The Association Between Daily Physical Activity and Risk of Hypertension in Middle-Aged and Older Adults:A Nationwide Cohort Study in China

Physical activity (PA) plays a key role in the treatment of hypertension, and moderate to vigorous PA has been documented to lower the risk of developing hypertension. However, dose-response relationships between PA and hypertension are not consistent, and little is known about this relationship within the Chinese middle-aged and older people. We investigated the relationship between PA and hypertension within this population using China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015 data. Physical activity was expressed in terms of the metabolic equivalent task (MET) and participants were divided into groups according to quartiles, namely, Q1 (< 32.97 METs-h/w), Q2 (32.97-60.38 METs-h/ w), Q3 (60.38-98.95 METs-h/w), and Q4 (> 98.95 METs-h/w). Compared with the Q1 group, the odds ratio of risk with hypertension (95% CIs) after adjusting for confounding factors were 0.63 (0.35, 1.12), 0.49 (0.28, 0.86), and 0.62 (0.35, 1.09) for those in Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively. Restricted cubic spline functions were used and a U-shaped relationship between physical activity and hypertension risk was found, indicative of an optimal level of physical activity, which was found to be 112 METs-h/w. Our data suggest maintenance of optimal levels of total daily physical activity may be important for preventing hypertension in Chinese adults over the age of 40.

A Case-Control Study on Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) during the Last Three Months of Pregnancy and Foetal Outcomes in Italy

The association between Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) during pregnancy and foetal outcomes has been extensively investigated. However, epidemiological studies specifically referred to LPTA in the last months of pregnancy are scarce. We evaluated the association between LPTA and the risk of both preterm delivery and small for gestational age (SGA) during the last three months of pregnancy in Italy. A nationwide case-control study was performed in nine Italian cities. A total of 299 preterm delivery, 364 SGA and 855 controls were enrolled in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic variables, medical and reproductive history, life-style habits and LTPA referred to the last three months of pregnancy. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed in order to estimate Odds ratios and 95% CI. LTPA during the last three months of pregnancy decreases the risk of preterm delivery (adjusted OR = 0.56;95% CI 0.39 - 0.79). Among the different types of physical activity, walking, the most frequently referred activity, appears significantly protective against preterm delivery (adjusted OR = 0.53;95% CI 0.36 - 0.81). Moreover, a small protective effect of walking was evidenced against SGA (adjusted OR = 0.72;95% CI 0.51 - 1.00). In conclusion, a mild physical activity such as walking in the last three months of pregnancy seems to reduce the risk of preterm delivery and, at a lesser extent, of SGA, confirming the beneficial effects of physical activity along the whole pregnancy.

Using physical examinations to estimate age in elementary school children:A Chinese population-based study

Background:Designing a simple and accessible approach to age estimation in children and youth is a great challenge in the fields of sports and physical activity(PA).This study was designed to develop and validate a physical-examination-based method of estimating age in young children.Methods:In a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014,we performed physical examinations and assessed PA among 14,970 elementary school children 7–12 years old in Shanghai,China.Additional biological information on the children's height and birth date was ascertained through their parents.Two indicators were applied to develop a gender-specific age estimation equation:The percentage of predicted mature height(PPMH) and the Tanner stage.The equation was validated through a k-fold cross-validation approach.To check for estimation accuracy,the association between the discrepancy of estimated age(EA) and chronological age and PA was examined.Results:The gender-specific equations of EA were as follows:EA_(boy) = –6.071 + 6.559 Tanner 2 + 13.315 Tanner 3 + 14.130 Tanner 4 + 0.190 PPMH – 0.071 Tanner 2 × PPMH – 0.146 Tanner 3 × PPMH – 0.155 Tanner 4 × PPMH;EA_(girl) = –4.524 – 1.251 Tanner 2 + 2.504 Tanner 3 + 8.752 Tanner 4 + 11.893 Tanner 5 + 0.158 PPMH + 0.017 Tanner 2 × PPMH – 0.024 Tanner 3 × PPMH – 0.087 Tanner 4 × PPMH – 0.118 Tanner5 × PPMH.The mean absolute error was 0.60 years for boys and 0.59 years for girls.The discrepancy score was negatively and weakly associated with self-reported moderate-to-vigorous PA in both genders(r_(boy) = –0.09,p < 0.001;r_(girl) = –0.12,p < 0.001).Conclusion:Findings suggest that physical examinations could provide a valid and reliable approach for estimating age in young Chinese children.

The moderating impact of lifestyle factors on sex steroids, sexual activities and aging in Asian men

The present study sought to evaluate the relative associations of exercise, sleep and other lifestyle habits with aging, sex hormones, percent body fat （%BF） and sexual activities in men living in the community. A better understanding of this complex interrelationship is important in helping the formulation of modalities for a holistic approach to the management of aging men. The results showed that age is a major determinant for many physiological parameters, including sleep, hormonal and metabolic parameters, some lifestyle factors and sexual activities. Testosterone （T）, bioavailable testosterone （BloT） and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate （DHEAS） concentrations decreased with age, while estradiol （E2）, sex hormone-binding globulin （SHBG） and %BF increased with age. In addition, there exist intricate associations among hormonal and lifestyle factors, %BF and age. High-intensity exercise and longer duration of sleep were associated with higher concentrations of T and BloT. T was shown to be associated positively with men who were engaged in masturbation. DHEAS was associated with men wanting more sex and with good morning penile rigidity. Older Singaporean men tended to sleep for shorter duration, but exercised more intensely than younger men. Coital and masturbation frequencies decreased with age, and a significantly greater number of younger men were engaged in masturbation. Relationship between the partners is a key determinant of sexuality in men. It appears that T may have a limited, while dehydroepiandrosterone （DHEA） have a greater role than previously suggest, as a motivational signal for sexual function in men. Both biological and psychosocial factors interact with each other to influence sexual functions in men. Hence, a biopsychosocial approach may be more appropriate for a more lasting resolution to sexual dysfunctions in men.

Age Related Changes in Physical Activity and Incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases in a Sample of Kuwaiti Adults

The incidence of major chronic Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) medically diagnosed or treated, was studies in a cross section of Kuwait adult population as well as their daily levels of physical activity (PA) as recalled by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ. A group of 1957 subjects 17 - 65 years of age, representative of the Kuwait population was selected using last year high school students and their relatives as well as government workers in each Kuwait governorate. Descriptive statistics, frequency tables, chi square and Fisher tests were used. ANOVA or Mann Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons. The percentage of subjects in the low categorical PA level (from IPAQ) is high (29.4%) even at a young age (17 - 24), similar in prevalence to overweight/obesity (30%). At age 45, obesity increases to 40% with little change in % subjects of low PA. Weighted average categorical PA was 1280 MET.min/week reflecting that the majority (40%) of subjects belonged to the moderate PA category. A high proportion (38%) of subjects in the 17 - 24 age category contributed to the observed level of PA activity. Incidence of overweight and obesity increased from 30 to more than 55% from the second to the sixth decade of life. Hyperlipidemias increased in incidence from 8% to 45% of the sample from the third to the sixth decades of age. Hypertension and diabetes increased from the 4th to the 6th decades of life to affect from 14% to 40% and from 10% to 36% of the studied population, respectively. Incidence of Heart Disease increased from 9% to 15% of the sample population, between the 5th and 6th decades of life. The data indicate a sequence of events, initiated by overweight and obesity as early as in the 2d decade of life, followed by hyperlipidemia in the 3d decade, diabetes and hypertension in the 4th, and heart disease in the 5th decade of life. Changes in incidence of low energy expenditure (low PA) were not associated with the observed changes in prevalence of obesity/overweight with age which are likely due to increments in energy intake in groups with insufficient PA. Changes in low PA incidence with age did not correlate with those in NCD. Interventions to minimize overweight and hyperlipidemia should be started in the second and third decades of life respectively. Increases in PA may potentiate the responses to these treatments.

Peak O₂Uptake Correlates with Fat Free Mass in Athletes but Not in Sedentary Subjects

Objective: To characterize relationships between peak O2 uptake (VO2max) and fat free mass (FFM) in adult sedentary and in young and adult athletes. Methods: Healthy adult male sedentary workers or students reporting no regular physical activity in the last six months (n = 61, 31.0 ± 0.95 years) and young (n = 63, 15.8 ± 0.16 years) or adult (n = 85, 25.9 ± 0.48 years) males athletes were studied. Sports were classified according to their MET intensity. Bruce’s treadmill protocol served to measure VO2max. Weight and seven skin-fold thicknesses were used to estimate body density and FFM. Subjects signed informed-consent forms before the tests. Results: The significant correlations (R2 = 0.48, p 2max or of log FFM with log VO2max (R2 = 0.53, p 2 = 0.34 & 0.30), and not significant (R2 = 0.19 & 0.17, p > 0.05) in sedentary subjects. Stepwise multiple regression analysis (R2 = 0.65) indicated that VO2max depended on FFM, heart rates and MET intensity of practiced sport in athletes. In sedentary subjects VO2max was insignificantly (R2 = 0.18) related to flexibility. Discussion: Skin-fold based FFM reliably reflects maximally active muscle mass in young athletes, to a lesser extent in adult athletes but not in adult sedentary subjects. In sedentary, VO2max is often limited by local pain and fatigue and does not reflect the capacity of the oxygen extraction system. In sedentary, varying proportions of surface fat, muscle and bone increase variability in the relationship between skinfolds and FFM.

Lipid Profile and Hepatic Enzymes Differences between Pre-diabetes and Normal Staff

Purpose:The aim of this study was to investigate lipid profile and hepatic enzymes difference between pre-diabetes and normal subjects.Methods:In this cross-sectional study,264 employees of Energy Industries Engineering&Design(EIED)Company were randomly selected and participated in the study in January 2019.A sample of 10 mL of venous blood was obtained between 8 a.m.and 10 a.m.Blood analyses for fasting glucose(FG),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),LDL-cholesterol,HDL-cholesterol,aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)levels were determined by enzymatic methods.Body composition and anthropometric indices were measured and recorded using the OMRON BF511 device and tape measure.Achievements of This Study:TG,the LDL/HDL ratio,and the ALT were significantly higher in the pre-diabetes group.Also,body mass index,waist circumference,waist-hip ratio were significantly higher in pre-diabetic women than in normoglycemic women.According to the results of this study suggested that the risk of cardiovascular and liver diseases in people with pre-diabetes increases and the intervention of lifestyle such as increased levels of physical activity and exercise to prevent diabetes and related complications.

Original article Relationship between perinatal characteristics and later activities of daily living in Chinese elderly people

Background There are no reports on the association between perinatal characteristics and comprehensive physical function in Chinese elderly people. In this study, we traced 875 subjects who were born at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital （PUMCH） of China from 1921 to 1941. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of perinatal characteristics on activities of daily living （ADL） function in the geriatric period.Methods Birth data of 875 subjects were obtained from obstetric birth records of PUMCH. Adulthood data collection was conducted in the outpatient clinics of PUMCH. During the clinic visits, trained research staff administered physical examinations, activities of daily living scale and a demographic questionnaire. ADLs of all subjects were assessed with the activities of daily living scale.Results There were 101 subjects whose ADL function was limited and the rate of ADL limitation was 11.5%. Binary logistic regression analyses results showed that the main influencing factors of ADL were age, maternal age at birth, occupation, daily exercise and chronic disease. Subjects whose maternal age at their birth exceeded 35 years were at 2.202 times （1.188-4.083） greater risk of ADL limitation when we applied multivariate logistic rearession models.Conclusions This study validated the relationship between perinatal characteristics and ADL in the geriatric period. An older maternal age at birth could predict a higher ADL limitation rate in the geriatric period.

Yi Jin Jing （Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises） for primary osteoporosis in the elderly： a clinical trial

Objective：To observe the clinical efficacy of Yi Jin Jing （Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises） for primary osteoporosis in the elderly.Methods：Eighty old patients with primary osteoporosis were randomized into a Yi Jin Jing group and a medication group,40 cases in each group.The Yi Jin Jing group was intervened by Yi Jin Jing （Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises） training,while the medication group was intervened by oral administration of alendronate sodium tablet.Prior to and after 6-month intervention,the bone mineral density （BMD） of the proximal femur,visual analog scale （VAS） and activities of daily living （ADL） were estimated.Results：There were no significant differences in the BMD of the proximal femur,and VAS and ADL scores between the two groups before the intervention （P〉0.05）.After 6-month intervention,the above items all improved significantly in both groups （both P〈0.01）;the improvements in VAS and ADL scores in Yi Jin Jing group were more significant than those in the medication group （P〈0.01）,while the between-group difference in the BMD of the proximal femur was statistically insignificant （P〉0.05）.Conclusion：Practice of Yi Jin Jing （Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises） can effectively ameliorate the BMD in the elderly with primary osteoporosis,and it can reduce the pain and improve ADL,with a better general effect compared to oral administration of alendronate sodium tablet.