Sex-Specific Relationships of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour with Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Markers in Young Adults

This study aims to analyse sex-specific associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in a young-adult population. Sixty participants (21 women, 22.63 ± 4.62 years old) wore a hip accelerometer for 7 consecutive days to estimate their physical activity and sedentarism. Oxidative stress (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and advanced oxidation protein products) and inflammatory (tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6) markers were measured. Student t-tests and single linear regressions were applied. The women presented higher catalase activity and glutathione concentrations, and lower levels of advanced protein-oxidation products, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 than the men (p < 0.05). In the men, longer sedentary time was associated with lower catalase activity (β = −0.315, p = 0.04), and longer sedentary breaks and higher physical-activity expenditures were associated with malondialdehyde (β = −0.308, p = 0.04). Vigorous physical activity was related to inflammatory markers in the women (tumour necrosis factor-alpha, β = 0.437, p = 0.02) and men (interleukin−6, β = 0.528, p < 0.01). In conclusion, the women presented a better redox and inflammatory status than the men; however, oxidative-stress markers were associated with physical activity and sedentary behaviours only in the men. In light of this, women could have better protection against the deleterious effect of sedentarism but a worse adaptation to daily physical activity.This work was partly supported by Universidad de Cádiz (grant number PR2016-051 and PR2019-054), by Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (LI19/21IN-CO09), and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) (MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033), grants PID2019-110063RA-I00 and PID2020-120034RA-I00. J.C.-P. is supported by a predoctoral grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación) (grant number FPU19/02326). D.V.-D is funded by the Margarita Salas Postdoctoral Program from European Union Next GenerationEU and University of Cádiz. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Concurrent validity of supraclavicular skin temperature measured with iButtons and infrared thermography as a surrogate marker of brown adipose tissue

We are grateful to Ms. Carmen Sainz-Quinn for assistance with the English language. We are grateful to Alberto Quesada-Aranda for helping with the development of the Temperatus software (Free trial in http://profth.ugr.es/temperatus).This study is part of a Ph.D. Thesis conducted in the Biomedicine Doctoral Studies of the University of Granada, Spain.Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic activity is commonly assessed with a positron emission tomography with computed tomography scan (PET/CT). This technique has several limitations and alternative techniques are needed. Supraclavicular skin temperature measured with iButtons and infrared thermography (IRT) has been proposed as an indirect marker of BAT activity. We studied the concurrent validity of skin temperature measured with iButtons vs. IRT and the association of supraclavicular skin temperature measured with iButtons and IRT with BAT. We measured skin temperature upon a shivering threshold test with iButtons and IRT in 6 different regions in 12 participants (n = 2 men). On a separate day, we determined supraclavicular skin temperature with an iButton and IRT after 2 h of a personalized cooling protocol. Thereafter, we quantified BAT volume and activity by PET/CT. We observed that the absolute differences between the devices were statistically different from 0 (all P < 0.05) after the shivering threshold test. Moreover, we did not find any association between supraclavicular skin temperature measured with iButtons or IRT and BAT 18F-FDG activity (r = −0.213; P = 0.530 and r = −0.079; P = 0.817). However, we observed a negative association of supraclavicular skin temperature measured by IRT with BAT 18F-FDG volume (r = −0.764; P = 0.006), but not with supraclavicular skin temperature measured with iButtons (r = −0.546; P = 0.082). In light of these results, we concluded that the measurement of skin temperature obtained by iButtons and IRT are not comparable. Furthermore, it seems that supraclavicular skin temperature is not associated with BAT 18F-FDG activity, but it appears to be negatively associated with BAT 18F-FDG volume in the case of IRT.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness via the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI13/01393), Retos de la Sociedad (DEP2016-79512-R), PTA 12264-I, and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU 13/04365, FPU14/04172, FPU15/05337, and FPU15/04059), by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation-MINECO (RYC-2014-16938), the Fundación Iberoamericana de Nutrición (FINUT), the Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa RETIC (Red SAMID RD16/0022), the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation, the University of Granada Plan Propio de Investigación 2016 -Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES) - and Plan Propio de Investigación 2018 - Programa Contratos-Puente, and the Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y Universidades (ERDF, ref. SOMM17/6107/UGR). This study is part of a Ph.D

The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. Methods: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. Results and Conclusion: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events

Commuting to University: Self-Reported and Device-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour

Background: Active commuting could provide an opportunity to counteract unhealthy behaviours, such as insufficient levels of Physical Activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour, which are major health problems in the university population. The aims of this study were to describe and compare self-reported and device-measured in commuting behaviours, PA, and sedentary behaviour in both trips (to and from university) by mode of commuting per weekday, and to identify associations between self-reported and device-measured of commuting behaviours, PA, and sedentary behaviour. Methods: After inclusion criteria, a total of 63 students (65.1% women) from a public university in Cadiz, Spain, participated in this study. Self-reported and device-measured information was used. Results: Commuting time, distance, and speed were lower in active commuters than public and private commuters in both trips (to and from university) (all,

Adiposidad y niveles de leptina en adolescentes con y sin síndrome de Down. Estudio UP&DOWN

Resumen del póster presentado al IV Congreso Virtual de FESNAD: "Una alimentación sostenible para una nutrición saludable", celebrado del 3 al 6 de noviembre en Zaragoza.[Introducción]: El Síndrome de Down (SD) es una alteración genética debida a la triplicación del cromosoma 21, asociada a diferentes patologías crónicas y a un dimorfismo corporal. La adiposidad en adolescentes con SD es mayor que en la población general. Además, la obesidad está relacionada con la inflamación de bajo grado y, por tanto, con algunas moléculas proinflamatorias, como la hormona leptina.[Objetivos]: Evaluar la asociación existente entre la grasa corporal y los niveles de leptina en adolescentes con y sin SD.[Método]: Se incluyeron dos grupos: grupo SD n = 95 adolescentes (44,2 % chicas) y grupo control n = 113 adolescentes (47,8 % chicas) de entre 11 y 18 años, procedentes del estudio UP&DOWN. Se analizaron los niveles sanguíneos de leptina y se evaluó la composición corporal a través del peso, talla, circunferencia abdominal y pliegues cutáneos. Se calculó el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC), el Índice Cintura-Talla (ICT) y el porcentaje de grasa corporal ( %GC) a través de las ecuaciones de Slaughter. Se crearon dos grupos según %GC: normal (< 30 %) y elevada (≥ 30 %), para realizar un estudio posterior.[Resultados]: El grupo SD obtuvo valores más elevados de IMC, ICT, circunferencia abdominal y %GC que el grupo control (p < 0,001). En el modelo lineal general, se observó una relación positiva del ICT (p = 0,015) y el %GC (p < 0,001) con la leptina en el total de la muestra. Solo en el grupo control, tras agrupar a los adolescentes por %GC, se mantiene la asociación positiva entre la grasa corporal y los niveles de leptina.[Conclusiones]: Los resultados reiteran el mayor riesgo de obesidad en adolescentes con SD. Sin embargo, parece necesario ahondar en la relación entre la leptina y la adiposidad en este grupo poblacional, dado que parecen tener un estado metabólico peculiar.Peer reviewe

Inflammation and fatness in adolescents with and without Down syndrome: UP & DOWN study

Background The main objective of this study was to describe the inflammatory status of adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) and their relationship with adiposity. Methods Ninety‐five adolescents with DS (44.2% girls) and a control group of 113 adolescents (47.8% girls), aged between 11 and 18 years old, from the UP & DOWN study were included in this substudy. Serum C‐reactive protein, C3 and C4 complement factors, total proteins, interleukin‐6, tumour necrosis factor‐α, insulin, cortisol, leptin, adiponectin, galactin‐3 and visfatin were analysed; homeostatic model assessment index was calculated. In order to evaluate adiposity, we measured the following body fat variables: weight, height, waist circumference and skinfold thicknesses. Birth weight was obtained by questionnaire. In addition, body mass index, waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentage (BF%) were calculated. Results Down syndrome group showed higher levels of body mass index, WHtR, waist circumference, BF% and lower birth weight than controls (P < 0.001). In the general linear model in the total sample, WHtR was positively associated with C3 and C4 (P < 0.001) as well as with leptin levels (P = 0.015). BF% was positively associated with total proteins (P = 0.093) and leptin levels (P < 0.001). DS was positively associated with total proteins (P < 0.001), C3 (P = 0.047) and C4 (P = 0.019). Despite the higher levels of adiposity found in DS group, no direct association was found between BF% and leptin levels, comparing with the control group. Conclusions These findings suggest that abdominal obesity should be controlled in adolescents because of its relationship with acute phase‐inflammatory biomarkers but especially in DS adolescents who may show a peculiar metabolic status according to their relationship between adiposity and inflammatory biomarkers.We appreciate the following financial support: DEP 2010-21662-C04-00 grants from the National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation (R +D +i) MICINN

Muscle fitness cut points for early assessment of cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents

UP&DOWN Study Group additional members: Coordinator: Ascension Marcos; Principal Investigators: Ascension Marcos, Jose Castro-Piñero, Oscar L. Veiga, and Fernando Bandres; Scientific Coordinators: David Martinez-Gomez (chair), Jonatan R. Ruiz (co-chair), Ana Carbonell-Baeza, Sonia Gomez-Martinez, and Catalina Santiago; Spanish National Research Council: Ascension Marcos, Sonia Gomez-Martinez, Esther Nova, Ligia-Esperanza Diaz, Belen Zapatera, Ana M. Veses, Aurora Hernandez, and Alina Gheorghe; University of Cadiz: José Castro-Piñero, Jesus Mora-Vicente, Jose L. Gonzalez-Montesinos, Julio Conde-Caveda, Jonatan R. Ruiz (University of Granada [UGR]), Francisco B. Ortega (UGR), Carmen Padilla Moledo, Ana Carbonell Baeza, Palma Chillon (UGR), Jorge del Rosario Fernandez, Ana Gonzalez Galo, Gonzalo Bellvis Guerra, Alvaro Delgado Alfonso, Fernando Parrilla, Roque Gomez, and Juan Gavala; Autonomous University of Madrid: Oscar L. Veiga, H. Ariel Villagra, Juan del-Campo, Carlos Cordente (UPM), Mario Diaz, Carlos M. Tejero, Aitor Acha, Jose M. Moya, Alberto Sanz, David Martinez-Gomez, Veronica Cabanas-Sanchez, Gabriel RodriguezRomo (UPM), Rocio Izquierdo, Laura Garcia-Cervantes, and Irene Esteban-Cornejo; Complutense University of Madrid: Fernando Bandres, Alejandro Lucia (European University of Madrid [UEM]), Catalina Santiago (UEM), and Felix Gomez-Gallego (UEM).[Objectives]: To study the cross-sectional and longitudinal (2-year follow-up) association between muscle fitness and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in youth; whether there are muscle fitness cut points associated with CVD risk (cross-sectional); and whether the health-related muscle fitness cut points identified at baseline are associated with CVD risk 2 years later. [Study design]: In total, 237 children (110 girls) aged 6-10 years and 274 adolescents (131 girls) aged 12-16 years with complete data were included in the study (10.3% drop out). The handgrip strength and the standing long jump tests were used to assess muscle fitness. CVD risk score was computed with sum of 2 skinfolds, systolic blood pressure, insulin, glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol. [Results]: Muscle fitness at baseline was associated inversely with single CVD risk factors and CVD risk score at baseline and 2-year follow-up (all P <.05). Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses showed a significant discriminating accuracy of handgrip strength in identifying CVD risk in children and adolescents (boys: ≥ 0.367 and ≥0.473; girls: ≥ 0.306 and ≥0.423 kg/kg body mass, respectively, all P <.001). Similarly, the standing long jump cut points for children and adolescents were ≥104.5 and ≥140.5 in boys, and ≥81.5 and ≥120.5 cm in girls, respectively (all P <.05). These cut points were associated with CVD risk 2 years later (all P <.01). [Conclusions]: Muscle fitness is associated with present and future cardiovascular health in youth, and is independent of cardiorespiratory fitness. It should be monitored to identify youth at risk who could benefit from intervention programs.Supported by the DEP 2010-21662-C04-00 (DEP 2010-21662-C04-01: DEP 2010-21662-C04-02: DEP 2010-21662-C04-03: DEP 2010-21662-C04-04) grant from the National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation (R + D + i) MICINN, by the FPU15/05337 grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education, and by Plan Propio de Investigación 2016 of the University of Granada (Spain), Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Scientific Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Cutoff Points for Early Detection of Present and Future Cardiovascular Risk in Children: A 2-Year Follow-up Study

Objective To examine the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) at baseline and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in 6- to 10-year-olds (cross-sectional) and 2 years later (8- to 12-year-olds [longitudinal]) and whether changes with age in CRF are associated with CVD risk in children aged 8 to 12 years. Patients and Methods Spanish primary schoolchildren (n=236) aged 6 to 10 years participated at baseline. Of the 23 participating primary schools, 22% (n=5) were private schools and 78% (n=18) were public schools. The dropout rate at 2-year follow-up was 9.7% (n=23). The 20-m shuttle run test was used to estimate CRF. The CVD risk score was computed as the mean of 5 CVD risk factor standardized scores: sum of 2 skinfolds, systolic blood pressure, insulin/glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Results At baseline, CRF was inversely associated with single CVD risk factors (all P0.85; P<.001) and to predict CVD risk 2 years later (P=.004). Persistent low CRF or the decline of CRF from 6-10 to 8-12 years of age is associated with increased CVD risk at age 8 to 12 years (P<.001). Conclusion During childhood, CRF is a strong predictor of CVD risk and should be monitored to identify children with potential CVD risk

Bidirectional associations between fitness and fatness in youth: A longitudinal study.

The aim was to examine the bidirectional association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and fatness in a 2-year longitudinal study conducted in young people. A total of 1082 children (512 females) and 727 adolescents (342 females) with complete data at baseline and follow-up were included. CRF was determined by the 20-m shuttle run test. Height and weight were measured, and body mass index and fat mass index (kg/m2 ) were calculated. Triceps and subscapular skinfolds were assessed to compute body fat percentage. Bidirectionality was tested by including CRF and each fatness index as exposures and outcomes, alternatively, in different regression models. CRF was prospectively associated with fatness index levels (ß from -0.186 to -0.528; P

Independent and combined associations of physical fitness components with inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents

[Background]: We aimed to examine the independent and combined associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and motor ability with single and clustered inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents.[Methods]: This study included 503 children and adolescents. Cardiorespiratory fitness, upper- and lower-muscular fitness, and motor ability were assessed using field-based tests. Fasting blood samples were obtained to determine the levels of a set of inflammatory biomarkers. Global physical fitness and clustered inflammatory biomarker scores were computed. Associations between physical fitness and inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed through linear regression. Differences in inflammatory biomarker levels between physical fitness tertiles were tested.[Results]: Global physical fitness was inversely associated with single and clustered inflammatory biomarkers in children (p < 0.05); and with C-reactive protein, complement factor C4, leptin, and clustered inflammatory biomarkers in adolescents (p < 0.025). Cardiorespiratory fitness and upper-muscular fitness were negatively and independently associated with several single and clustered inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents (p < 0.05). Differences were found between the lowest and the highest tertiles of global physical fitness in clustered inflammatory biomarker levels (p < 0.010).[Conclusion]: Physical fitness was negatively associated with single and clustered inflammatory biomarkers, independently of body mass index. Increasing physical fitness levels in youth might contribute to reduce the cardiovascular risk.This work was supported by the National Plan for Research, Development, and Innovation (R + D + i) from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [DEP 2010-21662-C04-00 (DEP 2010-21662-C04-01: DEP 2010-21662-C04-02: DEP 2010-21662-C04-03: DEP 2010-21662-C04-04)]; and by the Spanish Ministry of Education [FPU15/05337].Peer reviewe