ObjectiveSerious infections in SLE are common and have emerged as the major cause of death. However, effective methods to identify poor prognosis are still lacking. Therefore, we aimed to determine the predictive value of C reactive protein (CRP) plus albumin (ALB) in SLE with serious infections.MethodsFrom May 2015 to December 2018, consecutive patients with SLE presenting with serious infections in our emergency department were prospectively recruited. Serum CRP and ALB were measured within 24 hours of admission. The outcome was defined as mortality rate at 90 days. A CRP plus ALB score (2–6) was assigned based on the CRP and ALB concentrations. We performed univariate and multivariate regression analyses to detect the independent effects of CRP plus ALB on 90-day mortality (all-cause and infection-related). Subgroup analyses were used to show the effects stratified by lupus nephritis.ResultsA total of 150 patients were included, and the all-cause 90-day mortality rate was 38% (n=57), 41 of which was infection-related. The predominant infection sites were pulmonary (79.3%) and bloodstream infection (20.7%). Serum CRP and ALB levels were significantly different in non-surviving patients compared with those in surviving patients (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). In the fully adjusted logistic regression model, the CRP plus ALB score was associated with decreased 90-day survival (adjusted OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.13; p=0.017).ConclusionsCRP plus ALB was associated with the risk of all-cause and infection-related 90-day mortality in SLE with serious infections. Although this finding requires further verification, the two parameters may be useful for predicting poor outcomes in such patients.

The aim of this study was to examine whether antagonist muscles may be fatigued during a prolonged isometric fatiguing elbow flexion at very low forces. Twelve healthy male subjects sustained an isometric elbow flexion at 10% maximal voluntary contraction torque until exhaustion while multichannel electromyographic signals were collected from the biceps brachii (BB) and triceps brachii (TB). Muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) and fractal dimension (FD) of both muscles were calculated to reflect peripheral and central fatigue. CV and FD of TB as well as FD of BB decreased progressively during the sustained fatiguing contraction, while the CV of BB declined at the beginning of the contraction and then increased progressively until the end of the contraction. The result may indicate that during the sustained low-force isometric fatiguing contraction, antagonist muscle may be peripherally fatigued, and changes in coactivation activities were modulated not only by central neuronal mechanisms of common drive but also by peripheral metabolic factors.

The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the muscle activation and concomitant intermuscular coupling of antagonist muscles among bench presses with different instability degrees. Twenty-nine untrained male college students performed bench press exercises at an intensity of 60% 1 RM on three conditions: small unstable bench press with Smith machine (SBP), medium unstable bench press of free weight (FWBP), and large unstable bench press with increased instability by suspending the load with elastic bands (IIBP). One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare integrated EMG activity values of the biceps brachii (BB), posterior deltoid (PD), long head of the triceps brachii (TB), anterior deltoid (AD), upper portion of the pectoralis major (PM) muscles, and phase synchronization index (PSI) of BB-TB and PD-AD antagonist muscle pairs. A higher integrated EMG of BB muscle was found during bench press with a more unstable condition. IIBP showed a higher integrated EMG of prime movers (TB, AD, and PM) and stabilizing of BB than SBP and FWBP. PSI between muscle pairs of BB-TB in the gamma frequency band was higher in SBP than the other bench presses with unstable conditions, which may be related to the optimal “internal model” for antagonist muscles during bench press exercise. Therefore, IIBP training may be an effective accessory exercise to maintain a higher level of muscle activation across primary and stabilizing muscles with a lighter load for untrained men, while SBP may be a suitable bench press exercise for untrained participants who have not developed the neuromuscular adaptations necessary for correct stabilization of the elbow joint.

Objective. Information technology (IT) population in China has expanded rapidly in recent decades, which has suffered severe health problems due to a lack of physical activity (PA). However, little is known about the influence and solutions of PA deficiency. The current research was designed to explore the associations between the amount of PA and potential influenced factors based on the social-ecological model (SEM) and thus to provide rationales for PA promotion. Method. Six hundred and five IT professionals from five cities of China were surveyed in terms of PA in daily life as well as the potential PA influence factors based on SEM models that consisted of individual, interpersonal, environmental, and political levels in the current study. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of the potential PA influence factors and PA amount. Result. About 54.7% of the sample did not fulfill the PA recommendation of 600 MET per week, and there are significant gender differences in PA participation. Factors related to the individual (self-efficacy and value recognition), interpersonal (social support), environmental (workplace and community environment), and polity-level factors (policy advocacy) were found to be significantly associated with Chinese IT professionals’ participation in PA. Conclusion. Numerous correlates from individual-level to political-level factors are all important predictors of PA. Exercise value recognition and self-efficacy accounted for much of the association. Environmental variables may further influence exercise behavior. Therefore, conducting intervention efforts for individual, interpersonal, environmental, and political change of Chinese IT professionals is recommended.