A Systematic Review of Isokinetic Muscle Strength in a Healthy Population With Special Reference to Age and Gender.

CONTEXT: Despite increasing use of reference values in isokinetic measurements and increasing importance, there is no systematic review of the reference values for lower and upper limb isokinetic muscle strength. OBJECTIVE: A systematic review to analyze studies on the reference values and protocols for the measurement for upper and lower limb isokinetic muscle strength in an untrained and noninjured healthy population. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Scopus, Scielo, and CINAHL (from the earliest date available to June 2020). STUDY SELECTION: Studies that measured a set of reference values for isokinetic muscle strength. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers selected studies independently. Data related to participants characteristics, outcomes of interest, isokinetic parameters, reference values for isokinetic muscle strength, and quality of evidence assessment were systematically reviewed independently by 2 authors. RESULTS: A total of 31 studies met the study criteria. The included studies were used to synthesize the isokinetic muscle strength data according to age-group and sex. We extracted 1845 normative data related to isokinetic strength. Of these, 1181 items referred to lower limbs and 664 items to upper limbs. CONCLUSION: In general, agonist muscle groups are stronger than antagonist muscles, and the men tend to obtain higher strength values than women. The angular velocity varied from 10 to 300 deg/s. The reference values identified can be useful for professionals to obtain during the isokinetic evaluation of the diagnostic parameters of muscle deficiency.

Black and non-black population: investigation of the difference in butyrylcholinesterase activity in a healthy population in Salvador, Bahia.

INTRODUCTION: Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), an important biomarker of exposure to anticholinesterases, varies its activity according to the intensity and duration of exposure to these agents. Their normal values may vary in different populations. It is important to determine the reference values for the local population, mostly black/brown. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate the baseline values of BChE activity in a sample of the Salvador city population (Bahia, Brazil), evaluating the sociodemographic characteristics. METHOD: A descriptive, quantitative study with a cross-sectional approach was carried out in 304 voluntary and healthy blood donors. BChE activity was determined using the integrated chemical system Dimension RxLMax and analyses of sociodemographic characteristics were performed. RESULTS: For the 304 participants (18 to 67 years old), BChE activity values range were 7.4 to 19.8 U/mL (male) and 6.0 to 19.6 U/mL (female), without significant inter-racial differences (p = 0.986; Mann-Whitney). The participates were predominantly black (44.7%) and brown (40.5%), with higher levels of BchE activity in males (64.8%) (p-value = 0.01) than females (35.2%). There was no relationship between alcohol use and lower BChE activity (p = 0.725, Mann-Whitney). Women using hormonal contraceptives had a median activity 9.2% lower than the non-users. CONCLUSION: Despite the high miscegenation and predominance of the black race in Salvador, contrary to what was expected, the sample did not show statistically significant intra-racial differences in BChE activity, being able to use the same reference values currently used, observing factors such as sex, use of contraceptives, and drinking alcohol.

Postbiotics: The concept and their use in healthy populations.

The term postbiotic was recently defined by an panel of scientists convened by the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics as "a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host." This definition focused on the progenitor microbial cell or cell fragments, not just metabolites, proteins or carbohydrates they might produce. Although such microbe-produced constituents may be functional ingredients of the preparation, they are not required to be present in a postbiotic according to this definition. In this context, terms previously used such as paraprobiotics, ghostbiotics, heat-inactivated probiotics, non-viable probiotics, cell fragments or cell lysates, among others, align with the term postbiotics as conceived by this definition. The applications of postbiotics to infant nutrition and pediatric and adult gastroenterology, mainly, are under development. Some applications for skin health are also underway. As postbiotics are composed of inanimate microorganisms, they cannot colonize the host. However, they can in theory modify the composition or functions of the host microbiota, although evidence for this is scarce. Clinical results are promising, but, overall, there is limited evidence for postbiotics in healthy populations. For example, postbiotics have been studied in fermented infant formulas. The regulation of the term postbiotic is still in its infancy, as no government or international agency around the world has yet incorporated this term in their regulation.

Handgrip and knee extension strength as predictors of cancer mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The specific role of different strength measures on mortality risk needs to be clarified to gain a better understanding of the clinical importance of different muscle groups, as well as to inform intervention protocols in relation to reducing early mortality. The aim of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the relationship between muscular strength and risk of cancer mortality. Eligible cohort studies were those that examined the association between muscular strength, as assessed using validated tests, and cancer mortality in healthy youth and adults. The hazard ratio (HR) estimates obtained were pooled using random effects meta-analysis models. The outcome was cancer mortality assessed using the HR (Cox proportional hazards model). Eleven prospective studies with 1 309 413 participants were included, and 9787 cancer-specific deaths were reported. Overall, greater handgrip (HR = 0.97, 95% CI, 0.92-1.02; P = .055; I2  = 18.9%) and knee extension strength (HR = 0.98, 95% CI, 0.95-1.00; P = .051; I2  = 60.6%) were barely significant associated with reduced risk of cancer mortality. Our study suggests that higher level of muscular strength is not statistically associated with lower risk of cancer mortality.

Community prevalence of methicillin and vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in and around Bangalore, southern India / Prevalência de Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina e à vancomicina em comunidade no entorno de Bangalore, Índia do Sul

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcus aureus is a known colonizer in humans and has been implicated in community acquired soft tissue infections. However emergence of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has aroused great concern worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MRSA in the community of Bangalore, southern India. METHODS: Swabs were collected from anterior nares, forearm, dorsum and palm of the hands of 1,000 healthy individuals residing in and around Bangalore, belonging to different socioeconomic strata and age groups. RESULTS: Analysis verified that 22.5 percent and 16.6 percent of the individuals presented Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA, respectively, at any of the three sites. Vancomycin resistance was observed in 1.4 percent of the S. aureus isolates, which was confirmed by detection of the vanA gene. It was interesting to note that 58.8 percent of the children in the age group 1-5 years-old presented MRSA, the highest percentage compared to other age groups of < 1 (44.4 percent) year-old, 5-20 (21.7 percent) years-old, > 40 (11 percent) years-old and 20-40 (9.9 percent) years-old. Among the population of various socioeconomic strata, maximum MRSA colonization was observed among doctors (22.2 percent), followed by upper economic class (18.8 percent), lower economic class (17.7 percent), apparently healthy hospital in-patients (16.5 percent), nurses (16 percent) and middle economic class (12.5 percent). Most of the MRSA isolates were capsular polysaccharide antigen type 8 (57.1 percent). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for continuous surveillance and monitoring of the presence of MRSA in the community and a clearer understanding of the dynamics of the spread of MRSA will assist in controlling its dissemination.

INTRODUÇÃO: O Staphylococcus aureus é conhecido por ser um colonizador em humanos sendo implicado em infecções comunitárias dos tecidos moles. Contudo, a resistência à meticilina e emergência de S. aureus meticilina resistentes (MRSA) têm despertado preocupação em todo o mundo. O presente estudo visa encontrar a prevalência de MRSA na comunidade de Bangalore, sul da Índia. MÉTODOS: Suabes foram coletados de narinas anteriores, antebraço e dorso da palma de 1.000 indivíduos saudáveis, residentes em Bangalore e nas proximidades, pertencentes a diferentes estratos socioeconômicos e faixas etárias. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que 22,5 por cento e 16,6 por cento dos indivíduos foram abrigar Staphylococcus aureus e MRSA, respectivamente, em qualquer um dos três locais. Dos S. aureus isolados, 1,4 por cento também foram resistentes à vancomicina, o que foi confirmado pela detecção do gene vanA. Foi interessante notar que 58,8 por cento das crianças na faixa etária de 1-5 anos foram abrigar MRSA, o mais elevado em comparação com outros grupos etários de < 1 (44,4 por cento) ano, 50-20 (21,7 por cento) anos, > 40 (11 por cento) anos e 20-40 (9,9 por cento) anos. Entre a população de diferentes estratos socioeconômicos, a colonização de MRSA máxima foi observada entre os médicos (22,2 por cento), seguida pela classe econômica superior (18,8 por cento), classe baixa (17,7 por cento), pacientes aparentemente saudáveis (16,5 por cento), enfermeiros (16 por cento) e classe econômica média (12,5 por cento). A maioria dos MRSA isolados eram do tipo polissacarídeo capsular antígeno 8 (57,1 por cento). CONCLUSÕES: Há uma necessidade de vigilância e monitorização contínua da presença de MRSA na comunidade, bem como uma melhor compreensão da dinâmica de propagação de MRSA pode ajudar no controle da disseminação.

Spot urine porphyrins/creatinine ratio profile of healthy Brazilian individuals adjusted for personal habits

Changes in urinary porphyrin excretion may be the result of hereditary causes and/or from environmental or occupational exposure. The objective of this study was to measure the amount of some porphyrins in spot urine samples obtained from volunteers randomly selected from a healthy adult population of São Paulo with a sensitive HPLC method and to estimate normal ranges for a non-exposed population. Spot urine samples were collected from 126 subjects (both genders, 18 to 65 years old) not occupationally exposed to porphyrinogenic agents. Porphyrin fractions were separated on RP-18 HPLC column eluted with a methanol/ammonium acetate buffer gradient, pH 4.0, and measured fluorometrically (excitation 405 nm/emission 620 nm). The amount of porphyrins was corrected for urinary creatinine excretion. Only 8-carboxyl (uro) and 4-carboxyl (copro) porphyrins were quantified as µg/g creatinine. Data regarding age, gender, occupational activities, smoking and drinking habits were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Uroporphyrin results did not differ significantly between the subgroups studied. Copro and uro + copro porphyrins were significantly different for smokers (P = 0.008) and occupational activities (P = 0.004). With respect to alcohol consumption, only men drinking >20 g/week showed significant differences in the levels of copro (P = 0.022) and uro + copro porphyrins (P = 0.012). The 2.5-97.5th percentile limit values, excluding those for subjects with an alcohol drinking habit >20 g/week, were 0-20.8, 11.7-93.1, and 15.9-102.9 µg/g creatinine for uro, copro and uro + copro porphyrins, respectively. These percentile limit values can be proposed as a first attempt to provide urinary porphyrin reference values for our population, serving for an early diagnosis of porphyrinopathies or as biomarkers of exposure to porphyrinogenic agents.