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Background/objectives This controlled-feeding randomised controlled trial examined free-living appetite and physical activity (PA) on 'fast' and 'feed' days during intermittent energy restriction (IER), compared to continuous energy restriction (CER). Subjects/methods Forty-six women with overweight/obesity (age = 35 [plus or minus] 10 years, BMI = 29.1 [plus or minus] 2.3 kg/m.sup.2) were randomised to IER (n = 24; alternate fast days at 25% energy requirements and ad libitum feed days) or CER (n = 22; 75% energy requirements daily) to [greater than or equal to]5% weight loss (WL) or up to 12 weeks. Self-reported energy intake (EI; online food record), objectively measured PA (SenseWear Armband) and retrospective daily hunger and food cravings were measured over 7 days at baseline, week 2 and final week. Intent-to-treat analyses were performed using linear mixed models. Results Final WL (M.sub.[DELTA] = 4.7 [95% confidence interval 4.2, 5.2] kg, 5.9%) did not differ between IER and CER (interaction P = 0.307). During IER, feed-day EI did not differ from baseline and was lower in the final week compared to week 2 (M.sub.[DELTA] = 295 [81, 509] kcal, P = 0.004). Daily hunger was greater on fast compared to feed days (M.sub.[DELTA] = 15 [10, 21] mm, P < 0.001), but food cravings did not differ. Light PA was lower on fast relative to feed days (M.sub.[DELTA] = 18 [2, 34] min/day, P = 0.024), with no other differences in PA. Compared to CER, IER increased hunger and led to smaller improvements in craving control (both interactions P [less than or equal to] 0.034). Conclusions IER fast days were associated with increased free-living hunger and lower light PA compared to feed days, but had no impact on food cravings or self-reported ad libitum daily EI. IER may be less favourable than CER for the free-living day-to-day control of hunger and food cravings., Author(s): Kristine Beaulieu [sup.1] , Nuno Casanova [sup.2] , Pauline Oustric [sup.1] , Mark Hopkins [sup.2] , Krista Varady [sup.3] , Graham Finlayson [sup.1] , Catherine Gibbons [sup.1] Author Affiliations: [...]

Introduction It has been established that underweight women with low gestational weight gain (GWG) are at a higher risk of having Small for Gestational Age (SGA) newborns. However, the association remains poorly studied in Middle Eastern societies exhibiting different ethnic groups, genetic predisposing factors along with differences in nutritional food intake during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to assess the risk of having a SGA newborn among underweight and normal weight BMI women while studying the role of GWG in this association. Methods This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of 62,351 singleton pregnancies from the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network between 2001 and 2009 from 27 hospitals across Lebanon. Women who had underweight and normal pre-pregnancy BMI were included. Results A total of 8.6% newborns were SGA and 6.6% of women were underweight. Among women with normal and underweight pre-pregnancy BMI, 8.6 and 12.4% had SGA births respectively. Overall, the adjusted OR of having SGA newborns was significantly higher among underweight women (OR = 1.448; 95%CI = 1.287-1.630) compared to normal pre-pregnancy BMI. Below normal weight gain significantly increased the odds of SGA for both normal and underweight pre-pregnancy BMI women, with adjusted ORs of 1.535 (95% CI = 1.418-1.661) and 1.970 (95%CI = 1.515-2.560) respectively. Discussion Higher risks of SGA newborns in underweight and normal BMI women with low GWG were observed. In addition, normal weight gain couldn't protect underweight women of having risk for SGA newborns. Hence, all pregnant women should be encouraged to maintain healthy BMI before pregnancy and attain adequate GWG., Author(s): Rym El Rafei [sup.1] [sup.2] , Hussein A. Abbas [sup.2] [sup.3] , Hind Alameddine [sup.2] , Ayah Al Bizri [sup.1] [sup.2] , Imad Melki [sup.2] [sup.4] , Khalid A. [...]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of preliminary reports showing that glottal aerodynamic measures can identify pathophysiological phonatory mechanisms for phonotraumatic and nonphonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction, which are each distinctly different from normal vocal function. Method: Glottal aerodynamic measures (estimates of subglottal air pressure, peak-to-peak airflow, maximum flow declination rate, and open quotient) were obtained noninvasively using a pneumotachograph mask with an intraoral pressure catheter in 16 women with organic vocal fold lesions, 16 women with muscle tension dysphonia, and 2 associated matched control groups with normal voices. Subjects produced /pae/ syllable strings from which glottal airflow was estimated using inverse filtering during /ae/ vowels, and subglottal pressure was estimated during /p/ closures. All measures were normalized for sound pressure level (SPL) and statistically tested for differences between patient and control groups. Results: All SPL-normalized measures were significantly lower in the phonotraumatic group as compared with measures in its control group. For the nonphonotraumatic group, only SPL-normalized subglottal pressure and open quotient were significantly lower than measures in its control group. Conclusions: Results of this study confirm previous hypotheses and preliminary results indicating that SPL-normalized estimates of glottal aerodynamic measures can be used to describe the different pathophysiological phonatory mechanisms associated with phonotraumatic and nonphonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction., Vocal hyperfunction (VH) refers to 'chronic conditions of abuse and/or misuse of the vocal mechanism due to excessive and/or 'imbalanced' muscular forces' (Hillman, Holmberg, Perkell, Walsh, & Vaughan, 1989, p. [...]

Purpose: Women with Reinke's edema (RW) report being mistaken for men during telephone conversations. For this reason, their masculine-sounding voices are interesting for the study of gender stereotypes. The study's objective is to verify their complaint and to understand the cues used in gender identification. Method: Using a self-evaluation study, we verified RW's perception of their own voices. We compared the acoustic parameters of vowels produced by 10 RW to those produced by 10 men and 10 women with healthy voices (hereafter referred to as NW) in Lebanese Arabic. We conducted a perception study for the evaluation of RW, healthy men's, and NW voices by naive listeners. Results: RW self-evaluated their voices as masculine and their gender identities as feminine. The acoustic parameters that distinguish RW from NW voices concern fundamental frequency, spectral slope, harmonicity of the voicing signal, and complexity of the spectral envelope. Naive listeners very often rate RW as surely masculine. Conclusions: Listeners may rate RW's gender incorrectly. These incorrect gender ratings are correlated with acoustic measures of fundamental frequency and voice quality. Further investigations will reveal the contribution of each of these parameters to gender perception and guide the treatment plan of patients complaining of a gender ambiguous voice., Although voicing is produced by a stream of air delivered by the lungs and trachea and inducing vibrations of the vocal folds, it is influenced by various parallel and interconnected [...]

Purpose: Women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) may develop a virilized voice due to late diagnosis or suboptimal suppression of adrenal androgens. Changes in the vocal folds due to virilization have not been studied in vivo. The purpose was to investigate if the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle is affected by virilization and correlate findings to fundamental frequency (F0). Method: A case-control study using magnetic resonance imaging and voice recordings. Four women with CAH with virilized voices (26-40 years), and 5 female and 4 male controls participated. Measurements of cross-sectional TA muscle area, vocal fold length, vocal tract length, and acoustic analyses of F0 were performed. Results: Women with CAH had larger cross-sectional TA muscle area than female control subjects and smaller than male controls. A significant negative correlation was found between TA muscle area and mean F0. The patients had a smaller physiological voice range than both female and male controls. Conclusion: Data from our small study suggest that a larger TA muscle area is strongly associated with a lower F0 and thus the anatomical explanation for a female virilized voice, suggesting an androgen effect on the vocal folds. The findings from the present study need to be confirmed in a larger study., Medication with androgens or endogenous overproduction of androgens may cause virilization of women's voice: lowered voice pitch, loss of high frequencies, vocal instability, and sometimes hoarseness (Baker, 1999; Boothroyd & [...]

This research is the first to investigate the time trend of ideal female bodies across different nations. In order to identify how female standards of beauty have changed in recent decades, we examined height, weight, bust, waist and hip sizes of 360 German and 375 American Playboy centerfolds from 1980 to 2011, as well as the following: waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-bust ratio (WBR), bust-to-hip ratio (BHR) and the body mass index. A factor analysis detected three principal components: slimness, androgyny and bust factor. A reversed moderated regression revealed that there are significant different time trends in androgyny and bust factor between the two nations, although these trends are going in the same direction. These findings are not fully consistent with the general assumption of a cross-cultural ideal of beauty, and only partially support our assumption of a growing influence of US media exposure on German body ideals., Author(s): Andreas Hergovich[sup.1] , Sophie Süssenbach[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Faculty of Psychology, Department of Economic Psychology, Educational Psychology and Evaluation, University of Vienna, Universitätsstraße 7, 1010, Vienna, Austria (2) Vienna [...]

This qualitative study explores the sexual decision making (SDM) of a group of young New Zealand women who had previously participated in casual sex without a condom. In doing so, [...]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Swiss-ball core strength training on trunk extensor (abdominal)/ flexor (lower back) and lower limb extensor (quadriceps)/flexor (hamstring) muscular strength, abdominal, lower back and leg endurance, flexibility and dynamic balance in sedentary women (n = 21; age = 34 [+ or -] 8.09; height = 1.63 [+ or -] 6.91 cm; weight = 64 [+ or -] 8.69 kg) trained for 45 minutes, 3 d x [wk.sup.-1] for 12 weeks. Results of multivariate analysis revealed significant difference (p [less than or equal to] 0.05) between pre and postmeasures of 60 and 90[degrees] [s.sup.-1] trunk flexion/extension, 60 and 240[degrees] [s.sup.-1] lower limb flexion/extension (Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer), abdominal endurance (curl-up test), lower back muscular endurance (modified Sorensen test), lower limb endurance (repetitive squat test), lower back flexibility (sit and reach test), and dynamic balance (functional reach test). The results support the fact that Swiss-ball core strength training exercises can be used to provide improvement in the aforementioned measures in sedentary women. In conclusion, this study provides practical implications for sedentary individuals, physiotherapists, strength and conditioning specialists who can benefit from core strength training with Swiss balls. KEY WORDS stability ball, low back pain, spinal stability, falls

Although mouthguards have been found to reduce injury, many athletes choose not to use them because of the belief of negative effects on breathing with mouthguard use. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of mouthguard use on physiological variables in women using a self-adapted mouthguard made for women and a universal self-adapted mouthguard. Eleven subjects (mean [+ or -] SD; age: 22 [+ or -] 3.3 y; height: 159.8 [+ or -] 4.3 cm; body mass: 63.7 [+ or -] 8.9 kg) performed 3 separate maximal cycle ergometer tests with either 1 mouthguard or no mouthguard. Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), oxygen consumption ([[??].o.sub.2]), minute ventilation ([[??].sub.E]), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were measured at each exercise intensity and at the end of each test. HR, RPE, and [[??]o.sub.2] increased for each mouthguard condition across power levels, [[??].sub.E] and RER increased more from 110W to max with the no mouthguard condition than for either mouthguard. However, there was no significant difference in bE or RER at any given power level between mouthguard conditions. The results indicated mouthguard use did not affect HR, RPE, [[??].sub.E], [[??]o.sub.2], or RER at any given power level during exercise, including the guard made specifically for women. Therefore, athletes are encouraged to use mouthguards without fear of negative aerobic performance effects. KEY WORDS oxygen consumption, ventilation, cycle ergometer, RER, RPE

Recent studies have indicated that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) promotes bone loss. The present study tested the hypothesis that FSH enhances the activity of bone-resorbing cytokines [interleukin (IL)- 1[beta], tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[alpha], and IL-6], either by inducing their secretion or by altering their receptor expression. Thirty-six women between the ages of 20 and 50 were assessed for bone mineral density (BMD), reproductive hormone, cytokine ligand and soluble receptor concentrations, and surface expression of cytokine receptors on monocytes. In addition, isolated mononuclear cells were incubated in vitro with exogenous FSH. Univariate regression analyses indicated that BMD was inversely related to serum FSH (r = -0.29 to -0.51, P = 0.030.001, depending upon the skeletal site). Physical activity and body composition were also identified as significant factors by multiple regressions. Exogenous FSH induced isolated cells to secrete IL-1[beta], TNF-[alpha], and IL-6 in proportion to the surface expression of FSH receptors on the monocytes. Endogenous (serum) FSH concentrations correlated with the circulating concentrations of these cytokines. None of these individual cytokines was related to BMD, but the IL-1[beta] to IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-lRa) ratio was inversely related to BMD (r = -0.53, P = 0.002) in all but the most physically active women, who had significantly lower expression of IL-1 type I receptors relative to type II (decoy receptors, P = 0.01). Physical activity also correlated positively with secretion of inhibitory soluble IL-I receptors (r = 0.53, P = 0.003). Moreover, IL-1Ra correlated strongly with percent body fat (r = 0.66, P < 0.0001). These results indicate that BMD is related to FSH concentration, physical activity, and body composition. Although each of these factors likely has direct effects on bone, the present study suggests that each may also influence BMD by modulating the activity of the osteoresorptive cytokine IL-1[beta]. leptin: inhibin; physical activity doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00728.2009

Type 2 diabetes and obesity are associated with an enhanced release of a number of adipocytokines. Hyperinsulinemia, frequently present in type 2 diabetes and obesity, might be one of the drivers of the enhanced production of adipocytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the interstitial levels of cytokines in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) in response to hyperinsulinemia and the effect of weight-reducing hypocaloric diet on this regulation in obese subjects. Thirteen obese premenopausal women participated in the study. Concentrations of seven cytokines were measured in plasma and in AT interstitial fluid collected by microdialysis during a euglycemichyperinsulinemic clamp and during control infusion of physiological saline. A subgroup of six women underwent a 4-wk very-low-calorie diet (VLCD). Microdialysis during the clamp was performed before and at the end of VLCD. Hyperinsulinemia induced an increase of monocyte chemoatractant protein (MCP-1) and IL-6 SCAT interstitial and plasma levels and elevated IL-8 levels in SCAT. The relative changes of IL-6 levels in the dialysate correlated with changes of IL-8 and MCP-1. The interstitial and plasma levels of IL-1[beta], IL-10, TNF[alpha], and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) remained unchanged in response to hyperinsulinemia. VLCD resulted in enhancement of the hyperinsulinemia-induced augmentation of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 interstitial levels. In conclusion, hyperinsulinemia upregulates the interstitial levels of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in SCAT in obese women, whereas it does not affect IL-1[beta], IL-10, TNF[alpha], and PAI-1 levels. Hypocaloric diet associated with weight reduction enhances the hyperinsulinemia-induced upregulation of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in SCAT. microdialysis; adipose tissue; adipokines doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00086.2009.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the familiarization to the 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) test in adult women with previous experience in resistance training and to compare the statistical methods to analyze familiarization. Twenty-seven women, with previous experience in resistance training but detrained for 6 months, participated in the study (21.6 [+ or -] 2.5 years; 59.1 [+ or -] 6.7 kg; 1.65 [+ or -] 0.04 m; 21.8 [+ or -] 2.4 kg/[m/sup.2]). The 1-RM test was used to verify the strength levels in 3 exercises: bench press, squat, and arm curl. Five 1-RM tests sessions were performed in distinct days. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman plotting procedures were used to compare the 1-RM load between the familiarization sessions. The significance assumed was p < 0.05. All exercises presented good ICC between 1-RM familiarization sessions (0.97-0.98). However, there were significant increases in 1-RM load among the 5 sessions of 1-RM tests in the bench press (+5.7%), squat (+5.4%), and arm curl (+11.1%). In addition, there were different responses according to the statistical analyses used (ANOVA, higher 1-RM strength, and Bland-Altman plotting). The results of the present study suggest that familiarization sessions are important for an accurate assessment of 1-RM load even in subjects with previous experience in resistance training. KEY WORDS familiarization, muscular strength, 1-RM tests, resistance training, women

Abstract: The post-orgasmic refractory period in men is characterized by penile sensitivity, detumescence, and reduced arousabilty. The literature suggests that a comparable phenomenon either does not occur in women or [...]

The purpose of this study was to compare three warm-up protocols--static stretching, dynamic stretching, and light aerobic activity--on selected measures of range of motion and power in untrained females and to investigate the sustained effects at 5 and 30 minutes after warm-up. A total of 24 healthy females (ages 23-29 years) attended one familiarization session and three test sessions on nonconsecutive days within 2 weeks. A within-subject design protocol with the testing investigators blinded to the subjects' warm-up was followed. Each session started with 5 minutes of light aerobic cycling followed by pretest baseline measures. Another 5 minutes of light aerobic cycling was completed and followed by one of the three randomly selected warm-up interventions (static stretching, dynamic stretching, or light aerobic activity). The following posttest outcome measures were collected 5 and 30 minutes following the intervention: modified Thomas test, countermovement jump, and isometric time to peak force knee extension measured by dynamometer. Analysis of the data revealed significant time effects on range of motion and countermovement jump changes. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between the warm-up conditions on any of the variables. The variation in responses to warm-up conditions emphasizes the unique nature of individual reactions to different warm-ups; however, there was a tendency for warm-ups with an active component to have beneficial effects. The data suggests dynamic stretching has greater applicability to enhance performance on power outcomes compared to static stretching. KEY WORDS countermovement jump, force production, warm-up, power production, range of motion, time to peak force

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the effectiveness of aerobic exercise interventions on cardiopulmonary function and body composition in women with breast cancer. Of 24 relevant studies reviewed, 10 studies (N = 588) met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicated that aerobic exercise significantly improved cardiopulmonary function as assessed by absolute V[O.sub.2] peak (standardized mean difference [SMD] .916, p < .001), relative V[O.sub.2] peak (SMD .424, p < .05), and 12-minute walk test (SMD .502, p < .001). Similarly, aerobic exercise significantly improved body composition as assessed by percentage body fat (SMD -.890, p < .001), but body weight and lean body mass did not change significantly. Aerobic exercise during or after cancer adjuvant therapy seems to be an effective means of improving cardiopulmonary function and decreasing percentage body fat in women with breast cancer. Further studies are needed to examine the long-term benefits of aerobic exercise. Keywords: exercise; meta-analysis; breast cancer; cardiopulmonary function; body composition

Background: There is some evidence that suggests a beneficial effect of calcium intake on serum lipid profile. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 1000 mg calcium supplementation for 30 days on serum lipid profile in overweight or obese women. Methods: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 44 overweight or obese adult women (body mass index (BMI) [greater than or equal to] 25 kg [m.sup.-2], age: 25[+ or -]6y) receiving 1000 mg elemental calcium daily (n = 24) or placebo (n=20). Serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins including triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol (HDLG), LDLc, VLDLc, ApoA-I and ApoB were obtained at baseline and after intervention. Dietary calcium and energy intake were estimated using 24 h dietary recall for 3 days. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. Results: No significant differences were observed in dietary, anthropometric and serum variables between groups at baseline. Although serum total, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides tended to increase in both groups, total cholesterol elevation was significant only in placebo group (P = 0.01). Triglyceride and VLDLc increased significantly only in the calcium group (P = 0.03). LDLc elevation was significant in both groups (P Conclusions: No considerable beneficial effect due to short-term calcium supplementation in overweight or obese women&apos;s lipid profile was observed. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602921; published online 10 October 2007 Keywords: calcium; cholesterol; triglyceride; overweight; obesity; apolipoprotein, Introduction The prevalence of obesity is rising to epidemic proportions around the world at an alarming rate. The rise in obesity is not restricted to more developed countries. The limited [...]