Frowning and Jaw Clenching Muscle Activity Reflects the Perception of Effort During Incremental Workload Cycling

The present study aimed to investigate whether facial electromyography (EMG) recordings reflect the perception of effort and primary active lower limb muscle activity during incremental workload cycling. The effects of exercise intensity on EMG activity of the corrugator supercilii (CS), masseter and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles, heart rate (HR) and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were investigated, and the correlations among these parameters were determined. Eighteen males and 15 females performed continuous incremental workload cycling exercise until exhaustion. CS, masseter and VL muscle activities were continuously recorded using EMG during exercise. HR was also continuously monitored during the test. During the final 30 s of each stage of cycle ergometer exercise, participants were asked to report their feeling of exertion on the adult OMNI-Cycle RPE. HR and EMG activity of the facial muscles and the primary active lower limb muscle were strongly correlated with RPE; they increased with power output. Furthermore, facial muscle activity increased significantly during high-intensity exercise. Masseter muscle activity was strongly and positively correlated with HR, RPE and VL activity. The present investigation supports the view that facial EMG activity reflects the perception of effort. The jaw clenching facial expression can be considered an important factor for improving the reporting of perceived effort during high-intensity exercise in males and females.

Key points

• Frowning and jaw clenching muscle activity reflects the perception of effort during incremental workload cycling.
• EMG activity of the masseter muscle was strongly and positively correlated with RPE, HR and lower limb EMG activity during incremental workload cycling.
• The jaw clenching facial expression can be considered an important factor for estimating the intensity of effort.

Key words: Perceived exertion, facial electromyography, masseter muscle, corrugator supercilii muscle, incremental exercise testing     

Comparison of three-dimensional anthropometric body surface scanning to waist-hip ratio and body mass index in correlation with metabolic risk factors

In this study, we used a three-dimensional (3D) body scanner to evaluate subjects with central obesity. These measurements were correlated with blood pressure, blood glucose, lipid, and uric acid levels. We randomly selected 1,204 subjects who visited the Department of Health Management at Chang Gung Medical Center in Linkou. The health index (HI) was calculated as HI = (body weight x 2 x waist profile area)/[body height(2) x (breast profile area + hip profile area)]. Among the 1,204 subjects, body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30 kg/m(2) was found in 8.3% of the subjects. Pearson correlation coefficient studies revealed that HI was a better index for correlating metabolic parameters than BMI and waist-to-hips girth ratio. Of the 1,204 subjects, 9.5% (114) had diabetes mellitus, according to American Diabetes Association criteria. The percentages of men and women with total cholesterol greater than or equal to 245 mg/dL were almost the same (11.0% vs. 11.1%). Elevated low-density lipoprotein (> or =130 mg/dL) was found in 36.9% (444) of subjects. In conclusion, HI as determined by 3D scanning, is another method to predict these metabolic abnormalities. Further prospective long-term follow-up study is needed to determine the relationships of 3D body scanning data and HI to blood pressure, blood glucose, lipid, and uric acid levels.     

Correlation of the dysmetabolic risk factors with different anthropometric measurements

Metabolic syndrome is a common disorder in Taiwan. For this study 431 subjects were randomly selected from visitors to the Department of Health Management. Blood pressure, blood glucose, lipid, uric acid levels and anthropometric measurements with immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and leptin levels were all correlated. We randomly selected 431 subjects who visited the Department of Health Management. Whole body three-dimensional (3-D) laser scanner scans were employed for the anthropometric measurements. The metabolic index (MI) was designed using anthropometric parameters. Of the 431 subjects, 50% had displayed a body mass index (BMI) equal to or exceeding 25 kg/m2. Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis revealed that MI constituted another index for correlating metabolic parameters by comparing MI with BMI and waist circumference to hip circumference ratio (WHR). Most data related to metabolic syndrome showed statistically significant differences between high and low IRI groups, comprising uric acid, total cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, LDL, Chol/HDL ratio, and LDL/HDL ratio. Both IRI and leptin revealed statistical association with BMI, WHR, waist cross section area to hip cross section area ratio (WHAR), and MI in the study. Hypercholesterolemia appeared in 14.6% of the subjects. Elevated low-density lipoprotein (> or = 130 mg/dL) affected 36.9% of the subjects. In conclusion, MI calculated from 3-D body scanner correlated with many important metabolic risk factors and associated with clinical disorders like DM, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia and hypertension.     

Surface anthropometric indices in obesity-related metabolic diseases and cancers

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancers such as colon cancer (CCa), prostate cancer (PCa) and breast cancer (BCa) have been recognized as obesity-initiated diseases. The development of obesity can cause changes in metabolic and hormonal conditions, which can result in the storage of excess energy in different forms in the human body. Existing anthropometric data are useful in the prognosis of these diseases. Although frequently studied, there is disagreement on the applicability, reliability and trends of weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and relevant indices. WC is generally accepted as a key marker in CVD and CCa risk assessment whereas more evidence of the usefulness of WC-CVD, WC-PCa and WC-BCa correlations is needed. The body mass index, which has been widely used as a determinant of obesity, has a strong connection with CCa risk in men and young women, but an inconsistent connection with BCa. Cross-referencing measurements, with indices such as the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), enhances the association with diseases, e.g. WHtR-CVD and WHR-CCa, and connections are strong. This idea is further applied to multiple referencing. For example, the WHtR/WHR has been studied and found highly correlated with the MetS risk in Asia. In addition, latent issues (such as tools or techniques for surface anthropometric measurement), which could affect the prognosis of diseases, have been discussed. To this end, three-dimensional technology is suggested as a reliable tool for various anthropometric data collection and analysis in preventive medicine.     

Significance and association of serum uric acid (UA) levels with components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the elderly

Information concerning the association of serum UA levels and the development of MS in the Chinese aging population is limited. The aims of this study were to investigate age-related metabolic disorders and analyze the relationship between serum UA levels and the components of MS in the elderly. This cross-sectional observational study was performed in subjects from the Department of Health Examination, including 1182 subjects aged ≧65 years; among these subjects, 528 were women (mean age, 70.7±4.8 years) and 654 were men (mean age, 71.4±5.3 years). All the subjects underwent three-dimensional (3-D) whole-body scanning for accurate anthropometric measurements. Data analyses were performed using SPSS software. Results: MS, hyperuricemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus (DM) were present in 53.9%, 40.6%, 33.1%, and 30.1% of the subjects, respectively. Univariate statistical analysis showed that age, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, high-density lipoprotein levels, triglyceride levels, WBC count, and related anthropometric indices differed significantly in subjects categorized according to serum UA levels. In conclusion, our study showed that a high percentage of elderly subjects had hyperuricemia. The results showed an association between serum UA levels and cardiovascular risk factors, and this finding warrants concern with regard to the aging population.     

Immunization of chickens with an agonistic monoclonal anti-chicken CD40 antibody-hapten complex: rapid and robust IgG response induced by a single subcutaneous injection

Producing diagnostic antibodies in chicken egg yolk represents an alternate animal system that offers many advantages including high productivity at low cost. Despite being an excellent counterpart to mammalian antibodies, chicken IgG from yolk still represents an underused resource. The potential of agonistic monoclonal anti-CD40 antibodies (mAb) as a powerful immunological adjuvant has been demonstrated in mammals, but not in chickens. We recently reported an agonistic anti-chicken CD40 mAb (designated mAb 2C5) and showed that it may have potential as an immunological adjuvant. In this study, we examined the efficacy of targeting a short peptide to chicken CD40 [expressed by the antigen-presenting cells (APCs)] in enhancing an effective IgG response in chickens. For this purpose, an immune complex consisting of one streptavidin molecule, two directionally biotinylated mAb 2C5 molecules, and two biotinylated peptide molecules was produced. Chickens were immunized subcutaneously with doses of this complex ranging from 10 to 90 μg per injection once, and relative quantification of the peptide-specific IgG response showed that the mAb 2C5-based complex was able to elicit a strong IgG response as early as four days post-immunization. This demonstrates that CD40-targeting antigen to chicken APCs can significantly enhance antibody responses and induce immunoglobulin isotype-switching. This immunization strategy holds promise for rapid production of hapten-specific IgG in chickens.     

The Relationship between Serum Uric Acid Level and Metabolic Syndrome: Differences by Sex and Age in Taiwanese

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hyperuricemia are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, findings regarding the relationship between serum uric acid (UA) level and components of MetS have been inconsistent. This study was performed to explore the potential value of UA level as a marker of MetS among male and female Chinese of different ages.

Methods

A total of 5896 subjects (2960 females and 2936 males) were recruited from the Department of Health Management at the Chang Gung Medical Center. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum UA value >7.0 mg/dL for males or >6.0 mg/dL for females. MetS was defined according to the criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III, as modified for Chinese subjects. Serum UA was used to differentiate MetS and to calculate epidemiological indices by means of discriminate analysis and logistic regression.

Results

The sensitivity and specificity of serum UA concentration as a marker of MetS ranged from 55.2% to 61.4% and 61.9% to 68.4%, respectively. Subjects with high UA had a higher risk of MetS, with odds ratios ranging from 1.23 to 1.82 (P < 0.01). A positive correlation between serum UA and MetS was observed in both sexes. Serum UA and the occurrence of MetS rose with increasing age in females; in males, however, UA values did not vary with age.

Conclusions

Serum UA is more closely associated with MetS in females than in males. High UA among middle-aged women may predict the development of MetS.Key words: serum uric acid, hyperuricemia, metabolic syndrome, discriminate analysis, cardiovascular risk factor     

A novel intermittent negative air pressure device ameliorates obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in adults

Purpose

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have difficulties in compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and the treatment outcome is heterogeneous. We proposed a proof-of-concept study of a novel intermittent negative air pressure (iNAP®) device for physicians to apply on patients who have failed or refused to use CPAP.

Methods

The iNAP® device retains the tongue and the soft palate in a forward position to decrease airway obstruction. A full nightly usage with the device was evaluated with polysomnography. Subgrouping by baseline apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and body mass index (BMI) with different treatment response criteria was applied to characterize the responder group of this novel device.

Results

Thirty-five patients were enrolled: age 41.9?±?12.2 years (mean?±?standard deviation), BMI 26.6?±?4.3 kg/m², AHI 41.4?±?24.3 events/h, and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) 40.9?±?24.4 events/h at baseline. AHI and ODI were significantly decreased (p?<?0.001) by the device. Patients with moderate OSAS, with baseline AHI between 15 to 30 events/h, achieved 64% response rate; and non-obese patients, with BMI below 25 kg/m², achieved 57% response rate, with response rate defined as 50% reduction in AHI from baseline and treated AHI lower than 20. There were minimal side effects reported.

Conclusions

In a proof-of-concept study, the device attained response to treatment as defined, in more than half of the moderate and non-obese OSAS patients, with minimal side effects.

     

A rating of perceived exertion scale using facial expressions for conveying exercise intensity for children and young adults

Objectives

To design a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale using facial expressions and assessed the validity of the scale for both children and young adults.