Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor influences body composition in adults with cystic fibrosis: a fully automated CT-based analysis.

A poor nutritional status is associated with worse pulmonary function and survival in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). CF transmembrane conductance regulator modulators can improve pulmonary function and body weight, but more data is needed to evaluate its effects on body composition. In this retrospective study, a pre-trained deep-learning network was used to perform a fully automated body composition analysis on chest CTs from 66 adult pwCF before and after receiving elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy. Muscle and adipose tissues were quantified and divided by bone volume to obtain body size-adjusted ratios. After receiving ETI therapy, marked increases were observed in all adipose tissue ratios among pwCF, including the total adipose tissue ratio (+ 46.21%, p < 0.001). In contrast, only small, but statistically significant increases of the muscle ratio were measured in the overall study population (+ 1.63%, p = 0.008). Study participants who were initially categorized as underweight experienced more pronounced effects on total adipose tissue ratio (p = 0.002), while gains in muscle ratio were equally distributed across BMI categories (p = 0.832). Our findings suggest that ETI therapy primarily affects adipose tissues, not muscle tissue, in adults with CF. These effects are primarily observed among pwCF who were initially underweight. Our findings may have implications for the future nutritional management of pwCF.

Coronary inflammation based on pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation in type 2 diabetic mellitus: effect of diabetes management.

BACKGROUND: Coronary inflammation plays crucial role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced cardiovascular complications. Both glucose-lowering drug interventions (GLDIS) and glycemic control (GC) status potentially correlate coronary inflammation, as indicated by changes in pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation, and thus influence cardiovascular risk. This study evaluated the impact of GLDIS and GC status on PCAT attenuation in T2DM patients. METHODS: This retrospective study collected clinical data and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) images of 1,342 patients, including 547 T2DM patients and 795 non-T2DM patients in two tertiary hospitals. T2DM patients were subgroup based on two criteria: (1) GC status: well: HbA1c < 7%, moderate: 7 ≤ HbA1c ≤ 9%, and poor: HbA1c > 9%; (2) GLDIS and non-GLDIS. PCAT attenuations of the left anterior descending artery (LAD-PCAT), left circumflex artery (LCX-PCAT), and right coronary artery (RCA-PCAT) were measured. Propensity matching (PSM) was used to cross compare PCAT attenuation of non-T2DM and all subgroups of T2DM patients. Linear regressions were conducted to evaluate the impact of GC status and GLDIS on PCAT attenuation in T2DM patients. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in RCA-PCAT and LCX-PCAT between poor GC-T2DM and non-T2DM patients (LCX: - 68.75 ± 7.59 HU vs. - 71.93 ± 7.25 HU, p = 0.008; RCA: - 74.37 ± 8.44 HU vs. - 77.2 ± 7.42 HU, p = 0.026). Higher PCAT attenuation was observed in LAD-PCAT, LCX-PCAT, and RCA-PCAT in non-GLDIS T2DM patients compared with GLDIS T2DM patients (LAD: - 78.11 ± 8.01 HU vs. - 75.04 ± 8.26 HU, p = 0.022; LCX: - 71.10 ± 8.13 HU vs. - 68.31 ± 7.90 HU, p = 0.037; RCA: - 78.17 ± 8.64 HU vs. - 73.35 ± 9.32 HU, p = 0.001). In the linear regression, other than sex and duration of diabetes, both metformin and acarbose were found to be significantly associated with lower LAD-PCAT (metformin: ß coefficient = - 2.476, p=0.021; acarbose: ß coefficient = - 1.841, p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Inadequate diabetes management, including poor GC and lack of GLDIS, may be associated with increased coronary artery inflammation in T2DM patients, as indicated by PCAT attenuation on CCTA, leading to increased cardiovascular risk. This finding could help healthcare providers identify T2DM patients with increased cardiovascular risk, develop improved cardiovascular management programs, and reduce subsequent cardiovascular related mortality.

Gestational diabetes mellitus early prediction by maternal body fat index: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the performance of maternal body fat index (BFI) assessed during the first 20+6 weeks among 138 pregnant women in an ultrasound outpatient clinic as a predictor of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) later in pregnancy. METHOD: Maternal visceral and subcutaneous fat was measured with a convex ultrasound probe placed in two locations on the maternal abdominal surface: the first in the mid-sagittal epigastric region, visualising epigastric fat, and the second 2cm above the maternal umbilical scar, visualising periumbilical fat. Ultrasound callipers measured the distance from dermal edge to the linea alba and after from the linea alba to the anterior hepatic surface (epigastric fat). Periumbilical fat was measured from the dermal edge to the linea alba and after from the linea alba to the anterior aortic surface. The BFI formula was [visceral adipose tissue (mm)×subcutaneous adipose tissue (mm)]/maternal height (cm). RESULTS: The best thresholds for predicting GDM outcome for epigastric and periumbilical BFI were 1.2 and 4.8, respectively. Odds ratio, sensitivity and specificity were 5.88 (95% CI 1.86-18.6), 80.9%, 58.0% for the epigastric site and 6.31 (95% CI 1.73-22.94), 84.2%, 54.2% for the periumbilical site. Pre-pregnancy body mass index compatible with adult obesity shows inadequate predictive performance for GDM outcome. Only epigastric BFI above 1.2 maintained statistical significance for GDM in the logistic regression analysis, when compared to periumbilical BFI above 4.8. CONCLUSION: Epigastric BFI above 1.2 during the first half of pregnancy may help identify women at risk of developing GDM later in pregnancy.

White adipose tissue distribution and amount are associated with increased white matter connectivity.

Obesity represents a significant public health concern and is linked to various comorbidities and cognitive impairments. Previous research indicates that elevated body mass index (BMI) is associated with structural changes in white matter (WM). However, a deeper characterization of body composition is required, especially considering the links between abdominal obesity and metabolic dysfunction. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the relationship between obesity and WM connectivity by directly assessing the amount and distribution of fat tissue. Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was employed to evaluate total adipose tissue (TAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), while MR liver spectroscopy measured liver fat content in 63 normal-weight, overweight, and obese males. WM connectivity was quantified using microstructure-informed tractography. Connectome-based predictive modeling was used to predict body composition metrics based on WM connectomes. Our analysis revealed a positive dependency between BMI, TAT, SAT, and WM connectivity in brain regions involved in reward processing and appetite regulation, such as the insula, nucleus accumbens, and orbitofrontal cortex. Increased connectivity was also observed in cognitive control and inhibition networks, including the middle frontal gyrus and anterior cingulate cortex. No significant associations were found between WM connectivity and VAT or liver fat. Our findings suggest that altered neural communication between these brain regions may affect cognitive processes, emotional regulation, and reward perception in individuals with obesity, potentially contributing to weight gain. While our study did not identify a link between WM connectivity and VAT or liver fat, further investigation of the role of various fat depots and metabolic factors in brain networks is required to advance obesity prevention and treatment approaches.

Association of epicardial adipose tissue with early structural and functional cardiac changes in Type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulated epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) may contribute to the development of heart failure in Type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to evaluate the associations between EAT volume and composition with imaging markers of subclinical cardiac dysfunction in people with T2D and no prevalent cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Prospective case-control study enrolling participants with and without T2D and no known cardiovascular disease. Two hundred and fifteen people with T2D (median age 63 years, 60 % male) and thirty-nine non-diabetics (median age 59 years, 62 % male) were included. Using computed tomography (CT), total EAT volume and mean CT attenuation, as well as, low attenuation (Hounsfield unit range -190 to -90) EAT volume were quantified by a deep learning method and volumes indexed to body surface area. Associations with cardiac magnetic resonance-derived left ventricular (LV) volumes and strain indices were assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: T2D participants had higher LV mass/volume ratio (median 0.89 g/mL [0.82-0.99] vs 0.79 g/mL [0.75-0.89]) and lower global longitudinal strain (GLS; 16.1 ± 2.3 % vs 17.2 ± 2.2 %). Total indexed EAT volume correlated inversely with mean CT attenuation. Low attenuation indexed EAT volume was 2-fold higher (18.8 cm3/m2 vs. 9.4 cm3/m2, p < 0.001) in T2D and independently associated with LV mass/volume ratio (ß = 0.002, p = 0.01) and GLS (ß = -0.03, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Higher EAT volumes seen in T2D are associated with a lower mean CT attenuation. Low attenuation indexed EAT volume is independently, but only weakly, associated with markers of subclinical cardiac dysfunction in T2D.

Association between metformin treatment and coronary artery inflammation based on pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. The role of metformin in reducing cardiovascular events is well-established, but its effect on coronary artery inflammation in T2DM patients is still unclear. In this study, we evaluated 547 T2DM patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) at Wuhan Central Hospital. Using propensity score matching, we compared the attenuation of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT), an imaging marker of coronary artery inflammation, between patients treated with and without metformin. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the influence of metformin on PCAT attenuation. The results of the propensity-matched analysis showed that patients on metformin therapy had significantly lower PCAT attenuation, indicating reduced coronary inflammation. Specifically, the PCAT attenuation in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and right coronary artery (RCA) was lower in the metformin group compared to the non-metformin group. Metformin use was independently associated with decreased LAD-PCAT attenuation in the multivariate regression analysis. The association of metformin with PCAT attenuation differed significantly in populations analyzed in subgroups of patients with obesity and chronic kidney disease. In conclusion, our study shows a preliminary signal that metformin therapy may be associated with decreased coronary artery inflammation in T2DM patients, as indicated by PCAT attenuation on CCTA. And this correlation may vary depending on the patient population. This initial finding suggests that PCAT attenuation could be potentially used as an imaging biomarker to monitor the anti-inflammatory effects of medication.

BODY FAT COMPOSITION IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SKINFOLDS AND ULTRASONOGRAPHY.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are associated with important changes in nutritional status. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare body fat composition between two anthropometric methods: skinfolds and ultrasonography, in patients with IBD. METHODS: Single-center cross-sectional study with IBD patients in remission or active disease. For the agreement analysis between the body fat assessment methods, the Bland Altman method was used. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients with IBD were included, 75 with Crohn's disease and 26 with ulcerative colitis. Approximately 56% of the patients with Crohn's disease and 65.4% of those with ulcerative colitis had a body fat composition above normal levels, with no significant difference between the diseases (P=0.63). The Bland-Altman concordance analysis showed that the methods for assessing the percentage of fat by the adipometer and ultrasound were not in full agreement (P=0.001), despite both presented good correlation (CC 0.961; P=0.000). CONCLUSION: The analysis of body fat percentage in patients with IBD was different between the skinfolds and ultrasound. Both methods can be used to assess the of body fat percentage of patients with IBD. However, monitoring of body fat sequentially and longitudinally should always be performed using the same method throughout the disease course. Prospective longitudinal studies are warranted to precisely define the role of these two methods of measuring body composition in patients with IBD. BACKGROUND: • Inflammatory bowel diseases are associated with changes in nutritional status. BACKGROUND: • Skinfolds measurements and ultrasound are valid methods for assessing body composition and body fat. BACKGROUND: • These methods despite comparable are not identical and are useful in clinical nutritional practices in IBD.

Comparison of the accuracy of commercial two-point and multi-echo Dixon MRI for quantification of fat in liver, paravertebral muscles, and vertebral bone marrow.

PURPOSE: Excess fat accumulation contributes significantly to metabolic dysfunction and diseases. This study aims to systematically compare the accuracy of commercially available Dixon techniques for quantification of fat fraction in liver, skeletal musculature, and vertebral bone marrow (BM) of healthy individuals, investigating biases and sex-specific influences. METHOD: 100 healthy White individuals (50 women) underwent abdominal MRI using two-point and multi-echo Dixon sequences. Fat fraction (FF), proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and T2* values were calculated for liver, paravertebral muscles (PVM) and vertebral BM (Th8-L5). Agreement and systematic deviations were assessed using linear correlation and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: High correlations between FF and PDFF were observed in liver (r = 0.98 for women; r = 0.96 for men), PVM (r = 0.92 for women; r = 0.93 for men) and BM (r = 0.97 for women; r = 0.95 for men). Relative deviations between FF and PDFF in liver (18.92 % for women; 13.32 % for men) and PVM (1.96 % for women; 11.62 % for men) were not significant. Relative deviations in BM were significant (38.13 % for women; 27.62 % for men). Bias correction using linear models reduced discrepancies. T2* times were significantly shorter in BM (8.72 ms for women; 7.26 ms for men) compared to PVM (13.45 ms for women; 13.62 ms for men) and liver (29.47 ms for women; 26.35 ms for men). CONCLUSION: While no significant differences were observed for liver and PVM, systematic errors in BM FF estimation using two-point Dixon imaging were observed. These discrepancies - mainly resulting from organ-specific T2* times - have to be considered when applying two-point Dixon approaches for assessment of fat content. As suitable correction tools, linear models could provide added value in large-scale epidemiological cohort studies. Sex-specific differences in T2* should be considered.

Validity and reliability of portable A-mode ultrasound in measuring body fat percentage: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

The present Systematic Review with Meta-analysis study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Portable A-mode Ultrasound (P-US) for measuring body fat percentage (BF%). Only studies with participants of both genders which had assessed BF% using P-US compared to the reference standard were selected. Publications up until May 31, 2022 were searched in the MEDLINE, COCHRANE, Science Direct, Web of Science, LILACS, SciELO, PEDro, SPORT Discus, CINAHL and SCOPUS databases. QUADAS-2 was used to assess the risk of bias in the validity studies and QAREL was used for the methodological quality of reliability studies. The JAMOVI software program synthesized the results, from which the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (r) or the square root of the Multiple Linear Regression Determination Coefficient (R2) were extracted for the validity studies, and the Mean of Errors of the Bland-Altman Test (ME) and the Confidence Interval (95%CI) with Upper and Lower Limits for the reliability studies. A total of 13 studies were included, generating 26 results for the quantitative synthesis, 14 for validity and 12 for reliability. Regarding the validity results, a strong correlation was identified between the equipment (r = 0.870 [0.845-0.895], P<0.001), with moderate and true heterogeneity (I2 = 53.47%, P = 0.003), presenting publication bias. A small effect size was identified regarding the reliability results, overestimating the results due to chance between the devices (ME = 0.207 [-0.798-1.212], P = 0.686), with low heterogeneity also due to chance (I2 = 19.44%, P = 0.253), with no publication bias. All of the evaluated studies showed some violation of the instruments, confirming the high risk of bias and the low methodological quality. There is concern with heterogeneity for the validity results explained by the subgroups' analysis. The P-US associated with anthropometric perimeters satisfactorily measures the BF% with samples greater than 100 participants, and males. The results in the reliability assessment show high agreement and high variability, greatly expanding the confidence interval, which should be viewed with reservations. This review received financial support from the Brazilian Air Force. The study was registered with PROSPERO under the number CRD42020166617.

Analysis of Nonweightbearing MRI Fat Pad Thickness Under Central Metatarsals in Patients With and Without Metatarsalgia.

BACKGROUND: Metatarsalgia is a common diagnosis for patients with forefoot pain. Many have proposed metatarsal fat pad atrophy is a cause of metatarsalgia and therefore have suggested fat grafting instead of distal metatarsal osteotomies to treat metatarsalgia. For fat grafting to be a viable treatment, fat pad atrophy should correlate with metatarsalgia. This study looked to determine the relationship between metatarsal fat pad thickness and metatarsalgia and the correlation between metatarsal fat pad thickness and patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with metatarsalgia and those with foot or ankle osteoarthritis who had a nonweightbearing MRI performed between February 1, 2021, and March 1, 2023. Data collected included demographics, PROMIS scores, metatarsal fat pad thickness in the second and third rays of the affected foot, and thinnest area on coronal section, measured on MRI. Student t test was used to compare continuous variables, whereas the χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables. Multivariable linear regression models were used to control for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients were included in this study. Patients with metatarsalgia were significantly more likely to have a lower body mass index (29.3 vs 32.0, P = .03) than patients with osteoarthritis, but this finding was not present when controlling for confounding variables. We found no significant difference in fat pad thickness between patients with metatarsalgia vs patients with foot or ankle osteoarthritis (P = .43). We found no correlation between metatarsal fat pad thickness and pain interference (P = .59), physical function (P = .64), or mobility (P = .94) PROMIS scores. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective comparative study of a relatively small cohort we found no significant difference in metatarsal fat pad thickness for patients with metatarsalgia vs patients with foot and ankle osteoarthritis based on nonweightbearing MRI, and no association between metatarsal fat pad thickness and patient-reported outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case control study.

Differentiation of acute coronary syndrome with radiomics of pericoronary adipose tissue.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential values of radiomics signatures of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) in identifying patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: In total, 149, 227, and 244 patients were clinically diagnosed with ACS, chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), and without coronary artery disease (CAD), respectively, and were retrospectively analysed and randomly divided into training and testing cohorts at a 2:1 ratio. From the PCATs of the proximal left anterior descending branch, left circumflex branch, and right coronary artery (RCA), the pericoronary fat attenuation index (FAI) value and radiomics signatures were calculated, among which features closely related to ACS were screened out. The ACS differentiation models AC1, AC2, AC3, AN1, AN2, and AN3 were constructed based on the FAI value of RCA and the final screened out first-order and texture features, respectively. RESULTS: The FAI values were all higher in patients with ACS than in those with CCS and no CAD (all P < .05). For the identification of ACS and CCS, the area-under-the-curve (AUC) values of AC1, AC2, and AC3 were 0.92, 0.94, and 0.91 and 0.91, 0.86, and 0.88 in the training and testing cohorts, respectively. For the identification of ACS and no CAD, the AUC values of AN1, AN2, and AN3 were 0.95, 0.94, and 0.94 and 0.93, 0.87, and 0.89 in the training and testing cohorts, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Identification models constructed based on the radiomics signatures of PCAT are expected to be an effective tool for identifying patients with ACS. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The radiomics signatures of PCAT and FAI values are expected to differentiate between patients with ACS, CCS and those without CAD on imaging.

Adipose tissue indices predict prognosis in hodgkin lymphoma.

INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the impact of adipose tissue indices on prognosis of HL. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin Lymphoma were evaluated retrospectively for association with adipose tissue indices (total abdominal tissue volume, radiodensity, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue SUVmax value and prognostic factors for Hodgkin Lymphoma such as IPS-3, IPS-7, stage, sedimentation, progression free and overall survival. RESULTS: For IPS-3, SAT SUVmax and TAAT radiodensity were significantly increased in high-risk patients (2and 3) compared to group 0 and 1. For IPS-7, total abdominal adipose volume was significantly decreased in high-risk patients, SAT SUVmax significantly increased in high-risk patients and decreased in low-risk patients. In addition, SAT SUVmax was significantly increased in patients with high sedimentation rate, with B symptoms and who passed away during follow-up. SAT SUVmax showed moderate positive correlation with sedimentation, IPS-3, IPS-7, and stage. In addition, it was observed that TAAT radiodensity and SAT SUVmax were significantly better for determining prognosis than other adipose tissue indices. Roc analysis showed that the diagnostic value of all adipose tissue indices in predicting IPS-3 and IPS-7 prognoses were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: SAT SUVmax and TAAT radiodensity were two new and independent markers with diagnostic value in predicting prognosis.

Effects of high-intensity training on fatty infiltration in paraspinal muscles in elderly males with osteosarcopenia - the randomized controlled FrOST study.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcopenia is a common geriatric syndrome with an increasing prevalence with age, leading to secondary diseases and complex consequences such as falls and fractures, as well as higher mortality and frailty rates. There is a great need for prevention and treatment strategies. METHODS: In this analysis, we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from the randomised controlled FrOST trial, which enrolled community-dwelling osteosarcopenic men aged > 72 years randomly allocated to 16 months of twice-weekly high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) or a non-training control group. MR Dixon imaging was used to quantify the effects of HIRT on muscle fat infiltration in the paraspinal muscles, determined as changes in muscle tissue, fat faction and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) in the erector spinae and psoas major muscles. Intention-to-treat analysis with multiple imputation was used to analyse the data set. RESULTS: After 16 months of intervention, 15 men from the HIRT and 16 men from the CG were included in the MRI analysis. In summary, no positive effects on the fat infiltration of the erector spinae and psoas major muscles were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The previously reported positive effects on lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) suggest that mechanotransduction induces tropic effects on bone, but that fat infiltration of the erector spinae and psoas major muscles are either irreversible or, for some unknown reason, resistant to exercise. Because of the beneficial effects on spinal BMD, HIRT is still recommended in osteosarcopenic older men, but further research is needed to confirm appropriate age-specific training exercises for the paraspinal muscles. The potential of different MRI sequences to quantify degenerative and metabolic changes in various muscle groups must be better characterized. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: FrOST was approved by the University Ethics Committee of the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (number 67_15b and 4464b) and the Federal Office for Radiation Projection (BfS, number Z 5-2,246,212 - 2017-002). Furthermore, it fully complies with the Declaration of Helsinki and is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03453463 (05/03/2018). JAMA 310:2191-2194, 2013.

CT Attenuation of Periaortic Adipose Tissue in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Purpose To assess periaortic adipose tissue attenuation at CT angiography in different abdominal aortic aneurysm disease states. Materials and Methods In a retrospective observational study from January 2018 to December 2022, periaortic adipose tissue attenuation was assessed at CT angiography in patients with asymptomatic or symptomatic (including rupture) abdominal aortic aneurysms and controls without aneurysms. Adipose tissue attenuation was measured using semiautomated software in periaortic aneurysmal and nonaneurysmal segments of the abdominal aorta and in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue. Periaortic adipose tissue attenuation values between the three groups were assessed using Student t tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests followed by a multiregression model. Results Eighty-eight individuals (median age, 70 years [IQR, 65-78]; 78 male and 10 female patients) were included: 70 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (40 asymptomatic and 30 symptomatic, including 24 with rupture) and 18 controls. There was no evidence of differences in the periaortic adipose tissue attenuation in the aneurysmal segment in asymptomatic patients versus controls (-81.44 HU ± 7 [SD] vs -83.27 HU ± 9; P = .43) and attenuation in nonaneurysmal segments between asymptomatic patients versus controls (-75.43 HU ± 8 vs -78.81 HU ± 6; P = .08). However, symptomatic patients demonstrated higher periaortic adipose tissue attenuation in both aneurysmal (-57.85 HU ± 7; P < .0001) and nonaneurysmal segments (-58.16 HU ± 8; P < .0001) when compared with the other two groups. Conclusion Periaortic adipose tissue CT attenuation was not increased in stable abdominal aortic aneurysm disease. There was a generalized increase in attenuation in patients with symptomatic disease, likely reflecting the systemic consequences of acute rupture. Keywords: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Periaortic Adipose Tissue Attenuation, CT Angiography ClinicalTrials.gov registration no. NCT02229006 © RSNA, 2024.

Assessment of whole-body and regional body fat using abdominal quantitative computed tomography in Chinese women and men.

BACKGROUND: Being overweight or obese has become a serious public health concern, and accurate assessment of body composition is particularly important. More precise indicators of body fat composition include visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass and total body fat percentage (TBF%). Study objectives included examining the relationships between abdominal fat mass, measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and the whole-body and regional fat masses, measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), as well as to derive equations for the prediction of TBF% using data obtained from multiple QCT slices. METHODS: Whole-body and regional fat percentage were quantified using DXA in Chinese males (n = 68) and females (n = 71) between the ages of 24 and 88. All the participants also underwent abdominal QCT measurement, and their VAT mass and visceral fat volume (VFV) were assessed using QCT and DXA, respectively. RESULTS: DXA-derived TBF% closely correlated with QCT abdominal fat percentage (r = 0.89-0.93 in men and 0.76-0.88 in women). Stepwise regression showed that single-slice QCT data were the best predictors of DXA-derived TBF%, DXA android fat percentage and DXA gynoid fat percentage. Cross-validation analysis showed that TBF% and android fat percentage could be accurately predicted using QCT data in both sexes. There were close correlations between QCT-derived and DXA-derived VFV (r = 0.97 in men and 0.93 in women). CONCLUSION: Clinicians can assess the TBF% and android and gynoid fat percentages of Chinese women and men by analysing existing abdominal CT-derived data using the QCT technique.