Assessment of fatty infiltration of the hamstring muscles in chronic proximal hamstring ruptures and effect on clinical outcomes after surgical repair: a novel application of the Goutallier classification.

INTRODUCTION: Increased time to surgery has been previously associated with poorer clinical outcomes after surgical treatment of proximal hamstring ruptures, though the etiology remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether degree of muscle atrophy, as assessed using the Goutallier classification system, is associated with worse outcomes following surgical treatment of chronic proximal hamstring ruptures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of patients who underwent repair of proximal hamstring ruptures from 2012 to 2020 with minimum 2-year follow-up. Patients were included if they underwent primary repair of a proximal hamstring rupture ≥ 6 weeks after the date of injury and had accessible preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Exclusion criteria were allograft reconstruction, endoscopic repair, or prior ipsilateral hip surgery. Patients were administered validated surveys: the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Perth Hamstring Assessment Tool (PHAT). Fatty atrophy on preoperative MRI was independently graded by two musculoskeletal radiologists using the Goutallier classification. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations of preoperative characteristics with muscle atrophy, as well as mHHS and PHAT scores. RESULTS: Complete data sets were obtained for 27 patients. A majority of this cohort was male (63.0%), with a mean age of 51.5 ± 11.8 years and BMI of 26.3 ± 3.8. The mean follow-up time was 62.6 ± 23.1 months, and the mean time from injury-to-surgery was 20.4 ± 15.3 weeks. The Goutallier grading inter-reader weighted kappa coefficient was 0.655. Regression analysis demonstrated that atrophy was not significantly associated with PHAT (p = 0.542) or mHHS (p = 0.574) at latest follow-up. Increased age was significantly predictive of muscle atrophy (ß = 0.62, p = 0.005) and was also found to be a significant predictor of poorer mHHS (ß = - 0.75; p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The degree of atrophy was not found to be an independent predictor of clinical outcomes following repair of chronic proximal hamstring ruptures. Increasing age was significantly predictive of increased atrophy and poorer patient-reported outcomes.

Acute muscle wasting rate assessment and long-term mortality in critically ill trauma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between acute muscle wasting rate and long-term mortality in critically ill trauma. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A single-center, retrospective study was conducted in critically ill trauma. Patients with Computed Tomography scans including the L3 vertebra within 24 hours and at 1 week after trauma were recruited. Acute muscle wasting rate was defined as the mean percent variation per day of skeletal muscle index in the first week after trauma. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to determine whether acute muscle wasting rate could help predict hospital malnutrition and 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle index was 49.3±10.7 cm2/m2 at baseline and decreased to 45.1±9.6 cm2/m2 (p<0.001) at 1 week and 39.8±10.8cm2/m2 (p<0.001) at 1 month after trauma. A sustained decrease of skeletal muscle index was observed from baseline up to 6 months (33.7±8.4cm2/m2, p<0.001) post trauma, and lasted for 1 year (37.7±5.6cm2/m2, p=0.004). Logistic regression analysis showed that acute muscle wasting rate was an independent risk factor for hospital malnutrition and 1-year mortality. Every 1% absolute increase of acute muscle wasting rate was associated with 1.82-fold higher odds of 1-year mortality in critically ill trauma. The area under curve of acute muscle wasting rate was 0.813 for hospital malnutrition prediction and 0.715 for 1-year mortality prediction. CONCLUSIONS: Acute muscle wasting rate was independently associated with higher 1-year mortality and hospital malnutrition in critically ill trauma.

Ultrasound assessment of muscle mass and correlation with clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: a prospective observational study.

PURPOSE: Muscular atrophy implies structural and functional alterations related to muscular force production and movement. This condition has been reported to be the main reason for generalized muscle weakness; it reflects the severity of the disease and can have a profound impact on short- and long-term clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether muscle atrophy ultrasound parameters early predict muscle weakness, morbidity, or 28-days mortality. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational single center cohort study. Ultrasound was used to determine the cross-sectional area and muscle thickness of the rectus femoris on the first and third day of ICU stay. The main outcome was the incidence of significant muscle atrophy (≥ 10%). RESULTS: Ultrasound measurements were made in 31 patients, 58% (18/31) of which showed significant muscle atrophy. The relative loss of muscle mass per day was 1.78 at 5% per day. The presence of muscle atrophy presents increased risk for limb muscle weakness and handgrip weakness. The 28-days mortality rate was similar in both subgroups. CONCLUSION: The presence of muscle atrophy presents an increased clinical risk for the development of limb ICUAW and handgrip, although these observations were not statistically significant. The results could be used to plan future studies on this topic.

The rate and assessment of muscle wasting during critical illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with critical illness can lose more than 15% of muscle mass in one week, and this can have long-term detrimental effects. However, there is currently no synthesis of the data of intensive care unit (ICU) muscle wasting studies, so the true mean rate of muscle loss across all studies is unknown. The aim of this project was therefore to systematically synthetise data on the rate of muscle loss and to identify the methods used to measure muscle size and to synthetise data on the prevalence of ICU-acquired weakness in critically ill patients. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, PubMed, AMED, BNI, CINAHL, and EMCARE until January 2022 (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews [PROSPERO] registration: CRD420222989540. We included studies with at least 20 adult critically ill patients where the investigators measured a muscle mass-related variable at two time points during the ICU stay. We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and assessed the study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Fifty-two studies that included 3251 patients fulfilled the selection criteria. These studies investigated the rate of muscle wasting in 1773 (55%) patients and assessed ICU-acquired muscle weakness in 1478 (45%) patients. The methods used to assess muscle mass were ultrasound in 85% (n = 28/33) of the studies and computed tomography in the rest 15% (n = 5/33). During the first week of critical illness, patients lost every day -1.75% (95% CI -2.05, -1.45) of their rectus femoris thickness or -2.10% (95% CI -3.17, -1.02) of rectus femoris cross-sectional area. The overall prevalence of ICU-acquired weakness was 48% (95% CI 39%, 56%). CONCLUSION: On average, critically ill patients lose nearly 2% of skeletal muscle per day during the first week of ICU admission.

A Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for the Assessment of Muscle Atrophy in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.

Objective Muscle atrophy is observed in a subset of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Its manifestation is associated with a poor functional prognosis and poor response to immunomodulatory therapies. We evaluated muscle atrophy in patients with CIDP using a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Methods We enrolled 12 patients with CIDP for a BIA of muscle atrophy. Of these 12 patients, 10 were diagnosed with typical CIDP, 1 with multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor neuropathy, and 1 with distal acquired demyelinating symmetric neuropathy. All 12 patients underwent a series of assessments and evaluations, including a BIA and computed tomography (CT). A correlation was found between the skeletal muscle mass determined by the BIA and that found using CT of the muscles. Results The BIA provided values for each patient's skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) ranging from 4.1 to 8.1 kg/m2. Four of the patients with CIDP had SMI values below the threshold for sarcopenia. CT of the patients' muscles provided scores indicating grades of muscle atrophy in the upper and lower extremities. A comparison of the outcomes from these two measures showed a good correlation between their muscle atrophy ratings (p<0.05). Conclusion We found that a BIA and muscle CT provided muscle atrophy assessments of equivalent accuracy. Therefore, a BIA can be a simple alternative to muscle CT that is suitable for regular use in daily clinical practice as a reliable tool for assessing muscle atrophy in patients with CIDP.

Irisin Serum Levels and Skeletal Muscle Assessment in a Cohort of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Patients.

Background: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) indicates a group of inherited polyneuropathies whose clinical phenotypes primarily include progressive distal weakness and muscle atrophy. Compelling evidence showed that the exercise-mimetic myokine irisin protects against muscle wasting in an autocrine manner, thus possibly preventing the onset of musculoskeletal atrophy. Therefore, we sought to determine if irisin serum levels correlate with biochemical and muscle parameters in a cohort of CMT patients. Methods: This cohort study included individuals (N=20) diagnosed with CMT disease. Irisin and biochemical markers were quantified in sera. Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) was evaluated by bioelectric impedance analysis, muscle strength by handgrip, and muscle quality was derived from muscle strength and muscle mass ratio. Results: CMT patients (m/f, 12/8) had lower irisin levels than age and sex matched healthy subjects (N=20) (6.51 ± 2.26 vs 9.34 ± 3.23 µg/ml; p=0.003). SMM in CMT patients was always lower compared to SMM reference values reported in healthy Caucasian population matched for age and sex. Almost the totality of CMT patients (19/20) showed low muscle quality and therefore patients were evaluated on the basis of muscle strength. Irisin was lower in presence of pathological compared to normal muscle strength (5.56 ± 1.26 vs 7.67 ± 2.72 µg/ml; p=0.03), and directly correlated with the marker of bone formation P1PN (r= 0.669; 95%CI 0.295 to 0.865; p=0.002), but inversely correlated with Vitamin D (r=-0.526; 95%CI -0,791 to -0,095; p=0.017). Surprisingly, in women, irisin levels were higher than in men (7.31 ± 2.53 vs 5.31 ± 1.02 µg/ml, p=0.05), and correlated with both muscle strength (r=0.759; 95%CI 0.329 to 0.929; p=0.004) and muscle quality (r=0.797; 95%CI 0.337 to 0.950; p=0.006). Conclusion: Our data demonstrate lower irisin levels in CMT patients compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, among patients, we observed, significantly higher irisin levels in women than in men, despite the higher SMM in the latter. Future studies are necessary to establish whether, in this clinical contest, irisin could represent a marker of the loss of muscle mass and strength and/or bone loss.

Sarcopenia in critically ill children: A bedside assessment using point-of-care ultrasound and anthropometry.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Due to the lack of validated methods of muscle assessment, sarcopenia is not well described in critically ill children. The main objectives of this study were to assess muscle wasting using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and anthropometry, as well as its association with nutrition delivery in PICU. METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective cohort study, including consecutive children admitted to the PICU. Quadriceps femoris muscle thickness (QFMT) and anthropometrics measurements were performed at admission and then weekly until the 14th day of the PICU stay. The three moments of assessment were defined as T0 (baseline), T1 (7th day) and T2 (14th day). For analysis purposes, participants assessed only in T0 and T1 were defined as Subgroup 1, while those assessed in T0, T1 and T2 were defined as Subgroup 2. Actual total daily intake was determined by patient intake records until discharge or during the first 14 full days of PICU admission. RESULTS: In all, 119 patients were included with a median age of 12.0 months (IQR 4.0-42.5). In Subgroup 1, QFMT significantly decreased between T0 and T1 (-12.93 ± 14.07 %; p < 0.001), and the same was observed in Subgroup 2 (-13.81 ± 13.05 %; p < 0.001). However, no differences in QFMT was observed between T1 and T2 (-2.06 ± 13.80 %; p = 0.936). Triceps skinfold thickness, mid-upper arm circumference, and upper arm muscle area presented a similar pattern of changes between periods in both groups. Decrease of QFMT at T1 was significantly correlated with the cumulative protein deficit in both subgroups, but not with the cumulative energy deficit. CONCLUSION: Substantial muscle wasting occurs early in critically ill children and may be related to insufficient protein delivery. Anthropometric measurements are valuable in PICU and POCUS has the potential to play a major role in sarcopenia assessment during critical illnesses. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Clinical Trials registry, registration number: RBR-85YYGN.

QUANTITATIVE HISTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF SKELETAL MUSCLE HYPOTROPHY AFTER NEUROTOMY AND SCIATIC NERVE REPAIR IN RATS.

Reinnervation of skeletal muscles, wich occurs in time, is considered a factor in preventing muscle atrophy and potentially successful functional recovery. Morphometry of denervated muscles makes it possible to assess the dynamics of muscle atrophy after various methods of repairing of a damaged peripheral nerve. The aim - evaluate histological changes and morphometry of m. gastrocnemius in rats after complete neurotomy and nerve repair techniques. In rats the sciatic nerve was crossed and sutured with 4 epineural sutures, 2 sutures with DuraSeal, and 2 sutures with Tisseel. On the 14th, 30th, and 60th day histological changes of m.gastrocnemius were examined and morphometry was performed based on two parameters: muscle fiber diameter and collagen density. Skeletal muscles morphometry was performed after sciatic nerve neurotomy and subsequent microsurgical repair. Muscle fiber wasting was already detected on the 14th day after epineural suture with DuraSeal, and in the Tisseel group - on the 30th day after sciatic nerve damage. The average diameter of muscle fibers in the DuraSeal group increased significantly by the day 60 due to the appearance of hypertrophied fibers. In areas of wasting, connective tissue density increased, which did not change quantitatively during the experiment, while the use of DuraSeal and Tisseel delayed the development of fibrosis for up to the 30th day. Application of DuraSeal and Tisseel with epineural suture delays the development of fibrosis and wasting in denervated muscles during the reinnervation period.

Assessment of whether the rabbit subscapularis tendon model is suitable for studying the human chronic rotator cuff pathology: Discovery of a new ligament connecting the glenoid and subscapularis tendon.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the anatomical relationship between the subscapularis tendon and glenosubscapularal ligament (GSL) that we accidentally identified from our previous study on a rabbit shoulder model and to determine whether this anatomical relationship has an impact on the rabbit shoulder model for studying the human chronic rotator cuff pathology. METHODS: In this study, 15 male New Zealand rabbits aged 12 weeks and weighing 2.5 kg were used. Moreover, 3 rabbits were sacrificed for the anatomical and histological investigation of the relationship between the subscapularis tendon and GSL at baseline. The remaining 12 rabbits underwent the subscapularis tendon tenotomy from the lesser tuberosity using a standardized procedure. The GSL was cut on the left side and preserved on the right side. For histomorphometric analysis, 6 rabbits were first sacrificed at 6 weeks and then the remaining 6 rabbits at 12 weeks. RESULTS: In all the rabbits, GSL was identified, connecting the upper portion of glenoid and subscapularis muscle-tendon junction. The mean thickness of the middle portion of GSL was 1.1±0.2 mm; the mean length of GSL was 8.4±2.3 mm. The mean widths of the proximal and distal attachments were 2.4±0.3 and 4.2±0.5 mm, respectively. The mean size of the native subscapularis muscle fibers was 122.6±4.3 µm2. The mean size of the muscle fibers in shoulders with tenotomy alone was 112.6±6.2 and 102.6±4.8 µm2 at 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. The mean size of the muscle fibers in shoulders with tenotomy plus GSL cut severing was 88.3±9.7 and 56.4±5.2 µm2 at 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. The significant muscle atrophy was observed both at 6 and 12 weeks in the shoulders with tenotomy plus GSL cut compared with those with tenotomy alone as well as those with the native subscapularis. However, the muscle atrophy was not significantly different in the shoulders with tenotomy alone at different time points. CONCLUSION: Because GSL may prevent the subscapularis retraction, the rabbit subscapularis tendon model may not be suitable for studying the human chronic rotator cuff pathology if GSL is neglected or preserved.

Skeletal muscle loss phenotype in cirrhosis: A nationwide analysis of hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: There are very limited data on the healthcare burden of muscle loss, the most frequent complication in hospitalized cirrhotics. We determined the healthcare impact of a muscle loss phenotype in hospitalized cirrhotics. METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (years 2010-2014) was analyzed. Search terms included cirrhosis and its complications, and an expanded definition of a muscle loss phenotype that included all conditions associated with muscle loss. In-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), post-discharge disposition, co-morbidities and cost during admission were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify associations between a muscle loss phenotype and outcomes. Impact of muscle loss in cirrhotics was compared to that in a random sample (2%) of general medical inpatients. RESULTS: A total of 162,694 hospitalizations for cirrhosis were reported, of which 18,261 (11.2%) included secondary diagnosis codes for a muscle loss phenotype. A diagnosis of muscle loss was associated with a significantly (p < 0.001 for all) higher mortality (19.3% vs 8.2%), LOS (14.2 ± 15.8 vs. 4.6 ± 6.9 days), and median hospital charge per admission ($21,400 vs. $8573) and a lower likelihood of discharge to home (30.1% vs. 60.2%). All evaluated outcomes were more severe in cirrhotics than general medical patients (n = 534,687). Multivariate regression analysis showed that a diagnosis of muscle loss independently increased mortality by 130%, LOS by 80% and direct cost of care by 119% (p < 0.001 for all). Alcohol use, female gender, malignancies and other organ dysfunction were independently associated with muscle loss. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle loss contributed to higher mortality, LOS, and direct healthcare costs in hospitalized cirrhotics.

Longitudinal Assessment of Quadriceps Muscle Morphology Before and After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Its Associations With Patient-Reported Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Reductions in muscle size are common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and may contribute to suboptimal patient outcomes. However, few studies have quantified postoperative alterations in muscle quality and evaluated its associations with patient-reported function. HYPOTHESES: Rectus femoris cross-sectional area (CSA) will decrease postoperatively but improve at return to activity (RTA), rectus femoris muscle quality (percentage fat [PF]) will increase postoperatively and be greater at RTA compared with preoperative values, and rectus femoris CSA and PF will be associated with International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores at both postoperative time points. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. METHODS: A total of 26 individuals who sustained an ACL injury and underwent reconstructive surgery were evaluated preoperatively (T0), 9 weeks post-ACLR (T1), and at RTA. Rectus femoris CSA and PF were evaluated bilaterally via ultrasound imaging, and patient-reported function was assessed using the IKDC score. RESULTS: Bilateral reductions in rectus femoris CSA were noted from T0 to T1 (P < 0.01). Only the uninvolved limb returned to preoperative CSA (P = 0.80), as the involved limb failed to return to preoperative levels at RTA (P = 0.04). No significant changes in rectus femoris PF were observed across time points (P > 0.05). Lesser PF (P < 0.01) but not CSA (P = 0.75) was associated with higher IKDC score at T1. Lesser PF (P = 0.04) and greater CSA (P = 0.05) was associated with higher IKDC score at RTA. CONCLUSION: Substantial atrophy occurs bilaterally after ACLR, and the involved limb does not return to preoperative muscle size despite the patient completing rehabilitation. Quadriceps muscle morphology is associated with patient-reported function and may be an important rehabilitation target after ACLR. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Quadriceps atrophy and poor muscle quality may contribute to suboptimal patient functioning and quadriceps dysfunction and may be important in RTA decision making. Assessing muscle morphology using ultrasound may be a feasible and clinically beneficial tool in patients after ACLR.

Energy expenditure and loss of muscle and fat mass in patients with walled-off pancreatic necrosis: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Ensuring adequate nutritional support in patients with walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WON) is challenging and weight loss is often considerable. The aim of this study was to evaluate resting energy expenditure (REE) and body composition in patients with WON. METHODS: We prospectively included 18 patients (67% men; median age 63 y; 44% gallstones; 39% alcohol) with WON undergoing endoscopic transgastric drainage and necrosectomy. Patients were followed for 4 wk after admission. We assessed hand-grip strength, REE using indirect calorimetry, and body composition with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to assess the percentage change in muscle mass (MM) and fat mass (FM). Data are summarized using medians (range). RESULTS: At baseline, the median body mass index was 27.9 kg/m2 (17.7-35.6 kg/m2). Fifteen patients (83%) had infected WON. Eight patients (44%) received total or supplemental parenteral nutrition. The median percentage loss in MM was 0.31% and FM was 6.2%. The median REE was 6870 kJ (3255-8870 kJ) at baseline. Compared with the predicted REE, the measured REE was 1049 kJ higher (-3065 to 2126 kJ) at baseline and -951 kJ lower (-2600 to 3202 kJ) at 4 wk. The difference between the predicted and measured REE at baseline was correlated with the percentage loss in MM (P = 0.043) and FM (P = 0.026). Additionally, patients with infected WON had significantly higher REE (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: In patients with WON, an increased REE appears to predict increased muscle and fat loss. Additional studies are necessary to evaluate if REE may be used to improve nutritional support.

Assessment of muscle mass depletion in chronic liver disease: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry compared with computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to perform intermethod comparisons between the following three measures of muscle mass depletion in patients eligible for liver transplantation: 1) fat-free mass index (FFMI) measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), 2) appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) measured by DXA, and 3) skeletal muscle index (SMI) measured at the third lumbar level by computed tomography (CT). METHODS: The medical records of patients who received liver transplants between 2009 and 2012 at Karolinska University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Adult patients with a chronic liver disease who had both DXA and CT scans performed within a 30-d period during their pretransplant workup were included. RESULTS: Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index measured by DXA (ASMIDXA) and skeletal mass index measured by computed tomography (SMICT) provide similar results when assessing the presence of muscle mass depletion in patients with chronic liver diseases and FFMIDXA can be falsely high in patients with ascites. Both ASMIDXA and SMICT thus appear to be useful methods in the pretransplant evaluation of muscle mass depletion both for patients with and without ascites. CONCLUSIONS: ASMI measured with DXA is a useful alternative method to SMI measured with CT when a CT scan is not clinically indicated or available.

Muscle mass assessment by computed tomography in chronic kidney disease patients: agreement with surrogate methods.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are subjected to muscle wasting. Therefore, it is important to investigate surrogate methods that enable the assessment of muscle mass loss in the clinical setting. We aimed to analyze the agreement between computed tomography (CT) and surrogate methods for the assessment of muscle mass in non-dialysis CKD patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Cross-sectional study including 233 non-dialysis patients on CKD stages 3 to 5 (61 ± 11 years; 64% men; glomerular filtration rate 22 (14-33) mL/min/1.73 m2). The muscle mass was evaluated by CT and bioelectrical impedance, skinfold thicknesses, midarm muscle circumference (MAMC), the predictive equations of Janssen and Baumgartner and the physical examination of muscle atrophy from the subjective global assessment. RESULTS: In males, the MAMC showed the best agreement with CT as indicated by the kappa test (k = 0.57, P < 0.01), sensitivity (S = 68%), specificity (S = 89%) and accuracy (area under the curve-AUC = 0.78), followed by the Baumgartner equation (kappa = 0.46, P < 0.01; sensitivity = 60%; specificity = 87% and AUC = 0.73). In female, the Baumgartner equation showed the best agreement with CT (kappa = 0.43, P < 0.01; sensitivity = 57%; specificity = 86% and AUC = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: The MAMC and Baumgartner equation showed the best agreement with CT for the assessment of muscle mass in non-dialysis CKD patients.

Sonoelastography for the Assessment of Muscle Changes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Results of a Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the sonoelastographic features of four different muscles in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis compared with healthy controls and to evaluate the relationship of these features to muscle strength and other ultrasonographic variables. Fourteen patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 20 controls were examined using strain sonoelastography scanning. The RGB channel fraction ratio was analyzed with ImageJ software (Version 1.48). Two main sonoelastographic patterns could be distinguished in the controls: a clear predominance of the blue channel (hard areas) and a more heterogeneous pattern with predominance of the green channel (intermediate stiffness). These patterns were also observed in patients, although a higher green channel score was observed in mildly impaired muscles, whereas a higher blue channel score was observed in the most severely impaired muscle. Sonoelastography may be a good complementary biomarker in the detection and monitoring of muscle changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

A window beneath the skin: how computed tomography assessment of body composition can assist in the identification of hidden wasting conditions in oncology that profoundly impact outcomes.

Advancements in image-based technologies and body composition research over the past decade has led to increased understanding of the importance of muscle abnormalities, such as low muscle mass (sarcopenia), and more recently low muscle attenuation (MA), as important prognostic indicators of unfavourable outcomes in patients with cancer. Muscle abnormalities can be highly prevalent in patients with cancer (ranging between 10 and 90 %), depending on the cohort under investigation and diagnostic criteria used. Importantly, both low muscle mass and low MA have been associated with poorer tolerance to chemotherapy, increased risk of post-operative infectious and non-infectious complications, increased length of hospital stay and poorer survival in patients with cancer. Studies have shown that systemic antineoplastic treatment can exacerbate losses in muscle mass and MA, with reported loss of skeletal muscle between 3 and 5 % per 100 d, which are increased exponentially with progressive disease and proximity to death. At present, no effective medical intervention to improve muscle mass and MA exists. Most research to date has focused on treating muscle depletion as part of the cachexia syndrome using nutritional, exercise and pharmacological interventions; however, these single-agent therapies have not provided promising results. Rehabilitation care to modify body composition, either increasing muscle mass and/or MA should be conducted, and its respective impact on oncology outcomes explored. Although the optimal timing and treatment strategy for preventing or delaying the development of muscle abnormalities are yet to be determined, multimodal interventions initiated early in the disease trajectory appear to hold the most promise.

Nutritional risk assessment at admission can predict subsequent muscle loss in critically ill patients.

Muscle loss in critically ill patients may be related to nutrition. We study the association between modified NUTrition RIsk in the Critically ill (mNUTRIC) score obtained at admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and subsequent muscle loss. We measured rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA) by ultrasound on days 1, 3, 7, and 10 of ICU admission. We used linear mixed effects model following natural logarithmic transformation of the data. Forty-eight patients (median (IQR) age 66 (55-72.5) years, 71% male, APACHE II score 31 (25-34), BMI 24.2 (21.5-27.1) kg/m2) were analyzed. The high mNUTRIC score (>5) cohort (n = 35) lost significantly more muscle as compared to the low (≤5) group (n = 13); the adjusted ratio (high versus low group) of the geometric mean RFCSA were (0.58, 95% CI 0.46-0.75) for right and (0.61, 95% CI 0.49-0.77) for left, both p < 0.001. mNUTRIC score obtained at admission to ICU can identify patients at risk of subsequent muscle loss.

Skeletal Muscle Ultrasonography in Nutrition and Functional Outcome Assessment of Critically Ill Children: Experience and Insights From Pediatric Disease and Adult Critical Care Studies [Formula: see text].

Evidence suggests that critically ill children develop muscle wasting, which could affect outcomes. Muscle ultrasound has been used to track muscle wasting and association with outcomes in critically ill adults but not children. This review aims to summarize methodological considerations of muscle ultrasound, structural findings, and possibilities for its application in the assessment of nutrition and functional outcomes in critically ill children. Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases were searched up until April 2016. Articles describing skeletal muscle ultrasound in children and critically ill adults were analyzed qualitatively for details on techniques and findings. Thickness and cross-sectional area of various upper and lower body muscles have been studied to quantify muscle mass and detect muscle changes. The quadriceps femoris muscle is one of the most commonly measured muscles due to its relation to mobility and is sensitive to changes over time. However, the margin of error for quadriceps thickness is too wide to reliably detect muscle changes in critically ill children. Muscle size and its correlation with strength and function also have not yet been studied in critically ill children. Echogenicity, used to detect compromised muscle structure in neuromuscular disease, may be another property worth studying in critically ill children. Muscle ultrasound may be useful in detecting muscle wasting in critically ill children but has not been shown to be sufficiently reliable in this population. Further study of the reliability and correlation with functional outcomes and nutrition intake is required before muscle ultrasound is routinely employed in critically ill children.

The natural history of donor hamstrings unit after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective MRI scan assessment.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the natural history of the donor hamstrings, compared to the contralateral knee and thigh. METHODS: In 47 patients who had ACL reconstruction (hamstrings technique), bilateral knees and thighs were investigated using MRI scans, up to 2 years post-operatively. RESULTS: Tendon regeneration below the knee joint line of the semitendinosus occurred in 30/47 (64 %) patients and of the gracilis tendon in 17/47 (36 %) patients. Insertion of both tendons at the "pes anserinus", with normal anatomic relations, was observed in 5/47 (11 %) patients. Semitendinosus and gracilis donor muscles were found retracted in 41/47 (87 %) patients. In 25/47 (53 %) patients, there was evidence of fatty infiltration of the semitendinosus muscle. All (47/47) (100 %) patients showed semitendinosus muscle atrophy and 41/47 (87 %) patients showed gracilis muscle atrophy, compared to the contralateral limb. High signal intensity on STIR images was observed in the semitendinosus in 22/47 (46 %) patients and in the gracilis muscle in 30/47 (64 %) patients, on MRI examination performed up to 24 months post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: The "regenerated" hamstrings tendons most commonly do not regenerate fully anatomically, so they should not be considered as a first choice for re-harvesting in revision ACL reconstruction. The "donor hamstrings muscles" are found to be shorter, contracted, thinner and with a long-term abnormal MRI signal, features which are considered to be related to reduced muscle performance (knee flexion and internal rotation) post-operatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Validity of Quadriceps Muscle Thickness Measurement in Patients with Subacute Stroke during Hospitalization for Assessment of Muscle Wasting and Physical Function.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with stroke have difficulty performing voluntary muscle contraction; thus, measurement of patients' muscle power or leg strength is challenging. We investigated the validity of quadriceps muscle thickness (QMT) measurement using ultrasonography (US) for the assessment of muscle wasting and physical function in patients with subacute stroke during hospitalization for convalescent rehabilitation. METHODS: Participants included 52 men with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (mean age, 69 ± 11 years) who were hospitalized for inpatient convalescent rehabilitation. The QMT of both legs was measured using US, and functional outcome was assessed according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score and the leg motor selectivity score (6 motor stages defined by Brunnstrom). RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between QMT and leg motor selectivity score (paretic limb: r = .60, P < .001; nonparetic limb: r = .54, P < .001). Additionally, there were significant interaction effects between the QMT of the paretic limb (mRS scores = 1 or 2, 3, 4, and 5 = 3.52 ± .84 cm, 3.19 ± .52 cm, 2.50 ± .46 cm, and 2.20 ± .71 cm, respectively; F = 11.2; P < .0001), the QMT of the nonparetic limb (mRS scores = 1 or 2, 3, 4, and 5 = 3.72 ± .82 cm, 3.16 ± .49 cm, 2.91 ± .54 cm, and 2.42 ± .82 cm, respectively; F = 8.3; P < .001), and functional outcome. CONCLUSION: QMT measurement is a valid method to assess muscle wasting and physical function in patients with subacute stroke during hospitalization for convalescent rehabilitation.