Body Impedance Research Articles

Running for Your Life: Metabolic Effects of a 160.9/230 km Non-Stop Ultramarathon Race on Body Composition, Inflammation, Heart Function, and Nutritional Parameters.

Moderate endurance exercise leads to an improvement in cardiovascular performance, stress resilience, and blood function. However, the influence of chronic endurance exercise over several hours or days is still largely unclear. We examined the influence of a non-stop 160.9/230 km ultramarathon on body composition, stress/cardiac response, and nutrition parameters. Blood samples were drawn before (pre) and after the race (post) and analyzed for ghrelin, insulin, irisin, glucagon, cortisol, kynurenine, neopterin, and total antioxidant capacity. Additional measurements included heart function by echocardiography, nutrition questionnaires, and body impedance analyses. Of the 28 included ultra-runners (7f/21m), 16 participants dropped out during the race. The remaining 12 finishers (2f/10m) showed depletion of antioxidative capacities and increased inflammation/stress (neopterin/cortisol), while energy metabolism (insulin/glucagon/ghrelin) remained unchanged despite a high negative energy balance. Free fat mass, protein, and mineral content decreased and echocardiography revealed a lower stroke volume, left end diastolic volume, and ejection fraction post race. Optimizing nutrition (high-density protein-rich diet) during the race may attenuate the observed catabolic and inflammatory effects induced by ultramarathon running. As a rapidly growing discipline, new strategies for health prevention and extensive monitoring are needed to optimize the athletes' performance.

Abstract 11618: Angiopoietin-2 is Associated With Capillary Leak and Complications After Cardiac Surgery

Introduction: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are prone to numerous complications. Increased vascular permeability may be associated with morbidity and mortality due to hemodynamic instability, fluid overload, and edema formation. Hypothesis: Markers of endothelial injury and inflammation are associated with capillary leak (CLS), ultimately increasing the risk of perioperative complications. Methods: In a prospective, observational trial 405 cardiac surgery patients were evaluated using daily body impedance electrical analysis, ultrasound, sublingual intravital microscopy, and analysis of biomarkers. Multivariable models and machine learning (ML) were used to study the association of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) with extracellular water (ECW) as well as common complications after cardiac surgery. Results: Across all surgical groups, ECW increased postoperatively (20±6 preoperatively to 29±7L on POD2; P <0.001). Concomitantly, the levels of Ang-2 rose, showing a strong correlation based on the time points of measurements (r=0.959, P =0.041). Inflammatory (IL-6, IL-8, CRP) and endothelial biomarkers (VE-Cadherin, syndecan-1, ICAM-1) suggestive of CLS were increased. After accounting for common risk factors of edema formation in cardiac surgery, we found a significant association of Ang-2 and ECW (Table 1). Furthermore, high Ang-2 patients showed an increased odds for developing acute kidney injury (OR 1.095 [1.032-1.169]; P =0.004), and high Ang-2 was associated with delayed extubation, longer time in the ICU, and a higher chance of prolonged dependence on vasoactive medication. ML predicted postoperative complications well if CLS was added to standard risk factors. Conclusions: CLS is a relevant problem after cardiac surgery. Ang-2 in combination with ECW shows promising potential to reliably anticipate CLS and postoperative complications after cardiac surgery.

The complex impedance phase angle of dominant arm: a useful parameter in bone mineral density (BMD) assessment of group 1 post-menopausal women.

For widespread osteoporosis (OP) screening, portable and cost-effective screening devices are needed. With 45 menopaused women, when body mass index was below 30 kg.m- 2, the phase angle (PhA) of complex bioimpedance at 5 kHz, measured from the dominant arm, was correlated with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measured central bone mineral densities (BMD), for total hip r = 0.493 and for total lumbar r = 0.411, P< 0.05, and the strength of correlation decreased with increasing measurement frequencies. ANOVA tests showed that, below 15 kHz, PhA was a descriptive marker for bone mineral deficiency. By correlating to hip and lumbar bone mineral densities simultaneously, the dominant arm segment PhA was superior to the characteristic frequency fc of the body impedance spectroscopy (BIS) and the PhA of whole-body impedance measurements, of the earlier research works. Due to its medium correlation strength with central BMDs, a PhA measuring device could be considered as a complementary tool to the gold standard (DEXA), for OP screening of group 1 post-menopausal women only. For group 2, with 44 subjects with body mass indices over 30 kg.m- 2, i.e., obese population, the PhA was not correlated with BMD and was no longer a descriptive marker for reduced BMD.

Effects of Ion Cyclotron Frequencies on Human Resistance and Reactance in 31 Healthy Subjects

In order to test the theory of Brizhik et al. about the dynamic allocation of acupuncture meridians on human body and their role as hydric paths for solitons, we tested the effect of both acupuncture and exposure to extremely low frequencies (ELF) tuned with suitable ion cyclotron frequencies. The similarity of the effects, inducing variations of body impedance measured in well-known acupuncture points, up to the interchangeability and the synergy of the two treatments, the mechanic and the electromagnetic ones, turns to be evidence of the validity of the theory. Resistance and reactance variations have been detected in a group of 31 healthy volunteers before and after stimulation with a standard sequence of cyclotron frequencies, emitted from an innovative electromagnetic therapy (EMT) device. These variations were then compared with the variations produced by the well-known percutaneous stimuli of mechanical and piezoelectric nature, and, in particular in this work, acupuncture. Our results show that the observed variations can be considered as significant in both groups: cyclotron and acupuncture. The greater variations brought about by the cyclotron treatment stand out clearly.

Application of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to Assess Carcass Composition and Nutrient Retention in Rabbits from 25 to 77 Days of Age.

The aim of this study was to assess and validate, using independent data, the prediction equations obtained to estimate in vivo carcass composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to determine the nutrient retention and overall energy and nitrogen retention efficiencies of growing rabbits. Seventy-five rabbits grouped into five different ages (25, 35, 49, 63 and 77 days) were used in the study. A four-terminal body-composition analyzer was applied to obtain resistance (Rs, Ω) and reactance (Xc, Ω) values. All the animals were stunned and bled at each selected age, and the chilled carcasses were analyzed to determine water, fat, crude protein (CP), ash and gross energy (GE). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the equations, using body weight, length and impedance data as independent variables. The coefficients of determination (R2) to estimate the content of water, protein, fat and ash in grams, and energy in Mega Jules(MJ), were: 0.99, 0.99, 0.95, 0.96 and 0.98, respectively, and the relative mean prediction errors (RMPE) were: 4.20, 5.48, 21.9, 9.10 and 6.77%, respectively. Carcass yield (%) estimation had values of 0.50 and 10.0 for R2 and RMPE, respectively. When water content was expressed as a percentage, the R2 and RMPE were 0.79 and 1.62%, respectively. When the protein, fat and ash were expressed as a percentage of dry matter (%DM) and the energy content as kJ/100 g DM, the R2 values were 0.68, 0.76, 0.66 and 0.82, respectively, and the RMPEs were 3.22, 10.5, 5.82 and 2.54%, respectively. Energy Retention Efficiency was 20.4 ± 7.29%, 21.0 ± 4.18% and 20.8 ± 2.79% from 35 to 49, from 49 to 63 and from 35 to 63 d, respectively. Nitrogen Retention Efficiency was 46.9 ± 11.7%, 34.5 ± 7.32% and 39.1 ± 3.23% for the same periods. Energy was retained in body tissues for growth with an efficiency of approximately 52.5%, and the energy efficiency for protein and fat retention was 33.3 and 69.9%, respectively. This work shows that BIA is a non-invasive and good method to estimate in vivo carcass composition and to determine the nutrient retention of growing rabbits from 25 to 77 days of age.

Cardiovascular Function in Different Phases of the Menstrual Cycle in Healthy Women of Reproductive Age.

Background: Sex hormones influence the cardiovascular (CV) function in women. However, it is uncertain whether their physiological variation related to the regular menstrual cycle affects the CV system. We studied changes in the hemodynamic profile and body’s water content and their relation to sex hormone concentration in healthy women during the menstrual cycle. Material and methods: Forty-five adult women were examined during the early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases of the same menstrual cycle. The hemodynamic profile was estimated non-invasively by cardiac impedance while water content was estimated by total body impedance. Results were compared with repeated measures ANOVA with post-test, if applicable. Results: There were no significant changes in most hemodynamic and water content parameters between the menstrual cycle phases in healthy women. Left ventricular ejection time differed significantly among phases of the menstrual cycle, with shorter values in the mid-luteal phase (308.4 vs. 313.52 ms, p < 0.05) compared to the late follicular phase. However, the clinical relevance of such small differences is negligible. Conclusions: Changes in sex hormones during the physiological menstrual cycle appear to have no considerable effect on healthy women’s hemodynamic function and water accumulation.

Metrological characterization of instruments for body impedance analysis

&lt;p&gt;Body impedance analysis (BIA) is used to evaluate the human body composition by measuring the resistance and reactance of human tissues with a high-frequency, low-intensity electric current. Nonetheless, the estimation of the body composition is influenced by many factors: body status, environmental conditions, instrumentation, and measurement procedure. This work studies the effect of the connection cables, conductive electrodes, adhesive gel, and BIA device characteristics on the measurement uncertainty. Tests were initially performed on electric circuits with passive elements and on a jelly phantom simulating the body characteristics. Results showed that the cables mainly contribute to increase the error on the resistance measurement, while the electrodes and the adhesive introduce a negligible disturbance on the measurement chain. This paper also proposes a calibration procedure based on a multivariate linear regression to compensate for the systematic error effect of BIA devices.&lt;/p&gt;

The interactive effect of vitamin D3 supplementation and vitamin D receptor polymorphisms on weight and body composition in overweight women with hypovitaminosis D: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Different responses to vitamin D supplementation may be due to genes involved in vitamin D metabolism, including the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. The present study aimed to determine the interactive effect of vitamin D supplementation and VDR polymorphisms, including FokI (rs2228570) and BsmI (1544410) on weight and body composition in overweight women with hypovitaminosis D. This study comprised two phases: a double-blind, randomized and a before-after clinical trial. In the first phase, 50 healthy overweight women aged 20-45 years with hypovitaminosis D were randomly categorized into intervention and control groups and were given 50000 IU/w vitamin D3 or placebo for 12 weeks. In the second phase, 75 women received 50000 IU/w of vitamin D3 for 12 weeks. All variables were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Circulating 25(OH)D was measured using an ELISA kit. Anthropometric indices were calculated according to standard protocol (WHO-TRH-854). Body composition was determined using the body impedance analysis method. The VDR polymorphisms were detected using the PCR sequence. Supplementation resulted in a significant increase in the level of 25(OH)D in the intervention group but did not affect the anthropometric profile of the subjects. When considering FokI genotypes, carriers of the FF genotype had higher fat mass reduction than carriers of Ff+ff genotypes.

Platelet polyphosphate and energy metabolism in professional male athletes (soccer players): A cross‐sectional pilot study

Human platelet polyphosphate (polyP) is a multifunctional molecule; however, its functions are not yet fully understood. A recent study demonstrated that similar to skeletal muscle, polyP is involved in energy metabolism in platelets, which suggests that well‐trained athletes may exhibit elevated platelet polyP levels for energy storage. To test this hypothesis, we quantified platelet polyP along with NADH, a component involved in ATP production in non‐trained and well‐trained male Japanese participants of the same generation. Washed platelets were prepared from the venous blood of young, healthy, non‐athletes, and professional soccer players (pro‐athletes). NADH and polyP levels were spectrophotometrically determined using tetrazolium reduction and fluorometrically determined using 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole at the excitation/emission wavelengths of 425/525 nm. Body weight and impedances were measured simultaneously. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman correlation coefficient. Although basal metabolic rate levels were significantly higher, platelet polyP levels were significantly lower in pro‐athletes than in that in non‐athletes. No significant differences were detected in other body compositions or platelet indices between the two groups. The pro‐athlete group showed a moderate, nearly significant correlation (R = 0.439; p = 0.0512) between platelet polyP and NADH levels. Taken together with the weak correlation data between polyP and body mass index, it is suggested that platelet polyP levels may be influenced by platelet and body energy metabolic activity. Further biochemical studies are needed to elucidate this mechanism.

Predictors of Step Length from Surface Electromyography and Body Impedance Analysis Parameters.

Step length is a critical hallmark of health status. However, few studies have investigated the modifiable factors that may affect step length. An exploratory, cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the surface electromyography (sEMG) and body impedance analysis (BIA) parameters, combined with individual demographic data, to predict the individual step length using the GAITRite® system. Healthy participants aged 40–80 years were prospectively recruited, and three models were built to predict individual step length. The first model was the best-fit model (R2 = 0.244, p < 0.001); the root mean square (RMS) values at maximal knee flexion and height were included as significant variables. The second model used all candidate variables, except sEMG variables, and revealed that age, height, and body fat mass (BFM) were significant variables for predicting the average step length (R2 = 0.198, p < 0.001). The third model, which was used to predict step length without sEMG and BIA, showed that only age and height remained significant (R2 = 0.158, p < 0.001). This study revealed that the RMS value at maximal strength knee flexion, height, age, and BFM are important predictors for individual step length, and possibly suggesting that strengthening knee flexor function and reducing BFM may help improve step length.

Impact of sarcopenia on daily functioning: a cross-sectional study among older inpatients

Background and aimGeriatric patients with sarcopenia are at increased risk for functional decline with loss of independence in daily living. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the impact of sarcopenia on different domains of functional status in hospitalized geriatric patients.MethodsSarcopenia was assessed at hospital admission using the recommendations of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2). Body impedance analysis (BIA) was performed to determine muscle mass, and a pneumatic hand dynamometer was used to assess muscle strength. The functional independence measure (FIM) score, an 18-item tool exploring an individual's physical, cognitive and social functions, was used to measure functional status.ResultsIn 305 included inpatients with a median age of 84.0 years (65.6% female), prevalence of sarcopenia was 22.6%. Overall, sarcopenic patients had significant lower FIM scores compared to non-sarcopenic patients (p = 0.006). An association with sarcopenia was found for the FIM items bed/chair/wheelchair transfer (p = 0.047), transfer to toilet (p = 0.048), locomotion (p = 0.001), climbing stairs (p = 0.012), comprehension (p = 0.029), and social interaction (p = 0.028).ConclusionIn hospitalized geriatric patients, sarcopenia was found to be associated with both cognitive and mobility domains, but not with self-care domains of the FIM score. Therefore, when addressing sarcopenia in inpatients, tailored and multi-dimensional training interventions mainly should focus on motor-cognitive abilities.

Handgrip Strength and Anthropometry in Parkinson's Disease at Diagnosis.

Objectives To investigate how age, malnutrition, and the level of plasma cortisol and phosphate in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) at time of diagnosis are associated with body composition and handgrip strength in males and females compared to controls. Materials & Methods. This cross-sectional study includes baseline data from a cohort of newly diagnosed patients with Parkinson's disease (N = 75; M/F = 41/34) in the New Parkinsonism in Umeå study (NYPUM). Body Impedance (BIS), handgrip strength (HGS) assessments, and evaluation of risk for malnutrition (Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score) and cognitive performance (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)) were performed at time of PD diagnosis. Results Low fat-free mass index (FFMI), MNA score, and a high Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-total and UPDRS-III) were associated with high daytime levels of P-cortisol in total PD population but not in controls. Partial correlations reveal that high fat mass percent (FM (%)) and low FFMI were associated with older age in males with PD but not females with PD. Risk of malnutrition was associated with P-cortisol in males but not in females with PD (r = −0.511, P=0.001, and n = 41 and r = −0.055, P=0.759, and n = 34, respectively). Multiple linear regressions show that an interaction between P-cortisol and P-phosphate, older age, and high UPDRS-III score were associated with HGS in total patient population and males but not females. Conclusions Age- and disease-associated risk factors that decrease muscle mass and HGS and increase FM (%) in patients with PD differ between males and females by an association with levels of cortisol and phosphate.

Lower limb musculoskeletal profiling in Malaysian professional footballers during pre-season pre-competition medical assessments

Background: Lower limb musculoskeletal profiling is important in pre-competition medical assessment (PCMA) as it helps to identify musculoskeletal pathologies that need rehabilitation and risk factors for injury that need specific prevention programme. However, a normative value is needed to identify which is normal or pathological. Our objective in this study is to establish a normative value for football-specific adaptation of lower limb musculoskeletal examination among Malaysian professional footballers. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional examining 83 Malaysian footballers from a single club during PCMA from 17 January 2022 to 17 February 2022. We included anthropometric assessments using body impedance analysis, objective lower limb muscle strength assessments using handheld dynamometer, range of motion and objective dynamic balance test using the Biodex system. Results: The mean age of our study was 20.3 ± 3 years. Goalkeepers and defenders have a higher body mass index and a higher skeletal muscle mass. Strikers and midfielders have a higher quadriceps and hamstring strength. Non-dominant leg has a better overall stability and anterior posterior stability index compared to dominant leg. Defender has a better overall stability. Sixty-six footballers (80%) have at least 1 low Add: Abd ratio of less than 0.9, which requires preventive programme for groin injury. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a position-specific adaptation in different positions in football.

Segmental Bioimpedance Variables in Association With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

ObjectiveTo examine the changes in body composition, water compartment, and bioimpedance in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) individuals.MethodsWe obtained seven whole-body composition variables and seven pairs of segmental body composition, water compartment, and impedance variables for the upper and lower extremities from the segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) of 939 elderly participants, including 673 cognitively normal (CN) people and 266 individuals with MCI. Participants’ characteristics, anthropometric information, and the selected BIA variables were described and statistically compared between the CN participants and those with MCI. The correlations between the selected BIA variables and neuropsychological tests such as the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination and Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery – Second Edition were also examined before and after controlling for age and sex. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses with estimated odds ratios (ORs) were conducted to investigate the associations between these BIA variables and MCI prevalence for different sexes.ResultsParticipants with MCI were slightly older, more depressive, and had significantly poorer cognitive abilities when compared with the CN individuals. The partial correlations between the selected BIA variables and neuropsychological tests upon controlling for age and sex were not greatly significant. However, after accounting for age, sex, and the significant comorbidities, segmental lean mass, water volume, resistance, and reactance in the lower extremities were positively associated with MCI, with ORs [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 1.33 (1.02–1.71), 1.33 (1.03–1.72), 0.76 (0.62–0.92), and 0.79 (0.67–0.93), respectively; with presumably a shift of water from the intracellular area to extracellular space. After stratifying by sex, resistance and reactance in lower extremities remained significant only in the women group.ConclusionAn increase in segmental water along with segmental lean mass and a decrease in body cell strength due to an abnormal cellular water distribution demonstrated by reductions in resistance and reactance are associated with MCI prevalence, which are more pronounced in the lower extremities and in women. These characteristic changes in BIA variables may be considered as an early sign of cognitive impairment in the elderly population.

Wearable ring bioelectrical impedance analyzer for estimation and monitoring of body fat

The World Health Organization has declared obesity as one of the fastest growing global epidemics. People suffering from obesity are at an increased risk of serious health conditions including stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases caused by excess fat in the body. To study and control this obesity epidemic, precise measurement of the body fat mass is necessary. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a common yet effective method for body composition, especially fat mass, measurement in which the electrical impedance of a human body is measured. Here we report a novel wireless BIA device, in the form of a wearable ring, for estimating the body fat as well as a smartphone application for users to manage and track their health data. The wearable analyzer was compared with an off-the-shelf body fat monitor in terms of performance for 40 healthy volunteers. In addition, the small, dry electrodes used in the ring analyzer are compared with traditional gel-based electrodes. Although the dry electrodes impose a larger skin-electrode contact impedance (5.18 ± 0.655 kΩ) than gel-based electrodes (933.37 ± 40.06 Ω), the designed system provides critical compensation for the higher electrode impedance and the parasitic effects for the dry electrodes. With the compensation implemented, these two types of electrodes are highly correlated with correlation coefficients r = 0.96 for resistance and r = 0.93 for reactance. Body fat estimation equations proposed by four different groups are analyzed and compared using the results from the wearable ring device. Our ring analyzer and the reference monitor demonstrate a linear regression with a strong correlation (r = 0.90) for estimating fat mass. Furthermore, the Bland-Altman plot shows that only 2 out of 40 subjects lie outside the 95% limit of agreement. All these findings show that the ring BIA system is highly portable, easy to use, and with comparable performance to large reference analyzers.

Evaluation of the cellular and extracellular fluid of the body of calves using bio impedancemetry

Currently, non‐invasive animal research methods continue to develop, one of which is bioelectrical impedance analysis to determine the body's water, fat, fat‐free, and cell mass, which reflects the assessment of the body's liquids. The electrical and biological significance of impedance analysis lies in the fact that the measurement of the resistance (impedance) of the body's tissues or fluids changes during exposure to alternating currents of different frequencies and makes it possible to take into account the totality of resistance or the actual difference between two measurements taken in succession. The research object was newborn calves, healthy (G1) and with enteritis (G2), selected according to the principle of analogs, 15 animals in each group. The impedance measurements were studied using the “BICA” device (body impedance composition analyzer). Enteritis in calves is accompanied by a significant loss of electrolytes and free fluid, affecting normal metabolic processes. In this regard, the study of the liquids of the body of healthy and enteritis‐sick calves was the main goal of the research. The first signs of enteritis appeared more often on the second and third days of life. In G2: a decrease in motor activity, hunchback (calves do not lean well on the chest limbs, the head is lowered down) were shown, a decrease in the sucking reflex, retraction of the eyeballs into the orbits, low skin turgor, a red border on the gums under the arcade of the incisors. Feces in sick calves are unformed, watery, gray‐yellow in color, with a pungent, sour odor. On the tenth day of life in calves with enteritis, the total body fluid decreased, and this indicator was 1.5 times lower than in healthy calves (P &lt;0.01). The decrease in the total body fluid volume mainly occurred due to a decrease in the level of intracellular fluid, which in sick animals was 2.8 times lower than in healthy animals (p &lt;0.001). At the same time, the level of extracellular fluid in calves from the G1 and the G2 did not differ significantly and amounted to 7.9 ± 0.8% and 6.28 ± 1.0%, respectively. After the treatment (diet therapy and enroxil 5%, intramuscularly, at a dose of 1 ml per 20 kg of body weight once a day for 3 days) by the age of twenty days, the volume of total body fluid in calves with enteritis recovered and did not significantly differ from the level in healthy animals. There were no significant differences in the volume of extracellular fluid in the calves of both groups. However, as for the intracellular fluid volume, this indicator in recovered calves was still significantly lower (P &lt;0.05) than in healthy animals and amounted to 12.14 ± 1.0% and 15.48 ± 0, 7% respectively. Thus, from the data obtained, it can be seen that fluid loss occurs mainly due to the intracellular fluid with enteritis in calves. Complete recovery of the liquid sectors in calves was observed only by the age of one month.

Exposure of inspiratory negative pressure breathing on cosmonauts during spaceflight

The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of inspiratory negative pressure breathing (NPBin) via impedance threshold device on breathing pattern and body fluid distribution in cosmonauts during spaceflight. The lung function (volumes and flows, breath-hold time) was estimated in details before NPBin exposure as well. The 16 cosmonauts participated in study on ISS board: they were examined before, during spaceflight and after landing. All cosmonauts included in the study were well trained for providing the experimental procedure by themselves. The mask with impedance threshold (−20 cm H2O on inhale) was used. Breathing rate, intramask pressure and electrical impedance of head, body and limbs have been monitoring before (5 min) and during NPBin (20 min). The obtained data has shown no significant differences in lung volumes and flows in comparison of preflight and spaceflight values. Generally, NPBin led to significant decrease of breathing rate. No statistically significant changes in electrical impedance of body and head at NPBin compared with tidal breathing were found. The effectiveness of NPBin as a preventing means for fluid shifts in cosmonauts (astronauts) during spaceflight is discussed and needs the further studies.

Body Composition and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Paediatric Population.

The aim of our study was to evaluate associations between body composition parameters and several clinical parameters. A total of 206 children and adolescents (120 male, 86 female) were prospectively included. Body impedance measurement was performed in all participants. During the hospital work-up, several clinical parameters such as anthropometric measurements and laboratory and ultrasound findings were obtained and correlated to body composition parameters. There was a significant association between body composition parameters and anthropometric measurements, systolic blood pressure, insulin levels, serum creatinine, urate, liver function tests, triglycerides, cholesterols and apolipoproteins, homocysteine, vitamin D and proteins in 24-h urine. Body composition differed by gender, between participants with and without hepatic steatosis and between patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy. Interestingly, body composition did not correlate with diastolic blood pressure, pulse wave velocity and intima media thickness. This study showed that several clinical parameters are associated with body composition in children. Obesity and body composition play an important role in the development of other cardiovascular risk factors and are not dependent on fat mass alone, and the latter might be used for cardiovascular risk determination.

Using deep learning to predict abdominal age from liver and pancreas magnetic resonance images

With age, the prevalence of diseases such as fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and type two diabetes increases. Approaches to both predict abdominal age and identify risk factors for accelerated abdominal age may ultimately lead to advances that will delay the onset of these diseases. We build an abdominal age predictor by training convolutional neural networks to predict abdominal age (or “AbdAge”) from 45,552 liver magnetic resonance images [MRIs] and 36,784 pancreas MRIs (R-Squared = 73.3 ± 0.6; mean absolute error = 2.94 ± 0.03 years). Attention maps show that the prediction is driven by both liver and pancreas anatomical features, and surrounding organs and tissue. Abdominal aging is a complex trait, partially heritable (h_g2 = 26.3 ± 1.9%), and associated with 16 genetic loci (e.g. in PLEKHA1 and EFEMP1), biomarkers (e.g body impedance), clinical phenotypes (e.g, chest pain), diseases (e.g. hypertension), environmental (e.g smoking), and socioeconomic (e.g education, income) factors.

Resting metabolic rate and its association with body composition parameters in 9- to 18-year-old Indian children and adolescents

ObjectivesObesity is a disorder of energy balance with increasing prevalence in Indian children. Objectives were to study 1) resting metabolic rate (RMR), anthropometry, body composition (BC), and their relationships in Indian children and adolescents affected with overweight (OW) or obesity (OB) and in non-overweight (NOW) children and 2) factors influencing RMR, such as age, sex, and BC. MethodsThis cross-sectional, observational, multicentric study included 495 children (260 boys) of age 9–18 y who were assessed from six Indian states for sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters using standard protocols. Body composition was assessed by a body impedance analyzer technique (Tanita-BC-420), and RMR was assessed using indirect calorimetry. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 26) with appropriate statistical tests. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. ResultsBoys had higher absolute RMR values than did girls (1212±263 kcal/d versus 1066±204 kcal/d; P < 0.001). Weight-adjusted RMR was significantly lower among children classified as OW or OB than among NOW children of both sexes, respectively (P < 0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed fat-free mass, sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) as significant predictors of RMR (P < 0.05). ConclusionsWe found lower weight-adjusted RMR in children classified as OW or OB as compared with NOW children. Our study underlines the importance of low RMR levels among children with a higher BMI, in girls, and with increasing age.