Healthy Adult Males Research Articles

Gender Based Comparison of Mean Arterial Pressure and Pulse Pressure after Stress Induction in Healthy Adults

Abstract: Background: Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) and Pulse Pressure (PP) are both key parameters to diagnose and manage cardiovascular diseases and hypertension, a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Men and women are physically different from each other. Objective: Is to evaluate gender-based comparison of MAP and PP of healthy adults after stress induction. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was designed and conducted in the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS) at Khyber Medical University (KMU) from January 2022 to April 2022. A total of fifty-two participants including twenty-six males and twenty-six females were selected using convenience sampling. Sample size estimation was carried out using G*Power. Healthy adults between the age of 18-40 years were included in the study. Blood Pressure (BP) and Heart Rate (HR) were checked both before and after the stress induction. MAP and PP were calculated using the formulas obtained from the literature i.e., MAP = DP + 1/3 (PP) and PP = SBP-DBP. Result: The mean age of males was 27.16 ± 4.28 years and that of females was 23.15 ± 2.86 years. Both pre and post stress comparison of mean difference between healthy adult males and females, revealed no significant difference between MAP (Post-Stress p=0.97 and Pre-Stress p=0.61), PP (Post-Stress p=0.18 and Pre-Stress p=0.05) and HR (Post-Stress p=0.11 and Pre-Stress p=0.57). Males had a higher PP than females in both pre and post stress phase. Females had a slightly higher MAP than males in the pre stress phase. In the post stress phase, MAP showed a positive correlation with HR and PP. While in the pre stress phase, all the variables (MAP, PP and HR) showed no correlation with each other. Conclusion: MAP and PP show no significant difference between healthy adult males and females, after stress induction.

Maximum abdominal excursion assessment using an abdominal excursion measuring device: Reliability and validity of a new device for simple and quantitative assessment of respiratory function

This study aimed to verify the reliability and validity of abdominal expansion and respiratory function measurements. Forty healthy adult males underwent lung capacity, effort lung capacity, respiratory muscle strength, cough strength, diaphragm ultrasound, and abdominal expansion measurements. Abdominal expansion was measured using a device developed to accurately evaluate abdominal movements and calculate maximum abdominal expansion on the ventral side (AE-max: the difference between maximal abdominal contraction at the same time as maximal-effort expiration and maximal abdominal expansion at the same time as maximal-effort inspiration). Intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of the AE-max measurements were examined, the paired t-test was used for assessing the ratios of the expansion and contraction displacement components in AE-max, and regression analysis was used to obtain equations for predicting maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) based on AE-max. Both intra- and inter-rater reliabilities were high. Criterion-related validity showed that AE-max was associated with all respiratory function parameters, especially MIP, and a high percentage of expansion displacement. Regression analysis showed that AE-max was significantly associated with MIP. Based on its association with MIP, the large proportion of expansion displacement in AE-max, and the results of the multiple regression analysis, we conclude that AE-max is a helpful measure for estimating MIP.

Modulatory role of welding fumes on serum zinc and copper levels and oxidative stress markers among welders: Considering smoking as a possible implication

The presence of heavy metals in welding fumes and the numerous metals that make up welding gases expose welders to numerous occupational dangers, including major occupational health issues worldwide. The gases from welding are a significant and highly skilled process that have a considerable negative impact on welders' overall health and wellbeing. This study evaluated the influence of welding fumes on serum zinc and copper levels and oxidative stress biomarkers in welders considering smoking as a potential risk factor. The study used a case-control experimental design. Forty (40) healthy adult males were randomly selected comprising twenty (20) in the experimental group involving smokers and nonsmokers with welding experience and twenty (20) in the control group involving smokers and nonsmokers without welding experience. Data are expressed as the mean±SEM, and comparisons of means across groups were performed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Turkey's multiple comparisons test. The results showed that the serum zinc and copper levels of smokers were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in comparison to the control group, and a graded increase in the serum GST and MDA levels was observed across groups. The serum SOD level of smoker nonwelders was significantly (p < 0.05) increased when compared with the control group. Smokers who did not weld had significantly (p < 0.05) higher serum SOD levels. The results likewise showed a statistically nonsignificant reduction in glutathione levels and a substantial decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the experimental group. Overall, changes in the antioxidant parameters showed that smoking and welding fumes can exacerbate an increase in the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in deteriorated health conditions.

Post-acute exercise cardiovagal modulation in older male adults with and without type 2 diabetes

PurposeWe examined heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) disease- and age-related response at 10-and 60-min after an acute high-intensity interval (HIIE) and moderate continuous exercise (MICE) in older adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and healthy young adults.MethodsTwelve older male adults with (57–84 years) and without T2DM (57–76 years) and 12 healthy young male adults (20–40 years) completed an isocaloric acute bout of HIIE, MICE, and a non-exercise condition in a randomized order. Time and Wavelets-derived frequency domain indices of HRV and BRS were obtained in a supine position and offline over 2-min time-bins using Matlab.ResultsHIIE but not MICE reduced natural logarithm root mean square of successive differences (Ln-RMSSD) (d = − 0.85; 95% CI − 1.15 to − 0.55 ms, p < 0.001), Ln-high-frequency power (d = − 1.60; 95% CI − 2.24 to − 0.97 ms2; p < 0.001), and BRS (d = − 6.32; 95% CI − 9.35 to − 3.29 ms/mmHg, p < 0.001) in adults without T2DM (averaged over young and older adults without T2DM), returning to baseline 60 min into recovery. These indices remained unchanged in older adults with T2DM after HIIE and MICE. Older adults with T2DM had lower resting Ln-RMSSD and BRS than aged-matched controls (Ln-RMSSD, d = − 0.71, 95% CI − 1.16 to − 0.262 ms, p = 0.001; BRS d = − 3.83 ms/mmHg), 95% CI − 6.90 to − 0.76, p = 0.01).ConclusionsCardiovagal modulation following acute aerobic exercise is intensity-dependent only in adults without T2DM, and appears age-independent. These findings provide evidence of cardiac autonomic impairments in older adults with T2DM at rest and following aerobic exercise.

Changes in electroencephalography microstates are associated with reduced levels of vigilance after sleep deprivation

Total sleep deprivation (TSD) negatively affects cognitive functions, especially vigilance attention, but studies on vigilance changes in terms of electroencephalography (EEG) microstates after TSD are limited. This study investigates the impact of TSD on vigilance attention, EEG microstates and its relationship. Thirty healthy adult males completed a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) before, 24 h after, and 36 h after TSD while their EEG was recorded during rest. Microstate analysis revealed significant changes in the occurrence and contribution of microstate class B after TSD. Moreover, changes in the probability of transitioning between microstate classes A and D were observed, correlating with decreased vigilance. Specifically, a positive correlation was found between transitioning from class B to class C and vigilance, while a trend of negative correlation was observed between transitioning between classes A and D and vigilance. These findings indicate abnormal activity in the salience network and dorsal attention network following sleep deprivation. TSD impairs vigilance attention, as demonstrated by the effects on EEG microstate class B and the transitions between classes A and D. The study suggests its potential as an early warning indicator for predicting vigilance attention after sleep deprivation.

Bioequivalence/bioavailability study of a new formulation of imatinib mesylate 100 mg coated tablets versus Glivec® in Brazilian healthy male volunteers in fed state

Introduction: Imatinib mesylate is currently the first-line oral treatment for all stages of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and is also used in some cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Objective: Investigate the bioavailability of two products containing imatinib mesylate, 100 mg coated tablet, to determine if they are bioequivalent. Method:The study was conducted using an open-label, randomized, balanced design and the formulations were administered orally in a single dose to 48 healthy adult males, in fed state, followed by sequential blood withdraws for the next 72 hours. Forty-eight male healthy volunteers were selected to participate in the study. Test formulation from Eurofarma Laboratórios S.A. Brazil was compared to that from Novartis Biociências S.A. The comparative bioavailability of the formulations was assessed based on statistical comparisons of relevant pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from drug concentration data from collected blood samples measured using an analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Results: The ratio of the geometric means between the test and the reference, with a 90% confidence interval, of pharmacokinetic parameters for Cmax was 102.26% (94.17-111.04%) and for AUC0-t was 101.24% (95.19-107.68%). Conclusion: Imatinib mesylate 100 mg (test product) from Eurofarma Laboratórios S.A. was considered bioequivalent to the reference Glivec® 100 mg manufactured by Novartis Biociências S.A, and the test product can be interchangeable with the reference, based on their pharmacokinetic performance.

Development, Physicochemical Characteristics and Pharmacokinetics of a New Sustained-Release Bilayer Tablet Formulation of Tramadol with an Immediate-Release Component for Twice-Daily Administration.

There are some potential concerns about the currently marketed solid oral dosage forms of tramadol, including decreased adherence to immediate-release (IR) formulations due to the high number of doses taken each day and the slow rise in the blood tramadol concentration after administration of sustained-release (SR) formulations, which may not achieve a rapid analgesic effect. To overcome these potential concerns, a twice-daily double-layered tablet formulation of tramadol comprising IR and SR layers was developed. This article reports studies that assessed its physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Dissolution tests of five bilayer tablet formulations (designated tablets A-E) and pharmacokinetic studies of tablets A and B were conducted to investigate the appropriate ratio of the IR/SR layers in the double-layered tablet. Additionally, pharmacokinetic studies of three finished dosage formulations (tablets C-E) were performed in healthy adult males to investigate the effect of food intake on drug absorption. Adjusting the excipients and tramadol content in the IR and SR layers of tablets A-E altered their dissolution profiles in a manner that could be predicted based on their compositions. The IR layer was released within 15min, and the SR layer was slowly released over 10h. In the pharmacokinetic study, the time to maximum plasma concentration (tmax) of tramadol after administration of tablets A (IR:SR: 20:80mg) and B (40:60mg) was shorter than that of a commercially available SR tablet, and the half-life (t1/2) was longer than that of a commercially available IR tablet. For tablets C-E, administration after food did not affect the area under theconcentration-time curve (AUC) or maximum drug concentration (Cmax) of tramadol, but the tmax was prolonged by about 1 h compared with administration in fasting conditions. The mean ± standard deviation tmax and t1/2 for tablet D (IR:SR: 35:65 mg) in the fasting condition was 1.09 ± 0.56h and 7.82 ± 0.85h, respectively. The respective values in the fed condition were 2.47 ± 1.06h and 7.12 ± 0.85h, respectively. To address the potential concerns regarding existing formulations of tramadol, a twice-daily, extended-release bilayer formulation of tramadol consisting of an IR and SR layer was developed. Pharmacokinetic studies confirmed that the plasma tramadol concentration increased quickly after administration and was maintained over a long period of time.

Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of Fracture in Adults: A Review of Literature.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used medications for various gastrointestinal disorders and are reported to be associated with bone fractures. A literature review was performed, which showed PPI to be associated with a shorter time to first fracture in adults aged 25 or older. There was an overall increased risk of fractures with PPI use in adults; however, such risk was not significantly higher in women over 80 years of age and adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In healthy adult males aged 18-50 years, PPI use was not associated with significant changes in calcium and bone metabolism with PPI use. The lack of increased risk among elderly women aged more than 80and rheumatoid arthritis patients raises the possible confounding or effect modification by factors that affect the fracture risk with PPI use. We concluded that although observational studies show an increased risk of fractures with PPI use, warranting their use with caution in some patients, experimental evidence explaining the risk is still lacking.

Similarities and differences in cognition as a function of sex: A longitudinal study of healthy control participants from the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative

AbstractBackgroundAs the global population of older adults continues to rise, there is an urgent need to understand the expected cognitive changes in healthy aging. Despite sex‐based differences in life expectancy and age‐related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, limited research has explicitly examined sex differences in aging. The objective of the current study was to answer three primary questions using longitudinal data for sample of healthy adults: 1) How does cognition change over time? 2) What are the sex differences in cognition? and 3) What are the sex differences in rates of cognitive change over time?MethodLongitudinal data from the healthy control group of the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative was used to examine cognitive changes in healthy adult males (n = 125, mean age = 61.61, SD = 10.97) and females (n = 68, mean age = 59.44, SD = 11.56). Participants underwent annual neuropsychological testing for up to five years. A series of 2‐level linear mixed models estimated within‐person change in cognition over time (i.e., level‐1) and between‐group differences in longitudinal change trajectories as predicted by sex (i.e., level 2). Each neuropsychological measure was modeled separately as a single outcome variable, for a total of seven models.ResultStability in neuropsychological scores was seen over five years. At baseline, males scored higher on the Benton Judgement of Line Orientation Test, while females scored higher on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the Semantic Fluency Test, and the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test‐Revised. Rates of cognitive change over time did not significantly differ by sex. Higher age and lower education at baseline predicted lower neuropsychological scores.ConclusionStability in cognition was found across five years in a sample healthy control participants from a large multi‐site longitudinal study. Sex differences in cognition were found in several domains, including visuospatial ability, processing speed, verbal fluency, and verbal memory. However, rates of cognitive change over time did not significantly differ by sex. Higher age and lower education were predictive of lower cognitive functioning. Great intraindividual variability in cognitive trajectories was observed. Future research should continue to examine factors that predict individual trajectories of aging in healthy individuals.

Study of the prevalence of tobacco consumption among apparently healthy adult males in an urban area.

Keeping in view the role of tobacco consumption as a modifiable risk factor in various diseases and gaps in scientific knowledge among the apparently healthy adult male population in India, the researchers chose to undertake this study. A cross-sectional study was conducted among apparently healthy adult males employed in various government offices to determine the prevalence of tobacco consumption. The minimum sample size to estimate a 95% confidence interval for the prevalence of tobacco consumption with 5% absolute precision was calculated to be 340. However, 500 subjects were included in the study. The tool used for data collection was the "personal interview technique." Standard statistical methods were utilized for data analysis. The overall mean age (standard deviation (SD)) of the study subjects was 30.96 yrs (4.32). Overall, the mean (SD) of number of years of tobacco use was 5.64 years (1.98). The mean (SD) of number of cigarettes smoked per day was 6.36 (3.09). The prevalence of current smokers showed a statistically significant increase from the age groups of 20-29 yrs to 50-59 yrs (P < 0.001). All subjects in the study were able to name at least three harmful effects of tobacco consumption. The overall mean amount spent on tobacco consumption per month was Rs 536.97 (1.44% of basic salary). Overall, the most common reason for smoking was peer pressure, where 40 (93.02%) gave this reason. Of forty-three tobacco users, 27 (62.79%) expressed a desire to quit tobacco consumption. The most common reason for expressing a desire to quit tobacco was the ill effects of tobacco consumption, where 23 (85.18%) tobacco users gave this reason. Our study on the prevalence of tobacco consumption among government employees provides an adequately clear picture of this public health epidemic in India. There is an immediate need for target group-specific policies for tobacco control, which should be integrated with the relevant national health programs at all levels.

Dissociative Effects of Age on Neural Differentiation at the Category and Item Levels.

Increasing age is associated with age-related neural dedifferentiation, a reduction in the selectivity of neural representations, which has been proposed to contribute to cognitive decline in older age. Recent findings indicate that when operationalized in terms of selectivity for different perceptual categories, age-related neural dedifferentiation and the apparent age-invariant association of neural selectivity with cognitive performance are largely restricted to the cortical regions typically recruited during scene processing. It is currently unknown whether this category-level dissociation extends to metrics of neural selectivity defined at the level of individual stimulus items. Here, we examined neural selectivity at the category and item levels using multivoxel pattern similarity analysis (PSA) of fMRI data. Healthy young and older male and female adults viewed images of objects and scenes. Some items were presented singly, while others were either repeated or followed by a "similar lure." In agreement with recent findings, category-level PSA revealed robustly lower differentiation in older than in younger adults in scene-selective, but not object-selective, cortical regions. By contrast, at the item level, robust age-related declines in neural differentiation were evident for both stimulus categories. Additionally, we identified an age-invariant association between category-level scene selectivity in the parahippocampal place area and subsequent memory performance, but no such association was evident for item-level metrics. Lastly, category- and item-level neural metrics were uncorrelated. Thus, the present findings suggest that age-related category- and item-level dedifferentiation depend on distinct neural mechanisms.

Verification of Industrial Worker Walking Efficiency with Wearable Hip Exoskeleton

In highly mobile workplaces, wearable walking-assistant devices reduce muscle fatigue in workers’ lower extremities and increase energy efficiency. In our study, we verify this following the development of an ultralight wearable hip exoskeleton for industrial workers. Ten healthy male adults participated in this study, and their muscle activity, muscle fatigue, and energy expenditure were compared with and without a device while walking on a treadmill and going up stairs. While walking on a treadmill with the assistive device, muscle fatigue in the gastrocnemius decreased by 79.5%, and oxygen uptake and energy expenditure per minute decreased by 7.9% and 7.4%, respectively. While climbing stairs with the assistive device, muscle fatigue of the tibialis anterior decreased by 83.5%, average muscle activity of the rectus femoris, semitendinosus, and gastrocnemius muscles decreased significantly, and oxygen uptake and energy expenditure decreased by 14% and 12.9% per minute, respectively. We confirm that an ultralight wearable hip exoskeleton helps the wearer reduce lower-limb muscle fatigue and use metabolic energy more efficiently. The results of this study are intended as basic data to expand the use of ultralight wearable hip exoskeletons at industrial sites and to improve device performance.

Cerebral uptake of microvesicles occurs in normocapnic but not hypocapnic passive hyperthermia in young healthy male adults.

Passive hyperthermia causes cerebral hypoperfusion primarily from heat-induced respiratory alkalosis. However, despite the cerebral hypoperfusion, it is possible that the mild alkalosis might help to attenuate cerebral inflammation. In this study, the cerebral exchange of extracellular vesicles (microvesicles), which are known to elicit pro-inflammatory responses when released in conditions of stress, were examined in hyperthermia with and without respiratory alkalosis. Ten healthy male adults were heated passively, using a warm water-perfused suit, up to core temperature+2°C. Blood samples were taken from the radial artery and internal jugular bulb. Microvesicle concentrations were determined in platelet-poor plasma via cells expressing CD62E (activated endothelial cells), CD31+ /CD42b- (apoptotic endothelial cells), CD14 (monocytes) and CD45 (pan-leucocytes). Cerebral blood flow was measured via duplex ultrasound of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries to determine cerebral exchange kinetics. From baseline to poikilocapnic (alkalotic) hyperthermia, there was no change in microvesicle concentration from any cell origin measured (P-values all >0.05). However, when blood CO2 tension was normalized to baseline levels in hyperthermia, there was a marked increase in cerebral uptake of microvesicles expressing CD62E (P=0.028), CD31+ /CD42b- (P=0.003) and CD14 (P=0.031) compared with baseline, corresponding to large increases in arterial but not jugular venous concentrations. In a subset of seven participants who underwent hypercapnia and hypocapnia in the absence of heating, there was no change in microvesicle concentrations or cerebral exchange, suggesting that hyperthermia potentiated the CO2 /pH-mediated cerebral uptake of microvesicles. These data provide insight into a potential beneficial role of respiratory alkalosis in heat stress. KEY POINTS: The hyperthermia-induced hyperventilatory response is observed in most humans, despite causing potentially harmful reductions in cerebral blood flow. We tested the hypothesis that the respiratory-induced alkalosis is associated with lower circulating microvesicle concentrations, specifically in the brain, despite the reductions in blood flow. At core temperature+2°C with respiratory alkalosis, microvesicles derived from endothelial cells, monocytes and leucocytes were at concentrations similar to baseline in the arterial and cerebral venous circulation, with no changes in cross-brain microvesicle kinetics. However, when core temperature was increased by 2°C with CO2 /pH normalized to resting levels, there was a marked cerebral uptake of microvesicles derived from endothelial cells and monocytes. The CO2 /pH-mediated alteration in cerebral microvesicle uptake occurred only in hyperthermia. These new findings suggest that the heat-induced hyperventilatory response might serve a beneficial role by preventing potentially inflammatory microvesicle uptake in the brain.

Comparing the beliefs regarding biological or psychological causalities toward stereotyped perception of people who stutter.

Developmental stuttering is a fluency disorder that may be caused by neurological, genetic, or familial factors. However, a general perception that stuttering is caused by psychological problems could lead to negative attitudes toward stuttering, causing prejudice or discrimination against people who stutter (PWS). Thus, our study aimed to investigate whether certain beliefs in etiology of stuttering are related to the negative perception of stuttering. A web-based survey of 413 native Japanese adults, aged 20-69, who did not suffer from stuttering, schizophrenia, or depression, was conducted in August 2021. The participants were recruited through the Web monitor panel. Participants were divided into three uniform groups based on their response to a 27-item questionnaire about their implicit belief regarding the etiology of stuttering: belief in the biological model (stuttering-biological group), belief in the psychological model (stuttering-psychological group), and the control group (those who responded to perception of healthy adult males). Participants were also asked to respond to 25 items of semantic differential scales about perception of stuttering or healthy adult males. Responses were summarized into several factors by factor analysis, and factor scores were compared among the three groups. The stuttering-biological group had the fewest participants, comprising 80 individuals. Overall, a total of 240 participants, 80 from each group, were included in the analysis. Some pairs of stereotypes included in semantic differential scales revealed differences between the groups; PWS, irrespective of the participants of the biological or psychological group, were considered as having negative stereotyping properties such as being "tense," "anxious," or "afraid." Additionally, three concepts from the factor analysis of these 25 items were analyzed using an analysis of variance, and significant differences were found; the mean factor score of the "danger" stereotype was lower in the stuttering-biological group compared to the stuttering-psychological group. Although the simplification of the biological model is not recommended, anti-stigma campaigns to educate people that stuttering is caused by multidimensional factors, not just psychological ones, could change the general public's negative perceptions of stuttering.

Developing Localized Reference Intervals for Platelet Indices in South India

Introduction: The Platelet Indices (PI) are part of the most frequently done tests in the hospital. They are considered as biomarkers in numerous systemic and metabolic diseases. But the real challenge has been to define the clinical cutoffs which enable management based on the above parameters. So we tried to develop Reference Intervals(RI) for PIs to enable them for clinical use. Aim: The aim of the study was to develop RIs for the PIs from ostensibly healthy adult males from the local population. Materials and Methods: 123 healthy adult males between the age 18 to 64, were chosen after screening and their blood samples collected and examined on Sysmex XN1000 cell counter for the PIs. Results: The mean values of Platelet Count (PC), Distribution width (PDW), Mean Platelet volume(MPV), Plateletcrit (PCT), Large cell Ratio(P-LCR), Immature Platelet Fraction(IPF) and Absolute Immature Platelet Number(AIPN) were 2.58x109/L, 12.3%, 10.2fl, 0.281%, 27.17%,0.682%, and 1551.4 cells. PDW showed a strong positive correlation with MPV (r = 0.937) and P- LCR (r = 0.949). The PLT showed a very strong positive correlation with PCT (r = 0.901). The linear regression analysis of the rest of the PIs with PLT showed an 81% strong predictability for PCT. Conclusion: The sex specific, instrument specific, localized RIs developed the study was compared to other published studies World over. It was also compared to an Indian and other South Indian studies. It also offers an opportunity for institutions using this cell counter to make use of the above RIs in clinical situations.

Establishing the Roles of the Dorsal and Ventral Striatum in Humor Comprehension and Appreciation with fMRI.

Humor comprehension (i.e., getting a joke) and humor appreciation (i.e., enjoying a joke) are distinct, cognitively complex processes. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) investigations have identified several key cortical regions but have overlooked subcortical structures that have theoretical importance in humor processing. The dorsal striatum (DS) contributes to working memory, ambiguity processing, and cognitive flexibility, cognitive functions that are required to accurately recognize humorous stimuli. The ventral striatum (VS) is critical in reward processing and enjoyment. We hypothesized that the DS and VS play important roles in humor comprehension and appreciation, respectively. We investigated the engagement of these regions in these distinct processes using fMRI. Twenty-six healthy young male and female human adults completed two humor-elicitation tasks during a 3 tesla fMRI scan consisting of a traditional behavior-based joke task and a naturalistic audiovisual sitcom paradigm (i.e., Seinfeld viewing task). Across both humor-elicitation methods, whole-brain analyses revealed cortical activation in the inferior frontal gyrus, the middle frontal gyrus, and the middle temporal gyrus for humor comprehension, and the temporal cortex for humor appreciation. Additionally, with region of interest analyses, we specifically examined whether DS and VS activation correlated with these processes. Across both tasks, we demonstrated that humor comprehension implicates both the DS and the VS, whereas humor appreciation only engages the VS. These results establish the role of the DS in humor comprehension, which has been previously overlooked, and emphasize the role of the VS in humor processing more generally.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humorous stimuli are processed by the brain in at least two distinct stages. First, humor comprehension involves understanding humorous intent through cognitive and problem-solving mechanisms. Second, humor appreciation involves enjoyment, mirth, and laughter in response to a joke. The roles of smaller subcortical brain regions in humor processing, such as the DS and VS, have been overlooked in previous investigations. However, these regions are involved in functions that support humor comprehension (e.g., working memory ambiguity resolution, and cognitive flexibility) and humor appreciation (e.g., reward processing, pleasure, and enjoyment). In this study, we used neuroimaging to demonstrate that the DS and VS play important roles in humor comprehension and appreciation, respectively, across two different humor-elicitation tasks.

Chengai Nomogram: A Comprehensive Study of Uroflow Parameters and Characteristics in Healthy Adult Males From South India.

Introduction Uroflowmetry is a widely accepted non-invasive diagnostic modality used in the evaluation of lower urinary tract dysfunction. While various nomograms have been established for different populations and races, there has been a lack of studies that focus on the South Indian populations. Consequently, the objective of the study was to investigate the urinary flow parameters in a healthy adult male South Indian population using uroflowmetry and identify the variations in flow rates. Additionally, the study sought to assess the influence of age and voided volume (VV) on flow rates and create a representative nomogram. Methods A total of 500 uroflowmetry tests were prospectively performed on healthy adult males. The gravimetric method was utilized for uroflowmetry. Flow charts and parameters were analyzed for correlation and linear regression models, and statistical calculations were employed to generate uroflow nomograms. Results The mean age of the participants was 37.77±9.91 years. The mean values for maximum flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate (Qavg), and VV were 23.42±6.64 mL/s, 11.71±3.77 mL/s, and 229.90±59 mL, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between flow rates (Qmax and Qavg) and VV, which indicated that increased VV leads to higher flow rates. Additionally, a significant negative correlation between the flow rates and age was noted. Conclusion The findings provide insight into the uroflow parameters of the South Indian adult male population and contribute to the development of nomograms, establishing normal reference ranges for flow rates across varying VVs. As a tribute to the hospital and the study participants, the nomogram was named the "Chengai Nomogram."

Echo Intensity of Gastrocnemius Is Independently Associated with 6-Minute Walking Distance in Male Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the differences in the thickness and echo intensity (EI) of the gastrocnemius muscle measured via ultrasonography between healthy adults and patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and to determine the associations of gastrocnemius thickness (GT) and EI within a 6 min walking distance (6MD) in patients with PAD. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted 35 male patients with PAD (mean age, 73.7 years; mean body mass index [BMI], 23.5 kg/m2) and age- and gender-matched 73 male healthy adults (mean age, 73.2 years; mean BMI, 23.3 kg/m2). The gastrocnemius thickness (GT) and EI were measured using ultrasound. Both legs of patients with PAD were classified based on higher and lower ankle brachial pressure index (ABI), and the GTs and EIs with higher and lower ABI were compared with those of healthy adults. Multiple regression analysis incorporated 6MD as a dependent variable and each GT and EI with higher and lower ABI, age, and BMI as independent variables. Results: This study showed that GT was considerably greater in healthy adults than in both legs with higher and lower ABI (median values, 13.3 vs. 11.3 vs. 10.7, p < 0.01), whereas EI was lower in healthy adults than in the lower ABI leg (72.0 vs. 80.8 vs. 83.6, p < 0.05). The 6MD was shown to be substantially related to EI in both legs with higher and lower ABIs (p < 0.01) but not in the GT. Conclusions: In patients with PAD, the GT was lower, and EI was higher than in healthy adults. In addition, EIs in both legs with higher and lower ABIs were independently associated with 6MD in male PAD patients. This study showed that the EI measured via ultrasonography could become an important indicator for treatments for patients with PAD.

P096 The Effect of Moderate-Intensity Exercise on Sleep Quality and Quantity in Healthy Adult Males

Abstract Introduction Acute exercise may have the ability to disrupt sleep in healthy adults. Given the popularity of afternoon exercise, it is important to determine how this affects sleep. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of afternoon moderate-intensity cycling exercise on objective and subjective sleep in healthy adult males. Methods To assess the effect of moderate-intensity afternoon exercise on sleep quality and quantity, 12 healthy adult males who were identified as good sleepers completed a repeated-measures, counter-balanced, crossover study design with two conditions (moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or no exercise). The exercise task involved cycling for 40 minutes at 70%HRmax and was completed ~15:30h. Polysomnography was used to measure sleep during a 9-h sleep opportunity (23:00h to 08:00h). Results There were no statistically significant differences in objective or subjective sleep between conditions. Exercise had a medium-sized effect on reducing total sleep time (mean ± SD; control 493.71 ± 12.59 mins vs exercise: 471.46 ± 55.19 mins; Cohen’s d: 0.56), sleep efficiency (mean ± SD; control 91.43 ± 2.33 % vs exercise: 87.31 ± 10.22 %; Cohen’s d: 0.56), and increasing REM onset latency (mean ± SD; control: 76.13 ± 45.10 mins vs exercise: 102.75 ± 46.85 mins; r: -0.33) (all p &amp;gt; 0.05). Discussion Healthy adult males can complete afternoon moderate-intensity exercise without compromising subsequent sleep. Individual responses in objective sleep outcomes may vary after exercise.

O050 The Dose and Timing Relationship between Caffeine and Subsequent Sleep

Abstract Introduction There is currently a lack of evidence to guide recommendations for the consumption of caffeine to mitigate its effects on sleep. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of caffeine dose and timing combinations on subsequent sleep. Methods Twenty-three healthy adult males with a moderate habitual caffeine intake (&amp;lt;300mg/d) participated in a randomised, repeated-measures study. Participants completed seven conditions, including a placebo and two caffeine doses (100mg and 400mg) consumed at three different time points (12, eight, and four hours prior to habitual bedtime) with a 48-hour washout period. Sleep was measured using in-home partial polysomnography and subjective sleep diaries. Linear mixed effects models were used to estimate the effect of each caffeine condition on sleep characteristics. Results Caffeine negatively impacted sleep when compared to the placebo. The largest impact was observed when the highest dose of caffeine (400mg) was consumed closest to bedtime, with a 54.0 minute reduction in total sleep time (p=&amp;lt;0.001), a 10.2% reduction in sleep efficiency (p= &amp;lt;0.001), a 14.4 minute increase in sleep onset latency (p=0.047), a 25.3 minute increase in wake after sleep onset (p=&amp;lt;0.001), a 5.5% increase in the proportion of light sleep (N1&amp;N2)(p=0.029), and a 4.55% reduction in deep sleep (N3)(p=0.026). Discussion The largest decrements in sleep occurred when caffeine was consumed at a high dose in close proximity to bedtime. These findings highlight the importance of considering the amount and timing of caffeine intake when aiming to minimise the effect of caffeine on subsequent sleep.