Prevalence, physical characteristics, and fall risk in older adults with and without possible sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 consensus redefined the sarcopenia including possible sarcopenia, sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia and grip strength cutoff value by sex. AIMS: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, physical characteristics, physical fitness, and fall risk in older adults living in local communities, with possible sarcopenia using the diagnostic criteria suggested by the AWGS 2WG. METHODS: A total of 431 participants (123 men and 308 women) aged 65-97 years were enrolled in this study. Based on the diagnostic criteria of possible sarcopenia suggested by AWGS 2, study participants were divided into normal and possible sarcopenia (grip strength: < 28 kg and < 18 kg for men and women, respectively) groups. Independent t-tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to compare the differences between the two groups. RESULTS: The possible prevalence of sarcopenia was 23.7%. Possible sarcopenia was present in older adults with lower weight, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle mass, and fat-free mass (P < 0.05) than those in the normal group. Older men with possible sarcopenia had poorer upper and lower body strength, aerobic endurance, lower body flexibility, agility and dynamic balance, and a higher fall risk than those in the normal group (P < 0.05). Older women with possible sarcopenia had a 2.5-fold and 3.3-fold higher fall risk than women in the normal group in both an unadjusted model (P = 0.001) and in a model adjusted for age and BMI (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in fall risk among older men. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic criteria suggested by AWGS 2 may be highly useful for screening for declining physical function.

The Relationship between Scapular Upward Rotation and Shoulder Internal and External Rotation Isokinetic Strength in Professional Baseball Pitchers.

This study aims to assess the relationship between scapular upward rotation (SUR) across varying humeral-elevation angles (HEAs) and shoulder isokinetic strength and ratio in professional baseball pitchers. The subjects were professional baseball pitchers (n = 16) without a history of shoulder injury in the last six months. The subject's SUR angles were measured with the humerus elevated at HEAs of 0° (at rest), 60°, 90°, and 120° to the scapular plane. Shoulder isokinetic strength was evaluated for shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) strength (PT%BW and TW%BW), and the ER/IR strength ratios were determined at 60, 120 and 180°/s using an isokinetic dynamometer. The SUR angle at an HEA of 0° was positively correlated with IR strength at 120°/s (r = 0.535) and 180°/s (r = 0.522). The SUR angle at an HEA of 60° was negatively correlated with the ER/IR strength ratios at 60°/s (r = -0.505) and 120°/s (r = -0.500). The SUR angle at an HEA of 90° was negatively correlated with the ER/IR strength ratios at 60°/s (r = -0.574; r = -0.554) and 120°/s (r = -0.521; r = -0.589) as well as with ER strength at 180°/s (r = -0.591, r = -0.556). The SUR angle at an HEA of 120° was negatively correlated with ER strength at 60°/s (r = -0.558), 120°/s (r = -0.504; r = -0.524), and 180°/s (r = -0.543) and the ER/IR strength ratio at 60°/s (r = -0.517). In this study, we found that the ratio of isokinetic strength between ER and IR became closer to the normal range on increasing the SUR angle. In particular, an HEA of 90°, which resembles the pitching motion, showed a clear relationship between SUR, shoulder ER, and the ratio of ER/IR isokinetic strength in professional baseball pitchers.

Associations between Stress and Physical Activity in Korean Adolescents with Atopic Dermatitis Based on the 2018-2019 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey.

This study aimed to confirm the associations between stress and physical activity (PA) in Korean adolescents with atopic dermatitis (AD) based on data from the 2018-2019 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey. The AD groups were divided into adolescents who were not diagnosed with AD, adolescents who were diagnosed with AD more than one year ago, and adolescents who were diagnosed with AD within one year. We defined the regular PA group and the non-PA group using the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for children and adolescents: moderate to vigorous PA ≥5 times per week, including vigorous PA ≥3 days per week and muscle strengthening exercises ≥3 times per week. We performed logistic regression analysis to calculate the stress odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) by group using model 1, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, and model 2, additionally adjusted for drinking, smoking, economic statuses, academic achievement, asthma, and rhinitis. In the group diagnosed with AD within one year, stress was 41% and 32% higher according to models 1 (1.41 (1.31-1.52)) and 2 (1.34 (1.20-1.50)), respectively. However, the stress OR was 30% lower in adolescents who completed regular PA than in the non-PA group (model 1: 0.71 (0.58-0.87); model 2: 0.68 (0.57-0.84)), even if diagnosed with AD within one year. In conclusion, the stress of adolescents with AD was significantly higher than that of adolescents without AD. The stress was significantly lower in the group with regular PA, and it was more robust in adolescents diagnosed with AD within one year.

Immune-Stimulating Effects of Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii (Agaricomycetes) Water Extract via TNF-α and IFN-γ.

Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii has been used as culinary material in East Asia. We previously reported the antiasthmatic effect of M. aitchisonii; in this study we evaluated the mushroom's immune-stimulating effects. To analyze these effects, we conducted an in vitro study with splenocytes and an in vivo study with the Porsolt enforced swim test. In the in vitro study, the cell proliferation effect of the M. aitchisonii water extract (WT) was measured and the in vivo study depended on the dose of M. aitchisonii WT and the effect on swimming duration; several immune reaction-related factors were assessed, such as white blood cell count, differential cell count, the ratio of thymus or spleen weight to body weight, and concentrations of some cytokines in serum. Almost all measured factors that are related to immune stimulation were dose-dependently increased, such as the number of splenocytes and monocytes, the swimming duration, the relative weight of the thymus, and the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ. Based on the results, we conclude that M. aitchisonii WT has an immune-stimulating effect via TNF-α and IFN-γ, and that M. aitchisonii WT is an immune-stimulating agent and can be produced as a functional food.

The effects of objectively measured physical activity and fitness on fear of falling among Korean older women.

We examined the effects of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) on fear of falling (FOF) among older adults. The subjects were 94 Korean females aged 65-79. PA was measured with accelerometers, PF with the senior fitness test and FOF with the Korean Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly. With the subjects' age, number of chronic conditions, and history of falls included as correction factors, a multiple regression analysis showed that PA (P=0.016) and agility/dynamic balance measured by the 8-foot up-and-go test (UNG) (P=0.001) significantly influenced FOF. The FOF of the slowest UNG quartile was significantly higher than those of other groups (P=0.002). This study concludes that among female older adults agility/dynamic balance as measured by UNG is the main factor impacting FOF and individuals with markedly low UNG tend to have high FOF.

FK-3000 isolated from Stephania delavayi Diels. inhibits MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation by decreasing NF-κB phosphorylation and COX-2 expression.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases and a leading cause of death worldwide. Many anticancer drug development studies have been pursued over the last few decades and several viable drugs have been discovered, such as paclitaxel, topotecan and irinotecan. Previously, our research group uncovered the cytocidal and cytostatic effects of the plant Stephania delavayi Diels. In this study, we determined the active chemical to be 6,7-di-O-acetylsinococuline (FK-3000). The FK-3000 half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) in MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells at 48 h was 0.52 µg/ml and it induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. FK-3000 suppressed NF-κB nuclear translocation, decreased NF-κB phosphorylation, and decreased COX-2 protein expression. MDA-MB-231 xenografted mice were treated with FK-3000, Taxol, or their combination for 21 days. The tumor size was smallest in the co-treatment group, indicating that FK-3000 may have a synergistic effect with Taxol. FK-3000 treatment showed no adverse effects on blood cell counts, serum protein levels, or pathology. These studies demonstrate that FK-3000, isolated from S. delavayi Diels., is a promising, pathway-specific anticancer agent that exhibits low toxicity.

The effect of physical characteristics and field position on the shoulder and elbow injuries of 490 baseball players: confirmation of diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the distribution of shoulder and elbow injuries confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging in throwing athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiological study. SETTING: Tertiary institution. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred fifty-four baseball players referred to our institute for shoulder and elbow rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: All injured players except those with fractures underwent magnetic resonance imagings, which were read by a radiologist, and players were diagnosed by orthopedic surgeons based on the clinical and imaging findings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis of baseball-related injuries was performed according to the physical characteristics of each athlete and his positions on the team. RESULTS: Junior high school players sustained a higher proportion of osteochondritis dissecans compared with high school and collegiate players. High school and collegiate players were more likely to have ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries or superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesions than junior high school players. Pitchers and outfielders were more likely to have UCL injuries than the infielders. In the junior high school group, the players with UCL injuries were taller and heavier than the players in the control group. In the high school group with UCL injuries or SLAP lesions, the players were both taller and heavier than the players in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the conclusion that there is a significant difference in the distribution of injuries according to the player's age and position. For the age-matched comparison, taller and heavier players are more likely to be affected by UCL injury or SLAP lesion.