Prevalence and Prognostic Implication of Sarcopenia Among Patients With Stage B Heart Failure: The PAPRIKA-HF Cohort Study.

Background: The long-term prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF) remains poor. Most patients with HF are older, and multiple factors involved in geriatric syndromes are associated with worse long-term prognosis. Sarcopenia is a major component of geriatric syndrome.

Safe engagement in physical activity through pre-exercise risk assessment: an observational study at a single facility over 16 years.

Background: Regular and appropriate physical activity has health benefits; however, to ensure safety, a pre-exercise medical check based on health information is important. In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between risk classification by physicians at a health promotion facility in Japan and the occurrence of adverse events during facility use.

Methods: We evaluated 3,571 individuals, excluding those with an unknown sex, age, medical assessment of exercise limitations, and facility usage status.

Impact of time to treatment initiation on the development of cachexia and clinical outcomes in lung cancer.

Background: Pre-cancer onset of cachexia raises uncertainties regarding the optimal timing for early intervention in lung cancer patients. We aimed to examine changes in physical function, nutritional status, and cachexia incidence in patients with lung cancer from the initial visit to treatment initiation and determine the effect of these changes on lung cancer treatment.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled patients suspected of having advanced lung cancer who visited Kansai Medical University Hospital between January and February 2023 and were definitely diagnosed with the disease.

Effects of weight loss rate on myostatin and follistatin dynamics in patients with obesity.

Background: Exercise-induced cytokines involved in controlling body composition include myostatin (MST) and follistatin (FST), both of which are influenced by physical activity. This study investigated changes in body composition and physical activity during a weight loss program, as well as the impact on serum MST and FST levels at various weight loss rates.

Methods: A total of 126 patients with obesity who completed a 6-month weight loss program were divided into three groups based on weight loss rate (%): low (< 3%), middle (3-10%), and high (≥10%).

Relationships between circulating irisin levels, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiometabolic risk: a cross-sectional study in Japanese adults.

High cardiorespiratory fitness levels achieved through regular aerobic exercise are associated with reduced cardiometabolic risk. The exercise-induced myokine irisin possibly mediates these associations, but these relationships are unclear. This study aimed to clarify the relationships between circulating irisin levels, cardiorespiratory fitness levels, and cardiometabolic risk factors adjusted for sex and age.

Serum Follistatin Levels are Independently Associated with Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Obesity.

Objective: Follistatin (FST)/myostatin (MST) myokine-signaling axis is important for muscle metabolism and pathogenesis of obesity. FST, mainly secreted by skeletal muscle and liver, inhibits MST and affects skeletal muscle synthesis. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of myokines and independent predictors of serum FST levels in patients with obesity.

Effect of mastication evaluation and intervention on body composition and biochemical indices in female patients with obesity: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: A limited number of studies have evaluated the masticatory indices of individuals with obesity who only chew their food a few times and for shorter duration or who were provided with an instructional intervention. This study aimed to examine the effects of a 6-month instructional mastication intervention on the body composition and biochemical indices in female patients with obesity.

Methods: Female patients with obesity were randomly classified into a conventional treatment group (CTG; 12 individuals), which only received normal nutritional and exercise guidance, and a mastication intervention group (MIG; 16 individuals), which received an additional mastication guidance.

Personality traits and preoperative lifestyle improvement are predictors of early weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy.

Purpose: This study investigated the associations of personality traits and preoperative lifestyle improvements with early weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy.

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective study of 57 patients who underwent preoperative lifestyle intervention with a multidisciplinary team approach based on cognitive behavioral therapy before sleeve gastrectomy. All patients underwent preoperative psychological testing with the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the Tokyo University Egogram New Version II (TEG II).

Validation of Earphone-Type Sensors for Non-Invasive and Objective Swallowing Function Assessment.

Standard methods for swallowing function evaluation are videofluoroscopy (VF) and videoendoscopy, which are invasive and have test limitations. We examined the use of an earphone-type sensor to noninvasively evaluate soft palate movement in comparison with VF. Six healthy adults wore earphone sensors and swallowed barium water while being filmed by VF.

Masticatory Behaviors and Gender Differences in People with Obesity as Measured via an Earphone-Style Light-Sensor-Based Mastication Meter.

While people with obesity have been found to chew fewer times and for shorter durations, few studies have quantitatively evaluated mastication among this group. This study examined the relationship between the mastication characteristics of people with obesity and the factors correlated with obesity. To this end, 46 people with obesity and 41 healthy participants placed an earphone-style light sensor in the aperture of their outer ear.

Effect of Mobility Restrictions During the Coronavirus Disease Epidemic on Body Composition and Exercise Tolerance in Patients With Obesity: Single Institutional Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: This study investigated the effects of mobility restrictions (MRs) during the COVID-19 epidemic on physical activity, body composition, and exercise tolerance in patients with obesity.

Methods: We analyzed data of obesity patients participating in a 6-month weight loss program in February 2020, and after, when the epidemic was considered to have had some effect on outdoor activity in Osaka, Japan (MR group). MR group patients were compared to patients with obesity attending the program in 2018 and 2019 (non-MR group) who had a similar number of months as MR group.

Serum Angiopoietin-Like Protein 2 and NT-Pro BNP Levels and Their Associated Factors in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure Participating in a Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) promotes chronic inflammation and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an integral component of heart failure management and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, ANGPTL2 concentration in chronic heart failure patients undergoing CR has not been evaluated.

The relationship between changes in serum myostatin and adiponectin levels in patients with obesity undergoing a weight loss program.

Background: An effective strategy for weight loss in patients who are overweight or obese is to reduce body fat mass while maintaining skeletal muscle mass. Adiponectin and myostatin are affected through changes in body composition due to weight loss, and examining their dynamics may contribute to strategies for maintaining skeletal muscle mass through weight loss. We aimed to examine the relationships among myostatin, adiponectin, and body composition, depending on the extent of weight loss, in patients with obesity undergoing a weight loss program.

Evaluation of oxygen uptake adjusted by skeletal muscle mass in cardiovascular disease patients with type 2 diabetes.

[Purpose] We aimed to evaluate oxygen uptake adjusted by total skeletal muscle mass in patients with cardiovascular disease with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus. [Participants and Methods] The participants included 54 males ≥50 years of age without heart failure who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing during cardiac rehabilitation. We divided the participants into two groups: patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM group) and patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus (NDM group).

Improvements in exercise tolerance with an exercise intensity above the anaerobic threshold in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Anaerobic threshold (AT) from cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPX) is the standard for measuring exercise intensity among patients with cardiovascular disease in Japan. However, it remains controversial whether AT represents the safety limit for exercise intensity in patients with cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate cardiac rehabilitation (CR) efficacy and safety with exercise intensities above the AT and at a traditional AT in a randomized trial.

Association of serum adiponectin and myostatin levels with skeletal muscle in patients with obesity: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Adiponectin has been reported to be associated with lower skeletal muscle mass and skeletal strength and may be involved in skeletal muscle regulation along with myostatin. This study aims to evaluate the association between serum adiponectin and myostatin levels and identify independent factors using body composition and metabolic parameters in patients with obesity.

Methods: Overall, 148 patients (age, 45.

Prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults visiting regional medical institutions from the Kadoma Sarcopenia Study.

This study aimed to investigate risk factors for sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults visiting regional medical institutions. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 552 participants (mean age: 74.6 ± 6.

Changes in Body Composition and Whole Blood DNA Methylation Among Japanese Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Weight-Loss Program.

Objective: DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression. The obesity-related () gene is the first gene found to be associated with fat mass and obesity. However, no studies have examined the relationship between weight-loss intervention effect and methylation in obese individuals with whole blood DNA.

Association of epigenetics of the PDK4 gene in skeletal muscle and peripheral blood with exercise therapy following artificial knee arthroplasty.

Background: Although exercise is a standard treatment for postoperative osteoarthritis, interindividual differences have been reported. Epigenetic modification (DNA methylation), a factor causing interindividual differences, is altered by the environment and may affect all tissues. Performing a tissue biopsy to investigate methylation of skeletal muscle fat metabolism genes is invasive, and less invasive and convenient alternatives such as blood testing are desired.

Epigenetic mechanism controls gene activation before and after exercise therapy following artificial knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: DNA methylation is thought to play a role in exercise-induced gene expression. We aimed to examine changes in muscular strength and body composition in elderly patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis before and after artificial knee arthroplasty and exercise therapy. We aimed to confirm the relationship between DNA methylation and body composition, using the methylation rate of the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 () gene that regulates skeletal muscle and fat metabolism.

The effects of toe grip training on physical performance and cognitive function of nursing home residents.

Background: Toe grip-related training requires individuals to actively exercise muscles that are not frequently used; therefore, it may improve not only toe grip strength but also cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of toe grip-related training on predictors of physical performance and cognitive function in nursing home residents.

Methods: A total of 35 nursing home residents (35 left and 35 right feet; mean age, 82.

Relationship between Homocysteine, Folate, Vitamin B and Physical Performance in the Institutionalized Elderly.

Hyperhomocysteinemia causes various diseases including cardiovascular disease, osteoporotic fracture and dementia. Although there have been reports that hyperhomocysteinemia decreases physical performance, findings are inconsistent on the association of homocysteine, folate, vitamin B and physical performance. Considering that lower physical performance increases the risk of fall and fracture in the elderly, the effect of nutritional status on physical function must be clarified.

Association of locomotive activity with sleep latency and cognitive function of elderly patients with cardiovascular disease in the maintenance phase of cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: Because of the advanced age of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), prevention of sleep disorder and dementia is a priority for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) during their long-term care. This study aimed to investigate the association of physical activity with sleep quality and cognitive function in elderly patients with CVD in the CR maintenance phase.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter study through the Clinical Exercise Physiology Association Japan network, which included 102 elderly patients (mean age, 74±7.

Toe grip strength in middle-aged individuals as a risk factor for falls.

Background: Toe grip strength is the force of a toe on a surface. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between falls in middle-aged individuals and physical strength factors such as toe grip strength and knee extension strength.

Methods: The subjects were 194 middle-aged individuals (388 feet) who were independent in daily life, received no nursing care, and participated in a health sports event organized by a sports club.

Evaluation of a static stretching intervention on vascular endothelial function and arterial stiffness.

Purpose: Maintenance and enhancement of vascular endothelial function contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular disease and prolong a healthy life expectancy. Given the reversible nature of vascular endothelial function, interventions to improve this function might prevent arteriosclerosis. Accordingly, we studied the effects of a 6-month static stretching intervention on vascular endothelial function (reactive hyperaemia peripheral arterial tonometry index: RH-PAT index) and arterial stiffness (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity: baPWV) and investigated the reversibility of these effects after a 6-month detraining period following intervention completion.