Consumption of Chilies, but not Sweet Peppers, Is Positively Related to Handgrip Strength in an Adult Population

Integrated analysis of machine learning and deep learning in chili pest and disease identification

BACKGROUND

Chili is one of the most important and high-value vegetable crops worldwide. However, pest and disease infections are among the main limiting factors in chili cultivation. These diseases cannot be eradicated but can be handled and monitored to mitigate the damage. Hence, the use of an automated identification system based on images will promote quick identification of chili disease. The features extracted from the images are of utmost importance to develop such an accurate identification system.

RESULTS

In this research, chili pest and disease features extracted using the traditional approach were compared with features extracted using a deep-learning-based approach. A total of 974 chili leaf images were collected, which consisted of five types of diseases, two types of pest infestations, and a healthy type. Six traditional feature-based approaches and six deep-learning feature-based approaches were used to extract significant pests and disease features from the chili leaf images. The extracted features were fed into three machine learning classifiers, namely a support vector machine (SVM), a random forest (RF), and an artificial neural network (ANN) for the identification task. The results showed that deep learning feature-based approaches performed better than the traditional feature-based approaches. The best accuracy of 92.10% was obtained with the SVM classifier.

CONCLUSION

A deep-learning feature-based approach could capture the details and characteristics between different types of chili pests and diseases even though they possessed similar visual patterns and symptoms. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Saltwater fish but not freshwater fish consumption is positively related to handgrip strength: The TCLSIH Cohort Study

Fish contain many important nutrients and are primarily known for high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) content. Studies have shown that supplementation of fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA improves muscle mass and strength. Here, we hypothesized that fish consumption might improve muscle strength. To test this hypothesis, we performed this cross-sectional study (n = 29,084) in Tianjin, China. The frequency of fish consumption was assessed using a valid self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Handgrip strength (HGS) was used as the indicator of muscle strength, and was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the relationship between fish consumption and HGS. In men, after adjusted potential confounding factors, the least square means (95% confidence intervals) of HGS across saltwater fish consumption categories were 41.5 (41.1, 43.7) kg for <1 time/week, 44.6 (43.2, 45.8) kg for 1 time/week, and 44.7 (43.3, 46.1) kg for ≥2 to 3 times/week (P for trend <0.001). In men, the least square means (95% confidence intervals) of HGS across the ascending quartiles of dietary n-3 PUFA intake were 43.6 (43.2, 44.4) kg, 43.7 (43.2, 44.6) kg, 44.4 (43.0, 45.8) kg, and 44.6 (43.1, 46.0) kg (P for trend <0.01). The results showed that saltwater fish consumption was positively related to HGS in men, but not in women, suggesting that saltwater fish contain nutrients that may be used to improve HGS.

Association of Spicy Chilli Food Consumption With Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association between spicy food (chilli pepper, chilli sauce, or chilli oil) consumption with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Medline and EMBASE were searched from their inception until February 2020 to identify relevant prospective cohort studies. Hazard ratios (HRs)/relative risk (RRs) were pooled via random-effect meta-analysis. Of the 4387 citations identified, 4 studies (from the United States, China, Italy, and Iran) were included in the meta-analysis. The included studies involved a total of 564 748 adults (aged ≥18 years; 51.2% female) followed over a median duration of 9.7 years. The pooled data suggested that compared with people who did not regularly consume spicy food (none/<1 d/wk), regular consumers of spicy food experienced a 12% (HR/RR_pooled 0.88, 95% CI, 0.86-0.90; I ² = 0%) lower risk of all-cause mortality. Moreover, spicy food consumption was associated with significant reduction in the risk of death from cardiac diseases (HR/RR_pooled 0.82, 0.73-0.91; I ² = 0%), but not from cerebrovascular disorders (HR/RR_pooled 0.79, 0.53-1.17; I ² = 72.2%). In conclusion, available epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption of spicy chilli food is associated with reduced risk of all-cause as well as heart disease-related mortality. Further studies in different populations are needed to confirm this association.

Association between tooth loss and handgrip strength in a general adult population

Tooth loss is a prevailing condition in China due to the high prevalence of oral diseases. Since previous studies explored the association between tooth loss and handgrip strength showed incongruous results, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between tooth loss and handgrip strength in Tianjin, China. Cross-sectional data in the present study used baseline data of Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) Cohort Study during 2013–2016. Eligible adults (n = 26275) were classified into four groups depending on the number of missing teeth (excluding third molars): 0, 1–2, 3–5 and ≥6. Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld type dynamometer. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the relationships between tooth loss and handgrip strength and handgrip strength per body weight according to gender. After adjustment for potential confounders, the relationships existed between increasing categories of tooth loss and handgrip strength, as well as handgrip strength per weight. The data of stratified analysis showed that there was a trending association between decreased handgrip strength and fewer retained teeth both in males and females less than 60 years of age (P for trend <0.01); whereas no significant association 60 years of age or older. Moreover, loss of more than 3 teeth was significantly associated with reduced muscle strength (P <0.01). Tooth loss is independently associated with handgrip strength in Chinese adults less than 60 years of age.

Association between soft drink consumption and handgrip strength in middle aged and older adults: the TCLSIH cohort study

A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the association between soft drink consumption and handgrip strength (HGS) in subjects aged 40 years and older (n = 14,925). After multivariable-adjustment (including demographics, lifestyles, family history of diseases, dietary intake, and other beverages consumption), the least square means (95% confidence interval) of HGS across soft drink consumption categories were 43.1(42.7, 43.5) kg for almost never drink, 42.9(42.4, 43.4) kg for <1 cup/week, 42.8(42.1, 43.5) kg for 1-6 cups/week and 41.2(40.1, 42.6) kg for ≥1 cup/day (p for trend < 0.001) in men, and 26.6(25.9, 27.8) kg for almost never drink, 26.5(25.8, 27.1) kg for <1 cup/week, 26.3(25.7, 27.2) kg for 1-6 cups/week and 25.2(24.9, 27.0) kg for ≥1 cup/day (p for trend < 0.001) in women, respectively. Our findings suggest that higher consumption of soft drinks was significantly associated with lower HGS in middle-aged and older adults. Additional prospective or interventional studies are needed to confirm this issue.

Reference values for handgrip strength: data from the Tianjin Chronic Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) cohort study

BACKGROUND

although handgrip strength (HGS) is considered an excellent predictor of morbidity and mortality, there are few reference data available, especially across life from young to old populations.

OBJECTIVE

to investigate the reference values and determinants for HGS in a large Chinese adult population.

DESIGN

this cross-sectional study used data from the Tianjin Chronic Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study ranging from 2013 to 2017.

SETTING AND SUBJECTS

in total, 37,707 Chinese adults aged 18-93 years with measures of HGS were included.

METHODS

HGS was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. The percentile distribution of HGS, as well as mean (standard deviation) values of HGS, was calculated according to sex and age categories. The Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression were also used.

RESULTS

the peak mean value of HGS was 45.2 ± 6.88 kg in men and 26.8 ± 4.65 kg in women. Different reference values for each sex and age category are present. The prevalence of low HGS was 7.69% in men and 6.46% in women. Multiple regression analysis showed that almost 72.5% of HGS variability can be explained by sex, age, height and weight.

CONCLUSIONS

the HGS reached peak at 40 years old, maintained or slightly lowered between ages 40 and50 and then start an accelerated decline after 50 years old. Reference values of HGS should be stratified by sex and age group. HGS variability can be largely explained by sex, age, height and weight.

Handgrip strength is inversely associated with metabolic syndrome and its separate components in middle aged and older adults: a large-scale population-based study

BACKGROUND

Muscle weakness is followed by insulin resistance which is associated with metabolic disorders leading to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Therefore, muscle strength decline may be associated with MetS. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between muscle strength and MetS and its separate components.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed in 17,703 participants aged 40 years and older living in Tianjin, China. Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. MetS was defined in accordance with the criteria of the American Heart Association scientific statements of 2009. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between handgrip strength and MetS and its separate components.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of MetS was 33.6%. The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in men than in women (41.6% vs 22.9%, P < 0.0001). After adjustment for potential confounding factors (including sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors, total energy intake, and family history of disease), the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of MetS across decreasing handgrip strength quartiles were: 1.00 (reference), 1.87 (1.66, 2.11), 2.40 (2.13, 2.71), and 3.36 (2.97, 3.80) in men and 1.00 (reference), 1.80 (1.48, 2.21), 2.77 (2.29, 3.36), and 3.89 (3.22, 4.71) in women, respectively (P for all trend <0.0001). Similarly, handgrip strength was also observed to be negatively associated with separate components of MetS both in men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

Muscle strength is inversely associated with MetS and its separate components. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm this issue.

Relationship between grip strength and newly diagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a large-scale adult population

Enhanced muscle strength is often related to improved insulin sensitivity and secretion, control of lipid metabolism, and increased secretion of myokines. These factors have emerged as important mechanisms involved in the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), implying that muscle strength may be a useful predictor for NAFLD. We aimed to assess the relationship between grip strength (GS) and NAFLD in a large-scale adult population. GS was assessed using an electronic hand-grip dynamometer, and NAFLD was diagnosed by the liver ultrasonography. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the quartiles of GS per body weight and the prevalence of NAFLD. After adjusting for potentially confounding factors, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for overall NAFLD, NAFLD with normal alanine aminotransferase levels, and NAFLD with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels across the quartiles of GS were 1.00 (reference), 0.89 (0.78, 1.01), 0.77 (0.67, 0.89), and 0.67 (0.57, 0.79); 1.00 (reference), 0.91 (0.80, 1.04), 0.79 (0.68, 0.92), and 0.72 (0.61, 0.85); 1.00 (reference), 0.77 (0.61, 0.98), 0.67 (0.51, 0.86), and 0.53 (0.40, 0.71) (all P for trend < 0.01), respectively. This is the first study shows that increased GS is independently associated with lower prevalence of NAFLD.