Body composition assessment with ultrasound muscle measurement: optimization through the use of semi-automated tools in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease with a high prevalence and major impact on global health. Body composition (BC) data are of great importance in the assessment of nutritional status. Ultrasound (US) is an emerging, accessible and non-invasive technique that could be an alternative when it is not feasible to perform computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between CT, as a reference technique, and US of the rectus femoris (RF) as a "proof of concept," in a cohort of patients with CRC and assess the optimisation of results obtained by US when performed by our new semi-automated tool. A single-centre cross-sectional study including 174 patients diagnosed with CRC and undergoing surgery was carried out at the Vall d'Hebron Hospital. We found a strong correlation between CT and US of the RF area (r = 0.67; p < 0.005). The latter, is able to discriminate patients with worse prognosis in terms of length of hospital stay and discharge destination (AUC-ROC = 0.64, p 0.015). These results improve when they are carried out with the automatic tool (area AUC-ROC = 0.73, p 0.023), especially when normalised by height and eliminating patients who associate overflow. According to our results, the US could be considered as a valuable alternative for the quantitative assessment of muscle mass when CT is not feasible. These measurements are improved when measuring software is applied, such as "Bat" software.

Pre-Surgery Cortisol Levels as Biomarker of Evolution after Bariatric Surgery: Weight Loss and Weight Regain.

Background: Bariatric surgery (BS) is effective for achieving significant weight loss. However, weight regain (WR) is an emerging problem. Objective: To assess the prognostic value of morning serum cortisol, a 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST), 24 h urinary free cortisol (UFC) and late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) in a cohort of patients with severe obesity (pwSO) undergoing BS in terms of weight loss and WR. Methods: Patients scheduled for BS underwent the following procedures at baseline, 12 months and 24 months after BS: medical history, anthropometric data, blood analysis and cortisol tests. We evaluated total weight loss (TWL) ≥ 30% at 1 year and WR after 2 years as an increase of ≥10% of the maximum weight lost. Results: In total, 142 subjects were included; 101 (71.1%) were females and the mean age was 45.9 ± 9.2 years. Up to 76.8% of subjects achieved ≥30% TWL, without statistically significant differences in DST results or morning serum cortisol, UFC or LNSC levels. However, a higher pre-surgery morning serum cortisol level was a significant predictor of a WR ≥ 10% (cortisol 17.8 [IQR 13.1-18.5] vs. 12.0 [IQR 8.8-15.8] µg/dL; p < 0.01); OR of 1.216 (95% CI 1.069-1.384); AUC [0.761, CI: (0.616-0.906); p < 0.01]. A cut-off value of cortisol > 13.0 µg/dL was predictive of a WR ≥ 10% (sensitivity 0.71; specificity 0.63). Conclusions: No cortisol test was useful in predicting weight loss; however, the pre-surgery morning serum cortisol level was able to predict a WR ≥ 10% in a cohort of pwSO 2 years after BS. A cut-off value of cortisol > 13 µg/dL might be an easy tool to identify patients at higher risk of WR, enabling healthcare providers to implement tailored, long-term strategies to minimize this outcome.

Aluminum blood concentration in adult patients: effect of multichamber-bag versus hospital-compounded parenteral nutrition.

Introduction: Background: the administration of aluminum-contaminated parenteral nutrition (PN) leads to an accumulation of aluminum. The aim of this study was to assess blood aluminum concentrations (BACs) of inpatients receiving multichamber-bag (MCB) PN compared to those receiving compounded PN. Methods: available BACs were retrospectively gathered from patient charts of adult inpatients receiving PN from 2015 to 2020, and compared depending on the type of PN administered. Long-term PN patients, defined as ≥ 20 days of PN, receiving at least > 10 days of compounded PN, were compared to long-term patients receiving only MCB. Results: a total of 160 BACs were available from 110 patients. No differences were found according to type of PN (mean BAC: 3.11 ± 2.75 for MCB versus 3.58 ± 2.08 µg/L for compounded PN). Baseline total bilirubin, surgery and days with PN were related to higher BACs (coefficient: 0.30 [95 % CI, 0.18-0.42], 1.29 [95 % CI, 0.52-2.07], and 0.06 [95 % CI: 0.01-0.11], respectively). Regarding long-term PN, patients receiving only MCB (n = 21) showed lower BACs compared to the compounded PN (n = 17) [2.99 ± 1.55 versus 4.35 ± 2.17 µg/L, respectively; p < 0.05]. Conclusions: although there were no differences in BAC according to type of PN administered, in long-term PN, MCB PN was associated with lower BACs as compared to compounded PN.

Introducción: Antecedentes: la administración de nutrición parenteral (NP) contaminada con aluminio conduce a su acumulación. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las concentraciones de aluminio en sangre (CAS) en pacientes hospitalizados que recibieron NP elaboradas en el hospital o bolsas tricamerales. Métodos: se recogieron retrospectivamente las CAS disponibles de los pacientes hospitalizados con NP durante el período entre 2015 y 2020, comparándose los valores en función del tipo de NP administrada. Se comparan igualmente los valores de pacientes de larga duración, definida como ≥ 20 días de NP, que recibieron al menos > 10 días de NP elaborada frente aquellos de larga duración que recibieron solo NP tricameral. Resultados: se incluyeron un total de 160 CAS de 110 pacientes. No se encontraron diferencias con respecto al tipo de NP (CAS media: 3,11 ± 2,75 para la tricameral frente a 3,58 ± 2,08 µg/L para la elaborada). La bilirrubina total basal, la cirugía y los días con NP se relacionaron con un mayor valor de CAS (coeficiente: 0,30 [IC 95 %: 0,18-0,42], 1,29 [IC 95 %: 0,52-2,07] y 0,06 [IC 95 %: 0,01-0,11], respectivamente). En la NP a largo plazo, los pacientes que recibieron solo NP tricameral (n = 21) mostraron una CAS menor en comparación con el grupo que recibió al menos 10 NP elaboradas (n = 17) [2,99 ± 1,55 versus 4,35 ± 2,17 µg/L, respectivamente; p < 0,05]. Conclusiones: aunque no hubo diferencias de CAS con respecto al tipo de NP administrada, en la NP a largo plazo, la administración de NP tricameral se asoció con CAS menores en comparación con la NP elaborada.

Analysis of the Variability in Different Criteria to Define the Success of Bariatric Surgery: Retrospective Study 5-Year Follow-Up after Sleeve Gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

(1) Background: The current criteria for defining good or bad responders to bariatric surgery based on the percentage of weight loss do not properly reflect the therapeutic impact of the main bariatric techniques. At present there is an urgent need to fill this gap and provide scientific evidence that better define the success or failure of bariatric surgery in the long term. (2) Methods: This is a retrospective database study of a prospective cohort with 5-year follow-up. We established the success or failure of bariatric surgery in terms of weight loss according to a selected criterion: (1) Halverson and Koehler; (2) Reinhold modified by Christou; (3) Biron; (4) TWL > 20%; (5) percentage of changeable weight (AWL > 35%). We analyzed sensitivity and specificity for successful weight loss. (3) Results: 223 (38.7%) patients underwent sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and 353 (61.2%) underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP). The success rates at 5 years are: EWL > 50% 464 (80%), Reinhold 436 (75.6%), Biron 530 (92%), TWL > 20% 493 (85.5%), AWL < 35% 419 (72.7); ≥50% EWL and alterable weight loss AWL > 35 were the most adequate criteria as their specificities and sensibility were far above >80%. (4) Conclusions: The present study shows how the different definitions of success or failure are inconsistent in relation to the outcomes of BS. However, there are some criteria that associate statistically significant differences for the resolution of comorbidities and show the highest sensitivity and specificity rates.