Moderate intensity walking exercises reduce the body mass index and vascular inflammatory factors in postmenopausal women with obesity: a randomized controlled trial.

Postmenopause, the secretion of female hormones changes, causing excessive fat accumulation in the body and leading to chronic inflammation, which increases the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Walking is an easily accessible daily exercise and effective non-pharmacological treatment for reducing obesity and the incidence of CVD. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of moderate intensity walking exercises on body composition, vascular inflammatory factors, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in postmenopausal women with obesity. Twenty-six older postmenopausal women with obesity (ages 68-72) were randomly assigned to control (n = 12, BMI 26.06 ± 1.37) or exercise (n = 14, BMI 26.04 ± 1.94) groups. Following a 12-week moderate intensity walking exercise program, we measured the participants' body composition with an InBody S10 analyzer and assessed blood sera using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. There was a significant clustering by weight (p < 0.01), body mass index (p < 0.01), percentage body fat (p < 0.001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p < 0.05), interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (p < 0.05) being significantly decreased in the exercise group. Although VEGF levels did not change significantly, a tendency to increase was observed in participants that exercised. Our results indicate that walking exercise may help prevent CVD in postmenopausal women with obesity by reducing obesity and vascular inflammatory factors.

Correction: Rheu et al. Effect of Fermented Sarco Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) Extract on Muscle Strength Enhancement in Postmenopausal Females: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 16450.

There was an error in the original publication [...].

Effect of Fermented Sarco Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) Extract on Muscle Strength Enhancement in Postmenopausal Females: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate the effect of fermented sarco oysters (FSO) on muscle strength in postmenopausal females with low muscle mass. Fifty-two female participants were randomly divided into the experiment group (EG) or control group (CG). For 12 weeks, the EG was subjected to 1000 mg of FSO extract daily while the CG consumed the placebo extract. The muscle extension and flexion at an angular velocity of 60°/s and with respect to grip strength, body composition, and muscle growth-related blood factors were measured at the baseline and after the trial. The difference in the quadriceps muscle extension at an angular velocity of 60°/s, grip strength on both the left and right side, and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) between groups were significantly higher in the EG compared with the CG. However, no differences were found in body composition, blood pyruvate, lactate, or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentration between the two groups. In conclusion, FSO supplements may improve muscle strength in postmenopausal females with relatively reduced muscle strength without a change in muscle mass.

The Combined Intervention of Aqua Exercise and Burdock Extract Synergistically Improved Arterial Stiffness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.

Metabolic syndrome (MS), characterized by the presence of risk factors for various metabolic disorders, including impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance, has a high incidence in the Asian population. Among the various approaches used for improving MS, the combination of exercise and nutrition is of increasing importance. In this randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the effects of combined aqua exercise and burdock extract intake on blood pressure, insulin resistance, arterial stiffness, and vascular regulation factors in older women with MS. A total of 42 participants were randomly assigned into one of four groups (control, exercise, burdock, and exercise + burdock) and underwent a 16-week double-blinded intervention. Blood pressure, insulin resistance, arterial stiffness, and vascular regulation factors were evaluated before and after the intervention. The 16-week intervention of aqua exercise decreased the levels of insulin, glucose, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and thromboxane A2, but increased the levels of the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index and prostaglandin I2. The combined burdock extract intake and aqua exercise intervention had an additional effect, improving the augmentation index, augmentation index at 75 beats per min, and pulse wave velocity. In conclusion, aqua exercise could improve insulin resistance and vascular regulation factors in older women with MS. Furthermore, combined treatment with burdock extract intake could improve arterial stiffness via a synergistic effect.

Botulinum Toxin Injection-Site Selection for a Smooth Shoulder Line: An Anatomical Study.

Introduction. This study aimed to improve the accuracy of manual needle placement into the trapezius (TM) for smooth shoulder line. Methods. For macroscopic study 12 TMs and for microscopic study 4 cadavers were detached and then sampled, 1⁎1 cm at the four points from the origin to insertion site (0% at the most lateral point of external occipital protuberance and 100% at the most lateral point of acromion). Results. Most of the nerve endings observed during macroscopic investigations were concentrated in the 60-80% region, and the second most distributed region was the 40-60% region. The microscopic results revealed that the 60-80% region on the reference line had the most dense neuromuscular junction area, while the 40-60% and 80-100% areas were similar in their neuromuscular junction densities. Discussion. These anatomical results will be useful in clinical settings especially for cosmetic surgeons.