Muscle quality and not quantity as a predictor of survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is frequent in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), as a consequence of malnutrition related to risk factors or tumoral mass. Treatment is associated with toxicities that lead to reduced calories intake and muscle mass wasting. Sarcopenia has been negatively associated with tumor control and survival outcomes. PURPOSE: Our aim is to evaluate the prognostic impact of sarcopenia on overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) in HNSCC patients undergoing chemoradiation therapy within a prospective clinical trial of chemoradiation vs induction chemotherapy followed by radiation and cetuximab (INTERCEPTOR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: On baseline CT or MRI, we investigated the association between OS and PFS with radiological markers of sarcopenia, measured at the third cervical vertebra level. We studied paravertebral skeletal muscles area (cm2), muscle density (HU), muscle index (cm2/m2), and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) area (cm2). RESULTS: Imaging of 128 patients was evaluable. We found out that higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with better OS (p = 0.02), and PFS (p = 0.04). Skeletal muscle area (p = 0.02), and IMAT (p = 0.02) were negatively associated with PFS. IMAT was positively correlated with muscle area (Correlation coefficient 0.6, CI95% 0.47-0.7), and negatively associated with muscle density (Correlation coefficient -0.37, CI95% -0.53 - -0.18). CONCLUSIONS: IMAT can be used as predictor of PFS in HNC patients undergoing chemoradiation therapy. The amount of intermuscular fat deposits induces alterations of muscle quality, without alterations of muscle quantity, influencing patients' prognosis.

Electroencephalographic monitoring of brain activity during cardiac arrest: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: To date cardiac arrest (CA) remains a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality: despite advances in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), survival is still burdened by hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI), and poor neurological outcome, eventually leading to withdrawal of life sustaining treatment (WLST). The aim of CPR is cardiac pump support to preserve organ perfusion, until normal cardiac function is restored. However, clinical parameters of target organ end-perfusion during CPR, particularly brain perfusion, are still to be identified. In this context, electroencephalography (EEG) and its derivatives, such as processed EEG, could be used to assess brain function during CA. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to review literature regarding the feasibility of EEG and processed or raw EEG monitoring during CPR. METHODS: A review of the available literature was performed and consisted of mostly case reports and observational studies in both humans and animals, for a total number of 22 relevant studies. RESULTS: The research strategy identified 22 unique articles. 4 observational studies were included and 6 animal testing studies in swine models. The remaining studies were case reports. Literature regarding this topic consists of conflicting results, containing studies where the feasibility of EEG during CPR was positive, and others where the authors reached opposite conclusions. Furthermore, the level of evidence, in general, remains low. DISCUSSION: EEG may represent a useful tool to assess CPR effectiveness. A multimodal approach including other non-invasive tools such as, quantitative infrared pupillometry and transcranial Doppler, could help to optimize the quality of resuscitation maneuvers.