The impact of different step rate threshold methods on physical activity intensity in older adults

BackgroundOlder adults benefit most from engaging in higher-intensity physical activity, which is often determined using step rate thresholds. Fixed step rate thresholds that correspond to moderate (MPA) and vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) have been developed for heuristic activity promotion. The activPAL monitor uses step rate thresholds to determine activity intensity. Stepping thresholds may also vary based on body mass index (BMI) or aerobic fitness level in older adults. Despite the various thresholds used in the literature, it is unclear whether they produce similar outcomes.Research QuestionHow does time spent in physical activity intensities compare between different step rate thresholds in older adults?MethodsThirty-eight participants (24♀; 67 ± 4 years; BMI: 26.6 ± 4.4 kg/m²) wore an activPAL monitor 24-hr/day for up to 7-d (total: 205-d). Aerobic fitness (V̇O₂max: 23 ± 8 ml/kg/min) was determined via indirect calorimetry during a maximal, graded cycling test. Time spent in each intensity category (light-physical-activity [LPA], MPA, VPA) was determined using the fixed (MPA/VPA) 100/130, 110/130, and activPAL step rate thresholds (74/212), as well as BMI-adjusted absolute (108.5 ± 2.5/134.0 ± 4.8) and BMI-adjusted relative (40%/60% V̇O₂max; 111.4 ± 14.7/132.0 ± 19.0) cut-offs. Times spent in each intensity category were compared between methods.ResultsThe activPAL and 100/130 thresholds yielded less LPA and more MPA than all other methods. The activPAL had no time spent in VPA at all. The BMI-adjusted absolute and relative thresholds produced statistically equivalent time in LPA and MPA (via equivalence testing), but not VPA. No two methods yielded similar time spent in LPA, MPA, or VPA.SignificanceThe choice of step rate threshold has a major impact on physical activity intensity outcomes in older adults. Inherently, strategies that adjust for older adults’ body size and/or aerobic fitness level provide a more individualized data processing strategy than fixed thresholds that assume the same threshold for all older adults     

Diagnostic sensitivity of electrophysiology and ultrasonography in ulnar neuropathies of different severity

ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying clinical severity in 135 consecutive patients.MethodsClinical severity of ulnar neuropathy was graded on a 4 point scale from very mild (symptoms only) to severe (marked atrophy of intrinsic hand muscles). Sensitivity and localization ability of electrophysiology and nerve ultrasound were assessed for each point of the scale.ResultsUltrasound had higher sensitivity than electrophysiology in clinically very mild (20% and 3% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) and mild (62% and 47% for ultrasound and electrophysiology, respectively) neuropathies, had greater localizing ability in axonal ulnar neuropathies, and identified nerve hypermobility.Ultrasound nerve cross-sectional area had strong positive correlation with both clinical and electrophysiological severity scores, but with significant overlap across the severity groups.ConclusionThe diagnostic work-up of ulnar neuropathies was improved by using both electrophysiology and ultrasound at all levels of clinical severity. Ultrasound increased the diagnostic yield in very mild and mild neuropathies, localized all the ulnar neuropathies with abnormal non-localizing electrophysiology and identified nerve hypermobility.SignificanceThis is the first detailed analysis of the diagnostic performance of electrophysiology and ultrasound in ulnar neuropathies of varying severity.     

Maximal oxygen uptake,anthropometry and physical activity in a randomly selected sample of 8 and 13 year old children in Sweden

Summary Maximal oxygen uptake was assessed in 101 randomly selected 8 and 13 year old children. In both age groups a significantly higher aerobic capacity was found in boys than in girls, both in absolute terms and when maximal oxygen uptake was related to body weight, lean body mass and lean leg volume. Among girls, maximal oxygen uptake per kg body weight was lower in the older than in the younger (p<0.05). Estimation of spontaneous physical activity, by means of a questionnaire and the actometry method, indicated that physical activity was greater in children with a high than in those with a low aerobic capacity.     

儿童最大吸氧量与体格发育关系的研究

本文报告了４３６名１０－１９岁男女儿童少年最大吸氧量与休格发育的关系。相关分析可见，ＶＯ２ｍａｘ，ＶＯ２ｍａｘ／身高及ＶＯ２ｍａｘ／最大心率与身高，体重及瘦体重等体格发育变量有高度正相关；ＶＯ２ｍａｘ／体重与各体格变量，男童呈较低的正相关，妇童为较低的负相关；ＶＯ２ｍａｘ／ＬＢＭ与各体格变量，男女童均无相关。按身高，体重及ＬＢＭ分组，将男女儿童分别为发育较好（第１）组及较差（第２）组，比较两组ＶＯ     

应用最大似然法鉴别诊断周围型肺癌、肺错构瘤和结核球的初步研究

目的:探讨应用最大似然法鉴别周围性肺癌、肺错构瘤及结核球3种孤立性肺结节(SPN)的诊断价值。方法:对150例经临床和手术病理证实的SPN(周围性肺癌、肺错构瘤、结核球各50例)的HRCT影像学征象进行分类统计分析,运用最大似然判别法,将其各种征象转化为记分值,以数值的大小来判定肺结节所属的类型。结果:最大似然法对周围型肺癌、肺错构瘤及结核球的诊断正确率分别为86%、92%及90%,平均诊断正确率为89.3%,高于常规阅片法的82%,但两组间差异无统计学意义(χ2=2.434,P>0.05)。最能提示为肺癌的征象依次为空泡征、分叶征、支气管充气征和血管集束征;最能提示为肺错构瘤的征象依次为脂肪、边缘清楚及钙化;最能提示为结核球的征象依次为空洞、卫星灶、钙化及胸膜凹陷征。结论:最大似然法对常见SPN的鉴别诊断正确率有所提高,是一种辅助影像学诊断的有价值的方法。     

哒嗪酮酸类化合物的合成及其抗惊活性的研究

以ａ－酮戊二酸与水合肼与水合肼为原始原料合成了１５个Ｎ－（３’－磷酸二乙酯丙基）－１，６－二氢－６－氧－３－哒嗪酰胺类化合物，并对它们进行了最大电休克发作（ＭＥＳ）实验，结果表明其中４个化合物表现出中等强度的抗惊活性。     

Tension-free vaginal tape for the treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence with intrinsic sphincteric deficiency

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure in women with urodynamic stress incontinence diagnosed as having intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD). The combination of a maximal urethral closure pressure <20 cm H₂O and a Valsalva leak point pressure <60 cm H₂O was considered as diagnostic of ISD. Subjects with detrusor overactivity on preoperative urodynamics were excluded. A total of 35 patients with both low closure pressure and leak point pressure were enrolled. Bladder perforation occurred in three (8.6%) cases. Postoperative urinary voiding difficulties occurred in nine (25.7%) women. Two patients underwent surgical detension of the tape, with complete resolution of urinary retention and no relapse of incontinence. Women with postoperative voiding dysfunction had a significantly lower detrusorial pressure at the peak flow on preoperative urodynamics compared to those who voided efficiently after TVT. The mean (range) follow-up time was 12.5 months (3–36). The objective cure rate for stress incontinence was 91.4%. Two of the three (66%) patients in whom the TVT procedure failed had a fixed urethra. De novo urge incontinence was found in five (14.3%) patients.     

Frontal versus transcorneal stimulation to induce maximal electroshock seizures or kindling in mice and rats

Frontal stimulation, i.e. electrical stimulation where electrodes are pressed on the skin of the intact frontal skull of mice or rats, may represent a more humane alternative to the widely used transcorneal stimulation to induce electroshock seizures. The aim of this work was to directly compare transcorneal and frontal stimulation in eliciting maximal electroshock-induced seizures (MES) in mice and the anticonvulsant effect of carbamazepine (CBZ) and phenytoin (PHT) on thus produced seizures. In addition, we stimulated mice and rats repeatedly via transcorneal and frontal electrodes to see whether kindling is produced by this procedure. Two electroshock tests were used in mice, i.e. maximal electroshock seizure threshold (MEST) test and MES generated by supramaximal stimulation (50 mA). Frontal stimulation resulted in lower convulsive threshold than in the case of corneal stimulation. Both CBZ and PHT produced dose-dependent increases in seizure threshold for both sites of stimulation, i.e. transcorneal and frontal. As regards type of electrodes, higher doses of PHT were required to increase seizure threshold in the case of frontal than transcorneal stimulation. Supramaximal stimulation (50 mA) yielded comparable ED₅₀ values regardless of the site of stimulation. Furthermore, once-daily stimulation of mice, regardless of the placement of electrodes, did not induce any changes in convulsive threshold. We also attempted to kindle mice and rats via corneal and frontal electrodes by repetitive electrical stimulation using currents which initially did not produce generalized clonic seizures. Mice were stimulated once daily for 2 s with 3 mA (corneal electrodes) or 2 mA (frontal electrodes) and rats were stimulated twice daily for 4 s at 8 mA (corneal electrodes) or 5 mA (frontal electrodes). With corneal stimulation in rats there was a clear progression of kindling development which was not the same in nature when compared with corneally-stimulated mice. Frontal stimulation did not produce kindling. Moreover, corneal stimulation was better tolerated by rats, while in mice high mortality was seen after either method of current delivery. Our data indicate that frontal electrodes can be used as an alternative to transcorneal stimulation to produce MES by supramaximal or threshold current intensities as screening procedures in antiepileptic drug (AED) development. Nevertheless, this type of stimulation cannot be used to produce minimal electroshock seizures and seems not to be useful to produce kindling in rats and mice.     

Cardiovascular responses in paraplegic subjects during arm exercise

Summary The purpose of this study was to examine cardiovascular responses during arm exercise in paraplegics compared to a well-matched control group. A group of 11 male paraplegics (P) with complete spinal cord-lesions between T6 and T12 and 11 male control subjects (C), matched for physical activity, sport participation and age performed maximal arm-cranking exercise and submaximal exercise at 20%, 40% and 6070 of the maximal load for each individual. Cardiac output (Q _c) was determined by the CO₂ rebreathing method. Maximal oxygen uptake was significantly lower and maximal heart rate (f _c) was sigificantly higher in P compared to C. At the same oxygen uptakes no significant differences were observed inQ _c between P and C; however, stroke volume (SV) was significantly lower andf _c significantly higher in P than in C. The lower SV in P could be explained by an impaired redistribution of blood and, therefore, a reduced ventricular filling pressure, due to pooling of venous blood caused by inactivity of the skeletal muscle pump in the legs and lack of sympathetic vasoconstriction below the lesion. In conclusion, in P maximal performance appears to have been limited by a smaller active muscle mass and a lower SV despite the higher _c,max. During submaximal exercise, however, this lower SV was compensated for by a higherf _c and, thus at the same submaximal oxygen uptake,Q _c was similar to that in the control group.