Energy requirements and physical activity in free-living older women and men: a doubly labeled water study

Determinants of daily energy needs and physical activity are unknown in free-living elderly. This study examined determinants of daily total energy expenditure (TEE) and free-living physical activity in older women (n = 51; age = 67 +/- 6 yr) and men (n = 48; age = 70 +/- 7 yr) by using doubly labeled water and indirect calorimetry. Using multiple-regression analyses, we predicted TEE by using anthropometric, physiological, and physical activity indexes. Data were collected on resting metabolic rate (RMR), body composition, peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), leisure time activity, and plasma thyroid hormone. Data adjusted for body composition were not different between older women and men, respectively (in kcal/day): TEE, 2,306 +/- 647 vs. 2,456 +/- 666; RMR, 1,463 +/- 244 vs. 1,378 +/- 249; and physical activity energy expenditure, 612 +/- 570 vs. 832 +/- 581. In a subgroup of 70 women and men, RMR and VO2 peak explained approximately two-thirds of the variance in TEE (R2 = 0.62; standard error of the estimate = +/-348 kcal/day). Crossvalidation of this equation in the remaining 29 women and men was successful, with no difference between predicted and measured TEE (2,364 +/- 398 and 2,406 +/- 571 kcal/day, respectively). The strongest predictors of physical activity energy expenditure (P < 0.05) for women and men were VO2 peak (r = 0.43), fat-free mass (r = 0.39), and body mass (r = 0.34). In summary, RMR and VO2 peak are important independent predictors of energy requirements in the elderly. Furthermore, cardiovascular fitness and fat-free mass are moderate predictors of physical activity in free-living elderly.     

Long-term use of smokeless tobacco and physical performance in middle-aged men

Because of the discovery of potent interleukin-1 (IL-1) blocking effects by CK-103A (4,6-dihydropyridazino[4,5-c]pyridazin-5 (1H)-ones) on rat uveitis induced by IL-1, numerous derivatives of CK-103A have been synthesized and their efficacies on the same animal model studied. The uveitis was induced by injection of 1 ng IL-1/10 microliters intravitreally. The inflammation reached peak at 12 hr after the injection of IL-1. The prevention/blockade of IL-1-induced uveitis was measured at this peak inflammation time point. It was found that 8 out of 12 CK-analogs studied produced an effective blockade of IL-1-induced uveitis. Most of them were at least equipotent or even more potent than prednisolone in blocking IL-1-induced uveitis. It is concluded that most dihydropyridazinopyridazin derivatives are effective anti-uveitis compounds. Some could be found to be safe and useful for the treatment of this dreadful disease.     

Aspirin use in middle-aged men with cardiovascular disease: are opportunities being missed?

BACKGROUND: Since the 1980s, clinical trial evidence has supported aspirin use in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). AIM: To explore aspirin use among British men with known CVD in a population-based study. METHOD: Longitudinal study (British Regional Heart Study), in which subjects have been followed up for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality since 1978-1980. Aspirin use was assessed by questionnaires to study participants in November 1992 (Q92); cardiovascular diagnoses are based on general practice notifications to October 1992. A total of 5751 men aged 52-73 years (87% of survivors) completed questions on aspirin use. RESULTS: Overall, 547 men (9.5%) were taking aspirin daily, of whom 321 (59%) had documented CVD. Among men with pre-existing disease, 153 out of 345 (44%) men with myocardial infarction, 42 out of 109 (39%) with stroke, and 75 out of 247 (29%) with angina were taking aspirin daily. Among men with angina (54% versus 26%) or myocardial infarction (59% versus 42%), those who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or angioplasty were more likely to be receiving aspirin. Higher rates of aspirin use were also found in those whose last major event occurred after January 1990 (47% versus 34%). There was no association between aspirin use and social class or region of residence. CONCLUSION: Despite strong evidence of its effectiveness, many patients with established CVD were not receiving aspirin. Daily aspirin treatment was less likely in men with less recent major CVD events and in those who had not received invasive treatment.     

Lower levels of physical functioning are associated with higher body weight among middle-aged and older women

OBJECTIVE: To compare levels of physical function, across levels of body mass index (BMI), among middle- to older-aged women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Physical function, body weight and other covariates were measured in 1992. SUBJECTS: 56510 women aged 45-71 y, free of cardiovascular disease and cancer, participating in the Nurses' Health Study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The four physical function scores on the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Short Form-36 (SF36) Health Survey: physical functioning, vitality, bodily pain and role limitations. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, race, smoking status, menopausal status, physical activity and alcohol consumption, there was a significant dose-response gradient between increasing levels of BMI in 1992 and reduced function. For example, women with a BMI between 30-34.9 kg/m2 averaged: 9.0 point lower physical functioning score (95% Confidence interval (CI) -9.5, -8.5), 5.6 point lower vitality score (95% CI: -6.1, -5.1), and 7.0 point lower freedom from pain score (95% CI: -7.6, -6.4). These declines represent an approximate 10% loss of function compared to the reference category of women with BMIs ranging from 22.0-23.9 kg/m2. For the same BMI comparison, heavier women were at 66% increased risk of limitations in ability to work or perform other roles (RR = 1.66; 95% odds ratio (OR) CI: 1.56, 1.76). These findings were replicated when the sample was restricted to women who had maintained their BMI over a ten year period. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to increasing risk of chronic health conditions, greater adiposity is associated with lower every day physical functioning, such as climbing stairs or other moderate activities, as well as lower feelings of well-being and greater burden of pain.     

The Troms? Study: physical activity and the incidence of fractures in a middle-aged population

We have studied the relation of occupational and recreational physical activity to fractures at different locations. All men born between 1925 and 1959 and all women born between 1930 and 1959 in the city of Troms? were invited to participate in surveys in 1979-1980 and 1986-1987 (The Troms? Study). Of 16,676 invited persons, 12,270 (73.6%) attended both surveys. All nonvertebral fractures (n = 1435) sustained from 1988 to 1995 were registered in the only hospital in the area. Average age in the middle of the follow-up period (December 31, 1991) was 47.3 years among men and 4501 years among women, ranging from 32 to 66 years. Fracture incidence increased with age at all locations among women, but it decreased with or was independent of age among men. Low-energetic fractures constituted 74.4% of all fractures among women and 55.2% among men. When stratifying by fracture location, the most physically active persons among those 45 years or older suffered fewer fractures in the weight-bearing skeleton (relative risk [RR] 0.6, confidence interval [CI] 0.4-0.9, age-adjusted), but not in the non-weight-bearing skeleton (RR 1.0, CI 0.7-1.2, age-adjusted) compared with sedentary persons. The relative-risk of a low-energetic fracture in the weight-bearing skeleton among the most physically active middle-aged was 0.3 (CI 0.1-0.7) among men and 0.9 (CI 0.4-1.8) among women compared with the sedentary when adjusted for age, body mass index, body height, tobacco smoking, and alcohol and milk consumption. It seems that the beneficial effect on the skeleton of weight-bearing activity is reflected also in the incidence of fractures at different sites.     

Diet, alcohol, and physical activity as a function of smoking status in middle-aged women.

Diet, alcohol intake, and leisure-time physical activity were compared cross-sectionally in middle-aged female smokers, ex-smokers, and never smokers and were reassessed approximately 3 yrs later. At initial contact, there were no group differences in total caloric intake and very few differences in nutrient intake, but alcohol intake of current smokers and ex-smokers was at least 50% greater than that of never smokers, and current smokers reported less physical activity than did ex-smokers and never smokers. Prospective findings were similar: Compared with continuing smokers, ex-smokers did not change their dietary and alcohol intake but significantly increased physical activity. Thus, some adverse behaviors associated with smoking (e.g., alcohol intake) may be due to self-selection to history of smoking, whereas other behaviors (e.g., reduced physical activity) may be directly related to smoking itself. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of olive oil on immune function in middle-aged men

Autocrine motility factor is a tumor-secreted cytokine which regulates cellular growth and motility by a receptor-mediated pathway. In the accompanying report (Part I of II), it was demonstrated that high (K1735-M1) and low (K1735-C1.11) metastatic murine melanoma cells display distinct adhesion and spreading characteristics which correlate with their differential spontaneous and stimulated migrations on the extracellular matrix components fibronectin, laminin and collagen IV. These parameters were further related to discrete profiles of focal adhesion plaque integrity and reorganization. Here we describe unique migration patterns observed in these murine melanoma cells which reflect differences in degradation and/or remodeling of the cellular substratum. These profiles of matrix interaction were influenced distinctly by autocrine motility factor and dictated by both substrate composition and cellular phenotype. Since activation of the autocrine motility factor receptor stimulates invasion of a reconstituted basement membrane and enhances experimental metastasis by high- but not low-metastatic K1735 cells, differences in the invasive phenotypes of these cells may be due in part to their differential responses to external stimuli coupled with internal propensities toward either matrix degradation and migration (high-metastatic cells) or matrix remodeling and stasis (low-metastatic cells).     

Relation of cigarette smoking to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among middle-aged men

Because of previous inconsistencies in the observed relation of cigarette smoking to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, this association was investigated in the Selected Cancers Study, a population-based case-control study of 1,193 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases and 1,903 controls, conducted between 1984 and 1988. Study subjects were men, and the median age of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases was 50 years (range, 32-60 years). As compared with the risk among men who had never smoked cigarettes, the risk among ever smokers was not increased (odds ratio (OR) = 1.05, p approximately 0.50), but the risk was significantly elevated among men who reported smoking > or = 2 1/2 packs per day and among men who had smoked for 30-39 years (OR = 1.45 in each group, p < 0.05). The estimated odds ratio among the 350 heavy smokers (> or = 50 pack-years) was 1.41 (95% confidence interval 1.08-1.85) after controlling for educational achievement, various occupational and medical exposures, and other potential confounders. The observed associations, however, tended to vary by age, with the odds ratio among heavy smokers decreasing from 2.8 among 32- to 44-year-olds to 1.1 among men over 55 years of age. These age-related differences, which may account for some of the inconsistencies seen in previous studies of cigarette smoking and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, should be considered in future investigations.     

Associations between skeletal muscle properties, physical fitness, physical activity and coronary heart disease risk factors in men

High physical fitness and physical activity are associated with favourable lipid levels, especially a high level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). A person's skeletal muscle properties, metabolism and percentage of different muscle fibres (ST-%), which may modify coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, such as serum insulin, obesity and serum sex hormones may also influence his fitness level and leisure-time physical activity. We studied the associations of physical fitness, physical activity and ST-% with serum lipids and lipoproteins in 72 healthy men. Their parameters were compared with those of 20 men with defined CHD. Significant interrelationships between ST-%, fitness and leisure-time physical activity index (LTPAI) were observed. Multiple regression analysis showed that ST-%, fitness and leisure-time physical activity explained about 32% of the variation in HDL-C in the healthy men. In healthy men ST-% correlated positively with fitness (r(s) = 0.62, P < 0.001) and with LTPAI (r(s) = 0.62, P < 0.001). Fitness level also correlated significantly with LTPAI (r(s) = 0.81, P < 0.001). Serum insulin showed negative associations with ST-% (r(s) = -0.63, P < 0.001) and fitness (r(s) = -0.54, P < 0.001) and LTPAI (r(s) = -0.62, P < 0.001). Free fraction of testosterone correlated negatively with serum HDL-C level (r(s) = -0.34, P < 0.01), with fitness (r(s) = -0.41, P < 0.001) and with LTPAI (r(s) = -0.54, P < 0.001). In sedentary men with the lowest fitness and physical activity the mean of ST-% (45%) was similar to that in CHD patients (44%). However, ST-% in men in the highest tertile of physical activity and fitness (68%) was significantly higher than in CHD patients and in men in the lowest tertile of physical activity and fitness. Skeletal muscle enzyme activity in lipid metabolism was significantly lower in both CHD patients and in sedentary and low-fit men than that in fitter and physically active men. The present data imply that skeletal muscle properties are important determinants of risk profiles, such as physical activity, fitness and serum lipid and lipoprotein patterns. Although fitness is a graded, independent predictor of mortality from CHD, a relatively high fitness level is not enough. This was clearly observed in the clustering analysis, in which the healthy men, according to their ST-%, fitness, leisure-time physical activity and serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), fell into three natural groups: (i) Inactive men with lowest ST-% (mean 42%), lowest fitness (10.7 METs) and lowest HDL-C (1.36 mm/l); (ii) Fit men with high ST-% (66%), high fitness (14.5 METs) and moderately high HDL-C (1.54 mol/l); (iii) Active men with high ST-% (66%), highest fitness (14.9 METs) and highest serum HDL (1.83 mmol/l). The results support the idea that both fitness and physical activity give further protection against CHD by modifying risk factors. Our findings also suggest that skeletal muscle properties should be considered in the studies which assess CHD risk factors and their modifications especially in the field of health-related fitness.     

Influence of fathers' social class on cardiovascular disease in middle-aged men

BACKGROUND: The independent effect of early life circumstances on adult cardiovascular risk is still unresolved. We assessed the associations of father's social class with cardiovascular risk factors and with risk of ischaemic heart disease and stroke in adult life. METHODS: We did a longitudinal study of cardiovascular disease in 5934 men aged 40-59 years at enrollment. A cross-sectional measurement survey was done between 1978 and 1980 and a follow-up questionnaire was completed in 1992. The main endpoints were non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke based on general practitioners' reports obtained between screening and 1992 and on recall of physician-diagnosed ischaemic heart disease in the 1992 questionnaire. FINDINGS: Father's social class was strongly associated with social class in adulthood (fathers' occupation was manual for 41.3% of professionals [I] vs 89.1% for unskilled manual workers [V]) and was significantly related to height (non-manual vs manual 175.4 cm [SE 0.2] vs 172.9 cm [0.1], p < 0.0001) and obesity (213 [14.1%] vs 804 [20.1%], p < 0.0001) irrespective of adult social class; no association was found with blood glucose (log, 1.69 [0.005] vs 1.70 [0.003], p = 0.22) or cholesterol (6.34 [0.03] vs 6.29 mmol/L [0.02], p = 0.16. Men whose fathers' social class was manual had significantly higher rates of non-fatal myocardial infarction (342/4006 vs 92/1510) and self-reported physician-diagnosed ischaemic heart disease (686/4006 vs 192/1510) than men whose fathers' social class was non-manual, even after adjustment for adult social class and other established risk factors (relative odds 1.3 [95% Cl 1.0-1.7], p < 0.05 and 1.3 [1.1-1.6], p < 0.01, respectively). The influence of father's social class on non-fatal myocardial infarction and ischaemic heart disease was only seen in men whose adult social class was non-manual. No association was seen between father's social class and non-fatal stroke. INTERPRETATION: Father's social class is strongly associated with adult social class. The higher risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction and self-reported physician-diagnosed ischaemic heart disease seen in men whose father's social class was manual suggests that socioeconomic status early in life has some persisting influence on ischaemic heart disease risk in adult life.     

Social perception of middle-aged persons varying in physical attractiveness.

Presented 6 pictures of middle-aged persons varying in attractiveness to 90 married graduate students and 54 married elderly females. Results support the hypothesis that physically attractive middle-aged persons are judged in more socially desirable terms, and that the elderly hold a stronger physical attractiveness stereotype than young adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vocational interests of middle-aged men with traumatic spinal cord injury.

Objectives: Describe vocational interests of middle-aged men with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Participants: Seventy-nine Caucasian men with traumatic SCI (mean age?=?44 years; mean time since onset?=?20 years), 74% with quadriplegia. Measure: Strong Interest Inventory. Results: Replicated the unique pattern of interests found by D. E. Rohe and G. T. Athelstan (1982) among younger men with SCI. Compared with the normative sample, participants were more introverted, less academically oriented, and primarily interested in physically challenging and action-oriented occupations despite their functional limitations. Conclusions: Middle-aged men with traumatic SCI have the same unique vocational interest pattern as their younger peers. This pattern is not an artifact of age or time since onset and may partially explain low rates of employment after SCI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in physical activity, mortality, and incidence of coronary heart disease in older men

BACKGROUND: We studied the relations between physical activity and changes in physical activity, all-cause mortality, and incidence of major coronary-heart-disease events in older men. METHODS: In 1978-80 (Q1), 7735 men aged 40-59 were selected from general practices in 24 British towns, and enrolled in a prospective study of cardiovascular disease, which included physical activity data. In 1992 (Q92), 12-14 years later, 5934 of the men (91% of available survivors, mean age 63 years) gave further information on physical activity and were then followed up for a further 4 years. The main endpoints were all-cause mortality during 4 years of follow-up from Q92, and major fatal and non-fatal coronary-heart-disease events during 3 years of follow-up from Q92. FINDINGS: Among 4311 men with no history of coronary heart disease, stroke, or "other heart trouble" by Q92 and who did not report "poor health", there were 219 deaths. In the inactive/occasionally active, light, moderate, and moderately vigorous/vigorous activity groups there were 101 (18.5/1000 person-years) 48 (11.4), 23 (7.3), and 47 (9.1) deaths, respectively (adjusted risk ratios 1.00, 0.61 [95% CI 0.48-0.86], 0.50 [0.31-0.79], 0.65 [0.45-0.94]). Men who were sedentary at Q1 and who began at least light activity by Q92 had significantly lower all-cause mortality than those who remained sedentary, even after adjustment for potential confounders (risk ratio=0.55 [0.36-0.84]). Physical activity improved both cardiovascular mortality (0.66 [0.35-1.23]) and non-cardiovascular mortality (0.48 [0.27-0.85]). The relation between physical activity at Q92, changes in physical activity, and mortality were similar for men with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. INTERPRETATION: Maintaining or taking up light or moderate physical activity reduces mortality and heart attacks in older men with and without diagnosed cardiovascular disease. Our results support public-health recommendations for older sedentary people to increase physical activity, and for active middle-aged people to continue their activity into old age.     

Energy requirements of pregnancy for healthy Dutch women

Beta-adrenoceptor desensitization is considered to be primarily due to phosphorylation of receptors by protein kinase A (PKA) and beta-adrenaline receptor kinase (beta-ARK) and sequestration of receptors themselves. But in the human uterine muscle, the desensitization mechanism has been evaluated only as a phenomenon, and there are few studies on its mechanism. We evaluated cAMP production by beta-agonist and changes in the number of beta-receptors in cultured human myometrial cells. Uterine muscle cell were obtained from patients with benign disease before menopause and cultured. 1) At the confluent stage, dl-Isoproterenol Hydrochloride (ISP) was added under various conditions, and the intracellular cAMP concentration was determined by EIA. 2) After the addition of ISP (10(-6) M), plates were incubated at 37 degrees C, and beta-AR on the cell membrane surface (S beta-AR) and total beta-AR (T beta-AR) was measured in a binding assay with 125I-pindolol. The production of cAMP dose-dependently increased 30 minutes after the addition of ISP at 10(-6) M or higher, but rapidly decreased thereafter. T beta-AR was similar in the cells treated with ISP (10(-6) M) and the untreated cells. On the other hand, S beta-AR decreased by about 50% in the ISP treated cells. These result suggest the desensitization of beta-AR in human uterine muscle, and the involvement of the sequestration mechanism as its cause.     

Cross-sectional study of gender role conflict examining college-aged and middle-aged men.

This study examined gender role conflict in college-aged and middle-aged men. 88 college-aged men and 89 middle-aged men completed 5 measures that assess gender role conflict and psychological well-being. Multivariate analysis of variance results indicated that, compared with college-aged men, middle-aged men were less conflicted about success, power, and competition, but were more conflicted between work and family responsibilities. Canonical analysis indicated two significant roots between (a) gender role conflict and psychological well-being and (b) age group, gender role conflict, and psychological well-being. The discussion focuses on implications for counseling, limitations, and future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antibodies to prothrombin imply a risk of myocardial infarction in middle-aged men

Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with "antiphospholipid syndrome" may be directed at least in part against plasma phospholipid-binding proteins, such as beta 2-glycoprotein I or prothrombin, which are involved in the control of thrombosis and haemostasis. IgG-class antibodies against prothrombin and beta 2-glycoprotein I were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay in initially healthy middle-aged dyslipidaemic men (non-high-density lipoprotein > 5.2 mml/l). Serum samples had been drawn at entry to a 5-year coronary primary-prevention trial with gemfibrozil from 106 subjects who experienced either a non-fatal myocardial infarction or cardiac death during the follow-up and from 106 subjects without coronary episodes, matched for treatment group (gemfibrozil/placebo) and geographical area. The antiprothrombin antibody level, as expressed in optical density units, was significantly higher in patients than in controls (0.26 +/- 0.17 versus 0.22 +/- 0.09; p < 0.02). A high level of antiprothrombin antibodies (highest tertile of distribution) predicted a 2.5-fold increase in the risk (95% confidence interval 1.2-5.3) of myocardial infarction or cardiac death. The distribution of IgG-class antibodies against beta 2-glycoprotein I did not differ significantly between cases and controls. The joint effect of antiprothrombin antibodies and other factors associated with hypercoagulative state: triglyceride level, lipoprotein(a) and smoking, was multiplicative for the risk. Antiprothrombin antibodies are a new immunological predictor of myocardial infarction and the effect of these antibodies may be mediated by hypercoagulative mechanisms.     

Conditioning leisure time physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in sociodemographic groups of middle-ages men in eastern Finland

In the decade of the 1990's the human aspect has once again taken center stage in the design and operation of commercial aircraft. As occupation health and safety has gained importance in society in general, it has gained even more importance in the design an operation of commercial aircraft. In aircraft design today, the man-machine interface is considered in every task of the human workload. The discipline of ergonomics truly impacts each phase of product or tool design. At IPTN, the ergonomics effort is principally being applied to the design of the cockpit, cabin and cargo compartment of the N250. The ergonomists at IPTN are keenly aware that there would be a conflict between the user and his working environment without proper attention to the human considerations in the design is left for ergonomists and innovative programs like IPTN's participatory approach, to ensure that the human aspect is optimized in the man-machine interface.     

Contributions of acute bouts of vigorous physical activity to explaining diurnal variations in feeling states in active, middle-aged women.

This study describes diurnal variations in feeling states in 84 women as a function of involvement in physical activity. Women completed feeling state checklists before and after bouts of vigorous physical activity that lasted a minimum of 20 min and on a stratified random-sampling protocol in response to a stimulus from an electronic pager. Participants self-reported the date, the time of day, the stimulus for responding, their current feeling states, and their ongoing activity. A total of 7,295 complete mood and activity reports were recorded in response to pager calls that were further coded into experience samplings that occurred on a nonexercise day, prior to exercise on an exercise day, and following exercise on an exercise day. Multilevel modeling analyses showed that in samplings recorded following exercise on exercise days, positive engagement, revitalization, and tranquility were elevated in comparison with predicted diurnal patterns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Simple reaction times and timing of serial reactions of middle-aged and old men

The timing control of serial reactions in 20 middle-aged (38-43 years) and 20 older men (57-63 years) was examined by using a task of tracking serial-light stimuli with and without the previous learning (Exps. III and II, respectively). In Exp. I, a control group of 20 college students (19-22 years) had significantly faster and less variable mean simple reaction times than the two other groups. For the serial reaction times (Exps. II and III), the control group had significantly faster mean reaction times than the other groups who did not differ. In Exp. III, there was no difference between the serial reaction times and the simple reaction times in the contrasting groups. In Exp. II, however, although the serial reaction times were significantly slower than the simple reaction times in the older group, the serial reaction times did not differ from the simple reaction times in the middle-aged group. The difference between these groups appeared to be due to the task in Exp. II being more difficult than that in Exp. III, suggesting the more complex the movement to be made, the slower the responses of older people. Advancing age seems to have a greater effect on central processing components than on the perceptual and motor output components of serial reactions.