Healthy Middle-aged Individuals Research Articles

Habitual exercise decreases systolic blood pressure during low-intensity resistance exercise in healthy middle-aged and older individuals.

Since aerobic exercise (e.g., walking) and resistance exercise (e.g., lifting objects and mopping) are both parts of the activities of daily living, an exaggerated elevation in systolic blood pressure (SBP) during aerobic and resistance exercise is an early marker of cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the effects of habitual exercise on SBP during low-intensity resistance exercise using both cross-sectional and interventional approaches. First, in 57 normotensive women (61.9 ± 1.0 yr of age), daily physical activity level, as assessed by triaxial accelerometry, was correlated with SBP during resistance exercise at 20 and 40% of the 1 repetition maximum (r = -0.408 and r = -0.348, respectively). Maximal oxygen uptake was correlated with SBP during exercise at 20% (r = -0.385) and 40% (r = -0.457). Physical activity level or maximal oxygen uptake was identified as a predictor of SBP during the exercise in stepwise regression analysis, independent of SBP at rest and other factors (R2 = 0.729-0.781). Second, 66 men and women (64.6 ± 0.9 yr of age) participated in a 6-wk intervention as a part of the training (walking, 4.3 ± 0.3 days/wk, 55.6 ± 4.1 min/day, 70.7 ± 1.2% of maximal heart rate) or control group. SBP during resistance exercise in the training group decreased after the intervention (before vs. after: 20%, 143 ± 4 vs. 128 ± 4 mmHg; and 40%, 148 ± 5 vs. 134 ± 4 mmHg). In the control group, there were no significant differences in SBP before and after the intervention. SBP during resistance exercise after the intervention was lower in the training group relative to the control group. These results suggest that habitual exercise decreases SBP during low-intensity resistance exercise.

Ultrasound evaluation of the morphometric patterns of lymph nodes of the head and neck in young and middle-aged individuals.

ObjectiveTo show the morphometric patterns of lymph nodes of the head and neck, evaluating their number, shape, dimensions, hilum, and cortex, through the use of ultrasound examination of the neck.Materials and MethodsWe analyzed 400 right and left lymph nodes in a group of 20 healthy young and middle-aged individuals of both genders.ResultsIn the ultrasound examination, we observed the following lymph nodes: mastoid; parotid (superficial, extraglandular, and intraglandular); submandibular (preglandular, retroglandular, and intracapsular); submental; and cervical (anterior and posterior). Although some individuals had up to seven lymph nodes in the same region, most had only two to three per region. The smallest lymph node diameter observed was 0.4 cm, and the largest was 2.7 cm. Most lymph nodes showed an elongated or oval shape. Most of the lymph node hila were echogenic, although a few were hyperechoic. However, the cortex was clearly hypoechoic in all of the lymph nodes evaluated.ConclusionUltrasound examination of healthy individuals allowed the characteristics of the lymph nodes of the head and neck to be observed clearly, which could provide a basis for the analysis of patients with diseases of these lymph nodes.

Modeling practice effects in healthy middle-aged participants of the Alzheimer and Families parent cohort

IntroductionRepetitive administration of neuropsychological tests can lead to performance improvement merely due to previous exposure. The magnitude of such practice effects (PEs) may be used as a marker of subtle cognitive impairment because they are diminished in healthy individuals subsequently developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). MethodsTo explore the relationship between sociodemographic factors, AD family history (FH), and APOE ε4 status, and the magnitude of PE, four subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV were administered twice to 400 middle-aged healthy individuals, most of them first-degree descendants of AD patients. ResultsPEs were observed in all measures. Sociodemographic variables did not show a uniform effect on PE. Baseline score was the strongest predictor of change, being inversely related to PE magnitude. Significant effects of the interaction term APOE ε4∗Age in processing speed and working memory were observed. DiscussionPEs exert a relevant effect in cognitive outcomes at retest and, accordingly, they must be taken into consideration in clinical trials. The magnitude of PE in processing speed and working memory could be of special interest for the development of cognitive markers of preclinical AD.

Endurance training and maximal oxygen consumption with ageing: Role of maximal cardiac output and oxygen extraction

The increase in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) with endurance training is associated with that of maximal cardiac output (Qmax), but not oxygen extraction, in young individuals. Whether such a relationship is altered with ageing remains unclear. Therefore, we sought systematically to review and determine the effect of endurance training on and the associations among VO2max, Qmax and arteriovenous oxygen difference at maximal exercise (Ca-vO2max) in healthy aged individuals. We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science, from their inceptions until May 2015 for articles assessing the effect of endurance training lasting 3 weeks or longer on VO2max and Qmax and/or Ca-vO2max in healthy middle-aged and/or older individuals (mean age ≥40 years). Meta-analyses were performed to determine the standardised mean difference (SMD) in VO2max, Qmax and Ca-vO2max between post and pre-training measurements. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations among SMDs and potential moderating factors. Sixteen studies were included after systematic review, comprising a total of 153 primarily untrained healthy middle-aged and older subjects (mean age 42-71 years). Endurance training programmes ranged from 8 to 52 weeks of duration. After data pooling, VO2max (SMD 0.89; P < 0.0001) and Qmax (SMD 0.61; P < 0.0001) were increased after endurance training; no heterogeneity among studies was detected. Ca-vO2max was only increased with endurance training interventions lasting more than 12 weeks (SMD 0.62; P = 0.001). In meta-regression, the SMD in Qmax was positively associated with the SMD in VO2max (B = 0.79, P = 0.04). The SMD in Ca-vO2max was not associated with the SMD in VO2max (B = 0.09, P = 0.84). The improvement in VO2max following endurance training is a linear function of Qmax, but not Ca-vO2max, through healthy ageing.

Chronic Cigarette Smoking in Healthy Middle-Aged Individuals Is Associated With Decreased Regional Brain N-acetylaspartate and Glutamate Levels

BackgroundCigarette smoking is associated with metabolite abnormalities in anterior brain regions, but it is unclear if these abnormalities are apparent in other regions. Additionally, relationships between regional brain metabolite levels and measures of decision making, risk taking, and impulsivity in smokers and nonsmokers have not been investigated. MethodsIn young to middle-aged (predominately male) nonsmokers (n = 30) and smokers (n = 35), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds, creatine-containing compounds (Cr), myo-inositol (mI), and glutamate (Glu) levels in the anterior cingulate cortex and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were compared via 4-tesla proton single volume magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Groups also were compared on NAA, choline-containing compounds, Cr, and mI concentrations in the gray matter and white matter of the four cerebral lobes and subcortical nuclei/regions with 1.5-tesla proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Associations of regional metabolite levels with neurocognitive, decision-making, risk-taking, and self-reported impulsivity measures were examined. ResultsSmokers showed lower DLPFC NAA, Cr, mI and Glu concentrations and lower lenticular nuclei NAA level; smokers also demonstrated greater age-related decreases of DLPFC NAA and anterior cingulate cortex and DLPFC Glu levels. Smokers exhibited poorer decision making and greater impulsivity. Across the sample, higher NAA and Glu in the DLPFC and NAA concentrations in multiple lobar gray matter and white matter regions and subcortical nuclei were associated with better neurocognition and lower impulsivity. ConclusionsThis study provides additional novel evidence that chronic smoking in young and middle-aged individuals is associated with significant age-related neurobiological abnormalities in anterior frontal regions implicated in the development and maintenance of addictive disorders.

A Study of Cardiovascular Autonomic Nervous functions in Apparently Healthy Middle aged Individuals

A Study of Cardiovascular Autonomic Nervous functions in Apparently Healthy Middle aged Individuals

Enhancing cognition before clinical symptoms of dementia.

Enhancing cognition before clinical symptoms of dementia.

Systemic circulatory influences on retinal microvascular function in middle-age individuals with low to moderate cardiovascular risk.

To investigate the relationship between retinal microvascular reactivity, circulatory markers for CVD risk and systemic antioxidative defence capacity in healthy middle-aged individuals with low to moderate risk of CVD. Retinal vascular reactivity to flickering light was assessed in 102 healthy participants (46-60 years) by means of dynamic retinal vessel analysis (DVA). Other vascular assessments included carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) and blood pressure (BP) measurements. Total cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and blood glutathione levels in its reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) forms were also determined for each participant, along with Framingham risk scores (FRS). Retinal arterial baseline diameter fluctuation (BDF) was independently, significantly and negatively influenced by LDL-C levels (β = -0.53, p = 0.027). Moreover, the arterial dilation slope (SlopeAD ) was independently, significantly and positively associated with redox index (GSH: GSSG ratio, β = 0.28, p = 0.016), while the arterial constriction slope (SlopeAC ) was significantly and negatively influenced by blood GSH levels (β = -0.20, p = 0.042), and positively associated with FRS (β = 0.25, p = 0.009). Venous BDF and dilation amplitude (DA) were also negatively influenced by plasma LDL-C levels (β = -0.83, p = 0.013; and β = -0.22, p = 0.028, respectively). In otherwise healthy individuals with low to moderate cardiovascular risk, retinal microvascular dilation and constriction responses to stress levels are influenced by systemic antioxidant capacity, and circulating markers for cardiovascular risk.

Age-related changes in cognitive function and postural control in Parkinson’s disease

This study objectively analyzed postural instability and cognitive function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and a group of healthy elderly and middle-aged individuals. The study included ten healthy middle-aged individuals (range 42-57years), 14 healthy elderly individuals (range 60-90years) and 15 PD patients (range 58-93years). Center of pressure (COP) parameters were determined by means of computed static posturography during free standing with open and closed eyes. The level of cognitive functioning was examined with mini mental state examination (MMSE) and counting backwards test (CBT). Parkinson's disease patients showed significantly lower MMSE scores compared to healthy middle-aged (p=0.004) and elderly individuals (p=0.03). Mean duration of CBT in PD patients was significantly longer than in healthy subjects. COP parameters correlated with age of subjects and cognitive function (MMSE score). No significant differences in any stabilographic parameters were observed between healthy elderly subjects and PD patients. Age is the most significant factor impacting upon the static balance of older individuals during free standing. Compared to middle-aged and elderly individuals without central nervous system impairment, patients with PD present with significant delay in cognitive processes associated with executive function.

Age and sex related changes in episodic memory function in middle aged and older adults.

Age-related change in episodic memory function is commonly reported in older adults. When detected on neuropsychological tests, it may still be difficult to distinguish normal from pathological changes. The present study investigates age-and sex-related changes in a group of healthy middle-aged and older adults, participating in a three-wave study on cognitive aging. The California Verbal Learning test (CVLT-II) was used to assess their episodic memory function. A cross-sectional analysis of results from the first wave showed higher performance in females than males, with a steeper age-related decline in males. This was confirmed in a longitudinal analysis using a mixed effects regression model, but with a lower age-related change and smaller difference between the sexes. Information about learning strategies and errors in the third wave turned out to contribute significantly to explain change in episodic memory function across the three waves. We argue that the results from the longitudinal analyses are generalizable to the population of healthy middle-aged and older individuals, and that they could be useful in guiding clinicians when evaluating individuals with respect to cognitive change.

Abstract 109: Manipulative Dexterity is Associated with Occult White Matter Ischemic Lesions in Healthy Asymptomatic Persons at Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Introduction: Persons with a family history of early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD) have an excess risk of stroke and CAD. White matter lesions (WML) on MRI represent small vessel ischemic cerebrovascular disease and are associated with incident stroke and neurocognitive decline with age. We hypothesized manipulative manual dexterity, an integration of fine motor, visual spatial, and cognition function, may be affected by increased WML burden in task-relevant brain regions across age ranges in persons at risk for pre-clinical occult vascular disease. We tested this in a large population with a family history of early CAD. Methods: Healthy 29-74 year old subjects (N=714; mean age 51± 11 years; mean education 14 ± 3 years; 42% male, 38% Black) were identified from probands with CAD &lt;60 years. WML location and volumes were measured on 3T FLAIR MRI. Manipulative manual dexterity was measured with standardized timed grooved pegboard test. Left and right pegboard scores were averaged. Results: WML were observed in all age groups; mean overall pegboard scores were 108±18, and were within reference norms. In unadjusted analysis, pegboard scores were highly correlated in the expected direction with total WML volumes, r=0.34, p=&lt;.0001; subcortical volumes r=0.30, &lt;.0001 periventricular volumes r=0.31, &lt;.0001; and with most regional WML volumes; frontal 0.34, &lt;.0001; insula r=0.31, p&lt;.0001, parietal r=0.31, p&lt;.0001, and temporal volumes r=0.17, p &lt;.0001. In separate multivariate regression analyses predicting (log) pegboard score adjusted for age, sex, race, education and nonindependence of families (GEE), total WML volume became more statistically significant ( p=5.79E-05) while other regions retained statistical significance, p&lt; 0.01. Conclusions: Our findings in a large population-based sample with a family history of early CAD confirm that greater WML volumes in multiple brain locations are associated with higher pegboard scores (worse performance) independent of age, sex, race, and education. This suggests that small vessel cerebrovascular disease is present in an early preclinical state and that WML volumes impact manipulative manual dexterity in healthy middle-aged and younger individuals with excess risk for clinical vascular disease.

Influence of acute high-intensity aerobic interval exercise bout on selective attention and short-term memory tasks.

Acute moderate intensity continuous aerobic exercise can improve specific cognitive functions, such as short-term memory and selective attention. Moreover, high-intensity interval training (HIT) has been recently proposed as a time-efficient alternative to traditional cardiorespiratory exercise. However, considering previous speculations that the exercise intensity affects cognition in a U-shaped fashion, it was hypothesized that a HIT session may impair cognitive performance. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of an acute HIT session on selective attention and short-term memory tasks. 22 healthy middle-aged individuals (M age = 53.7 yr.) engaged in both (1) a HIT session, 10 1 min. cycling bouts at the intensity corresponding to 80% of the reserve heart rate interspersed by 1 min. active pauses cycling at 60% of the reserve heart rate and (2) a control session, consisting of an active condition with low-intensity active stretching exercise. Before and after each experimental session, cognitive performance was assessed by the Victoria Version of the Stroop test (a selective attention test) and the Digit Span test (a short-term memory test). Following the HIT session, the time to complete the Stroop "Color word" test was significantly lower when compared with that of the control session. The performances in the other subtasks of the Stroop test as well as in the Digit Span test were not significantly different. A HIT session can improve cognitive function.

Exercise increases serum endostatin levels in female and male patients with diabetes and controls

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is often associated with atherosclerotic changes in coronary vessels, most notably plaques. The angiostatic parameter endostatin is able to inhibit angiogenesis in tissue as well as in plaques and therefore plays an important role in physiological and pathological neovascularisation. The aim of the present study was to investigate sex-specific differences and the influence of exercise on circulating endostatin levels in patients suffering from diabetes, and control subjects.MethodsIn total, 42 T2DM-patients and 45 control subjects were investigated. They underwent a graded physical stress test (ergometry). Serum endostatin levels were measured in venous blood at rest and directly after reaching maximum workload.ResultsFemales showed significantly higher endostatin levels at baseline measurements compared to men, independently of their underlying disease. In both female and male T2DM-patients endostatin levels were significantly lower compared to controls. Both groups and sexes showed a significant increase of endostatin after physical stress, whereas the extent of endostatin-increase was between 10.59-15.05%.ConclusionMiddle-aged healthy female individuals as well as female T2DM-patients showed higher circulating serum endostatin levels compared to males, suggesting a hormonal influence on baseline circulating endostatin amounts. Exercise-induced increase in endostatin is also observable in patients suffering from T2DM. Concerning vascularisation, lower endostatin levels in T2DM might be advantageous. Concerning plaque stability, lower levels might be prejudicial.Trial registrationClinical Trial Registration-URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=NCT01165515

Calpain plays a crucial role in TDP-43 pathology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common adult-onset motor neuron disease affecting healthy middle-aged individuals. Mislocalization of TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) or TDP-43 pathology observed in the spinal motor neurons is the pathological hallmark of ALS. The mechanism generating TDP-43 pathology remained uncertain. Several reports suggested that cleavage of TDP-43 into aggregation-prone fragments might be the earliest event. Therefore, elucidation of the protease(s) that is responsible for TDP-43 cleavage in the motor neurons is awaited. ALS-specific molecular abnormalities other than TDP-43 pathology in the motor neurons of sporadic ALS patients include inefficient RNA editing at the GluA2 glutamine/arginine (Q/R) site, which is specifically catalyzed by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2 (ADAR2). We have developed the conditional ADAR2 knockout (AR2) mice, in which the ADAR2 gene is targeted in motor neurons. We found that Ca(2+)-dependent cysteine protease calpain cleaved TDP-43 into aggregation-prone fragments, which initiated TDP-43 mislocalization in the motor neurons expressing abnormally abundant Ca(2+)-permeable AMPA receptors. Here we summarized the molecular cascade leading to TDP-43 pathology observed in the motor neurons of AR2 mice and discussed possible roles of dysregulation of calpain-dependent cleavage of TDP-43 in TDP-43 pathology observed in neurological diseases in general.

Plasma S100A8/A9 Correlates With Blood Neutrophil Counts, Traditional Risk Factors, and Cardiovascular Disease in Middle-Aged Healthy Individuals

The S100 alarmins A8, A9, and A8/A9, secreted by activated neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, are involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. S100A8/A9 has previously been linked to atherogenesis and cardiovascular (CV) disease. We investigated whether S100A8, A9, and A8/A9 correlate with carotid artery disease and CV risk in apparently healthy individuals. We measured baseline S100A8, A9, and A8/A9 in 664 individuals aged 63 to 68 years, with no previous history of CV disease, randomly selected from the Malmö Diet and Cancer population cohort. We examined the correlations between S100 proteins and circulating cell populations, plasma cytokines, carotid artery disease, and incidence of CV events during a median follow-up period of 16.2 years. We found that plasma S100A8/A9 concentration is positively influenced by circulating neutrophil numbers, smoking, body mass index, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, and low-density lipoprotein. High-density lipoprotein was negatively associated with S100A8/A9. S100A8/A9 and the neutrophil counts were positively correlated with intima-media area in the common carotid artery, independently of age, sex, and CV risk factors. S100A8/A9 and circulating neutrophils presented similar associations with the incidence of coronary events (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] per 1 SD: 1.28 [1.03-1.59] and 1.26 [1.04-1.53], respectively) and CV death (1.34 [1.06-1.71] and 1.59 [1.33-1.90], respectively). These relationships were mainly supported by strong associations in women, which were independent of traditional risk factors. There were no independent relationships between S100A8 and S100A9, and CV disease. Our study supports the value of S100A8/A9 as a potentially important link between neutrophils, traditional CV risk factors, and CV disease.

Firing patterns of muscle sympathetic neurons during apnea in chronic heart failure patients and healthy controls

In the present study we investigated the influence of end-expiratory breathing cessation on firing activity of muscle sympathetic fibers in 6 stable chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and in 6 healthy age and gender matched controls. Integrated multi-unit bursts, as well as action potentials (APs), were identified from multi-unit muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) recordings during baseline and during functional residual capacity (FRC) apnea. Compared with controls, CHF patients had higher burst frequency and AP firing frequency (P<0.05) at baseline. FRC apnea caused an increase in the number of APs per multi-unit sympathetic burst, in the AP frequency (P<0.05) and in the number of active clusters per multi-unit sympathetic burst in both groups (controls P<0.06, CHF group P=0.1). The data suggest a comparable pattern of sympathetic activation associated with breath hold in healthy middle-aged individuals and in stable CHF patients. Thus, recruitment patterns for this stress are not affected by CHF despite their elevated sympathetic state.

Validity of ultrasound muscle thickness measurements for predicting leg skeletal muscle mass in healthy Japanese middle-aged and older individuals

BackgroundThe skeletal muscle mass of the lower limb plays a role in its mobility during daily life. From the perspective of physical resources, leg muscle mass dominantly decreases after the end of the fifth decade. Therefore, an accurate estimate of the muscle mass is important for the middle-aged and older population. The present study aimed to clarify the validity of ultrasound muscle thickness (MT) measurements for predicting leg skeletal muscle mass (SM) in the healthy Japanese middle-aged and older population.FindingsMTs at four sites of the lower limb and the bone-free lean tissue mass (LTM) of the right leg were determined using brightness-mode ultrasonography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), respectively, in 44 women and 33 men, 52- to 78-years old. LTM was used as a representative variable of leg skeletal muscle mass. In the model-development group (30 women and 22 men), regression analysis produced an equation with R2 and standard error of the estimate (SEE) of 0.958 and 0.3 kg, respectively: LTM (kg) = 0.01464 × (MTSUM×L) (cm2) - 2.767, where MTSUM is the sum of the product of MTs at four sites, and L is length of segment where MT is determined. The estimated LTM (7.0 ± 1.7 kg) did not significantly differ from the measured LTM (7.0 ± 1.7 kg), without a significant systematic error on a Bland-Altman plot. The application of this equation for the cross-validation group (14 women and 11 men) did not yield a significant difference between the measured (7.2 ± 1.6 kg) or estimated (7.2 ± 1.6 kg) LTM and systematic error.ConclusionThe developed prediction equation may be useful for estimating the lean tissue mass of the lower extremity for the healthy Japanese middle-aged and older population.

Weight Change and Health Related Quality of Life: Population-Based Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Health Related Quality of Life on the Success of Weight Management

Our aim was to investigate how health related quality of life (HRQoL) influence on the success of weight management and how to utilize this information. Population-based longitudinal study. A community sample of apparently healthy middle-aged individuals living in Western Finland were invited to clinical survey in order to assess total cardiovascular risk among people who had at least one cardiovascular risk factor but no previous diagnoses of any long-lasting disease. A total of 2,752 individuals, aged 45-70 years, enrolled. The individuals completed HRQoL questionnaire before laboratory tests were completed and overweight people were instructed to lose weight at least 5 %. A physician examined 1950 high risk people during the years 2005-2007. Three years later a trained nurse invited them for a control examination, 1,287 high risk subjects participated, 1,049 had completely filled the questionnaires and 906 of them were overweight or obese at baseline. We assessed the success in weight management in this group of participants. The subjects (53 % women with mean age of 59 ± 7 years) had mean body mass index of 39.6 ± 4.6 kg/m². During the 3 years follow-up period 18 % of them had lost weight ≥5, 70 % had stabilized their weight and 12 % had gained weight ≥5 %. Subjects who had gained weight had worse results in every item of HRQoL both mental and physical at baseline. The results of the HRQoL questionnaire suggested that obesity and deteriorating quality of life interrelate.

Low- and High-Volume of Intensive Endurance Training Significantly Improves Maximal Oxygen Uptake after 10-Weeks of Training in Healthy Men

Regular exercise training improves maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), but the optimal intensity and volume necessary to obtain maximal benefit remains to be defined. A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise training with low-volume but high-intensity may be a time-efficient means to achieve health benefits. In the present study, we measured changes in VO2max and traditional cardiovascular risk factors after a 10 wk. training protocol that involved three weekly high-intensity interval sessions. One group followed a protocol which consisted of 4×4 min at 90% of maximal heart rate (HRmax) interspersed with 3 min active recovery at 70% HRmax (4-AIT), the other group performed a single bout protocol that consisted of 1×4 min at 90% HRmax (1-AIT). Twenty-six inactive but otherwise healthy overweight men (BMI: 25–30, age: 35–45 y) were randomized to either 1-AIT (n = 11) or 4-AIT (n = 13). After training, VO2max increased by 10% (∼5.0 mL⋅kg−1⋅min−1) and 13% (∼6.5 mL⋅kg−1⋅min−1) after 1-AIT and 4-AIT, respectively (group difference, p = 0.08). Oxygen cost during running at a sub-maximal workload was reduced by 14% and 13% after 1-AIT and 4-AIT, respectively. Systolic blood pressure decreased by 7.1 and 2.6 mmHg after 1-AIT and 4-AIT respectively, while diastolic pressure decreased by 7.7 and 6.1 mmHg (group difference, p = 0.84). Both groups had a similar ∼5% decrease in fasting glucose. Body fat, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and ox-LDL cholesterol only were significantly reduced after 4-AIT. Our data suggest that a single bout of AIT performed three times per week may be a time-efficient strategy to improve VO2max and reduce blood pressure and fasting glucose in previously inactive but otherwise healthy middle-aged individuals. The 1-AIT type of exercise training may be readily implemented as part of activities of daily living and could easily be translated into programs designed to improve public health.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00839579

Impaired glucose metabolism and health related quality of life

AimsWe aimed at investigating whether different categories of glucose tolerance have any effect on a person's HRQoL. MethodsPopulation-based cross-sectional study conducted as a community sample of apparently healthy middle-aged individuals living in Western Finland. The subjects of the study, 1383 individuals, aged 45–70 years, had at least one cardiovascular risk factor but no previous diagnoses of either diabetes or cardiovascular disease. They completed health related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire before the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to diagnose the gategories of glucose tolerance. ResultsPersons with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (NDM) had lower scores for physical functioning, general health and emotional role than subjects with normal glucose tolerance. ConclusionThe results of the HRQoL questionnaire demonstrated that NDM is negatively associated with HRQoL, but prediabetes – IFG or IGT – does not.