer survivorship. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to critically assess and quantify the effectiveness of nutrition care interventions provided by dietitians to survivors who have completed treatment for cancer. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2004 to November 2023 reporting the effectiveness of primary care dietetic interventions with adult cancer survivors was conducted. PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, ProQuest and PsycINFO databases were searched for key terms. Meta-analyses were conducted where there were sufficient studies of the same cancer type and outcomes. Twelve RCTs representing 1138 cancer survivors (519 breast cancer; 75 prostate cancer; 544 colorectal cancer) were included. Primary outcome measures included weight loss (n = 6), quality of life (n = 2), reducing lymphedema-related arm volume (n = 2), nutritional status (n = 1) and increasing fruit and vegetable intake (n = 1). Weight loss was observed in studies where this was the primary outcome. Results for quality of life varied.Meta-analyses of RCTs with breast cancer survivors showed that dietitian intervention achieved a mean of 3.7kg greater intentional weight loss and 2.3% greater body fat decrease than control (p < 0.0001). This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of primary care dietetic interventions by dietitians with cancer survivors, particularly with respect to intentional weight and fat loss in breast cancer survivors. Dietitians can play a key role in managing weight and improving long term health outcomes and prognosis for cancer survivors beyond the acute care setting.

Which performance markers have the greatest impact on lacrosse point production?

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review was to explore what performance markers have the greatest impact on lacrosse point production. Method: A literature search was performed using the Google Scholar database. All articles were accessed through a combination of the Lasell University Library and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Library. Some journals that were included in this paper are Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, Journal of Athletic Enhancement, International Journal of Exercise Science and many others. The initial criteria for sources were set for peer reviewed articles within the last 10 years. Due to a void in research, older sources were included to help provide a bigger picture of the research. Results: Of the 32 studies, 12 looked at men’s lacrosse, 16 looked at women’s lacrosse, 2 studies collected data from both men’s and women’s teams, and lastly 1 included article looked at sports that were not lacrosse. Of the 32 studies, 24 of them explore performance markers, 2 studies explored exclusively point production variables, and 6 studies looked at the relationship between performance markers and point production. Conclusion: All studies included in this paper create a fundamental base of research for the sport of lacrosse. The base of suggestions from this article appears to be improvements should focus on decreasing body fat percentage, improving anaerobic training, and increasing muscular strength. All three of which could be linked together physiologically.

Los fructanos de agave promueven la formación de biopelícula in vitro en el consorcio probiótico Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. lactis, L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus y Streptococcus thermophilus

In recent years the relationship between the intestinal microbiota, the host and chronic non-communicable diseases has brought interest into the study of its formation and maintenance in the host. Lactic acid bacteria (BAL) are Gram-positive bacteria with probiotic activity, which have been associated with many health benefits, such as decreased body fat mass and lower risk of type II diabetes mellitus. One of the main colonization mechanisms and bacteria survival strategies is the production of biofilms and the use of prebiotics as substrates to achieve a balance within intestinal microbiota. However, there is not enough evidence to demonstrate the biofilm formation in the presence of agave fructans (AF). This study aimed to evaluate in vitro the biofilm formation in a consortium of lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. lactis, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus y Streptococcus thermophilus in the presence of AF at different concentrations: 0%, 0,1%, 4%, 8% y 16%. The addition of 0,1% of AF correlates with the best capacity for biofilm formation. The findings imply the possibility of modulating the biofilm formation of lactic acid bacteria with AF. These results can contribute positively to the host, by generating intestinal homeostasis, colonization resistance, stability to food digestion and chemical modifications of drugs and carry out beneficial functions to the health.

The Interactive Effects of Sedentary Time, Physical Activity, and Fat Mass on Insulin Resistance in the Young Population.

Recent evidence in 9-year-old children with overweight/obesity followed up for 7 years until late adolescence concluded that increased physical activity (PA) decreased the risk of high fasting glucose, low insulin sensitivity, and secretion. However, whether this effect persists until young adulthood is unknown. This observational study examined the effects of cumulative sedentary time (ST), light PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) on glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in 11-year-old children followed up for 13 years until young adulthood. Altogether 792 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, UK who had data on at least two measures of accelerometer-based movement behaviour during ages 11, 15, and 24 years follow-up clinic visits with complete fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR measures at ages 15, 17, and 24 years were included. ST, LPA, and MVPA were measured with an accelerometer. Cumulative ST from ages 11-24 years was associated with increased odds (odds ratio 1.20 [95% CI 1.00-1.44] p=0.047) and cumulative LPA was associated with the decreased odds of hyperinsulinemia (0.80 [0.66-0.96] p=0.017) among participants with overweight/obesity. Cumulative MVPA was inversely associated with insulin but after accounting for the mediating role of fat mass, MVPA effect on lowering insulin decreased by 58% resulting in statistical non-significance. In the temporal path analyses, among participants with overweight/obesity, higher glucose at age 15 years was associated with lower LPA and MVPA at 24 years. Higher LPA at 15 years was associated with lower insulin and HOMA-IR at 24 years and vice-versa. Promoting LPA while decreasing body fat mass and ST may be considered crucial intervention targets to attenuate the risk of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance from childhood through young adulthood.

Association between body fat decrease during the first year after diagnosis and the prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: CT-based body composition analysis

BackgroundThe prognostic role of changes in body fat in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains underexplored. We investigated the association between changes in body fat during the first year post-diagnosis and outcomes in patients with IPF.MethodsThis single-center, retrospective study included IPF patients with chest CT scan and pulmonary function test (PFT) at diagnosis and a one-year follow-up between January 2010 and December 2020. The fat area (cm2, sum of subcutaneous and visceral fat) and muscle area (cm2) at the T12-L1 level were obtained from chest CT images using a fully automatic deep learning-based software. Changes in the body composition were dichotomized using thresholds dividing the lowest quartile and others, respectively (fat area: -52.3 cm2, muscle area: -7.4 cm2). Multivariable Cox regression analyses adjusted for PFT result and IPF extent on CT images and the log-rank test were performed to assess the association between the fat area change during the first year post-diagnosis and the composite outcome of death or lung transplantation.ResultsIn total, 307 IPF patients (69.3 ± 8.1 years; 238 men) were included. During the first year post-diagnosis, fat area, muscle area, and body mass index (BMI) changed by -15.4 cm2, -1 cm2, and − 0.4 kg/m2, respectively. During a median follow-up of 47 months, 146 patients had the composite outcome (47.6%). In Cox regression analyses, a change in the fat area < -52.3 cm2 was associated with composite outcome incidence in models adjusted with baseline clinical variables (hazard ratio [HR], 1.566, P = .022; HR, 1.503, P = .036 in a model including gender, age, and physiology [GAP] index). This prognostic value was consistent when adjusted with one-year changes in clinical variables (HR, 1.495; P = .030). However, the change in BMI during the first year was not a significant prognostic factor (P = .941). Patients with a change in fat area exceeding this threshold experienced the composite outcome more frequently than their counterparts (58.4% vs. 43.9%; P = .007).ConclusionA ≥ 52.3 cm2 decrease in fat area, automatically measured using deep learning technique, at T12-L1 in one year post-diagnosis was an independent poor prognostic factor in IPF patients.

Beneficial effects of simultaneously targeting calorie intake and calorie efficiency in diet-induced obese mice.

Semaglutide is an anti-diabetes and weight loss drug that decreases food intake, slows gastric emptying, and increases insulin secretion. Patients begin treatment with low-dose semaglutide and increase dosage over time as efficacy plateaus. With increasing dosage, there is also greater incidence of gastrointestinal side effects. One reason for the plateau in semaglutide efficacy despite continued low food intake is due to compensatory actions whereby the body becomes more metabolically efficient to defend against further weight loss. Mitochondrial uncoupler drugs decrease metabolic efficiency, therefore we sought to investigate the combination therapy of semaglutide with the mitochondrial uncoupler BAM15 in diet-induced obese mice. Mice were fed high-fat western diet (WD) and stratified into six treatment groups including WD control, BAM15, low-dose semaglutide without or with BAM15, and high-dose semaglutide without or with BAM15. Combining BAM15 with either semaglutide dose decreased body fat and liver triglycerides, which was not achieved by any monotherapy, while high-dose semaglutide with BAM15 had the greatest effect on glucose homeostasis. This study demonstrates a novel approach to improve weight loss without loss of lean mass and improve glucose control by simultaneously targeting energy intake and energy efficiency. Such a combination may decrease the need for semaglutide dose escalation and hence minimize potential gastrointestinal side effects.

Aerobic training effect on mental health and biological indicators in Post-COVID-19 patients

Introduction. One of the aspects of health most affected in patients infected by COVID-19 was mental health. Leading organizations worldwide have recommended physical activity as one of the main actions. Objective. To analyze the effect of a short-term aerobic training program on biological and mental health and quality of life indicators in post-Covid-19 patients. Methods. Symptomatology of depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, vital signs, physical fitness and body composition were measured in 10 post COVID-19 patients. An aerobic physical exercise program was applied at 40-60% intensity, five days a week, 50 minutes per session for four weeks. Results. A 30% decrease in depression symptomatology, 58% in stress and 44% in anxiety was found during the intervention period (p&lt;0.001). Regarding the perception of quality of life, the psychological area was the one that presented a positive effect during the intervention (p=0.035). An increase in leg strength (p=0.018) and a decrease in body fat (p=0.005) were found during the intervention. Conclusion. A short-term physical exercise program shows benefits in mental health indicators in post-COVID-19 patients. Key Words: Physical activity; Mental health; Quality of life, COVID-19; Fitness.

Effects of a complex yoga-based intervention on physical characteristics

Empirical studies on yoga have shown that regular practice can have a beneficial effect on risk factors of cardiovascular diseases; also, it can decrease body weight, body fat and increase muscle mass. Positive effects on balance and flexibility were also reported. This study evaluated the impact of a 3-month complex yoga-based program, including physical exercises, education, and social support, with a quasi-randomized design in a middle-aged community sample. The intervention group consisted of 46 participants while the passive control group was 29 participants. The intervention group showed a significant increase in core muscle strength and hamstring flexibility and a decrease in body fat. No significant changes were found concerning risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, body weight, muscle mass, balancing ability, and dietary habits. A 3-month yoga intervention cannot substantially impact the cardiovascular system and body weight control in middle-aged adults.

Migratory behaviours are risk-sensitive to physiological state in an elevational migrant.

Accretion of body fat by animals is an important physiological adaptation that may underpin seasonal behaviours, especially where it modulates risk associated with a particular behaviour. Using movement data from male Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae), we tested the hypothesis that migratory behaviours were risk-sensitive to physiological state (indexed by body fat). Sierra bighorn face severe winter conditions at high elevations and higher predation risk at lower elevations. Given that large body fat stores ameliorate starvation risk, we predicted that having small body fat stores would force animals to migrate to lower elevations with more abundant food supplies. We also predicted that body fat stores would influence how far animals migrate, with the skinniest animals migrating the furthest down in elevation (to access the most abundant food supplies at that time of year). Lastly, we predicted that population-level rates of switching between migratory tactics would be inversely related to body fat levels because as body fat levels decrease, animals exhibiting migratory plasticity should modulate their risk of starvation by switching migratory tactics. Consistent with our predictions, probability of migration and elevational distance migrated increased with decreasing body fat, but effects differed amongst metapopulations. Population-level switching rates also were inversely related to population-level measures of body fat prior to migration. Collectively, our findings suggest migration was risk-sensitive to physiological state, and failure to accrete adequate fat may force animals to make trade-offs between starvation and predation risk. In complex seasonal environments, risk-sensitive migration yields a layer of flexibility that should aid long-term persistence of animals that can best modulate their risk by attuning behaviour to physiological state.