Kagan Ucok

Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise Capacities in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Associations with Subcutaneous Fat Distributions

Obesity is a strong risk factor for the development and progression of sleep apnea. Responses to exercise by patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are clinically relevant to reducing body weight and cardiovascular risk factors. This study aimed to clarify the aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacities and their possible relationships with other findings in patients with OSAS. Forty patients (30 males, 10 females) and 40 controls (30 males, 10 females) were enrolled in this study. Questionnaires (excessive daytime sleepiness, daytime tiredness, morning headache, waking unrefreshed, and imbalance), overnight polysomnography, indirect laryngoscopy, and aerobic and anaerobic exercise tests were performed. Triceps, subscapular, abdomen, and thigh skinfold thicknesses were measured. Subcutaneous abdominal fat (abdomen skinfold) was significantly higher in OSAS patients than in controls. Maximal anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity were not different significantly between the patients and controls. We found that aerobic capacity was significantly lower in OSAS patients than in controls. Aerobic capacity was negatively correlated with upper-body subcutaneous fat (triceps and subscapular skinfolds) but not correlated with subcutaneous abdominal fat in OSAS patients. In multivariate analyses using all patients, the apnea-hypopnea index remained a significant independent predictor of aerobic capacity after controlling for a variety of potential confounders including body mass index. Our data confirm that central obesity (subcutaneous abdominal fat) is prominent in patients with OSAS. Our results suggest that lower aerobic exercise capacity in patients with OSAS might be due to daily physical activity that is restricted by OSA itself. This study also suggests that the degree of subcutaneous abdominal fat cannot be used for predicting aerobic capacity level. We think that upper-body subcutaneous fat might be suitable for determining the physical fitness of patients with OSAS.

Body fat composition and distribution in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objectives. The aims of the present study were to compare the distribution and accumulation of body fat in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy controls matched for age and body mass index (BMI), and to investigate the association between androgen levels, insulin resistance and fat distribution. Materials and methods. Thirty-one PCOS women and 29 age- and BMI-matched healthy control women were evaluated in terms of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness determined with a skinfold caliper and body composition analyzed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Blood samples were obtained for determination of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, 17β-estradiol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, basal prolactin, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), androstenedione, insulin and glucose levels. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by fasting glucose/insulin ratio and free androgen index (FAI) was calculated as 100 × testosterone/SHBG. Differences between means were analyzed by Students t test or the Mann–Whitney U test according to distribution of the data. Correlation analysis was performed between the body fat distribution and parameters concerning insulin resistance and androgens. Results. FAI was significantly higher in patients with PCOS compared with the control group (p = 0.001). Fasting insulin was significantly higher and fasting glucose/insulin ratio was significantly lower in the PCOS group vs. controls (p = 0.03 and 0.001, respectively). There was significantly less subcutaneous adipose tissue in the controls than the PCOS women at the triceps (p = 0.04) and subscapular region (p = 0.04). Waist-to-hip ratio of PCOS women was significantly higher than that of control subjects (p = 0.04). Conclusion. Upper-half type body fat distribution is linked with PCOS, high free testosterone levels and insulin resistance.

Evaluation of health-related physical fitness parameters and association analysis with depression, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical fitness parameters (maximal aerobic capacity, muscle strength and flexibility), daily physical activity, resting metabolic rate (RMR), pulmonary function tests (PFTs), body composition, depression, anxiety and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) changes as well as the associations among these parameters in patients with fibromyalgia and to compare them with healthy controls.

Resting metabolic rate and exercise capacity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

To assess the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and exercise capacity (or maximal oxygen consumption [VO2 max]) of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and central adiposity.

Effects of quercetin and fish n-3 fatty acids on testicular injury induced by ethanol in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin and fish n‐3 fatty acids on the changes in testis induced by ethanol. Forty‐five rats divided into five groups, control, ethanol, ethanol+quercetin, ethanol+fish n‐3 fatty acids and ethanol+quercetin+fish n‐3 fatty acids. At the end of 8 weeks, all the rats were sacrificed. Degenerative changes in histopathological analyses, the decreased body weight gain and seminiferous tubule diameters in ethanol group have been observed. TUNEL assay also showed an increase in apoptotic cell number. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), xanthine oxidase (XO) and testosterone levels were decreased as well as the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were increased in ethanol group. Histopathological changes caused by ethanol have been improved by quercetin and fish n‐3 fatty acids. It was also found that protection was provided by increasing SOD, CAT and GSH‐Px activities in groups administered quercetin, fish n‐3 fatty acids and quercetin+fish n‐3 fatty acids, and by decreasing the levels of MDA and NO in groups administered both quercetin and fish n‐3 fatty acids together. These results suggest that quercetin and fish n‐3 fatty acids are beneficial agents to reduce testicular injury induced by ethanol except for testosterone levels.

Prevalence of exercise-induced bronchospasm in long distance runners trained in cold weather.

We investigated whether regular training in cold weather has an effect on the development of exercise-induced bronchospasm. Nineteen sedentary males and 20 male long distance runners who were regularly training in Erzurum participated in this study. They had no history of asthma, atopy or allergic rhinitis. Pre- and post-exercise spirometry was performed in the participants in room temperature. EIB was defined as at least a ≥10% fall in FEV1 or a ≥15% fall in FEF25-75% or a ≥25% fall in PEFR. EIB was established in 7 of 20 athletes and in 1 of 19 sedentaries. Prevalence of EIB will be higher even if it is established in room temperature when training for the sports like long distance running which is not a cold weather sport. We conclude that it will be more convenient to establish EIB in room temperature and in the laboratory since the exercise test and spirometry can be performed more accurately under more standard conditions.

Evaluation of physical fitness parameters in patients with schizophrenia

The aims of this study were to compare aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacities, pulmonary functions, body composition and fat distribution parameters in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls and to investigate the associations among these parameters. Sixty (30 male, 30 female) patients with schizophrenia and 60 (30 male, 30 female) healthy controls were included in the study. Maximal aerobic capacity was estimated with the Astrand submaximal exercise protocol, and anaerobic performance was determined with a Wingate test. Body composition was established with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Pulmonary function tests, skinfold thickness and body circumference measurements were also carried out. Maximal aerobic capacity, maximal anaerobic power, anaerobic capacity and pulmonary function tests (forced vital capacity and maximal voluntary ventilation) were found to be lower in male and female schizophrenic groups as compared to the controls. Body fat percentage, waist and abdomen circumferences, and waist to hip ratio were found to be higher in female schizophrenic patients than in controls. We suggest that maximal aerobic capacity, maximal anaerobic power, and anaerobic capacity are poor in the schizophrenia patients as compared to healthy controls. Low cardiorespiratory fitness is related to reduced pulmonary function and impaired body composition in schizophrenia patients.

Do male and female patients with chronic neck pain really have different health-related physical fitness, depression, anxiety and quality of life parameters?

The purpose of this study was to investigate whole body physical fitness parameters such as maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), muscle strength, trunk flexibility, daily physical activity, pulmonary function, body composition, anxiety and depression, as well as other disease‐related changes in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP), and to compare them with healthy controls.

Association analyses of depression, anxiety, and physical fitness parameters in Turkish obese adults.

OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the associations among depression, anxiety, aerobic exercise capacity, body fat percentage, sum of skinfolds, abdomen circumference, and waist to hip ratio on the basis of body mass index (BMI) in adults. METHODS The subjects of the study were 60 obese participants (30 women, 30 men) with BMIs over 30 kg/m{2}and 60 healthy controls (30 women, 30 men) with BMIs of 18-25 kg/m{2}. Body fat percentage was calculated from the skinfold thicknesses using the formula. Body circumference measurements were performed using a tape measure. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO(2)max) was determined by Astrand submaximal exercise protocol. Two self-reported questionnaires, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), were administered to all participants. RESULTS BMI, body fat percentage, sum of skinfolds, abdomen circumference, and waist to hip ratio were found to be higher in obese groups as compared to the controls, while VO(2)max (ml/kg/min) values were lower in both genders. In males, BAI scores and mild-level anxiety percentage values were higher in the obese group than in the control group. There was no significant difference for BDI scores and levels between the obese and control groups in both genders. There was also no significant difference in BAI scores and levels between the obese and control groups in women. CONCLUSION The fact that physical fitness being found poor in obese shows the existence of a condition that might constitute an increased tendency for obesity-related disorders. In addition, it was suggested that, in Turkey, attitudes toward obesity change depending on gender.

Do patients with mild to moderate psoriasis really have a sedentary lifestyle

The aim of this study was to compare aerobic exercise capacity, daily physical activity, pulmonary functions, resting metabolic rate, and body composition parameters in patients with psoriasis and healthy controls. A total of 60 participants (30 [15 men, 15 women] patients with psoriasis, and 30 [15 men, 15 women] healthy controls) ranging in age from 22–57 were included in the study. Maximal aerobic capacity was determined by Astrand exercise protocol. Daily physical activity was measured with an accelerometer. Resting metabolic rate was determined with an indirect calorimeter. Pulmonary function tests were performed with a portable spirometer. Body composition was established with a bioelectric impedance analysis system. Skinfold thicknesses and body circumference measurements were carried out. Short Form 36 quality of life questionnaire was applied to all participants. In both genders, daily physical activity parameters were found to be higher in the psoriasis group compared to the control. Maximal aerobic capacity, resting metabolic rate, pulmonary function tests, body fatness, body fat distributions, and quality of life were not statistically different between patients with psoriasis and controls in males and females. We suggest that patients with psoriasis who do not have psoriatic arthritis or severe psoriasis are well in performing daily physical activities. In addition, we suggest that this lifestyle helped to prevent impairments of body fatness, body fat distributions, resting metabolic rate, pulmonary functions, and quality of life in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.