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1.
Influence of upper limb training and analyzed muscles on estimate of physical activity during cereal grinding using saddle quern and rotary quern.
Struška, M, Hora, M, Rocek, TR, Sládek, V
PloS one. 2021;(8):e0243669
Abstract
Experimental grinding has been used to study the relationship between human humeral robusticity and cereal grinding in the early Holocene. However, such replication studies raise two questions regarding the robusticity of the results: whether female nonathletes used in previous research are sufficiently comparable to early agricultural females, and whether previous analysis of muscle activation of only four upper limb muscles is sufficient to capture the stress of cereal grinding on upper limb bones. We test the influence of both of these factors. Electromyographic activity of eight upper limb muscles was recorded during cereal grinding in an athletic sample of 10 female rowers and in 25 female nonathletes and analyzed using both an eight- and four-muscle model. Athletes had lower activation than nonathletes in the majority of measured muscles, but except for posterior deltoid these differences were non-significant. Furthermore, both athletes and nonathletes had lower muscle activation during saddle quern grinding than rotary quern grinding suggesting that the nonathletes can be used to model early agricultural females during saddle and rotary quern grinding. Similarly, in both eight- and four-muscle models, upper limb loading was lower during saddle quern grinding than during rotary quern grinding, suggesting that the upper limb muscles may be reduced to the previously used four-muscle model for evaluation of the upper limb loading during cereal grinding. Another implication of our measurements is to question the assumption that skeletal indicators of high involvement of the biceps brachii muscle can be interpreted as specifically indicative of saddle quern grinding.
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Fetal fractional limb volumes in pregnancies following bariatric surgery.
Maric, T, Kanu, C, Mandalia, S, Johnson, MR, Savvidou, MD
Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. 2021;(2):272-278
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Obesity rates have reached an epidemic level and bariatric surgery is the most effective method of sustainable weight loss. Pregnancy following bariatric surgery is associated with an increased prevalence of small babies. The objective of the study is to compare the fetal fat distribution, as assessed by fractional arm and thigh volume using three-dimensional ultrasonography, in pregnancies following maternal bariatric surgery with those without such history. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a prospective, longitudinal, observational study conducted in a Maternity Unit in the UK. The study included 189 pregnant women; 63 with previous bariatric surgery [27 restrictive (13 with gastric band, 14 with sleeve gastrectomy) and 36 malabsorptive procedures] and 126 with no previous surgery but similar maternal booking body mass index. Fetal arm and thigh volume were obtained at 30-33 and 35-37 weeks' gestation and fractional limb volumes were calculated using a commercially available software. Women underwent a 75 g, 2 h oral glucose tolerance test at 28-31 weeks of gestation. RESULTS Overall, adjusted fetal arm and thigh volume were smaller in the post-bariatric, compared to the no surgery, group and this was more marked in women who had undergone a previous sleeve gastrectomy (P < .001 and P = .002, respectively) or a malabsorptive procedure (P < .001 for both). There was a strong positive correlation between maternal fasting/post-prandial (2 h) glucose levels, at the time of the oral glucose tolerance test, and arm and thigh volume at both 30-33 and 35-37 weeks (P < .01 for all). CONCLUSIONS The study has demonstrated that in the third trimester of pregnancy, fetuses of women with previous bariatric surgery have smaller fractional limb volumes, therefore less soft tissue, compared to fetuses of women without such surgery and this may be related to the lower maternal glucose levels seen in the former pregnancies.
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The energetic basis for smooth human arm movements.
Wong, JD, Cluff, T, Kuo, AD
eLife. 2021
Abstract
The central nervous system plans human reaching movements with stereotypically smooth kinematic trajectories and fairly consistent durations. Smoothness seems to be explained by accuracy as a primary movement objective, whereas duration seems to economize energy expenditure. But the current understanding of energy expenditure does not explain smoothness, so that two aspects of the same movement are governed by seemingly incompatible objectives. Here, we show that smoothness is actually economical, because humans expend more metabolic energy for jerkier motions. The proposed mechanism is an underappreciated cost proportional to the rate of muscle force production, for calcium transport to activate muscle. We experimentally tested that energy cost in humans (N = 10) performing bimanual reaches cyclically. The empirical cost was then demonstrated to predict smooth, discrete reaches, previously attributed to accuracy alone. A mechanistic, physiologically measurable, energy cost may therefore explain both smoothness and duration in terms of economy, and help resolve motor redundancy in reaching movements.
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Blood Flow Restriction Training Blunts Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Humans.
Corrêa, HL, Neves, RVP, Deus, LA, Souza, MK, Haro, AS, Costa, F, Silva, VL, Santos, CAR, Moraes, MR, Simões, HG, et al
Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2021;(2):249-257
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to verify the effect of 6 months of periodized resistance training (RT) with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) in patients with stage 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), uremic parameters, cytokines, and klotho-fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) axis. METHODS A total of 105 subjects were randomized in three groups of 35 each: control (CTL), RT, and RT + BFR. A first visit was required for an anamnesis to evaluate the number of medications and anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, and body mass index). Muscle strength (one-repetition maximum) was assessed. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and after 6 months of training in all patients for the analysis of markers of renal function and integrity, as well as for the determination of the inflammatory profile. Statistical significances were adopted with P < 0.05. RESULTS Both training therapies attenuated the decline of GFR (P < 0.05). The majority of CTL patients declined to stage 3 CKD (88.5%), whereas fewer incidents were noted with RT (25.7%) and RT + BFR (17.1%). Improved uremic parameters as well as inflammation (IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, IL-17a, IL-18, and TNF-α) and klotho-FGF23 axis in RT and RT + BFR (P < 0.05) were observed. Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 was not changed (P > 0.05) but presented a large effect size (Cohen's d), demonstrating a propensity for improvement. CONCLUSION Six months of periodized RT with and without BFR in patients with stage 2 CKD attenuated the progression of the disease by maintaining GFR, improving uremic parameters, cytokine profile regulation, and klotho-FGF23 axis.
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High-intensity leg cycling alters the molecular response to resistance exercise in the arm muscles.
Moberg, M, Apró, W, Cervenka, I, Ekblom, B, van Hall, G, Holmberg, HC, Ruas, JL, Blomstrand, E
Scientific reports. 2021;(1):6453
Abstract
This study examined acute molecular responses to concurrent exercise involving different muscles. Eight men participated in a randomized crossover-trial with two sessions, one where they performed interval cycling followed by upper body resistance exercise (ER-Arm), and one with upper body resistance exercise only (R-Arm). Biopsies were taken from the triceps prior to and immediately, 90- and 180-min following exercise. Immediately after resistance exercise, the elevation in S6K1 activity was smaller and the 4E-BP1:eIF4E interaction greater in ER-Arm, but this acute attenuation disappeared during recovery. The protein synthetic rate in triceps was greater following exercise than at rest, with no difference between trials. The level of PGC-1α1 mRNA increased to greater extent in ER-Arm than R-Arm after 90 min of recovery, as was PGC-1α4 mRNA after both 90 and 180 min. Levels of MuRF-1 mRNA was unchanged in R-Arm, but elevated during recovery in ER-Arm, whereas MAFbx mRNA levels increased slightly in both trials. RNA sequencing in a subgroup of subjects revealed 862 differently expressed genes with ER-Arm versus R-Arm during recovery. These findings suggest that leg cycling prior to arm resistance exercise causes systemic changes that potentiate induction of specific genes in the triceps, without compromising the anabolic response.
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L-Dex, arm volume, and symptom trajectories 24 months after breast cancer surgery.
Ridner, SH, Shah, C, Boyages, J, Koelmeyer, L, Ajkay, N, DeSnyder, SM, McLaughlin, SA, Dietrich, MS
Cancer medicine. 2020;(14):5164-5173
Abstract
PURPOSE Study objectives were to examine: (a) biomarker trajectories (change from presurgical baseline values of Lymphedema index (L-Dex) units and arm volume difference) and symptom cluster scores 24 months after breast cancer surgery and (b) associations of these objective biomarkers and symptom cluster scores. Patient/treatment characteristics influencing trajectories were also evaluated. METHODS A secondary analysis of data from the published interim analysis of a randomized parent study was undertaken using trajectory analysis. Five hundred and eight participants included in the prior analysis with 24 months of postsurgical follow-up were initially measured with bioelectric impedance spectroscopy (BIS) and tape measure (TM) and completed self-report measures. Patients were reassessed postsurgery for continuing eligibility and then randomized to either BIS or TM groups and measured along with self-report data at regular and optional* visits 3, 6,12,15*,18, 21*, and 24-months. RESULTS Three subclinical trajectories were identified for each biomarker (decreasing, stable, increasing) and symptom cluster scores (stable, slight increase/decrease, increasing). Subclinical lymphedema was identified throughout the 24-month period by each biomarker. An L-Dex increase at 15 months in the BIS group was noted. The self-report sets demonstrated contingency coefficients of 0.20 (LSIDS-A soft tissue, P = .031) and 0.19 (FACTB+4, P = .044) with the L-Dex unit change trajectories. CONCLUSIONS These data support the need for long-term (24 months) prospective surveillance with frequent assessments (every 3 months) at least 15 months after surgery. Statistically significant convergence of symptom cluster scores with L-Dex unit change supports BIS as beneficial in the early identification of subclinical lymphedema.
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The Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Antioxidant Capacity and Arm Volumes in Survivors of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.
Navaei, M, Haghighat, S, Janani, L, Vafa, S, Saneei Totmaj, A, Raji Lahiji, M, Emamat, H, Salehi, Z, Amirinejad, A, Izad, M, et al
Nutrition and cancer. 2020;(1):62-73
Abstract
Background and Aims: Synbiotics found to be beneficial in breast cancer survivors (BCSs) through its antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of synbiotic supplementation on edema volume and some oxidative markers among obese and overweight patients with BCRL.Method: This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 88 overweight and obese BCSs aged 18-65 years. All the subjects were given a specified low-calorie diet (LCD) and were randomly assigned into two groups to intake 109 CFU/day synbiotic supplement (n = 44) or placebo (n = 44) for 10 wk. Edema volume and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration were measured at baseline and after the 10-wk intervention.Results: Ten-wk supplementation with synbiotics leads to a significant reduction in serum MDA levels (P = 0.001) and an increase in serum SOD concentration (P = 0.007) compared to placebo. No significant changes were observed in serum GPx, TAC, and edema volume between groups.Conclusion: Our findings reveal that 10-wk synbiotic supplementation along with a LCD program-reduced serum MDA levels and elevate the activity of SOD in overweight and obese patients with BCRL. However, its effect on serum GPx, TAC, and edema volume was not significant.
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Spirulina supplementation improves oxygen uptake in arm cycling exercise.
Gurney, T, Spendiff, O
European journal of applied physiology. 2020;(12):2657-2664
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PURPOSE Spirulina has previously been reported to improve high-intensity exercise performance and hemoglobin. However, spirulina's effect on arm cycling exercise has yet to be investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the responses of spirulina supplementation on hemoglobin and on oxygen uptake, RER and HR during seated arm cycling exercise. METHODS In a double-blinded randomized crossover design, eleven males untrained in arm cycling ingested 6 g/day of spirulina or placebo for seven days. Seated on the Arm Crank Ergometer, each participant performed a baseline V̇O2max test, and then after supplementation, 2 × 30-min submaximal exercise bouts corresponding to 55% of their V̇O2max, followed by an incremental test to fatigue. A seven-day wash-out period was required between conditions. Oxygen uptake, RER and HR were measured continuously during exercise and hemoglobin measured prior to exercise after both conditions. RESULTS Spirulina significantly (p < 0.05) increased Hb in comparison to Placebo (144.1 g/l ± 10.5 Vs 154.5 g/l ± 6.9). After spirulina supplementation, during the 30-min exercise bouts, oxygen uptake and HR were significantly lower (2170 ml/min ± 173 Vs 2311 ml/min ± 189 and 154 bpm ± 14 Vs 149 bpm ± 17), RER was not significantly different. In comparison to placebo, Spirulina significantly increased oxygen uptake at time of fatigue (34.10 ml/min/kg ± 6.03 Vs 37.37 ml/min/kg ± 5.98). Time taken to fatigue was not different. CONCLUSION Spirulina supplementation significantly reduces oxygen uptake and HR during arm cycling submaximal exercise, allowing for an increased oxygen uptake during an incremental test to fatigue.
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An appraisal of the SDIR as an estimate of true individual differences in training responsiveness in parallel-arm exercise randomized controlled trials.
Bonafiglia, JT, Brennan, AM, Ross, R, Gurd, BJ
Physiological reports. 2019;(14):e14163
Abstract
Calculating the standard deviation of individual responses (SDIR ) is recommended for estimating the magnitude of individual differences in training responsiveness in parallel-arm exercise randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The purpose of this review article is to discuss potential limitations of parallel-arm exercise RCTs that may confound/complicate the interpretation of the SDIR . To provide context for this discussion, we define the sources of variation that contribute to variability in the observed responses to exercise training and review the assumptions that underlie the interpretation of SDIR as a reflection of true individual differences in training responsiveness. This review also contains two novel analyses: (1) we demonstrate differences in variability in changes in diet and physical activity habits across an intervention period in both exercise and control groups, and (2) we examined participant dropout data from six RCTs and found that significantly (P < 0.001) more participants in control groups (12.8%) dropped out due to dissatisfaction with group assignment compared to exercise groups (3.4%). These novel analyses raise the possibility that the magnitude of within-subject variability may not be equal between exercise and control groups. Overall, this review highlights that potential limitations of parallel-arm exercise RCTs can violate the underlying assumptions of the SDIR and suggests that these limitations should be considered when interpreting the SDIR as an estimate of true individual differences in training responsiveness.
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The impact of maternal antenatal treatment with two doses of azithromycin and monthly sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine on child weight, mid-upper arm circumference and head circumference: A randomized controlled trial.
Hallamaa, L, Cheung, YB, Luntamo, M, Ashorn, U, Kulmala, T, Mangani, C, Ashorn, P
PloS one. 2019;(5):e0216536
Abstract
AIM: Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with azithromycin and monthly sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine increased the mean child weight, mid-upper arm and head circumference at four weeks of age in a rural low-income setting. Now we assess for how long these gains were sustained during 0-5 years of age. METHODS We enrolled 1320 pregnant Malawian women in a randomized trial and treated them with two doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (control) or monthly sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine as IPTp against malaria, or monthly sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and two doses of azithromycin (AZI-SP) as IPTp against malaria and reproductive tract infections. Child weight, mid-upper arm circumference, head circumference and weight-for-height Z-score were recorded at one, six, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. RESULTS Throughout follow-up, the mean child weight was approximately 100 g higher (difference in means 0.12 kg, 95% CI 0.04-0.20, P = 0.003 at one month; 0.19 kg, 95% CI 0.05-0.33, P = 0.007, at six months), mean head circumference 2 mm larger (0.3 cm, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.5, P = 0.004 at one month) and the cumulative incidence of underweight by five years of age was lower (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.90, P = 0.002) in the AZI-SP group than in the control group. The 2 mm difference in the mean mid-upper arm circumference at one month (0.2 cm, 95% CI 0.0 to 0.3, P = 0.007) disappeared after three years of age. There was no difference in mean weight-for-height Z-score at any time point. CONCLUSION In Malawi, IPTp with azithromycin and monthly sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has a modest, 3-5-year positive impact on child weight, mid-upper arm circumference and head circumference, but not on weight-for-height Z-score.