The Correlations of Lumbar Spine Trabecular Bone Score with Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition in Postmenopausal Women

It is well known that postmenopausal women are more predisposed to osteopenia and osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency. Although bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a major determinant of bone strength, many other factors contribute to the risk of fractures. Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) is a novel method to estimate the trabecular microarchitecture using the lumbar spine DXA image, which can potentially evaluate bone health at an earlier stage (Silva et al. 2014). PURPOSE: To examine the relationships between the lumbar spine TBS with BMD and body composition in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Twenty-three female participants aged 50 to 77 years old completed the study (Age 59.4 ± 7.4 years old; Height 163.6 ± 6.1 cm; Weight 71.6 ± 11.9 kg). Total body composition and BMD at the lumbar spine and dual proximal femur were measured by DXA. Osteopenia (-2.5 \u3c BMD T-score ≤ -1) and osteoporosis (BMD T-score ≤ -2.5) were classified according to the WHO criteria. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to explore the relationships between TBS, BMD and body composition variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis of this group of participants was 47.82% (11 out of 23 participants). The significant correlations were reported in Table 1. No significant correlations were found between TBS and age, height, and weight. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the lumbar spine TBS moderately correlates with lumbar spine BMD, total hip BMD and lean mass in postmenopausal women

Bone Turnover Markers Responses to Acute Resistance Exercise in Postmenopausal Women

Bone loss increases with aging and elderly women are at the highest risk of osteoporosis and fractures due to menopause. Resistance exercise has been shown the most effective way to strengthen the skeletal system (Kohrt et al. 2004). Bone Turnover Markers (BTM) are enzymes or metabolic byproduct that are released to the blood during bone formation and bone resorption, which reflects the dynamic changes of bone metabolism (Vasikaran et al. 2011). PURPOSE: To examine the bone turnover marker responses to an acute bout of resistance exercise in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Nineteen female participants aged 50 to 77 years old completed the study. Participants performed a series of resistance exercise (modified Ab Crunches, Hip Abduction, Chest Press, Leg Press, Lat Pulldown, and Leg Extension) at 3 sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of 1-RM. Venipuncture blood samples were taken before (PRE), immediately after (IP) and 60 minutes post exercise (60P). Blood lactate was measured by lactate analyzer. Bone formation marker, Bone Alkaline Phosphatase (BAP), and bone resorption marker, Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b), were measured in serum samples in ELISA assays. RESULTS: Blood lactate was significant increased immediately after resistance exercise (p \u3c 0.001) and remained high 60 minutes post exercise (p = 0.047). There were no significant differences in BAP and TRAP5b at baseline, immediately post, and 60 minutes post exercise as shown in Table 1 (p \u3e 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest an acute bout of resistance exercise at 70% of 1-RM may not be sufficient to stimulate bone metabolism in postmenopausal women

Value of brain natriuretic peptide in the perioperative follow-up of children with valvular disease

Objective: To characterize N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (N-proBNP) and troponin I (TnI) profile following mitral and/or aortic valve surgery and to evaluate correlations with echocardiography measures and outcome criteria. Design and setting: Prospective cross-controlled study in auniversity children's hospital. Patients: Twenty children with acquired valvular disease requiring valvular surgery. Interventions: We prospectively studied clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic characteristics at baseline and 6, 12, 24 h and 3-4 weeks postoperatively. Results: TnI peaked 6 h after surgery and remained elevated during the first 24 h. N-proBNP was significantly lower 3-4 weeks after surgery than during the perioperative period. Overall, N-proBNP was correlated with the Pediatric Heart Failure Index, left ventricle shortening fraction, left atrium to aorta ratio, left ventricle mass index, end-systolic wall stress, and with outcome measures such as inotropic score, duration of inotropic support, and ICU length of stay. Preoperative N-proBNP was significantly more elevated in patients with complicated outcome than in patients with uneventful postoperative course. Conclusions: In pediatric valvular patients, perioperative N-proBNP is apromising risk stratification predicting factor. It is correlated with evolutive echocardiographic measures, need for inotropic support, and ICU length of sta

Recommendations from the Association for European Paediatric Cardiology for training in paediatric cardiac intensive care: AEPC's recommendations for European paediatric cardiology trainees The Working Group on Paediatric Cardiac Intensive Care

The following document provides a summary of the guidelines and recommendations for paediatric cardiac intensive care training as a requirement for recognition as a European paediatric cardiologist. It is therefore primarily targeting paediatric cardiology trainees in Europe, including those doctors who might wish to become experts in cardiac intensive care. These recommendations represent a frame for consistency, will evolve, and may be adapted to specific institutional requirements. They will be complemented by a learning module to be provided by our Association in the near futur

Effects of BioDensity Training on Bone Adaptations in Young Women: A Pilot Study

Osteopenia and osteoporosis are a major public health issue in the United States, and current research suggests that moderate to high intensity resistance training is the most effective type of exercise for maintaining bone mineral density (BMD). Sclerostin is a protein secreted by osteocytes which potently inhibits bone formation by binding to the LRP4 in Wnt/β-catenin signaling. BioDensity is a novel resistance training machine that consists of four exercises performed for five seconds each, which applies mechanical loading to the bone and provides a quicker alternative to traditional resistance training. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of 12 weeks of supervised bioDensity training on BMD and sclerostin in young women. METHODS: Nine healthy, young female participants were recruited for the 1-repetition (1-REP) group, and another seven participants were recruited for the 2-repetition (2-REP) group with similar age, weight, height, and ethnicity. They underwent 12 weeks of supervised bioDensity training, once a week. Before and after the intervention, total body composition and BMD at major sites were measured by DXA and serum sclerostin levels were measured in ELISA. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the baseline between groups, and mixed measure ANOVA was used to compare the effects of training within and between groups. RESULTS: We did not find significant time, group, or time x group interaction effects in BMD or serum sclerostin levels after 12-week bioDensity training. There is a large effect size of time (η2 = .214) at lumbar spine BMD after adjusting for height, and medium effect size of time (η2 = .108) in sclerostin levels. No significant differences were found in the percent change of BMD, while the effect size between the two groups was large. CONCLUSION: Although no statistical changes of BMD and sclerostin were observed, the medium to large effect sizes in our pilot study suggest a potential training effect. The bioDensity exercise regimen is feasible and well tolerated in young women

Loss of wetlands and timberline due to urban sprawl in the basin of the Grijalva River, Mexico

La periurbanización se ha considerado como motor del cambio de uso del suelo y de la pérdida de ecosistemas y de biodiversidad. A partir de esta premisa, la investigación plantea el seguimiento, desde una doble perspectiva, histórica y predictiva, de los cambios en la superficie de los humedales y en la deforestación progresiva entorno a Villahermosa, la urbe más importante de la cuenca del río Grijalva, en el Estado de Tabasco (México). Se han utilizado diferentes métodos: el análisis bibliográfico para el periodo desde la fundación de la ciudad hasta el último tercio del siglo XX, la verificación de fotografías aéreas entre 1984 y 2008 y la modelización de escenarios futuros, entre 2020 y 2040. Desde el periodo colonial hasta mediados del siglo veinte, las inundaciones y la insalubridad dificultaron el crecimiento de la ciudad pese a la transformación de la red hídrica superficial en la cuenca, iniciada mediante la construcción de diques en el siglo XVII. Posteriormente, las elevadas tasas de pérdida de humedales y deforestación (-0.50 y -4.63 %) se incrementaron por la urbanización y el impacto de los programas de producción agropecuaria y petrolización. En los últimos 40 años, el desarrollo periurbano ocasionó la pérdida de 4.008 ha de vegetación arbórea y 289 ha de humedales, con una tendencia a desaparecer 1.449 y 356 ha adicionales respectivamente en el futuro 2040. Estos resultados resaltan la necesidad de rediseñar un programa metropolitano, transdisciplinario y sustentable que respete y actualice las reservas territoriales para regular la periurbanización.Peri-urbanization has been considered to be the driving force of change in land use and the loss of ecosystems and their biodiversity. In view of this premise, the research provides for the follow up, from a double perspective, historical and predictive, on changes in the area of the wetlands and progressive deforestation in Villahermosa, the most important city in the Grijalva River basin, in the State of Tabasco (Mexico). Different methods have been used: the bibliographic analysis for the period since the founding of the city until the last third of the twentieth century, the verification of aerial photographs between 1984 and 2008, and the modelling of future scenarios between 2020 and 2040. Since the Colonial period until the mid-nineteenth century, floods and unhealthy conditions limited the growth of the city despite the transformation of the surface water drainage to basin scale, which was started through the construction of levees in the seventeenth century. Subsequently, high rates of wetland loss and deforestation (-0.50 and -4.63%) increased due to the urbanization and the impact of agricultural production and petroleum programs. In the last 40 years, the fringe development has resulted in the loss of 4,008 ha of timberline vegetation and 289 ha of wetlands, with perhaps an additional 1,449 and 356 ha disappearing by 2040. These results highlight the need to redesign a metropolitan, transdisciplinary and sustainable program that respect and update the land reserves to regulate the urban sprawl