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Background The aim of this study was to collect standard reference values of the weight and the maximum pressure distribution in healthy adults aged 18–65 years and to investigate the influence of constitutional parameters on it. Methods A total of 416 healthy subjects (208 male / 208 female) aged between 18 and 65 years (Ø 38.3 ± 14.1 years) participated in this study, conducted 2015–2019 in Heidelberg. The age-specific evaluation is based on 4 age groups (G1, 18–30 years; G2, 31–40 years; G3, 41–50 years; G4, 51–65 years). A pressure measuring plate FDM-S (Zebris/Isny/Germany) was used to collect body weight distribution and maximum pressure distribution of the right and left foot and left and right forefoot/rearfoot, respectively. Results Body weight distribution of the left (50.07%) and right (50.12%) foot was balanced. There was higher load on the rearfoot (left 54.14%; right 55.09%) than on the forefoot (left 45.49%; right 44.26%). The pressure in the rearfoot was higher than in the forefoot (rearfoot left 9.60 N/cm2, rearfoot right 9.51 N/cm2/forefoot left 8.23 N/cm2, forefoot right 8.59 N/cm2). With increasing age, the load in the left foot shifted from the rearfoot to the forefoot as well as the maximum pressure (p ≤ 0.02 and 0.03; poor effect size). With increasing BMI, the body weight shifted to the left and right rearfoot (p ≤ 0.001, poor effect size). As BMI increased, so did the maximum pressure in all areas (p ≤ 0.001 and 0.03, weak to moderate effect size). There were significant differences in weight and maximum pressure distribution in the forefoot and rearfoot in the different age groups, especially between younger (18–40 years) and older (41–65 years) subjects. Discussion Healthy individuals aged from 18 to 65 years were found to have a balanced weight distribution in an aspect ratio, with a 20% greater load of the rearfoot. Age and BMI were found to be influencing factors of the weight and maximum pressure distribution, especially between younger and elder subjects. The collected standard reference values allow comparisons with other studies and can serve as a guideline in clinical practice and scientific studies.

Background To detect deviations from a normal postural control, standard values can be helpful for comparison purposes. Since the postural control is influenced by gender and age, the aim of the present study was the collection of standard values for women between 31 and 40 years of age. Methods For the study, 106 female, subjectively healthy, German subjects aged between 31 and 40 years (35 ± 2.98 years) were measured using a pressure measuring platform. Results Their average BMI was 21.60 ± 4.65 kg/m2. The load distribution between left and right foot was almost evenly balanced with a median 51.46% load on the left [tolerance interval (TR) 37.02%/65.90%; confidence interval (CI) 50.06/52.85%] and 48.54% [TR 43.10/62.97%; CI 47.14/49.93%] on the right foot. The median forefoot load was 33.84% [TR 20.68/54.73%; CI 31.67/37.33%] and the rearfoot load was measured at 66.16% [TR 45.27/79.33%; CI 62.67/68.33%]. The median/mean body sway in the sagittal plane was measured 12 mm [TR 5.45/23.44 mm; CI 11.00/14.00 mm] and 8.17 mm in the frontal plane [TR 3.33/19.08 mm; CI 7.67/9.33 mm]. The median of the ellipse area is 0.72 cm2 [TR 0.15/3.69 cm2; CI 0.54/0.89°]. The ellipse width has a median of 0.66 cm [TR 0.30/1.77 cm; CI 0.61/0.78 cm] and the height of 0.33 cm [TR 0.13/0.71 cm; CI 0.30/0.37 cm]. The ellipse angle (sway, left forefoot to right rearfoot) has a mean of − 19.34° [TR − 59.21/− 0.44°; CI − 22.52/− 16.16°] and the ellipse angle sway from right forefoot to left rearfoot has a mean of 12.75° [TR 0.09/59.09°; CI 9.00/16.33°]. Conclusion The right-to-left ratio is balanced. The forefoot-to-rearfoot ratio is approximately 1:2. Also, the body sway can be classified with 12 and 8 mm as normal. The direction of fluctuation is either approx. 19° from the left forefoot to the right rearfoot or approx. 13° the opposite. Body weight, height, and BMI were comparable to the German average of women in a similar age group, so that the measured standard values are representative and might serve as baseline for the normal function of the balance system in order to support the diagnosis of possible dysfunctions in postural control.

Background The thermoregulatory responses during simultaneous exposure to hypoxia and cold are not well understood owing to the opposite reactions of vasomotor tone in these two environments. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of hypobaric hypoxia on various thermoregulatory responses, including skin blood flow (SkBF) during cold exposure. Methods Ten subjects participated in two experimental conditions: normobaric normoxia with cold (NC, barometric pressure (PB) = 760 mmHg) and hypobaric hypoxia with cold (HC, PB = 493 mmHg). The air temperature was maintained at 28 °C for 65 min and gradually decreased to 19 °C for both conditions. The total duration of the experiment was 135 min. Results The saturation of percutaneous oxygen (SpO2) was maintained at 98–99% in NC condition, but decreased to around 84% in HC condition. The rectal and mean skin temperatures showed no significant differences between the conditions; however, the forehead temperature was higher in HC condition than in NC condition. The pulse rate increased in HC condition, and there was a strong negative relationship between SpO2 and pulse rate (r = − 0.860, p = 0.013). SkBF and blood pressure showed no significant differences between the two conditions. Conclusion These results suggest that hypobaric hypoxia during cold exposure did not alter the overall thermoregulatory responses. However, hypobaric hypoxia did affect pulse rate regardless of cold exposure.

Saccadic eye movements can allude to emotional states and visual attention. Recent studies have shown that microsaccadic responses (i.e., small fixational eye movements) reflect advanced brain activity during attentional and cognitive tasks. Moreover, the microsaccadic activity related to emotional attention provides new insights into this field. For example, emotional pictures attenuate the microsaccadic rate, and microsaccadic responses to covert attention occur in the direction opposite to a negative emotional target. However, the effects of various emotional events on microsaccadic activity remain debatable. This review introduces visual attention and eye movement studies that support findings on the modulation of microsaccadic responses to emotional events, comparing them with typical microsaccadic responses. This review also discusses the brain neuronal mechanisms governing microsaccadic responses to the attentional shifts triggered by emotion-related stimuli. It is hard to reveal the direct brain pathway of the microsaccadic modulation, especially in advanced (e.g., sustained anger, envy, distrust, guilt, frustration, delight, attraction, trust, and love), but also in basic human emotions (i.e., anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise). However, non-human primates and human studies can uncover the possible brain pathways of emotional attention and microsaccades, thus providing future research directions. In particular, the facilitated (or reduced) attention is common evidence that microsaccadic activities change under a variety of social modalities (e.g., cognition, music, mental illness, and working memory) that elicit emotions and feelings.

Background Venous compliance decreases with aging and/or physical inactivity, which is thought to be involved partly in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension. This suggests that it is important to maintain high venous compliance from a young age in order to prevent cardiovascular disease. Both nutrient and exercise could play an important role in the improvement and maintenance of vascular health. Indeed, habitual endurance exercise is known to improve the venous compliance, although little is known about the effect of diet on venous compliance. Considering that higher consumption of vegetables could contribute to the arterial vascular health and the decreased blood pressure, it is hypothesized that venous compliance may be greater as vegetable intake is higher. Thus, the purpose of this study was to clarify the association between vegetable intake and venous compliance in healthy young adults. Methods Dietary intake was assessed in 94 subjects (male: n = 44, female: n = 50) using a self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ). Intakes of nutrients and food groups that were obtained from the DHQ were adjusted according to total energy intake using the residual method. Based on the adjusted intake of food groups, total vegetable intake was calculated as the sum of green/yellow and white vegetables consumed. Calf volume was measured using venous occlusion plethysmography with a cuff deflation protocol. Calf venous compliance was calculated as the numerical derivative of the cuff pressure–calf volume curve. In addition, circulatory responses (heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure) at resting and maximal oxygen uptake were assessed in all subjects. Results Mean value of total vegetables intake was 162.2 ± 98.2 g/day. Simple linear regression analysis showed that greater venous compliance was significantly associated with higher total vegetable consumption (r = 0.260, P = 0.011) and green/yellow vegetable intake (r = 0.351, P = 0.001) but not white vegetable intake (r = 0.013, P = 0.902). These significant associations did not change in the multivariate linear regression models which were adjusted by sex and maximal oxygen uptake. Conclusion These findings suggest that higher consumption of vegetables, especially of the green/yellow vegetables, may be associated with greater venous compliance in young healthy adults.

With the popularization of pulse wave signals by the spread of wearable watch devices incorporating photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors, many studies are reporting the accuracy of pulse rate variability (PRV) as a surrogate of heart rate variability (HRV). However, the authors are concerned about their research paradigm based on the assumption that PRV is a biomarker that reflects the same biological properties as HRV. Because PPG pulse wave and ECG R wave both reflect the periodic beating of the heart, pulse rate and heart rate should be equal, but it does not guarantee that the respective variabilities are also the same. The process from ECG R wave to PPG pulse wave involves several transformation steps of physical properties, such as those of electromechanical coupling and conversions from force to volume, volume to pressure, pressure impulse to wave, pressure wave to volume, and volume to light intensity. In fact, there is concreate evidence that shows discrepancy between PRV and HRV, such as that demonstrating the presence of PRV in the absence of HRV, differences in PRV with measurement sites, and differing effects of body posture and exercise between them. Our observations in adult patients with an implanted cardiac pacemaker also indicate that fluctuations in R-R intervals, pulse transit time, and pulse intervals are modulated differently by autonomic functions, respiration, and other factors. The authors suggest that it is more appropriate to recognize PRV as a different biomarker than HRV. Although HRV is a major determinant of PRV, PRV is caused by many other sources of variability, which could contain useful biomedical information that is neither error nor noise.

BackgroundThe hippocampus reportedly plays a crucial role in memory. However, examining individual human hippocampal-subfield function remains challenging because of their small sizes and convoluted structures. Here, we identified hippocampal subregions involved in memory types (implicit and explicit memory) and stages (encoding and retrieval).MethodsWe modified the serial reaction time task to examine four memory types, i.e. implicit encoding, explicit encoding, implicit retrieval, and explicit retrieval. During this task, 7-T functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare brain activity evoked by these memory types.ResultsWe found hippocampal activation according to all memory types and stages and identified that the hippocampus subserves both implicit and explicit memory processing. Moreover, we confirmed that cornu ammonis (CA) regions 1–3 were implicated in both memory encoding and retrieval, whereas the subiculum was implicated only in memory retrieval. We also found that CA 1–3 was activated more for explicit than implicit memory.ConclusionsThese results elucidate human hippocampal-subfield functioning underlying memory and may support future investigations into hippocampal-subfield functioning in health and neurodegenerative disease.

Background The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of manipulation mode of chopsticks on the learning process, using assessment of task performance and electromyography, and to understand the significance of the traditional manipulation mode from the viewpoint of physiological anthropology. Previous studies have described two modes of manipulating chopsticks, the traditional pincers-pinching mode and the scissors-pinching mode. Methods We conducted experiments with two conditions of holding chopsticks: scissors mode and pincers mode. Eight subjects participated and were assigned to these modes, and they learned handling tasks in their assigned mode for 5 days with the non-dominant hand. We measured task execution times and conducted electromyography of the following muscles: first dorsalis interosseus, flexor pollicis brevis, flexor digiti minimi brevis, flexor digitorum superficialis, and extensor digitorum. Results The training effects were found in each mode. The pincers mode showed significantly shorter task performance times than did scissors mode. On electromyography, significant increases in activity of flexor digiti minimi brevis and tended an increase in flexor digitorum superficialis and a decrease in extensor digitorum occurred in pincers mode but not in scissors mode. Conclusions The traditional mode of holding chopsticks was associated with not only high task performance but also an advantage in terms of learning motor control.

Background While active heat acclimation strategies have been robustly explored, not many studies highlighted passive heat acclimation strategies. Particularly, little evidence demonstrated advantages of utilizing a water-perfused suit as a passive heating strategy. This study aimed to explore heat adaptive changes in physiological and perceptual responses during 10-day heat acclimation training using a water-perfused suit. Methods Nineteen young males were divided into three experimental groups: exercise condition (N = 6, HAEXE, 1-h exercise at 6 km h−1 followed by 1-h rest in a sitting position), exercise and passive heating condition (N = 6, HAEXE+SUIT, 1-h exercise at 6 km h−1 followed 1-h passive heating in a sitting position), and passive heating condition (N = 7, HASUIT, 2-h passive heating in a sitting position). All heating programs were conducted for 10 consecutive days in a climatic chamber maintained at 33 °C with 60% relative humidity. The passive heating was conducted using a newly developed water-perfused suit with 44 °C water. Results Greater whole-body sweat rate and alleviated perceptual strain were found in HASUIT and HAEXE+SUIT after 5 and/or 10 days (P < 0.05) but not in the exercise-only condition (HAEXE). Lower rectal temperature and heart rate were found in all conditions after the training (P < 0.05). Heat adaptive changes appeared earlier in HASUIT except for sweat responses. Conclusions For heat acclimation in hot humid environments, passive and post-exercise heat acclimation training using the suit (water inflow temperature 44 °C) were more effective than the mild exercise (1-h walking at 6 km h−1). This form of passive heating (HASUIT) may be an especially effective strategy for the elderly and the disabled who are not able to exercise in hot environments.

Background Multichannel surface electromyography (EMG) is a method to examine properties of motor unit (MU) activity using multiple electrodes arranged on a two-dimensional grid. This technique can be used to examine alterations in EMG activity distribution due to contraction intensity as well as due to physiological differences such as age or sex. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare strength and high-density surface EMG (HDsEMG) features during isometric and isokinetic knee extensions between older and younger men and women. Methods Twenty younger (ages 19–25 years) and twenty older (ages 64–78) men and women performed submaximal and maximal isometric (at a joint angle of 90°) and isokinetic knee extensions, while HDsEMG was recorded from the vastus lateralis. Spatial distribution was estimated using the root mean square (RMS), and 2-dimensional (2D) maps were developed to examine spatial features. Coefficient of variation (CV) and modified entropy were used to examine alterations in muscle heterogeneity and pattern. Peak torque and HDsEMG parameters were compared across age and gender. Results Younger males and females produced significantly higher mean torque than the older group (p < 0.001) for all contractions. Both age- and sex-related significant differences (p < 0.05) were found for EMG spatial features suggesting neuromuscular differences. Modified entropy was significantly higher and CV was lower for young females compared to young males (p < 0.05) across both isometric and isokinetic contractions. Conclusions We found that isometric and isokinetic knee extension strength, spatial distribution, and intensity differ as a function of age and sex during knee extensions. While there were no differences detected in entropy between age groups, there were sex-related differences in the younger age category. The lack of age-related differences in entropy was surprising given the known effects of aging on muscle fiber composition. However, it is often reported that muscle coactivation increases with age and this work was limited to the study of one muscle of the knee extensors (vastus lateralis) which should be addressed in future work. The findings suggest while both age and sex affect muscle activation, sex had a greater effect on heterogeneity. The results obtained will help to develop improved rehabilitation programs for aging men and women.

Background Car accidents due to unexpected forward or backward runaway by older drivers are a serious social problem. Although the cause of these accidents is often attributed to stepping on the accelerator instead of the brake, it is difficult to induce such pedal application errors systematically with usual drive simulators. We developed a simple personal computer system that induces the pedal errors, and investigate the effects of age on the error behaviors. Methods The system consisted of a laptop computer and a three-pedal foot mouse. It measured response time, accuracy, and flexibility of pedal operation to visual stimuli. The system displayed two open circles on the computer display, lighting one of the circles in a random order and interval. Subjects were instructed to press the foot pedal with their right foot as quickly as possible when the circle was lit; the ipsilateral pedal to the lit circle in a parallel mode and the contralateral pedal in a cross mode. When the correct pedal was pressed, the light went off immediately, but when the wrong pedal was pressed, the buzzer sounded and the light remained on until the correct pedal was pressed. During a 6-min trial, the mode was switched between parallel and cross every 2 min. During the cross mode, a cross mark appears on the display. The pedal responses were evaluated in 52 subjects divided into young (20–29 years), middle-aged (30–64 years), and older (65–84 years) groups. Additionally, the repeatability of the pedal response characteristic indicators was examined in 14 subjects who performed this test twice. Results The mean response time was 95 ms (17%) longer in the older group than in the young group. More characteristically, however, the older group showed 2.1 times more frequent pedal errors, fell into long hesitations (response freezing > 3 s) 16 times more often, and took 1.8 times longer period to correct the wrong pedal than the young groups. The indicators of pedal response characteristics showed within-individual repeatability to the extent that can identify the age-dependent changes. Conclusions Hesitations and extended error correction time can be associated with increased crash risk due to unexpected runaway by older drivers. The system we have developed may help to uncover and evaluate physiological characteristics related to crash risk in the elderly population.

Background Obesity is defined as unhealthy excess body fat, which increases the risk of premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases. Early screening and prevention of obesity is critical for averting associated morbidity, disability, and mortality. Ethiopia has been using the international (WHO’s) BMI cut-off for diagnosing obesity even though its validity among Ethiopian population was questioned. To address this problem, a new body mass index cut-off was developed for Ethiopian adults using population-specific data. However, its performance in diagnosing obesity has not been validated. Therefore, this study determined the performance of the newly developed Ethiopian and World Health Organization (WHO) BMI cut-offs in detecting obesity among Ethiopian adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among 704 employees of Jimma University from February to April 2015. The study participants were selected using simple random sampling technique based on their payroll. Data on sociodemographic variables were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Anthropometric parameters including body weight and height were measured according to WHO recommendation. Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured using the air displacement plethysmography (ADP) after calibration of the machine. The diagnostic accuracy of the WHO BMI cut-off (≥ 30 kg/m2) for obesity in both sexes and Ethiopian BMI cut-off (> 22.2 kg/m2 for males and > 24.5 kg/m2 for females) were compared to obesity diagnosed using ADP measured body fat percentage (> 35% for females and > 25% for males). Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and kappa agreements were determined to validate the performance of the BMI cut-offs. Results In males, WHO BMI cut-off has a sensitivity of 5.3% and specificity of 99.4% (Kappa = 0.047) indicating a slight agreement. However, the Ethiopian cut-off showed a sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 87.7% (Kappa = 0.752) indicating a substantial agreement. Similarly, in females, the WHO BMI cut-off showed a sensitivity of 46.9%, while its specificity was 100% (Kappa = 0.219) showing a fair agreement. The Ethiopian BMI cut-off demonstrated a sensitivity 80.0% and a specificity 95.6% (Kappa = 0.701) showing a substantial agreement. The WHO BMI cut-off underestimated the prevalence of obesity by a maximum of 73.7% and by a minimum of 28.3% among males, while the values for underestimation ranged from 31.4–54.1% in females. The misclassification was minimal using the newly developed Ethiopian BMI cut-off. The prevalence of obesity was underestimated by a maximum of 9.2% and overestimated by a maximum of 6.2%. The WHO BMI cut-off failed to identify nearly half (46.6%) of Ethiopian adults who met the criteria for obesity using BF% in the overall sample. Conclusions The findings suggest that WHO BMI cut-off (≥ 30 kg/m2) is not appropriate for screening obesity among Ethiopian adults. The newly developed Ethiopian BMI cut-off showed a better performance with excellent sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and agreement indicating the diagnostic significance of it use as a simple, cost-effective, and valid indicator in clinical and community setups.

Background Toe grip-related training requires individuals to actively exercise muscles that are not frequently used; therefore, it may improve not only toe grip strength but also cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of toe grip-related training on predictors of physical performance and cognitive function in nursing home residents. Methods A total of 35 nursing home residents (35 left and 35 right feet; mean age, 82.1 ± 7.9 years) were included in this study. The participants were divided into two groups: a training group and a control group. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess the cognitive function of the participants, and the Fall Risk Index (FRI) was used to evaluate the risk of falls. Toe grip-related physical function was also assessed. Baseline endpoints were evaluated and the effects of toe grip-related training were examined following a 12-week training intervention. Results The training group showed significant improvements in MMSE score, FRI score, toe grip strength, and the toe skill (TS) test; however, the control group did not show these changes. The training group showed significant increases in Δ MMSE, Δ toe grip strength, and Δ TS (right foot) than the control group. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that Δ toe grip strength is an independent factor of Δ MMSE. Conclusions Toe grip training improves not only toe grip strength itself, but also cognitive function. Furthermore, change in toe grip strength was an independent factor of change in MMSE in those populations. Trial registration UMIN, UMIN000027437. Registered on 26 May 2017.

Aims To study the associations between fat distribution and lung functions in healthy subjects of young adults and to explore potential gender difference in these correlations. Methods A total of 2101 adult participants were recruited. Height, weight, and vital capacity index (VCI) were measured and recorded according to the national physical fitness test standard. Body compositions, including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fat-free mass (FFM), trunk muscle mass (TMM), fat mass (FM), visceral fat area (VFA), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), were conducted using body composition analyzer. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 software. Results We found that male participants showed significantly higher BMI, WHR, FFM, TMM, VFA, and VCI, but lower FM, BFP, and SAT in comparison with women. However, there was no significant difference in VAT between the male and female. Lung functions represented by VCI were negatively correlated with FM, VAT, SAT, and VFA for both men and women (r

Background High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening form of non-cardiogenic edema which occurs in unacclimatized individuals after rapid ascent to high altitude. NR3C1 gene encodes for glucocorticoid receptor (GR) which plays an important role in stress and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the association of NR3C1 polymorphisms with the susceptibility to HAPE in Han Chinese. Methods The 30 SNPs in the NR3C1 gene were genotyped by the Sequenom MassARRAY SNP assay in 133 HAPE patients (HAPE-p) and 135 matched Han Chinese resistant to HAPE (HAPE-r). The genotypic and allele frequencies, odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated, respectively. Results The 12 SNPs showed a significant difference between the HAPE-p and HAPE-r groups. In allelic model analysis, we found that the allele “A” of rs17287745, rs17209237, rs17209251, rs6877893, and rs1866388; the allele “C” of rs6191, rs6188, and rs2918417; the allele “T” of rs33388 and rs4634384; and the allele “G” of rs41423247 and rs10052957 were associated with increased the risk of HAPE. In the genetic model analysis, we found that rs17287745, rs6191, rs6188, rs33388, rs2918417, rs6877893, rs1866388, rs41423247, rs4634384, and rs10052957 were relevant to the increased HAPE risk under the dominant model. In addition, the haplotype AACACTCAAGTG of the 12 SNPs was detected to be significantly associated with HAPE risk (OR = 2.044, 95%CI = 1.339~3.120, P = 0.0008), while the haplotype GGAGCACGACCG was associated with the decreased risk of HAPE (OR = 0.573, 95% CI = 0.333~0.985, P = 0.0422). Conclusions Our findings provide new evidence for the association between SNPs in NR3C1 and an increased risk of HAPE in the Chinese population. NR3C1 polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to HAPE in Han Chinese.

Background Circulating fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) is a marker for various diseases. It would be highly useful to have simple and less invasive techniques for the assessment of FABP4 concentrations in the clinical research setting. The purpose of the present study was to assess the concordance of circulating FABP4 concentrations in venous and capillary blood both at rest and immediately after acute exercise in healthy young males. Results Thirty-eight healthy young male adults aged from 19 to 25 years (mean age, 20.8 ± 1.2 years) were recruited. Paired blood samples were taken from the cubital vein (venous) and fingertip (capillary) blood at rest (resting state) and immediately after incremental exercise (exercising state). Blood samples were analyzed to determine the circulating FABP4 concentration using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pearson’s correlation coefficients for circulating FABP4 concentrations between venous and capillary blood samples indicated a strong positive correlation in both the resting and exercising state (resting state: r = 0.982, exercising state: r = 0.989, both p p = 0.178), whereas it was significantly higher in capillary blood than in venous blood in the exercising state (p p = 0.453) in the resting state, whereas a significant bias (− 0.45 ± 0.61 ng/mL, p Conclusions These results indicate that capillary blood sampling can slightly overestimate circulating FABP4 concentrations under a physiologically dynamic state. However, the association between the venous and capillary blood in terms of FABP4 concentration was very strong, suggesting that capillary blood sampling can detect changes in FABP4 concentration in both physiologically steady and dynamic states.

Background Recently, short stature has been revealed to be positively associated with hypertension, possibly because this indicates lower activity of vascular maintenance, such as angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphism (rs3025020) plays an important role in the progression of angiogenesis and may be associated with both hypertension and hypertension-associated short stature. Methods A cross-sectional study of 1377 elderly Japanese individuals aged 60–89 years was conducted. Short stature was defined as the lowest tertile of height ( Results Independent of known cardiovascular risk factors, short stature was found to be positively associated with hypertension; the fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for hypertension were 1.51 (1.17, 1.96). With the reference group of carriers of the major allele of rs3025020, TT-homozygotes showed significantly lower OR for hypertension and short stature; the fully adjusted ORs (and 95% CIs) were 0.60 (0.41, 0.90) for hypertension and 0.59 (0.38, 0.91) for short stature, respectively. Conclusions Angiogenesis-related genetic factor (rs3025020) is associated with hypertension and short stature, whereas short stature is positively associated with hypertension. Further investigation is necessary in this regard; the capacity for angiogenesis might partly explain the mechanism underlying the inverse association between height and hypertension.

Malaria is one of the most devastating infectious diseases of humans. It is problematic clinically and economically as it prevails in poorer countries and regions, strongly hindering socioeconomic development. The causative agents of malaria are unicellular protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Plasmodium. These parasites infect not only humans but also other vertebrates, from reptiles and birds to mammals. To date, over 200 species of Plasmodium have been formally described, and each species infects a certain range of hosts. Plasmodium species that naturally infect humans and cause malaria in large areas of the world are limited to five—P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi. The first four are specific for humans, while P. knowlesi is naturally maintained in macaque monkeys and causes zoonotic malaria widely in South East Asia. Transmission of Plasmodium species between vertebrate hosts depends on an insect vector, which is usually the mosquito. The vector is not just a carrier but the definitive host, where sexual reproduction of Plasmodium species occurs, and the parasite’s development in the insect is essential for transmission to the next vertebrate host. The range of insect species that can support the critical development of Plasmodium depends on the individual parasite species, but all five Plasmodium species causing malaria in humans are transmitted exclusively by anopheline mosquitoes. Plasmodium species have remarkable genetic flexibility which lets them adapt to alterations in the environment, giving them the potential to quickly develop resistance to therapeutics such as antimalarials and to change host specificity. In this article, selected topics involving the Plasmodium species that cause malaria in humans are reviewed.

Background Body composition (BC) influences respiratory system mechanics, provoking air flow limitation (AFL). The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of AFL in small- and medium-caliber airways with BC in young adults. Methods Eighty-three individuals were recruited (40 men and 43 women). To determine AFL, the following measurements were taken: forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% (FEF25–75%), airway resistance (Raw), and specific airway resistance (sRaw). The measured BC variables were body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (%BF), and fat-free mass (FFM). Binary logistical regression analysis was used to estimate the association between the AFL variables and %BF, BMI, and %FFM, adjusting for weight and gender. Results Among men, a relationship was observed between Raw and %BF (r = 0.728; p < 0.0001) and sRaw and BMI (r = 0.617; p < 0.0001). Among women, significant relationships were reported between Raw and BMI (r = 0.615; p < 0.0001) and sRaw and BMI (r = 0.556; p < 0.0001). Among participants with a BMI over 30 kg/m2, higher risks of increased Raw (OR = 26.8; p = 0.009) and sRaw (OR = 9.3; p = 0.002) were observed. Furthermore, higher %BF was associated with greater risks for increased Raw (OR = 14.04; p = 0.030) and sRaw (OR = 4.14; p = 0.028). In contrast, increased %FFM (OR = 0.14; p = 0.025) was a protective factor for lung function. Conclusion Increased %BF is associated with increased AFL in small-caliber airways. Furthermore, increased %FFM is associated with decreased risk for Raw and sRaw in women. Therefore, evidence indicates that increased %FFM is a protective factor for adequate lung function.

Malaria is one of the most devastating infectious diseases of humans. It is problematic clinically and economically as it prevails in poorer countries and regions, strongly hindering socioeconomic development. The causative agents of malaria are unicellular protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Plasmodium. These parasites infect not only humans but also other vertebrates, from reptiles and birds to mammals. To date, over 200 species of Plasmodium have been formally described, and each species infects a certain range of hosts. Plasmodium species that naturally infect humans and cause malaria in large areas of the world are limited to five-P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi. The first four are specific for humans, while P. knowlesi is naturally maintained in macaque monkeys and causes zoonotic malaria widely in South East Asia. Transmission of Plasmodium species between vertebrate hosts depends on an insect vector, which is usually the mosquito. The vector is not just a carrier but the definitive host, where sexual reproduction of Plasmodium species occurs, and the parasite's development in the insect is essential for transmission to the next vertebrate host. The range of insect species that can support the critical development of Plasmodium depends on the individual parasite species, but all five Plasmodium species causing malaria in humans are transmitted exclusively by anopheline mosquitoes. Plasmodium species have remarkable genetic flexibility which lets them adapt to alterations in the environment, giving them the potential to quickly develop resistance to therapeutics such as antimalarials and to change host specificity. In this article, selected topics involving the Plasmodium species that cause malaria in humans are reviewed.

Diversos estudios genéticos han demostrado que la población uruguaya es trihíbrida, formada por europeo/mediterráneos, indígenas y africanos, cuyo aporte varía en distintas regiones del país. Pese a que Montevideo es la capital de la República, hay escasos estudios sobre los orígenes de su población, que pueden diferir de otras regiones. En este trabajo se propone indagar sobre estos orígenes a partir de información genética en una muestra derivada de una previamente publicada, profundizando en algunas características para determinar su posible influencia en la estimación de la ancestría. Se consideró una muestra de 269 mujeres (casos y controles de un estudio de cáncer de mama) en quienes se analizaron haplogrupos y secuencias de las regiones hipervariables del ADN mitocondrial (ADNmt) y marcadores individuales de ancestría (AIMs) del ADN nuclear. Se observó que había diferencias en los porcentajes de ancestría cuando se analizaban separadamente las personas que se atendían en el sistema público de salud en relación a las que lo hacían en el sistema mutual, con diferencias significativas para el aporte indígena y el europeo/mediterráneo. Luego de corregidos los valores por lugar de atención de salud, se estimaron los siguientes aportes: 24.6% indígena, 67,7% europeo/mediterráneo y 7,7% africano para herencia materna, y de 11,1% indígena, 81,4% europeo/mediterráneo, y 7,5% africano para la herencia biparental. Se analizaron particularmente los aportes indígena y africano y se discutieron los resultados con relación a otros estudios. Debido a las diferencias encontradas relacionadas con la heterogeneidad de la población montevideana, se alerta sobre el muestreo y valores de referencia para estudios poblacionales futuros., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

La Paleoparasitología en la Argentina ha producido un gran número de trabajos, especialmente en Patagonia. Sin embargo, hay ausencia de estos estudios en las poblaciones de la región central del país. En este sentido, realizamos la primera investigación sobre parasitosis en restos humanos de sitios arqueológicos de la provincia de Córdoba. Se estudiaron 13 individuos de 4 sitios arqueológicos, datados entre 2562 ± 47 y 533 ± 57 14C años AP. Los análisis paleoparasitológicos se aplicaron sobre 20 muestras de sedimentos provenientes de la cavidad pélvica, empleando las técnicas de sedimentación espontánea, disgregación en ácido clorhídrico y flotación en sacarosa. Se hallaron estructuras sugestivas de huevos de helmintos de las superfamilias Ascaridoidea y Heterakoidea, y otros de nemátodos no identificados. Debido a que los animales son los huéspedes definitivos de estos parásitos, los resultados podrían sugerir la presencia de falso parasitismo en los individuos de la región. La relación cercana de los humanos con los animales, utilizados como parte de la dieta, se sustenta en estudios isotópicos y zooarqueológicos previos. La escasez de hallazgos parasitarios en este estudio posiblemente se debe a factores tafonómicos y a las características ambientales de los sitios., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

A pesar de los esfuerzos de diversos organismos para reducir la obesidad, sólo algunos países desarrollados muestran una desaceleración o estabilización de su prevalencia. Este trabajo presenta las tendencias en el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y las prevalencias de sobrepeso (SP) y obesidad (OB) ocurridas en escolares entre 1990 y 2016, y su distribución socioeconómica. Se compararon tres encuestas transversales realizadas en 1990, 2005/07 y 2015/16 en escolares primarios de Santa Rosa (La Pampa, Argentina). Para estandarizar los valores de IMC y definir las categorías SP y OB se empleó la referencia International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). El tipo de escuela se empleó como medida de nivel socioeconómico (NSE). Para analizar la asociación entre las variables dependientes con año de encuesta, sexo y NSE se aplicaron modelos de regresión lineal (IMC) y logística (SP, OB). El cambio temporal en las prevalencias de SP y OB se evaluó mediante Chi- cuadrado de tendencia entre proporciones. IMC, SP y OB incrementaron significativamente en el periodo 1990-2016, resultando en un tercio de la población con exceso de peso. Entre 2005/07 y 2015/16 sólo hubo incrementos significativos en niños que asistían a escuelas públicas. Las tendencias fueron similares en varones y niñas. Se concluye que el estatus de peso en esta población escolar muestra un patrón de aumento no lineal pero continuo en los últimos 25 años, con una estabilización en los sectores de mayor NSE durante la última década., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

Las publicaciones científicas constituyen un importante indicador de la trayectoria laboral de un investigador, resultante de intereses, restricciones y de diversas negociaciones. Un lugar en que se manifiestan muchos de estos elementos es la configuración de las autorías del trabajo. Esto suele ser motivo de tensiones cuando, por ejemplo, en la lista de autores de un trabajo se excluye a alguien que generó determinado tipo de información o contenido; así como cuando se incorporan autores por devolución de gentilezas que nada aportaron a dicho contenido. Como investigadoras y editoras de la Revista Argentina de Antropología Biológica, basándonos en nuestra experiencia y en comentarios recibidos de algunos colegas en el ejercicio de actividades de investigación, entendemos que es necesario aportar elementos de reflexión sobre este tema. Los objetivos de este trabajo son los de a) visibilizar la problemática sobre el reconocimiento de autorías en las publicaciones y b) aportar algunas directrices para garantizar el respeto a los derechos de autor., Scientific publications are considered an important indicator of a researcher’s career, resulting from interests, restrictions, and various negotiations. The configuration of authorship can be a source of tension, for example, when someone who generated a certain type of information or content is excluded from the list of authors of a work, or also, when someone is incorporated as author in a manner of return of courtesies, although they contributed nothing to the said content. As researchers and editors of the Revista Argentina de Antropología Biológica, based on our experience and comments received from colleagues during research activities, we understand that it is necessary to contribute elements of reflection on this topic. The objectives of this work are to a) make visible the problems regarding the recognition of authorship in publications, and b) provide some guidelines to guarantee respect for copyright., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

Background The prevention of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health concern in Japan. The effects of the relationship between eating behavior and nutritional intake on MetS remained unclear. To evaluate nutrition’s role in preventing or exacerbating MetS, we examined the associations among eating behavior, nutritional intake, and MetS for the baseline study in the cohort subjects undergone health checkups. Methods Four thousand and four hundred forty-seven Japanese men and women were enrolled at the Saku Central Hospital. They received an anthropometric and clinical examination and were assessed for present illness, lifestyle factors such as physical activity, smoking, drinking, and dietary habits at the enrollment. Eating behavior was analyzed by the Sakata’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Dietary assessment was made using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Two thousand and six hundred two men and 1844 women aged more than 20 were analyzed. Results The mean age in men and women were 59.2 and 58.4 years old and the mean body mass index (BMI) were 23.7 and 22.3 kg/m2, respectively. The percentages of MetS were 20.6 in men and 6.1 in women. In some nutrients, significantly higher energy-adjusted intakes in subjects without MetS than with Mets appeared both in men and women after age adjustment. After adjusting by age, energy-adjusted intake beverages in men and cereals in women were significantly higher in subjects with MetS than those without MetS. The scores of all the categories in eating behavior were significantly worse in subjects with MetS than those without MetS. Conclusions The differences in dietary intake between subjects with Mets and without Mets were relatively small. The scores of all the categories in eating behavior were worse in subjects with MetS than without MetS. It was suggested that the problem lay in the quality of diet, not in the quantity, caused by bad eating habits. The potential influence of eating behavior and nutritional intake on MetS was presented in men and women.

La sacralización de la quinta vértebra lumbar corresponde a una patología escasamente reportada en la literatura bioarqueológica de las poblaciones del Norte Grande de Chile. En este artículo, se presentan dos casos observados en grupos prehispánicos de la costa desértica de la región de Antofagasta, distanciados tanto espacial como cronológicamente; uno de ellos corresponde al caso más temprano de esta anomalía ósea para el norte de Chile. El diagnóstico de esta condición fue realizada a través de criterios discriminantes morfológicos que permitieron la clasificación de forma y orientación de los rasgos patológicos observados. Considerando la asociación a factores genéticos que posee la manifestación de esta patología, junto con la descripción histórica de las formas de elaboración de alianzas matrimoniales que tenían los habitantes del área de estudio al momento de contacto hispano-indígena, en este trabajo exploramos la posibilidad de que su aparición pueda ser el resultado de prácticas sociales endogámicas. Estas habrían estado limitadas a la zona costera y fueron mantenidas tradicionalmente, por lo menos hasta momentos históricos., The sacralization of the fifth lumbar vertebra corresponds to a pathology scarcely reported in the bioarchaeological literature for the northern populations of Chile. In this paper, two cases observed in pre-Hispanic groups of the desert coast of the Antofagasta region are presented, which are both spatially and chronologically distant from each other, and one of them corresponds to the earliest case of this anomaly reported for northern Chile. The diagnosis of this condition was made through discriminating morphological criteria that allowed the classification of form and orientation of the pathological features observed. Considering the association between the manifestation of this pathology and genetic factors, together with the historical description of the marriage alliances forged by the inhabitants of the study area at the time of indigenous-Hispanic contact, we explored the possibility that its manifestation could be the result of endogamic social practices. The latter might have been limited to the coastal area and were traditionally maintained at least until historical times., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

La investigación biomédica está contemplando cada vez más la ancestría genética de las poblaciones, con vistas a potenciales aplicaciones en la prevención sanitaria y en el tratamiento de dolencias población-específicas. Los objetivos fueron indagar sobre la formación en genética, universitaria y posuniversitaria, de médicos/as del país, y relacionarlo con la manera de abordar conceptos de genética médica poblacional en la práctica clínica. Se elaboró una encuesta semiestructurada dirigida a profesionales de Argentina. La encuesta se distribuyó en instituciones de médicos/ as de todas las provincias, tales como asociaciones, colegios, hospitales, foros, etc. Se obtuvieron 544 respuestas. El 78,5% de los encuestados recibió contenidos de genética en la carrera universitaria, siendo mayor este porcentaje entre profesionales jóvenes. El 98,5% indaga sobre aspectos hereditarios/ genéticos relacionados con la enfermedad, mientras que el 64,5% consulta sobre el origen étnico. De este grupo, el 6,2% se basa en los rasgos físicos externos (por ejemplo, su color de piel), y/o el apellido y/o el acento para asignarle un origen étnico. Quienes poseen formación de posgrado en genética, consultan sobre el origen poblacional del paciente en mayor medida que quienes no poseen esta formación. No existe un criterio unificado sobre cómo registrar la ancestría, el origen geográfico o la etnia en la práctica médica. Esto puede deberse a que dichas variables no son especialmente destacadas, desde la formación académica misma. Reforzar contenidos de genética médica poblacional puede servir para valorizar este aspecto de la casuística de las enfermedades complejas., Increasingly, biomedical research is looking at the genetic ancestry of populations with a view to its potential applications in health prevention, as well as in the treatment of population-specific diseases. The objective of this work was to investigate the training in genetics at graduate and postgraduate levels of physicians in the country, and relate it to the way of approaching concepts of population medical genetics in clinical practice. A semi-structured survey was made for professionals from Argentina. The survey was distributed to institutions of physicians of all the provinces, such as associations, schools, hospitals, forums, etc. 544 answers were gathered. 78.5% of respondents received genetics-related content in their university syllabus, this percentage being higher among young professionals. 98.5% inquire about hereditary/genetic aspects related to the disease, while 64.5% inquire about the ethnic origin. Of this group, 6.2% rely on external physical features (for example, skin color), and/or surname and/or accent to assign an ethnic origin. Those who have postgraduate training in genetics ask about the population origin of the patient to a greater extent than those who do not have this training. There is no unified criterion on how to register ancestry, geographic origin or ethnicity in medical practice. This may be due to a low relative importance attributed to these variables, from the academic training itself. Strengthening contents of population medical genetics can serve to enhance this aspect of the causes of complex diseases., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

Background Vitamin D deficiency is associated with osteoporosis, fracture, muscle weakness, falls, and osteoarthritis in adults. Elderly individuals are more likely to present with poor musculoskeletal conditions. Recently, several epidemiological studies have assessed the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and musculoskeletal conditions in elderly individuals. Main text Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. Numerous studies have shown a positive association between serum 25(OH)D levels and bone mineral density. Only a few studies have reported an association between serum 25(OH)D levels and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters. Low serum 25(OH)D level may be a risk factor for hip fracture. However, data on the association between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of non-hip fracture are contrasting. Falls are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in older adults. Several prospective population-based cohort studies have shown that low 25(OH)D levels are associated with an increased risk of falls. Reduced muscle strength and physical performance are risk factors for adverse events, including disability, institutionalization, and mortality. The role of vitamin D in musculoskeletal functionality (muscle weakness and physical performance) among elderly individuals is still controversial. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is a leading cause of disability among older adults. Data on the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and OA are contrasting. Conclusion Some studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for poor musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoporosis, fracture, muscle weakness, falls, and osteoarthritis in adults. However, other studies did not find an association between serum 25(OH)D levels and musculoskeletal conditions.

Background The lung is an important target organ for hypoxia treatment, and hypoxia can induce several diseases in the body. Methods We performed transcriptome sequencing for the lungs of rats exposed to plateau hypoxia at 0 day and 28 days. Sequencing libraries were constructed, and enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was implemented using the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Subsequently, experimental validation was executed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Results The results showed that the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) signaling pathway that was involved in immunity may play a crucial function in lung injury caused by plateau hypoxia. And the expressions of NOD1, NOD2, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-18 were higher at 28 days of exposure to plateau hypoxia than that at 0 day. Similarly, CARD9, MYD88, p38 MAPK, and NF-κB p65, which are related to the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, also demonstrated increased expression at 28 days exposure to plateau hypoxia than at 0 day. Conclusions Our study suggested that the NF­κBp65 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways may be activated in the lungs of rats during plateau hypoxia. Upregulated expression of NF­κBp65 and p38 MAPK can promote the transcription of downstream inflammatory factors, thereby aggravating the occurrence and development of lung tissue remodeling.

Background Maintaining a good level of physical fitness from engaging in regular exercise is important for the treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, which components constitutive of physical fitness confer the greatest influence remains controversial. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between MetS and physical fitness components including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and agility and to identify which physical fitness components have the largest influence on MetS. Methods A total of 168 Japanese adult males aged 25–64 years were allocated into non-MetS, pre-MetS, and MetS groups according to the criteria recommended by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. Anthropometric measurement of body composition by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and measures related to MetS, including waist circumference, triglyceride level, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, blood pressure, glucose level, and physical fitness components, were assessed. For evaluation of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, agility, and balance, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (VO2AnT), handgrip strength and vertical jumping, trunk extension and flexion, stepping side to side, and single-leg balance task with the eyes closed were assessed, respectively. Results A progressive tendency of increasing body weight, body mass index, whole-body lean and fat mass, percentage of whole-body fat mass, trunk lean and fat mass, percentage of trunk fat mass, arm fat mass, waist circumference, triglyceride level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and blood glucose level from the non-MetS group to the MetS group was significant (P < 0.05). Conversely, the cardiorespiratory endurance parameters VO2peak and VO2AnT and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level showed a progressively decreasing tendency across the groups (P < 0.01). In addition, a VO2peak below 29.84 ml·kg·min−1 (P = 0.028) and VO2AnT below 15.89 ml·kg·min−1 (P = 0.011) were significant risk components for pre-MetS and MetS. However, there was no significant tendency with respect to muscle strength, agility, and flexibility. Conclusion Cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly linked to metabolic syndrome among physical fitness components

Background: Many studies have reported specific adaptations to high altitude, but few studies have focused on physiological variations in high-altitude adaptation in Andean highlanders. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between SpO2 and related factors, including individual variations and sex differences, in Andean highlanders. Methods: The participants were community-dwelling people in La Paz, Bolivia, aged 20 years and over (age range 20-34 years). A total of 50 men and 50 women participated in this study. Height, weight, SpO2, hemoglobin concentration, finger temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured. Information about lifestyle was also obtained by interview. Results: There were individual variations of SpO2 both in men (mean 89.9%, range 84.0-95.0%) and women (mean 91.0%, range 84.0-96.0%). On Student's t test, men had significantly lower heart rate (p = 0.046) and SpO2 (p = 0.030) than women. On the other hand, men had significantly higher SBP (p < 0.001), hemoglobin (p < 0.001), and finger temperature (p = 0.004). In men, multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that a higher SpO2 was correlated with a lower heart rate (β =-0.089, p = 0.007) and a higher finger temperature (β = 0.308, p = 0.030) (r 2 for model = 0.18). In women, a higher SpO2 was significantly correlated with a higher finger temperature (β = 0.391, p = 0.015) (r 2 for model = 0.12). A higher SpO2 was related to a higher finger temperature (β = 0.286, p = 0.014) and a lower heart rate (β =-0.052, p = 0.029) in all participants (r 2 for model = 0.21). Residual analysis showed that individual SpO2 values were randomly plotted.Conclusion: Random plots of SpO2 on residual analysis indicated that these variations were random error, such as biological variation. A higher SpO2 was related to a lower heart rate and finger temperature in men, but a higher SpO2 was related to finger temperature in women. These results suggest that there are individual variations and sex differences in the hemodynamic responses of high-altitude adaptation in Andean highlanders., Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 39(1), art.no.31; 2020

Since 1980, the world has been threatened by different waves of emerging disease epidemics. In the twenty-first century, these diseases have become an increasing global concern because of their health and economic impacts in both developed and resource-constrained countries. It is difficult to stop the occurrence of new pathogens in the future due to the interconnection among humans, animals, and the environment. However, it is possible to face a new disease or to reduce the risk of its spread by implementing better early warning systems and effective disease control and prevention, e.g., effective global surveillance, development of technology for better diagnostics, effective treatments, and vaccines, the global political will to respond to any threats and multidisciplinary collaboration involving all sectors in charge of good health maintenance. In this review, we generally describe some factors related to human activities and show how they can play a role in the transmission and spread of infectious diseases by using some diseases as examples. Additionally, we describe and discuss major factors that are facilitating the spread of the new pandemic known as COVID-19 worldwide.

Background The rising prevalence of obesity in military personnel has raised great concerns. Previous studies suggest that body mass index (BMI)- and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)-based obesity classifications in US military personnel and firefighters have high false negative and subsequently cause obesity misclassification. Objective To determine whether BMI and WHR could reflect the fat mass of Chinese military personnel. Methods Three hundred fifty-three male Chinese military personnel and 380 age-matched male adults were recruited. Obesity classification was defined by BMI, WHR, and body fat percentage (BFP). Results Chinese military personnel had extremely low obesity rate determined by either BFP (0.3%) or BMI (0.6%). By combining overweight and obese individuals, BMI- and WHR-determined prevalence of overweight/obesity was 22.4% and 17.0% compared to BFP-based standard (4.0%) (P < 0.05). In reference to BFP, BMI and WHR have high false-positive rate compared to the control group. Further analysis showed that Chinese military personnel consisted of high percentage of BFPlowBMIhigh and/or BFPlowWHRhigh subpopulations. Eighty-one percent of BMIhigh and 78.3% of WHRhigh of them were BFP low. Conclusions Chinese military personnel has extremely low obesity rate. BMI and WHR have high false-positive rates in reference to BFP, which cannot accurately reflect the mass of adipose tissue and leads to obesity misclassification.

Background Facial skin care (FSC) is an important routine for Japanese women. Hand motions during FSC physically affect psychological state. However, it is very difficult to evaluate hand motions during personal and complex FSC. The objective of this study was to find out objective and quantitative parameters for hand motions during facial skin care (FSC). Women who enjoy and soothe during FSC (Enjoyment group (E group), n = 20) or not (non-enjoyment group (NE group), n = 19) were recruited by an advance questionnaire. The same lotion, emulsion, and cream were provided to all subjects, and they used sequentially in the same way as the women’s daily FSC. The motion of the marker on the back side of the right middle finger during FSC was tracked by a motion capture system. The heart rate variability (HRV) was also measured before and after FSC for evaluating psychological effect. Results The averaged acceleration (Avg. ACC), approximate entropy (ApEn), and power law scaling exponent (Rest γ) of the cumulative duration of slow motion from the sequential data of acceleration were evaluated. Compared to the NE group, the E group showed a lower Avg. ACC when using emulsion (p = 0.005) and cream (p = 0.007), a lower ApEn when using emulsion (p = 0.003), and a lower Rest γ (p = 0.024) when using all items, suggesting that compared to the NE group, the E group had more tender and regular motion, and sustainable slow motions, especially in the use of emulsion. In the E group, the low/high-frequency component of HRV decreased significantly after FSC, suggesting suppression of sympathetic activity (p = 0.045). NE group did not. For all subjects, ApEn and Rest γ showed significantly positive correlation with the increase in the low/high-frequency component of HRV after FSC (p < 0.01). ApEn showed significantly negative correlation with the increase in the high-frequency component of HRV after FSC (p < 0.05). Avg. ACC did not show significant correlation with them. These results suggested that the behavior of FSC influences the autonomic nerve system. Conclusions ApEn and Rest γ are useful parameters for evaluating quality of hand motions during FSC.

Background Thermal insulation and evaporative resistance of clothing are the physical parameters to quantify heat transfer and evaporative dissipation from the human body to the environment, respectively. Wind and body movement decrease thermal insulation and evaporative resistance of clothing, which is represented as correction factors for dynamic total thermal insulation (CFi) and evaporative resistance (CFe), respectively. Then, CFi and CFe are parts of the key parameters to predict heat strain of workers by computer simulation. The objective of this study was to elucidate the difference of CFi and CFe between ISO 7933 and ISO 9920 and compare the difference of predicted rectal temperature, water loss, and exposure time limit calculated by using each correction factor. Methods CFi of ISO 7933 (CFi7933) and ISO 9920 (CFi9920), and CFe of ISO 7933 (CFe7933) and two kinds of CFe of ISO 9920 (CFe9920a, CFe9920b) were compared in terms of relative air velocity, walking speed for three kinds of thermal insulation of clothing. Next, two modified predicted heat strain (PHS) models were developed: modified PHS integrated with CFi9920 and CFe9920a (PHSmA) and modified PHS integrated with CFi9920 and CFe9920b (PHSmB). We calculated the rectal temperature, water loss, and exposure time limit by PHS, PHSmA, and PHSmB and compared the results. Results CFi7933 and CFi9920 were almost similar in terms of Var and walking speed, while CFe9920a and CFe9920b were larger than CFe7933 when Var was more than 1.0 m·s−1. Intrinsic clothing insulation (Icl) diminished the effects of Var on CFi7933, CFi9920, CFe7933, and CFe9920b. However, CFe9920a was not influenced by Icl. The predicted rectal temperature and water loss difference were larger between PHS and PHSmA as CFe difference got larger. The duration time when limit of rectal temperature of 38 °C was reached (DlimTre38) calculated by PHS was significantly longer than PHSmA, PHSmB at higher Var. Conclusions Precise correction factors for evaporative resistance are required to predict rectal temperature, water loss, and work-time limits.

Background Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity has beneficial effects on body composition and glucose metabolism. A previous study reported that beta-conglycinin intake induced postprandial fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) secretion, thereby promoting adipose tissue thermogenesis in mice. Since it has not been evaluated whether beta-conglycinin intake is associated with induced FGF21 secretion and BAT thermogenesis in humans, the current study examined the effects of beta-conglycinin intake on circulating FGF21 level and BAT activity. Methods Twenty-two healthy young male subjects participated. This study consisted of 2 interventional studies. In one of them, the effects of single beta-conglycinin intake at thermoneutral temperature on circulating FGF21 levels were examined (n = 7). The other study was a single-blinded randomized crossover trial of 2 weeks (n = 14). The subjects were exposed to mild cold conditions using a climatic chamber, and BAT activity was analyzed using thermography. Serum FGF21 level was determined by ELISA in these studies. Results In the single intake study, serum FGF21 level was the highest before beta-conglycinin intake and gradually and significantly decreased throughout the 2-h experimental period (P < 0.05). The randomized crossover trial showed that 2-week beta-conglycinin intake did not affect serum FGF21 level and BAT activity, whereas changes (Δ) in baseline levels of serum FGF21 were positively correlated with Δ BAT activity (P < 0.05). In addition, analysis of each group revealed that there was significant correlation between the Δ serum FGF21 level and Δ BAT activity in the beta-conglycinin group (P < 0.05), but not in the placebo group. Conclusions This study reveals that although serum FGF21 levels are not increased by a single or short-term intake of beta-conglycinin, the Δ basal FGF21 level is associated with Δ BAT activity. These results suggest that human FGF21 responsiveness is different from that of rodents and support the importance of FGF21 in human BAT thermogenesis. Trial registration This study is registered with University Hospital Medical Information Network in Japan (number 000038723, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000043942).

Semblanza biográfica del investigador y antropólogo cubano Antonio J. Martínez Fuentes., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

El objetivo del presente trabajo es dar a conocer los resultados de los análisis bioantropológicos realizados sobre los restos óseos humanos que aparecieron de manera fortuita en la costa marina del partido de Mar Chiquita, en el contexto de información disponible para el área. Se plantean las dificultades en las tareas de rescate y se discuten aspectos referidos a conservación y pautas de entierro. Los restos analizados son el primer hallazgo en el sector central de la costa marina de la provincia de Buenos Aires, y comprenden por lo menos tres individuos, uno adulto y dos subadultos., The aim of the present work is to present the results of the bioanthropological analyses carried out on the human bone remains that appeared fortuitously on the sea shore of Mar Chiquita district, in Buenos Aires province, on the basis of the available information from the area. Difficulties in rescue tasks are addressed, and aspects related to conservation and burial standards are discussed. The remains analyzed are the first finding of this kind on the central marine coast of Buenos Aires province, and comprise at least three individuals, one adult and two subadults., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

Los restos óseos humanos de Patagonia Austral se encuentran dispersos en numerosas instituciones europeas y americanas. Actualmente se contabilizan más de 1150 individuos. Esos sujetos y la información de orden bioantropológica publicada acerca de cada uno de ellos ha sido compilada en la Base de Información Bioantropológica de Patagonia Austral. Esta plataforma se concibe como una herramienta que busca facilitar y agilizar la labor de la comunidad de antropólogos biólogos y afines, de la región. Es de carácter público y código abierto, y se encuentra a disposición tanto de la comunidad científica como de la sociedad. Se actualizará de manera periódica, con la información que la comunidad genere y ponga a disposición de sus pares a través de los diversos formatos que los científicos tienen para difundir su labor científica., The human skeletal remains of Southern Patagonia are scattered throughout numerous European and American institutions. Currently there are more than 1150 individuals in those institutions. Information about the remains and the peer-reviewed published bioanthropological information about each of them have been compiled in the Base de Información Bioantropológica de Patagonia Austral (Southern Patagonian Bioanthropological Information Base). This platform is conceived as a tool that seeks to facilitate and streamline the work of the community of bioanthropologists and other scientists. The database is public and open source, and it is available to both the scientific community and the wider public. It will be updated periodically, with the information that the community generates and makes available to its peers by means of the various formats that scientists employ to publish their scientific work., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

La modificación antrópica del ambiente provocada por la acción agrícola intensiva genera fenómenos erosivos que posibilitan la localización de antiguos espacios de actividad humana. En este trabajo damos a conocer el hallazgo de un sitio arqueológico puesto en evidencia por maquinaria agrícola, situado a 40 km al oeste de la localidad de Margarita (departamento de Vera, provincia de Santa Fe). El sitio arqueológico fue denominado Pavenhan, y se caracteriza por la presencia de restos óseos humanos con una datación radiocarbónica de 580±40 años 14C AP. Una vez realizada la exhumación, los restos fueron acondicionados y ordenados según un criterio anatómico. El material se encontró fragmentado por factores postdepositacionales naturales y antrópicos. Asimismo, se destaca la presencia de marcas de orientación transversal sobre diáfisis media de huesos largos, producidas en su mayoría por roedores. Se procedió a la determinación del número mínimo de individuos (NMI=15) identificándose adultos (n=13) y subadultos (n=2). Debido al estado de preservación del material, solo se pudo determinar el sexo de ocho individuos, de los cuales cinco se clasificaron como masculinos y tres como femeninos. Las patologías identificadas sobre los restos esqueléticos resultaron ser en su mayoría infecciones inespecíficas, mientras que aquellas asociadas a la cavidad bucal fueron caries y periodontitis. Estos resultados confirman que las sociedades cazadoras recolectoras pescadoras del Chaco austral practicaban enterratorios secundarios, como así también refuerzan la idea de que estos grupos contaban con una incorporación incipiente de hidratos de carbono durante los momentos previos a la conquista española., The anthropic modification of the environment caused by intensive agriculture generates erosive phenomena that make it possible to locate ancient areas of human activity. In this work we present the finding of an archaeological site brought to light by agricultural machinery, located 40 km west of the town of Margarita (department of Vera, province of Santa Fe). The archaeological site was named Pavenhan, and it is characterized by the presence of human bone remains with a radiocarbon date of 580±40 years 14C AP. After the exhumation, the remains were prepared and sorted out according to anatomical criteria. The material was found fragmented by natural and anthropic post-depositional factors. Also, the presence of transverse orientation marks on the middle diaphysis of long bones, produced mostly by rodents, was observed. We proceeded to determine the minimum number of individuals (MNI=15), identifying adults (n=13) and subadults (n=2). Due to the state of preservation of the material, sex was determined only in eight individuals, five of which were classified as masculine and three as feminine. Pathologies were identified on the skeletal remains; in their majority, they were nonspecific infections, while those associated with the oral cavity were caries and periodontitis. These results confirm that the hunter-gatherer-fishing societies of southern Chaco practiced secondary burials, and they also reinforce the idea that these groups had begun to include carbohydrates in their diet before the Spanish conquest., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

Background The prevalence of allergic and autoimmune conditions has been steadily increasing in wealthy nations over the past century. One hypothesis put forward to explain this is the Old Friends Hypothesis, which posits that increased hygiene, urbanization, and lifestyle changes have reduced our exposure to parasites and microbes that we co-evolved with, resulting in immune dysregulation. However, research in traditionally living populations, who are exposed to greater parasite and pathogen loads such as those encountered during our evolution, is limited, in part due to a lack of minimally invasive, field-friendly biomarkers of autoimmune disorders. We therefore developed an ELISA to assess positivity for thyroid peroxidase autoantibody (TPO-Ab), an indicator of autoimmune thyroid disease, based on dried blood spot (DBS) samples. Results We used the Accubind anti-thyroid peroxidase test system to screen our validation samples comprising matched fingerprick DBS, venous DBS, and plasma samples from 182 adults. After confirming that we had TPO-Ab-positive individuals in our validation sample (n = 12), we developed an indirect ELISA to measure TPO-Ab levels from one 3-mm DBS punch. The sensitivity and specificity of our assay for DBS samples ranged from 91.7–100% and 98.2–98.8%, respectively, using a cut-off value of ≥ 26 IU/mL. Intra-assay reliability for duplicate quality control DBS punches was 5.2%, while inter-assay reliability ranged from 11.5–24.4% for high, medium, and low DBS controls. Dilutional linearity ranged from 80 to 120%, and spike and recovery experiments indicated that the DBS matrix does not interfere with the detection of TPO-Ab. TPO-Ab levels remained stable in DBS samples stored at − 28 °C or − 80 °C, but decreased over time in DBS samples kept at 22 °C or at 37 °C. Conclusions We developed an in-house, kit-independent indirect ELISA assay to determine individuals’ TPO-Ab positivity based on dried blood spots, representing a cost-effective method with potential applications in a range of research settings.

El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar los cambios entésicos de la población horticultora (guaraní) del Delta inferior del río Paraná y compararlos con aquellos de los cazadores-recolectores que habitaron la región hacia fines del Holoceno tardío. Para esto se analizó la robusticidad de las entesis de húmeros, fémures y tibias. Los resultados señalan una amplia variabilidad de cambios entésicos entre los guaraníes que pueden corresponderse con la composición sexual y etaria de la muestra, así como con el tamaño corporal y factores mecánicos. Por otro lado, se observó que los individuos recuperados en sitios guaraníes presentan mayores cambios entésicos que los cazadoresrecolectores. Si bien estas diferencias también podrían estar relacionas con factores biológicos y genéticos, es posible que se deban a diferentes adaptaciones mecánicas relacionadas con sus prácticas de subsistencia y equipamientos tecnológicos., The goal of this study is to characterize the entheseal changes of the horticultural population (guaraníes) from the lower Paraná river Delta and to compare them with the entheseal changes from hunter-gatherer societies that inhabited the same region at the end of Late Holocene. To this end, the entheseal robusticity of humerus, femur and tibia was analyzed. The results show a wide variability of entheseal changes among guaraní that could be related to the age KEYWORDS horticulturists; La Plata basin; hunter-gatherer; enthesis and sex composition of the sample, body size and/or mechanical loading. Individuals recovered from guarani´s archaeological sites have more pronounced entheseal changes than the hunter-gatherers. Besides biological and genetic factors, it is possible that these differences were caused by different mechanical adaptations according to their subsistence practices and technological equipment., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

Por su vinculación con la edad cronológica y el estatus de maduración, la edad ósea es útil en los campos clínico, forense, legal y deportivo. En 1983 Tanner y colaboradores propusieron el método TW2, años más tarde lo modificaron denominándolo TW3. En Latinoamérica, los estudios en población abierta en los que se han estimado las edades óseas empleado dichos métodos son muy escasos y no se llegan a conclusiones precisas sobre la conveniencia de utilizar uno u otro, y en México no se cuenta con trabajo alguno publicado en el que se utilice el método TW3. Objetivo: explorar cual método (TW2 o el TW3) es más apropiado para estimar la edad ósea en menores que comparten ancestrías de origen indoamericano y que participan de rasgos culturales similares. Se utilizaron radiografías de muñeca y mano obtenidas entre los años 1986 y 1987, en 393 menores (182 mujeres y 211 hombres) de 6 a 17 años de edad, de origen mixteco, residentes en la Heroica Ciudad de Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, México. Para la estimación de la edad ósea se siguieron las técnicas RUS de TW2 y TW3. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la estimación de la edad ósea por los métodos TW2 y TW3. Entre las edades estimadas por el método TW2 y la edad cronológica se encontraron mayores diferencias que empleando el TW3, estimaciones derivadas que más se apegaron a la edad cronológica., In clinical, forensic, legal and sport fields it is usefull to estimate the chronological age as well as the maturation status and therefore it is useful to determine it through the bone age. In 1983 Tanner et al. proposed the TW2 method, which was later modified and renamed as TW3. In Latin America, bone age studies of open populations using the TW2 and TW3 methods were carried out, but none of them concludes which of both is more accurate and for Mexico there are no published data on TW3. Objective: to explore which method (TW2 or TW3) is most appropriate to estimate bone age of children who share indoamerican ancestry and participate of similar cultural traits. Based on X-Rays of hand and wrist obtained between 1986 and 1987 in 393 youngsters (182 girls and 211 boys) from 6 to 17 years of age of Mixtec origin from the Heroica Ciudad de Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, Mexico, bone age was estimated folowing RUS TW2 and RUS TW3 methods. Significant statistical differences were found between TW2 and TW3. Greater differences were found using TW2 method vs chronological age, than using the TW3, derived estimates which lay closer to chronological age., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

Las termitas son insectos que aparecen muchas veces en contextos arqueológicos en Brasil y casi nunca son objeto de estudio como procesos naturales de formación de los depósitos y contextos arqueológicos. La probabilidad de que se encuentren marcas de estos insectos modificadores de carcasas de animales y humanos en sitios arqueológicos en Brasil y en Sudamérica hace pertinente su estudio. A partir de una aproximación teórica - metodológica que comprende la Icnoarqueología y la Arqueoentomología Funeraria, presentamos el caso de estudio de un esqueleto humano con señales de bioerosión debidas a la acción de termitas subterráneas en el sitio arqueológico Toca do Enoque (Piauí, nordeste de Brasil) del Holoceno Medio. Guiados por un protocolo de estudio actualístico, pudimos registrar que el patrón de daños observado en los huesos resultó ser consistente con el comportamiento osteofágico de ciertas especies de termitas endémicas de la región Neotropical (Familia: Termitidae). El análisis macroscópico muestra la importancia de reconocer a los isópteros subterráneos como agentes tafonómicos naturales que pueden actuar en la degradación postdeposicional de restos óseos humanos provenientes de contextos funerarios arqueológicos., Termites are insects that often appear in archaeological contexts in Brazil, that are almost never studied as natural processes of deposit formation and archaeological contexts. The probability of founding marks of these insects that modify carcasses of animals and humans in archaeological sites in Brazil and South America makes their study relevant. From a theoretical - methodological approach that includes Icnoarchaeology and Funeral Archeoentomology, we present the case study of a human skeleton with signs of bioerosion due to the action of subterranean termites in the archaeological site at Toca do Enoque (Piauí, northeastern Brazil) from the Middle Holocene. Guided by an actualist study protocol, we were able to record that the pattern of damage observed in the bones was consistent with the osteophageal behaviour of certain termite species endemic to the neotropical region (Family: Termitidae). The macroscopic analysis shows the importance of recognizing subterranean termites as natural taphonomic agents that act in postdepositional degradation of human bone remains from archaeological burial contexts., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

En este artículo se presentan los primeros resultados del secuenciamiento de la Región Hipervariable I del ADN mitocondrial de restos óseos humanos arqueológicos de la provincia de Santiago del Estero, con el objeto de contribuir al conocimiento sobre la diversidad genética de las poblaciones de la llanura santiagueña y los procesos de interacción con grupos de otras regiones de Argentina en tiempos prehispánicos tardíos. Se obtuvieron resultados positivos en 5 de las 10 muestras estudiadas que permitieron la identificación de 5 haplotipos diferentes. Una de las muestras, proveniente del norte del Río Dulce, presenta las mutaciones características del subhaplogrupo D1j, mientras que los demás individuos fueron asignados a linajes derivados de C1. La comparación de los haplotipos obtenidos en este trabajo con secuencias prehispánicas compiladas de la literatura no muestra una conexión con las poblaciones que habitaron el NOA en tiempos tardíos ni tampoco con los grupos chaco-litoraleños. En cambio, se observa claramente un vínculo biológico entre las poblaciones de la llanura santiagueña y los grupos de la región central de Argentina (fundamentalmente de la actual provincia de Córdoba) y de los valles del centro-oeste argentino. A pesar de su reducido número, los haplotipos obtenidos dan cuenta de este fenómeno: de las cinco secuencias obtenidas, tres fueron asignadas a los linajes D1j, C1d1b y C1b+146 que han sido señalados como indicadores de un estrecho vínculo entre las poblaciones del centro y el oeste argentino, y evidencia del mantenimiento de flujo génico entre ellas., In this article we present the first set of mitochondrial hypervariable region I sequences from human archaeological remains from the province of Santiago del Estero, with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the genetic diversity of the populations of the Santiago plains and the processes of interaction with groups from other regions of Argentina in late pre-Hispanic times. Positive results were obtained in 5 out of the 10 analyzed samples, which allowed the identification of 5 different haplotypes. One of the samples, from the north of the Dulce river, shows the characteristic mutations of subhaplogroup D1j, while the other individuals were assigned to derived lineages of C1. The comparison of the haplotypes obtained in this work with pre-Hispanic sequences compiled from the literature did not show a genetic connection with the populations that inhabited northwest Argentina region in the Late Period nor with the Chaco-Littoral groups. Nevertheless, a biological link was clearly observed between the populations of the Santiago del Estero plains and the groups of the central region of Argentina (mainly of the province of Córdoba), and of the valleys of the center-west of Argentina. Despite the small sample size, the detected haplotypes demonstrate these linkages: three out of the five sequences obtained were assigned to the lineages D1j, C1d1b and C1b+146 that have been pointed out as indicators of close genetic relationships between the populations from Central and Western Argentina, as well as evidence of sustained gene flow between them, Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar los resultados preliminares de una evaluación de cambios entesiales en poblaciones urbanas de la ciudad de Mendoza (Argentina) del periodo colonial (siglos XVII-XIX). La muestra bioarqueologica corresponde a 67 individuos adultos de ambos sexos exhumados de entierros primarios de templos católicos del Sitio Área Fundacional (Ciudad de Mendoza) durante los años 1995 y 2012. Se evaluó el grado de error intra observador y se analizó la distribución por sexo y grupos de edad a partir del relevamiento de 26 entesis fibrocartilaginosas. Se calculó prevalencia a partir de frecuencias absolutas y relativas según presencia/ausencia y grados de expresión por rasgo, junto a test de significancia estadística. Los resultados sugieren patrones de demanda biomecánica diferentes entre hombres y mujeres en distintas edades (tanto en prevalencia como duración/intensidad de las actividades). Sin embargo, se discute la distribución considerando factores biológicos y metodológicos, planteando líneas de trabajos a desarrollar para fortalecer los estudios de estrés funcional en poblaciones urbanas y coloniales de Mendoza., The aim of this paper is to present the preliminary results of an evaluation of enthesial changes in urban populations of the city of Mendoza (Argentina) of the colonial period (17th to 19th centuries). The bioarchaeological sample corresponds to 67 adult individuals of both sexes exhumed in archaeological excavations of catholic temples of the site Área Fundacional (City of Mendoza) between 1995 and 2012. The degree of intraobserver error was evaluated and the distribution by sex and age groups was analyzed from the record of 26 fibrocartilaginous enthesis. The prevalence was calculated from the absolute and relative frequencies according to the presence/ absence and the degrees of expression by feature, together with the test of statistical significance. The results suggest different biomechanical demand patterns between men and women at different ages (prevalence and duration/intensity of activities). However, the distribution is discussed considering biological and methodological factors, proposing lines of investigation to be developed to functional stress studies in historical colonial populations of Mendoza., Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentina

Background The association between abdominal fat distribution and metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) components by menopausal status has yet to be explicated. The purpose of this study was to examine a cross-sectional association between abdominal fat compartments and MetSyn components in pre- and post-menopausal overweight Japanese women. Methods Of 212 overweight Japanese women, 76 pre-menopausal overweight (BMI ≥ 25) women (PreM age, 42.1 ± 5.9 years) and 87 post-menopausal overweight women (PostM: age, 56.2 ± 4.5 years) were analyzed in this study. Measurements were taken for body mass index (BMI), abdominal compartments [visceral fat (VF), subcutaneous fat (SF), superficial subcutaneous fat (SSF), and deep subcutaneous fat (DSF)], serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Abdominal compartments were assessed using computed tomography. Results No significant differences were found for BMI, SF, SSF, or DSF between the PreM and PostM. Despite this, the PreM had a significantly smaller VF area than that of the PostM. However, the difference in VF area disappeared when age was adjusted for. VFA significantly correlated with HDLC, TG, and FPG independently of menopause status. Conclusions These results suggest that the effect of menopause status on the association between VF and MetSyn components is negligible. Abdominal subcutaneous fat compartments were not associated with MetSyn components in overweight women regardless of menopausal status.

Background Ground golf is a popular sport among the elderly in Japan. Several types of exercise can reduce the body's mean arterial pressure (MAP), but little is known about how ground golf affects the MAP. We investigated the effects of ground golf on the MAP and the oxygen uptake ($$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2 $$V̇O2) in a healthy elderly population. Participants and methods Thirteen elderly Japanese people (3 males and 10 females, mean age of 66 years) participated. All participants played 8 holes of ground golf 6 times, as game (G)1 to G6. The MAP, heart rate (HR), and $$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2 $$V̇O2 were measured at rest and every 5 min during each game. Results A linear trend analysis revealed that participants’ MAP values progressively decreased as each game proceeded with marginal differences (p = 0.054). There were no significant differences in HR between at rest and any of the games. The $$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2 $$V̇O2 during the games (except for G6) were significantly higher than that at-rest (p < 0.05). The resting MAP values were negatively associated with the ground golf-induced changes in MAP (r = 0.786, p = 0.001). The participants with greater changes in $$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2 $$V̇O2 during the games showed significantly greater reductions in MAP (r = 0.276, p = 0.043). Conclusions Playing ground golf reduced the participants’ MAP and increased their $$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_2 $$V̇O2. Participants with higher resting MAP experienced greater reductions in MAP by playing ground golf, which suggests that ground golf can be a useful recreational sport for the elderly.

Background Although exercise is a standard treatment for postoperative osteoarthritis, interindividual differences have been reported. Epigenetic modification (DNA methylation), a factor causing interindividual differences, is altered by the environment and may affect all tissues. Performing a tissue biopsy to investigate methylation of skeletal muscle fat metabolism genes is invasive, and less invasive and convenient alternatives such as blood testing are desired. However, the relationship between tissue and blood is still unclear. Here, we examined the relationship between DNA methylation of the PDK4 gene in skeletal muscle and peripheral blood. Patients and methods Five patients who underwent artificial knee arthroplasty between April 2017 and June 2018 at Kansai Medical University Hospital were included (2 men and 3 women; average age, 75.2 years; body mass index, 26.1 kg/m2). We measured the body composition of the patients using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Peripheral blood was collected at the time of hospitalization and 5 months after surgery; skeletal muscles were collected at the time of surgery and 5 months after surgery. Rehabilitation was performed according to the clinical procedure for 3 months after surgery. Patients performed resistance training and aerobic exercise using an ergometer for 20 min twice a week. Biopsy samples were treated with bisulfite after DNA extraction, and the methylation rate was calculated at different CpG islands downstream from the transcription initiation codon of the PDK4 gene. Results No significant change in body composition was observed before and after postoperative exercise therapy, and no significant change was noted in the methylation at each position in the promoter region of PDK4 in the skeletal muscle and peripheral blood. However, changes in the methylation rate at CpG1 in peripheral blood significantly correlated with those in skeletal muscle (P = 0.037). Furthermore, the amount of change in the methylation rate of CpG1 in the skeletal muscle was significantly correlated (P = 0.037) with the average methylation rate at the promoter region in peripheral blood. Conclusions Methylation rates at CpG1 in the skeletal muscle and peripheral blood were significantly correlated, suggesting that skeletal muscle methylation could be analyzed via peripheral blood rather than skeletal muscle biopsy.