Comparison between appendicular skeletal muscle index dxa defined by ewgsop1 and 2 versus bia tengvall criteria among older people admitted to the post-acute geriatric care unit in Italy

This study aims to assess the agreement between the appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) using a single frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to assess criteria. Moreover, we used the European working group on sarcopenia in older people 1 (EWGSOP1), EWGSOP2, and the Tengvall equation to estimate a low prevalence in ASMI (under the cutoff criteria). We examined a sample of 765 elderly individuals (27.8% male and 72.2% female, aged 82 ± 8.2 years). Based on the cutoff identified by Tengvall, EWGSOP1, and EWGSOP2, the results showed that the prevalence of low ASMI in females was 10.1%, 11.4%, and 9.2%, respectively, and 98.1%, 30.5%, and 23.5% in males, respectively. Moreover, low ASMI prevalence under each diagnostic criterion and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. For BMI 25 kg/m2, the ASMI prevalence was 29.0%, 6.6%, and 5.2%. The percentage of agreement and Cohen’s Kappa with the corresponding p-value between Tengvall and EWGSOP1 was 70.1% (p < 0.001). Between Tengvall and EWGSOP2, it was 69.4% (p < 0.001). Between EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2, it was 96.5% (p < 0.001). Regarding gender, low ASMI prevalence in males was higher than in females. Moreover, in females, the prevalence was comparable among the three diagnostic criteria, while in males, it was significantly higher under Tengvall than the other two criteria. The application of the Tengvall formula with a single frequency BIA should be revised in terms of application for assessing low ASMI in elderly patients

Body composition as a predictor of chemotherapy-related toxicity in ovarian cancer patients: a systematic review

Objectives:The main objective of this systematic review was to examine the literature evaluating association of image-based body composition with chemotherapy-related toxicity in ovarian cancer patients. A secondary objective was to evaluate the different definitions of sarcopenia across studies. Methods:This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA-DTA statement and the protocol was registered on Prospero. A comprehensive literature search of 3 electronic databases was performed by two authors. For each eligible article, information was collected concerning the clinical setting; basic study data; population characteristics; technical aspects; body composition features; chemotherapy drugs administered; association of body composition values and toxicities. The overall quality of the included studies was critically evaluated. Results:After the initial retrieval of 812 articles, the systematic review included 6 articles (5/6 studies were retrospective; one was prospective). The number of patients ranged between 69 and 239; mean/median age ranged between 55 and 65 years; the percentage of sarcopenic patients ranged between 25% and 54%. The cut-off values to define sarcopenia and the vertebral levels for evaluation of body composition were different. Five studies included chemotherapy based on carboplatin and paclitaxel, 1 included chemotherapy based on pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. Among the studies including carboplatin and paclitaxel, 3/5 demonstrated an association with toxicity, whereas 2/5 did not. Altogether, 4/6 papers demonstrated an association between the body composition values and the development of chemotherapy-related toxicities. Conclusions:There is a wide variability of results about the association of body composition and chemotherapy-related toxicity in ovarian cancer patients. Therefore further studies, possibly including a comprehensive assessment of body compartments and where the definition of body composition cut-offs is constant, are warranted to better understand this association

Clinical trials on pain lowering effect of ginger: A narrative review

Ginger has a pain-reducing effect and it can modulate pain through various mechanisms: inhibition of prostaglandins via the COX and LOX-pathways, antioxidant activity, inibition of the transcription factor nf–kB, or acting as agonist of vanilloid nociceptor. This narrative review summarizes the last 10-year of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), in which ginger was traditionally used as a pain reliever for dysmenorrhea, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), osteoarthritis (AO), chronic low back pain (CLBP), and migraine. Regarding dysmenorrhea, six eligible studies suggest a promising effect of oral ginger. As concerned with DOMS, the four eligible RCTs suggested a reduction of inflammation after oral and topical ginger administration. Regarding knee AO, nine RCTs agree in stating that oral and topical use of ginger seems to be effective against pain, while other did not find significant differences. One RCT considered the use of ginger in migraine and suggested its beneficial activity. Finally, one RCT evaluated the effects of Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil on CLBP demonstrated a reduction in pain. The use of ginger for its pain lowering effect is safe and promising, even though more studies are needed to create a consensus about the dosage of ginger useful for long-term therapy

A structural equation model to assess the pathways of body adiposity and inflammation status on dysmetabolic biomarkers via red cell distribution width and mean corpuscular volume: a cross-sectional study in overweight and obese subjects

Background A study has been performed in overweight and obese subjects to assess the effects of adiposity and inflammation indicators on dysmetabolic biomarkers via red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), taking into account pro-antioxidant balance. Methods Data from 166 overweight subjects were analyzed by a path analysis model using structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate the direct and indirect pathway effects of adiposity, measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and inflammation status, measured by pro-antioxidant balance [reactive oxygen species (ROS)], lag-time and slope and C-reactive protein (CRP) values on dysmetabolic biomarkers, via RDW and MCV. Results BMI was strongly linked to CRP and ROS levels. Moreover, there was a significant negative decrease of MCV (1.546 femtoliters) linked to BMI indirectly via high CRP levels. Furthermore, WC affected RDW, indicating a possible mediatory role for RDW in relation to the relationship between WC and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), insulin and high density lipoprotein (HDL), respectively. This was evident by the elevated HOMA and insulin levels and the decreased levels of HDL. Finally, ROS-related markers did not affect directly RDW and MCV. Conclusion The reported outcomes suggest that RDW might play a mediatory role in the relationship between WC and the dysmetabolic outcomes in overweight and obese individuals. CRP seems to modulate the linkage between BMI and MCV. This study provides the backbone structure for future scenarios and lays the foundation for further research on the role of RDW and MCV as suitable biomarkers for the assessment of cardiovascular disease (HDL-cholesterol), inflammatory bowels and insulin resistance

Whole-body composition features by computed tomography in ovarian cancer: pilot data on survival correlations

Background: The primary objective of this study was to assess the associations of computed tomography (CT)-based whole-body composition values with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. The secondary objective was the association of body composition with chemotherapy-related toxicity. Methods: Thirty-four patients (median age 64.9 years; interquartile range 55.4–75.4) with EOC and thorax and abdomen CT scans were included. Clinical data recorded: age; weight; height; stage; chemotherapy-related toxicity; and date of last contact, progression and death. Automatic extraction of body composition values was performed by dedicated software. Sarcopenia was defined according to predefined cutoffs. Statistical analysis included univariate tests to investigate associations of sarcopenia and body composition with chemotoxicity. Association of body composition parameters and OS/PFS was evaluated by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model. Multivariate models were adjusted for FIGO stage and/or age at diagnosis. Results: We found significant associations of skeletal muscle volume with OS (p = 0.04) and PFS (p = 0.04); intramuscular fat volume with PFS (p = 0.03); and visceral adipose tissue, epicardial and paracardial fat with PFS (p = 0.04, 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). We found no significant associations between body composition parameters and chemotherapy-related toxicity. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, we found significant associations of whole-body composition parameters with OS and PFS. These results open a window to the possibility to perform body composition profiling without approximate estimations

HD 17156b: A Transiting Planet with a 21.2 Day Period and an Eccentric Orbit

We report the detection of transits by the 3.1 M_Jup companion to the V=8.17 G0V star HD 17156. The transit was observed by three independant observers on Sept. 9/10, 2007 (two in central Italy and one in the Canary Islands), who obtained detections at confidence levels of 3.0 sigma, 5.3 sigma, and 7.9 sigma, respectively. The observations were carried out under the auspices of the Transitsearch.org network, which organizes follow-up photometric transit searches of known planet-bearing stars during the time intervals when transits are expected to possibly occur. Analyses of the 7.9 sigma data set indicates a transit depth d=0.0062+/-0.0004, and a transit duration t=186+/-5 min. These values are consistent with the transit of a Jupiter-sized planet with an impact parameter b=a*cos(i)/R_star ~ 0.8. This planet occupies a unique regime among known transiting extrasolar planets, both as a result of its large orbital eccentricity (e=0.67) and long orbital period (P=21.2 d). The planet receives a 26-fold variation in insolation during the course of its orbit, which will make it a useful object for characterization of exoplanetary atmospheric dynamics.Comment: Accepted for publication to A&A, 4 pages, 2 figure

Evidence-Based role of nutrients and antioxidants for chronic pain management in musculoskeletal frailty and sarcopenia in aging

Musculoskeletal disorders in aging and pain are closely connected because of multiple mechanisms leading to loss of mobility and autonomy. Pain is predictive of diability and worsening frailty and the strength of this relationship increases with the severity of pain. This study presents a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, cross sectional studies, and observational studies based on treatment of pain in adults with musculoskeletal disorders using nutritional non-pharmacological (nutrients and antioxidants) interventions. The review found the efficiency of the following topics: (a) accession of the patient to a dietary counselling (e.g., daily recommended amount of protein-equivalent to at least of 1 g of protein per kilogram of body weight); (b) intake of glutamic acid-rich such as soy, egg, and cod and tryptophan-rich foods such as milk and peanuts-or taking quick-acting, free-form supplements; (c) supplementation of vitamin D and magnesium, if lacking; (d) weekly consumption of fish or supplements of omega-3 fatty acids; and (e) availability of botanicals, in particular curcumin and gingerol. These non-pharmacological interventions can help the pain therapist to create a personalized medicine (precision medicine), acting with the maximum efficacy and safety, and also reducing the dosage of analgesic drugs needed