Metabolic and structural changes in lower-limb skeletal muscle following neuromuscular electrical stimulation: a systematic review.

Background: Transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can be applied as a complementary intervention to regular exercise training programs. A distinction can be made between high-frequency (HF) NMES and low-frequency (LF) NMES. In order to increase understanding of the mechanisms of functional improvements following NMES, the purpose of this study was to systematically review changes in enzyme activity, muscle fiber type composition and muscle fiber size in human lower-limb skeletal muscles following only NMES.

New normative values for handgrip strength: results from the UK Biobank.

Objectives: To develop normative values for right and left handgrip strength after stratification for confounders like gender, age, and height.

Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive.

Setting: General population.

Within-day test-retest reliability of the Timed Up & Go test in patients with advanced chronic organ failure.

Objective: To investigate the within-day test-retest reliability of the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic heart failure (CHF), and chronic renal failure (CRF).

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Patients' home environment.

Frequency and relevance of ischemic electrocardiographic findings in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Cardiovascular disease is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but often remains unrecognized. Ischemic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes are associated with a higher risk of dying from coronary heart disease but have never been systematically evaluated in COPD. Also, their relation to clinical outcome has not been studied.

Determinants of polypharmacy and compliance with GOLD guidelines in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Polypharmacy of respiratory medications is commonly observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aims of this study were to investigate determinants of polypharmacy and to study the consistency of actual respiratory drug use with current Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines in pulmonary rehabilitation candidates with COPD.

Methods: Data were extracted from the records of all patients with a diagnosis of COPD referred for pulmonary rehabilitation to CIRO+ between 2005 and 2009.

Quantitative CT: Associations between Emphysema, Airway Wall Thickness and Body Composition in COPD.

The objective of the present study was to determine the association between CT phenotypes-emphysema by low attenuation area and bronchitis by airway wall thickness-and body composition parameters in a large cohort of subjects with and without COPD. In 452 COPD subjects and 459 subjects without COPD, CT scans were performed to determine emphysema (%LAA), airway wall thickness (AWT-Pi10), and lung mass. Muscle wasting based on FFMI was assessed by bioelectrical impedance.

Abdominal fat mass contributes to the systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Unlabelled: BACK GROUND & AIMS: Altered body composition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often reflected by muscle wasting, while only few studies have focused on abdominal fat mass. The contribution of abdominal fat mass to the systemic inflammation often present in COPD has not been examined yet. The aim of the present study was to investigate if abdominal fat mass contributes to the systemic inflammation in patients with moderate to severe COPD.

Critical view on diagnosing muscle wasting by single-frequency bio-electrical impedance in COPD.

Background: Assessment of muscle wasting in COPD is relevant as it is independently associated with metabolic and functional consequences and even survival. Muscle wasting can be approached by assessing fat free mass (FFM), but it is already demonstrated that FFM measured by bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) underestimates FFM measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (FFM(DExA)) in a relatively small COPD group.

Objective: To evaluated critical points for defining muscle wasting in a large cohort of moderate to severe COPD patients and with DEXA scan as reference.