Association between anticholinergic drug burden with sarcopenia, anthropometric measurements, and comprehensive geriatric assessment parameters in older adults

Background: Older patients use multiple drugs due to their comorbidities and most of these drugs have anticholinergic drug burden (ADB). We aimed to investigate the association between ADB and sarcopenia, anthropometric measurements, and comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) parameters in older adults

Serum defensin levels in patients with systemic sclerosis

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of skin and lung as well as involvement of kidney, gastrointestinal system and heart. Aetiology and exact mechanism of disease is poorly understood. The association between antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and other diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, pulmoner alveolar proteinosis and psoriasis have been reported. A small number of studies have examined the role of AMPs on autoimmune diseases which has not been studied in scleroderma yet. We aimed to investigate AMP serum levels and their association with disease characteristics of SSc. Methods Forty-two patients (40 female, mean age 42 years) and 38 healthy subjects (32 female, mean age 38 years) were enrolled. For SSc patients, the following data were recorded: disease subset (limited/diffuse), autoantibodies (antinuclear, anti-centromere (ACA), and anti-SCL-70), blood tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP), modified Rodnan skin score, presence and history of digital ulcers, kidney, gastrointestinal disease and lung involvement assessed by computed tomography and pulmonary function tests. Association between serum AMPs and disease characteristics were analysed. Results Twenty-nine of the patients had diffuse (69\%) and 13 of the patients had limited (31\%) systemic sclerosis. Average disease duration was 5.5 years. Pulmonary involvement was detected in 20 patients (47.6\%). Serum concentration of alpha defensin was higher than healthy subjects (563 +/- 415 vs 377 +/- 269 ng/mL, p = 0.02). However, no difference was observed for beta-1 and beta-2 defensins in SSc patients and healthy controls. In sub-group analysis patients with interstitial lung disease had higher levels of alpha defensin than those without lung involvement (684 +/- 473 vs 430 +/- 299 ng/ml, p = 0.04). There was also correlation between alfa defensin serum concentrations and CRP (r = 0.34). Conclusions Alpha defensin levels are increased in scleroderma patients and correlated with lung involvement indicating a role in the pathogenesis of disease

Association of FGF-19 and FGF-21 levels with primary sarcopenia

Aim Serum fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-19 and FGF-21 levels have been reported to be associated with muscle hemostasis. This study aims to explore the relationship between the levels of these markers and sarcopenia. Methods In our single-center, cross-sectional study, patients over 65 years old presenting to the geriatric outpatient clinic were included. Patients with secondary sarcopenia were excluded. The Strength-Assistance with walking-Rising from a chair-Climbing stairs and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire was applied to all patients. Sarcopenia was determined by handgrip strength (HGS), bioelectrical impedance analysis and 6-m walk test. Serum samples were stored at -80 degrees C until measurement. The ELISA method was used to assess FGF-19 and FGF-21 levels. Results In total, 88 patients (54 women) were included. There were 43 patients in the sarcopenia group and 45 patients without sarcopenia in the control group. In those with sarcopenia, FGF-19 was lower (P = 0.04) and FGF-21 was higher (P = 0.021). There was a direct correlation between FGF-19 with SARC-F and HGS (P = 0.04, B = 0.178, P = 0.006, B = 0.447) while FGF-21 was inversely correlated with HGS and positively correlated with 6-m walking time (P = 0.016, B = -0.428, P = 0.004, B = 0.506). Conclusions Our results reveal that low FGF-19 and high FGF-21 may be associated with sarcopenia and this finding could be explained by the impacted muscle strength. Geriatr Gerontol Int center dot center dot; center dot center dot: center dot center dot-center dot center dot Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; center dot center dot: center dot center dot-center dot center dot

The relationship between primary sarcopenia and SARC-F, serum MMP9, TIMP1 levels, and MMP9/TIMP1 ratio in the geriatric patients

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between serum MMP9 (Matrix metalloproteinase), TIMP1 (Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase) levels and MMP9/TIMP1 ratio and primary sarcopenia in geriatric patients, and compare the diagnostic accuracy of such biomarkers with that of the SARC-F score. Methods A total of 88 patients aged 65 years and older were assessed in the study. Comorbidities and geriatric syndromes were determined and patients with secondary sarcopenia were excluded. EWGSOP2 criteria were used as diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia and SARC-F questionnaire was used to find individuals at risk for sarcopenia. Serum MMP9 and TIMP1 levels were analyzed by ELISA method. Results SARC-F, serum MMP9 and MMP9/TIMP1 ratio were significantly higher in the group with sarcopenia compared to the group without sarcopenia (p = 0.001, p = 0.026 and p = 0.006, respectively). In univariate logistic regression analysis, while SARC-F score and MMP9/TIMP1 ratio were significant, MMP9, TIMP1, age and gender were not. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis of the SARC-F score and the MMP9/TIMP1 ratio, it was determined that both of them were associated with sarcopenia [Odds ratio (OR) 1.447 (95%) confidence interval (CI) 1.170-1.791, p = 0.001; OR 1.127, (95%) CI 1.016-1.249, p = 0.023, respectively]. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of SARC-F and MMP9/TIMP1 was 0.703 (p = 0.001, %95 CI 0.594-0.812) and 0.670 (p = 0.006, %95 CI 0.557-0.783), respectively. Conclusion Although this study supports the use of SARC-F questionnaire in daily practice; if SARC-F can't be applicable, the MMP9/TIMP1 ratio could be an alternative choice to the SARC-F

Factors affecting mortality in geriatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19

Background/aim: We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the mortality of patients aged 65 years or older who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19)