Distinguishing infections vs flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease involving multiple systems. Patients with SLE are highly susceptible to infections due to the combined effects of their immunosuppressive therapy and the abnormalities of the immune system that the disease itself causes, which can increase mortality in these patients. The differentiation of SLE activity and infection in a febrile patient with SLE is extremely difficult. Activity indexes are useful to identify patients with lupus flares but some clinical and biological abnormalities may, however, make it difficult to differentiate flares from infection. Several biological markers are now recognized as potential tools to establish the difference between SLE activity and infection, including CRP and procalcitonin. It is possible, however, that the use of only one biomarker is not sufficient to confirm or discard infection. This means that new scores, which include different biomarkers, might represent a better solution for differentiating these two clinical pictures. This review article describes several markers that are currently used, or have the potential, to differentiate infection from SLE flares.

Sex differences for predicting metabolic syndrome by adipose dysfunction markers in institutionalized elderly.

AIMS: Recent studies have emphasized that metabolic syndrome (MetS) was the most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in the institutionalized elderly. In addition, the occurrence of MetS was higher in those with longer age-adjusted institutionalization time. The present study was conducted to assess predictive value of markers of adipose tissue dysfunction for the early screening of MetS in this population. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred and eleven institutionalized older adults (132 women, aged 74.3 ± 7.3 years; 79 men, aged 71.5 ± 7.3 years) were enrolled in the current cross-sectional study. Lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), body adiposity index (BAI), and triglycerides (TG)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ratio were determined. The receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to compare the area under the curve of each index. The total prevalence of MetS was 23.8%. In female group, VAI and TG/HDL ratio presented moderate-high sensitivity (77.78% and 78.38%, respectively) and specificity (77.62% and 73.49%, respectively). In males group, LAP presented moderate-high sensitivity (75%) and specificity (76.9%). CONCLUSION: Gender played a key role on the prediction of MetS by adipose dysfunction markers in institutionalized elderly. Accordingly, VAI and TG/HDL-cholesterol ratio showed the highest predictive value for MetS in female elderly. LAP was the strongest predictor of MetS in male elderly.

Proposed cut-off points for anthropometric and bioelectrical measures based on overweight and obesity criteria in Spanish institutionalised elderly people.

The increasing prevalence of obesity among the institutionalised elderly population and its severe consequences on health requires an early and accurate diagnosis that can be easily achieved in any clinical setting. This study aimed to determine new cut-off values for anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance measures that are superior to body mass index criteria for overweight and obesity status in a sample of Spanish institutionalised elderly population. A total of 211 institutionalised older adults (132 women, aged 84.3±7.3 years; 79 men, aged 81.5±7.3 years) were enrolled in the current cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance measures included the body mass index, waist circumference, gluteal circumference, waist-hip ratio, sagittal-abdominal diameter, trunk fat, and visceral-fat ratio. In women, the waist circumference, gluteal circumference, sagittal-abdominal diameter, trunk fat, and visceral-fat index presented strongly significant specificity and sensitivity (area under the curve [AUC], p<0.0001) and elevated discriminative values (receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curves: 0.827 to 0.867) for overweight and obesity status. In men, the waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, gluteal circumference, sagittal-abdominal diameter, trunk fat, and visceral-fat ratio were strongly significant AUC (p<0.0001), with moderate-to-high values (ROC curves: 0.757-0.871). In conclusion, our findings suggest that gluteal circumference, waist circumference, and sagittal-abdominal diameter in women and trunk fat, visceral-fat ratio, and waist circumference in men may represent more suitable cut-off values superior to body mass index criteria for overweight and obesity in the Spanish institutionalised elderly population.

[Sensitivity and specificity of abdominal adiposity with metabolic syndrome in the elderly]. / Sensibilidad y especificidad de la adiposidad abdominal con el síndrome metabólico en ancianos.

OBJECTIVES: It is recognised that abdominal adiposity is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, such as intolerance to glucose, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. The objective of the present study was to assess the relationship of trunk fat and visceral fat index, obtained by anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance, with metabolic syndrome (SM) in an elderly population. METHODS: The study included 208 subjects (78 men and 130 women) with a mean age of 82.5 years. Abdominal obesity was assessed by anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance. ROC curves were calculated in order to assess the ability of these variables to diagnose metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: There are differences between men and women in body mass index, waist to height ratio, waist circumference, and bioelectrical impedance measurements as trunk fat and visceral fat (p<.05). Also, found differences in anthropometric indices and variables and abdominal bioelectrical impedance between subjects with and without SM (p<.05) and only exist differences in blood glucose, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol (p<.05). There are significant correlations between anthropometric variables and abdominal bioelectrical impedance (p<.05). Areas under the curve (AUC) of waist to height index, waist circumference, sagittal abdominal diameter, and trunk fat were greater than 0.8 (all p<.01), and in women did not exceed values of 0.65. The cut-off points obtained for BMI were 26.81 and 23.53kg/m2, 102 and 91cm for waist circumference, 22.1 and 20.7cm for sagittal abdominal diameter, 34% and 43.7% for trunk fat, and 17 and 11.5 for visceral fat ratio in men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There are different levels of predictive ability for metabolic syndrome according to gender. Trunk fat and visceral fat index and anthropometric measures have higher predictive ability for metabolic syndrome in men than in women.

Validation of the Spanish version of the Edinburgh feeding evaluation in dementia scale applied to institutionalized older persons with dementia: a study protocol.

AIM: The aim of this study was to obtain a Spanish version of the Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia Scale version, to assess its reliability for use by medical staff and caregivers at residential care homes, to evaluate by confirmatory methods its construct validity. A further aim was to determine the criterion validity with respect to biochemical markers of malnutrition such as serum albumin, transferrin, cholesterol and lymphocytes, the body mass index and the mini nutritional assessment. DESIGN: Clinimetric cross-validation study. METHODS: Institutionalized subjects with dementia will be observed while consuming meals and evaluated with the instrument independently by nurses and caregivers.

EFFECTS OF FOOD AND DRINK INGESTION ON BODY COMPOSITION VARIABLES OF ABDOMINAL BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE.

OBJECTIVE: to know the changes in trunk fat and visceral fat level determined by abdominal bioelectrical impedance (BIA) as well as other anthropometric measures related to the central or abdominal fat after the ingestion of a lunch. METHODS: the experimental study was conducted to assess a longitudinal intervention descriptive study. PARTICIPANTS: 21 subjects (10 male and 11 female), volunteers who have access to a medical assessment, with an age of 74 ± 13.43 years. MEASUREMENTS: Maximal waist circumference in standing position, waist circumference at navel level in supine position and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD). In the same position trunk fat and visceral fat level by abdominal bioelectrical impedance analysis with Tanita AB-140 (ViScan) were obtained before and after meal. RESULTS: anthropometric measures as waist circumference in supine position and SAD did not show significant differences (P > 0.05), after food ingestion, except for a significant increase of the maximal waist circumference in standing position (P < 0.05). In addition trunk fat and visceral fat ratio did not change (P > 0.05). The percentage changes of the measures were less than 2% for waist circumference in standing position, waist circumference by Viscan, sagittal abdominal diameter and trunk fat and 5.9% for visceral fat ratio. CONCLUSIONS: the effects on trunk fat and visceral fat ratio by abdominal bioelectrical impedance are minimal after the ingestion of a portion of food and drink, although it is always recommended to do it in fasting conditions.

Objetivo: conocer los cambios en la grasa del tronco y el nivel de grasa visceral determinado por BIA abdominal, así como otras medidas antropométricas relacionadas con la grasa abdominal o central después de la ingestión de una comida. Métodos: se realizó un protocolo experimental para evaluar un estudio descriptivo de intervención longitudinal. Los participantes fueron 21 sujetos (10 hombres y 11 mujeres), voluntarios que tuvieron acceso a una evaluación médica, con una edad de 74 años ± 13,43. Las mediciones antropométricas fueron: circunferencia de la cintura máxima en posición de pie, circunferencia de la cintura a nivel del ombligo en posición de decúbito supino y diámetro sagital abdominal (SAD). Además se obtuvo la grasa del tronco y el nivel de grasa visceral, por análisis de impedancia bioeléctrica abdominal, con un dispositivo Tanita AB-140 (ViScan), todo ello antes y después de una ración de comida. Resultados: las medidas antropométricas, como la circunferencia de la cintura en posición supina y SAD, no mostraron diferencias significativas (P > 0,05), después de la ingestión de alimentos, a excepción de un aumento significativo de la circunferencia de la cintura máxima en posición de pie (P < 0,05). Además, la relación entre la grasa visceral y en tronco no cambió (P > 0,05). Los cambios porcentuales de las medidas fueron menores del 2% para la circunferencia de la cintura en posición de pie, para la circunferencia de cintura por Viscan, para el diámetro sagital abdominal y la grasa del tronco, y un 5,9% para el nivel de grasa visceral. Conclusiones: los efectos de una comida y bebida sobre la grasa del tronco y el nivel de grasa visceral, medidas por impedancia bioeléctrica abdominal, son mínimas, aunque siempre es recomendable hacerlo en condiciones de ayuno.