Skin Fat Thickness Research Articles

Comparison of Circular and Rectangular-Shaped Electrodes for Electrical Impedance Myography Measurements on Human Upper Arms.

Electrical Impedance Myography (EIM) is a painless, noninvasive approach for assessing muscle conditions through the application of a high-frequency, low-intensity current to the muscle region of interest. However, besides muscle properties, EIM measurements vary significantly with changes in some other anatomical properties such as subcutaneous skin-fat (SF) thickness and muscle girth, as well as non-anatomical factors, such as ambient temperature, electrode shape, inter-electrode distance, etc. This study has been conducted to compare the effects of different electrode shapes in EIM experiments, and to propose an acceptable configuration that is less dependent on factors other than the cellular properties of the muscle. Initially, a finite element model with two different kinds of electrode shapes, namely, rectangular (the conventional shape) and circular (the proposed shape) was designed for a subcutaneous fat thickness ranging from 5 mm to 25 mm. The study concludes, based on the FEM study, that replacing the conventional electrodes with our proposed electrodes can decrease the variation in EIM parameters due to changes in skin-fat thickness by 31.92%. EIM experiments on human subjects with these two kinds of electrode shapes validate our finite element simulation results, and show that circular electrodes can improve EIM effectiveness significantly, irrespective of muscle shape variation.

Linking the FTO obesity rs1421085 variant circuitry to cellular, metabolic, and organismal phenotypes in vivo.

Variants in FTO have the strongest association with obesity; however, it is still unclear how those noncoding variants mechanistically affect whole-body physiology. We engineered a deletion of the rs1421085 conserved cis-regulatory module (CRM) in mice and confirmed in vivo that the CRM modulates Irx3 and Irx5 gene expression and mitochondrial function in adipocytes. The CRM affects molecular and cellular phenotypes in an adipose depot-dependent manner and affects organismal phenotypes that are relevant for obesity, including decreased high-fat diet-induced weight gain, decreased whole-body fat mass, and decreased skin fat thickness. Last, we connected the CRM to a genetically determined effect on steroid patterns in males that was dependent on nutritional challenge and conserved across mice and humans. Together, our data establish cross-species conservation of the rs1421085 regulatory circuitry at the molecular, cellular, metabolic, and organismal level, revealing previously unknown contextual dependence of the variant's action.

Estimation of the hemoglobin concentration and the anatomic structure of muscle by analyzing the near infrared scattering images

This paper addressed a method of determining the concentration of hemoglobin components and the oxygen saturation from the NIR scattering images of palm muscle. By using the Modified Beer-Lambert (MBL) law and the diffuse scattering model of muscle tissue, an attenuation matrix was determined from the NIR scattering images. and applied in analysis of the distribution of oxygen saturation and its variation with separation. The average attenuation curve according to separation was determined from attenuation matrix and used to obtain a model function as the MBL law for skin-fat and muscle layers. The parameters related to the concentration of hemoglobin components and the skin-fat thickness of muscle were determined from the average attenuation curve by means of non-linear least square method. Experimental results showed that these parameters can be used as qualitative indexes for the concentration of hemoglobin components, the thickness of skin-fat layer and the depth of muscle layer.

Correlations of cardiointervalographic indicators with constitutional characteristics in athletes of mesomorphic somatotype

The topic of sports, physical fitness and adaptive abilities of a person to the influence of physical activity of different intensity has become highly relevant in recent years. The aim of the work is to establish correlations between the indicators of heart rate variability and parameters of the external structure of the body in young athletes of mesomorphic somatotype. The study involved 29 athletes between the ages of 17 and 21 with a high level of sportsmanship and more than 3 years of experience. All athletes had a track and field athletic load with maximum (100 m, 200 m and 110 m hurdles) and submaximal (running on 400 m and 800 m) work intensity. We conducted a study of heart rate variability on the cardiac computer diagnostic complex “OPTW” following the recommendations of the European and North American Cardiac Association (1996). Variable heart rate, statistical and spectral cardiointervalographic indices were determined. Anthropometry was performed by the Bunak method (1941), somatotypological study – by the calculated modification of the Heath-Carter method (1990), determination of the component composition of body weight by the method of Matejko (1921). In the package “STATISTICA 5.5” correlation analysis was performed using the nonparametric Spearman statistical method. Cardiointervalographic findings were found to be statistically significantly correlated with a small number of body sizes and somatotype components and body weights in adolescent athletes belonging to the mesomorphic somatotype. Indicators of variational heart rate did not have numerous reliable and unreliable relationships of average strength with somatic parameters. The data of correlation analysis of indices of variational pulsometry showed that in athletes with increase in width and thickness of the torso and decrease in the circumference of the shin and chest was more pronounced sympathicotonia, and with the reduction of fat component increased the influence on the heart of the parasympathetic system. Statistical indicators of heart rate variability with constitutional parameters had significant inverse correlations of mean power. Among all statistical indicators of heart rate variability, the PNN50 had the strongest and most significant correlations with anthropometric dimensions. The least significant correlations with constitutional characteristics in mesomorphic athletes had spectral indices related to skin-fat thickness, trunk diameters, and lower limb segment circumferences.

Acupuncture for acne vulgaris: findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis

The purpose of this study is to review the impact on the usage of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of obesity, specifically the usage of acupuncture and phytoacupuncture.PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials, which the methodology focused on the use of acupuncture and phytoacupuncture for the treatment of obesity from the beginning of these databases to February 2018, supplementing with literature retrospective and manual searches.A total of 8 trials including 566 participants met the selected criteria. In the alterations of the body mass index and waist circumference, acupuncture and phytoacupuncture seems to have a positive effect as opposed to the subjects who received superficial acupuncture or none. However, there were other parameters that showed promising results such as improvements in the levels of (1) serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and serum fasting triglyceride, (2) serum insulin and leptin, plasma ghrelin and cholecystokinin and (3) serum pro-oxidant antioxidant balance, as well as improvements in (4) skin fat thickness in the upper limbs, trunk and abdomen, (5) abdominal fat and deep subcutaneous fat tissue. The main acupoints employed in the selected studies are found along several meridians such as the stomach, spleen and conception vessel, and the plants used had the main objective of accelerating the metabolism, reducing appetite and resolving the unbalances in the genesis of obesity.It is suggested that acupuncture and phytoacupuncture can be useful tools for weight loss. When combined with a life-style change, they can contribute to achieve better results than just a life-style change by itself. Nevertheless, the need for further studies to clarify mechanisms of action and adequacy of protocols in order to obtain more homogeneous results is also present.

In vivo prediction of the carcass fatness using live body measurements in Pekin ducks

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between live body measurements and several fat traits in Pekin ducks, and ultimately to formulate multiple regression equations for the in vivo estimation of the carcass fatness of Pekin ducks. Several traits were measured in a total of 208 Pekin ducks aged 6 wk (107 males and 101 females). All ducks were weighed and measured for a set of body measurements including live body weight, body slope length, breast muscle thickness, skin fat thickness, chest width, keel length, and neck length. The breast muscle thickness and skin fat thickness was measured using B-scan sonography. Carcass information, including eviscerated weight, subcutaneous fat with skin weight, and abdominal fat weight, was collected after slaughter. Our results revealed that sex effects on most traits were significant (P < 0.05), and that the weight of subcutaneous fat with skin was significantly correlated with live body weight (r = 0.57 to 0.71, P < 0.01). Four additional traits of males were closely correlated with the weight of subcutaneous fat with skin, namely breast muscle thickness (r = 0.20, P < 0.01), skin fat thickness (r = 0.43, P < 0.01), chest width (r = 0.24, P < 0.01), and neck length (r = 0.20, P < 0.05). The abdominal fat weight, percentage of fat, and percentage of subcutaneous fat with skin of ducks were significantly correlated with live body weight (r = 0.38 to 0.43, P < 0.01), and skin fat thickness (r = 0.38 to 0.49, P < 0.01). These traits provided the basis for constructing regression equations to predict weight (or percentage) of subcutaneous fat and abdominal fat with high values of coefficients of multiple correlation (R) between the dependent variable and the independent variables. Two equations were verified to be applicable in other duck groups, with high accuracy, as more than 80% of estimated values were within the margin of error (<10%), compared with the actual values.

Assessment of Optimized Electrode Configuration for Electrical Impedance Myography Using Genetic Algorithm via Finite Element Model.

Electrical Impedance Myography (EIM) is a noninvasive neurophysiologic technique to diagnose muscle health. Besides muscle properties, the EIM measurements vary significantly with the change of some other anatomic and nonanatomic factors such as skin fat thickness, shape and thickness of muscle, and electrode size and spacing due to its noninvasive nature of measurement. In this study, genetic algorithm was applied along with finite element model of EIM as an optimization tool in order to figure out an optimized EIM electrode setup, which is less affected by these factors, specifically muscle thickness variation, but does not compromise EIM's ability to detect muscle diseases. The results obtained suggest that a particular arrangement of electrodes and minimization of electrode surface area to its practical limit can overcome the effect of undesired factors on EIM parameters to a larger extent.

Elderly bioheat modeling: changes in physiology, thermoregulation, and blood flow circulation

A bioheat model for the elderly was developed focusing on blood flow circulatory changes that influence their thermal response in warm and cold environments to predict skin and core temperatures for different segments of the body especially the fingers. The young adult model of Karaki et al. (Int J Therm Sci 67:41-51, 2013) was modified by incorporation of the physiological thermoregulatory and vasomotor changes based on literature observations of physiological changes in the elderly compared to young adults such as lower metabolism and vasoconstriction diminished ability, skin blood flow and its minimum and maximum values, the sweating values, skin fat thickness, as well as the change in threshold parameter related to core or skin temperatures which triggers thermoregulatory action for sweating, maximum dilatation, and maximum constriction. The developed model was validated with published experimental data for elderly exposure to transient and steady hot and cold environments. Predicted finger skin temperature, mean skin temperature, and core temperature were in agreement with published experimental data at a maximum error less than 0.5°C in the mean skin temperature. The elderly bioheat model showed an increase in finger skin temperature and a decrease in core temperature in cold exposure while it showed a decrease in finger skin temperature and an increase in core temperature in hot exposure.

Relation between Treatment Course and Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture for Female Obesity of Different Types

To observe the relationship between treatment course and therapeutic effect of acupuncture on female obesity in different types. The 83 cases of obesity were divided into two groups: abdominal obesity group (AO, 31 cases) and symmetrical obesity group (SO, 52 cases). All of them were treated by acupuncture for 3 months, 1 month as one course. In Group AO, after one month of treatment, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and skin fat thickness (SFT) in the upper limbs (A), trunk (B) and abdomen (at locations C and D) were very significantly reduced (P<0.01); After 2 months of treatment, BMI, WC and SFT at C were also very significantly reduced (P<0.01), SFT in A and at D was significantly reduced (P<0.05), but no significant SFT difference was found in B (P>0.05); And after 3 months of treatment, no difference was found in any indices. In Group SO, all the indices including BMI, WC and SFT in A, B, C and D were reduced in the successive 3 months of treatment (P<0.01). The therapeutic effect of acupuncture on abdominal obesity was gradually lessened with the prolonging of treatment course, even without further advance after reaching the normal body weight range. But for symmetrical obesity, the effect was gradually advanced to reach the normal range. That their body weight in a normal range will be kept stable without further reduction remains to be studied further.

Impact of skin-subcutaneous fat layer thickness on electrical impedance myography measurements: An initial assessment

Objective To determine the impact of skin-subcutaneous fat layer thickness on electrical impedance myography (EIM) measurements. Methods Linear 50 kHz EIM was performed on quadriceps of 62 healthy subjects (mean age 52.2 ± 20.6 years) with a wide variety of skin-subcutaneous fat layer (SFL) thicknesses, as measured by ultrasound. Correlations were sought between the main EIM outcome parameter phase ( θ) and SFL thickness. A multiple regression analysis was also performed for θ with SFL thickness and age as independent variables. Results Mean skin-fat thickness was significantly different ( p < 0.01) between men (0.76 ± 0.23 cm) and women (1.43 ± 0.51 cm). Neither linear nor quadratic fits produced significant correlations between θ and SFL thickness. A significant but weak positive correlation ( r 2 = 0.14, p < 0.05) was seen between age and SFL thickness in women, but not in men. A strong negative correlation between age and θ was observed for both men ( r 2 = 0.48, p < 0.01) and women ( r 2 = 0.68, p < 0.01). In multiple regression analysis, age but not SFL thickness was found to have a significant association with θ. Conclusions SFL thickness does not contribute substantially to the phase measured by linear-EIM. Significance EIM data can be interpreted confidently in individuals with varying SFL thickness.

Body size and form of black girls age 9 years living in central South Carolina and eastern North Carolina.

Somatic data were collected during 1986-1987 on 53 Black girls age 9 years living in Calhoun County in rural central South Carolina. Measures of body size (standing height, sitting height, upper limb length, lower limb height, arm girth, hip width, and body weight), body from (lower limb height as a percentage of sitting height, arm girth as a percentage of upper limb length, calf girth as a percentage of lower limb height, hip width as a percentage of lower limb height) and skin-fat thickness (over triceps and on abdomen) were analyzed for central tendency and variability. Comparisons were made with earlier samples of Black girls measured in rural regions of Richland County in central South Carolina during 1975-1976 and in urban Greenville city and rural Pitt County in eastern North Carolina during 1980-1981 as well as with earlier studies conducted in various parts of the United States. The four same-age group samples yielded similar means for standing height, sitting height, arm and calf girth, and body weight. The Calhoun County girls exceeded their Pitt County, North Carolina, peers in lower limb height, upper limb length, and lower limb height as a percentage of sitting height. In each of the subgroups studied, the distribution of measures for skin-fat thicknesses was, to some extent, skewed positively.