On the impact of the erroneous identification of inertial sensors’ locations on segments and whole-body centers of mass accelerations: a sensitivity study in one transfemoral amputee

Background and Objectives: Gene mutations within the leptin-melanocortin signaling pathway lead to severe early-onset obesity. Recently, a phase 2 trial evaluated new pharmacological treatment options with the MC4R agonist setmelanotide in patients with mutations in the genes encoding proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and leptin receptor (LEPR). During treatment with setmelanotide, changes in skin pigmentation were observed, probably due to off-target effects on the closely related melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). Here, we describe in detail the findings of dermatological examinations and measurements of skin pigmentation during this treatment over time and discuss the impact of these changes on patient safety. Methods: In an investigator-initiated, phase 2, open-label pilot study, 2 patients with loss-of-function POMC gene mutations and 3 patients with loss-of-function variants in LEPR were treated with the MC4R agonist setmelanotide. Dermatological examination, dermoscopy, whole body photographic documentation, and spectrophotometric measurements were performed at screening visit and approximately every 3 months during the course of the study. Results: We report the results of a maximum treatment duration of 46 months. Skin pigmentation increased in all treated patients, as confirmed by spectrophotometry. During continuous treatment, the current results indicate that elevated tanning intensity levels may stabilize over time. Lips and nevi also darkened. In red-haired study participants, hair color changed to brown after initiation of setmelanotide treatment. Discussion: Setmelanotide treatment leads to skin tanning and occasionally hair color darkening in both POMC- and LEPR-deficient patients. No malignant skin changes were observed in the patients of this study. However, the results highlight the importance of regular skin examinations before and during MC4R agonist treatment.

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The Impact of Nordic Walking on Bone Properties in Postmenopausal Women with Pre-Diabetes and Non-Alcohol Fatty Liver Disease

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147570 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7570

Author(s):

Xiaming Du ◽

Chao Zhang ◽

Xiangqi Zhang ◽

Zhen Qi ◽

Sulin Cheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Fatty Liver ◽

Postmenopausal Women ◽

Fatty Liver Disease ◽

Whole Body ◽

Nordic Walking ◽

Significant Group ◽

Time Interaction ◽

Bone Properties ◽

The Impact

This study investigated the impact of Nordic walking on bone properties in postmenopausal women with pre-diabetes and non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A total of 63 eligible women randomly participated in the Nordic walking training (AEx, n = 33), or maintained their daily lifestyle (Con, n = 30) during intervention. Bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) of whole body (WB), total femur (TF), femoral neck (FN), and lumbar spine (L2-4) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum osteocalcin, pentosidine, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) levels were analyzed by ELISA assay. After an 8.6-month intervention, the AEx group maintained their BMCTF, BMDTF, BMCL2−4, and BMDL2−4, and increased their BMCFN (p = 0.016), while the Con group decreased their BMCTF (p = 0.008), BMDTF (p = 0.001), and BMDL2−4 (p = 0.002). However, no significant group × time interaction was observed, except for BMDL2−4 (p = 0.013). Decreased pentosidine was correlated with increased BMCWB(r = −0.352, p = 0.019). The intervention has no significant effect on osteocalcin and RANKL. Changing of bone mass was associated with changing of pentosidine, but not with osteocalcin and RANKL. Our results suggest that Nordic walking is effective in preventing bone loss among postmenopausal women with pre-diabetes and NAFLD.

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The impact of anatomical uncertainties on the predictions of a musculoskeletal hand model – a sensitivity study

Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering ◽

10.1080/10255842.2021.1940974 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Maximilian Melzner ◽

Franz Süß ◽

Sebastian Dendorfer

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity Study ◽

Hand Model ◽

The Impact

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The Effect of Repeated Whole-Body Cryotherapy on Sirt1 and Sirt3 Concentrations and Oxidative Status in Older and Young Men Performing Different Levels of Physical Activity

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10010037 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 37

Author(s):

Gabriela Wojciak ◽

Jadwiga Szymura ◽

Zbigniew Szygula ◽

Joanna Gradek ◽

Magdalena Wiecek

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Young Men ◽

Oxidative Status ◽

Whole Body ◽

Stress Index ◽

Blood Levels ◽

Long Distance ◽

Antioxidant Defence ◽

Whole Body Cryotherapy ◽

The Impact

Background: The activity of antioxidant enzymes and sirtuins (Sirt) decreases along with age, which is counteracted by aerobic training. Sirtuins increase antioxidant defence. Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) increases total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in young men. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of 24 WBC treatments on the blood concentration of selected sirtuins and the level of antioxidant defence as well as oxidative stress index of training and non-training men depending on age. Methods: The study involved 40 males. In each group, there were 10 non-training older and young men (60 NTR and 20 NTR), and 10 older and young long-distance runners (60 TR, 20 TR). During an 8-week period, participants underwent 24 WBC treatments (3 min −130 °C), which were performed three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). The concentrations of Sirt1, Sirt3, TAC, total oxidative status and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the blood were determined before 1 WBC and after 1 WBC, 12 WBC and 24 WBC. Results: After 1 WBC, the activity of GPx and the concentration of Sirt1 and TAC in 60 TR and TAC in 60 NTR increased. After 12 WBC, the level of Sirt1 in 20 NTR and SOD in 20 TR increased. After 24 WBC, the level of Sirt1 increased in 60 TR and in 20 NTR, Sirt3 in 60 TR and SOD in 20 TR. Conclusions: Cryogenic temperatures increase blood levels of Sirt1 and Sirt3 and systemic antioxidant defence in men, but the effect is dependent on age, level of performed physical activity and the number of applied treatments.

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Weight Status and Visceral Adiposity Mediate the Relationship between Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration and Skin Carotenoids in Later Childhood

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzab010 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ruyu Liu ◽

Caitlyn G Edwards ◽

Corinne N Cannavale ◽

Isabel R Flemming ◽

Morgan R Chojnacki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adipose Tissue ◽

Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽

Weight Status ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Physical Growth ◽

Breastfeeding Duration ◽

Whole Body ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Breastfeeding is associated with healthier weight and nutrient status in early life. However, the impact of breastfeeding on carotenoid status beyond infancy, and the influence of adiposity, is unknown. Objective The aim of the study was to retrospectively investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and carotenoid status, and the mediating effect of weight status and adiposity on this relationship among school-aged children. Methods This was a secondary analysis of baseline data collected from a randomized-controlled clinical trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03521349). 7–12-year-old (n = 81) children were recruited from East-Central Illinois. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and whole-body adiposity (%Fat). Weight was obtained to calculated body mass index percentile (BMI %ile). Skin carotenoids were assessed via reflection spectroscopy. Macular carotenoids were assessed as macular pigment optical density (MPOD). Dietary, birth, and breastfeeding information was self-reported by parents. Results Skin carotenoids were inversely related to %Fat (P < 0.01), VAT (P < 0.01) and BMI %ile (P < 0.01). VAT and BMI %ile significantly mediated this relationship between exclusive breastfeeding duration and skin carotenoids, following adjustment for dietary carotenoids, energy intake, and mother education. Conclusions Weight status and adipose tissue distribution mediate the positive correlation between exclusive breastfeeding duration and skin carotenoids among children aged 7–12 years. The results indicate the need to support breastfeeding and healthy physical growth in childhood for optimal carotenoid status.

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Modeling Bacterial Regrowth and Trihalomethane Formation in Water Distribution Systems

Water ◽

10.3390/w13040463 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 463

Author(s):

Gopinathan R. Abhijith ◽

Leonid Kadinski ◽

Avi Ostfeld

Keyword(s):

Distribution Systems ◽

Water Distribution ◽

Mechanistic Model ◽

Water Distribution Systems ◽

Sensitivity Study ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Growth Rate Constant ◽

Model Parameters ◽

Bacterial Regrowth ◽

The Impact

The formation of bacterial regrowth and disinfection by-products is ubiquitous in chlorinated water distribution systems (WDSs) operated with organic loads. A generic, easy-to-use mechanistic model describing the fundamental processes governing the interrelationship between chlorine, total organic carbon (TOC), and bacteria to analyze the spatiotemporal water quality variations in WDSs was developed using EPANET-MSX. The representation of multispecies reactions was simplified to minimize the interdependent model parameters. The physicochemical/biological processes that cannot be experimentally determined were neglected. The effects of source water characteristics and water residence time on controlling bacterial regrowth and Trihalomethane (THM) formation in two well-tested systems under chlorinated and non-chlorinated conditions were analyzed by applying the model. The results established that a 100% increase in the free chlorine concentration and a 50% reduction in the TOC at the source effectuated a 5.87 log scale decrement in the bacteriological activity at the expense of a 60% increase in THM formation. The sensitivity study showed the impact of the operating conditions and the network characteristics in determining parameter sensitivities to model outputs. The maximum specific growth rate constant for bulk phase bacteria was found to be the most sensitive parameter to the predicted bacterial regrowth.

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Consumption of a High-Protein Meal Replacement Leads to Higher Fat Oxidation, Suppression of Hunger, and Improved Metabolic Profile After an Exercise Session

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13010155 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 155

Author(s):

Camila L. P. Oliveira ◽

Normand G. Boulé ◽

Aloys Berg ◽

Arya M. Sharma ◽

Sarah A. Elliott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Profile ◽

Fat Oxidation ◽

High Protein ◽

Whole Body ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Exercise Session ◽

Meal Replacement ◽

Protein Meal ◽

High Protein Meal ◽

The Impact

The aim of this study was to compare the impact of a high-protein meal replacement (HP-MR) versus a control (CON) breakfast on exercise metabolism. In this acute, randomized controlled, cross-over study, participants were allocated into two isocaloric arms: (a) HP-MR: 30% carbohydrate, 43% protein, and 27% fat; (b) CON: 55% carbohydrate, 15% protein, and 30% fat. Following breakfast, participants performed a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise while inside a whole-body calorimetry unit. Energy expenditure, macronutrient oxidation, appetite sensations, and metabolic blood markers were assessed. Forty-three healthy, normal-weight adults (24 males) participated. Compared to the CON breakfast, the HP-MR produced higher fat oxidation (1.07 ± 0.33 g/session; p = 0.003) and lower carbohydrate oxidation (−2.32 ± 0.98 g/session; p = 0.023) and respiratory exchange ratio (−0.01 ± 0.00; p = 0.003) during exercise. After exercise, increases in hunger were lower during the HP-MR condition. Changes in blood markers from the fasting state to post-exercise during the HP-MR condition were greater for insulin, peptide tyrosine-tyrosine, and glucagon-like peptide 1, and lower for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and glycerol. Our primary findings were that an HP-MR produced higher fat oxidation during the exercise session, suppression of hunger, and improved metabolic profile after it.

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Effect of Whole-Body Cryotherapy on Morphological, Rheological and Biochemical Indices of Blood in People with Multiple Sclerosis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10132833 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 2833

Author(s):

Bartłomiej Ptaszek ◽

Aneta Teległów ◽

Justyna Adamiak ◽

Jacek Głodzik ◽

Szymon Podsiadło ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Neurological Diseases ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Whole Body ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Blood Indices ◽

Rheological Indices ◽

Whole Body Cryotherapy ◽

The Impact

The aim of this study was to examine and assess the impact of a series of 20 whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) treatments on the biochemical and rheological indices of blood in people with multiple sclerosis. In this prospective controlled study, the experimental group consisted of 15 women aged 34–55 (mean age, 41.53 ± 6.98 years) with diagnosed multiple sclerosis who underwent a series of whole-body cryotherapy treatments. The first control group consisted of 20 women with diagnosed multiple sclerosis. This group had no intervention in the form of whole-body cryotherapy. The second control group consisted of 15 women aged 30–49 years (mean age, 38.47 ± 6.0 years) without neurological diseases and other chronic diseases who also underwent the whole-body cryotherapy treatment. For the analysis of the blood indices, venous blood was taken twice (first, on the day of initiation of whole-body cryotherapy treatments and, second, after a series of 20 cryotherapy treatments). The blood counts were determined using an ABX MICROS 60 hematological analyzer (USA). The LORCA analyzer (Laser–Optical Rotational Cell Analyzer, RR Mechatronics, the Netherlands) was used to study the aggregation and deformability of erythrocytes. The total protein serum measurement was performed using a Cobas 6000 analyzer, Roche and a Proteinogram-Minicap Sebia analyzer. Fibrinogen determinations were made using a Bio-Ksel, Chrom-7 camera. Statistically significant differences and changes after WBC in the levels of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), elongation index, total extend of aggregation (AMP), and proteins (including fibrinogen) were observed. However, there was no significant effect of a series of 20 WBC treatments on changes in blood counts, rheology, and biochemistry in women with multiple sclerosis. Our results show that the use of WBC has a positive effect on the rheological properties of the blood of healthy women.

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Classification of standing and sitting phases based on in-socket piezoelectric sensors in a transfemoral amputee

Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik ◽

10.1515/bmt-2018-0249 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Tawfik Yahya ◽

Nur Azah Hamzaid ◽

Sadeeq Ali ◽

Farahiyah Jasni ◽

Hanie Nadia Shasmin

Keyword(s):

Time Domain ◽

Classification Accuracy ◽

Sensory System ◽

Metabolic Energy ◽

Support Vector ◽

Data Set ◽

Transfemoral Amputee ◽

Sit To Stand ◽

Optimal Classifier ◽

The Impact

AbstractA transfemoral prosthesis is required to assist amputees to perform the activity of daily living (ADL). The passive prosthesis has some drawbacks such as utilization of high metabolic energy. In contrast, the active prosthesis consumes less metabolic energy and offers better performance. However, the recent active prosthesis uses surface electromyography as its sensory system which has weak signals with microvolt-level intensity and requires a lot of computation to extract features. This paper focuses on recognizing different phases of sitting and standing of a transfemoral amputee using in-socket piezoelectric-based sensors. 15 piezoelectric film sensors were embedded in the inner socket wall adjacent to the most active regions of the agonist and antagonist knee extensor and flexor muscles, i. e. region with the highest level of muscle contractions of the quadriceps and hamstring. A male transfemoral amputee wore the instrumented socket and was instructed to perform several sitting and standing phases using an armless chair. Data was collected from the 15 embedded sensors and went through signal conditioning circuits. The overlapping analysis window technique was used to segment the data using different window lengths. Fifteen time-domain and frequency-domain features were extracted and new feature sets were obtained based on the feature performance. Eight of the common pattern recognition multiclass classifiers were evaluated and compared. Regression analysis was used to investigate the impact of the number of features and the window lengths on the classifiers’ accuracies, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test significant differences in the classifiers’ performances. The classification accuracy was calculated using k-fold cross-validation method, and 20% of the data set was held out for testing the optimal classifier. The results showed that the feature set (FS-5) consisting of the root mean square (RMS) and the number of peaks (NP) achieved the highest classification accuracy in five classifiers. Support vector machine (SVM) with cubic kernel proved to be the optimal classifier, and it achieved a classification accuracy of 98.33 % using the test data set. Obtaining high classification accuracy using only two time-domain features would significantly reduce the processing time of controlling a prosthesis and eliminate substantial delay. The proposed in-socket sensors used to detect sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit movements could be further integrated with an active knee joint actuation system to produce powered assistance during energy-demanding activities such as sit-to-stand and stair climbing. In future, the system could also be used to accurately predict the intended movement based on their residual limb’s muscle and mechanical behaviour as detected by the in-socket sensory system.

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