Associations of Mutually Exclusive Categories of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time With Metabolic Syndrome in Older Adults: An Isotemporal Substitution Approach.

The aim of this study was to examine, theoretically, how reallocating time between the intensity of mutually exclusive categories of physical activity and sedentary behavior time is associated with metabolic syndrome. Four hundred and six older adults (61.6% women) from the second wave of the EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study were included in the study (mean age 71.7 ± 5.9 years). Isotemporal substitution analysis showed a decrease of 35% (odds ratio: 0.65; 95% confidence interval [0.45, 0.96]) in the risk for metabolic syndrome when replacing 30 min/day of sedentary behavior with an equivalent amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Furthermore, it has been observed that older adults classified as low sedentary behavior and physically active were 57% less likely to have metabolic syndrome than participants classified as high sedentary and physically inactive (odds ratio: 0.43; 95% confidence interval [0.19, 0.97]). This study highlights the importance of behavioral categories that may emerge concerning the interrelationships of physical activity and health in older adults, having important implications for future health intervention programs.

Associations of daily activities measured by a pattern-recognition activity monitor with overall and abdominal obesity in older people: the IMPACT65+ study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were: (i) to analyze the associations of the time spent in daily activities (i.e., lie, recline, passive sit, active sit, stand, walk at slow pace, walk at average pace, walk at brisk pace, and other activities) with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC); and (ii) to examine how theoretically reallocating time between these daily activities is associated with BMI and WC. METHODS: The sample included 437 older adults (288 women), aged 65 to 92 years, participating in the IMPACT65+ study. The time in daily activities was assessed by the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity (IDEEA). BMI and WC were measured following standardized procedures. Associations of daily activities with BMI and WC were examined using linear regression models adjusting for potential confounders. Isotemporal substitution models were performed to estimate the theoretical effect of replacing one activity with another activity while holding total time constant. RESULTS: The time spent lying and reclining was associated with increased BMI and WC, while the time spent standing, walking at average pace, and walking at brisk pace was associated with decreased BMI and WC. Isotemporal substitution analyses revealed significant hypothetical reductions in BMI and WC when reallocating 15 min from lying or reclining to standing or walking at average pace. Moreover, replacing 15 min from any sedentary activity or light physical activity (except for walking at average pace) with an equal amount of time in walking at brisk pace was associated with lower BMI and WC. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study examining the activity specific and isotemporal associations of daily behaviors (considering body postures and movements) with overall and abdominal obesity in older people. The results could be used in the development of specific recommendations encouraging an active lifestyle in older people.

Dissipation of Three Fungicides and Their Effects on Anthocyanins and Color of Monastrell Red Wines.

The effect of fungicides on fermentation is of paramount importance to control the quality and safety of wines. In this work, the quality (enological parameters, color, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and fungicide residues) of wines from Monastrell grapes fortified with iprovalicarb, mepanipyrim, and tetraconazole fungicides was evaluated. Along the winemaking process, initial residues of mepanipyrim and tetraconazole were removed in more than 90% while the dissipation of iprovalicarb was around 73%. Significant statistical differences were found in the presence of iprovalicarb and mepanipyrim residues, especially at the highest concentration assayed. For both fungicides, increases in the volatile acidity (between 4 and 8.6 times), the lactic acid content (between 8.6 and 20.5 times), the percentage of polymeric anthocyanins (between 1.3 and 1.7 times), and also a slight increase of the total phenolic index and the total anthocyanin content determined by spectrophotometry were observed. On the contrary, the total monomeric anthocyanins content decreased about 16.3% and 28.6% in the presence of iprovalicarb and mepanipyrim, respectively. These results could be related to a higher development of acetic acid or lactic bacteria in the presence of these fungicides. The color of the final wines was also different in comparison with the control, with a higher yellow component, color intensity, tonality, and hue angle because of pH changes in the medium. Tetraconazole fermentations had a more similar trend to the control wine, probably due to the lower concentration of this fungicide in the grape must at the initial time. No effects on the antioxidant activity was observed for any of the target fungicides. A multivariate statistical analysis was done to view the interrelationships between different variables (color and anthocyanins profile). The obtained model allowed the wines to be separated according to the fungicide treatment applied.

Influence of fungicide residues and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on total antioxidant capacity and phenolic fraction of Graciano and Tempranillo red wines.

The effect of fenhexamid, mepanipyrim and cyazofamid fungicides on in vitro bioavailability of antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of Tempranillo and Graciano red wine was studied by simulating the digestive process by dialysis in semipermeable membranes. Determination of antioxidant activity was through reaction with the DPPH • radical and the measurement of phenolic compounds was made with liquid chromatography with diode detector (HPLC-DAD). Fenhexamid, mepanipyrim and cyazofamid reduce the total polyphenol content in both wines. During dialysis there was a large loss of total polyphenols (80-90%) and of antioxidant activity (> 90%). The bioavailability of the phenolic compounds is lower than that for non-treated wines and the highest dialization percentages were found for stilbenes > 50%. While for the remaining phenolic fraction the order is the following hydroxycinnamic derivatives > anthocyanins > flavonols.

Effect of processing on the disappearance of pesticide residues in fresh-cut lettuce: Bioavailability and dietary risk.

The aim of this research is to establish the processing factors of six pesticides durong the preparation of fresh-cut lettuce and to assess the risk of ingestion of pesticide residues associated with the consumption of the same. A field study was carried out on the dissipation of three insecticides (imidacloprid, tebufenozide, cypermethrin) and three fungicides (metalaxyl, tebuconazole, azoxystrobin) during treatment conditions simulating those used for commercial fresh-cut lettuce. A simultaneous residue analysis method is validated using QuEChERS extraction with acetonitrile and CG-MS and LC-MS/MS analysis. The residues detected after field application never exceed the established Maximum Residue Limits. The processing factors were generally less than 1 (between 0.34 for tebufenozide and 0.53 for imidacloprid), indicating that the process, as a whole, considerably reduces residue levels in processed lettuce compared to fresh lettuce. It is confirmed that cutting, followed by washing and drying, considerably reduces the residues. A matrix effect in the dialyzation of the pesticides is observed and the in vitro study of bioavailability establishes a low percentage of stomach absorption capacity (<15%). The EDI/ADI ratios found in all cases were well below their ADI values, and the dietary exposure assessed (EDI) in fresh-cut lettuce showed no concerns for consumer health.

Contribution of critical doses of iprovalicarb, mepanipyrim and tetraconazole to the generation of volatile compounds from Monastrell-based wines.

The individual effects of iprovalicarb, mepanipyrim, and tetraconazole on the volatile composition and aromatic profile of Monastrell-based wines were evaluated. To date, no studies about the effect of these fungicides on Monastrell-based wines are available, and the effect on other grape varieties is also unknown. Fungicides were added separately in the cellar to the grape must at two concentration levels (4 and 10 mg/kg for iprovalicarb and mepanipyrim and 1 and 2.5 mg/kg for tetraconazole). The aromatic composition of the final wines was analysed by gas chromatography using flame ionisation and ion trap mass selective detectors. In the presence of fungicides, the most significant variations were observed for isoamyl acetate and 2-phenylethyl acetate (increasing between 20 and 43% compared with the control wine) and ethyl caprate and caprylate (increasing between 12 and 68%). Consequently, treated wines showed a higher global odourant intensity, with increased fresh fruit notes.

Need to promote healthy lifestyle as primary prevention to the COVID-19 and to improve the immune response to vaccines.

Letter to the editor.

Clinical and Ambulatory Gait Speed in Older Adults: Associations With Several Physical, Mental, and Cognitive Health Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Although clinical gait speed may indicate health and well-being in older adults, there is a lack of studies comparing clinical tests with ambulatory gait speed with regard to several health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the associations of clinical gait speed, measured by the 2.44-m walk test and the ambulatory gait speed with several physical, mental, and cognitive health outcomes in older adults. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used. METHODS: The study population comprised 432 high-functioning, community-dwelling older adults (287 women) aged between 65 and 92 years. Clinical and ambulatory gait speeds were measured using the 2.44-m walk test and a portable gait analysis device, respectively. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the association of clinical and ambulatory gait speeds with several health outcomes (body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, chronic conditions, self-rated health, exhaustion, upper- and lower-body strength, physical and mental health status, cognitive status, and self-rated cognitive status). RESULTS: The results showed that the average gait speed for clinical and ambulatory measures cannot be directly compared. Clinical gait speed was associated with 7 health outcomes, and the ambulatory gait speed was associated with 6 health outcomes. The significant associations between measures of gait speed and the health outcomes converged in 5 of the 13 health outcomes studied; however, the strength of associations was singly different between measures. LIMITATIONS: The short monitoring time, the inability to distinguish between the ambulatory gait speed inside the home and outdoor gait speed, and the under-representative sample are limitations of the study. CONCLUSION: The results indicated differences in the number and strength of associations between clinical and ambulatory gait speed. Both measures have construct validity because they have been associated with physical and health outcomes; however, they may have different predictive validity. Further research should be conducted to compare their predictive validity in longitudinal designs.

Criterion Validity of the Sedentary Behavior Question From the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: To assess the validity of the single question to determine sedentary behavior (SB) by using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) in older adults. METHODS: The sample included 163 participants (96 women) aged 65-92 years. Self-reported SB was obtained from the GPAQ. Objectively measured SB was assessed using the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity. Participants wore the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity continuously during 2 consecutive days while following their daily routine. The relative validity was assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (ρ), and the agreement was examined using mean bias and 95% limit of agreement with the Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity as reference. RESULTS: The results showed small correlations (ρ = .291, P < .001) between the SB from the GPAQ and the objective measures, and ranged from ρ = .217 to ρ = .491 depending on the potential moderator. Similarly, the GPAQ underestimates the SB for approximately 2 hours per day in older adults (limit of agreement = -7.3 to 3.4 h/d). CONCLUSION: The GPAQ may not be the most suitable questionnaire for measuring SB in this population and should be used with caution because those studies that use this questionnaire in older adults may have an inaccurate measurement of SB levels.

Characterization of microphones for snoring and breathing events analysis in mHealth.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common sleep disorders, especially in elderly population. Despite its high prevalence and severe consequences, most patients remain undiagnosed due to serious limitations on the existing equipment. Efforts are being done to find cost-effective alternatives and mHealth solutions could play a key role. One promising approach in this context is the acoustic analysis of snoring. The sensor it requires is a microphone, which is widely available in different models and even integrated in smartphones. The objective of this work is to characterize and compare the responses of two commercial tracheal microphones and a mHealth-based microphone, as a proof-of-concept to evaluate their potential as sensors for OSA detection. To do that, we designed an experimental protocol to study OSA-related events (breaths, snores and apneas) simulated by 4 subjects. Test signals were simultaneously recorded with different microphones and posteriorly processed and analyzed. We accurately characterized the frequency response of the two commercial microphones, finding that one of them was too restrictive (bandwidth 50-250 Hz) and thus not suitable as snoring sensor for high-frequency acoustic analysis. Regarding smartphones, we studied the Samsung Galaxy S5 microphone. We found that, when located over the thorax, it provided quality signals comparable to those of tracheal microphones, with a broader frequency response. Further work is required, but this preliminary study suggests that acoustic analysis of snoring through mHealth solutions can be a feasible alternative to screen and monitor OSA patients at home.

mHealth tools for monitoring Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients at home: Proof-of-concept.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that affects mainly the adult and elderly population. Due to the high percentage of patients who remain undiagnosed and untreated because of limitations of current diagnosis methods, the management of OSA is an important social, scientific and economic problem that will be difficult to be assumed by health systems. On the other hand, smartphone platforms (mHealth systems) are being considered as an innovative solution, thanks to the integration of the essential sensors to obtain clinically relevant parameters in the same device or in combination with wireless wearable devices.

Dissipation of fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen in fresh and canned peach.

The objective of this work was to determine the dissipation of fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen in fresh and canned peaches in order to know the levels of residues that can reach consumers in real circumstances. Two field dissipation studies were carried out, one of them at the pre-harvest interval (PHI) with good agricultural practice (GAP) and the other one in a situation of critical agricultural practice (CAP). Two canning dissipation studies were carried out for samples from both agricultural situations in an industrial pilot plant and the dissipation was determined in each relevant step. An analytical methodology was used including acetone-dichloromethane extraction, purification and analysis by liquid chromatography and diode array detection (LC-DAD) with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.05 mg/kg. It was validated under SANCO/10232/2006 Guidelines. These pesticides complied with the official maximum residue limits (MRLs) in peaches at the PHI with good agricultural practices. In hypothetical situation of a second application at the PHI, fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen residues were above the MRLs in peaches. The canning study reduced the residues to no detectable levels in the cans for consumers.