Muscle Percentage Research Articles

Ultrasound guided evaluation of muscle wasting in critically ill patients

BackgroundMuscle wasting constitutes a frequent complication in critical illness and may be most prevalent in chronic critical illness as inpatients with prolonged ICU length of stay.ObjectiveTo evaluate the incidence and percentage of muscle wasting estimated by ultrasonography during ICU stay in patients with sepsis and receiving medications as corticosteroids, muscle relaxant, and certain antibiotics during ICU stay and hospital stay.Patients and methodsWe enrolled 90 patients diagnosed with sepsis who were admitted to ICU at Kasr Alainy Hospital were subdivided in to 3 groups: Group 1 consists of 30 patients receiving steroids. Group 2 consists of 30 patients receiving antibiotic causing muscle wasting in the form of aminoglycosides. Group 3 consists of 30 patients receiving neuromuscular blocking agents (muscle relaxants) for any indication in ICU.ResultsOur study included 90 patients, with mean age 50.44 ± 6.79 years, with male % 60%, APACHE II score 7.16 ± 3.59, SOFA score 7.16 ± 3.59, results showed there was a significant decline in QMT on both right and left sides as well as RFCSA on both right and left sides when compared with baseline starting from the 3rd day of ICU admission till the end of the study period (15th day of ICU admission) (P < 0.001). Patients who received muscle relaxant had significantly higher QMT% and RFCSA% wasting when compared to patients who received aminoglycosides (P < 0.001) and when compared to patients who received steroids (P < 0.001). Patients who received aminoglycosides had significantly higher QMT% and RFCSA% wasting compared to patients who received steroids (P < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between Horowitz index with right side QMT% wasting (r = − 0.557; P < 0.001), left side QMT% wasting (r = − 0.444; P < 0.001), right side RFCSA% wasting (r = − 0.638; P < 0.001), and left side RFCSA% wasting (r = − 0.621; P < 0.001). Right side QMT% wasting positively correlated with WBCs (r = 0.254; P = 0.016). There was a significant positive correlation between SOFA score with right side QMT% wasting (r = 0.308; P = 0.003) and left side QMT% wasting (r = 0.285; P = 0.006). There was a significant positive correlation between SOFA score with right side RFCSA% wasting (r = 0.210; P = 0.003) and left side RFCSA% wasting (r = 0.303; P = 0.004).ConclusionUltrasound showed significant reduction in QMT and RFCSA from the baseline in patients with sepsis starting from the 3rd day of admission. Patients who received muscle relaxant had the highest incidence of muscle wasting (QMT% wasting and RFCSA% wasting). Patients who received steroids reported the least percentage of muscle wasting.

E2 signaling in myofibers promots macrophage efferocytosis in mouse skeletal muscles with cardiotoxin-induced acute injury

To investigate the effect of E2 signaling in myofibers on muscular macrophage efferocytosis in mice with cardiotoxin-induced acute skeletal muscle injury. Female wild-type C57BL/6 mice with and without ovariectomy and male C57BL/6 mice were given a CTX injection into the anterior tibial muscle to induce acute muscle injury, followed by intramuscular injection of β-estradiol (E2) or 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT). The changes in serum E2 of the mice were detected using ELISA, and the number, phenotypes, and efferocytosis of the macrophages in the inflammatory exudates and myofiber regeneration and repair were evaluated using immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. C2C12 cells were induced to differentiate into mature myotubes, which were treated with IFN- γ for 24 before treatment with β -Estradiol or 4-OHT. The treated myotubes were co-cultured with mouse peritoneal macrophages in a 1:2 ratio, followed by addition of PKH67-labeled apoptotic mouse mononuclear spleen cells induced by UV irradiation, and macrophage efferocytosis was observed using immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. Compared with the control mice, the female mice with ovariectomy showed significantly increased mononuclear macrophages in the inflammatory exudates, with increased M1 cell percentage, reduced M2 cell percentage and macrophage efferocytosis in the injured muscle, and obviously delayed myofiber regeneration and repair. In the cell co-culture systems, treatment of the myotubes with β-estradiol significantly increased the number and proportion of M2 macrophages and macrophage efferocytosis, while 4-OHT treatment resulted in the opposite changes. In injured mouse skeletal muscles, myofiber E2 signaling promotes M1 to M2 transition to increase macrophage efferocytosis, thereby relieving inflammation and promoting muscle regeneration and repair.

Fasciculation potentials are related to the prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Some prognostic biomarkers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been described; however, they are inadequate for satisfactorily predicting individual patient outcomes. Fasciculation potentials (FPs) on electromyography (EMG) are useful for the early diagnosis of ALS, and complex FPs are associated with shorter survival in ALS. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the proportion of muscles with FPs, biochemical markers, and the prognosis of ALS. 89 Patients with ALS were retrospectively classified into three groups based on the interval from onset to death or tracheostomy (less than 1 year: fast progression; from 1 year to less than 3 years: average progression; 3 years or more: slow progression). We performed statistical analysis of the electrophysiological findings, including the percentage of examined muscles with FPs, and biochemical markers evaluated on admission. Patients with fast ALS progression had a higher percentage of muscles with FPs (93.1% vs. 37.9%, P<0.001) and lower uric acid (UA) levels (male: 4.19 mg/dl vs 5.55 mg/dl, P<0.001; female: 3.71 mg/dl vs 5.41 mg/dl, P<0.001) than patients with slow progression. Survival curves demonstrated a relationship between these factors and the survival time in patients with ALS. Furthermore, UA levels were correlated with the percentage of muscles with FPs. Our electrophysiological findings suggest that ALS presents with multisystem neurological manifestations, and these manifestations differed among the groups classified by disease progression. The percentage of muscles with FPs on EMG and serum UA levels were especially associated with the prognosis of ALS.

Vitamin D3 requirements and relative bioavailability for starter male White Pekin ducks fed either cholecalciferol or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol

The objectives were to investigate effects of various concentrations of dietary vitamin D3 (VD3) or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) on growth performance, VD3 status, calcium (Ca) metabolism, and tibia mineralization of starter male White Pekin ducks, and dietary requirements and relative bioavailability of these two compounds. One-day-old male White Pekin ducks (n = 624) were assigned to 13 dietary treatments, including 6 added VD3 concentrations (100, 200, 400, 800, 1200, and 2000 IU/kg), and 2 vitamin D3 sources (VD3 and 25-OH-D3), plus a negative control (no vitamin D3 supplementation) for 21 days. Each group had 6 replicate pens of 8 birds per pen. At 21 days of age, growth performance, carcass traits, plasma 25-OH-D3 and Ca content, and tibia mineralization were examined. There was a high incidence of leg disease and mortality in ducks fed the control diet; however, those negative effects were avoided by adequate VD3 or 25-OH-D3 supplementation. Ducks in the negative control group had the lowest body weight, average daily weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), breast muscle percentage, plasma 25-OH-D3, plasma Ca, and tibia indices (weight, diameter, ash, density, tibia mineral, strength) (P < 0.05), with all these end points enhanced linearly or quadratically as dietary VD3 or 25-OH-D3 increased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, at 100 or 200 IU/kg, ducks fed 25-OH-D3 had greater body weight, ADG, ADFI, plasma Ca, plasma 25-OH-D3, tibia weight, tibia diameter, tibia ash than those fed VD3 (P < 0.05), indicating 25-OH-D3 was more effective in stimulating growth, Ca absorption, and tibia mineralization. For growth performance, breast muscle percentage, plasma Ca, and tibial indices of starter male Pekin ducks, the VD3 requirements were 281 to 633 IU/kg, whereas 25-OH-D3 requirements were 119 to 395 IU/kg. Based on slope ratio comparisons from multiple linear regressions of plasma 25-OH-D3, bioavailability of 25-OH-D3 was 186% relative to cholecalciferol.

Influence of genotype on carcass composition, metric traits of the digestive system and leg bones of laying hens after the egg-production season

Context The genotype of laying hens is one of the most important factors influencing their carcass composition and anatomical features. Aims The aim of the present study was to compare two genotypes of laying hens, Lohmann Brown and Lohmann White, after the laying period. Methods The experimental material consisted of 26 carcasses obtained after slaughtering spent laying hens at the age of 83 weeks. Key results The genotype of the birds had a significant (P &lt; 0.05) effect on carcass weight, and the proportion (%) of the breast muscle, leg muscle and gizzard weight. Significant correlations were also found between bodyweight and the weight of the stomach, proventriculus, liver and spleen. The origin of the laying hens also had a significant impact on the length of the sections on intestinal segments, namely, jejunum, ileum and colon. Significant differences in the correlations between bodyweight and length of duodenum, jejunum and rectum were also found. The compared hybrids of laying hens differed significantly in the dimensions of the femur and tibia. Lohmann Brown (LB) hens were characterized by higher greatest length, medial length, smallest breadth of the corpus, and greatest breadth of the distal end of the femur compared with Lohmann White (LW) hens. Dimensions of the tibia greatest length, axial length, smallest breadth of the corpus, greatest breadth of the distal end and greatest depth of the distal end in LB hens were also significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher than those in LW hens. Conclusions The results showed that the genotype of laying hens tested after the laying period influenced carcass weight and muscle percentage, as well as differentiated the birds in terms of dimensions of individual segments of the digestive tract, femur, and tibia bones. Implications The results of this research may be useful for consumers of laying hen carcasses and people interested in poultry anatomy.

Expression of myostatin and folistatin as a response to high-load strength training to counteract the loss of muscle mass in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Abstract Background and Purpose Muscle loss is a common complication in patients with heart failure (HF) associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. Myokines (muscle proteins) play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of the disease; in particular, an imbalance in myostatin and follistatin has been reported. Although strength training (ST) within a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program can modulate the expression of these myokines, its effect in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown. We hypothesize that in this population, ST with high load and low repetitions can mitigate muscle cachexia with better myiokine overexpression in this population. Our objective is to evaluate the impact of a CR program with emphasis on high-load, low-repetition ST on the regulation of these muscle proteins, muscle gain and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRFit) in patients with HFpEF. Methods Quasi-experimental study of a CR program (24 sessions of 90 minutes, 3 times a week, for 8 weeks), with the following structure: warm-up (10 minutes), 30-minute ST of high loads (&amp;gt;85% maximum repetition, 1MR) with low repetitions (3-5) and rest times between sets of 2 minutes; then 30 minutes of aerobic resistance training at moderate intensity (60-80% of maximum heart rate) and finally breathing exercises and cool-down (10 minutes). Myokines were determined by immunoassays. Muscular strength was determined by 1MR in biceps, triceps, lateral deltoid, quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius and soleus. For CRFit, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured and six-minute walk test protocol was also performed. Pre and post-intervention comparison was made using paired t test, Pearson's correlation was used in data analysis and a value of p&amp;lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results 59 patients were admitted, of which 8 of them left due to decompensation. Of the remaining 51 (62.7% male), the mean age was 66±8 years, all of them with HFpEF (M:55±2.4% vs W:54±2.1%; p=0.743). The other diagnoses in the study population were myocardial revascularization (52.94%), angioplasty (29.41%), valve replacement (11.6%), arterial hypertension (60%) and obesity (35%). After CR program it was observerd an improvement in VO2 (from 9.95±2.6 to 13.32±1.7; p=0.022) and meters traveled (243±41 to 349±14; p=0.002), and a decrease in myostatin levels (3337.1±69.2 to 2448.0±70.6; p=0.001) and elevation of follistatin (2167.4±96.9 to 3231.6±67.7; p=0.001). We found a strong positive correlation between follistatin levels and muscle percentage (r=0.8947 Pearson, graph1) and a strong negative correlation with myostatin and muscle percentage (r= -0.8034 Pearson, graph2). Conclusion A phase II CR program with a ST component based on high loads and low repetitions improved muscle strength and mass, FitCR and distance traveled in patients with HFpEF, without modify hemodynamic function. Follistatin levels increased by 49.09% and myostatin levels decreased by 26.65%.

Fermented By-Products of Banana Wine Production Improve Slaughter Performance, Meat Quality, and Flavor Fingerprint of Domestic Chicken.

This study aimed to compare the effects of incorporating fermented feed into daily diets on the slaughter performance, meat quality, and flavor compounds of 120 domestic chickens over a 140-day period. A total of five groups (n = 24), including the control group (CK) of the Guangxi Partridge chickens received a standard base diet. The other four groups were provided with pellets that had been added with 10% fermented banana peel (Pe-10), 20% fermented banana peel (Pe-20), 10% fermented banana pulp residue (Pu-10), and 20% fermented banana pulp residue (Pu-20). The flavor compounds in the meat samples of the chickens in these groups were determined using the gas chromatographic method. The results demonstrated that the chickens in the Pe-10, Pe-20, Pu-10, and Pu-20 groups exhibited pectoral muscle percentages, thigh muscle percentages, and total fatty acid content of chest meat that were higher than those observed in the CK group. The moisture content, meat color, carcass weight, total net weight, and abdominal fat percentage of the meat samples in these experimental groups exhibited no notable differences. The flavor compounds in the meat samples of the chickens fed with the two concentrations of fermented banana peel and banana residue were found to be significantly different from those in the control group, with p-values less than 0.05. As the quantity of fermented banana peel incorporated into the daily ration was increased from 10% to 20%, a notable alteration in the flavor compounds present in the chicken samples was observed. The chickens that were provided with fermented banana peels and pulps in their diets exhibited superior slaughter performance and meat quality, particularly in the case of the Pu-10 group, in comparison to the control chickens.

The CT-derived fat-free muscle fraction is associated with inflammation and predicts outcome in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR

Abstract Background The ESC guidelines underscore the importance of objective risk stratification in making patient-centered decision for valve interventions. However, they primarily rely on surgical risk scores, not considering essential factors such as frailty. Computed tomography (CT) is a routine part of the pre-interventional workup in patients undergoing TAVR and allows for body composition analysis, including the assessment of fat-free muscle fraction (FFMF) as an indicator of muscle quality. Purpose This study aimed to assess the correlation between FFMF and both inflammation and endocrine disorders, and to investigate the predictive value of FFMF in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR. Methods The study included 789 patients undergoing TAVR between 2017 and 2019. Evaluations involved CT scans to assess body composition. Using densitometric thresholds, the skeletal muscle area at L3/L4 level was separated into fatty and lean muscle to calculate the FFMF. The cohort was divided into tertiles of high, medium, and low FFMF, Figure 1. Results The study population was 45.5% female with a mean age of 81.2±6.0 years. Overall, 261 (33.1%) patients had a high FFMF, 293 (37.1%) had a medium FFMF, and 235 (29.8%) had a low FFMF. Patients with a low FFMF were older (82.3±5.9 vs 81.6±5.6 vs 79.8±6.2 years, p&amp;lt;0.01) and had higher rates of atrial fibrillation (52 vs 43 vs 37%, p&amp;lt;0.01), compared to those with a medium and high FFMF. Regarding body composition, low FFMF patients had a higher percentage of body fat (28.7±11.2 vs 26.8±9.1 vs 24.2±9.6%, p=0.01) and a lower percentage of body muscle (30.9±5.3 vs 31.3±4.2 vs 32.7±4.4%, p=0.03). Moreover, a low FFMF was associated with inflammation, as indicated by increased levels of C-reactive protein (6.3 vs 4.2 vs 3.1 mg/l, p&amp;lt;0.01) and procalcitonin (0.06 vs 0.05 vs 0.05 µg/l, p=0.01). Endocrinological assessment revealed lower levels of estradiol (6.8 vs 14.7 vs 15.0 pg/ml, p=0.02) and testosterone (0.18 vs 0.48 vs 2.35 ng/ml, p&amp;lt;0.01) as well as higher levels of cortisol (8.9 vs 7.7 vs 7.6μg/dl, p=0.05) in low FFMF patients. Regarding clinical outcomes, low FFMF was associated with increased one-year mortality (23.4%) compared to medium (11.6%) or low FFMF (3.8%, p&amp;lt;0.01), Figure 2A. This difference persisted over five years (p&amp;lt;0.01), Figure 2B. ROC curve analysis showed that FFMF had the strongest association with one-year mortality (AUC 0.75, p&amp;lt;0.01) and was superior to the STS-PROM (AUC 0.65) and EuroSCORE II (AUC 0.64). Multivariate analysis revealed that low FFMF was independently associated with mortality following TAVR (OR: 3.19 [CI: 1.64 – 6.22], p&amp;lt;0.01). Conclusion The CT-derived FFMF is associated with inflammation and endocrinological disorder in patients undergoing TAVR. Importantly, a low FFMF is a strong and independent predictor of dismal outcomes. FFMF assessment can seamlessly integrate into routine pre-interventional CTs, offering a promising objective parameter for outcome prediction.

Body fat or muscle underneath body mass index in heart failure patients: characteristics and prognostic values

Abstract Background Body Mass Index (BMI) has been recognized as a prognosticator for heart failure (HF) in that higher BMI relates to lower mortality. However, limited data are available whether body composition underneath BMI would further differentiate patients with a better or worse outcome, especially in those with lower or normal BMI. Purpose To investigate the characteristics of body fat and body muscle in HF patient groups with different BMI, and their impact on prognosis. Methods Between July 2021 and July 2022, hospitalized HF patients who were suitable for the examination underwent body composition analysis by using bioelectrical analyses (BIA) in the stable state after decongestion therapy and before discharge. Percentage of body fat (PBF) and percentage of body muscle (PBM) were calculated by dividing the mass of body fat, or body muscle, respectively. Patients were divided into underweight (&amp;lt;18.5kg/m2), normal weight (20-24.9 kg/m2), overweight/obese (≥25kg/m2) based on BMI, who were followed for 180 days for all-cause death. Results 127 consecutive patients with obtained data were finally enrolled (60±15 years, 70% males), including 20 (15.75%) underweight, 75 (59.06%) normal weight, and 32 (25.19%) overweight/obese. As shown in Table 1, As shown in Table 1, the body fat mass and muscle mass varied with BMI, though they showed a different rate of change. Compared with patients with normal weight, the fat and muscle mass in those overweight/obese was 81.8% and 12.4% higher; whereas it was 39.2%, and 23.1% lower in those underweight, respectively. As results, the overweight/obesity group had a higher PBF, but a lower percentage of PBM. Consequently, the overweight/obesity group had a higher PBF, a lower PBM and a decreased muscle mass/fat mass ratio (MFR); conversely, the underweight group had a lower PBF, a higher PBM and an increased MFR. During 180-day follow-up, 17 (13.4%) died for all cause. By Cox regression analysis, MFR independently predict all-cause death (HR, 1.273, 95% CI: 1.056-1.534, p=0.011) after adjusted for age, BMI, ejection fraction and NT-proBNP. Of note, in patients with normal weight, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis suggested the capability of MFR (AUC=0.780, p=0.003) as well as its superiority over BMI in association with all-cause mortality (Figure 1). Conclusions The change of body fat or muscle mass with BMI displayed a different rate in HF patients, so that the MFR was higher in underweight but lower in overweight/obese when compared to normal weight group. Apart from BMI, MFR emerged as a predictor of mortality, in particular in patients with normal weight.

Comparison of Shear-Wave Elastography USG and CT: Composition Analysis of Rectus Femoris Muscle in Healthy Adults and Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

This study aimed to compare shear-wave elastography (SWE) USG and composition analysis of CT on the right mid-rectus femoris muscle (RF) in both healthy adults and chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Sixty-three healthy adults and 22 CKD patients were included. One musculoskeletal radiologist performed right RF SWE USG, while two radiologists measured shear-wave velocity (SWV) from the same SWE images. CT scan was performed, and muscle composition was measured using imageJ, categorized into four HU-based compositions. Interobserver agreement for SWV between two readers was evaluated. Correlations between SWV and CT compositions were analyzed using Pearson's or Spearman's correlation. SWV of healthy group was significantly higher than CKD group by each reader (p = 0.030 and 0.038). The percentage of low-density muscle was higher in CKD group than healthy group (p < 0.001), and the percentage of normal density muscle was higher in healthy group than CKD (p < 0.001) by each reader. Interobserver agreement of SWV by the two readers was almost perfect in both groups (k = 0.957-0.984, 0.959-0.993). There was a statistically significant correlation between SWV and the percentage of normal density muscle on CT in both healthy adults and CKD patient groups (Reader 1, r = 0.318-0.480, p = 0.001 and 0.024; Reader 2, r = 0.511-0.518, p < 0.001 and p = 0.013). SWV demonstrated a significant correlation with the percentage of normal density muscle on CT in both healthy adults and CKD patients by each reader. SWE provides a radiation-free approach that may offer an objective method for evaluating muscle quality, potentially making it an option for muscle monitoring.

CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION INDUCED BY ORTHODOX RELIGIOUS FASTING ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Scientific research in recent decades has increasingly focused on changes in body composition influenced by Orthodox religious fasting, which the Church has established before major holidays. The purpose of this study is to provide more information on how body composition parameters changed among high school students who followed the recommendations of Orthodox religious fasting for forty days (during Lent). A sample of twenty-eight students from Holy Cyril and Methodius High School in Niš was analyzed . The average age of all male participants was 17.4 ± 1.2 years. Anthropometric measures were taken both before and after the 40-day fast. The Omron BF 511 device, which provided information on body weight, BMI (body mass index), percentage of body fat, percentage of skeletal muscle, and basal metabolic rate, was used to measure body composition values. The acquired data were subjected to statistical analyses, including ANOVA and MANOVA for repeated measures. The results show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.012) between the initial and final measurements based on the MANOVA analysis. This study indicates that students interested in reducing weight while maintaining their muscle mass could benefit from practicing Orthodox religious fasting for 40 days. Further research is needed to confirm these results and explore the long-term effects of religious fasting and the post-fasting period, particularly for this participant sample.

Effects of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl polysaccharides on growth performance, immune function, cecum microorganisms and short-chain fatty acids in broilers.

In this study, Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl polysaccharides (LSP) was prepared using the water-alcohol precipitation method to evaluate its effects on growth performance, slaughter performance, cytokines, immune organ indices, cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and microbial community structure in broiler chickens when added to the basal diet. Seventy-five broiler chickens were selected and randomly divided into five groups, with 15 chickens per group. All groups were fed a basal diet for 7 days. From 7 days of age, the control group continued to receive the basal diet, while the positive drug group was fed a diet supplemented with Astragalus polysaccharides (APS, 100 g/kg) in addition to the basal diet. The experimental groups were fed diets containing different concentrations of LSP (50, 100, and 200 g/kg) in addition to the basal diet, and the supplementation continued for 42 days. The findings indicated that the incorporation of LSP into the feed significantly enhanced average daily weight gain (ADWG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed to gain ratio (F/G), dressing percentage, percentage of breast muscle, percentage of leg muscle, and percentage of abdominal fat while concurrently reducing drip loss rate and cooking loss rate (p < 0.01) in comparison to the control group. Additionally, it significantly augmented the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) in cytokines, secreted immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in immunoglobulins, as well as immune organ indicators (p < 0.05). Furthermore, LSP also modulated the intestinal microbiome composition by increasing the abundance of Bacteroides species and significantly changing concentrations of specific short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as propionic acid, isobutyric acid, acetic acid, and isovaleric acid (p < 0.01). These results suggest that dietary supplementation with LSP can effectively regulate intestinal microbiome composition while promoting short-chain fatty acid production. The alterations in microbial characteristics ultimately contribute to improved intestinal immunity and immune organ development as well as enhanced production performance and immune function in broilers.

The Relationship Between the Percentage of Skeletal Muscle (SMP) and the Emergence of Degenerative Diseases (Hypertension) in Posyandu for the Elderly Mugi Sehat

Degenerative disease is a condition of continuous decline in body function with increasing age. Hypertension is a degenerative disease that is often suffered by the elderly. The aging process results in changes in body composition, often without being accompanied by weight changes. Increasing age in the elderly will experience functional limitations caused by changes in body composition, one of which is the Percentage of Skeletal Muscle. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the percentage of skeletal muscle and the emergence of degenerative diseases (hypertension) in the elderly at the Mugi Healthy Elderly Posyandu. The instruments in this study used a Digital Sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure and an Omron Karada Scan Body Composition Monitor Model HBF-375 to measure Skeletal Muscle Percentage. This research method uses a cross-sectional research design. The sample in this study is 58 people. The research was conducted at the Mugi Sehat Elderly Posyandu in the working area of the 2022 UPTD Kembar I health center in May-June 2023. The sampling technique in this study uses total sampling and data analysis using the Spearman Rank test. The results of this study from the bivariate analysis showed that there was no relationship between the Percentage of Skeletal Muscle and the emergence of degenerative diseases (hypertension) in the elderly at the Mugi Healthy Elderly Posyandu, namely the Percentage of Skeletal Muscle with hypertension P value = 0.576 (CC=-0.075).

Screening of the most common cardiometabolic diseases based on risk factor assessment among military personnel

Objective — to assess the prevalence of major cardiometabolic diseases by identifying their risk factors and comparing them with metabolic disorders and stress indicators in military personnel. Materials and methods. The study included 74 male military personnel with an average age of 43.4 [31.4; 50.6] years. Among all the participants, the proportion of individuals with hypertension (HTN) was 51.4%, with dyslipidemia (DLP) — 75.7%, with metabolic­associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — 48.6%, and with overweight or obesity — 51.4%. The participants were divided into groups based on the number of cardiometabolic diseases: group 1 (comparison) consisted of military personnel without HTN, DLP, or MASLD (n=14, 18.9%), group 2 — personnel with 1—2 of the above­mentioned cardiometabolic diseases (n=32, 43.2%), and group 3 — military personnel with comorbid pathology, including HTN, DLP, and MASLD (n=28, 37.8%). All participants were assessed for anthropometric profile, traditional clinical and biochemical indicators. Stress indicators included dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA­S), cortisol, and oxidative stress marker 8­OH­deoxyguanosine (8­OH­DG), which were measured in the blood using immunoassay methods. Results. Among military personnel with HTN, overweight/obesity was twice as common (p=0.003, χ2=9.110), MASLD was 3.3 times more frequent (p=0.0001, χ2=19.598), and DLP was 1.7 times more frequent (p=0.0001, χ2=15.418). Among military personnel with MASLD, overweight/obesity was observed three times more frequently (p=0.0001, χ2=19.598), and dyslipidemia was 1.6 times more common (p=0.0001, χ2=13.416). Personnel with more cardiometabolic diseases were significantly older (p=0.003). In group 3, 21.4% had a normal BMI, while in group 1, 28.6% were overweight or had obesity (p=0.001). The increase in the number of cardiometabolic diseases between groups was accompanied by a significant reduction in skeletal muscle percentage (p=0.039 for group 1 vs group 2; p=0.001 for group 1 vs group 3; p=0.001 for group 2 vs group 3). Military personnel in group 3 had significantly higher BMI, waist circumference (WC), total fat percentage, and lower skeletal muscle percentage compared to groups 1 and 2 (p=0.001 for all comparisons). The highest levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid (UA), and the lowest AST/ALT ratio were observed in group 3 compared to group 1 (p=0.002; p=0.0001; p=0.001; p=0.0001) and group 2 (p=0.0001; p=0.0001; p=0.0001; p=0.0001), respectively. Alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly lower in group 3 compared to group 1 (p=0.048). Lipid profile deterioration was observed with an increase in the number of cardiometabolic diseases: total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), very low­density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL­C), and low­density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL­C) levels were significantly higher in group 3 compared to group 1 (p=0.0001; p=0.0001; p=0.0001; p=0.007) and group 2 (p=0.0001; p=0.024; p=0.002; p=0.005), respectively. In group 2, only TG (p=0.0001) and VLDL­C (p=0.0001) levels were higher compared to group 1. DHEA­S levels were significantly lower in group 3 compared to group 1 (p=0.019), but no differences in cortisol levels were found. 8­OH­DG levels were significantly lower in groups 2 (p=0.003) and 3 (p=0.019) compared to group 1. Correlation analysis revealed that stress hormone levels were inversely associated with WC (p=0.016), AST (p=0.004), ALT (p=0.021), total bilirubin (p=0.033), UA (p=0.002), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1с) (p=0.024), TC (p=0.002), TG (p=0.001), and VLDL­C (p=0.001). Conclusions. Cardiometabolic diseases are highly prevalent among military personnel, and comorbidity is a frequent phenomenon that contributes to a significant increase in cardiovascular risk and highlights the need for optimized preventive and therapeutic strategies. The increase in the number of cardiometabolic diseases is associated with older age, worsened anthropometric status, liver function tests, increased uric acid levels, and deteriorating lipid profile. DHEA­S can be considered a marker of chronic stress in individuals with cardiometabolic comorbidity. Monitoring and timely correction of WC, AST, ALT, total bilirubin, UA, HbA1с, TC, TG, and VLDL­C levels among military personnel are necessary, as these indicators are related to stress and can improve cardiometabolic disease prevention.

Differential impacts of body composition on oxygen kinetics and exercise tolerance of HFrEF and HFpEF patients

This study aims to (1) compare the kinetics of pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO2p), skeletal muscle deoxygenation ([HHb]), and microvascular O2 delivery (QO2mv) between heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and those with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and (2) explore the correlation between body composition, kinetic parameters, and exercise performance. Twenty-one patients (10 HFpEF and 11 HFrEF) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing to assess VO2 kinetics, with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) employed to measure [HHb]. Microvascular O2 delivery (QO2mv) was calculated using the Fick principle. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed to evaluate body composition. HFrEF patients exhibited significantly slower VO2 kinetics (time constant [t]: 63 ± 10.8 s vs. 45.4 ± 7.9 s; P < 0.05) and quicker [HHb] response (t: 12.4 ± 9.9 s vs. 25 ± 11.6 s; P < 0.05). Microvascular O2 delivery (QO2mv) was higher in HFrEF patients (3.6 ± 1.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.8; P < 0.05), who also experienced shorter time to exercise intolerance (281.6 ± 84 s vs. 405.3 ± 96 s; P < 0.05). Correlation analyses revealed a significant negative relationship between time to exercise and both QO2mv (ρ= -0.51; P < 0.05) and VO2 kinetics (ρ= -0.63). Body adiposity was negatively correlated with [HHb] amplitude (ρ= -0.78) and peak VO2 (ρ= -0.54), while a positive correlation was observed between lean muscle percentage, [HHb] amplitude, and tau (ρ= 0.74 and 0.57; P < 0.05), respectively. HFrEF patients demonstrate more severely impaired VO2p kinetics, skeletal muscle deoxygenation, and microvascular O2 delivery compared to HFpEF patients, indicating compromised peripheral function. Additionally, increased adiposity and reduced lean mass are linked to decreased oxygen diffusion capacity and impaired oxygen uptake kinetics in HFrEF patients.

Effect of Dietary Riboflavin Levels on Reproductive Performance of Pigeon Breeders, and Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Offspring Squabs.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary riboflavin levels on the reproductive performance of pigeon breeders and the growth performance and carcass traits of offspring squabs to estimate the riboflavin requirement of pigeon breeders. The natural riboflavin content in the basic diet of corn-peas-soybean-wheat-sorghum-corn gluten is 1.20 mg/kg. Different doses of riboflavin (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) were supplemented with the basal diet to produce five dietary treatments with total riboflavin levels of 1.20, 3.70, 6.20, 10.20, and 16.20 mg/kg. A total of 120 pairs of White King pigeons, aged 60 wks, were randomly allocated into five treatment groups, each consisting of 24 pairs. Each pair was individually raised for 8 wks. After the experiment, an assessment was conducted to evaluate the reproductive performance of the pigeon breeders, as well as the growth and carcass traits of offspring squabs at 28 days of age. The results showed that the dietary riboflavin levels had no significant effect on body weight, feed intake, egg weight, egg production, and egg fertility (p > 0.05). However, pigeons fed a diet without riboflavin had the lowest egg hatchability, egg yolk color, carcass trait, and riboflavin status, while exhibiting higher liver weight and liver index (p < 0.05). Moreover, the indices above showed increased or decreased linearly as the level of riboflavin was increased in the diet. Based on the broken-line regression model, pigeon breeders were determined to require a dietary riboflavin content of 11.4, 13.6, 13.4, 6.60, 4.28, 4.47, 4.67, 6.69, and 6.82 mg/kg to optimize hatchability, eviscerated weight, half-eviscerated weight, breast muscle weight, breast muscle percentage, liver weight, liver index, egg yolk riboflavin, and squab plasma riboflavin, respectively. In conclusion, the optimal supplemental dosage of riboflavin in the diets of pigeon breeders is 13.6 mg/kg.

Genome-wide association studies reveal the genetic basis of growth and carcass traits in Sichuan Shelduck

China has abundant local duck resource populations, and evaluating the characteristics of these breeds will help improve development and utilization. In this study, we conducted the first investigations of growth and slaughter performance on Sichuan Shelduck (n = 240), an endangered duck local breed. The average body weight is 1497.91g at 90 days of age. According to the growth curve through data recorded every 2 weeks, we observed a low relative growth rate (RGR) for the early growth stage. The RGR shows a decreasing trend with age increasing in the stage from 0 to 56 days of age. The SNP-based heritability estimation showed the growth rate has a relatively high heritability, indicating high genetic stability for this trait. In the correlation analysis, the percentage of leg muscle is positively correlated with the absolute growth rate (AGR) at 28-42 days of age, whereas it is negatively correlated with the earlier stages, exhibiting a time-specific correlation result. Additionally, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified PCSK6, TOX2, and TOMM7 as potential candidate genes influencing AGR (42-56) and AGR (56-90), while the candidate genes of slaughter traits were PTP4A2, FAM110B, TOX, UBXN2B, and FCHSD2. These results provide an important reference for further understanding the genetic basis of growth and meat production performance of Sichuan Shelduck.

Características Cineantropométricas en Jugadores Profesionales de Rugby Sevens

Introduction: Rugby sevens or 7s is a team sport, descended from rugby 15s or rugby union. It is considered a sport of high intensity and intermittent effort, where positions are very well defined but there is small between-athletes variability of physical characteristics. Objective: The goal of the study was to analyze the anthropometric characteristics, body composition, somatotype and proportionality in players of the Spanish rugby sevens team. Material and methods: Anthropometric variables were evaluated in 16 players in order to obtain information regarding body composition, somatotype and proportionality following the standard techniques proposed by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Results: The data obtained regarding height and weight, muscle percentage (45.05 ± 5.02), bone (16.25 ± 1.72) and fat percentage (7.98 ± 1.32) are comparable to the obtained information of rugby union players who play in the three quarters position. Participants were predominantly classified as balanced mesomorphs, which are characterized by increased skeletal muscle development. Discussion: Body composition as well as somatotype values are similar to other studies results according to elite athletes in intermittent sports that do not require high fat percentages. Conclusion: Despite being tall and with large body mass athletes, their high muscle percentage can provide this type of athlete greater power and speed, necessary to support the high demands of competition in this sport.

Predictive value of neck circumference for cardiometabolic risk in children

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of neck circumference on cardiometabolic risk in children. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of natural sources. As the prediction cohort, clinical data were collected from 3 443 children aged 5-14 years who underwent physical examination in the Department of Child Healthcare, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 2021 to September 2022. As the validation cohort for external validation, clinical data were collected from 604 children aged 5-14 years who underwent physical examination in the Department of Child Healthcare, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2022 to March 2023. Height, weight, neck circumference, waist circumference and body composition were measured in both groups, and body mass index, neck circumference to height ratio (NHtR), waist circumference to height ratio, body fat percentage and skeletal muscle percentage were calculated. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, blood lipid and uric acid and other cardiovascular and metabolic risk indicators were collected in both groups. The prediction cohort was further stratified into clustered and non-clustered groups based on the clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors (CCRF). Various variables between these 2 groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Pearson correlation and binary Logistic regression were conducted to investigate the correlations between neck circumference and cardiovascular metabolic risk factors. The accuracy of NHtR in predicting the CCRF was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC). The cutoff value was determined using the Youden index. The validation cohort was then divided into groups above and below the cutoff value, and the detection rate of CCRF between the 2 groups was compared using the χ2 test for validation. Results: In the prediction cohort of 3 443 children (2 316 boys and 1 127 girls), 1 395 (40.5%) children were overweight or obese, and 1 157 (33.6%) children had CCRF. Pearson correlation analysis revealed all significant positive correlations (all P<0.01) between neck circumference and systolic blood pressure (r=0.47, 0.39), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.27, 0.21), uric acid (r=0.36, 0.30), and triglycerides (r=0.20, 0.20) after adjusting for age in both males and females. Among both males and females, neck circumference both showed significant negative correlation (both P<0.01) with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=-0.27, -0.28), and no correlation with fasting glucose levels (r=0.03, -0.03, both P>0.05). After adjusting for gender, age, and body fat percentage, increased body mass index, neck circumference, or waist circumference increased the risks of hypertension (OR=1.23, 1.39, 1.07, all P<0.001), hyperuricemia (OR=1.16, 1.23, 1.05, all P<0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (OR=1.08, 1.16, 1.02, all P<0.01), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR=1.10, 1.27, 1.03, all P<0.01), and the CCRF (OR=1.51, 1.73, 1.15, all P<0.01). The areas under the ROC curves of NHtR in predicting CCRF was 0.73, with sensitivity and specificity at 0.66 and 0.71, respectively. The corresponding optimal cut-off value was 0.21. Validation with 604 children confirmed that the detection of CCRF in the NHtR≥0.21 group was 3.29 times (60.5% (112/185) vs. 18.7% (79/422),χ2=107.82, P<0.01) higher compared to the NHtR <0.21 group. Conclusions: Neck circumference is associated with cardiovascular metabolic risks such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperuricemia in children. When the NHtR is ≥0.21, there is an increased likelihood of CCRF.

Use of 3D Anorectal Ultrasonography in the Preoperative Assessment of Complex Anal Fistulas and Patterns of Healing, Failure, and Recurrence After Ligation of the Intersphincteric Fistula Tract (LIFT).

To use three-dimensional anorectal ultrasonography (3D-US) to evaluate the outcome of ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract (LIFT) in patients with crypto-glandular transsphincteric fistula and describing the patterns of healing, failure, and recurrence rate. After classifying the fistula and determining the length of the sphincter muscle to be transected, the patients were submitted to LIFT. The accuracy of pre- and postoperative 3D-US with 360° endoprobe (16 MHz) with automatic scanning and clinical findings was evaluated against surgical findings. Three outcomes were considered: healing, failure (persistent anal fistula through the original external opening or intersphincteric), and recurrence (reappearance of the anal fistula). Sixty-three patients of both sexes were evaluated. The 3D-US assessment revealed primary healing in 50 (79.3%) patients, although in 6 (9.5%) cases healing was delayed and the cavity was without communication with the anal canal. The procedure failed in 9 (15.9%) and fistula recurred in 4 (6.3%), all of whom underwent a second surgery based on a new 3D-US, resulting in a 92.3% (12/13) healing rate on 3D-US. A 3D-US was found to be useful in the preoperative assessment of fistulas by quantifying the percentage of muscle to be transected, and in the postoperative assessment by identifying healing, types of failure, and recurrence. The 3D-US was accurate and consistent with surgical findings.