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This study was performed to identify factors that discriminate muscle echo intensity (EI) among parameters of body composition, physical function and daily physical activity in elderly individuals. A total of 209 men and women (73.7 ± 2.8 y) were evaluated. EI was measured on ultrasonographic axial thigh muscle images. The participants were categorized into the low, mid and high EI groups. We measured the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and physical functions. The high EI group exhibited a significantly lower SMI, slower 5-m walking time and shorter 6-min walking distance than the low EI group and had a shorter moderate-intensity activity time than the mid EI group. As a result of the discriminant analysis, elderly individuals were categorized into EI groups by SMI, daily activity and physical function. The data indicate that morphologic and functional parameters and the daily activity level help to discriminate higher and lower muscle EI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: This study was to determine whether combination of the angiotensin II AT1　receptor blocker (ARB), candesartan cilexetil, and exercise training can prevent the development of high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. Main methods: F344/NSlc rats were fed normal chow diet or high-fat (HF) diet for 7weeks. The HF-fed rats were either administered candesartan cilexetil (5mg·kg−1·day−1), exercise-trained, or received a combination of these 2 treatments. Key findings: Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) showed that combined treatment with candesartan cilexetil and exercise increased glucose tolerance as compared with each treatment alone in HF-fed rats. Moreover, euglycemic–hyperinsulinemic clamp analysis showed improvement in glucose infusion rate with exercise training or candesartan cilexetil treatment alone, and further improvement was observed with the combination treatment. Systolic blood pressure improved with candesartan cilexetil but not with exercise alone. Finally, Glut-4 protein expression in soleus muscle was decreased with HF diet, and the expression was increased by exercise and not candesartan cilexetil treatment. Significance: These results suggest that the combination of candesartan cilexetil and exercise training improves insulin resistance as compared with each treatment alone. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]