Ultrasound Cut-Off Values for Rectus Femoris for Detecting Sarcopenia in Patients with Nutritional Risk.

BACKGROUND: A nationwide, prospective, multicenter, cohort study (the Disease-Related caloric-protein malnutrition EChOgraphy (DRECO) study) was designed to assess the usefulness of ultrasound of the rectus femoris for detecting sarcopenia in hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition and to define cut-off values of ultrasound measures. METHODS: Patients at risk of malnutrition according to the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) underwent handgrip dynamometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and rectus femoris ultrasound studies. European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria were used to define categories of sarcopenia (at risk, probable, confirmed, severe). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were used to determine the optimal diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of cut-off points of the ultrasound measures for the detection of risk of sarcopenia and probable, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia. RESULTS: A total of 1000 subjects were included and 991 of them (58.9% men, mean age 58.5 years) were evaluated. Risk of sarcopenia was detected in 9.6% patients, probable sarcopenia in 14%, confirmed sarcopenia in 9.7%, and severe sarcopenia in 3.9%, with significant differences in the distribution of groups between men and women (p < 0.0001). The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris showed a significantly positive correlation with body cell mass of BIA and handgrip strength, and a significant negative correlation with TUG. Cut-off values were similar within each category of sarcopenia, ranging between 2.40 cm2 and 3.66 cm2 for CSA, 32.57 mm and 40.21 mm for the X-axis, and 7.85 mm and 10.4 mm for the Y-axis. In general, these cut-off values showed high sensitivities, particularly for the categories of confirmed and severe sarcopenia, with male patients also showing better sensitivities than women. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia in hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition was high. Cut-off values for the better sensitivities and specificities of ultrasound measures of the rectus femoris are established. The use of ultrasound of the rectus femoris could be used for the prediction of sarcopenia and be useful to integrate nutritional study into real clinical practice.

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.

Comparison of computed tomography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the evaluation of body composition in patients with obesity.

Objective: a) To evaluate the accuracy of the pre-existing equations (based on cm2 provided by CT images), to estimate in kilograms (Kg) the body composition (BC) in patients with obesity (PwO), by comparison with Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). b) To evaluate the accuracy of a new approach (based on both cm2 and Hounsfield Unit parameters provided by CT images), using an automatic software and artificial intelligence to estimate the BC in PwO, by comparison with DXA. Methods: Single-centre cross-sectional study including consecutive PwO, matched by gender with subjects with normal BMI. All the subjects underwent BC assessment by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and skeletal-CT at L3 vertebrae. CT images were processed using FocusedON-BC software. Three different models were tested. Model 1 and 2, based on the already existing equations, estimate the BC in Kg based on the tissue area (cm2) in the CT images. Model 3, developed in this study, includes as additional variables, the tissue percentage and its average Hounsfield unit. Results: 70 subjects (46 PwO and 24 with normal BMI) were recruited. Significant correlations for BC were obtained between the three models and DXA. Model 3 showed the strongest correlation with DXA (r= 0.926, CI95% [0.835-0.968], p<0.001) as well as the best agreement based on Bland - Altman plots. Conclusion: This is the first study showing that the BC assessment based on skeletal CT images analyzed by automatic software coupled with artificial intelligence, is accurate in PwO, by comparison with DXA. Furthermore, we propose a new equation that estimates both the tissue quantity and quality, that showed higher accuracy compared with those currently used, both in PwO and subjects with normal BMI.

The Impact of the Length of the Common Intestinal Loop on Metabolic and Nutritional Outcomes of Patients with Severe Obesity Who Undergo of Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy: 5-Year Follow-Up.

Introduction: Single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) is a recent bariatric surgery technique, highly effective in terms of weight loss. Nevertheless, data regarding the impact of SADI-S at mid-long term (after >5 years of follow-up) are scarce. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of lengths of common intestinal loop on the evolution of patients with morbid obesity (MO), who undergo SADI-S. Materials and Methods: Descriptive study (case series), including patients with MO who underwent SADI-S procedure between January 2012 and December 2015 with at least 5 years of follow-up. Patients were classified as "Old-SADI-S" (OS) when length of the common alimentary loop was <2.5 m and "New-SADI-S" (NS) when length was >2.5 m. Clinical parameters and nutritional parameters were included. Results: Twenty-nine cases were included (17 OS; 12 NS), 86.2% women and mean age 46.7 ± 1 years. After 12 months, OS had significantly lower body mass index (29.7 ± 4.8 kg/m2 versus 32.0 ± 5.1 kg/m2, P = .01), without significant differences in the resolution of comorbidities. Nevertheless, OS group had severe malabsorptive complications requiring surgical conversion of OS to NS in 7 patients after 8 months. At 5 years of follow-up, no significant difference was seen between the two groups and resolution of comorbidities was maintained during this period of time. Conclusions: SADI-S is effective in terms of weight loss and resolution of comorbidities at 5 years of follow-up, regardless of the length of the common intestinal loop. However, a common intestinal loop <2.5 m was associated with severe malabsorptive complications that determined the surgical re-conversion in all cases.

Obesidad sarcopénica: un nuevo reto en la clínica práctica / Sarcopenic obesity: a new challenge in the clinical practice

La obesidad sarcopénica se ha asociado con mayor discapacidad y morbimortalidad. Sin embargo, todavía existen pocos estudios sobre el papel de la sarcopenia en las comorbilidades asociadas a la obesidad en individuos con edad inferior a 65 años. La etiopatogenia es multifactorial pero parece que los mediadores inflamatorios y la resistencia a la insulina desempeñan un papel relevante. Aunque no existe un consenso claro sobre su definición y métodos diagnósticos, hay un creciente interés por disponer de biomarcadores que ayuden a su detección y seguimiento. Respecto al tratamiento, se postula el abordaje multimodal, que básicamente se fundamenta en recomendaciones dietéticas, ejercicio y eventualmente cirugía bariátrica

Sarcopenic obesity has been associated with greater disability, morbidity and mortality. However, at present, there are few studies regarding the role of sarcopenia in the evolution of the comorbidities associated with obesity in individuals less than 65 years of age. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and uncompletely ilucidated, but it seems that inflammatory mediators and insulin resistance play an important role. Although there is no clear consensus on its definition and diagnostic methods, there is a growing interest in finding biomarkers useful for the detection and monitoring. Regarding the treatment, a multimodal approach is recomended, based on dietary recommendations, exercise and eventually bariatric surgery

Sarcopenic obesity: a new challenge in the clinical practice. / Obesidad sarcopénica: un nuevo reto en la clínica práctica.

Sarcopenic obesity has been associated with greater disability, morbidity and mortality. However, at present, there are few studies regarding the role of sarcopenia in the evolution of the comorbidities associated with obesity in individuals less than 65 years of age. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and uncompletely ilucidated, but it seems that inflammatory mediators and insulin resistance play an important role. Although there is no clear consensus on its definition and diagnostic methods, there is a growing interest in finding biomarkers useful for the detection and monitoring. Regarding the treatment, a multimodal approach is recomended, based on dietary recommendations, exercise and eventually bariatric surgery.