Search

Background: The oxidative handicap hypothesis posits that testosterone-dependent traits, such as muscle mass and strength, may be costly to develop due to testosterone's pro-oxidative properties, leading to increased oxidative stress. This hypothesis suggests that only individuals with superior biological conditions can afford these costs. This study examines the oxidative handicap hypothesis, exploring the relationship between muscle mass or handgrip strength and oxidative stress markers in men. Methods: Handgrip strength and muscle mass were measured in 179 men, with muscle mass assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and handgrip strength measured using a hydraulic dynamometer. Serum testosterone levels and antioxidant capacity were measured. 8-OH-dG, 8-epi-PGF2α, and protein carbonyls were measured to evaluate oxidative stress level. Pearson's correlation and multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between handgrip strength, muscle mass, and oxidative stress markers, controlling for age, serum testosterone levels, and antioxidant capacity. Results: No significant correlations were found between handgrip strength and oxidative stress markers, even when controlling for muscle mass, antioxidant capacity, testosterone levels, and age. Conclusions: The study's findings do not support the oxidative handicap hypothesis in the context of muscle parameters in men. The results suggest that testosterone-driven traits like handgrip strength or muscle mass may not necessarily incur oxidative stress costs in healthy young men, possibly due to effective compensatory antioxidant mechanisms. Factors like lifestyle, diet, and genetic predisposition, which were not controlled in this study, could also influence the observed outcomes and should be included in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The oxidative handicap hypothesis posits that testosterone-dependent traits, such as muscle mass and strength, may be costly to develop due to testosterone’s pro-oxidative properties, leading to increased oxidative stress. This hypothesis suggests that only individuals with superior biological conditions can afford these costs. This study examines the oxidative handicap hypothesis, exploring the relationship between muscle mass or handgrip strength and oxidative stress markers in men. Methods Handgrip strength and muscle mass were measured in 179 men, with muscle mass assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and handgrip strength measured using a hydraulic dynamometer. Serum testosterone levels and antioxidant capacity were measured. 8-OH-dG, 8-epi-PGF2α, and protein carbonyls were measured to evaluate oxidative stress level. Pearson’s correlation and multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between handgrip strength, muscle mass, and oxidative stress markers, controlling for age, serum testosterone levels, and antioxidant capacity. Results No significant correlations were found between handgrip strength and oxidative stress markers, even when controlling for muscle mass, antioxidant capacity, testosterone levels, and age. Conclusions The study’s findings do not support the oxidative handicap hypothesis in the context of muscle parameters in men. The results suggest that testosterone-driven traits like handgrip strength or muscle mass may not necessarily incur oxidative stress costs in healthy young men, possibly due to effective compensatory antioxidant mechanisms. Factors like lifestyle, diet, and genetic predisposition, which were not controlled in this study, could also influence the observed outcomes and should be included in future research.

The term "Activities of Daily Living" (ADLs) refers to a set of fundamental tasks (i.e., toileting, bathing, personal care, eating, grooming, and getting dressed) considered necessary for living and being autonomous in everyday life. Although in the clinical setting ADLs efficiency is a marker to diagnose dementia, limited evidence on the mechanism implicating muscular function and cognitive alterations in ADLs skills in late adulthood exists. This study primarily intended to determine the extent to which executive functions mediate between muscular strength, as assessed through handgrip strength (HGS) measurement, and ADLs skills of older community-dwellers. A further goal was to explore the impact of gender and cognitive status on ADLs and HGS scores, using education as a covariate. Three hundred and thirty-four older participants, 199 females and 135 males (Mage = 77.5 years, SD = 5.6 years, age range = 63–93 years) completed a battery of tests assessing ADLs, HGS, and executive functions. The results showed that 34–56% of the variance in the ADLs condition was explained by HGS and executive functioning. Furthermore, cognitively healthy participants exhibited better ADLs skills, whereas cognitively impaired individuals, both males and females, exhibited poorer HGS efficiency. In conclusion, in clinical settings, the concurrent evaluation of ADLs skills, motor, and higher-order cognitive processes should be encouraged to detect individuals needing a person-tailored intervention to boost their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an independent predictor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The prevalence increases with age, but little is known about the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and ED, especially among men with a high risk of CVD. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ED among men aged ≥40 years with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its association with HGS. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study at an institutional primary care clinic in Malaysia was conducted between June 2021 and October 2021. HGS and erectile function were assessed using a hand dynamometer and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and HGS with ED. Results: A total of 334 participants were recruited. The prevalence of ED was 79% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75-0.84). ED was associated with elderly aged ≥60 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.27, 95%CI: 1.60-6.69), low HGS (OR 15.34, 95%CI: 5.64-41.81) and high total cholesterol (OR 0.36, 95%CI: 0.16-0.78). Conclusion: In conclusion, age above 60 years and those with low HGS are at higher risk of ED. Thus, robust screening of ED among men with MetS and improving muscle strength and physical fitness may be warranted.

ABSTRACT: Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an independent predictor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The prevalence increases with age, but little is known about the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and ED, especially among men with a high risk of CVD. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ED among men aged ≥40 years with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its association with HGS. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study at an institutional primary care clinic in Malaysia was conducted between June 2021 and October 2021. HGS and erectile function were assessed using a hand dynamometer and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and HGS with ED. Results: A total of 334 participants were recruited. The prevalence of ED was 79% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75-0.84). ED was associated with elderly aged ≥60 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.27, 95%CI: 1.60-6.69), low HGS (OR 15.34, 95%CI: 5.64-41.81) and high total cholesterol (OR 0.36, 95%CI: 0.16-0.78). Conclusion: In conclusion, age above 60 years and those with low HGS are at higher risk of ED. Thus, robust screening of ED among men with MetS and improving muscle strength and physical fitness may be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Handgrip strength (HGS) measures the maximum voluntary force of the hand, which has been used to assess individual health status indirectly. Although several factors related to HGS have been identified, studies among adults in Malaysia are lacking. This study aimed to provide the normative reference HGS values and determine its predictor factors among healthy adults of Malay ethnic in Malaysia. Methodology This study was a part of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study carried out among adults aged between 35 to 70 years old residing in urban and rural Malaysian communities. A standardised questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic information and physical activity level of respondents who provided written informed consent to participate in this study. HGS was measured using Jamar’s dynamometer. A total of 3,446 healthy adults of Malay ethnic were included in this study. Descriptive data were used to derive the normative reference values for HGS using means and standard deviations stratified by age and gender. The predictors of HGS were determined using a general linear model (GLM). Results Mean HGS ranged from 38.48 (± 9.40) kg for the dominant hand of men aged 35–40 years to 16.53 (± 5.69) kg for the non-dominant hand of women aged 61–70 years. The ANOVA indicated that there was a significant descending trend of HGS as age increased for both genders (p

The contribution of motor efficiency to the maintenance of psychological well-being in cognitively impaired older individuals is still insufficiently examined. This investigation primarily intended to evaluate whether muscular strength mediates the relationship between different facets of psychological well-being (i.e., personal satisfaction, emotional competence, coping), negative mood, and central executive efficiency through the Clock-Drawing, Trail-Making (Part A), and verbal fluency tests. Furthermore, the impact of cognitive decline on self-reported psychological well-being and depression was explored, using the handgrip strength (HGS) measure as a covariate. One hundred and nineteen older participants, 44 males and 75 females, aged 63 years and older (Mage = 77.7 years, SD = 5.6 years), completed a battery of tests assessing executive functions, HGS, depression, and psychological well-being. Significant low to moderate associations were found between distinct executive functions, HGS, psychological well-being, and depression. In addition, personal satisfaction did not correlate with any measure of executive functions, the clock-drawing score was associated only with coping index, and self-reported depression correlated only with the Trail-Making Test score. Moreover, a series of mediation analyses documented that executive functions (primarily assessing verbal fluency and motor speed) and HGS explained approximately 20–46% of the variance in perceived psychological well-being and depression. Finally, more cognitively impaired participants reported worse total psychological well-being, emotional competence, and coping. In conclusion, motor proficiency mediates the relationship between selective measures of executive functions and perceived psychological well-being and depression in cognitively impaired individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Handgrip strength (HGS) measures the maximum voluntary force of the hand, which has been used to assess individual health status indirectly. Although several factors related to HGS have been identified, studies among adults in Malaysia are lacking. This study aimed to provide the normative reference HGS values and determine its predictor factors among healthy adults of Malay ethnic in Malaysia. Methodology: This study was a part of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study carried out among adults aged between 35 to 70 years old residing in urban and rural Malaysian communities. A standardised questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic information and physical activity level of respondents who provided written informed consent to participate in this study. HGS was measured using Jamar's dynamometer. A total of 3,446 healthy adults of Malay ethnic were included in this study. Descriptive data were used to derive the normative reference values for HGS using means and standard deviations stratified by age and gender. The predictors of HGS were determined using a general linear model (GLM). Results: Mean HGS ranged from 38.48 (± 9.40) kg for the dominant hand of men aged 35–40 years to 16.53 (± 5.69) kg for the non-dominant hand of women aged 61–70 years. The ANOVA indicated that there was a significant descending trend of HGS as age increased for both genders (p < 0.05). The ANOVA also revealed that participants working in blue- or white-collar jobs had higher HGS than their counterparts who are homemakers (p < 0.05). The GLM shows that, age, occupation type, socio-economic status (SES), physical activity level and BMI significantly predicted dominant HGS among male and meanwhile, only age, SES and BMI significantly predicted dominant HGS among female. Conclusion: HGS normative values provided herein can serve as a guide for interpreting HGS measurements obtained from healthy Asian adults especially Malay ethnic. The clinicians and researcher can use the established HGS reference values as comparison in their patients or participants. Furthermore, during a rehabilitation process, the clinicians and researchers could use the normal score ranges to document the progress of HGS and provide feedback to the patients. Further study with prospective study design is needed to determine the causal effect association of the predictors and HGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handgrip strength (HGS) is considered an essential marker of an individual's physical strength throughout life, especially of the upper limb and fine motor function. HGS is influenced by basic anthropometric determinants such as age, stature, and gender. The information about the differences in these anthropometric parameters in athletes as compared to non-athletes and the consequent influence on HGS is scarce. Investigations of the association between involvement in hand-related and non-hand-related sporting activities among different age groups of both sexes with HGS, particularly in a developing nation like Nigeria are scarce. This study aimed to investigate how anthropometric parameters of age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), affect handgrip strength and their association with sport-related parameters. A crosssectional study was conducted on 370 healthy Nigerians aged 17-40 years, from sports centres in Kwara state. Subjects were grouped into hand-athletes, non-hand-athletes, and a control group of non-athletes. A questionnaire was administered to get their biodata, while measurements of HGS(lbs); using a dynamometer, height(m), 2 weight(kg), and BMI(kg/m² ) were taken. HGS of hand-related athletes was significantly greater than the non-hand athletes and non-athletes. No significant difference was observed between the non-hand athletes and non-athletes. HGS of the non-sportsmen was significantly correlated with age, height, weight, and BMI, however, there were no significant correlations for non-sportswomen. HGS of the non-hand-sportsmen was significantly correlated with age, weight, and BMI, but not with height, while only BMI was significantly correlated for non-hand-sportswomen. HGS of both hand-sportsmen and hand sportswomen were significantly correlated with weight and BMI, however, age and height showed no significant correlation. A strong positive correlation exists between HGS and anthropometric parameters of weight and BMI in relation to hand-related sporting activities in both sexes, but not with age and height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia is the decline in muscle strength and mass attributed to aging. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia may be triggered by oxidative stress and uric acid (UA) has strong antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between UA and sarcopenia in community-dwelling adults of West China using the baseline data of West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study.Design: A cross-sectional study.Methods: 4236 adults aged 50 years or older in communities of west China were enrolled in this study. We applied Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria to define sarcopenia. Muscle mass was measured using skeletal muscle index (SMI) based on bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Handgrip strength (HGS) and gait speed (GS) were recorded, respectively. Different variables like anthropometry measures, life styles, chronic disease and blood test were collected. General linear model was done to investigate the relationship between UA and HGS/GS/SMI, adjusting age, ethnic groups, sleeping quality, education level, cognitive function, smoking history, drinking history, ADL score, and chronic disease.Results: Participants were grouped according to UA quartiles by gender. After adjusting for potential confounders, a negative association between serum UA levels and sarcopenia was shown both in men and women. And a significant association between serum UA levels and HGS in women was shown as an inverted J shape. Besides, a positive association between the UA quartiles and SMI was observed, irrespective of gender.Conclusions: Our results showed that higher uric acid levels were significantly correlated with higher muscle mass and grip strength among Chinese adults aged over 50. Higher UA serum levels might slow down the progression of sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is the decline in muscle strength and mass attributed to aging. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia may be triggered by oxidative stress and uric acid (UA) has strong antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between UA and sarcopenia in community-dwelling adults of West China using the baseline data of West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study. Design A cross-sectional study. Methods 4236 adults aged 50 years or older in communities of west China were enrolled in this study. We applied Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria to define sarcopenia. Muscle mass was measured using skeletal muscle index (SMI) based on bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Handgrip strength (HGS) and gait speed (GS) were recorded, respectively. Different variables like anthropometry measures, life styles, chronic disease and blood test were collected. General linear model was done to investigate the relationship between UA and HGS/GS/SMI, adjusting age, ethnic groups, sleeping quality, education level, cognitive function, smoking history, drinking history, ADL score, and chronic disease. Results Participants were grouped according to UA quartiles by gender. After adjusting for potential confounders, a negative association between serum UA levels and sarcopenia was shown both in men and women. And a significant association between serum UA levels and HGS in women was shown as an inverted J shape. Besides, a positive association between the UA quartiles and SMI was observed, irrespective of gender. Conclusions Our results showed that higher uric acid levels were significantly correlated with higher muscle mass and grip strength among Chinese adults aged over 50. Higher UA serum levels might slow down the progression of sarcopenia.

Introduction: The measurement of handgrip strength (HGS) is an indicator of an individual's overall strength and can serve as a predictor of morbidity and mortality. Aims: To measure the relationship between Hand Grip Strength with anthropometric variables in healthy school going children between6-12 years. Materials & methods: The present cross-sectional study with 840 patients was based on 6 schools in the city of Hyderabad, from June 2020-Dec 2021 with School going children of age 6-12 years. Results: Males in all the 7 age groups were shown to have significantly higher hand grip strengths than the female children. There was gradual and significant increase in grip strength with age for both the genders (p <0.001). Height and weight were also positively correlated with hand grip strengths for both males as well as females (p<0.001). Conclusion: Hand grip strength measurements were shown to be positively and statistically correlating with age, height and weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often presents with dyspnea resulting from the condition of air trapping, assessed by lung volume measurement studies. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and air trapping in COPD patients., Methods: Cross-sectional research was conducted in COPD patients at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand between May 2022 and December 2023. HGS was assessed using the Jamar ® Smart Hand Dynamometer, and air trapping was measured using a body plethysmograph. Air trapping was defined as a ratio of residual volume (RV) to total lung capacity (TLC) greater than 40%. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, sensitivity, and specificity values were calculated to determine the optimal cutoff value of HGS for predicting air trapping., Results: A total of 72 patients (90.3% male) were included, with an average age of 72.4±9.7 years. The body mass index was 23.5±4.3 kg/m 2 . The smoking history was 23.2±14.8 pack-years. Common comorbidities included hypertension (36.1%) and diabetes (22.2%). Post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 72.1%±21.2%. Air trapping was found in 55.6%. A negative correlation was found between HGS and RV/TLC (R=-0.399, P=0.001). The best cutoff value for HGS to predict air trapping was 28.3 kg, with 71.9% sensitivity and 65.0% specificity. The area under the ROC curve for identifying air trapping was 0.681 (95% CI: 0.554 to 0.808, P=0.009)., Conclusions: Air trapping is common in COPD patients, and HGS is significantly correlated with air trapping. Thus, HGS may serve as an alternative tool for assessing air trapping., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: Both authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-24-631/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)

BackgroundThis study was designed to verify whether early posttransplant standardized phase angle (SPhA) determines nutrition status of hemodialysis patients in regard to different nutritional markers and predicts handgrip strength (HGS) 6 months after kidney transplantation.MethodsA total of 82 kidney transplant recipients on maintenance hemodialysis treatment entered the study. Nutritional status was evaluated before kidney transplantation, at the hospital discharge date, and 6 months after. We used bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), three different malnutrition screening tools, HGS, and anthropometric measurements. Demographic profiles and biochemical nutritional markers were collected. SPhA values, adjusted for age and BMI, were used in our study.ResultsIn the early posttransplant period, kidney transplant recipients lost muscle mass, gained fat mass, and developed mostly negative SPhA, accompanied by significantly lower albumin levels. The subjects with lower than median (

PurposePatients with gastric cancer after gastrectomy often suffer from a decline in their quality of life (QoL), but the relationship between body composition (BC) and physical function on QoL has rarely been studied. This study aims to evaluate and determine the changes in QoL after gastrectomy and the impact of BC and physical function on QoL.MethodsA total of 311 gastric cancer patients completed EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-STO22 questionnaires before and 1, 3, 6 months post-surgery. Data including BC, handgrip strength (HGS) and 6-m gait speed (GS) were collected prospectively. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between QoL and BC, HGS and GS.ResultsPatients had significantly worse scores after surgery on most function and symptom scales (p < 0.001), but most of these scales recovered within 6 months after surgery. A higher subcutaneous fat area (SFA)was associated with increased symptom scores 1 month after surgery. A higher GS is associated with a better global health status symptom.ConclusionPatients suffer from a decline in their QoL after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Intervention strategies aiming at reducing SFA and improving GS may improve the QoL in patients underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Objective: The literature offers significant amount of data on the effects of occupational activity on health, with a distinct link between retirement and health among the most frequently tackled topics. Studies on the relationship between past occupational activity and physical fitness among older retirees remain scarce. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of physical activity on physical fitness in white- and blue-collar retirees.Methods: A total of 200 participants (aged ≥60) were included in the study. Lifetime physical activity was assessed using the Lifetime Physical Activity Questionnaire. Mean MET/week/year values of total Physical Activity and for each domain separately (occupational, sports, household) were calculated. Participants were stratified to blue- or white- collar group. Physical performance, hand-grip strength (HGS) and pulmonary function were assessed.Results: Mean total MET/week/year values for the blue- and the white-collar workers were 140.48 ± 55.13 and 100.75 ± 35.98, respectively. No statistically significant differences in physical performance scores were found between the white- and blue- collar groups. Adjustment for age, sex weight and height revealed a statistically significant association between work-related PA FEV*1 in the blue-collar group. White – collar workers presented higher odds ratio for membership in highest quartile in regard to short physical performance battery test score.Conclusion: Only minimal association of type of occupation on physical fitness were found despite statistically significant differences between mean intensity and duration of sports- and work-related lifetime physical activity. These findings may indicate that the type of past work is not an independent factor influencing the state of a person in old age. Large-scale investigations with physically fit and unfit participants, are necessary.

People with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) often exhibit generalized weakness that affects several activities of daily life, particularly those relying on balance and gait. While it is known that such a symptom has a strong impact on mobility, to what extent muscular strength is linked with functional mobility in men and women with MS remains mostly unexplored. The aim of this study is to assess the existence of possible sex-related differences in functional mobility in pwMS, also considering the muscular strength capacity. Functional mobility and hand-grip strength (HGS) were assessed in 49 pwMS with mild-moderate disability using instrumental Timed-up-and-go (TUG) test carried out using an inertial sensor and digital dynamometry. We investigated the existence of sex-related differences in the duration of each TUG sub-phase and their correlation with the HGS. No sex-related differences in TUG performance (either in terms of overall or sub-phase time) were found. Similar large negative correlations were found in men and women with MS between HGS and overall TUG and walking phase duration. However, changes in strength have a more marked impact in women as indicated by the different slope of the HGS-TUG time relationship., In women, HGS also appears significantly correlated with all TUG sub-phases, while in men this occurs only for overall TUG and walking time. C onclusions : Rehabilitation and training programs for pwMS should take into account the peculiar features associated with the interaction between strength and mobility specific for each individual's sex to optimize their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 33% patients with osteoarthritis undergoing total hip/knee arthroplasty are not satisfied with the outcome, warranting the need to improve patient selection. Handgrip strength (HGS) has been suggested as a proxy for overall muscle strength and may be associated with post-arthroplasty function. This study aims to assess the association of pre-operative HGS with change in hip/knee function and quality of life in patients with arthroplasty. 226 hip (THA) and 246 knee (TKA) arthroplasty patients were included in this prospective cohort study. Pre-operative HGS was assessed by means of a dynamometer and the HOOS/KOOS and SF-36 questionnaires were collected before arthroplasty and 1 year thereafter. The association of HGS with score change on each sub-domain of the included questionnaires was assessed by linear regression models, adjusting for sex, body mass index and baseline score. Mean pre-operative HGS was 26 kg for patients undergoing THA and 24 kg for those undergoing TKA. HGS was positively associated with an increased improvement score on "function in sport and recreation"-domain in hip (β = 0.68, P = 0.005) and knee (β = 0.52, P = 0.049) and "symptoms"-domain in hip (β = 0.56, P = 0.001). For patients with THA, HGS was associated with the "quality of life" domain (β = 0.33, P = 0.033). In patients with TKA, HGS was associated with the physical component score (β = 0.31, P = 0.001). All statistically significant effects were positive, indicating that with greater pre-operative HGS, an increased gain in 1-year post-surgery score was observed. HGS can be used as a tool to inform patients with OA who are future candidates for a prosthesis about the possible improvements of certain aspects of life after arthroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) intervention in individual with knee Osteoarthritis.Design: Randomized controlled clincial trail.Participants: Sixty-six individual prediagnosed with knee osteoarthritis aged between 30 and 75 years were randomized into two groups, i.e., Yoga (n = 31) and Control (n = 35). Yoga group received IAYT intervention for 1 week at yoga center of S-VYASA whereas Control group maintained their normal lifestyle.Outcome measures: The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Handgrip Strength test (left hand LHGS and right hand RHGS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Sit-to-Stand (STS), and right & left extension and flexion were measured on day 1 and day 7.Results: There were a significant reduction in TUG (p < 0.001), Right (p < 0.001), and Left Flexion (p < 0.001) whereas significant improvements in LHGS (p < 0.01), and right extension (p < 0.05) & left extension (p < 0.001) from baseline in Yoga group.Conclusion: IAYT practice showed an improvement in TUG, STS, HGS, and Goniometer test, which suggest improved muscular strength, flexibility, and functional mobility.CTRI Registration Number: http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials, identifier CTRI/2017/10/010141.

Objective: To investigate the effect of integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) intervention in individual with knee Osteoarthritis. Design: Randomized controlled clincial trail. Participants: Sixty-six individual prediagnosed with knee osteoarthritis aged between 30 and 75 years were randomized into two groups, i.e., Yoga (n = 31) and Control (n = 35). Yoga group received IAYT intervention for 1 week at yoga center of S-VYASA whereas Control group maintained their normal lifestyle. Outcome measures: The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Handgrip Strength test (left hand LHGS and right hand RHGS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Sit-to-Stand (STS), and right & left extension and flexion were measured on day 1 and day 7. Results: There were a significant reduction in TUG (p < 0.001), Right (p < 0.001), and Left Flexion (p < 0.001) whereas significant improvements in LHGS (p < 0.01), and right extension (p < 0.05) & left extension (p < 0.001) from baseline in Yoga group. Conclusion: IAYT practice showed an improvement in TUG, STS, HGS, and Goniometer test, which suggest improved muscular strength, flexibility, and functional mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This study aimed to characterize age-related changes in Timed Up and Go (TUG) sub-phases (i.e., sit to stand, walking and turning) quantitatively assessed using an inertial sensor in healthy older adults and to verify the degree of correlation between TUG parameters and muscular strength (assessed by handgrip strength, HGS) in the different age ranges. Methods This is a cross-sectional study performed on 125 healthy older adults aged over 65 years stratified in four groups (< 70 years, 71-75, 76-80, > 80) who underwent an instrumental TUG carried out using a wearable inertial sensor. In addition, participants were asked to carry out the HGS test to establish possible relationships between muscular strength and TUG features. Results The results show a general decline in all phases of TUG performance (albeit with some gender-related differences) which becomes significant after 75 years of age. Also, HGS was found to be systematically higher in men at any age group. Significant negative correlations between HGS and TUG phases times were found for both genders (men r = - 0.28 to - 0.50, women r = - 0.34 to - 0.60). However, when age groups were analyzed separately, such correlations are confirmed only in case of women aged < 70 years, while they vanish for most parameters in all other age groups. Conclusion The findings obtained in the present study suggest that muscular strength might have a different relationship with functional mobility according to age and gender, and this should be considered when physical activity program or rehabilitation plans are planned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Digit ratio, especially second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is used as a biomarker of prenatal testosterone exposure and was found associated with physical ability, such as handgrip strength (HGS). Recently, this association has been discussed in several ethnic groups.Aims: To investigate correlations between 2D:4D and HGS in Chinese population of Ningxia Hui ethnicity.Methods: Here we firstly present the evidence on digit ratio and HGS of 346 college students (119 males and 227 females) by collecting photographs and HGS of both hands at Yinchuan city, in the Ningxia province of China.Results: Females have higher mean values of digit ratio than males; significant variances of 3D:5D (left and right: P<0.05), 2D:3D, 3D:4D (left and right: P<0.01) and 2D:4D, 2D:5D (left and right: P<0.001) were found between different sex. Males showed significantly greater HGS than females on both hands. 2D:4D of both hands were significantly negative correlated with HGS in females (but not in males).Conclusions: 2D:4D ratio is negatively correlated with HGS in a Chinese population (especially in females) of Ningxia Hui ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In humans, the relative lengths of the index finger to the ring finger (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic trait which correlated with prenatal sex steroids and has been increasingly used as a promising tool to evaluate the impact of prenatal hormone exposure in some traits, such as physical performance. Handgrip strength (HGS) is one potent index of physical ability and its relationship with 2D:4D ratio has been discussed in several ethnic groups.Aims: To investigate whether there is a correlation between 2D:4D ratio and HGS in Chinese college students of Ningxia Han ethnicity.Methods: 608 students (211 males and 397 females) of Han ethnicity were recruited from Ningxia medical university. Photocopies and HGS of both hands were collected at Yinchuan city, in the Ningxia province of China.Results: Sexual dimorphism of 2D:4D and HGS were found, males had significantly lower 2D:4D and greater HGS than females. 2D:4D in both hands were significantly negative correlated with HGS in females and not in males.Conclusions: 2D:4D ratio is negative correlated with HGS in a Chinese population of Ningxia Han ethnicity and this association should be considered on the anthropological research within an evolutionary concept in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background & aims: Both undernutrition – low fat free mass (FFM) – and obesity – high fat mass (FM) – have been associated with adverse outcome in cardiac surgical patients. However, whether there is an additional effect on outcome of these risk factors present at the same time, that is sarcopenic obesity (SO), is unknown. Furthermore, the association between SO and muscle function is unidentified. Methods and results: In 325 cardiac surgical patients, we prospectively analysed the association between preoperative FFM and FM, measured by bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy, and postoperative adverse outcomes, and their correlation with muscle function – handgrip strength (HGS). SO was associated with postoperative infections (28.2% vs. 5.3%, adj. odds ratio (OR): 7.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–54.1; p =0.04). Further, a low FFM index (FFMI; kgm−2) was associated with postoperative infections (18.5% vs. 4.7%, adj. OR: 6.6; 95% CI: 1.7–25.2; p =0.01) while a high FM index (FMI; kgm−2) was not. Both components of SO, FFMI and FMI, correlated with HGS (FFMI: r =0.570; p <0.001, FMI: r =−0.263; p <0.001). Conclusion: SO is associated with an increased occurrence of adverse outcome after cardiac surgery. Our results suggest an additional risk of a low FFMI and high FMI present at the same time. Furthermore, SO is characterised by less muscle function. We advocate determining body composition in cardiac surgical patients to classify and treat undernourished patients, in particular those who are also obese. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background. In dialysis patients, protein-energy wasting (PEW) is associated with high mortality, and some indicators of PEW, such as serum albumin value, subjective global assessment (SGA) score and handgrip strength (HGS), may predict mortality. However, whether PEW is associated with poor renal outcomes and whether the indicators of PEW can predict renal outcomes in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD-ND) is still unclear.Methods. We enrolled 128 clinically stable patients with CKD-ND and followed up for 33.8 ± 9.2 months. Baseline characteristics, echocardiographic information, laboratory data, HGS, SGA scores, anthropometric parameters, bioimpedance analyses and other indicators of PEW were examined in relation to the risk of reaching renal composite end points of pre-dialysis mortality or dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease.Results. Twenty-six patients reached composite renal end points. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that HGS was an independent predictor of renal outcome in patients with CKD-ND of Stages 1–5 [CKD1–5, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.90, P = 0.004] or advanced CKD-ND of Stages 3b [defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 30–44 mL/min/1.73m2] to 5 (CKD3b–5, HR = 0.91, P = 0.031), but not serum albumin, SGA score or other indicators of PEW. When the cutoffs were set at 24.65 kg in men with CKD1–5, 20.15 kg in men with CKD3b–5 and 10.15 kg in women with CKD1–5 or CKD3b–5, which were deduced from receiver-operating characteristics analyses, patients with lower HGS had significantly poor renal outcomes in Kaplan–Meier survival analyses in all subgroups and higher HR for reaching renal end points in multivariate Cox regression analyses in all subgroups except for women with CKD3b–5, whose HR had marginal significance (HR = 3.78, P = 0.068) after adjusting for age and eGFR.Conclusions. This is the first study demonstrating that HGS is an independent predictor of composite renal outcomes in CKD-ND patients. HGS can be incorporated to clinical practice for assessing nutrition status and renal prognosis in patients with CKD-ND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia is the decline in muscle strength and mass attributed to aging. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia may be triggered by oxidative stress; uric acid (UA) has strong antioxidant properties. This study aimed to examine if the serum UA level is associated with handgrip strength (HGS), which is a useful indicator of sarcopenia among Chinese participants aged over 45., Methods: Our study included 992 eligible participants (583 males and 409 females). Based on serum UA quartiles and gender, the participants were divided into 8 groups. HGS was measured in kilograms using an electronic dynamometer. Face-to-face visits and fasting blood analyses were performed to determine the serum UA levels and various covariates. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to analyze the linear or quadratic trend between the UA levels and grip strength., Results: Participants were grouped according to UA quartiles by gender. In both genders, ANOVA showed an inverted J-shaped association between serum UA levels and HGS (P for quadratic trend =0.004 in men, P for quadratic trend =0.003 in women). After adjusting for potential confounders, the association between the UA quartiles and HGS was unchanged, irrespective of gender., Conclusions: The results suggest that a specific range of serum UA levels may be associated with better HGS among Chinese adults aged over 45., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/atm-20-2813a). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2020 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Malnutrition and muscle wasting are closely related to mortality risk in patients with hemodialysis (HD). Subjective global assessment (SGA) is the most commonly used method to evaluate the nutritional status. Direct measurement of muscle mass has many limitations, but examining the handgrip strength (HGS) is relatively simple, safe and noninvasive. This study aims to analyze the correlation between the SGA score, HGS and mortality risk in HD patients. Methods: This study was a prospective observational cohort study. Chronic HD patients were recruited in Peking University People's Hospital HD unit. Patients' demographics, primary cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) were collected. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. HGS, upper arm circumference (MAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), arm muscle circumference (MAMC) were measured pre-dialysis. And serum albumin, serum potassium, serum sodium level and SGA were assessed. Patients' nutritional status was divided into 3 grades according to the SGA score. Grade A was for the normal nutrition level; grade B for mild and moderate malnutrition; and grade C for severe malnutrition. Grade B and C were combined as malnutrition for analyzing. Patients were followed up for 2 years. Results: A total of 116 HD patients were included in the study with 69 males and 47 females. The average age of the patients was 57.8 ± 14.8 years (Table 1). Mean follow-up was 22.7 ± 3.8 months. At the end of follow-up, 11 patients died (9.5%), 1 case got renal transplantation, 2 patients were transferred to other units and the remaining 105 patients survived. The average age for the death group was 66.5 ± 12.3 years old with an average HGS (22.5 ± 12.0) Kg. While, in the survival group the average age was (56.9 + 14.8) years with an average HGS (31.7 + 12.4) Kg. The incidences of malnutrition were 36.4% and 3.8% respectively in the death group and the survival group which had significant difference. The cumulative survival of patients with normal nutrition and malnutrition, as shown in Figure 1, was determined by SGA. The cumulative survival for malnutrition patients was poor. There was no significant difference in dialysis vintage, albumin level, serum potassium, serum sodium, dry weight, BMI, MAC, TSF, MAMC, etc. (Table 2). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that malnutrition (HR 3.25, 95% CI 1.02-10.39, P = 0.047) and older age (HR 5.09, 95% CI, 1.19-121.73, P = 0.028) increased mortality risk. While, HGS was a protective factor (HR 0.882, 95% CI negative 0.788-0.988, P = 0.031) (Table 3). Conclusions: SGA assessment of malnutrition, low HGS are risk factors for mortality in chronic HD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background & aims: Parameters with diagnostic accuracy to malnutrition assessment may be a challenge for patients in hemodialysis (HD). Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the accuracy and cutoff of handgrip strength (HGS) in nutritional assessment. Methods: Validation study of diagnostic tests. Cutoff to malnutrition was investigated by the ROC curves, using as reference standard the subjective global assessment (SGA), nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) and malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS). The association of HGS with: phase angle (PA), body mass index, percentage of fat mass, fat-free mass (FFM), was verified by multiple linear regression, P < 0.05. Results: 138 patients were evaluated (85 men), mean 55.4 ± 15.2 years. The area under the curve of the HGS showed moderate accuracy in women (SGA = 0.818; MIS = 0.834; NRS 2002 = 0.882) and low accuracy in men (SGA = 0.646; MIS = 0.606; NRS 2002 = 0.620). Cutoff values of HGS for the diagnosis of malnutrition, according to the reference standard were: <18 kg for women and <28.5 kg for men. The women classified as malnourished by HGS had lower values of PA (β = −1.00), FFM (β = −3.15) and MAC (β = −2.80), while malnourished men had lower values of FFM (β = −4.35), MAC (β = −1.71) and MAMC (β = −1.28). Conclusion: HGS was accurate in the diagnosis of malnutrition in women in HD, and provided consistent results of association with most of the nutritional parameters, for both genders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]