Bone morphology and physical characteristics of the pro-cyclist hip joint.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the radiographic findings for the hip joint and hip range of motion in professional cyclists, and to determine their bone morphology and physical characteristics. The effects of physical characteristics on athletic performance were examined in terms of metabolic efficiency using simulation analysis. METHODS: We performed a case-control research study on 22 hips in 11 male professional cyclists (average age 28.5, height 1.73 m, weight 77.6 kg). Thirty hips in 15 healthy male volunteers were selected as controls. As radiographic evaluations, acetabular dysplasia was assessed on standardized radiographs. During physical evaluations, the hip range of motion was examined. We used simulation analysis to investigate the metabolic efficiency in the different cycling forms. RESULTS: The radiographic evaluations showed a significant difference in the incidence of acetabular dysplasia (p = 0.01): 59% (13/22 hips) in the pro-cyclist group versus 10% (3/30 hips) in the control group. The physical evaluations revealed significant differences in the hip internal rotation angle (p = 0.01), with greater ranges of internal rotation in the pro-cyclist group versus the control group. The simulation analyses showed that metabolism was reduced in the cycling form with hip internal rotation, especially in the lower extremities. CONCLUSIONS: Pro-cyclists showed a high frequency of acetabular dysplasia and superior hip internal rotation. According to the cycling model analyses, hip internal rotation allowed pedaling with reduced metabolic power.

Impact of spinal surgery on locomotive syndrome in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis in clinical decision limit stage 3: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Locomotive syndrome (LS) is characterized by reduced mobility. Clinical decision limit (CDL) stage 3 in LS indicates physical frailty. Lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS) is one of the causes of LS, for which lumbar surgery is considered to improve the CDL stage. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of lumbar surgery and independent factors for improving the CDL stage in patients with LSS. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at our University Hospital. A total of 157 patients aged ≥ 65 years with LSS underwent lumbar surgery. The 25-Question Geriatric Locomotive Function scale (GLFS-25) was used to test for LS, and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) was used to evaluate functional ability. Lower limb pain was evaluated using a visual analog scale. Patients with at least one improvement in the CDL stage following lumbar surgery were included in the improvement group. Differences in lower limb pain intensity between the groups were evaluated using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine correlations between Δ lower limb pain and Δ GLFS-25. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with improvement in LS. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with improved CDL stage was 45.1% (improvement/non-improvement: 32/39). Δ Lower limb pain was significantly reduced in the improvement group compared with that in the non-improvement group (51.0 [36.3-71.0] vs 40.0 [4.0-53.5]; p = 0.0107). Δ GLFS-25 was significantly correlated with Δ lower limb pain (r = 0.3774, p = 0.0031). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that TUG and age were significantly associated with improvement in LS (odds ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval: 1.07-1.47). CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar surgery effectively improved the CDL stage in patients with LSS. In addition, TUG was an independent factor associated with improvement in the CDL.

Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation During Walking on Pain Sensitivity in Women With Obesity With Knee Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the extent to which pain sensitivity is altered in women with obesity with frequent knee symptoms who walk with either a hybrid training system (HTS) that provides antagonist muscle electrical stimulation vs sensory transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial. SETTING: University-based fitness center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight women (N=28) with obesity, aged 40-70 years, with daily knee symptoms. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to 12 weeks of biweekly 30-minute walking exercise with either HTS (HTSW group) or sensory TENS (control group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at the more symptomatic knee (local PPT) and PPT at the ipsilateral pain-free wrist (remote PPT). RESULTS: After adjustment for preintervention values and body mass index (BMI), there was a statistically significant improvement in local PPT in the HTSW group compared with the control group (P=.039). After adjustment for pretraining value, age, and BMI, changes in remote PPT when comparing groups did not reach statistical significance, although the HTS group tended to demonstrate increased remote PPT (P=.052) compared with the control group. Moreover, after adjustment for pretraining value, knee pain, and quality of life, comparing groups did not reach statistical significance, although the HTS group tended to demonstrate decreased knee pain (P=.069) compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Augmentation of walking exercise with HTS was more effective than application of sensory TENS in improving local pain sensitivity at the knee but not at the wrist in women with obesity with frequent knee symptoms.

The impact of sarcopenia on low back pain and quality of life in patients with osteoporosis.

PURPOSE: Osteoporosis combined with sarcopenia contributes to a high risk of falling, fracture, and even mortality. However, sarcopenia's impact on low back pain and quality of life (QOL) in patients with osteoporosis is still unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate low back pain and QOL in osteoporosis patients with sarcopenia. METHODS: We assessed 100 ambulatory patients who came to our hospital for osteoporosis treatment. Low back pain was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) with 100 being an extreme amount of pain and 0 no pain. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) score was used to assess QOL after adjustment for age, history of vertebral fracture, and adult spinal deformity. Differences in low back pain intensity assessed by VAS between groups were evaluated by the Willcoxon rank-sum test. Covariance analysis was used to assess QOL. All data are expressed as either median, interquartile range, or average, standard error. RESULTS: Patients were classified into the sarcopenia group (n = 32) and the non-sarcopenia group (n = 68). Low back pain intensity assessed by VAS was significantly higher in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group (33.0 [0-46.6] vs. 8.5 [0-40.0]; p < 0.05). The subscales of the JOABPEQ for low back pain were significantly lower in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group (65.0 ± 4.63 vs. 84.0 ± 3.1; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, sarcopenia affected low back pain and QOL in ambulatory patients with osteoporosis. Sarcopenia may exacerbate low back pain and QOL.

The effect of rotator cuff physical exercise combined with electrically stimulated antagonist on shoulder rotator cuff strength.

BACKGROUND: An elastic band (EB) is generally used with a low load for rotator cuff physical exercise, but the resulting increase in muscle strength is insufficient. We assessed the efficacy on external rotator muscle strength of the shoulder joint; of a hybrid training system (HTS) that resists the motion of a volitionally contracting agonist muscle using the force generated by its electrically stimulated antagonist vs. general rotator cuff exercise with EB. METHODS: Twenty healthy men with no shoulder joint disorders were randomized to 6 weeks of triweekly 10-min rotator cuff exercise with HTS or EB in a clinical research laboratory. Isokinetic concentric external rotator muscle strength at angular velocities of 60°/s and 180°/s (CON60, CON180, respectively) and isokinetic eccentric external rotator muscle strength at an angular velocity of 60°/s (ECC60) were measured as rotator cuff function before and after 6 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: There were no significant intergroup differences in baseline characteristics. There were statistically significant differences (p = 0.0358, p = 0.0213, respectively) in the increase in CON180 (mean ± SD) and ECC60 between the HTS group (Δ6.0 ± 6.0Nm, p = 0.015; Δ7.5 ± 4.7Nm p = 0.0007, respectively) and the EB group (Δ0.3 ± 5.2Nm, p = 0.8589; Δ1.8 ± 5.3 Nm p = 0.3133, respectively). There was a trend toward CON60 increasing in the HTS group (Δ4.7 ± 6.5Nm, p = 0.0494) which was greater than in the control group (Δ-0.9 ± 6.3Nm, p = 0.6637) (inter-group, p = 0.0677). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the conclusion that HTS is more effective for increasing external rotator muscle strength more effectively than EB. HTS would be useful for rotator cuff physical exercise.

Effects of a low-intensity resistance exercise program on serum miR-630, miR-5703, and Fractalkine/CX3CL1 expressions in subjects with No exercise habits: A preliminary study.

AIMS: Exercise is effective for the prevention of liver cancer. Exercise exerts biological effects through the regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) and cytokines/myokines. We aimed to investigate the effects of low-intensity resistance exercise on serum miRNA and cytokine/myokine expressions in subjects with no exercise habits. METHODS: We enrolled seven male subjects with no exercise habits in this prospective before-after study. All subjects performed a low-intensity resistance exercise program (three metabolic equivalents, approximately 20 min/session). Serum miRNA expressions were evaluated using microarrays. We performed Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs before and after exercise. Serum cytokine/myokine expressions were evaluated using a multiplex panel. RESULTS: All subjects completed the exercise program with no adverse events. In the microarray analysis, seven miRNAs showed a significant change between before and after exercise. Of these, microRNA (miR)-630 and miR-5703 showed a >1.5-fold increase (miR-630: 40.7 vs. 69.3 signal intensity, p = 0.0133; miR-5703: 30.7 vs. 55.9 signal intensity, p = 0.0051). KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that miR-630- and miR-5703-related genes were enriched in 37 and 5 pathways, including transforming growth factor-beta and Wnt signaling pathways, respectively. In the multiplex analysis, 12 cytokines/myokines showed significant alteration after exercise compared to before exercise. Of these, fractalkine/CX3CL1 showed the most significant up-regulation by exercise (94.5 vs. 109.1 pg/ml, p = 0.0017). CONCLUSIONS: A low-intensity resistance exercise program was associated with upregulation of serum miR-630, miR-5703, and fractalkine/CX3CL1 expressions in subjects with no exercise habits. Thus, even low-intensity exercise may alter miRNA and cytokine/myokine expressions in humans.

Patient-reported outcomes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A narrative review of Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire-non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide and one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation. Moreover, patients with NAFLD frequently complain of non-specific symptoms including fatigue, abdominal discomfort, as well as anxiety, and NAFLD is reported to affect patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Thus, for clarifying the total burden of NAFLD, it is crucial to assess all associated outcomes, including not only clinical and economic outcomes but also PROs. PROs are thought to reflect what is happening in one's daily life and is an important way patients and health-care professionals communicate. There are various instruments for the assessment of PROs. Recently, a NAFLD/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-specific instrument called "Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ)-NAFLD/NASH" has been developed. CLDQ-NAFLD/NASH comprises six domains: (i) abdominal symptoms, (ii) activity/energy, (iii) emotional health, (iv) fatigue, (v) systemic symptoms, and (vi) worry. CLDQ-NAFLD/NASH has demonstrated excellent internal consistency, face validity, content validity, and test-retest reliability. It has been sufficiently validated in two international phase 3 clinical trials. In this review, we summarize features of various instruments for assessing PROs by focusing on CLDQ-NAFLD/NASH. We also examine the validity of CLDQ-NAFLD/NASH in Japanese patients and alterations in CLDQ-NAFLD/NASH score in Japanese patients with significant hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, we discuss the utility of CLDQ-NAFLD/NASH in phase 3 clinical trials and in a real-world clinical setting.

Electrical Stimulation of the Antagonist Muscle During Cycling Exercise Interval Training Improves Oxygen Uptake and Muscle Strength.

ABSTRACT: Hashida, R, Takano, Y, Matsuse, H, Kudo, M, Bekki, M, Omoto, M, Nago, T, Kawaguchi, T, Torimura, T, and Shiba, N. Electrical stimulation of the antagonist muscle during cycling exercise interval training improves oxygen uptake and muscle strength. J Strength Cond Res 35(1): 111-117, 2021-A hybrid training system (HTS) is a resistance exercise method that combines voluntary concentric muscle contractions and electrically stimulated eccentric muscle contractions. We devised an exercise technique using HTS on cycle ergometer (HCE). The purpose of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory function and muscle strength when cycling exercise is combined with electrical stimulation over an extended period. Twenty-nine healthy young men were divided into an HCE group (n = 14) and a volitional cycle ergometer (VCE alone) group (n = 15). All subjects performed 30-minute cycling exercise interval training sessions 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The V̇o2peak of both groups significantly increased compared with the pretraining period (HCE group: from 31.3 ± 4.4 [ml·kg-1·min-1] pretraining to 37.6 ± 6.7 [ml·kg-1·min-1] post-training [p = 0.0024] and VCE group: from 34.0 ± 7.1 [ml·kg-1·min-1] pretraining to 38.4 ± 8.2 [ml·kg-1·min-1] [p = 0.0057]). After the training, there was no significant difference of changes in V̇o2peak between the HCE and the VCE groups (p = 0.7107). In the VCE group, the maximal isokinetic torque of knee extension (60°·s-1) post-training did not significantly increase compared with the pretraining period (VCE group: from 2.4 ± 0.5 [N·m·kg-1] pretraining to 2.5 ± 0.4 [N·m·kg-1] [p = 0.4543]). By contrast, in the HCE group, the maximal isokinetic torque of knee extension (60°·s-1) post-training significantly increased compared with pretraining period (HCE group: from 2.5 ± 0.3 [N·m·kg-1] pretraining to 2.8 ± 0.3 [N·m·kg-1] [p < 0.0001]). The change in knee extension torque was significantly greater for the HCE group than for the VCE group (p = 0.0307). In conclusion, cardiopulmonary function and knee extension strength were improved by the use of HCE.

Clinical utility of the Liver Frailty Index for predicting muscle atrophy in chronic liver disease patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: Muscle atrophy is a prognostic factor for patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Liver Frailty Index (LFI) is a simple physical function test; however, an association between LFI and muscle mass remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the utility of LFI for predicting muscle atrophy in CLD patients with HCC. METHODS: We enrolled 138 CLD patients with HCC (aged 77 years, female/male 34.8%/65.2%). Muscle mass was assessed by skeletal muscle index, and patients were classified into the muscle atrophy group (n = 109) or the non-muscle atrophy group (n = 29). Physical frailty was assessed by LFI. The optimal cut-off value of LFI for predicting muscle atrophy was identified by receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: In the muscle atrophy group, the prevalence of pre-frail/frail was significantly higher than the non-muscle atrophy group (87.2% vs. 58.6%, P = 0.0005). In the logistic regression analysis, being female and pre-frail/frail were identified as independent factors associated with muscle atrophy (pre-frail/frail; OR 3.601, 95% CI 1.381-9.400, P = 0.0088). In patients with normal grip strength, 71.1% of patients were pre-frail/frail, in which 82.8% of patients showed muscle atrophy. Receiver operating characteristic statistics provided an area under the curve of 0.74, and an LFI cut-off value of 2.94 for predicting muscle atrophy (sensitivity 88.06%, specificity 52.17%, accuracy 77.91%). CONCLUSIONS: We showed that pre-frail/frail was an independent factor for muscle atrophy in CLD patients with HCC. Furthermore, LFI predicted muscle atrophy with high sensitivity, even in patients with normal grip strength. Thus, LFI might be a useful screening tool for muscle atrophy in CLD patients with HCC.

Hybrid Training System Improves Insulin Resistance in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Insulin resistance is associated with the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Insulin resistance is regulated by various cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory myokine, and selenoprotein P (SeP), a liver-derived secretory hepatokine. High levels of IL-6 and/or SeP have been shown to contribute to insulin resistance, and exercise is a first-line therapy for NAFLD. We have developed a hybrid training system (HTS): a neuromuscular electrical stimulation device to enhance exercise results. We aimed to investigate the effects of HTS on insulin resistance as well as serum IL-6 and SeP in patients with NAFLD. This is a randomized, single-blind (assessor), controlled trial. Subjects with NAFLD walked on a treadmill with or without HTS (9 subjects each) for 30 minutes three times a week for six weeks (HTS vs. control group; median age 45 vs. 45; male/female 5/4 vs. 6/3). We examined subjects before the first session and at the end of the final session. Serum SeP levels were measured by ELISA which measures the fragment of SeP. In the HTS group, HOMA-IR values were significantly reduced compared to the control group (Δ-0.71 vs. Δ0.05; P < 0.05). IL-6 and SeP levels in serum were also significantly reduced compared to that of the control group (IL-6; Δ-0.6 vs. Δ0.29 pg/mL; P < 0.05, SeP; Δ-1288.5 vs. Δ-435.4 ng/mL; P < 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, we propose that HTS improves insulin resistance by reducing serum IL-6 and SeP levels in patients with NAFLD.

Slow walking speed overlapped with low handgrip strength in chronic liver disease patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: Walking speed and grip strength are parameters of muscle function; however, evaluating walking speed is not always available in clinical practice. We aimed to investigate the impact of walking speed on the evaluation of muscle dysfunction in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We enrolled 107 consecutive CLD patients with HCC in this study (age 76 years [range 60-92 years]; female/male 39/68; body mass index 22.9 [range 20.0-25.3]; chronic hepatitis/liver cirrhosis 25/82). Muscle dysfunction was evaluated using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria (grip strength or walking speed) and the Japan Society of Hepatology criteria (grip strength). A correlation between walking speed and skeletal muscle index was evaluated. Independent factors for slow walking speed were evaluated using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between walking speed and skeletal muscle index (r = 0.14, P = 0.16). For both the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia and Japan Society of Hepatology criteria, 33.6% of all patients were classified as having muscle dysfunction. All patients with slow walking speed (4.7% of all patients) also showed low handgrip strength. The logistic regression analysis identified grip strength as an independent factor for slow walking speed (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.432-0.838; P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: No difference was seen in the prevalence of muscle dysfunction between the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia and Japan Society of Hepatology criteria in CLD patients with HCC. Furthermore, all patients with slow walking speed also showed low handgrip strength. Thus, for the evaluation of muscle dysfunction, grip strength might be a suitable proxy for walking speed in CLD patients with HCC.

Effects of in-hospital exercise on sarcopenia in hepatoma patients who underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Sarcopenia is a prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. HCC patients who underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) are at a risk of muscle atrophy. We aimed to investigate the effects of in-hospital exercise on muscle mass and factors associated with muscle hypertrophy in HCC patients who underwent TACE. METHODS: We enrolled 209 HCC patients who underwent TACE. Patients were classified into either an exercise (n = 102) or control (n = 107) group. In the exercise group, patients were treated with in-hospital exercise (median 2.5 metabolic equivalents/20-40 min/day). The effects of exercise on muscle mass were evaluated by changes in skeletal muscle index (ΔSMI) between before and after TACE. Factors associated with an increase in SMI were analyzed by logistic regression and decision-tree analyses. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum albumin and bilirubin levels between the two groups. ΔSMI was significantly higher in the exercise group than in the control group (0.28 cm2 /m2 vs -1.11 cm2 /m2 , P = 0.0029). In the logistic regression analysis, exercise was an independent factor for an increase in SMI (hazard ratio 2.13; 95% confidence interval 1.215-3.846; P = 0.0085). Moreover, the decision-tree analysis showed that exercise was the initial divergence variable for an increase in SMI (the ratio of increased SMI: 53% in the exercise group vs 36% in the control group). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital exercises increased muscle mass in HCC patients who underwent TACE. In addition, exercise was an independent factor for muscle hypertrophy. Thus, in-hospital exercise may prevent sarcopenia in HCC patients who underwent TACE.

Hybrid training system-induced myokine secretion in healthy men.

The hybrid training system (HTS) is a special and compact system for effective skeletal muscle training by a combined application of volitional and electrical muscle contraction. Lower limbs' muscle training using HTS has been reported to increase not only muscle strength but also plasma interleukin-6 levels; however, little is known in other cytokines. In this study, we measured 52 cytokines and creatine phosphokinase-MM in the serum of 16 healthy men before and after lower limbs' muscle training by the knee flexion and extension using HTS. Skeletal muscle volume-corrected serum concentrations of cutaneous T-cell-attracting chemokine, erythropoietin, and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand increased immediately after the training. These increased cytokines have been reported to play important roles in wound healing, neuroprotection, and cardiovascular protection.

Aerobic vs. resistance exercise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Exercise is a first-line therapy for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We sought to: 1) summarize effective aerobic and resistance exercise protocols for NAFLD; and 2) compare the effects and energy consumption of aerobic and resistance exercises. METHODS: A literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopas to January 28, 2016. From a total of 95 articles, 23 studies including 24 aerobic and 7 resistance exercise protocols were selected for the summary of exercise protocols. Twelve articles including 13 aerobic and 4 resistance exercise protocols were selected for the comparative analysis. RESULTS: For aerobic exercise, the median effective protocol was 4.8 metabolic equivalents (METs) for 40min/session, 3times/week for 12weeks. For resistance exercise, the median effective protocol was 3.5 METs for 45min/session, 3times/week for 12weeks. Aerobic and resistance exercise improved hepatic steatosis. No significant difference was seen in the duration, frequency, or period of exercise between the two exercise groups; however, %VO2max and energy consumption were significantly lower in the resistance than in the aerobic group (50% [45-98] vs. 28% [28-28], p=0.0034; 11,064 [6394-21,087] vs. 6470 [4104-12,310] kcal/total period, p=0.0475). CONCLUSIONS: Resistance exercise improves NAFLD with less energy consumption. Thus, resistance exercise may be more feasible than aerobic exercise for NAFLD patients with poor cardiorespiratory fitness or for those who cannot tolerate or participate in aerobic exercise. These data may indicate a possible link between resistance exercise and lipid metabolism in the liver. LAY SUMMARY: Both aerobic and resistance exercise reduce hepatic steatosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with similar frequency, duration, and period of exercise (40-45min/session 3times/week for 12weeks); however, the two forms of exercise have different characteristics. Intensity and energy consumption were significantly lower for resistance than for aerobic exercise. Resistance exercise may be more feasible than aerobic exercise for NAFLD patients with poor cardiorespiratory fitness or for those who cannot tolerate or participate in aerobic exercise.

Effects of in-hospital exercise on liver function, physical ability, and muscle mass during treatment of hepatoma in patients with chronic liver disease.

AIMS: Sarcopenia and physical disability assessed by a 6-min walking test (6MWT) are associated with poor prognosis of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). However, CLD patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mostly rest in bed during hospitalization. We aimed to investigate the effects of therapeutic exercise on liver function, 6MWT, and skeletal muscle mass during HCC treatment in patients with CLD. METHODS: We enrolled 54 CLD patients with HCC (median age, 76 years). During hospitalization, patients performed a combination of stretching, strength training, balance practice, and endurance training (2.5-4 metabolic equivalents/20 min/day). Primary outcomes were changes from admission to discharge in Child-Pugh class, 6MWT, and skeletal muscle mass. Furthermore, factors associated with skeletal muscle atrophy were analyzed by a decision-tree analysis. RESULTS: Exercise did not worsen the Child-Pugh class. On discharge, the 6MWT ambulation distance was maintained, and heart rate variability during the 6MWT was significantly improved compared to that on admission (area under the curve 50.3 vs. 39.0 arbitrary units; P = 0.0027). Although skeletal muscle mass was significantly reduced (20.6 kg vs. 20.0 kg, P = 0.0301), branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) treatment was identified as the most distinguishable factor for minimizing muscle mass atrophy (-1.1 kg vs. -0.5 kg/hospitalization). CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic exercise improved physical ability without worsening liver function during hospitalization for HCC treatment in CLD patients. Although exercise did not completely prevent skeletal muscle atrophy, BCAA treatment minimized the skeletal muscle atrophy. Thus, exercise with BCAA treatment may be important for the management of CLD patients with HCC.

Walking Exercise Simultaneously Combined With Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation of Antagonists Resistance Improved Muscle Strength, Physical Function, and Knee Pain in Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Single-Arm Study.

Matsuse, H, Hashida, R, Takano, Y, Omoto, M, Nago, T, Bekki, M, and Shiba, N. Walking exercise simultaneously combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation of antagonists resistance improved muscle strength, physical function, and knee pain in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a single-arm study. J Strength Cond Res 31(1): 171-180, 2017-A hybrid training system (HTS) was developed as a way to combine the application of electrical stimulation and voluntary contraction. Moreover, we developed a novel training method using HTS during walking (HTSW). This study was designed to evaluate the effect of HTSW on muscle strength, physical function, and knee pain in knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Eleven subjects (age: 74.0 ± 8.5 years) participated and performed HTSW for 30 minutes 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Isokinetic knee extension/knee flexion torque, muscle volume, one-leg standing test (OST), functional reach test, 10-m maximum gait speed, timed up and go test, 6-minute walking test, knee pain using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Japan Knee Osteoarthritis Measure (JKOM) were assessed. Knee extension torque significantly increased from 1.02 ± 0.29 N·m·kg pretraining to 1.23 ± 0.33 N·m·kg posttraining (P < 0.01, ES = 0.68). Knee flexion torque significantly increased from 0.65 ± 0.18 N·m·kg pretraining to 0.78 ± 0.17 N·m·kg posttraining (p < 0.01). Muscle volume significantly increased from 9.00 ± 2.84 mm pretraining to 10.37 ± 3.16 mm at the end of training (p ≤ 0.05). All the physical functions except OST were significantly improved. The JKOM score improved from 26.7 ± 18.30 pretraining to 17.2 ± 14.02 at the end of training (p < 0.01). The VAS score significantly decreased from 35.4 ± 22.59 pretraining to 16.5 ± 19.73 at the end of training (p ≤ 0.05). Hybrid training system during walking may be an effective training method for the treatment of people with KOA.

Cycling Exercise with Electrical Stimulation of Antagonist Muscles Increases Plasma Growth Hormone and IL-6.

Performing aerobics and resistance exercise at exactly the same time has not been available although combining both types of exercise in one training program has been attempted. The hybrid training system (HTS) is a resistance exercise that combines voluntary concentric muscle contractions with electrically stimulated eccentric muscle contractions. We devised an exercise technique using HTS on a cycle ergometer (HCE). Growth hormone (GH) and lactate are indicators of adequate training intensity. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) reflects enhancing lipid metabolism. The purpose of this study was to show that HCE provides sufficient exercise to stimulate the secretion of GH, lactate and IL-6. We compared an HCE test with cycle ergometer alone (CE). Ten healthy male subjects performed HCE and CE tests for 30 minutes each. The workload of both tests was set the same at 40% of each subject's peak oxygen uptake. For HCE, 2-minute HTS and 1-minute rest intervals were repeated. GH, lactate, and IL-6 were evaluated before and immediately after exercise, and at 15, 30 and 60 minutes. GH and lactate increased immediately after HCE. Moreover, the degree of the increases in GH after HCE (0 and 15 minutes) was higher than that after CE. IL-6 increased after HCE at 30 min, and the rate of change was higher than for CE. These results showed that HCE was more efficient in stimulating acute increases in GH, lactate and IL-6 than CE at the same workload. We may be able to combine electrically stimulated resistance exercise with aerobic exercise using HCE.

Low serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor may predict poor response to cardiac rehabilitation in patients with cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with skeletal muscle energy metabolism and that BDNF is a predictor of mortality in heart failure patients. However, little is known about the relationship between BDNF and cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Therefore, this study retrospectively investigated the effects of baseline serum BDNF levels on the CR-induced exercise capacity improvement in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: We assigned 99 CVD patients (mean age 71±12 years, male = 60) to Low, Middle, and High groups based on the tertiles of baseline BDNF levels. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was done using supervised bicycle ergometer twice before and after 3 weeks of CR. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) followed by post-hoc analysis using Tukey's HSD test was conducted to assess the multivariate associations between baseline BDNF levels categorized by BDNF tertiles (as independent variable) and %increases in AT and peak VO2 after 3-week CR (as dependent variables) after adjustment for age and gender (as covariates), as a main statistical analysis of the present study. RESULTS: The higher the baseline BDNF levels, the better nutritional status evaluated by the CONUT score (p<0.0001). Baseline anaerobic threshold (AT) and peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) were similar among the three groups. ANCOVA followed by post-hoc analysis revealed that age- and gender-adjusted %increases in peak VO2 after 3-week CR were positively associated with baseline BDNF levels (p = 0.0239) and Low BDNF group showed significantly lower %increase in peak VO2 than High BDNF group (p = 0.0197). Significant association was not found between baseline BDNF and %increase in AT (p = 0.1379). CONCLUSIONS: Low baseline BDNF levels were associated with malnutrition in CVD patients. A positive association between baseline BDNF levels and CR-induced increases in peak VO2 was found. It was suggested that CVD patients with low baseline BDNF levels may be poor responders to CR.

Impact of Energy Malnutrition on Exacerbation Hospitalization in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Retrospective Observational Study.

Nutritional disorders in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with cachexia, sarcopenia, and weight loss. In particular, weight loss is a prognostic factor in COPD independent of pulmonary function, and energy malnutrition is a contributing factor. Frequent exacerbation hospitalization is also a prognostic factor for COPD patients. The impact of energy malnutrition on adverse events such as exacerbation hospitalization is unknown, and this study aimed to investigate that. We included 163 male subjects with COPD. Respiratory quotient (RQ), an index of energy malnutrition, was calculated by expiratory gas analysis using an indirect calorimeter. RQ <0.85 was categorized as the energy malnutrition group. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the hospitalization avoidance rate between the with and without energy malnutrition groups. Independent factors associated with exacerbation hospitalization were evaluated by Cox regression analysis. We finally analyzed data from 56 selected subjects (median age: 74 y). The exacerbation hospitalization rate was significantly higher in the energy malnutrition group. Fifty percent of the energy malnutrition group was hospitalized for an exacerbation, and the median hospitalization avoidance time was 701 d. In Cox regression analysis (adjusted for age, BMI, mMRC dyspnea scale score, %FEV1, and 6-min walk test), energy malnutrition was an independent factor associated with exacerbation hospitalization (HR 4.14, 95% CI 1.13-15.1, p=0.03). Energy malnutrition may be the risk factor for exacerbation hospitalization. Energy malnutrition may be an early nutritional disorder and early detection and intervention may reduce exacerbation hospitalizations.