Visceral fat mass determination in rodent: validation of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and anthropometric techniques in fat and lean rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Because abdominal obesity is predisposed to various metabolic disorders, it is of major importance to assess and track the changes with time of this specific fat mass. The main issue for clinicians or researchers is to use techniques for assessing abdominal fat deposition and its accumulation or changes over time, without sacrificing of experimental subjects. In the rat, techniques to investigate in-vivo visceral fat mass are lacking. The purpose of the study was to validate indirect Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry technique and abdominal circumference measurement as tools to predict visceral adipose tissue in rats.</p> <p>Forty-three Wistar male rats from different body weight, fat mass and ages were included in the study. Visceral fat mass was assessed by weighing the total perirenal and peri-epididymal adipose tissues after dissection. Statistical methods were used to discriminate the best region of interest allowing the in-vivo measure of Central Fat Mass by DXA. Abdominal circumference was measured at the same time as the DXA scan.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A region of interest including Central Fat Mass from the whole body DXA scan (extending from L2 to L5 vertebrae), correlated strongly with <it>ex-vivo </it>Fat Mass (r = 0.94, p < 0.001). Abdominal circumference correlated significantly with <it>ex-vivo </it>Fat Mass (r = 0.82, p < 0.001) and Central Fat Mass (0.90, p < 0.001) in the whole group of rats. When dividing the whole group into lean and fat rats, correlations remained significant between Central Fat Mass and <it>ex-vivo </it>Fat Mass but disappeared for the lean group between abdominal circumference and <it>ex-vivo </it>Fat Mass.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study validates the Central Fat Mass determined by DXA as a non-sacrificial technique to assess visceral fat for in-vivo investigations in rats. The abdominal circumference measure appears useful in studying overweight or obese rats. These two techniques could be convenient tools in follow-up and longitudinal studies.</p

Blood lipids and adipokines concentrations during a 6-month nutritional and physical activity intervention for metabolic syndrome treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To report changes in body weight, total and central fat mass, metabolic, hormonal and inflammatory parameters in overweight people who participated in a six months weight loss intervention associating diet management and exercise.</p> <p>Subjects and Methods</p> <p>Fourteen subjects (10 M, 4 F, mean age 62.9 ± 6.9 years, BMI 30.4+/- 3.8 kg/m²) presenting the characteristics of the Metabolic Syndrome (MS) were included in the survey. They followed a three weeks (D0 to D20) cure in a medical establishment and a six months (D20 to M3 and M6) follow up at home. During the cure, they receive a balanced diet corresponding to 500 Kcal deficit vs their dayly energy expenditure (DEE) and they exercised 2 to 3 hours per day.</p> <p>At D0, D20, M3 and M6, body composition (lean mass, total and central fat mass) was analyzed with DEXA, blood pressure was taken and blood was collected to evaluate glycaemia, triglycerides, total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, insulin, leptin and adiponectin levels, CRP and pro-inflammatory interleukines IL1, IL.6 and TNFalpha.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All parameters listed above except the cytokine were improved at D20, so that 4 subjects among 14 still presented the MS. After returning to home, these parameters remained stable.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The efficacy of therapeutic lifestyle modifications with education and exercise and diet was demonstrated, but the compliance to the new healthy lifestyle initiated during the cure was not optimal.</p

Heart rate variability as a possible predictor of sport performance in junior rhythmic gymnastics

BACKGROUND: Heart rate variability may reveal sensitive information about the athletes’ physiological adaptation when exercising for sport performance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether heart rate variability (HRV) measurements were able to predict sport results and determine which type of measurements, at rest or during routines, were relevant in anticipating the performance. METHOD: Ten female gymnasts, aged 11–14 years old, and 16 age-matched non-active adolescents participated in this study. HRV was measured at rest for 10 minutes and throughout the training routines one week prior to competition. Correlations and multivariate analysis determined the parameters predicting performance. Significance was set at p⩽ 0.05. Results: At rest, the gymnasts displayed higher HRV values than controls. At rest, sympathetic parameters correlated with sport results whereas no correlation was observed during routines. The magnitude of the predictive factors highlighted the importance of Ln SD2 (coefficient =−117, 95CI −130 to −106), Ln RMSSD (coefficient =−24.5, 95CI −29.2 to −19.8), Ln pNN50 (coefficient =−10.7, 95CI −11.5 to −9.9), and Ln Total power (coefficient =−2.5, 95CI −13.4 to −11.5). CONCLUSIONS: HRV at rest may predict results in competition, being a complementary tool for coaches

Concurrent agreement between an anthropometric model to predict thigh volume and dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry assessment in female volleyball players aged 14-18 years

A variety of performance outputs are strongly determined by lower limbs volume and composition in children and adolescents. The current study aimed to examine the validity of thigh volume (TV) estimated by anthropometry in late adolescent female volleyball players. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures were used as the reference method. Total and regional body composition was assessed with a Lunar DPX NT/Pro/MD+/Duo/Bravo scanner in a cross-sectional sample of 42 Portuguese female volleyball players aged 14-18 years (165.2 ± 0.9 cm; 61.1 ± 1.4 kg). TV was estimated with the reference method (TV-DXA) and with the anthropometric method (TV-ANTH). Agreement between procedures was assessed with Deming regression. The analysis also considered a calibration of the anthropometric approach. The equation that best predicted TV-DXA was: -0.899 + 0.876 × log10 (body mass) + 0.113 × log10 (TV-ANTH). This new model (NM) was validated using the predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) method (R2PRESS = 0.838). Correlation between the reference method and the NM was 0.934 (95%CI: 0.880-0.964, Sy∙x = 0.325 L). A new and accurate anthropometric method to estimate TV in adolescent female volleyball players was obtained from the equation of Jones and Pearson alongside with adjustments for body mass.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Concurrent agreement between an anthropometric model to predict thigh volume and dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry assessment in female volleyball players aged 14-18 years

© 2016 The Author(s).Background: A variety of performance outputs are strongly determined by lower limbs volume and composition in children and adolescents. The current study aimed to examine the validity of thigh volume (TV) estimated by anthropometry in late adolescent female volleyball players. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures were used as the reference method. Methods: Total and regional body composition was assessed with a Lunar DPX NT/Pro/MD+/Duo/Bravo scanner in a cross-sectional sample of 42 Portuguese female volleyball players aged 14-18 years (165.2 ± 0.9 cm; 61.1 ± 1.4 kg). TV was estimated with the reference method (TV-DXA) and with the anthropometric method (TV-ANTH). Agreement between procedures was assessed with Deming regression. The analysis also considered a calibration of the anthropometric approach. Results: The equation that best predicted TV-DXA was: -0.899 + 0.876 × log10 (body mass) + 0.113 × log10 (TV-ANTH). This new model (NM) was validated using the predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) method (R2PRESS = 0.838). Correlation between the reference method and the NM was 0.934 (95%CI: 0.880-0.964, Sy·x = 0.325 L). Conclusions: A new and accurate anthropometric method to estimate TV in adolescent female volleyball players was obtained from the equation of Jones and Pearson alongside with adjustments for body mass

Effects of a short residential thermal spa program to prevent work-related stress/burnout on stress biomarkers: The thermstress proof of concept study

Objective Work-related stress is a public health issue. Stress has multiple physical and psychological consequences, the most serious of which are increased mortality and cardiovascular morbidity. The ThermStress protocol was designed to offer a short residential thermal spa program for work-related stress prevention that is compatible with a professional context. Methods Participants will be 56 male and female workers aged 18 years or above. All participants will undergo a 6-day residential spa program comprising psychological intervention, physical activity, thermal spa treatment, health education, eating disorder therapy and a follow-up. On six occasions, participants’ heart rate variability, cardiac remodelling and function, electrodermal activity, blood markers, anthropometry and body composition, psychology and quality of life will be measured using questionnaires and bone parameters. Results This study protocol reports the planned and ongoing research for this intervention. Discussion The ThermStress protocol has been approved by an institutional ethics committee (ANSM: 2016 A02082 49). It is expected that this proof of concept study will highlight the effect of a short-term specific residential thermal spa program on the prevention of occupational burnout and work-related stress. The findings will be disseminated at several research conferences and in published articles in peer-reviewed journals. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 03536624, 24/05/2018

Techno-economic and ecological advantages of unconventional methods for coal exploitation

Considering the quantity and quality of the available resources, especially the necessity for rational utilization of the primary energy resources, we are in a position to won new technologies for exploitation of unbalance and in individual cases balance reserves of coal. No resource, renewable or non-renewable, can meet the demand for energy and environmental sustainability without some compromise. All resources need to be developed with the emphasis on the development of technologies that can generate energy from these sources in an economically and environmentally friendly manner without the rejection of any option. In particular, it is a matter of underground gasification of coal. This means that the underground gasification of coal provides greater utilization of coal reserves, reduction of exploitation costs, especially in the phase of drilling, mining and transport of coal

Long-term effects of high intensity resistance and endurance exercise on plasma leptin and ghrelin in overweight individuals:the RESOLVE Study

International audienceThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of high-intensity resistance and endurance exercise on body composition and plasma leptin and ghrelin concentrations in overweight individuals. One hundred participants were randomly assigned to 3 exercise interventions: high-resistance–low-aerobic exercise (Re), low-resistance–high-aerobic exercise (rE), low-resistance–low-aerobic exercise (re). Interventions began with 3 weeks of residential supervision (phase 1) after which participants had to manage the physical activity programs individually (phase 2). Body composition and plasma variables were measured at baseline and after phase 1 as well as after 3, 6, and 12 months. Significant decreases in body weight and fat were observed after phase 1 (p < 0.001) and continued at a lower rate for up to 3 months and then remained stable for the rest of the protocol. Once a body weight plateau was reached, body fat loss after the Re and rE conditions exceeded the fat loss observed in the re condition by 1.5–2 kg (p < 0.05). Leptin was significantly decreased after day 21 and month 3 (p < 0.001) and remained stable for the rest of the study. Ghrelin was significantly increased after day 21 and month 3 (p < 0.001) and returned to a level comparable to baseline between month 6 and 12 when body weight and fat had reached a plateau. In conclusion, this study reinforces the idea that an increase in exercise intensity may accentuate body fat loss before the occurrence of a body weight plateau. Resistance to further fat loss was accompanied by a decrease in plasma leptin and an increase in plasma ghrelin