Effects of Weight Loss Among Metabolically Healthy Obese Men and Women

OBJECTIVE — Weight loss among metabolically healthy obese (MHO) individuals may be unnecessary or result in elevated cardio-metabolic risk. We studied the effects of exercise- or diet-induced weight loss on cardio-metabolic risk among MHO and metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) adults. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — Participants were 63 MHO and 43 MAO adults who took part in 3 to 6 months of exercise- or diet-induced weight loss intervention. Changes in anthropometry, adipose tissue distribution, and cardio-metabolic risk factors were assessed. RESULTS — Body weight, waist circumference, and total abdominal and visceral adipose tissue were reduced in all subjects (P 0.05). Improvements in insulin sensitivity were observed in MHO and MAO men and women (P 0.05), but were greater in the MAO individuals (P 0.05). Fasting insulin was the only other cardio-metabolic improvement among MHO individ-uals (P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS — Lifestyle-induced weight loss among MHO subjects is associated with a reduction in total and abdominal obesity and improvement in selected cardio-metabolic risk factors. Diabetes Care 33:1957–1959, 2010 W eight loss among metabolicallyhealthy obese (MHO) individu-als characterized by low cardio-metabolic risk and low prospective risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease may be unnecessary and paradoxically may actually increase health risk (1,2). That weight reduction may be contraindi-cated for MHO individuals is at odds with the standing recommendation from lead-ing health authorities that weight loss be the primary treatment strategy for all obese patients, regardless of cardio-metabolic status (3). We sought to inves-tigate the effects of exercise- and diet-induced weight reduction on cardio-metabolic risk factors among MHO and metabolically abnormal obese (MAO) adults

Method for estimating rockfall failure probability using photogrammetry

Passageways cut through rock might be subjected to rockfalls. If a falling rock reaches the road area, the consequences can be disastrous. The traditional rockfall risk assessment method and risk mitigation are based on on-site investigations performed by a geologist or a rock engineer. The parameters resulting from the investigation, such as discontinuities, orientations and spacings, potential rockfall initiation locations, slope geometry, and ditch profile, are either measured or estimated. We propose a photogrammetry-based method for estimating the probability of failure for rockfall. Several photographs of the rock-cut are taken, and a 3D geometry is computed using photogrammetry. This model already allows remote visual inspection of the site. The information about joint planes can be discovered semiautomatically from the point cloud. Next, the probability of rockfall reaching the road area is computed using probabilistic kinematic analysis on the geometry extracted using photogrammetry. The results can be used to define the rockfall probability for each rock-cut. Furthermore, the results can be used to determine the appropriate rockfall risk mitigation actions for each rock-cut

Determination of solidus and liquidus temperatures for S34MnV steel grade by thermal analysis and calculations

The paper is devoted to the comparison of the results in the frame of solidus and liquidus temperatures obtained by thermo analytical methods with the generally used empirically based formulas and thermo dynamical Computherm software. The series of thermal analysis measurements of high temperature phase transformations of real steel grade (S34MnV) under conditions of two analytical devices (Netzsch STA 449 F3 Jupiter; Setaram Multi High Temperature Calorimeter (MHTC)) were carried out. Two thermo analytical methods were used (DSC and Direct Thermal Analysis). The different weight of samples was used (2,6 g; 23 g). The liquidus and solidus temperatures for close to equilibrium conditions during heating (DSC: 1 °C/min; 2 °C/min) and during cooling (Direct Thermal Analysis: 1 °C/min) were determined and compared. Then, the discussion on the different values obtained by experiments and empirically based calculation is realised

Acute Exercise Increases Adiponectin Levels in Abdominally Obese Men

Objective. To examine the effect of acute and short-term (~1 week) aerobic exercise training on plasma adiponectin levels in inactive, abdominally obese men. Materials and Methods. Inactive and abdominally obese men (n = 38, waist circumference ≥102 cm) recruited from Kingston, Canada were randomly allocated to perform three bouts of aerobic treadmill exercise at either low (50% VO2 peak) or high (75% VO2 peak) intensity during a 1-week period. Blood samples were taken before and after the first exercise session and 24–72 hours following the completion of the final exercise session. Results. Adiponectin levels were elevated immediately following an acute bout of exercise at both high and low intensities (High: 5.79 ± 0.42 versus 5.05 ± 0.41 ug/mL; Low: 5.24 ± 0.44 versus 4.37 ± 0.44 ug/mL, P < 0.05) and remained elevated following 30 minutes of rest. In comparison to baseline, adiponectin levels were also elevated 24–72 hours following the final exercise session (High: 5.47 ± 0.48 versus 4.88 ± 0.48 ug/mL; Low: 5.18 ± 0.49 versus 4.47 ± 0.49 ug/mL, P < 0.05). Conclusion. Both acute and short-term aerobic exercise result in a significant increase in plasma adiponectin levels in inactive, abdominally obese men independent of intensity