Takehiko Tsujimoto

Multiple-slice magnetic resonance imaging can detect visceral adipose tissue reduction more accurately than single-slice imaging.

Background/Objective:Imaging methods by magnetic resonance imaging are being increasingly used to quantify visceral adipose tissue (VAT), but there is no clear consensus as to a standardized protocol. We compared the ability of two commonly used imaging protocols (multiple slice versus single slice) to detect changes in VAT with diet or exercise.Subjects/Methods:We utilized data from the participants who completed our diet (n=22) or exercise (n=35) based weight-loss interventions. The intervention mainly comprised of weekly dietary modification sessions or aerobic exercise sessions over 12 weeks. Multiple-slice images obtained from T9 to S1 and a single-slice image at L4–L5 were compared using the effect size of the VAT change. In addition, we calculated the sample size needed to compare the two imaging protocols’ ability to detect significant changes in VAT.Results:VAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue volumes and areas, and other anthropometry decreased significantly after both the diet and exercise interventions. For VAT, a single-slice image had a lower effect size (diet: 1.23; exercise: 0.49) than the multiple-slice images (diet: 1.81; exercise: 0.90). The sample size required for multiple slice was substantially lower than for the single-slice with both weight-loss interventions.Conclusions:The different image protocols may lead to different results in relative VAT changes. Furthermore, single-slice imaging required a substantially larger sample size than multiple-slice imaging, and for researchers to detect smaller changes in VAT with single-slice imaging, a larger sample size would be needed. Thus, multiple-slice imaging has advantages for assessing VAT change in future clinical research.

Increased physical activity has a greater effect than reduced energy intake on lifestyle modification-induced increases in testosterone.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Obesity results in reduced serum testosterone levels, which causes many disorders in men. Lifestyle modifications (increased physical activity and calorie restriction) can increase serum testosterone levels. However, it is unknown whether increased physical activity or calorie restriction during lifestyle modifications has a greater effects on serum testosterone levels. Forty-one overweight and obese men completed a 12-week lifestyle modification program (aerobic exercise training and calorie restriction). We measured serum testosterone levels, the number of steps, and the total energy intake. We divided participants into two groups based on the median change in the number of steps (high or low physical activities) or that in calorie restriction (high or low calorie restrictions). After the program, serum testosterone levels were significantly increased. Serum testosterone levels in the high physical activity group were significantly higher than those in the low activity group. This effect was not observed between the groups based on calorie restriction levels. We found a significant positive correlation between the changes in serum testosterone levels and the number of steps. Our results suggested that an increase in physical activity greatly affected the increased serum testosterone levels in overweight and obese men during lifestyle modification.

Vigorous Physical Activity is Associated with Regular Aerobic Exercise-Induced Increased Serum Testosterone Levels in Overweight/Obese Men

Testosterone is a male sex hormone and low circulating testosterone levels are associated with various health disorders in men. Obesity results in reduced circulating testosterone levels in men. Previously, we demonstrated that lifestyle modifications (combination of aerobic exercise and dietary modification) increase circulating testosterone levels in overweight/obese men. However, the effect of regular aerobic exercise on serum testosterone levels remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week aerobic exercise intervention on circulating testosterone levels in normal-weight and overweight/obese men. Sixteen normal-weight men and twenty-eight overweight/obese men completed a 12-week aerobic exercise intervention. Before and after the intervention, we measured serum total testosterone, free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone levels, and categorized the physical activity levels (light, moderate, or vigorous) in all participants. At baseline, serum total testosterone, free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone levels were significantly lower in overweight/obese men than in normal-weight men (all p<0.01). After the 12-week aerobic exercise intervention, serum total testosterone, free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone levels significantly increased in overweight/obese men (p<0.01). In addition, stepwise multivariable linear regression analysis revealed the increase in vigorous physical activity was independently associated with increased serum total testosterone levels (β=0.47, p=0.011). We demonstrated that a 12-week aerobic exercise intervention increased serum total testosterone, free testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone levels in overweight/obese men. We suggest that an increase in vigorous physical activity increased circulating testosterone levels in overweight/obese men.

Increasing Physical Activity Might Be More Effective to Improve Foot Structure and Function Than Weight Reduction in Obese Adults

Abstract Obesity is reported to be an important factor affecting foot structure and function. For obese individuals, weight reduction or increasing weight physical activity could be an effective approach to improve foot structure and function. The present study sought to determine the effect of weight reduction and increasing physical activity on foot structure and function in obese Japanese and to investigate which intervention is more beneficial. The participants were divided into the weight reduction group (n = 30; body mass index 29.0 ± 2.5 kg/m2), with the intervention consisting of dietary modification, and the increasing physical activity group (n = 15; body mass index 28.2 ± 3.1 kg/m2), with the intervention consisting of walking and jogging. A 3‐dimensional foot scanner was used to measure the foot anthropometric data with the participants both sitting and standing. The dorsum height declined and the arch stiffness index increased after the weight reduction intervention, and the truncated foot length decreased and the arch stiffness index increased after the increasing physical activity intervention (p < .05). The arch height index showed a downward trend after the weight reduction intervention (p = .060) and an upward trend after the increasing physical activity intervention (p = .069). Moreover, a greater change was found in the increase of the dorsum height and arch height index and decrease of the truncated foot length in the increasing physical activity group than in the weight reduction group (p < .05). These findings suggest that increasing physical activity might be more effective to improve foot structure and function than weight reduction in obese adults. &NA; Level of Clinical Evidence: 4

Sexual Function Is an Indicator of Central Arterial Stiffness and Arterial Stiffness Gradient in Japanese Adult Men

Background As arterial stiffness increases in the absence of subjective symptoms, a personal indicator that reflects increased risk of cardiovascular disease is necessary. Penile erection is regulated by vascular function, and atherosclerosis affects the penile artery earlier than it affects the coronary and carotid arteries. Therefore, we hypothesized that deterioration of erectile function could be a marker of increased risk for cardiovascular disease. To test our hypothesis, we assessed erectile function and arterial stiffness in a cross‐sectional study. Methods and Results Carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), brachial‐ankle PWV, femoral‐ankle PWV, and arterial stiffness gradient (PWV ratio: carotid‐femoral PWV/femoral‐ankle PWV) were measured as indexes of central, systemic, and peripheral arterial stiffness and peripheral organ damage, respectively, in 317 adult men. In addition, erectile function was assessed by using the questionnaire International Index of Erectile Function 5 (a descending score indicates worsening of erectile function). The scores of male sexual function were inversely correlated with carotid‐femoral PWV (r s=−0.41), brachial‐ankle PWV (r s=−0.35), femoral‐ankle PWV (r s=−0.19), and PWV ratio (r s=−0.33). Furthermore, multivariate linear regression analyses revealed that International Index of Erectile Function 5 scores were significantly associated with carotid‐femoral PWV (β=−0.22) and PWV ratio (β=−0.25), but not with brachial‐ankle PWV and femoral‐ankle PWV. Conclusions Our results indicated that erectile function is independently associated with central arterial stiffness and peripheral organ damage. These findings suggest that male sexual function could be an easily identifiable and independent marker of increased central arterial stiffness and peripheral organ damage.

Relationships between serum free fatty acid and pulse pressure amplification in overweight/obese men: insights from exercise training and dietary modification

Pulse pressure amplification (i.e., the ratio of peripheral to central pulse pressure) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events. Circulating free fatty acid, which is a major cause of insulin resistance, has been reported to favorably be associated with pulse pressure amplification in the arm (from the aorta to brachial artery). We hypothesized that this paradoxical relationship depended on an evaluating site of pulse pressure amplification and investigated whether serum free fatty acid level is related to pulse pressure amplification in the arm or trunk (from the aorta to femoral artery) in overweight/obese men. In a cross-sectional study, 85 men participated, and regression analyses revealed that serum free fatty acid level was significantly and independently associated with pulse pressure amplification in the arm but not the trunk. In a longitudinal study, 33 men completed a 12-week lifestyle intervention that involved both exercise training and dietary modification. The lifestyle intervention-induced change in serum free fatty acid level was significantly correlated to that in pulse pressure amplification in the arm but not the trunk. These results support our hypothesis and suggest that pulse pressure amplification should be measured in the trunk instead of the arm in overweight/obese men to simplify its interpretation.

Correction to: Effects of a combined exercise plus diet program on cardiorespiratory fitness of breast cancer patients

In the original publication of this article, Tablexa01 was published incorrectly. The correct Tablexa01 is given in the following page.

Effects of a combined exercise plus diet program on cardiorespiratory fitness of breast cancer patients

BackgroundDecreases in cardiorespiratory fitness among breast cancer patients have often been reported in previous studies, affecting patients’ health and survival. Peak oxygen uptake (

Which cytokine is the most related to weight loss-induced decrease in arterial stiffness in overweight and obese men?

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