0000000000123137
AUTHOR
Alfredo Ortega-alonso
Exercise in waist-high warm water decreases pain and improves health-related quality of life and strength in the lower extremities in women with fibromyalgia
Objective To evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy of exercise therapy in a warm, waist-high pool in women with fibromyalgia. Methods Thirty-four women (mean ± SD tender points 17 ± 1) were randomly assigned to either an exercise group (n = 17) to perform 3 weekly sessions of training including aerobic, proprioceptive, and strengthening exercises during 12 weeks, or to a control group (n = 17). Maximal unilateral isokinetic strength was measured in the knee extensors and flexors in concentric and eccentric actions at 60°/second and 210°/second, and in the shoulder abductors and adductors in concentric contractions. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using the EQ-5D que…
Anodal tDCS over the left prefrontal cortex does not cause clinically significant changes in circulating metabolites
Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a putative treatment for depression, has been proposed to affect peripheral metabolism. Metabolic products from brain tissue may also cross the blood–brain barrier, reflecting the conditions in the brain. However, there are no previous data regarding the effect of tDCS on circulating metabolites.\ud Objective: To determine whether five daily sessions of tDCS modulate peripheral metabolites in healthy adult men.\ud Methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled trial involved 79 healthy males (aged 20–40 years) divided into two groups, one receiving tDCS (2 mA) and the other sham stimulated. The anode was placed over the left dor…
Influencias genéticas en la movilidad y capacidad funcional de mujeres mayores: introducción metodológica y resultados preliminares del estudio de hermanas gemelas FITSA
Resumen Introduccion los mecanismos subyacentes que explican las diferencias en movilidad y discapacidad en personas mayores no son plenamente entendidos. En la actualidad se encuentran en profunda investigacion. El presente articulo pretende dar a conocer los resultados recientes en el estudio FITSA (Finnish Twin Study on Aging). FITSA es un estudio de hermanas gemelas cuyo objetivo principal es conocer influencias geneticas y ambientales en el estado de salud y capacidad funcional de las mujeres mayores. Material y metodos un total de 434 gemelas divididas en 98 pares monocigoticas y 115 dicigoticas fueron evaluadas en los laboratorios del Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud de la Univer…
A twin study on the heritability of walking ability among older women
BACKGROUND This study examined the role of genetic and environmental factors explaining individual differences in women's walking ability in old age. METHODS A maximal walking speed test over 10 meters and a 6-minute walking endurance test were done under standard conditions among 92 monozygotic and 105 dizygotic pairs of twin sisters reared together, aged 63-75 years. RESULTS The mean maximum walking speed was 1.73 +/- 0.32 m/s and the mean distance covered in the 6-minute walking test was 525.6 +/- 77.3 m. Multivariate genetic modeling showed that a minor part of the variances in walking speed (16%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0%-54%) and endurance (20%, 95% CI: 0%-56%) were accounted f…
Eight months of physical training in warm water improves physical and mental health in women with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial.
Objective To evaluate the feasibility of 8 months of supervised exercise therapy in warm water and its effects on the impact of fibromyalgia on physical and mental health and physical fitness in affected women. Methods Thirty women with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to an exercise therapy group (n = 15) or a control group (inactive) (n = 15). The impact of fibromyalgia on physical and mental health was assessed using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the anxiety state with State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Physical fitness was measured using the following tests: Canadian Aerobic Fitness; hand-grip dynamometry; 10-metre walking; 10-step stair-climbing and blind 1-leg stance. Resul…
Electrocardiographic Indices of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Repolarization Phase Share the Same Genetic Influences: A Twin Study
Background: Both left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and repolarization phase (RP) are known to be attributable to genetic influences, but less is known whether they share same genetic influences. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent individual differences in electrocardiographic (ECG) LVH and RP are explained by genetic and environmental influences and whether these influences are shared between these two traits. Methods: Resting ECG recordings were obtained from 186 monozygotic and 203 dizygotic female twin individuals, aged 63 to 76 years. Latent factors, called LVH and RP, were formed to condense the information obtained from LVH indices (Cornell voltage and Cornell pr…
Genetic and environmental influences on longitudinal changes in leisure-time physical activity from adolescence to young adulthood.
The aim of this study was to estimate genetic and environmental influences on the longitudinal evolution of leisure-time physical activity habits from adolescence to young adulthood. Data were gathered at four time points, at mean ages 16.2, 17.1, 18.6, and 24.5 years. At baseline, the sample comprised 5,216 monozygotic and dizygotic twins, born 1975–1979, and, at the last follow-up point, of 4,531 monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Physical activity volume was assessed as frequency of leisure-time physical activity and participants were categorized into three groups: inactive, moderately active, and active. Genetic and environmental influences were estimated using a multivariate, longitudina…
Gut microbiome and atrial fibrillation - results from a large population-based study
Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important heart rhythm disorder in aging populations. The gut microbiome composition has been previously related to cardiovascular disease risk factors. Whether the gut microbial profile is also associated with the risk of AF remains unknown. Methods We examined the associations of prevalent and incident AF with gut microbiota in the FINRISK 2002 study, a random population sample of 6763 individuals. We replicated our findings in an independent case–control cohort of 138 individuals in Hamburg, Germany. Findings Multivariable-adjusted regression models revealed that prevalent AF (N = 116) was associated with nine microbial genera. Incident AF (N = 5…
Electrocardiographic and other clinical correlates of walking ability in older women
Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine how resting electrocardiographic (ECG) and other clinical variables, which can be included in a routine clinical examination, predict walking ability in older women. Three hundred and twenty women (63–75 years) without overt cardiac diseases and apparent mobility limitations were studied. Measurements performed were clinical examination (standard 12-lead resting ECG, assessment of physical activity level, presence of chronic diseases, use of beta-blockers, body mass index (BMI), ability to squat, resting blood pressure) and six-minute walking test. Participants walked 533 ± 75 m in the six-minute walking test. The best electrocardiographic p…
Body Fat and Mobility Are Explained by Common Genetic and Environmental Influences in Older Women
In older adults, mobility limitations often coexist with overweight or obesity, suggesting that similar factors may underlie both traits. This study examined the extent to which genetic and environmental influences explain the association between adiposity and mobility in older women. Body fat percentage (bioimpedance test), walking speed over 10 m, and distance walked in a 6-min test were evaluated in 92 monozygotic (MZ) and 104 dizygotic (DZ) pairs of twin sisters reared together, aged 63-76 years. Genetic and environmental influences on each trait were estimated using age-adjusted multivariate genetic modeling. The analyses showed that the means (and s.d.) for body fat percentage, walkin…
Genetic effects on mobility, obesity and their association in older female twins
Nowadays it is common that men and women gain weight during their adulthood, arriving to older ages with excessive body weight or obesity. This may potentially have adverse consequences on health in late life, as for example, it can lead to higher difficulties to move in everyday life and eventually to earlier disability. Many studies have shown that in older population obesity and mobility problems are hand-by-hand. The main aim of the present investigation was to elucidate the extent to which this relation between mobility and obesity could be explained by common genetic and environmental influences in older women.This research utilized data from 434 Finnish twin sisters gathered during t…
Genetic influences on resting electrocardiographic variables in older women: a twin study.
Background: Previous studies in young and middle-aged men and women have shown that resting electrocardiographic (ECG) variables are influenced by genetic factors. However, the extent to which resting ECG variables are influenced by genetic factors in older women is unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental influences to individual differences in resting ECG variables among older female twins without overt cardiac diseases. Methods: Resting ECG recordings were obtained from 186 monozygotic and 203 dizygotic twin individuals, aged 63–76 years. Quantitative genetic modeling was used to decompose the phenotypic variance in each …
Longitudinal changes in genetic and environmental influences on older women's walking ability
This study examined the stability and change over time in genetic and environmental influences on walking ability among older women. Maximal walking speed over 10 m and 6-min walking endurance test were measured under standard conditions at baseline and 3 years later. At both times, 63 monozygotic (MZ) and 67 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs were measured for walking speed and 58 MZ and 56 DZ pairs for walking endurance. Participants were twin sisters reared together and aged 63-75 years at baseline. Genetic and environmental influences were examined using longitudinal genetic modelling. The results showed that walking speed was preserved from baseline to follow-up. Genetic influences on walking s…
A longitudinal study on genetic and environmental influences on leisure time physical activity in the Finnish Twin Cohort.
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the contribution of genetic and environmental influences to leisure time physical activity among male and female twins over a 6-year follow-up. At baseline the sample comprised 4,280 monozygotic and 9,276 dizygotic twin individuals, and at follow-up 4,383 monozygotic and 9,439 dizygotic twin individuals. Participants were aged 18–54 years at baseline. Genetic modeling results showed that genetic influences on leisure time physical activity declined from baseline (44%) to follow-up (34%). Most of the genetic influences identified at baseline were present at followup (rg= 0.72). Specific environmental influences increased from baseline (56%)…
Genetic influences on adult body mass index followed over 29 years and their effects on late-life mobility: a study of twin sisters.
Background: The rise in body mass index (BMI) during adulthood increases the risk for metabolic disorders, functional limitations and disability in old age. This twin study examined prospectively whether genetic and environmental influences on women’s BMI also account for mobility 29 years later. Methods: The sample consisted of 103 monozygotic and 114 dizygotic pairs of twin sisters reared together. Body mass index was initially evaluated in 1975, when the women were aged 42.6±3.4 years, and was followed-up in 1981, 1990, 2001 and 2004. Mobility was evaluated using the standardised 6-minute walking test in 2001, when the women were aged 68.6±3.2 years, and followed-up 3 years later. An inv…
Inflammatory proteomics profiling for prediction of incident atrial fibrillation
ObjectiveAtrial fibrillation (AF) has emerged as a common condition in older adults. Cardiovascular risk factors only explain about 50% of AF cases. Inflammatory biomarkers may help close this gap as inflammation can alter atrial electrophysiology and structure. This study aimed to determine a cytokine biomarker profile for this condition in the community using a proteomics approach.MethodsThis study uses cytokine proteomics in participants of the Finnish population-based FINRISK cohort studies 1997/2002. Risk models for 46 cytokines were developed to predict incident AF using Cox regressions. Furthermore, the association of participants’ C reactive protein (CRP) and N-terminal pro B-type n…