Search Results (7,190)

In Olympic-style weightlifting males outperform females and heavier weightlifters lift more weight than athletes with lighter body mass. Traditional ranking models in weightlifting are based on total weight lifted and do not permit direct comparison of individual lift performances across body mass and sex. The aim of this study was to model performance in the snatch and clean and jerk and to develop a unified ranking system for comparisons across body mass and sex. Data from 3412 performances at IWF Senior World Championships and Olympics (2019–2025) were analyzed. The median sex gap was 30.7% for the snatch and 29.3% for the clean and jerk, with smaller differences at lower body mass. Peak performance occurred at 25.4 years for both lifts. Generalized additive models accounting for location, scale, and shape of the performance distribution were used to estimate standardized scores. Scaling individual lifts onto a common metric allows for meaningful evaluation of athletes even in the presence of unsuccessful attempts in one type of lift and can illustrate performance profiles. This approach supports performance assessment, athlete monitoring, and mixed-team rankings which is particularly relevant in emerging competition formats that emphasize lift-specific contributions and mixed-sex participation. Full article

Low birthweight (LBW; <2500 g) remains a persistent public health concern in the United States, with important implications for infant survival and long-term health. Maternal smoking and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) are key determinants of fetal growth, yet their joint effects in term infants are not well characterized. Our analysis of the 2024 U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) birth data restricted to 2,973,679 singleton term births (37–41 weeks) reveals that 2.8% of infants were born LBW and 8.1% small-for-gestational-age (SGA). Smoking during pregnancy (2.2%) was associated with higher odds of LBW (aOR 2.19; 95% CI: 1.92, 2.51), SGA (aOR 1.90; 95% CI: 1.85, 1.96), and combined SGA/LBW (aOR 2.75; 95% CI: 2.66, 2.84) than nonsmoking. Underweight BMI was associated with higher odds of SGA/LBW (aOR 1.95; 95% CI: 1.89, 2.01) and overweight/obesity with lower odds of SGA (aOR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.70) than normal BMI. Joint associations of BMI and smoking on term SGA/LBW were strongest (aOR 5.14; 95% CI: 4.62, 5.73) among underweight smokers. The additive scale interaction was positive for underweight smokers and negative for overweight/obese smokers. Targeted interventions addressing smoking cessation and optimal maternal weight may reduce risks. Full article

Background: Global takeaway fast-food consumption (TFC) has surged. This study aimed to investigate the association between TFC frequency and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and to explore the potential mediating roles of metabolic and inflammatory markers. Methods and Results: In this cross-sectional study of 13,062 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we utilized weighted regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) to evaluate the association between TFC frequency and DBP. We performed exploratory mediation analyses to explore the roles of body mass index (BMI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), cardiometabolic index (CMI), dietary inflammatory index (DII), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). In the overall cohort, the main association between TFC frequency and DBP did not reach statistical significance in fully adjusted models. However, restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a linear dose–response trajectory without an evident threshold effect. In exploratory subgroup analyses, a potentially pronounced positive association was noted among females, although the formal interaction test was not statistically significant. Mediation models indicated that the examined metabolic and inflammatory markers did not significantly mediate this relationship, suggesting that the association with diastolic blood pressure may not operate through these specific pathways. Conclusions: While the overall main categorical association did not reach statistical significance, TFC demonstrated a potential continuous trend with DBP, with potential associations observed among females. Notably, this relationship was not mediated by established metabolic or inflammatory indices, suggesting that the association between TFC and blood pressure elevation may exist independent of overt structural obesity. These findings highlight the potential value of incorporating takeaway fast-food consumption into routine dietary screening for early cardiovascular risk assessment in young adults. Full article

Predicted cardiovascular age (heart age) translates the risk-factor profile into an equivalent age, which may facilitate interpretation of estimated cardiovascular risk. Excess cardiovascular age describes, in years, the integrated burden of modifiable risk factors and its distribution in the population. This study aimed to quantify socioeconomic and geographic inequalities in predicted excess cardiovascular age among Peruvian adults using standardized inequality measures, and to describe its temporal variation from 2014 to 2024. We analyzed ENDES Peru 2014–2024 data for adults aged 30–74 years. Cardiovascular age was estimated using the body mass index (BMI)–based non-laboratory Framingham equation, and excess was defined as the difference between cardiovascular age and chronological age. Weighted means and 95% confidence intervals were estimated accounting for the complex survey design. Socioeconomic inequalities were assessed using absolute and relative gaps between extreme wealth quintiles (Q5–Q1), the Slope Index of Inequality (SII), the Relative Index of Inequality (RII), and the concentration index/curve. Among 163,889 participants, mean excess cardiovascular age was 9.64 years (95% CI: 9.48–9.80), with similar estimates in women (9.73; 95% CI: 9.52–9.94) and men (9.54; 95% CI: 9.33–9.75). Temporal variation was observed, peaking in 2021 (10.91; 95% CI: 10.57–11.25). Excess increased with wealth (Q1: 7.14 vs. Q5: 11.25 years), with an SII of 5.04 years (95% CI: 4.71–5.37) and a concentration index of 0.087. The gradient was steeper in men (SII 6.14) than in women (SII 3.90). Geographically, Metropolitan Lima had higher excess than the Highlands (11.17 vs. 7.45 years), and urban areas exceeded rural areas (10.28 vs. 7.25 years). In Peru, adults aged 30–74 years had a mean predicted excess cardiovascular age of about 10 years, with a consistent pro-rich and urban/coastal concentration pattern, more pronounced among men. Because this metric is derived from a risk prediction equation, these findings should be interpreted as surveillance-oriented evidence of inequalities in estimated risk-factor burden, not as evidence of observed cardiovascular disease, subclinical cardiovascular damage, causal mechanisms, or tested intervention effects. Full article

Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is prevalent in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF); however, its overall impact in this population is understudied. No systematic review on this topic is currently available. Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically review the existing literature on OD in PwCF. Methods: A systematic review was performed using PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria consisted of articles that examined OD in PwCF using psychophysical olfactory testing. PubMed, Ovid Medline, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, MedRxiv, and Web of Science databases were searched on 13 June 2022. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality and determine risk of bias for the studies included in the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 87 articles were initially identified; ten were ultimately included. All ten studies were prospective and observational. A total of 420 PwCF were included in these studies (209 females, mean age = 26 years). Psychophysical olfactory testing was performed via the 40-Question Smell Identification Test (n = 4 studies), Sniffin’ Sticks Testing (n = 4 studies), and other odor identification tests (n = 2 studies). The mean prevalence of OD was 61% (range 10–88%), while rates of anosmia ranged from 5 to 14. The meta-analysis demonstrated that PwCF had lower threshold, discrimination, and identification scores compared to controls, with a very large effect size (Hedges’ g = −1.57, 95% CI = −2.51 to −0.63). Five studies revealed impairment in odor identification. Five studies assessed potential associations between OD and body mass index. Conclusions: OD is common in PwCF. Most PwCF have hyposmia, while anosmia is less common. Olfactory limitations have not been well characterized in pediatric patients. Understanding how OD affects PwCF is critical to optimization of disease management and quality of life. Full article

Background and Objectives: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has emerged as the most widely adopted bariatric procedure in the management of morbid obesity. Despite its efficacy, postoperative scarring at port sites remains a significant aesthetic concern for patients. To mitigate this issue, we developed the Modified Bikini Line Sleeve Gastrectomy technique. This study aims to delineate the surgical steps of the Modified Bikini Line Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure, define the requisite anatomical landmarks, and contribute to the literature by retrospectively evaluating a patient cohort to determine the clinical applicability of this modified approach. Materials and Methods: The Modified Bikini Line Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure has been performed at our center since 2020. Stringent patient selection is paramount to the clinical success of this technique. Consequently, specific inclusion criteria necessitate meticulous evaluation during both the preoperative and intraoperative phases. This study delineates the critical aspects of patient selection, provides a comprehensive description of the Modified Bikini Line Sleeve Gastrectomy surgical technique, and analyzes the fundamental intraoperative considerations essential for its successful implementation. Results: A total of 906 patients (844 females, 62 males) with a mean Body Mass Index of 40.7 ± 6.6 kg/m² were included. Postoperative surgical site infection occurred in 6.2% of cases, and 0.8% required blood transfusion. At 12 months, the mean total body weight loss and excess weight loss were 35% ± 3% and 86.9% ± 31.2%, respectively. The mean postoperative cosmetic satisfaction score was 4 ± 0.8 (on a 5-point scale). Conclusions: These findings constitute the first study in the literature to demonstrate that the Modified Bikini Line Sleeve Gastrectomy technique is safe regarding complication profiles, effective in achieving weight loss goals, and yields high patient-reported cosmetic satisfaction. However, certain clinical presentations may preclude the use of this technique. Specifically, the Modified Bikini Line Sleeve Gastrectomy approach may not be suitable for patients with large hiatal hernias, a history of major upper abdominal surgery, or those with hepatomegaly (left lobe hypertrophy). Furthermore, anatomical constraints such as xiphoid–umbilical, xiphoid–pubic symphysis, and xiphoid–anterior superior iliac spine distances exceeding 25 cm, 36 cm, and 33 cm, respectively along with the presence of a redundant panniculus, represent limiting factors for this modified procedure. Full article

Obesity is a major public health problem in Peru. Cohabiting couples may show obesity clustering because of partner selection, shared household routines, and broader structural exposures. This study aimed to describe spousal similarity in body mass index (BMI) and obesity status among DHS-eligible male-headed cohabiting couples in Peru and to examine variation across sociodemographic subgroups. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of DHS 2019 and 2021–2024, excluding 2020. The study included heterosexual cohabiting couples in which the man was the household head aged ≥ 18 years and the woman was the spouse/partner aged 15–49 years, with anthropometric measurements available for both. BMI was calculated from measured weight and height; obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m². We accounted for the complex survey design and used Pearson correlations, weighted kappa statistics, and Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate crude and exploratory adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for obesity clustering. The final analytic sample included 27,604 couples. Obesity prevalence was 25.8% in husbands and 33.3% in wives. Overall, 52.1% of couples had neither spouse with obesity, 14.5% had only the husband with obesity, 22.0% had only the wife with obesity, and 11.3% had obesity in both spouses. BMI correlation between spouses was r = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.18–0.21), the weighted kappa for BMI categories was 0.17, and the crude PR for wife obesity given husband obesity was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.39–1.56). In exploratory adjusted models, the PR for wife obesity given husband obesity was 1.34 (95% CI: 1.26–1.41), and the reverse PR for husband obesity given wife obesity was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.31–1.49). Observed concordance was somewhat stronger in urban, coastal, and wealthier subgroups but remained modest overall. Among DHS-eligible heterosexual cohabiting couples in Peru, restricted to male household heads and female spouses/partners aged 15–49 years, obesity showed positive but modest spousal concordance. These findings support cautious incorporation of couple-level perspectives into obesity surveillance and future research, but they do not establish causal mechanisms or demonstrate the effectiveness of couple-based screening or interventions. Full article

Incretin-based therapies, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, have revolutionized the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Recent evidence suggests these agents may influence athletic performance through effects on body composition, energy metabolism, and cardiovascular function. This narrative review critically evaluates whether incretin therapies could constitute doping under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) criteria. We narratively reviewed the literature on incretin pharmacology, metabolic effects relevant to athletic performance, and anti-doping regulations, searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using terms including “GLP-1 receptor agonists”, “DPP-4 inhibitors”, “doping”, “athletic performance”, “WADA”, and “sports pharmacology”, without date restrictions. GLP-1 RAs (semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide, exenatide) induce substantial weight loss (predominantly fat mass) but also reduce lean mass by 20–30% of total weight loss. Preclinical studies demonstrate enhanced exercise endurance, mitochondrial biogenesis, and glucose uptake via GLP-1R/AMPK signaling. However, clinical trials show no consistent improvement in physical performance in humans. Currently, incretin therapies are not listed on the WADA Prohibited List. While incretin therapies offer theoretical performance-enhancing potential through weight management and metabolic optimization, current evidence does not support classification as doping agents. Continued surveillance is warranted as misuse patterns emerge. Full article

Although the health risks associated with the use of biomass fuels have received widespread attention, there has been insufficient detailed research conducted on the toxic effects and toxicity generation mechanisms of PM_2.5 produced by the use of different sources of solid organic fuels. In this study, the synchronized L4-stage Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were exposed to the suspensions of the PM_2.5 samples collected from incomplete combustion products of rice straw, wheat straw, peanut straw, rapeseed straw and the branch of poplar and paulownia. Body length, the number of fertilized eggs, accumulation of lipofuscin, and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) were measured to characterize developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, intestinal damage, and oxidative stress. The types and mass proportions of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble inorganic ions, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM_2.5 were determined. The results show that PM_2.5 generated from the combustion of the straw of oilseed crops such as peanuts and rapeseed has the most severe toxic effects on C. elegans. The toxicological mechanism was mainly mediated by severe oxidative stress and excessive generation of ROSs. The chemical characteristics of PM_2.5 have strong source-specificity, and its toxic effects are closely related to the high content of lipid-soluble PAHs in PM_2.5 from oilseed crop sources. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent contaminants with growing evidence of systemic health effects, but their potential influence on gastrointestinal function remains poorly understood. This study evaluated associations between serum PFAS mixtures and bowel health indicators, including self-reported constipation and bowel movement frequency, among 116 U.S. adults aged ≥20 years from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Six PFASs were examined: PFOS, PFOA, PFHS, PFNA, PFDE, and PFUA. Constipation was assessed using the NHANES Bowel Health Questionnaire item coded from 1 = Always to 5 = Never, so that higher values represented less frequent self-reported constipation, and bowel movement frequency was recorded as movements per week. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) estimated joint and nonlinear mixture effects, and survey-weighted regression models examined individual PFAS, each adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, education, and income. Higher combined PFAS exposure was associated with higher constipation response scores across the mid-range of exposure, indicating less frequent self-reported constipation, with PFOA identified as the primary contributor through a nonlinear, inverse U-shaped exposure–response pattern. In survey-weighted models, PFOA and PFUA were associated with less frequent self-reported constipation, whereas PFNA was associated with more frequent constipation. Associations with bowel movement frequency were weak and inconsistent; only PFOS reached significance in regression, and this association would not survive correction for multiple comparisons, so these data provide little evidence of a robust association between PFAS and bowel movement frequency. Overall, higher PFAS exposure was associated with less frequent self-reported constipation, particularly for PFOA, whereas evidence for an association with bowel movement frequency was limited. Full article

Optimizing oxygen supply and nitrogen removal in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) requires species-specific metabolic benchmarks. This study quantified the effects of body size and stocking density on oxygen consumption and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) excretion in the silverside Odontesthes bonariensis under controlled RAS conditions. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to compare small (48–140 g) and large (>140–250 g) fish stocked at low (3.2 kg m⁻³) and high (6.2 kg m⁻³) densities. Oxygen consumption was significantly influenced by both factors, with mean routine rates ranging from 146.12 ± 35.07 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ in high-density large fish to 226.31 ± 50.71 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ in low-density small fish. Smaller fish exhibited higher mass-specific rates, and individuals held at lower densities consumed more oxygen, consistent with allometric scaling and density-dependent metabolic suppression. In contrast, TAN excretion was unaffected by size or density, with mean values ranging from 4.59 ± 0.77 to 10.81 ± 3.76 mg TAN kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ across treatments, indicating stable protein catabolism under a uniform feeding regime. Both parameters displayed pronounced diurnal fluctuations, with postprandial peaks associated with specific dynamic action: oxygen consumption fluctuated between 61.75 and 333.03 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, while TAN excretion ranged from 0 to 78.63 mg TAN kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ over 24 h cycles. These findings demonstrate that oxygen demand in O. bonariensis is strongly modulated by bioenergetic scaling and stocking density (ranging from 146 to 226 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹), whereas ammonia excretion (4.6–10.8 mg TAN kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) is primarily driven by dietary input. These results provide species-specific baseline benchmarks for aeration sizing and biofilter design, thereby supporting the sustainable intensification of silverside aquaculture in RAS. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity is a chronic and multifactorial disease, and the global prevalence of obesity-induced metabolic and systemic complications is expected to rise. Current peptide-based drugs that mainly target glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor activation have shown unprecedented efficacy in body weight reduction. Nevertheless, they show undesirable adverse effects including gastrointestinal effects, lean mass reduction, and rebound weight gain after ending pharmacotherapy. These underscore the medical need for additional anti-obesity drugs with novel pathways. Methods: Literature updating current anti-obesity pharmacotherapy and reporting potential drug targets and candidates in the last five years was searched across PubMed. The resulting literature was classified into working mechanisms and target receptors. Results: Recent research on incretin-based peptide drugs has focused on developing more convenient regimens by introducing longer-acting once-monthly injection or oral formulation. Novel anti-obesity targets other than incretin receptors have also been suggested. This narrative review summarizes recent research updates on peptide-based drugs and upcoming anti-obesity drug candidates tested in clinical and in vivo studies. Conclusions: Beyond the current peptide-based pharmacotherapy, novel anti-obesity drug candidates are waiting for further validation in clinical trials. When used alone or combined with the available drugs, these candidates may produce more effective and safer pharmacotherapy for obesity treatment. Full article

Objective: The association of smoking with sleep apnea is often based on subjective data. This study quantified the effects of smoking on sleep architecture using exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) and polysomnography (PSG). Methods: A total of 183 patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were included in this prospective study. Following full-night PSG, eCO was measured within 10 min. Data were analyzed using the Generalized Linear Model (GLM). Results: Although initial unadjusted analyses showed an inverse correlation between eCO levels and central apnea count, GLM revealed that male gender was the only independent predictor for central apnea, negating the effect of eCO. GLM analyses, adjusted for age, gender, BMI, and alcohol and drug use, revealed that cumulative smoking load (pack-years) was independently associated after multivariable adjustment with reduced REM sleep duration (B = −0.345, 95% CI [−0.571; −0.119], p = 0.003) and REM sleep percentage (B = −0.099, 95% CI [−0.158; −0.040], p = 0.001). Similarly, smoking duration (years) significantly predicted decreased REM sleep duration (B = −0.426, 95% CI [−0.724; −0.128], p = 0.005) and REM percentage (B = −0.119, 95% CI [−0.197; −0.041], p = 0.003). Formal interaction analyses did not detect a statistically significant interaction with body mass index (BMI) (p > 0.05 for all interaction terms). Conclusions: In OSA, smoking is independently associated with alterations in REM sleep architecture rather than respiratory events. Cumulative smoking load and smoking duration are independently associated with alterations in REM sleep after adjusting for any other major clinical comorbidities. Full article

Skeletal safety of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) remains uncharted, with emerging evidence suggesting a divergence between mono- and dual-agonist therapies. GLP-1RA monotherapy appears bone-neutral, with modest or no adverse effects on bone mineral density (BMD), whilst dual agonists may confer a relatively higher risk of osteoporosis and fractures, plausibly mediated by greater weight loss magnitude and concomitant reductions in lean body mass (LBM) rather than direct osteotoxicity. Intensified surveillance is warranted in susceptible phenotypes, including older adults and postmenopausal women with low baseline BMD under conditions of rapid weight loss. Osteoporosis risk is further amplified by pre-existing osteopenia, nutritional deficiencies, and concomitant exposure to bone-active agents. Given the limitations of serial dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), including cumulative radiation exposure and limited sensitivity to early remodeling changes, biochemical markers potentially depict bone turnover more dynamically. Measurement of dynamic bone resorption markers enables early identification of skeletal disturbances, supporting proactive adjustment of therapeutic strategy, dosing, and duration. Specifically, deoxypyridinoline (DPD), a bone-specific collagen crosslink, is a highly sensitive and rapidly responsive urine biomarker of osteoclastic activity. Incorporating DPD urine testing into monitoring frameworks potentially facilitates individualized therapeutic modulation, optimizing the metabolic efficacy of GLP-1RAs while safeguarding skeletal integrity. Full article

Açaí is considered a super fruit for its high concentration of flavonoid polyphenols, predominantly anthocyanins. The nutraceutical effect of açaí as an anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic agent has been reported. This study aimed to investigate whether açaí protects paternal contribution against accelerated aging using the D-galactose model. Wistar rats (n = 24) were treated by voluntary consumption with vehicle paste (C) or a mixture with 200 mg/kg of D-galactose (DG) or 300 mg/kg of lyophilized açaí (A); D-galactose and açaí (DGA) were given separately. Fathers (F0) and offspring (F1) underwent Doppler ultrasound (aorta and kidney) and spermatic and immune cell analyses. In the F0 generation, the DG group showed altered epididymis weight, sperm quality, aortic diameter, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, systolic velocity and renal resistivity index. Açaí positively modulated sperm, neutrophil and vascular alterations in F0. The male F1 of the DG group showed lower body mass, as well as a greater number of abnormal spermatozoa and leukocyte DNA breaks; however, the DGA group had a significant increase in body mass and the NRL was positively correlated with leukocyte DNA breaks. Our data indicate that age acceleration, induced by D-galactose for 30 days, causes innate physiological dysfunction and compromises sperm contribution, which was positively modulated by açaí. The preconception use of lyophilized açaí also has some positive impact on intergenerational health, but the topic still deserves further investigation. Full article