Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with morbid obesity: the gut microbiota axis as a potential pathophysiology mechanism.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Alterations in gut microbiota are associated with the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases, including metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). The aim of this study was to evaluate gut microbiota composition and functionality in patients with morbid obesity with different degrees of MAFLD, as assessed by biopsy. SUBJECTS/METHODS: 110 patients with morbid obesity were evaluated by biopsy obtained during bariatric surgery for MAFLD. Stool samples were collected prior to surgery for microbiota analysis. RESULTS: Gut microbiota from patients with steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were characterized by an enrichment in Enterobacteriaceae (an ethanol-producing bacteria), Acidaminococcus and Megasphaera and the depletion of Eggerthellaceae and Ruminococcaceae (SCFA-producing bacteria). MAFLD was also associated with enrichment of pathways related to proteinogenic amino acid degradation, succinate production, menaquinol-7 (K2-vitamin) biosynthesis, and saccharolytic and proteolytic fermentation. Basic histological hepatic alterations (steatosis, necroinflammatory activity, or fibrosis) were associated with specific changes in microbiota patterns. Overall, the core microbiome related to basic histological alterations in MAFLD showed an increase in Enterobacteriaceae and a decrease in Ruminococcaceae. Specifically, Escherichia coli was associated with steatosis and necroinflammatory activity, whilst Escherichia-shigella was associated with fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity. CONCLUSIONS: We established a link between gut microbiota alterations and histological injury in liver diagnosis using biopsy. Harmful products such as ethanol or succinate may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of MAFLD. Thus, these alterations in gut microbiota patterns and their possible metabolic pathways could add information to the classical predictors of MAFLD severity and suggest novel metabolic targets.

Phase angle and rectus femoris cross-sectional area as predictors of severe malnutrition and their relationship with complications in outpatients with post-critical SARS-CoV2 disease.

Background and aims: The diagnosis of malnutrition in post-critical COVID-19 patients is challenging as a result of the high prevalence of obesity, as well as the variability and previously reported inconsistencies across currently available assessment methods. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) with phase angle (PhA) and nutritional ultrasound (NU®) are emerging techniques that have been proven successful in assessing body composition with high precision in previous studies. Our study aims to determine the performance and usefulness of PhA and rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RF-CSA) measurements in assessing body composition as part of the full routine morphofunctional assessment used in the clinical setting, as well as their capacity to predict severe malnutrition and to assess complications and aggressive therapy requirements during recent intensive care unit (ICU) admission, in a cohort of post-critically ill COVID-19 outpatients. Methods: This prospective observational study included 75 post-critical outpatients who recovered from severe COVID-19 pneumonia after requiring ICU admission. Correlations between all the morphofunctional parameters, complications, and aggressive therapy requirements during admission were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and ROC curves were provided to determine the performance of NU® and PhA to predict severe malnutrition. Differences in complications and aggressive therapy requirements using the cutoff points obtained were analyzed. Results: In total, 54.7% of patients were classified by Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) as SGA-B and 45.3% as SGA-C, while 78.7% met the Global Leadership Initiative of Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. PhA correlates positively with body cell mass/height (BCM/h) (r = 0.74), skeletal muscle index (SMI) (r = 0.29), RF-CSA (r = 0.22), RF-Y axis (r = 0.42), and handgrip strength (HGS) assessed using dynamometry (r = 0.42) and the Barthel scale (r = 0.29) and negatively with ICU stay (r = -0.48), total hospital stay (r = -0.57), need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (r = -0.39), days of IMV (r = -0.41), need for tracheostomy (r = -0.51), and number of prone maneuvers (r = -0.20). RF-CSA correlates positively with BCM/h (r = 0.41), SMI (r = 0.58), RF-Y axis (r = 0.69), and HGS assessed using dynamometry (r = 0.50) and the Barthel scale (r = 0.15) and negatively with total hospital stay (r = -0.22) and need for IMV (r = -0.28). Cutoff points of PhA < 5.4° and standardized phase angle (SPhA) < -0.79 showed good capacity to predict severe malnutrition according to SGA and revealed differences in ICU stay, total hospital stay, number of prone maneuvers, need for IMV, and need for rehabilitation, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). An RF-CSA/h < 2.52 cm2/m (for men) and <2.21 cm2/m (for women) also showed good performance in predicting severe malnutrition and revealed differences with statistical significance (p < 0.05) in ICU stay and total hospital stay. Conclusion: More than 75% of the post-critical COVID-19 survivors had malnutrition, and approximately half were obese. PhA, SPhA, RF-CSA, and RF-CSA/h, when applied to the assessment of body composition in post-critical COVID-19 patients, showed moderate-to-high correlation with other morphofunctional parameters and good performance to predict severe malnutrition and to assess complications and aggressive therapy requirements during ICU admission. Besides being readily available methods, BIVA and NU® can help improve the morphofunctional assessment of malnutrition in post-critical COVID-19 survivors; however, more studies are needed to assess the performance of these methods in other populations.

Associations between ultra-processed food consumption and kidney function in an older adult population with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has increased dramatically over the last decades worldwide. Although it has been linked to some cardiometabolic comorbidities, there is limited evidence regarding kidney function. This study aimed to cross-sectionally and longitudinally assess the association between UPF consumption and estimated-glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on Cystatin C (CysC). METHODS: Older adults (mean age 65 ± 5.0 years, 46% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) who had available data of CysC at baseline (n = 1909), at one-year and at 3-years of follow-up (n = 1700) were analyzed. Food consumption was assessed using a validated 143-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and UPF consumption (% of g/d) at baseline and changes after one-year of follow-up were estimated according to NOVA classification system. Multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression models were performed to evaluate the cross-sectional associations between UPF consumption with eGFR levels and decreased kidney function (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2) at baseline. Multivariable-adjusted mixed-effects linear regression models were fitted to investigate the associations between one-year changes in UPF and eGFR over 3-years of follow-up. RESULTS: Individuals with the highest baseline UPF consumption showed lower eGFR (ß: -3.39 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI: -5.59 to -1.20) and higher odds of decreased kidney function (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.21 to 2.22) at baseline, compared to individuals in the lowest tertile. Participants in the highest tertile of one-year changes in UPF consumption presented a significant decrease in eGFR after one-year of follow-up (ß: -1.45 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI: -2.90 to -0.01) as well as after 3-years of follow-up (ß: -2.18 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI: -3.71 to -0.65) compared to those in the reference category. CONCLUSIONS: In a Mediterranean population of older adults with overweight/obesity and MetS, higher UPF consumption at baseline and one-year changes towards higher consumption of UPF were associated with worse kidney function at baseline and over 3-years of follow-up, respectively. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER: ISRCTN89898870.

Rectus Femoris Cross-Sectional Area and Phase Angle asPredictors of 12-Month Mortality in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Patients.

BACKGROUND: The value of the phase angle (PhA), measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), could be considered a good marker of the cell mass and the cell damage of a patient; however, there are new techniques, such as muscle ultrasonography, that allow the quantity and quality of muscle to be assessed in a minimally invasive way. The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic value of morphofunctional techniques in the prognosis of mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). METHODS: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included 86 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with a mean age of 71 years, 82.7% of whom were male. The nutritional risk of the patients was assessed by means of questionnaires, such as the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), and non-invasive functional techniques, including BIA, nutritional ultrasound, and hand grip strength (HGS). Statistical analysis of the sample was performed using JAMOVI version 2.3.22. RESULTS: Correlations were made between the RF-CSA techniques with PhA (r = 0.48, p < 0.001), BCM (r = 0.70, p < 0.001), SMI (r = 0.64, p < 0.001), and HGS (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). The cut-off points for 12-month mortality were PhA = 4.5° (AUC = 0.722, sensitivity of 72.7% and specificity of 66.6%), BCM = 28.8 kg (AUC = 0.609, sensitivity of 32.4% and specificity of 100.0%), RF-CSA = 3.00 cm2 (AUC = 0.857, sensitivity of 64.4% and specificity of 100.0%), 6MMW = 420 m (AUC = 0.830, sensitivity of 63.27% and specificity of 100.0%), and TUG = 7.2 s (AUC = 0.771, sensitivity of 100.0% and specificity of 56.67%). In addition, a multivariate analysis was performed with RF-CSA, HR = 8.11 (1.39-47.16, p = 0.020), and PhA of 6.35 (1.29-31.15, p = 0.023), taking into account age, sex, and BMI to determine mortality. Finally, a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted with low or normal values for classical parameters (GAP and T6MM) and new parameters (PhA, BCM, RF-CSA, and TUG). CONCLUSION: RF-CSA and PhA were shown to be good prognostic markers of 12-month mortality and could, therefore, be useful screening tools to complement the nutritional assessment of IPF patients.

Phase angle as a marker of outcome in hospitalized pediatric patients. A systematic review of the evidence (GRADE) with meta-analysis.

Phase angle (PhA) is a valuable tool for evaluating the nutritional and inflammatory status, which can accompany acute and severe disorders. PhA is a cellular health biomarker, whose value is particularly substantial due to the negative consequences of these situations in the pediatric population. Relevant literature was collected with the aim of comprehensively analysing the evidence on the association between an altered PhA can serve as a predictive-marker for mortality and poor-outcomes in at-risk-pediatric patients. Understanding this relationship could have significant implications for identifying high-risk individuals and implementing timely interventions. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted in the primary electronic databases from inception until January 2023. Overall, four studies with a total of 740 patients were eligible for our analysis. Evidence demonstrates that PhA is associated with nutritional status, reflecting undernutrition and changes in body composition related to illness. This review suggests that PhA can indeed be used as an indicator of nutritional status and a tool for predicting prognosis, including mortality and poor-outcomes, in hospitalized pediatric patients. A low PhA was associated with a significant mortality risk [RR:1.51;95%CI (1.22-1.88),p = 0.0002;I2 = 0%,(p = 0.99)] and an increased complications risk [OR:8.17;95%CI (2.44-27.4),p = 0.0007;I2 = 44%,(p = 0.18)]. These findings highlight the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to clinical nutrition, integrating multiple evaluation aspects to establish an accurate diagnosis and personalized therapeutic plans. While PhA emerges as a valuable tool for assessing the risk of malnutrition and as a prognostic-indicator for poor-outcomes in pediatric patients. Further future studies are needed to focus on investigating this relationship in larger and diverse population to strengthen the evidence base.

Nutritional ultrasound®: Conceptualisation, technical considerations and standardisation.

Nutritional ultrasound® is a new concept that uses ultrasound to assess body composition. It is composed of the evaluation of fat-free mass and fat mass. It is an emerging, economical, portable, non-invasive technique that evaluates the musculoskeletal area with linear, broadband, multifrequency probes, with a depth field of 20-100mm. It quantifies muscle modifications in malnutrition and provides information on functional changes (echogenicity). Although there are no validated specific cut-off points, the anterior rectum area of the quadriceps can be used as a criterion for malnutrition. The distribution of adipose tissue provides information on the energy reserve and the inflammatory pattern. It is important to integrate nutritional ultrasound® measures in clinical practice adapted to different settings and pathologies. It is necessary to establish training plans in nutritional ultrasound® for use by Endocrinology and Nutrition Specialists, with the aim of improving the diagnosis and treatment of their patients.

Phase angle and COVID-19: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Phase angle (PhA) has been identified as a poor prognostic factor in patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to achieve a systematic review, where we discussed the potential role of PhA value as a prognostic marker of adverse clinical outcomes such as mortality and complication in hospitalized with SARS-CoV2 infection and established the strength of recommendations for use. A systematic literature review with meta-analysis was done in the main electronic databases from 2020 to January 2023. The selected articles had to investigate adverse consequences of the COVID-19 population and raw bioimpedance parameters such as PhA and published in peer-reviewed journals. GRADE tools regarded the quality of the methodology. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Only eight studies, 483 studies, were eligible for the analysis. In general, differences in PhA were seen between the comparative study groups. Patients with a low PhA experienced poor outcomes. A low PhA was associated with a significantly increased mortality risk [RR: 2.44; 95% CI (1.20-4.99), p = 0.01; I2 = 79% (p = 0.0008)] and higher complications risk [OR: 3.47, 95% CI (1.16 - 10.37), p = 0.03; I2 = 82% (p = 0.004)] in COVID-19 patients. Our analysis showed four evidence-based recommendations on the prognostic value of PhA with two strong recommendations, one of moderate and another of low-moderate quality, for predicting mortality and complications, respectively. We recommend using PhA as a prognostic marker for mortality and complications in this population. Although the results are promising, future studies must identify the PhA cut-off to guide therapeutic decisions more precisely.Registration code in PROSPERO: CRD42023391044.

Rectus Femoris Muscle and Phase Angle as Prognostic Factor for 12-Month Mortality in a Longitudinal Cohort of Patients with Cancer (AnyVida Trial).

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related malnutrition is still unrecognized and undertreated in clinical practice. The morphofunctional assessment of disease-related malnutrition (DRM) is a new approach that focuses on evaluating changes in body composition and function. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of classic and emerging assessment of malnutrition at 12-months survival in cancer patients. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study on cancer outpatients. Bioelectrical impedance with phase angle (PhA), nutritional ultrasound by rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA), hand grip strength, and "Timed Up and Go Test" (TUG) were evaluated as predictors of mortality. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were included. The non-survivors had lower PhA values than the survivors (4.7° vs. 5.4°; p < 0.001), and we had the same results with RFCSA 2.98 cm2/m2 vs. 4.27 cm2/m2 (p = 0.03). Cut-off points were identified using the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curves for PhA (≤5.6° cancer patients, ≤5.9° men, ≤5.3° women), RFCSA (≤4.47 cm2/m2 cancer patients, ≤4.47° men, ≤2.73° women) and rectus femoris-Y-axis (RF-Y-axis; ≤1.3 cm cancer patients, ≤1.06 men, ≤1 women). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that high PhA was significantly associated with a lower mortality hazard ratio (HR: 0.42 95% CI: 0.21-0.84, p = 0.014). Likewise, high RFCSA was associated with a decrease in mortality risk in the crude model (HR: 0.61 95% CI: 0.39-0.96, p = 0.031). This trend was also maintained in the adjusted models by the confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: Low PhA and RFCSA values are significant independent predictors of mortality in cancer patients. These cut-off points are clinical data that can be used for nutritional assessment and the prediction of clinical outcomes.

Predictors of Sarcopenia in Outpatients with Post-Critical SARS-CoV2 Disease. Nutritional Ultrasound of Rectus Femoris Muscle, a Potential Tool.

Background and Objectives: The loss of muscle mass in post-critical COVID-19 outpatients is difficult to assess due to the limitations of techniques and the high prevalence of obesity. Ultrasound is an emerging technique for evaluating body composition. The aim is to evaluate sarcopenia and its risk factors, determining ultrasound usefulness as a potential tool for this purpose according to established techniques, such as the bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA), handgrip strength, and timed up-and-go test. Methods: This is a transversal study of 30 post-critical COVID-19 outpatients. We evaluated nutritional status by ultrasound (Rectus Femoris-cross-sectional-area (RF-CSA), thickness, and subcutaneous-adipose-tissue), BIVA, handgrip strength, timed up-and-go test, and clinical variables during admission. Results: According to The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (ESPEN&EASO) Consensus for Sarcopenic and Obesity, in terms of excess fat mass and decreased lean mass, the prevalence of class-1 sarcopenic obesity was 23.4% (n = 7), and class-2 sarcopenic obesity was 33.3% (n = 10) in our study. A total of 46.7% (n = 14) of patients had a handgrip strength below the 10th percentile, and 30% (n = 9) achieved a time greater than 10s in the timed up-and-go test. There were strong correlations between the different techniques that evaluated the morphological (BIVA, Ultrasound) and functional measurements of muscle. Intensive care unit stay, mechanical ventilation, and age all conditioned the presence of sarcopenia in COVID-19 outpatients (R2 = 0.488, p = 0.002). Predictive models for sarcopenic diagnosis based on a skeletal muscle index estimation were established by RF-CSA (R2 0.792, standard error of estimate (SEE) 1.10, p < 0.001), muscle-thickness (R2 0.774, SEE 1.14, p < 0.001), and handgrip strength (R2 0.856, SEE 0.92, p < 0.001). RF-CSA/weight of 5.3 cm2/kg × 100 was the cut-off value for predicting sarcopenia in post-critical COVID-19 outpatients, with 88.2 sensitivity and 69.2% specificity. Conclusion: More than half of the post-critical COVID-19 survivors had sarcopenic obesity and functional impairment of handgrip strength. Intensive care unit stay, age, and mechanical ventilation all predict sarcopenia. An ultrasound, when applied to the assessment of body composition in post-critical COVID-19 patients, provided the possibility of assessing sarcopenia in this population.

Overhydration Assessed Using Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis Adversely Affects 90-Day Clinical Outcome among SARS-CoV2 Patients: A New Approach.

Background: COVID-19 has taken on pandemic proportions with growing interest in prognostic factors. Overhydration is a risk factor for mortality in several medical conditions with its role in COVID-19, assessed with bioelectrical impedance (BI), gaining research interest. COVID-19 affects hydration status. The aim was to determine the hydration predictive role on 90 d survival COVID-19 and to compare BI assessments with traditional measures of hydration. Methods: We studied 127 consecutive COVID-19 patients. Hydration status was estimated using a 50 kHz phase-sensitive BI and estimated, compared with clinical scores and laboratory markers to predict mortality. Results: Non-surviving COVID-19 patients had significantly higher hydration 85.2% (76.9−89.3) vs. 73.7% (73.2−82.1) and extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) 0.67 (0.59−0.75) vs. 0.54 (0.48−0.61) (p = 0.001, respectively), compared to surviving. Patients in the highest hydration tertile had increased mortality (p = 0.012), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission (p = 0.027), COVID-19 SEIMC score (p = 0.003), and inflammation biomarkers [CRP/prealbumin (p = 0.011)]. Multivariate analysis revealed that hydration status was associated with increased mortality. HR was 2.967 (95%CI, 1.459−6.032, p < 0.001) for hydration and 2.528 (95%CI, 1.664−3.843, p < 0.001) for ECW/TBW, which were significantly greater than traditional measures: CRP/prealbumin 3.057(95%CI, 0.906−10.308, p = 0.072) or BUN/creatinine 1.861 (95%CI, 1.375−2.520, p < 0.001). Hydration > 76.15% or ECW/TBW > 0.58 were the cut-off values predicting COVID-19 mortality with 81.3% and 93.8% sensitivity and 64 and 67.6% specificity, respectively. Hydration status offers a sensitive and specific prognostic test at admission, compared to established poor prognosis parameters. Conclusions and Relevance: Overhydration, indicated as high hydration (>76.15%) and ECW/TBW (>0.58), were significant predictors of COVID-19 mortality. These findings suggest that hydration evaluation with 50 kHz phase-sensitive BI measurements should be routinely included in the clinical assessment of COVID-19 patients at hospital admission, to identify increased mortality risk patients and assist medical care.

Dairy Product Consumption and Changes in Cognitive Performance: Two-Year Analysis of the PREDIMED-Plus Cohort.

SCOPE: Dairy consumption has been suggested to impact cognition; however, evidence is limited and inconsistent. This study aims to longitudinally assess the association between dairy consumption with cognitive changes in an older Spanish population at high cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four thousand six hundred sixty eight participants aged 55-75 years, completed a validated food frequency questionnaire at baseline and a neuropsychological battery of tests at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Multivariable linear regression models are used, scaled by 100 (i.e., the units of ß correspond to 1 SD/100), to assess associations between baseline tertile daily consumption and 2-year changes in cognitive performance. Participants in the highest tertile of total milk and whole-fat milk consumption have a greater decline in global cognitive function (ß: -4.71, 95% CI: -8.74 to -0.69, p-trend = 0.020 and ß: -6.64, 95% CI: -10.81 to -2.47, p-trend = 0.002, respectively) compared to those in the lowest tertile. No associations are observed between low fat milk, yogurt, cheese or fermented dairy consumption, and changes in cognitive performance. CONCLUSION: Results suggest there are no clear prospective associations between consumption of most commonly consumed dairy products and cognition, although there may be an association with a greater rate of cognitive decline over a 2-year period in older adults at high cardiovascular disease risk for whole-fat milk.

Obesity-related glomerulopathy: Current approaches and future perspectives.

Obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) is a silent comorbidity which is increasing in incidence as the obesity epidemic escalates. ORG is associated with serious health consequences including chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and increased mortality. Although the pathogenic mechanisms involved in the development of ORG are not fully understood, glomerular hemodynamic changes, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) overactivation, insulin-resistance, inflammation and ectopic lipid accumulation seem to play a major role. Despite albuminuria being commonly used for the non-invasive evaluation of ORG, promising biomarkers of early kidney injury that are emerging, as well as new approaches with proteomics and metabolomics, might permit an earlier diagnosis of this disease. In addition, the assessment of ectopic kidney fat by renal imaging could be a useful tool to detect and evaluate the progression of ORG. Weight loss interventions appear to be effective in ORG, although large-scale trials are needed. RAAS blockade has a renoprotective effect in patients with ORG, but even so, a significant proportion of patients with ORG will eventually progress to ESRD despite therapeutic efforts. It is noteworthy that certain antidiabetic agents such as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) could be useful in the treatment of ORG through different pleiotropic effects. In this article, we review current approaches and future perspectives in the care and treatment of ORG.

Predictive Role of Gut Microbiota in Weight Loss Achievement after Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery induces changes in gut microbiota that have been suggested to contribute to weight loss and metabolic improvement. However, whether preoperative gut microbiota composition could predict response to bariatric surgery has not yet been elucidated. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-six patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy were classified according to the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) 1 year after surgery in the responder group: >50%EWL (n=50) and the nonresponder group: <50%EWL (n=26). Patients were evaluated before surgery, and 3 months and 1 year after surgery. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed before surgery (n=76) and 3 months after bariatric surgery (n=40). RESULTS: Diversity analysis did not show differences between groups before surgery or 3 months after surgery. Before surgery, there were differences in the abundance of members belonging to Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla (nonresponder group: enriched in Bacteroidaceae, Bacteroides, Bacteroides uniformis, Alistipes finegoldii, Alistipes alistipes, Dorea formicigenerans, and Ruminococcus gnavus. Responder group: enriched in Peptostreptococcaceae, Gemmiger, Gemiger formicilis, Barnesiella, Prevotellaceae, and Prevotella; linear discriminant analysis >2; p < 0.05). Prevotella-to-Bacteroides ratio was significantly lower in the nonresponder group compared to the responder group (p = 0.048). After surgery, the responder group showed an enrichment in taxa that have been shown to have beneficial effects on host metabolism. Before surgery, PICRUSt analysis showed an enrichment in pathways involved in the biosynthesis components of the O-antigen polysaccharideunits in lipopolysaccharides in the nonresponder group. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative gut microbiota could have an impact on bariatric surgery outcomes. Prevotella-to-Bacteroides ratio could be used as a predictive tool for weight loss trajectory. Early after surgery, patients who experienced successful weight loss showed an enrichment in taxa related to beneficial effects on host metabolism.

Phase angle and standardized phase angle from bioelectrical impedance measurements as a prognostic factor for mortality at 90 days in patients with COVID-19: A longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Severe acute COVID-19 has taken on pandemic proportions with growing interest in identification of prognostic factors for mortality. Standardized bioelectrical impedance (BI) phase angle (SPhA), which is PhA adjusted by age and sex, has been related to mortality in patients with several diseases but never investigated in COVID-19. Inflammation, a consequence of COVID-19 infection, affects fluid status (hydration) and can be identified with PhA. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive role of PhA on 90 days survival of adults with COVID-19. METHODS: We studied 127 consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19. BI measurements determined with a 50 kHz phase-sensitive BI device, body composition parameters and laboratory markers were evaluated as predictors of mortality. RESULTS: Non-surviving COVID-19 patients had significantly lower PhA and SPhA values (p < 0.001) and increased hydration (p < 0.001) compared to surviving patients. Patients in the lowest SPhA quartile had increased (p < 0.001) mortality and hospital stay, hyperhydration (p < 0.001), increased inflammation biomarkers [CRP (p < 0.001)], decreased nutritional parameters: body mass cell index [BCMI (p < 0.001) albumin (p < 0.001)], and reduced other biomarkers [D-dimer (p = 0.002)]. Multivariate analysis (Cox regression) revealed that PhA and hydration status, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia or heart disease, were associated (p < 0.001) with increased mortality. The hazard ratio was 2.48 (95% CI, 1.60-3.84, p < 0.001) for PhA and 1.12 (95% CI, 1.04-1.20, p = 0.003) for hydration percentage. PhA <3.95° was the cut-off for predicting mortality in acute COVID-19 with 93.8% sensitivity and 66.7% specificity. PhA offers greater sensitivity as a predictive prognostic test at admission, compared to the established analytical parameters of poor prognosis (CRP, lymphocytes, prealbumin). CONCLUSIONS: Low PhA (<3.95°), independent of age, sex, BMI, and comorbidities, is a significant predictor of mortality risk in COVID-19. These findings suggest that the evaluation of body composition with single-frequency phase-sensitive BI measurements should be included in the routine clinical assessment of COVID-19 patients at hospital admission to identify patients at increased mortality risk.

Effect on an Oral Nutritional Supplement with ß-Hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate and Vitamin D on Morphofunctional Aspects, Body Composition, and Phase Angle in Malnourished Patients.

This is a retrospective study of data from clinical practice to observe the effect of a high-calorie, high-protein oral nutritional supplement (ONS) with ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) on nutritional status, body weight, and muscle-related parameters in 283 adult patients with or at risk of malnutrition under standard of care, 63% being cancer patients. They were recommended to increase physical activity and energy and protein intake from regular diet plus two servings per day of a specialized ONS enriched with HMB or standard ONS for up to 6 months. Dietary records, adherence and tolerance to ONS, nutritional status, body composition, handgrip strength, and blood analysis at the beginning and the end of the intervention were recorded. This program improved nutritional status from 100% malnourished or at risk of malnutrition at baseline to 80% well-nourished at final visit. It also increased body weight by 3.6-3.8 kg, fat-free mass by 0.9 to 1.3 kg, and handgrip strength by 4.7 to 6.2 kg. In a subgroup of patients (n = 43), phase angle (PhA), and body cell mass (BCM) increased only in the patients receiving the ONS enriched with HMB (0.95 (0.13) vs. -0.36 (0.4), and 2.98 (0.5) vs. -0.6 (1.5) kg, mean difference (SE) from baseline for PhA and BCM, respectively), suggesting the potential efficacy of this supplement on muscle health.

Impact of Genetic Polymorphism on Response to Therapy in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

In the last decades, the global prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has reached pandemic proportions with derived major health and socioeconomic consequences; this tendency is expected to be further aggravated in the coming years. Obesity, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes mellitus, sedentary lifestyle, increased caloric intake and genetic predisposition constitute the main risk factors associated with the development and progression of the disease. Importantly, the interaction between the inherited genetic background and some unhealthy dietary patterns has been postulated to have an essential role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Weight loss through lifestyle modifications is considered the cornerstone of the treatment for NAFLD and the inter-individual variability in the response to some dietary approaches may be conditioned by the presence of different single nucleotide polymorphisms. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on the influence of the association between genetic susceptibility and dietary habits in NAFLD pathophysiology, as well as the role of gene polymorphism in the response to lifestyle interventions and the potential interaction between nutritional genomics and other emerging therapies for NAFLD, such as bariatric surgery and several pharmacologic agents.

Heart Failure in Type 1 Diabetes: A Complication of Concern? A Narrative Review.

Heart failure (HF) has been a hot topic in diabetology in the last few years, mainly due to the central role of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (iSGLT2) in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and heart failure. It is well known that HF is a common complication in diabetes. However, most of the knowledge about it and the evidence of cardiovascular safety trials with antidiabetic drugs refer to type 2 diabetes (T2D). The epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of HF in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is still not well studied, though there are emerging data about it since life expectancy for T1D has increased in the last decades and there are more elderly patients with T1D. The association of T1D and HF confers a worse prognosis than in T2D, thus it is important to investigate the characteristics, risk factors, and pathophysiology of this disease in order to effectively design prevention strategies and therapeutic tools.

Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy Affect the Gut Microbiota and Ghrelin Levels.

Background: Antibiotic therapy used to eradicate Helicobacter pylori has been associated with changes in plasma ghrelin and alterations in the gut microbiota. On the other hand, changes in ghrelin levels have been related to changes in gut microbiota composition. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between changes in the gut microbiota and ghrelin levels in H. pylori infected patients who received antibiotic treatment for its eradication. Methods: A prospective case-control study that included forty H. pylori-positive patients who received eradication therapy (omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin) and twenty healthy H. pylori antigen-negative participants. Patients were evaluated, including clinical, anthropometric and dietary variables, before and 2 months after treatment. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (IlluminaMiSeq). Results: Changes in gut microbiota profiles and decrease in ghrelin levels were identified after H. pylori eradication treatment. Gut bacteria such as Bifidobacterium longum, Bacteroides, Prevotella, Parabacteroides distasonis, and RS045 have been linked to ghrelin levels fasting and/or post meals. Changes in the abundance of Lachnospiraceae, its genus Blautia, as well as Prevotella stercorea, and Megasphaera have been inversely associated with changes in ghrelin after eradication treatment. Conclusions: Eradication treatment for H. pylori produces changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota and ghrelin levels. The imbalance between lactate producers such as Blautia, and lactate consumers such as Megasphaera, Lachnospiraceae, or Prevotella, could trigger changes related to ghrelin levels under the alteration of the eradication therapy used for H. pylori. In addition, acetate producing bacteria such as B. longum, Bacteroides, and P. distasonis could also play an important role in ghrelin regulation.

Gut Microbiota: The Missing Link Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Metabolic Disorders?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative bacterium that infects approximately 4.4 billion individuals worldwide. Although the majority of infected individuals remain asymptomatic, this bacterium colonizes the gastric mucosa causing the development of various clinical conditions as peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis and gastric adenocarcinomas and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas, but complications are not limited to gastric ones. Extradigestive pathologies, including metabolic disturbances such as diabetes, obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, have also been associated with H. pylori infection. However, the underlying mechanisms connecting H. pylori with extragastric metabolic diseases needs to be clarified. Notably, the latest studies on the topic have confirmed that H. pylori infection modulates gut microbiota in humans. Damage in the gut bacterial community (dysbiosis) has been widely related to metabolic dysregulation by affecting adiposity, host energy balance, carbohydrate metabolism, and hormonal modulation, among others. Taking into account that Type 2 diabetic patients are more prone to be H. pylori positive, gut microbiota emerges as putative key factor responsible for this interaction. In this regard, the therapy of choice for H. pylori eradication, based on proton pump inhibitor combined with two or more antibiotics, also alters gut microbiota composition, but consequences on metabolic health of the patients has been scarcely explored. Recent studies from our group showed that, despite decreasing gut bacterial diversity, conventional H. pylori eradication therapy is related to positive changes in glucose and lipid profiles. The mechanistic insights explaining these effects should also be addressed in future research. This review will deal with the role of gut microbiota as the linking factor between H. pylori infection and metabolic diseases, and discussed the impact that gut bacterial modulation by H. pylori eradication treatment can also have in host's metabolism. For this purpose, new evidence from the latest human studies published in more recent years will be analyzed.

Factors Related to Weight Loss Maintenance in the Medium-Long Term after Bariatric Surgery: A Review.

Despite bariatric surgery being the most effective treatment for obesity, some individuals do not respond adequately, especially in the long term. Identifying the predictors of correct weight maintenance in the medium (from 1 to 3 years after surgery) and long term (from 3 years and above) is of vital importance to reduce failure after bariatric surgery; therefore, we summarize the evidence about certain factors, among which we highlight surgical technique, psychological factors, physical activity, adherence to diet, gastrointestinal hormones or neurological factors related to appetite control. We conducted a search in PubMed focused on the last five years (2015-2021). Main findings are as follows: despite Roux-en-Y gastric bypass being more effective in the long term, sleeve gastrectomy shows a more beneficial effectiveness-complications balance; pre-surgical psychological and behavioral evaluation along with post-surgical treatment improve long-term surgical outcomes; physical activity programs after bariatric surgery, in addition to continuous and comprehensive care interventions regarding diet habits, improve weight loss maintenance, but it is necessary to improve adherence; the impact of bariatric surgery on the gut-brain axis seems to influence weight maintenance. In conclusion, although interesting findings exist, the evidence is contradictory in some places, and long-term clinical trials are necessary to draw more robust conclusions.