Anthropometric Profile, Overweight/Obesity Prevalence, and Socioeconomic Impact in Moroccan Children Aged 6-12 Years Old with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

BACKGROUND: In addition to the inherent challenges of their condition, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are also susceptible to the global obesity epidemic. However, concerning the prevalence of obesity within the Moroccan ASD pediatric population, data remain scarce. METHODS: A total of 258 children (boys = 195) aged 6 to 12 years old (mean = 9.4 ± 1.4) diagnosed with ASD participated in this study. Besides the body mass and height, four significant anthropometric markers for assessing obesity were examined: body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Each anthropometric marker was categorized into one of three cardiometabolic risk levels based on the Z-scores and their corresponding percentiles. The distribution was as follows: low risk (≤84th percentile), high risk (85th-94th percentile), and very high risk (≥95th percentile). Subsequently, a multiple regression analysis was employed to develop an algorithm that generates a composite risk score. This score incorporates all the anthropometric variables simultaneously, while also weighting their individual contributions to the cardiometabolic risk. RESULTS: Children with ASD exhibit an anthropometric profile that markedly increases their susceptibility to cardiometabolic issues. While roughly 11% of the general Moroccan child population is overweight or obese, this figure soars to nearly 60% among children with ASD when considering the central adiposity markers. Furthermore, children from middle-class socioeconomic backgrounds display a more than threefold greater risk of developing overweight or obesity compared to their counterparts from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS: This study has, for the first time, provided an up-to-date overview of the cardiometabolic risk in Moroccan children with ASD using traditional anthropometric measurements. The primary risk factor is clearly linked to central (abdominal) adiposity, which is recognized as the most deleterious. This study highlights the need to include general and central obesity markers. This study underscores the importance of incorporating both general and central adiposity markers for a more comprehensive assessment, and it emphasizes the need for closer monitoring within this high-risk population.

Investigation of Underlying Association between Anthropometric and Cardiorespiratory Fitness Markers among Overweight and Obese Adolescents in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents who experience overweight or obesity commonly persist in these conditions into adulthood, thereby elevating their vulnerability to health issues. The focus of this study is on health risk markers such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body surface area (BSA), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). The objectives include updating normative values for BMI, WC, WHtR, and BSA in Canadian adolescents, establishing cardiometabolic risk zones, and developing a composite score considering both anthropometric and CRF markers. METHODS: Involving 1864 adolescents, the study used the LMS method to generate percentile norms, stratified by age and sex. Cardiometabolic risk zones were established for each marker based on Z-scores, and a composite score was created. RESULTS: An increase in WC of 5.8 and 7.4 cm for boys and girls, respectively, was observed since 1981. Forward multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the robustness and validity of the proposed model. The results indicated that the model explained nearly 90% (R2 = 0.890) of the common variance between the composite score and the retained independent variables. Moreover, the model demonstrated a mean absolute error (MAE) of approximately 6 percentiles, confirming its high precision. Furthermore, these analyses yielded key thresholds for identifying adolescents at risk: the 70th percentile for high cardiometabolic risk and the 85th percentile for very-high risk. CONCLUSIONS: Individually, WC or WHtR seem to be better markers for evaluating cardiometabolic risk than BMI during adolescence. However, CRF showed comparable importance to anthropometric markers in determining cardiometabolic risk. The simultaneous inclusion of anthropometric and CRF markers provides a better picture of the global cardiometabolic risk in adolescents.

Updating normative cross-sectional values and secular trends in body mass, body height and body mass index among Québec children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to examine secular trends in body mass, body height and body mass index (BMI) from measured rather than self-reported values between 1972 and 2017. METHODS: A total of 4500 students (males = 51%) were selected from a stratified sampling. The age range varied between 6.0 and 17.9 years. The sample came from 24 elementary schools and 12 high schools located in six urban cities from the province of Québec. All the tests selected were based on standardized procedures that are recognized as valid and reliable. Standardization and modeling of smoothed percentile curves for each variable for both sexes were produced. RESULTS: Regional variations between youth from the province of Québec and those from all other Canadian provinces confirm the relevance of using data specific to the target population. Comparisons with the 1972 and 1982 data show an important increase in body mass (~ 7 kg, i.e. 16.4%) and BMI (~ 1.4 kg·m-2, i.e. 19.9%) with minor change in body height (~ 1.8 cm, i.e. 3.9%). Youth from low-income backgrounds (p = 0.001) as well as those living in large urban cities (p = 0.002) see their probability of developing overweight or obesity greatly increase (low-income = 2.1 times; large urban cities = 1.3 times). However, overweight and obesity rates seem to have stabilized at around 21% since 2004. CONCLUSION: This study provides up-to-date data on factors that contribute to the prevalence of overweight and obesity in youth in urban settings of Québec, and will be instrumental in guiding public health strategies designed to optimize growth outcomes.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: L'objectif principal de cette étude était d'examiner les tendances séculaires de la masse corporelle, de la taille et de l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) de 1972 à 2017 à partir de valeurs mesurées plutôt que de valeurs autodéclarées. MéTHODE: Un total de 4 500 étudiants (garçons = 51 %) ont été sélectionnés à partir d'un échantillon stratifié. La fourchette d'âge variait entre 6,0 et 17,9 ans. L'échantillon provenait de 24 écoles primaires et 12 écoles secondaires situées dans six villes de la province de Québec (Canada). Tous les tests sélectionnés reposaient sur des procédures standardisées, reconnues comme valides et fidèles. Une standardisation et une modélisation des courbes centiles lissées ont été produites pour chaque variable pour les deux sexes. RéSULTATS: Les variations régionales entre les jeunes du Québec et ceux du reste du Canada confirment la pertinence d'utiliser des données spécifiques à la population cible. Les comparaisons entre les données de 1972 et de 1982 montrent une augmentation importante de la masse corporelle et de l'IMC (p ≤ 0,05) sans changement important de la taille corporelle. Les jeunes issus de milieux à faibles revenus (p = 0,001) ainsi que ceux vivant dans les grandes villes (p = 0,002) voient leurs risques de développer un surpoids ou de l'obésité augmenter considérablement (faibles revenus = 2,1 fois; grandes villes urbaines = 1,3 fois). Toutefois, les taux de surpoids et d'obésité semblent s'être stabilisés autour de 21 % depuis 2004. CONCLUSION: Cette étude fournit des données à jour sur les facteurs qui contribuent à la prévalence de l'embonpoint et de l'obésité chez les jeunes des milieux urbains du Québec et contribuera à orienter les stratégies de santé publique afin d'optimiser le suivi sur la croissance physique des jeunes.

Prediction of Maximum Lactate Concentration During an All-Out Anaerobic Test in Elite Ice Hockey Players.

The lack of specific on-ice tests to predict maximum lactate concentration limits the ability of coaches to better track and develop their ice hockey players. Thus, this study aimed to develop an equation for indirectly assessing the maximum lactate concentration produced from an all-out on-ice skating effort in elite adolescent ice hockey players. Twenty elite male ice hockey players participated in this study (age = 15.7 ± 1.0 year). The lactate anaerobic skating test (LAST) consisted of skating back and forth on an 18.2 m course at maximal speed with abrupt stops at each end for a total of 6 shuttles (total distance = 218.2 m; average time = 52.0 ± 2.0 s). The oxygen uptake was measured using a portable metabolic analyzer (Cosmed K4b2) and the maximum post-exercise lactate concentration with a Lactate Pro analyzer. The variables used to estimate lactate concentration were time, heart rate, number of skating strides in the last shuffle (6th) and the skating stride index. The average maximum lactate concentration was 14.4 mmol· L-1, which is expected in elite players. The analysis of explained common variance using T-test (r2 = 0.759) and linear regression (r2 = 0.863) demonstrates the validity of the model. Additionally, the root mean square error (RMSE = 0.60 mmol· L-1), the mean absolute error (MAE = 0.45mmol· L-1) and the standard error of estimate (SEE = 0.69 mmol· L-1) values further confirm the accuracy of the model. Thus, using simple and easy-to-measure variables (i.e., time and skating stride), coaches will be able to monitor more effectively their players' progress in an effort to optimize their individual on-ice performance.

Secular trends of cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents over a 35-year period: Chronicle of a predicted foretold.

Background: In the context of concerns regarding the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of youth populations, the aims of this study were: (1) to update reference values for the VO2max for school-aged Canadians and (2) to document secular trends in CRF after a 35-year interval. Methods: Between September 2014 and April 2017, the CRF of 3725 students (53.2% boys; 6.0 to 17.9 yrs) was determined using the 20-m shuttle run test. The sample was collected in 36 different schools from six cities of Québec (Canada). Results: Median values of VO2max decreased with age in both sexes (p ≤ 0.05). By the age of 10, more than 20% of boys showed VO2max values below the recommended value (42 ml·kg-1·min-1). At the age of 17, that proportion reached 56.8%. A similar proportion of 12 yrs girls (20%) were under the recommended minimal value (37 ml·kg-1·min-1) and that value reached 69.9% at the age of 17. Compared to 1982, the VO2max at age 17 has declined by 18% for boys and 12% for girls. The situation is worse in terms of functional capacity (number of stages completed) with an overall decrease of more than 30%. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that, compared to data obtained using the same methodology 35 years ago, the CRF and functional capacity of children and adolescents has declined to levels that should raise concerns from a public health perspective. Thus, the development of strategies to promote a physically active lifestyle in youth is more relevant than ever.

Assessment of On-Ice Oxygen Cost of Skating Performance in Elite Youth Ice Hockey Players.

ABSTRACT: Allisse, M, Bui, HT, Desjardins, P, Léger, L, Comtois, AS, and Leone, M. Assessment of on-ice oxygen cost of skating performance in elite youth ice hockey players. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3466-3473, 2021-The purpose of this study was to evaluate the robustness of equations to predict the oxygen requirement during different skating circumstances commonly found in ice hockey game situations (skating forward, backward, with and without controlling a puck, during cornering and stops and starts). Twenty-four male elite ice hockey players from 3 categories (pee-wee, bantam, and midget) participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and 4 different on-ice high-intensity and short-duration tests were performed. Execution time, heart rate, oxygen uptake, skating strides, and a skating efficiency index were measured for each test. A regression equation was calculated for each of the 4 tests providing an estimation of oxygen cost. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.91 to 0.93, and SEE was between 4.5 and 8.4%, indicating that the precision of the regression algorithms was excellent. The results also suggest that execution time alone, which is the traditional manner to measure skating performance, is a bad estimator of oxygen uptake requirement for this kind of effort (average common variance <11%). Furthermore, age proved to be a determining factor with younger players showing an overall lower level of skating efficiency compared with older players. In addition, the introduction of a skating index also helps to better determine which factor of performance needs to be improved. Using simple and easy-to-measure variables, coaches will be able to obtain information that will allow them to intervene more precisely on the training parameters that will optimize the individual on-ice performance of their players.

Updating the Skating Multistage Aerobic Test and Correction for V[Combining Dot Above]O2max Prediction Using a New Skating Economy Index in Elite Youth Ice Hockey Players.

Allisse, M, Bui, HT, Léger, L, Comtois, A-S, and Leone, M. Updating the skating multistage aerobic test and correction for V[Combining Dot Above]O2max prediction using a new skating economy index in elite youth ice hockey players. J Strength Cond Res 34(11): 3182-3189, 2020-A number of field tests, including the skating multistage aerobic test (SMAT), have been developed to predict V[Combining Dot Above]O2max in ice hockey players. The SMAT, like most field tests, assumes that participants who reach a given stage have the same oxygen uptake, which is not usually true. Thus, the objectives of this research are to update the V[Combining Dot Above]O2 values during the SMAT using a portable breath-by-breath metabolic analyzer and to propose a simple index of skating economy to improve the prediction of oxygen uptake. Twenty-six elite hockey players (age 15.8 ± 1.3 years) participated in this study. The oxygen uptake was assessed using a portable metabolic analyzer (K4b) during an on-ice maximal shuttle skate test. To develop an index of skating economy called the skating stride index (SSI), the number of skating strides was compiled for each stage of the test. The SMAT enabled the prediction of the V[Combining Dot Above]O2max (ml·kg·min) from the maximal velocity (m·s) and the SSI (skating strides·kg) using the following regression equation: V[Combining Dot Above]O2max = (14.94 × maximal velocity) + (3.68 × SSI) - 24.98 (r = 0.95, SEE = 1.92). This research allowed for the update of the oxygen uptake values of the SMAT and proposed a simple measure of skating efficiency for a more accurate evaluation of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max in elite youth hockey players. By comparing the highest and lowest observed SSI scores in our sample, it was noted that the V[Combining Dot Above]O2 values can vary by up to 5 ml·kg·min. Our results suggest that skating economy should be included in the prediction of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max to improve prediction accuracy.

Assessment of the impact of an exercise program on the physical and functional capacity in patients with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay: An exploratory study.

Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by the mutation of the SACS gene. Clinical symptoms of this disease include progressive ataxia, spasticity, and peripheral neuropathy. Similar to other neuromuscular disorders, these patients are prone to physical deconditioning which may lead to a loss of functional capacity. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of a training program on the physical fitness and the functional capacity of ARSACS patients. Twelve patients (age: 28.1 ± 8.2 years) participated in this study. They followed an eight-week training program including physical activities, strength-power and aerobic training. Compared to the initial evaluation, measures of physical fitness and functional capacity were significantly improved (p ≤ 0.05) for 11 of the 12 tests. Positive gains were also observed for fall frequency and for upper-limb incoordination. This paper supports the importance of a training program for ARSACS patients in order to improve their quality of life. Through these types of interventions, it may be possible to slow down the progression of the disease and help maintain functional capacity.

Computer-based assessment of upper-limb incoordination in autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay patients: A pilot study.

Ataxia refers to a group of neurological disorders characterized by a lack of coordination during voluntary movements. One of the most commonly used tests to assess upper-limb coordination is the Archimedes spiral test. The purpose of this research is to present an innovative computer-based Archimedes spiral test that can accurately assess coordination. Forty nine individuals (age: 25.2±7.1years) were recruited including thirteen patients diagnosed with Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia of Charlevoix/Saguenay (ARSACS). Participants were instructed to trace a spiral on the touch-screen with the tip of their index finger at a self-paced velocity by following an on-screen spiral template. Mean error and maximum error as well as frequency analysis were calculated to classify healthy and ARSACS participants. While mean and maximum errors provided good results, the highest classification success rate was obtained using frequency analysis, particularly between f=1.2Hz and f=1.7Hz. Interpretation of traditional paper-drawn Archimedes spirals is limited, and several computerized versions have been reported. Herein, we present a custom-made tool that allows discrimination of measures assessing ataxia in ARSACS. This utilizes a proposed frequency method that may have the potential to track the evolution of upper-limb incoordination in patients and therefore help clinicians and scientists to better monitor their patients.

Measurement properties of a new wireless electrogoniometer for quantifying spasticity during the pendulum test in ARSACS patients.

INTRODUCTION: Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix/Saguenay (ARSACS) is a neuromuscular disorder that induces spasticity in lower limbs. The Wartenberg pendulum test is a classical method of assessing lower limb spasticity based on the dynamics of the pendular leg motion. However, in its original form, this test only provides subjective results and do not allow accurate assessment of spasticity. METHODS: Thirteen ARSACS patients were assessed using a new wireless electrogoniometer to measure spasticity by quantifying oscillation amplitudes and relaxation indices during the Wartenburg pendulum test. The validity of the instrument was evaluated by comparing its measurements to a known precise goniometer whereas discriminant validity was evaluated by comparing healthy participants and ARSACS patients. Reliability was measured using intraclass correlation (ICC) between pendulum test scores obtained at different moments in time. RESULTS: Data from different tests show that the proposed device is accurate (standard error of measurement of 0.0005°), discriminates healthy and ARSACS patients (most variables have p=0.00) and provides repeatable results (significant ICC usually higher than 0.64 and p<0.05). DISCUSSION: The proposed tool allows the clinician to analyze pendulum oscillation amplitudes and ratios and thus, provide an index of spasticity for the patients affected by ARSACS. This is important as the original procedure is only evaluated visually and the progression cannot be detected until the condition changes drastically. Thus, the system proposed meets the requirements of being useful, precise and user-friendly in the evaluation of patients in a research as well as a clinical environment.

Comparison of bioenergetics of walking during a multistage incremental shuttle walk test and a 6-min walk test in active older adults.

The goal of the present research was to compare the bioenergetics variability of walking, during the 6-min walk test (6-MWT) and a multistage incremental shuttle walk test (MISWT) in an active older population. Twenty-two healthy physically active older adults with a group mean age of 70.4 ± 5.8 years completed the 6-MWT and the MISWT. Heart rate (HR), walking speed and walking [Formula: see text]O2 were measured throughout each test with a portable metabolic cart. Strong correlations were found for the [Formula: see text]O2 peak and the walking speed (r = 0.91 and r = 0.89 respectively for 6-MWT and MISWT). Differences in [Formula: see text]O2 peak values were analysed with a paired Student's t test. Repeated measures ANOVA were conducted to detect differences between tests. The Bland and Altman plot indicates that the average difference between both tests was 2.5 ml kg-1 min-1. MISWT [Formula: see text]O2 peak means were significantly greater than the 6-MWT [Formula: see text]O2 peak mean values (21.6 ± 5.3 vs. 18.9 ± 4.5 ml kg-1 min-1) which indicate bioenergetics differences between the two walking tests. Thus, the MISWT and 6-MWT elicited different walking [Formula: see text]O2 peak and HR suggesting that the MISWT field test challenge the participants to a higher level of cardiovascular and respiratory stress. The walking [Formula: see text]O2 peak recorded for the MISWT was significantly greater than the 6-MWT. Consequently, both tests seem to measure different facets of the aerobic capacity. MISWT seems to be a better indicator of maximal aerobic power whereas the 6-MWT provides more relevant information regarding aerobic endurance in aging population.

Comparison and analysis of three different methods to evaluate vertical jump height.

The purpose of this study was to compare three methods to assess vertical jump height, to determine their limitations and to propose solutions to mitigate their effects. The chosen methods were the contact mat, the optical system and the Sargent jump. The testing environment was designed such that all three systems simultaneously measured the vertical jump height. A total of 41 kinesiology students (18 women, 23 men, mean age 23·2 ± 4·5 years) participated in this study. Data show that the contact mat and the optical system essentially provide similar results (P = 0·912) and that the correlation coefficient between the two systems was 0·972 (r(2)  = 0·944). However, it was found that the Sargent jump has a tendency to overestimate the height, providing a measurement that is significantly different from the other two methods as the jumps are higher than 30·64 cm (P = 0·044). Through the design of the experiment, several sources of errors were identified and mathematically modelled. These sources include optical sensor placement, flat-footed landing and hip/knee bend. Whenever possible, the errors were quantified and solutions were proposed.

Assessment of gross motor skills and phenotype profile in children 9-11 years of age in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a new gross motor skill test battery in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) children who have been off therapy for at least 1 year and to assess its discriminatory power (discriminant analysis) from healthy children. PROCEDURE: Twenty children (10 males and 10 females) 9-11 years of age (median age = 10.6 years) were assessed by the UQAC-UQAM test battery and then compared to recent provincial norms. This pilot study was also an opportunity to validate this test battery as a reliable tool for clinical or research purposes in the area of chronic or disabling diseases in children. Eleven motor skill variables grouped into five factors have been measured (speed, agility, balance, coordination, and reaction time). RESULTS: Scores from 10 of the 11 motor skill tests showed significant differences when compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05). Nearly 50% of patients obtained an average score below the 15th percentile. Furthermore, stepwise discriminant analysis allowed classifying successfully 88.4% of children in the correct group (ALL or Control). The normal development of GMS among children affected by ALL appears to have been compromised. The UQAC-UQAM test battery seems to be sensitive enough to quantify with precision the extent of the motor impairment in these children. CONCLUSION: The UQAC-UQAM test battery appears to be a useful tool to evaluate the extent to which ALL survivors are affected. Early motor intervention should be considered for those patients even during the treatment periods.

Design of high-performance parallelized gene predictors in MATLAB.

BACKGROUND: This paper proposes a method of implementing parallel gene prediction algorithms in MATLAB. The proposed designs are based on either Goertzel's algorithm or on FFTs and have been implemented using varying amounts of parallelism on a central processing unit (CPU) and on a graphics processing unit (GPU). FINDINGS: Results show that an implementation using a straightforward approach can require over 4.5 h to process 15 million base pairs (bps) whereas a properly designed one could perform the same task in less than five minutes. In the best case, a GPU implementation can yield these results in 57 s. CONCLUSIONS: The present work shows how parallelism can be used in MATLAB for gene prediction in very large DNA sequences to produce results that are over 270 times faster than a conventional approach. This is significant as MATLAB is typically overlooked due to its apparent slow processing time even though it offers a convenient environment for bioinformatics. From a practical standpoint, this work proposes two strategies for accelerating genome data processing which rely on different parallelization mechanisms. Using a CPU, the work shows that direct access to the MEX function increases execution speed and that the PARFOR construct should be used in order to take full advantage of the parallelizable Goertzel implementation. When the target is a GPU, the work shows that data needs to be segmented into manageable sizes within the GFOR construct before processing in order to minimize execution time.