Healthy Females Research Articles

Brain Functional Correlates of Recall of Life Events in Medication-Naïve Adolescents with Borderline Personality Disorder

Introduction: Recall of autobiographical events has been found to be impaired in borderline personality disorder (BPD), but few studies have examined if this impairment has brain functional correlates. This study evaluated brain functional alterations during autobiographical recall using medication-naive adolescent patients to avoid potential confounding effects of treatment. Methods: Thirty-two adolescent female patients with BPD who were never-medicated and without psychiatric comorbidity and 33 matched healthy females underwent fMRI while they viewed individualized cue words that evoked autobiographical memories. Control conditions included viewing non-memory-evoking cues and a low-level baseline (cross-fixation). Results: During autobiographical recall, in comparison to the low-level baseline, the BPD patients showed increased brain activity in regions including the posterior hippocampus, the lingual and calcarine cortex, and the precuneus compared to the healthy controls. The BPD patients also showed a failure to deactivate the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during autobiographical recall. No patient-control differences were found when memory-evoking words were compared to non-memory-evoking words. Discussion/Conclusions: This study finds evidence of hippocampal/lingual/calcarine/precuneus hyperactivation to stimuli that evoke autobiographical memories in patients with BPD. As the changes were seen in never-treated patients without other comorbidities, they could be considered intrinsic to the disorder. Our study also adds to existing evidence for failure of deactivation in BPD, this time outside the default mode network.

A neural network underlying cognitive strategies related to eating, weight and body image concerns.

Concerns about food intake, weight and body shape can trigger negatively loaded emotions, which may prompt the use of cognitive strategies to regulate these emotional states. A novel fMRI task was developed to assess the neurobehavioral correlates of cognitive strategies related to eating, weight and body image concerns, such as self-criticism, avoidance, rumination, and self-reassurance. Fourteen healthy females were presented audio sentences referring to these conditions and instructed to repeat these internally while engaging their thoughts with the content of food or body images. Participants were asked to report the elicited emotion and rate their performance. All cognitive strategies recruited a network including the inferior and superior frontal gyri, orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex, insula, and dorsal striatum. These brain regions are involved in emotional, reward and inhibitory control processing. Representational similarity analysis revealed distinct patterns of neural responses for each cognitive strategy. Additionally, self-report measures showed that self-criticism was positively associated with superior frontal gyrus (SFG) activation. Self-compassion scores were negatively correlated with activations in the insula and right putamen, while self-reassurance scores were negatively associated with activity in the orbitofrontal cortex. These findings identify a neural network underlying cognitive strategies related to eating, weight and body image concerns, where neurobehavioral correlation patterns depend on the cognitive strategy.

Circulating levels of advanced glycation end products in females with polycystic ovary syndrome: A meta-analysis

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder characterized by a hormonal imbalance that affects females of reproductive age. The association between advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and PCOS has attracted considerable attention in recent years, highlighting the potential of AGEs as biomarkers for this disorder. In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to examine the association between AGEs and PCOS, evaluate their potential as biomarkers, and improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of PCOS and its associated metabolic complications. A literature search was performed using various databases from January 2000 to March 2023 to identify relevant studies investigating the association between AGEs and PCOS. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed to examine potential sources of heterogeneity. The meta-analysis included six studies with a total of 623 participants. Our results revealed a significant increase in circulating AGE levels in females with PCOS compared to healthy females (SMD = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.10-3.60; P <0.001). Significant heterogeneity was observed between the studies (I 2 = 96.37%; P < 0.001), indicating the presence of several factors influencing the association. Subgroup analyses based on body mass index, age, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance indicated differential effects of AGEs on specific subgroups. This systematic review and meta-analysis support the association between elevated AGE levels and PCOS, thereby suggesting the potential role of AGEs as biomarkers in PCOS.

Reorganization of Brain Resting-state Functional Connectivity Following 14 Days of Elbow Immobilization in Young Females

Limb immobilization is known to cause significant decreases in muscle strength and muscle mass as early as two days following the onset of immobilization. However, the decline in strength surpasses the decline in muscle mass, suggesting that factors in addition to muscle loss, such as neuroplasticity, contribute to the decrease in force production. However, little is known regarding immobilization-induced neural changes, although sensorimotor regions seem to be the most affected. The present study aimed to determine whether brain functional organization is altered following 14 days of unilateral elbow immobilization. Functional organization was quantified using resting-state functional connectivity, a measure of the synchronicity of the spontaneous discharge of different brain regions at rest. Data was obtained from twelve healthy young females before and after completing the immobilization period. A seed-to-voxel analysis was performed using seeds associated with cortical, subcortical, and cerebellar sensorimotor regions of the brain. The results showed changes predominantly involving cerebellar connectivity. For example, the immobilization period caused a decrease in connectivity between the motor cerebellar region of the immobilized arm and the left temporal lobe, and an increase between the same cerebellar region and the supplementary motor area. Overall, changes in connectivity occurred in regions typically associated with error detection and motor learning, suggesting a potential functional reorganization of the brain within 14 days of elbow immobilization.

Serum calcitonin gene-related peptide in patients with persistent post-concussion symptoms, including headache: a cohort study.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays an important role in migraine pathophysiology, and post-traumatic headache (PTH) frequently presents with migraine-like features. Despite several clinical similarities, few studies have explored CGRP in PTH and concussion. This study investigates serum CGRP levels in patients with persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS), including PTH. This cohort study was based on serum samples from individuals aged 18-30years with PPCS who participated in a previously published randomized controlled trial of a non-pharmacological intervention. The primary outcome was serum CGRP concentrations, determined at baseline before randomization and at follow-up 7months later, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CGRP levels at baseline were compared with healthy anonymous blood donors in the same age group. Baseline serum samples were collected from 86 participants with PPCS. The participants were most often female (78%) and migraine-like headache was the most frequent headache phenotype (74%). Serum CGRP levels were higher in participants with PPCS than in 120 healthy individuals (median: 158.5pg/mL vs. 76.3pg/mL, p = 0.050). A stratified analysis revealed that females with PPCS had a fivefold higher median than healthy females (166.3pg/mL vs. 32.1pg/mL, p = 0.0006), while no differences were observed in males (p = 0.83). At follow-up, CGRP levels decreased with a median change of - 1.3pg/mL (95% confidence interval: - 17.6-0, p = 0.024). Elevated serum levels of CGRP in patients with PPCS and a decrease over time suggest an involvement of CGRP in PTH/PPCS. If confirmed in other studies, it could pave the way for CGRP-targeted therapies, which could have clinical significance.

Thrombotic and Vascular Complications of Oral Contraceptives.

The oral contraceptive pill is the most commonly used form of reversible contraception, as it has significantly grown in popularity in recent years. The 2 types of oral contraceptive pills are combination oral contraceptives, which contain estrogen and progesterone, and progestin-only pills. Both have failure rates of approximately 7.2-9% with typical use and are safe for most patients. However, several thrombotic and vascular complications have been found to be associated with the usage of oral contraceptive pills, most notably being an increase in blood pressure and thrombosis. Although these complications do not typically affect young, healthy females, they merit concern for patients with a history of hypertension or thrombosis or patients with preexisting risk factors for these conditions. Overall, progestin-only pills are the safer option regarding these complications. Additionally, a complete summary of the medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use has been created and is regularly updated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This chart summarizes the recommendations for contraception use by patients with a variety of preexisting conditions or risk factors.

A method of diagnosing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with the calculation of the steatosis index

Objective. To work out the index for diagnosing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in women with metabolic syndrome (MS) in postmenopause using generally available markers.
 Materials and methods. 62 females with NAFLD and MS in early postreproductive period took part in the study. They were compared to 24 relatively healthy females not suffering from obesity in postmenopause. The average age of the patients was 49,9 ± 1,1. Hepatic steatosis was diagnosed by ultrasound examination. The mathematic model of hepatic steatosis index (HSI) calculation included: body mass index (BMI), waist size (WS), triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL).
 Results. BMI and WS in patients with MS and NAFLD in postmenopause were considerably more than in relatively healthy women. Hypertriglyceridemia and an increase of LDL in blood serum were noted in patients with steatosis. Biometric and laboratory data were included in the mathematical formula which allows to calculate HSI. With HSI 0,5 and more NAFLD is diagnosed in women in post menopause, when HSI is lower than 0,5 it is not diagnosed. Indicators of sensitivity and specificity of the method were 98,4 % and 95,85 % respectively.
 Conclusions. The minimally invasive method suggested above allows to reveal hepatic steatosis in females with MS in early postreproductive period. High diagnostic characteristics of the method are worth mentioning, as well as the possibility to be widely used thanks to simple biometric and laboratory data employed.

Neuro-ophthalmological changes in healthy females exposed to a 5-day dry immersion: a pilot study

After exposure to microgravity, astronauts undergo microgravity-induced thoraco-cephalic fluid shift, which may lead to ocular changes called “spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome” (SANS). The onset of SANS may be multifactorial, including a potential elevation in intracranial pressure. Moreover, little is known about the impact of spaceflight on SANS in women due to the fact that fewer female astronauts have spent time in long-term missions. The objective is to determine whether similar ophthalmological changes occur in healthy women after short-term exposure to microgravity. The auto-refractometer was used to determine objective refraction. The best corrected distance visual acuity was assessed with a Monoyer chart. The ocular axial length was assessed using optical biometry. The applanation tonometry was used to determine intraocular pressure. Peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (pRNFLT), macular total retinal thickness, and ganglion cell complex (GCC) were measured using optical coherence tomography. Ocular axial length is reduced after DI. pRNFL is thickest after DI specifically in the temporal, temporal-inferior, and nasal-inferior quadrants. Macular total retinal at the inferior quadrant of the 6-mm ring is thickest after DI. Global GCC is thinnest after DI. In this study, 5 days of DI induces slight but significant ophthalmological changes in women. However, these subtle changes do not correspond to criteria defined in SANS.

The Association between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and the Risk of Breast Cancer in Women.

Studies have shown an inverse association between the risk of breast cancer in women and physical activity. However, information on the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) assessed objectively by a standardized test and the risk of developing breast cancer is limited. To examine the CRF-breast cancer risk association in healthy females. This retrospective study was derived from the Exercise Testing and Health Outcomes Study cohort ( n = 750,302). Female participants ( n = 44,463; mean age ± SD; 55.1 ± 8.9 yr) who completed an exercise treadmill test evaluation (Bruce protocol) at the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers nationwide from 1999 to 2020 were studied. The cohort was stratified into four age-specific CRF categories (Least-fit, Low-fit, Moderate-fit, and Fit), based on the peak METs achieved during the exercise treadmill test. During 438,613 person-years of observation, 994 women developed breast cancer. After controlling for covariates, the risk of breast cancer was inversely related to exercise capacity. For each 1-MET increase in CRF, the risk of cancer was 7% lower (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.95; P < 0.001). When risk was assessed across CRF categories with the Least-fit group as the referent, the risk was 18% lower for Low-fit women (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.70-0.96; P = 0.013), 31% for Moderate-fit (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.58-0.82; P < 0.001), and 40% for Fit (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.47-0.75; P < 0.001). We observed an inverse and graded association between CRF and breast cancer risk in women. Thus, encouraging women to improve CRF may help attenuate the risk of developing breast cancer.

Assessment of inter-individual variability in hamstring muscle recovery after a sport-specific sprint training in women and men.

Background: Hamstring muscles are most affected by multiple sprint-based sports as a result of muscle strain during sprinting, leading to reduced performance and increased risk of injury. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to assess inter-individual variability in hamstrings recovery after a sport-specific repeated-sprint training (RST), through sprint-specific markers of muscle recovery and associated muscle damage biomarkers in women and men. Methods: Healthy females (n = 14) and males (n = 15) underwent 10 repeated 40-m sprints with a 3-min rest pause between each repetition. Force-generating capacity (FGC) by the 90° hip :20° knee test and range of motion Jurdan test, together with serum biomarkers [sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase (sMtCK), oxidative stress, irisin] were tested at baseline and 24-, 48- and 72-h post-exercise through a repeated measures design. Participants were classified according to FGC loss into high responders (HR) and low responders (LR). Results: 21 individuals (10 females, 11 males) were classified as HR (FGC loss >20% and recovery >48h), while 8 individuals (4 females, 4 males) were classified as LR. HR individuals showed unrecovered maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque until 72h post-training (p = 0.003, np 2 = 0.170), whereas only HR males showed decreased range of motion (p = 0.026, np 2 = 0.116). HR individuals also showed increased sMtCK (p = 0.016, np 2 = 0.128), oxidative stress (p = 0.038, np 2 = 0.106) and irisin (p = 0.019, np 2 = 0.123). Conclusion: There is inter-individual variability in the muscular response to a sport-specific RST, identifiable by MVIC torque assessment. The findings support that the 90° hip :20° knee test is a powerful indirect test to screen hamstrings recovery in both women and men, in a cost-effective way. However, the Jurdan test might not be able to monitor hamstrings recovery in sportswomen after RST. Decreases in muscle capacity are linked to damage to muscle sarcolemma and mitochondria until 72h post-exercise. Overall, 72h will not be adequate time to restore hamstrings structure and function after a sport-specific RST in both female and male responders.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and update conclusions from a 2-year double-blind rct testing fermented papaya preparation in healthy middle-aged/elderly subjects

Background:T his study represents the second part of a 2-year interventional study in middle-aged /elderly healthy subjects treated either with an antioxidant supplementation (200mg trans-resveratrol, 100mg Centella asiatica extract, 80mg ubiquinol, 50mg epigallo-cathechin-gallate, 20 mg anthocyanidins, 5mg zinc, and 200 IU vitamin E) or with a proprietary fermented papaya preparation (FPP). The choice of the fermented papaya preparation was based on over 12 years of experimental and clinical data proving its effectiveness on redox and immune regulation. The aim of this study was to complete a 24-month investigation of the potential beneficial effect of this functional food on key age-related immune system parameters.Methods: Study population: From a total of 106 subjects, we analyzed data collected from ninety-eight clinically stable, healthy community dwelling males and females aged 58 to 76 years. The investigation followed a double-blind methodology involving two groups, A and B. Group A received FPP® 4.5 grams, one sachet twice a day, coupled with a placebo capsule in the morning. Meanwhile, Group B was administered a papaya-flavored sachet twice a day, with an additional antioxidant mixture capsule in the morning, referred to as the AA group. Morning blood samples were collected and tested for: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), apoptosis of PBMCs and blood including Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) after 12 months, i.e. corresponding to 24 months of the 2-year study (Visit VI of the initial protocol). Results: As compared to the first preliminary published year of the study, this further 12-month study enabled a more comprehensive analysis with a significant increase of analyzed overweight (≥25 and ≤29.9 kg/m2) subjects (58 vs 31, P&lt;0.05). On the 24-month mark, AA-group showed a significant increase of NLR (P&lt;0.05 vs entry level and FPP group), whereas FPP-group maintained a stable value. Urinary 8-OHdG values maintained, as in the preliminary study, a wide dispersion of data but both treatments equally reduced its value in over 27BMI/r over 70y old subjects, which as taken separately, had significantly elevated values (p&lt;0.05 vs younger subjects). ADMA and frequency of apoptotic cells values were beneficially reduced only by FPP supplementation throughout all 24 months of the study (P&lt;0.05 vs baseline and vs AA supplementation). A significant correlation between NLR and Apoptosis of PBMCs appeared in FPP-treated subjects and this was more pronounced in subjects with &gt;27BMI or over 70 years of age.Conclusions: The novelty of the present work was the finding that FPP represents a substantial pharma-grade, non-GMO technological advancement over uncontrolled traditional plant extracts. This functional food affects oxi-inflammatory aging phenotype and NLR, a marker worth great attention for its preventive interventional potential in middle-age/elderly communities health care. Keywords: Fermented Papaya Preparation, NLR, ADMA, apoptosis, antioxidants, SARS-Cov19

Single-session measures of quadriceps neuromuscular function are reliable in healthy females and unaffected by age.

This study aimed to determine the inter-session reliability of quadriceps neuromuscular function measurements in healthy young and older females. Twenty-six females aged 19-74 years completed two identical experimental sessions on different days. Quadriceps neuromuscular function measurements included isometric maximal voluntary force, high- and low-frequency twitch force, voluntary and evoked(H-reflex, M-wave) electromyography (EMG), and estimatedmaximal torque, velocity and power derived from torque-velocity relationships. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), coefficients of variation (CoV) and Bland-Altman plots assessed inter-session reliability. The effect of age on reliability was assessed by linear regression. Excellent reliability (ICC > 0.8) was shown for all voluntary and evoked mechanical outcomes. Vastus lateralis EMG outcomes showed excellent reliability (ICC > 0.8) with CoVs < 12%, which were better than those of vastus medialis and rectus femoris. Age was not associated with reliability for 27/28 outcomes (P > 0.05). Excellent reliability of voluntary and evoked force and vastus lateralis EMG outcomes measured in healthy females can be attained in one experimental session, irrespective of age. Female neuromuscular function can be accurately assessed across the lifespan with minimal inconvenience, increasing feasibility for future research. The random error should however be considered when quantifying age-related differences in neuromuscular function.

Temporal associations of BMI and glucose parameters with depressive symptoms among US adults

As the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and depression increases, it is important to examine how their associations are changing overtime. We investigated the temporal trends in the association between depressive symptoms, body mass index (BMI) and glucose profile parameters using data from 2005 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire. A total of 32,653 participants were included. Risk of depressive symptoms increased with higher BMI (aOR = 1.586, 95 % CI [1.364, 1.843]), insulin (aOR = 1.327, 95 % CI [1.159, 1.519]), HbA1c (aOR = 1.330, 95 % CI [1.116, 1.585]), or fasting glucose (aOR = 1.565, 95 % CI [1.247, 1.964]) levels compared to those with low levels. Sex differences were found, as overweight males had lower odds of depressive symptoms compared to healthy males, while overweight and obese females had higher odds compared to healthy females. High BMI and glucose parameters were consistently associated with higher depressive symptoms prevalence over time. Temporal variations were observed in the depressive symptoms-BMI and depressive symptoms-HbA1c associations, particularly at the 2007–2008 cycle. This study provides analytic insights into population level trends concerning physical and mental health problems.

Influence of Perturbation’s Type and Location on Treadmill Gait Regularity

Background: This study aimed to investigate how —external perturbations caused by a treadmill belt’s acceleration (Acc) and deceleration (Dec) during the Initial-Contact (Initial), Mid-Stance (Mid), and Pre-Swing (ToeOff) phases affect gait regularity in young adults. Methods: Twenty-one healthy young females walked on a treadmill in a virtual environment (Motek GRAIL), in which four unexpected perturbations were applied to the left belt at the Initial, Mid, and ToeOff stages. Sample entropy (SampEn) was calculated for the center of mass (CoM) displacements for six perturbation scenarios in three directions—anterior–posterior (AP), medial–lateral (ML), and vertical (vert)—with SampEn vector lengths (m) ranging from 2 to 10. Results: The CoM displacement exhibited its highest regularity (low SampEn values) in the AP and vert directions during Dec–ToeOff, across all m values. Similarly, this pattern was observed in the ML direction, but exclusively for m = 2 and 4. The least-regular CoM trajectories (high SampEn values) were for Dec–Mid in the AP direction, across all m values. This trend persisted in the ML direction only for m = 2 and 4. However, the most irregular CoM displacements in the ML direction occurred during Dec–ToeOff for the remaining m values. Vertical CoM displacements exhibited the highest irregularities during Dec–Initial for m ≥ 4. Conclusions: Evaluating the regularity of CoM displacements using SampEn can be a useful tool for assessing how gait perturbations are handled.

The filling factor of the sEMG signal at low contraction forces in the quadriceps muscles is influenced by the thickness of the subcutaneous layer.

Introduction: It has been shown that, for male subjects, the sEMG activity at low contraction forces is normally "pulsatile", i.e., formed by a few large-amplitude MUPs, coming from the most superficial motor units. The subcutaneous layer thickness, known to be greater in females than males, influences the electrode detection volume. Here, we investigated the influence of the subcutaneous layer thickness on the type of sEMG activity (pulsatile vs. continuous) at low contraction forces. Methods: Voluntary surface EMG signals were recorded from the quadriceps muscles of healthy males and females as force was gradually increased from 0% to 40% MVC. The sEMG filling process was examined by measuring the EMG filling factor, computed from the non-central moments of the rectified sEMG signal. Results: 1) The sEMG activity at low contraction forces was "continuous" in the VL, VM and RF of females, whereas this sEMG activity was "pulsatile" in the VL and VM of males. 2) The filling factor at low contraction forces was lower in males than females for the VL (p = 0.003) and VM (p = 0.002), but not for the RF (p = 0.54). 3) The subcutaneous layer was significantly thicker in females than males for the VL (p = 0.001), VM (p = 0.001), and RF (p = 0.003). 4) A significant correlation was found in the vastus muscles between the subcutaneous layer thickness and the filling factor (p < 0.05). Discussion: The present results indicate that the sEMG activity at low contraction forces in the female quadriceps muscles is "continuous" due to the thick subcutaneous layer of these muscles, which impedes an accurate assessment of the sEMG filling process.

A Comparative Analysis of Local and Systemic Immunological Biomarkers in Females With Breast Implants and Capsular Contracture.

The etiology of capsular contracture (CC), the most common complication following breast augmentation, remains unclear. Chronic, fibrotic inflammation resulting in excessive fibrosis has been proposed as a potential mechanism. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation between biomarkers that are associated with inflammation and fibrosis and the severity of CC. Fifty healthy females were categorized into 3 groups: females with no-to-mild CC (Baker 1-2; n = 15), females with severe CC (Baker 3-4; n = 20), and a control group awaiting breast augmentation (n = 15). We assessed 5 biomarkers (galectin-1 [Gal-1], interferon-β [INF-β], interferon-γ [INF-γ], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) in breast implant capsules and serum samples. No significant differences in intracapsular cytokine levels were observed between the Baker 1-2 and the Baker 3-4 groups, as the levels were generally low and, in some cases, almost undetectable. In the blood samples, no significant differences in Gal-1, INF-γ, IL-6, or TNF-α levels were found within the 3 groups. We identified significantly increased levels of INF-β (P = .009) in the blood samples of females with severe CC, driven mainly by 3 extremely high values. The cytokines assessed in this study did not reflect the degree of CC among females with silicone breast implants. However, 3 females with severe CC, who all had prolonged silicone exposure, showed extremely elevated levels of INF-β in their serum samples. This possible association between prolonged silicone exposure and systemic inflammation in some females should be further investigated.

Effect of different isometric trunk extension intensities on the muscle stiffness of the lumbar and lower limbs.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of isometric prone trunk extension (IPTE) contraction intensity on the stiffness of erector spinae (ES), semitendinosus (ST), biceps femoris (BF), and gastrocnemius muscles to understand the overall muscle mechanical behavior during IPTE and to explore the mechanisms of oordinated contraction of the body kinetic chain. Methods: Twenty healthy females were recruited, and participants underwent IPTE at three contraction intensities, i.e., 0% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), 30% MVIC, and 60% MVIC, and muscle stiffness was measured using MyotonPRO. Results: Muscle stiffness was moderately to strongly positively correlated with contraction intensity (r = 0.408-0.655, p < 0.001). The percentage increase in stiffness at low intensity was much greater in ES than in lower limb muscles and greater in ST and BF than in gastrocnemius, whereas at moderate intensity, the percentage increase in stiffness decreased in all muscles, and the percentage increase in stiffness in ES was lower than that in ST. There was a moderate to strong positive correlation between ES stiffness variation and ST (r = 0.758-0.902, p < 0.001), BF (r = 0.454-0.515, p < 0.05), MG (r = 0.643-0.652, p < 0.01), LG (r = 0.659-0.897, p < 0.01). Conclusion: IPTE significantly affected the stiffness of lumbar and lower limb muscles, and low-intensity IPTE activated the ES more efficiently. There were significant coordinated muscle contractions between ES, ST, and LG. This provides preliminary evidence for exploring the overall modulation pattern of the lumbar and lower limb muscles' kinetic chains. In future studies, we will combine other stiffness assessment methods (such as Magnetic Resonance Elastography, Shear Wave Elastography, or electromyography) to corroborate our findings.

Differential longitudinal changes of hippocampal subfields in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental disorder characterized by dietary restriction, fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image. Recent studies indicate that the hippocampus, crucial for learning and memory, may be affected in AN, yet subfield-specific effects remain unclear. We investigated hippocampal subfield alterations in acute AN, changes following weight restoration, and their associations with leptin levels. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were processed using FreeSurfer. We compared 22 left and right hemispheric hippocampal subfield volumes cross-sectionally and longitudinally in females with acute AN (n = 165 at baseline, n = 110 after partial weight restoration), healthy female controls (HCs; n = 271), and females after long-term recovery from AN (n = 79) using linear models. We found that most hippocampal subfield volumes were significantly reduced in patients with AN compared with HCs (~-3.9%). Certain areas such as the subiculum exhibited no significant reduction in the acute state of AN, while other areas, such as the hippocampal tail, showed strong decreases (~-9%). Following short-term weight recovery, most subfields increased in volume. Comparisons between participants after long-term weight-recovery and HC yielded no differences. The hippocampal tail volume was positively associated with leptin levels in AN independent of body mass index. Our study provides evidence of differential volumetric differences in hippocampal subfields between individuals with AN and HC and almost complete normalization after weight rehabilitation. These alterations are spatially inhomogeneous and more pronounced compared with other major mental disorders (e.g. major depressive disorder and schizophrenia). We provide novel insights linking hypoleptinemia to hippocampal subfield alterations hinting towards clinical relevance of leptin normalization in AN recovery.

An open-label, single-arm clinical study to evaluate efficacy and safety of Nyumi radiant skin gummies in healthy adult subjects with fine lines/wrinkles, hyperpigmentary spots, and under eyes dark circles

Objectives: Flawless skin is certainly the most desired feature that plays a vital cosmetic role in human being. Apart from protecting our body from environmental factors, it also protects the body from water loss and infection-causing microorganisms. However, the skin condition changes due to various ageing factors. The present study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of multivitamin and nutraceutical ingredients-based gummies in adult human participants. Material and Methods: An open-label, single-arm clinical study was conducted on 36 enrolled healthy males and females (in ratio of 1:2) between 20 and 65 years of age to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the study product in healthy adult subjects with fine lines/wrinkles, hyperpigmentary spots, and under eyes dark circles. All eligible subjects consumed the test product for 75 days. They underwent clinical evaluation by dermatologist, instruments evaluation, and subjective evaluation. Results: Thirty two (n = 32) subjects completed all study visits. The study product, when consumed for 75 days, was found to be efficacious in reducing fine lines/wrinkles, under-eye dark circles, and pigmentation and also improving the overall skin condition as evidenced by dermatological, instrumental, and subjective assessments on day 25, day 50, and day 75. Regular consumption of gummies significantly reduced the appearance and severity of coarse wrinkling/lines and fine lines/wrinkles, improved skin laxity, reduced skin dryness by moisturizing the skin, lighten the pigmented area and under-eye dark circles by reducing the melanin concentration, increased the radiance/glow of the skin, improved the texture and firmness of the skin, reduced skin roughness, and also improved skin tone evenness. Moreover, no adverse event was recorded during the study conduction. Conclusion: The results of this clinical study suggest that consumption of two gummies together once daily for 75 days significantly improved skin radiance/glow, skin laxity, skin hydration, skin texture and firmness, skin tone evenness and reduced skin roughness, hence improving the overall skin condition. It was found to be efficacious in reducing the appearance and severity of coarse wrinkling/lines, fine lines/wrinkles, hyperpigmentary spots, and under-eye dark circles by reducing the melanin concentration as assessed by dermatologist, various instruments, and subjective assessment. The test product also proved to be safe based on no apparent or experienced discomfort, reactions or any kind of intolerance or adverse skin reactions or events during the trial.

Accuracy validation of a wearable IMU-based gait analysis in healthy female

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the accuracy and test-retest reliability of a wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) system for gait analysis in healthy female compared to a gold-standard optoelectronic motion capture (OMC) system.MethodsIn our study, we collected data from 5 healthy young females. Participants were attached with markers from both the OMC system and the IMU system simultaneously. Data was collected when participants walked on a 7 m walking path. Each participant performed 50 repetitions of walking on the path. To ensure the collection of complete gait cycle data, a gait cycle was considered valid only if the participant passed through the center of the walking path at the same time that the OMC system detected a valid marker signal. As a result, 5 gait cycles that met the standards of the OMC system were included in the final analysis. The stride length, cadence, velocity, stance phase and swing phase of the spatio-temporal parameters were included in the analysis. A generalized linear mixture model was used to assess the repeatability of the two systems. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables was used to compare the mean differences between the two systems. For evaluating the reliability of the IMU system, we calculated the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Additionally, Bland-Altman plots were used to compare the levels of agreement between the two systems.ResultsThe measurements of Spatio-temporal parameters, including the stance phase (P = 0.78, 0.13, L-R), swing phase (P = 0.78, 0.13, L-R), velocity (P = 0.14, 0.13, L-R), cadence (P = 0.53, 0.22, L-R), stride length (P = 0.05, 0.19, L-R), by the IMU system and OMC system were similar. Which suggested that IMU and OMC systems could be used interchangeably for gait measurements. The intra-rater reliability showed an excellent correlation for the stance phase, swing phase, velocity and cadence (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC > 0.9) for both systems. However, the correlation of stride length was poor (ICC = 0.36, P = 0.34, L) to medium (ICC = 0.56, P = 0.22, R). Additionally, the measurements of IMU systems were repeatable.ConclusionsThe results of IMU system and OMC system shown good repeatability. Wearable IMU system could analyze gait data accurately. In particular, the measurement of stance phase, swing phase, velocity and cadence showed excellent reliability. IMU system provided an alternative measurement to OMC for gait analysis. However, the measurement of stride length by IMU needs further consideration.