Cut-off points for isometric handgrip and low limb explosive strength in relation to indicators of overweight/obesity in people with intellectual disabilities: analysis by age groups

Background The prevalence of overweight/obesity has been increasing globally and in people with Intellectual Disabilities (IDs), this problem is exacerbated even more, which added to a low physical condition that contributes to the deterioration of functionality and increases the risk of developing chronic diseases in the course of life. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish cut-off points for levels of isometric handgrip and low limb explosive strength in children, adolescents and adults, which identify overweight/obesity in people with IDs and their respective associations. Methods The sample was made up of 131 individuals with IDs, belonging to four special and community educational centres in the city of Santiago, Chile. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHR) were used as indicators of overweight/obesity. Handgrip strength was used as a measure of isometric strength, and countermovement jump was used as a measure of low limb explosive strength. For the comparison of variables by age group, the analysis of Ancova, Kruskal–Wallis and chi-square tests were used. The total area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of isometric handgrip and low limb explosive strength was identified as an indicator of overweight/obesity according to age groups. A logistic regression model was used to quantify the effect that strength categories below the cut-off point have on the risk of overweight and obesity. Results Significant differences were observed between the age groups for body weight, height, BMI and WHR, as well as in the levels of absolute handgrip strength and vertical jump with countermovement (P ≤ 0.05). Children showed the lowest cut-off points for absolute and relative strength. The adolescent group showed the highest cut-off points for relative strength and countermovement jump and adults showed the highest value for absolute strength as indicators of overweight/obesity. Different associations between cut-off points with BMI and WHR were found. Conclusions Adolescents showed the highest cut-off point for relative strength and countermovement jump, and adults showed the highest value for absolute strength, according to overweight/obesity indicators (BMI and WHR). It is suggested to adjust resistance training programmes according to age categories for the prevention of overweight/obesity in people with IDs.Universidad de Granada/CBU

Fall risk detection mechanism in the elderly, based on electromyographic signals, through the use of artificial intelligence

Introduction: The tests used to classify older adults at risk of falls are questioned in literature. Tools from the field of artificial intelligence are an alternative to classify older adults more precisely. Objective: To identify the risk of falls in the elderly through electromyographic signals of the lower limb, using tools from the field of artificial intelligence. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. The unit of analysis was made up of 32 older adults (16 with and 16 without risk of falls). The electrical activity of the lower limb muscles was recorded during the functional walking gesture. The cycles obtained were divided into training and validation sets, and then from the amplitude variable, select attributes using the Weka software. Finally, the Support Vector Machines (SVM) classifier was implemented. Results: A classifier of two classes (elderly adults with and without risk of falls) based on SVM was built, whose performance was: Kappa index 0.97 (almost perfect agreement strength), sensitivity 97%, specificity 100%. Conclusions: The SVM artificial intelligence technique applied to the analysis of lower limb electromyographic signals during walking can be considered a precision tool of diagnostic, monitoring and follow-up for older adults with and without risk of falls

Beneficios del ejercicio y/o actividad física en los cinco tipos de cáncer con mayor incidencia y mortalidad a nivel mundial: Una revisión narrativa

Esta revisión tiene como objetivo declarar los beneficios del ejercicio físico y/o la actividad física en los cinco tipos de cáncer con mayor tasa mortalidad en el mundo.  Se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos: Pubmed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, Scielo (Latinoamérica) y Medline. Los términos usados para la búsqueda fueron: “cáncer de pulmón”, “cáncer de hígado”, “cáncer de mama”, “cáncer de estómago”, “cáncer de colon”, “ejercicio físico”, “actividad física”, “ejercicio de resistencia” y “ejercicio aeróbico”. El ejercicio físico y la actividad física han demostrado beneficios tanto en variables morfológicas, metabólicas y psicológicas, teniendo un impacto positivo en el aumento de la funcionalidad, esperanza de vida y calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer. El ejercicio aeróbico demostró mayores beneficios en el consumo de oxígeno, además de una alta adherencia, mientras que el entrenamiento de fuerza en una mayor capacidad específicamente en los miembros inferiores

Fall risk detection mechanism in the elderly, based on electromyographic signals, through the use of artificial intelligence

Introduction: The tests used to classify older adults at risk of falls are questioned in literature. Tools from the field of artificial intelligence are an alternative to classify older adults more precisely. Objective: To identify the risk of falls in the elderly through electromyographic signals of the lower limb, using tools from the field of artificial intelligence. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. The unit of analysis was made up of 32 older adults (16 with and 16 without risk of falls). The electrical activity of the lower limb muscles was recorded during the functional walking gesture. The cycles obtained were divided into training and validation sets, and then from the amplitude variable, select attributes using the Weka software. Finally, the Support Vector Machines (SVM) classifier was implemented. Results: A classifier of two classes (elderly adults with and without risk of falls) based on SVM was built, whose performance was: Kappa index 0.97 (almost perfect agreement strength), sensitivity 97%, specificity 100%. Conclusions: The SVM artificial intelligence technique applied to the analysis of lower limb electromyographic signals during walking can be considered a precision tool of diagnostic, monitoring and follow-up for older adults with and without risk of falls

Uso de la Wii Balance Board como mecanismo de reconocimiento y clasificación del riesgo de caídas en el adulto mayor

Introduction: In clinical practice, the functional tests used to assess the risk of falls require precision techniques and elements that avoid subjectivity. The use of the Wii Balance Board (WBB) is an alternative to the above, since it is an inexpensive, portable tool that allows extracting variables that are related to the phenomenon under study.Objective: To classify the variables derived from the center of pressure (CoP) during the evaluation of postural control through the WBB, in older adults with and without risk of falls.Methods: A descriptive research design was used. A total of 40 older adults were studied, 20 with and 20 without risk of falls. Postural control was evaluated using the WBB, extracting kinetic and kinematic variables, which allowed the implementation of an attribute selector and the SVM algorithm (SVMs, Support Vector Machines), identifying older adults at risk of falls.Results: The variables that best allow us to classify older adults with and without risk of falling were speed, displacement and mean force. A two-class classifier was built, whose best performance was the Kappa index 0.95 (almost perfect agreement strength), 98% sensitivity, and 100% specificity.Conclusions: The use of WBB can be considered a low-cost alternative for the evaluation of the risk of falls in older adults.  Introducción: En la práctica clínica las pruebas funcionales utilizadas para evaluar el riesgo de caídas requieren de técnicas y elementos de precisión que eviten la subjetividad. El uso de la Wii Balance Board (WBB) es una alternativa ante lo expuesto, ya que es una herramienta económica, portátil y que permite extraer variables que se relacionan con el fenómeno en estudio. Objetivo: Clasificar las variables derivadas del centro de presión (CoP) durante la evaluación del control postural por medio de la WBB, en adultos mayores con y sin riesgo de caídas. Métodos: Se utilizó un diseño de investigación descriptivo. Se estudió a 40 adultos mayores, 20 con y 20 sin riesgo de caídas. El control postural fue evaluado mediante la WBB, extrayendo variables cinéticas y cinemáticas, que permitieron implementar un selector de atributos y el algoritmo SVM (SVMs, del inglés Support Vector Machines), identificando a los adultos mayores con riesgo de caídas. Resultados: Las variables que mejor permiten clasificar a los adultos mayores con y sin riesgo de caída fueron la velocidad, desplazamiento y fuerza media. Se construyó un clasificador de dos clases, cuyo mejor desempeño fue el índice Kappa 0,95 (fuerza de concordancia casi perfecta), sensibilidad 98%, y especificidad 100%. Conclusiones: El uso de WBB puede ser considerada una alternativa de bajo costo para la evaluación del riesgo de caídas en adultos mayores

Use of the Wii Balance Board as a mechanism for recognition and classification of the risk of falls in older adults

ntroducción: En la práctica clínica las pruebas funcionales utilizadas para evaluar el riesgo de caídasrequieren de técnicas y elementos de precisión que eviten la subjetividad. El uso de la Wii Balance Board(WBB) es una alternativa ante lo expuesto, ya que es una herramienta económica,portátil y que permite extraer variables que se relacionan con el fenómeno en estudio.Objetivo: Clasificar las variables derivadas del centro de presión (CoP)durante la evaluación del control posturalpor medio de la WBB, en adultos mayores con y sin riesgo de caídas.Métodos: Se utilizó un diseñode investigación descriptivo. Se estudió a 40 adultos mayores, 20 con y 20 sin riesgo de caídas. El control postural fue evaluado mediante la WBB, extrayendo variables cinéticas y cinemáticas, que permitieron implementar un selector de atributos y el algoritmo SVM (SVMs, del inglés Support Vector Machines), identificando a los adultos mayorescon riesgo de caídas.Resultados: Las variables que mejor permiten clasificar a los adultos mayorescon y sin riesgo de caídafueronla velocidad, desplazamiento y fuerza media. Se construyó un clasificador de dos clases, cuyo mejor desempeño fueelíndice Kappa0,95(fuerza de concordancia casi perfecta),sensibilidad 98%, y especificidad 100%.Conclusiones: El uso de WBB puede ser considerada una alternativa de bajo costo para la evaluación del riesgo de caídasen adultos mayores.Introduction:In clinical practice, the functional tests used to assess the risk of falls require precision techniques and elements that avoid subjectivity. The use of the Wii Balance Board (WBB) is an alternative to the above, since it is an inexpensive, portable toolthat allows extracting variables that are related to the phenomenon under study.Objective:To classify the variables derived from the center of pressure (CoP) during the evaluation of postural control through the WBB, in older adults with and without risk of falls.Methods:A descriptive research design was used. A total of 40 older adults were studied, 20 with and 20 without risk of falls. Postural control was evaluated using the WBB, extracting kinetic and kinematic variables, which allowed the implementation of an attribute selector and the SVM algorithm (SVMs, Support Vector Machines), identifying older adults at risk of falls.Results:The variables that best allow us to classify older adults with and without risk of falling were speed, displacement and mean force. A two-class classifier was built, whose best performance was the Kappa index 0.95 (almost perfect agreement strength), 98% sensitivity, and 100% specificity.Conclusions:The use of WBB can be considered a low-cost alternative for the evaluation of the risk of falls in older adults

Perceived Neighborhood Safety and Active Transportation in Adults from Eight Latin American Countries

Neighborhood built environment is associated with domain-specific physical activity. However, few studies with representative samples have examined the association between perceived neighborhood safety indicators and domain-specific active transportation in Latin America. This study aimed to examine the associations of perceived neighborhood safety with domain-specific active transportation in adults from eight Latin American countries. Data were obtained from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (n = 8547, aged 18–65). Active transportation (walking and cycling) was assessed using the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Specifically, traffic density and speed as well as street lightening, visibility of residents regarding pedestrians and bicyclists, traffic lights and crosswalks, safety of public spaces during the day and at night, crime rate during the day and at night were used to evaluate perceived neighborhood safety. Slow traffic speeds, unsafe public spaces during the day, and crime during the day were associated with ≥10 min/week vs. <10 min/week of walking. Furthermore, drivers exceeding the speed limit and crime rate during the day were associated with reporting ≥10 min/week vs. <10 min/week of cycling. These results indicate a stronger association of the perceived neighborhood safety with walking compared to cycling.Coca Cola Company///Estados UnidosHospital Infantil Sabará///BrazilInternational Life Science Institute//ILSI/ArgentinaUniversidad de Costa Rica//UCR/Costa RicaPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile///ChilePontificia Universidad Javeriana///ColombiaUniversidad Central de Venezuela//UCV/VenezuelaUniversidad San Francisco de Quito///EcuadorInstituto de Investigación Nutricional de Perú///PerúUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Medicina::Escuela de Medicin

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatits C Virus Coinfection in Spain: Elimination Is Feasible, but the Burden of Residual Cirrhosis Will Be Significant

Background: We assessed the prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV-Abs) and active HCV infection in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Spain in 2016 and compared the results with those of similar studies performed in 2002, 2009, and 2015. Methods: The study was performed in 43 centers during October-November 2016. The sample was estimated for an accuracy of 2% and selected by proportional allocation and simple random sampling. During 2016, criteria for therapy based on direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) were at least significant liver fibrosis, severe extrahepatic manifestations of HCV, and high risk of HCV transmissibility. Results: The reference population and the sample size were 38904 and 1588 patients, respectively. The prevalence of HCV-Abs in 2002, 2009, 2015, and 2016 was 60.8%, 50.2%, 37.7%, and 34.6%, respectively (P trend <.001, from 2002 to 2015). The prevalence of active HCV in 2002, 2009, 2015, and 2016 was 54.0%, 34.0%, 22.1%, and 11.7%, respectively (P trend <.001). The anti-HCV treatment uptake in 2002, 2009, 2015, and 2016 was 23.0%, 48.0%, 59.3%, and 74.7%, respectively (P trend <.001). In 2016, HCV-related cirrhosis was present in 7.6% of all HIV-infected individuals, 15.0% of patients with active HCV, and 31.5% of patients who cleared HCV after anti-HCV therapy. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that with universal access to DAA-based therapy and continued efforts in prevention and screening, it will be possible to eliminate active HCV among HIV-infected individuals in Spain in the short term. However, the burden of HCV-related cirrhosis will continue to be significant among HIV-infected individuals.This work was funded by grant Ref. no. GLD14-00279 from the GILEAD Fellowship Programme (Spain) and by the Spanish AIDS Research Network (RD16/0025/0017, RD16/0025/0018) that is included in the Spanish I+D+I Plan and is co-financed by ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluacion and European Funding for Regional Development (FEDER).S

Primary Validation of the Submandibular Skinfold as an Anthropometric Measurement of Cardiometabolic Risk in People with Intellectual Disabilities

The accumulation of body fat is an important cardiometabolic risk factor; however, there is no consensus about which measure is more reliable for the assessment of cardiometabolic risk in people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the present study was to primarily validate the submandibular skinfold as an anthropometric measurement of cardiometabolic risk in children, adolescents, and adults with intellectual disabilities, using a cross-sectional study made up of 131 people (67.2% men) with mild and moderate intellectual disability. The cardiometabolic risk indicators used were: body mass index (kg/m2), neck circumference (cm), waist circumference (cm), calf circumference (cm) and waist-to-height ratio. Moderate correlations were demonstrated between the submandibular skinfold measure and the anthropometric measurements analyzed in the three age categories, showing the highest correlation (r = 0.70) between the submandibular skinfold and BMI in the adolescent group and waist-to-height ratio in adults. The implementation of the submandibular skinfold measurement is suggested as an easy, fast, and minimally invasive anthropometric measurement as part of the physical and nutritional evaluation for the assessment of cardiometabolic risk in people with intellectual disabilities

Effects of a Self-Regulated Training Program on the Repeated Power in Female College Handball Players: An Intervention Study

Several resistance training programs using conventional methodologies have been implemented with the purpose of improving the ability to perform power actions in handball, especially during the competitive season. In contrast, methodologies based on a contemporary perspective, which considers the human being as a self-regulating biological entity, and designed specifically for female college players, are scarce. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of an eight-week resistance training program, in which the athletes were able to control the loads according to their self-perceived effort and rest on their repeated shuttle sprint and jump ability. The sample was composed of 16 female players of a handball team from the faculty of physics and mathematics sciences of a Chilean university. The RSSJA test was used to evaluate players’ conditions pre- and post-training program, and the self-perceived effort scale called OMNI-RES was used for the prediction and control of loads. Results indicated that, after the application of an eight-week resistance training program, significant improvements p ≤ 0.05 on the jump height (pre: 1836.4 W; average post: 2088.9 W) and running speed (average pre: 3.2 m/s; average post: 4.0 m/s) were obtained, as well as a significant reduction in the loss of power and speed between each set of the applied test