Obesity does not alter vascular function and handgrip exercise hemodynamics in middle-aged patients with hypertension.

Lifestyle modification including exercise training is often the first line of defense in the treatment of obesity and hypertension (HTN), however, little is known regarding how these potentially compounding disease states impact vasodilatory and hemodynamic responses at baseline and exercise. Therefore, this study sought to compare the impact of obesity on vascular function and hemodynamics at baseline and during handgrip (HG) exercise among individuals with HTN. Non-obese (13M/7F, 56 ± 16 yr, 25 ± 4 kg/m2) and obese (17M/4F, 50 ± 7 yr, 35 ± 4 kg/m2) middle-aged individuals with HTN forwent antihypertensive medication use for ≥2 wk before assessment of vascular function by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and exercise hemodynamics during progressive HG exercise at 15-30-45% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). FMD was not different between Non-Obese (4.1 ± 1.7%) and Obese (5.2 ± 1.9%, P = 0.11). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was elevated by ∼15% during the supine baseline and during HG exercise in the obese group. The blood flow response to HG exercise at 30% and 45% MVC was ∼20% greater (P < 0.05) in the obese group but not different after normalizing for the higher, albeit, nonsignificant differences in workloads (MVC: obese: 24 ± 5 kg, non-obese: 21 ± 5 kg, P = 0.11). Vascular conductance and the brachial artery shear-induced vasodilatory response during HG were not different between groups (P > 0.05). Taken together, despite elevated SBP during HG exercise, obesity does not lead to additional impairments in vascular function and peripheral exercising hemodynamics in patients with HTN. Obesity may not be a contraindication when prescribing exercise for the treatment of HTN among middle-aged adults, however, the elevated SBP should be appropriately monitored.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study examined vascular function and handgrip exercise hemodynamics in obese and nonobese individuals with hypertension. Obesity, when combined with hypertension, was neither associated with additional vascular function impairments at baseline nor peripheral hemodynamics and vasodilation during exercise compared with nonobese hypertension. Interestingly, systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were greater in the obese group during supine baseline and exercise. These findings should not be ignored and may be particularly important for rehabilitation strategies.

Probiotics Supplements Improve the Sarcopenia-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults with Age-Related Muscle Decline.

A pathological increase in intestinal leak is implicated in age-associated muscle loss, termed sarcopenia, and reduced sarcopenia-related quality-of-life (SarQoL). However, the potential therapies remain elusive. We investigated the effects of probiotic supplementation on sarcopenia and SarQoL in geriatric older adults. We randomized sarcopenic men into placebo (age = 71.4 ± 3.9 years, n = 63) and probiotic (age = 73 ± 4.1 years, n = 60) groups for 16 weeks. The probiotic used was one capsule daily of Vivomix 112 billion for 16 weeks. We measured sarcopenia parameters of handgrip strength (HGS) and skeletal mass index (SMI), plasma zonulin (marker of the intestinal leak), and SarQoL using a targeted questionnaire. Probiotics improved the SarQoL scores for locomotion, functionality, and activities of daily living and prevented a decline in cumulative SarQoL observed in the placebo group (all p < 0.05). Probiotic supplementation also reduced plasma zonulin and marker of systemic bacterial load. These changes were accompanied by an increase in HGS and maintenance of gait speed in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations of cumulative SarQoL scores with plasma zonulin and HGS in the probiotic group. Collectively, probiotics improved SarQoL and HGS by repairing pathological intestinal leak. Future studies may further dissect the relation between intestinal leak and SarQoL in older adults taking probiotics.

Higher Plasma Copper Exposure was Adversely Associated with Skeletal Muscle Indicators in Chinese Children Aged 6-9 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study.

It is unclear whether blood concentrations of copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) influence skeletal muscle mass and strength in children. We aimed to explore the associations between plasma Cu, Mg, and Ca and skeletal muscle indicators in Chinese children. A total of 452 children aged 6 to 9 years old were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Whole body lean soft tissue mass (WLSTM), trunk lean soft tissue mass (TLSTM), and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Parameters of these indicators divided by Height2 (Ht2) and Weight (Wt) at the corresponding sites were calculated. Handgrip strength was also measured. Parameters of skeletal muscle indicators and handgrip strength that were below the sex-specific 20th percentile were considered low levels. Plasma concentrations of Cu, Mg, and Ca were measured using ICP-MS. After adjusting for several potential covariates, among the total subjects, for every one standard deviation increase in Cu concentrations, there was a 0.939% decrease in WLSTM/Wt, a 0.415% decrease in TLSTM/Wt, and a 0.47% decrease in ASMM/Wt. For every one standard deviation increase in Cu concentrations, there was a higher odd (OR: 1.36, 95%CI 1.06, 1.75) of low WLSTM/Wt, TLSTM/Wt (OR: 1.33, 95%CI 1.03, 1.71), ASMM/Ht2 (OR: 1.32, 95%CI 1.02, 1.69), as well as ASMM/Wt (OR: 1.56, 95%CI 1.23, 1.99). No significant associations were found between Mg, Ca, and most skeletal muscle indicators. Higher plasma Cu concentrations were adversely associated with skeletal muscle indicators at multiple sites in Chinese children.

Physical activity-induced alterations of the gut microbiota are BMI dependent.

Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of chronic metabolic disease including obesity. Increasing physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal health and to be associated with a distinct gut microbiota composition in trained athletes. However, the impact of PA on the gut microbiota is inconclusive for individuals performing PA in their day-to-day life. This study examined the role of PA and hand-grip strength on gut microbiome composition in middle-aged adults (40-65 years, n = 350) with normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2 ) and overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2 ) body mass index (BMI). PA was recorded using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and hand-grip strength was measured using a dynamometer. Serum samples were assessed for lipidomics while DNA was extracted from fecal samples for microbiome analysis. Overweight participants showed a higher concentration of triacylglycerols, and lower concentrations of cholesteryl esters, sphingomyelin, and lyso-phosphotidylcholine lipids (p < .05) compared with those with normal BMI. Additionally, overweight participants had a lower abundance of the Oscillibacter genus (p < .05). The impact of PA duration on the gut microbiome was BMI dependent. In normal but not overweight participants, high PA duration showed greater relative abundance of commensal taxa such as Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria phyla, as well as Collinsella and Prevotella genera (p < .05). Furthermore, in males with normal BMI, a stronger grip strength was associated with a higher relative abundance of Faecalibacterium and F. prausnitzii (p < .05) compared with lower grip strength. Taken together, data suggest that BMI plays a significant role in modeling PA-induced changes in gut microbiota.

Longitudinal association between soft drink consumption and handgrip strength in adults: a prospective analysis from the Tianjin Chronic Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) cohort study.

Soft drink consumption has become a highly controversial public health issue. Given the pattern of consumption in China, sugar-sweetened beverage is the main type of soft drink consumed. Due to containing high levels of fructose, a soft drink may have a deleterious effect on handgrip strength (HGS) due to oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance. However, few studies show an association between soft drink consumption and HGS in adults. We aimed to investigate the association between soft drink consumption and longitudinal changes in HGS among a Chinese adult population. A longitudinal population-based cohort study (5-year follow-up, median: 3·66 years) was conducted in Tianjin, China. A total of 11 125 participants (56·7 % men) were enrolled. HGS was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. Soft drink consumption (mainly sugar-containing carbonated beverages) was measured at baseline using a validated FFQ. ANCOVA was used to evaluate the association between soft drink consumption and annual change in HGS or weight-adjusted HGS. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, the least square means (95 % CI) of annual change in HGS across soft drink consumption frequencies were -0·70 (-2·49, 1·09) for rarely drinks, -0·82 (-2·62, 0·97) for < 1 cup/week and -0·86 (-2·66, 0·93) for ≥ 1 cup/week (Pfor trend < 0·05). Likewise, a similar association was observed between soft drink consumption and annual change in weight-adjusted HGS. The results indicate that higher soft drink consumption was associated with faster HGS decline in Chinese adults.

Association between nut consumption and low muscle strength among Korean adults.

Nuts are an important component of a healthy diet, but little has been known about their effects on muscle health. Therefore, this study examined the association between nut consumption and low muscle strength among Korean adults. This cross-sectional analysis was conducted using single 24-h recall and handgrip strength data from 3962 younger adults 19-39 years, 6921 middle-aged adults 40-64 years and 3961 older adults ≥65 years participated in the seventh cycle (2016-2018) of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Low muscle strength was defined as handgrip strength <28 kg for men and <18 kg for women. Sex-specific OR were obtained for younger, middle-aged and older adults using multivariable logistic regression analyses. About one in four Korean adults were consuming nuts (using a culinary definition) with peanut being the most frequently consumed type. After adjustment for age, BMI, total energy intake, household income, alcohol consumption, smoking, resistance exercise, medical history and dietary protein intake, nut consumption was associated with the lower risk of low muscle strength among older adults ≥65 years (men: OR 0·55, 95 % CI (0·38, 0·79); women: OR 0·69, 95 % CI (0·51, 0·93)); however, this association was not observed among younger adults 19-39 years or middle-aged adults 40-64 years. Our results suggest that consuming nuts might be beneficial in lowering the risk of low muscle strength among Korean older adults.

Comparisons between dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioimpedance devices for appendicular lean mass and muscle quality in Hispanic adults.

The purpose of this study was to compare single- and multi-frequency bioimpedance (BIA) devices against dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for appendicular lean mass (ALM) and muscle quality index (MQI) metrics in Hispanic adults. One hundred thirty-one Hispanic adults (18-55 years) participated in this study. ALM was measured with single-frequency bioimpedance analysis (SFBIA), multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis (MFBIA) and DXA. ALMTOTAL (left arm + right arm + left leg + right leg) and ALMARMS (left arm + right arm) were computed for all three devices. Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured using a dynamometer. The average HGS was used for all MQI models (highest left hand + highest right hand)/2. MQIARMS was defined as the ratio between HGS and ALMARMS. MQITOTAL was established as the ratio between HGS and ALMTOTAL. SFBIA and MFBIA had strong correlations with DXA for all ALM and MQI metrics (Lin's concordance correlation coefficient values ranged from 0·86 (MQIMFBIA-ARMS) to 0·97 (Arms LMSFBIA); all P < 0·001). Equivalence testing varied between methods (e.g. SFBIA v. DXA) when examining the different metrics (i.e. ALMTOTAL, ALMARMS, MQITOTAL and MQIARMS). MQIARMS was the only metric that did not differ from the line of identity and had no proportional bias when comparing all the devices against each other. The current study findings demonstrate good overall agreement between SFBIA, MFBIA and DXA for ALMTOTAL and ALMARMS in a Hispanic population. However, SFBIA and MFBIA have better agreement with DXA when used to compute MQIARMS than MQITOTAL.

Association between handgrip strength and metabolic syndrome in relation to gender and adiposity among middle aged and older Saudi populations.

AIM: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and handgrip strength (HGS) with respect to sex and adiposity in Saudi men (n = 287) and women (n = 268). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Anthropometry, body composition, HGS, and blood biochemistry were measured. The average age of the study population was 57.65 ± 9.3 years (men = 55.1 ± 9.3 years, women = 60.4 ± 9.3 years). We report that HGS/body mass index (BMI), HGS/weight, and HGS/fat (%) were significantly higher in controls than in patients with MetS in men but not in women. According to the ROC analysis, relative HGS (RHGS) was higher than HGS alone in the association with MetS, which was significant for men (p < 0.01). At lower quartiles of HGS, the probability of MetS was higher in women, and the same was found in men in the lower quartiles of HGS/%Fat. Multinomial regression revealed significant associations between age and adiposity and MetS in men and HGS in women. Additionally, the linear regression of age, HGS, and weight exhibited significant associations between HGS with WC in both sexes. CONCLUSION: A higher risk of MetS in the lower quartiles of HGS was found in women, and adiposity moderated the relationship between HGS and MetS in men.

Association of dietary patterns with sarcopenia in adults aged 50 years and older.

PURPOSE: Although numerous studies have investigated the impact of dietary factors on the prevention of decreased muscle mass and function, limited research has examined the relationship between dietary patterns and sarcopenia. This study aimed to assess the associations between dietary patterns, and sarcopenia, muscle strength, and mass in adults following a Mediterranean diet residing in southern Italian cities. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized data from an existing database, comprising 528 individuals aged 50 years or older who underwent health-screening tests at the Clinical Nutrition Unit of the "R.Dulbecco" University Hospital. Strength was assessed through handgrip strength, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass was estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Dietary intake information was collected through a food frequency questionnaire linked to the MetaDieta 3.0.1 nutrient composition database. Principal Component Analysis, a statistical technique identifying underlying relationships among different nutrients, was employed to determine dietary patterns. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the odds ratio for sarcopenia or low handgrip strength in relation to the lowest tertile of dietary pattern adherence compared to the highest adherence. RESULTS: The participants had a mean age of 61 ± 8 years. Four dietary patterns were identified, with only the Western and Mediterranean patterns showing correlations with handgrip strength and appendicular skeletal muscle mass. However, only the Mediterranean pattern exhibited a correlation with sarcopenia (r = - 0.17, p = 0.02). The highest tertile of adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern demonstrated significantly higher handgrip strength compared to the lowest tertile (III Tertile: 28.3 ± 0.5 kg vs I Tertile: 26.3 ± 0.5 kg; p = 0.01). Furthermore, even after adjustment, the highest tertile of adherence to the Mediterranean pattern showed a significantly lower prevalence of sarcopenia than the lowest adherence tertile (4% vs 16%, p = 0.04). The lowest adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern was associated with increased odds of having low muscle strength (OR = 2.38; p = 0.03; 95%CI = 1.05-5.37) and sarcopenia (OR = 9.69; p = 0.0295; %CI = 1.41-66.29). CONCLUSION: A high adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, characterized by increased consumption of legumes, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and limited amounts of meat, fish, and eggs, is positively associated with handgrip strength and appendicular skeletal muscle mass. The highest adherence to this dietary model is associated with the lowest odds of low muscle strength and sarcopenia. Despite the changes brought about by urbanization in southern Italy compared to the past, our findings continue to affirm the superior benefits of the Mediterranean diet in postponing the onset of frailty among older adults when compared to other dietary patterns that are rich in animal foods.

Predictive value of Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria combined with handgrip strength for postoperative outcomes in overweight colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria are increasingly used to assess the nutritional status of hospitalized patients and predict the prognosis of patients with malignant tumors; however, malnutrition is often overlooked in overweight individuals, such as colorectal cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the GLIM criteria combined with handgrip strength (HGS) in overweight colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled overweight patients who underwent radical resection for colorectal cancer at two centers between 2015 and 2021. Malnutrition was diagnosed based on the GLIM criteria. Skeletal muscle mass was assessed using the skeletal muscle index, and skeletal muscle function was assessed using the HGS test. The risk factors for complications and survival were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 850 patients were enrolled in the study. The incidence of malnutrition in the GLIM and HGS-GLIM groups was 12.4% and 6.4%, respectively. The incidence of total complications in both the malnutrition groups was significantly higher than that in the control group. Patients in the HGS-GLIM-malnutrition group had worse overall survival and disease-free survival. HGS-GLIM was independently associated with postoperative complications (P = 0.046), overall survival (P = 0.037), and disease-free survival (P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: The GLIM criteria combined with the HGS test is an effective tool for diagnosing malnutrition. Particularly, these modalities are applicable in overweight colorectal cancer patients. Compared with the standard GLIM criteria, this tool has a better predictive value for postoperative complications and long-term survival.

Impact of increased protein intake in older adults: a 12-week double-blind randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests health-promoting properties of increased protein intake. There is increased interest in plant protein but a dearth of information in relation to its impact on muscle function. The objective of the present work was to examine the impact of intake of different types of proteins on muscle functional parameters including handgrip strength, biomarkers of metabolic health, sleep quality and quality of life in a group of older adults. METHODS: Healthy men and women aged 50 years and older entered a double-blinded, randomised, controlled nutritional intervention study with three parallel arms: high plant protein, high dairy protein and low protein. Participants consumed once daily a ready-to-mix shake (containing 20 g of protein in high protein groups) for 12 weeks. Changes in handgrip and leg strength, body composition, metabolic health, quality of life and sleep quality were analysed by linear mixed models in an intention-to-treat approach. RESULTS: Eligible participants (n = 171) were randomly assigned to the groups (plant: n = 60, dairy: n = 56, low protein: n = 55) and 141 completed the study. Handgrip strength increased after the intervention (Ptime = 0.038), with no significant difference between the groups. There was no significant difference between groups for any other health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In a population of older adults, increasing protein intake by 20 g daily for 12 weeks (whether plant-based or dairy-based) did not result in significant differences in muscle function, body composition, metabolic health, sleep quality or quality of life, compared with the low protein group.

A leaky gut contributes to reduced sarcopenia-related quality of life (SarQoL) in geriatric older adults.

PURPOSE: The sarcopenia quality-of-life (SarQoL) questionnaire is designed to evaluate the quality of life of sarcopenic patients. A pathological increase in intestinal permeability leads to several systemic diseases, but its contribution to SarQoL is unknown. METHODS: We recruited controls (n = 84, age = 74.6 ± 4.9 years) and sarcopenic (n = 55, age = 76.1 ± 4.2 years) men for validating and adapting a Pashto version of SarQoL. We measured the scores for seven domains of SarQoL, body composition, and handgrip strength (HGS). We also measured plasma zonulin as a marker of increased intestinal permeability. RESULTS: The Pashto SarQoL exhibited adequate discriminative ability, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, without exhibiting the floor and ceiling effect. Sarcopenic patients had higher plasma zonulin and lower scores on SarQoL domains for physical and mental health, locomotion, body composition, functionality, activities of daily living, leisure, and fear, and cumulative SarQoL scores than controls. Plasma zonulin exhibited significant coefficients of determination with Pashto SarQoL domains for locomotion (r2 = 0.217), functionality (r2 = 0.101), activities of daily living (r2 = 0.302), and cumulative SarQoL scores (r2 = 0.168). We also found high efficacies of zonulin in diagnosing low scores for functionality (AUC = 0.785, 95% C.I = 0.708-0.863), activities of daily living (AUC = 0.785, 95% C.I = 0.708-0.863), and cumulative SarQoL scores (AUC = 0.821, 95% C.I = 0.751-0.891). CONCLUSION: Altogether, SarQoL appears reliable in measuring the quality of life in sarcopenic patients. A leaky gut has a potential contribution to reduced SarQoL in sarcopenia.

Body surface scan anthropometrics are associated with grip strength in the general population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Body shape and anthropometrics are well-known risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and mortality. Hand-grip strength (HGS) is also a meaningful marker of health and a promising predictor of CVD and mortality. There is a lack of studies that have systematically investigated associations between body shape and anthropometrics with HGS. In a population-based study, we investigated if anthropometric markers derived from 3D body scanning are related to HGS. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used the data of 1,599 individuals aged 36 to 93 years, who participated in the Study of Health in Pomerania. A total of 87 anthropometric markers, determined by a 3D body scanner, were included in the analysis. Anthropometric measurements were standardized and used as exposure variables. HGS was measured with a hand dynamometer and used as outcome. Sex-stratified linear regression models adjusted for age and height were used to relate standardized anthropometrics and HGS. Anthropometric markers were ranked according to -log-p-values. In men, left and right forearm circumference, left arm length to neck (C7), left forearm length, and forearm-fingertip length were most strongly related to HGS. In women, right forearm circumference, forearm-fingertip length, shoulder breadth, left forearm circumference, and right wrist circumference showed the most significant associations with HGS. The final prediction models contained 13 anthropometric markers in males (R2=0.54) and eight anthropometric markers in females (R2=0.37). CONCLUSIONS: The identified parameters may help estimate HGS in the clinical setting. However, studies in clinical settings are essential to validating our findings.

Association between handgrip strength and depressive symptoms in patients undergoing hemodialysis: a cross-sectional study from a single Chinese center.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) was unknown. Therefore, we aimed to clarify this association in a cohort of patients. METHODS: HGS was used as a representative indicator of muscle strength and was measured with a handheld dynamometer. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the self-reported Patient Health Questionnaire-9. A multivariable logistic regression model and restricted cubic spline analysis were used to assess the relationship between HGS and depression. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in our study was 34% in 568 Chinese patients undergoing HD. Compared with patients in the lowest tertiles of absolute and weighted HGS, patients in the highest tertiles of HGS had an approximately 59% lower [odds ratio (OR) = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.24-0.68; OR = 0.41, 95%CI = (0.24-0.69)] prevalence of depressive symptoms after multivariate adjustments. Besides, the risk of depression in hemodialysis patients decreased by 33% (OR = 0.67, 95%CI = 0.53-0.85) and 32% (OR = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.54-0.85) for each standard deviation increase in absolute HGS and weighted HGS, respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms decreased with both increasing absolute HGS and weighted HGS after multivariate adjustments (p for trend < 0.05). Furthermore, a linear dose-response relationship was observed between absolute HGS and weighted HGS and the prevalence of depressive symptoms (pnonlinearity>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that lower handgrip strength, a simple and modifiable parameter, is associated with a higher prevalence of depression in Chinese patients undergoing HD. Considering that depression is often unrecognized or underdiagnosed in HD patients, lowered muscle strength should be an important indicator and incentive for medical staff to screen for depression.

Responses to Valsalva's maneuver in spinal cord injury do not broadly relate to vasoconstrictor capacity.

PURPOSE: A blood pressure stabilization during late phase II of Valsalva's maneuver may be utilized to confirm sympathetic vasoconstrictor control after a spinal cord injury. This study investigated whether Valsalva response was predictive of hemodynamics during tilt or isometric handgrip. METHODS: Presence/absence of Valsalva response was compared to heart rate, mean arterial pressure, leg blood flow, and vascular resistance during head-up tilt and isometric handgrip to fatigue in 14 adults with spinal cord injury from C7 to T12 and 14 controls. Statistics were performed with two-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA), post hoc t-tests for between-group comparisons, and Mann-Whitney U tests for within-group. RESULTS: In total, six participants with spinal cord injury lacked a blood pressure stabilization for Valsalva's maneuver. However, this was not related to vasoconstrictor responses during the other tests. The groups had similar heart rate and blood pressure changes during tilt, though leg blood flow decreases and vascular resistance increases tended to be smaller at 20° tilt in those with spinal cord injury (p = 0.07 and p = 0.11, respectively). Participants with spinal cord injury had lower heart rates and markedly smaller blood pressure increases during handgrip (both p < 0.05). There were no group differences in leg blood flow, but those with spinal cord injury demonstrated a blunted vascular resistance increase by the final 10% of the handgrip (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Valsalva response was not consistent with hemodynamics during other stimuli, but some individuals evidence increases in sub-lesional vascular resistance to isometric handgrip comparable to controls, suggesting a sympathoexcitatory stimulus may be critical to provoke hemodynamic responses after spinal cord injury.

Is the Pentagon-Copying Task More than a Cognitive Feature? Associations with Handgrip Strength, Gait Speed, and Frailty in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: The pentagon copy is a sensitive item to the prediction of cognitive decline and dementia. Cognitive and physical/motor decline are able to accelerate the evolution of each other by representing a common pathway toward frailty. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to investigate the association of the pentagon-copying task with physical and motor performances and with frailty, in a sample of older adults. METHOD: This observational, cross-sectional, and single-center study was conducted in a Geriatric Outpatients Clinic. Subjects aged ≥65 years were consecutively recruited, on a voluntary basis. Subjects with positive psychiatric history, with a severe neurocognitive disorder, with severe limitations on the upper limbs and/or reporting sensory deficits were excluded. The pentagon-copying task was scored from the Mini-Mental State Examination; the Qualitative Scoring Pentagon Test (QSPT) was also used. Handgrip strength was measured; a 46-item Frailty Index was calculated; in subjects with autonomous walking, a 4-meter gait speed was also measured. RESULTS: The study included 253 subjects (mean age 80.59 ± 6.89 years). Subjects making a wrong pentagon copy showed greater odds of exhibiting a strength deficit (OR = 3.57; p = 0.001) and of being frail (OR = 4.80; p < 0.001), and exhibited a slower gait. The QSTP score was significantly correlated with handgrip strength (r = 0.388) and gait speed (r = 0.188) and inversely correlated with frailty (r = -0.428); the QSTP score was significantly different between the quartiles of handgrip strength and frailty. CONCLUSIONS: The pentagon-copying task might also be confirmed as a quick screening tool of aging trajectories toward frailty by jointly evaluating cognitive and physical performances.

A Reciprocal Relationship between Formal and Informal Social Engagement and Handgrip Strength of Older Adults in South Korea.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between social engagement and handgrip strength has been underexplored. Further, no prior research examined a plausible reciprocal association between them. METHODS: The study employed the seven waves of data (2006-2018) from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) survey (7,927 respondents, mean age: 59 years old at wave 1 [71 years old at wave 7], women: 58%). It used ML-SEM, a cross-lagged panel model with fixed effects fitted by structural equation modeling with maximum likelihood estimation. In particular, the ML-SEM examined whether a reciprocal relationship existed between formal social engagement (number of association memberships and frequency of organizational activities)/informal social engagement (frequency of contact with familiar persons) and handgrip strength (the average of the four dynamometer measurements). RESULTS: The empirical analyses identified a systematic reciprocal association between formal social engagement and handgrip strength. Specifically, formal social engagement was positively associated with handgrip strength over time (the number of association memberships standardized coefficient: 0.012*, the frequency of organizational activities standardized coefficient: 0.022***). Conversely, handgrip strength was positively related to the number of memberships (the handgrip strength standardized coefficient: 0.025*) and the frequency of organizational activities (the handgrip strength standardized coefficient: 0.042**). CONCLUSION: The study thus supports the social causation proposition that formal social engagement in and through diverse associations may be positively associated with handgrip strength. It also validates the health selection argument that handgrip strength may increase the likelihood of formal social engagement.

Respiratory Muscle Strength Is Related to Handgrip Performance in Community-Dwelling Persons Aged 80+ from the BUTTERFLY Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the association of respiratory muscle strength with sarcopenia and its indicators in the oldest old. METHODS: Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), and sarcopenia-related factors (handgrip strength and appendicular lean mass) were evaluated in a cohort of n = 286 (45.5% female) non-frail, community-dwelling persons aged 83.6 ± 3.0 years (age range 80-97 years). RESULTS: The sample presented a sarcopenia prevalence of 32.2%. Sarcopenic subjects showed comparable MIP and MEP as non-sarcopenic ones (female: MIP 43.9 ± 18.9 vs. 50.3 ± 19.5, p = 0.053; MEP 63.0 ± 23.0 vs. 69.2 ± 19.1, p = 0.067; male: MIP, 65.1 ± 24.4 vs. 64.4 ± 23.9, p = 0.433; MEP 87.7 ± 33.3 vs. 93.8 ± 30.9, p = 0.124). Statistically significant but very low associations were found between grip strength and MIP (r = 0.193 for male, p < 0.05 and r = 0.257 for female participants, p < 0.01) and MEP (r = 0.200 for male, p < 0.01 and r = 0.191 for female participants, p < 0.05). Lean mass was significantly correlated to MIP and MEP in female (r = 0.253, p < 0.01 and r = 0.343, p < 0.01, respectively), whereas this association was not found in male participants. Grip strength was the only statistically significant predictor of MEP (r2 = 0.212, p < 0.001), while MIP was independently predicted by age, male sex, and grip strength (r2 = 0.177, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral muscle strength is a statistically significant, albeit weak predictor for respiratory muscle strength in well-functioning, community-dwelling persons aged 80+. When confronted to a low grip strength, one should be aware of concomitant respiratory muscle weakness, as this is a known risk factor for atelectasis and pneumonia. Given the relatively low association with handgrip strength, respiratory muscle strength testing might be indicated.

Force and Neuromuscular Responses During a Handgrip Hold to Failure Anchored to a Moderate Perceptual Intensity in Males.

OBJECTIVES: The current study investigated performance fatigability (PF) and time course of changes in force, electromyographic amplitude (EMG AMP) and frequency (EMG MPF), and neuromuscular efficiency (NME) during a sustained, isometric, handgrip hold to failure (HTF) using the rating of perceived exertion (RPE)-Clamp Model. METHODS: Twelve males performed a handgrip HTF anchored to RPE=5. The time to task failure (Tlim), force (N), EMG AMP and MPF, and NME (normalized force/ normalized EMG AMP) were recorded. Analyses included a paired samples t-test for PF at an alpha of p<0.05, 1-way repeated measures ANOVA across time and post-hoc t-tests (p<0.0025) for force, EMG AMP and MPF, and NME responses. RESULTS: The PF (pre- to post- maximal force % decline) was 38.2±11.5%. There were decreases in responses, relative to 0% Tlim, from 40% to 100% Tlim (force), at 30%, 60%, and 100% Tlim (EMG AMP), from 10% to 100% Tlim(EMP MPF), and from 50% to 65%, and 80% to 100% Tlim (NME) (p<0.0025). CONCLUSIONS: The RPE-Clamp Model in this study demonstrated that pacing strategies may be influenced by the integration of anticipatory, feedforward, and feedback mechanisms, and provided insights into the relationship between neuromuscular and perceptual responses, and actual force generating capacity.

Associations of Facial Shape With Physical Strength and 2D:4D in a Turkish Male and Female Sample.

OBJECTIVE: Human sexual dimorphism in physical strength manifests itself in men having a greater muscle mass than women, reflecting ancestral roles in competition, protection, and provisioning. Prenatal testosterone exposure, approximated via the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), is linked to increased muscular strength in both sexes, indicating a developmental influence. Previous research has shown that both physical strength and 2D:4D have facial shape correlates, especially in men, but most studies have focused on Western populations and one trait. We therefore hypothesized a broader relationship between facial shape and both physical strength and 2D:4D. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we quantified the association between facial shape, handgrip strength (HGS), and 2D:4D in a non-Western Turkish sample (72 men, 55 women; Md = 22 y, SIR = 1.8 y) using two dimensional geometric morphometrics. Thirty-eight somatometric and 32 semi-landmarks were digitized on facial photographs taken in frontal view. Physical strength was assessed via handgrip strength (HGS), and the second digit length was divided by the fourth digit length to calculate 2D:4D. RESULTS: Both HGS and 2D:4D were significantly associated with shape in both sexes, but only in men did they explain a significant amount of facial variation. Thin-plates spline deformation grids and geometric morphometric morphs visualized the facial shape changes related to variations in handgrip strength, 2D:4D, and sexual dimorphism, enabling trait comparisons. CONCLUSION: This study contributes a comparative sample from the Middle East, which is indispensable to discern universalities from Western peculiarities. It provides evidence to better understand the biological basis of facial traits, which can potentially serve as increasingly relevant social cues in today's online and digital environments.