scholarly journals Possible correlation between increased serum free carnitine levels and increased skeletal muscle mass following HCV eradication by direct acting antivirals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshimasa Tokuchi ◽  
Goki Suda ◽  
Megumi Kimura ◽  
Osamu Maehara ◽  
Takashi Kitagataya ◽  
...  

AbstractWe aimed to evaluate factors associated with changes in skeletal muscle mass in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients after treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Consecutive HCV-infected patients after treatment with DAA were recruited into the study. Patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR); and had complete clinical information, preserved serum samples at baseline and SVR48, and skeletal muscle mass evaluations based on the psoas muscle mass index (PMI) on computed tomography at baseline and ≥ 12 months were included. Altogether, 70.7% of patients (41/58) showed increased PMI after DAA therapy, and mean relative PMI was significantly higher after DAA therapy than at baseline. There were no significant associations between baseline clinical factors routinely examined in clinical practice and increased PMI. Among factors reported to be associated with skeletal muscle loss in patients with chronic liver disease, serum zinc levels and total and free carnitine levels increased significantly after DAA therapy and only changes in serum free carnitine levels were significantly associated with an increased PMI (r = 0305, P = 0.020). In conclusion, increased skeletal muscle mass after successful HCV eradication by DAAs was significantly associated with increased serum-free carnitine levels. l-carnitine supplementation may be beneficial in patients with low skeletal muscle mass after DAA.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masakuni Tateyama ◽  
Hideaki Naoe ◽  
Motohiko Tanaka ◽  
Kentaro Tanaka ◽  
Satoshi Narahara ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and systemic decreases in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. The influence or prognosis of various liver diseases in this condition have been widely investigated, but little is known about whether sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss are related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).Methods: To clarify the relationship between MHE and sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss in patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods: Ninety-nine patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled. MHE was diagnosed by a neuropsychiatric test. Skeletal mass index (SMI) and Psoas muscle index (PMI) were calculated by dividing skeletal muscle area and psoas muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra by the square of height in meters, respectively, to evaluate muscle volume.Results: This study enrolled 99 patients (61 males, 38 females). MHE was detected in 48 cases (48.5%) and sarcopenia in 6 cases (6.1%). Patients were divided into two groups, with or without MHE. Comparing groups, no significant differences were seen in serum ammonia concentration or rate of sarcopenia. SMI was smaller in patients with MHE (46.4 cm2/m2) than in those without (51.2 cm2/m2, P = 0.027). Similarly, PMI was smaller in patients with MHE (4.24 cm2/m2) than in those without (5.53 cm2/m2, P = 0.003). Skeletal muscle volume, which is represented by SMI or PMI was a predictive factor related to MHE (SMI ≥ 50 cm2/m2; odds ratio 0.300, P = 0.002, PMI ≥ 4.3 cm2/m2; odds ratio 0.192, P = 0.001).Conclusions: Muscle mass loss was related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy, although sarcopenia was not. Measurement of muscle mass loss might be useful to predict MHE.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247140
Author(s):  
Takehiro Funamizu ◽  
Yuji Nagatomo ◽  
Mike Saji ◽  
Nobuo Iguchi ◽  
Hiroyuki Daida ◽  
...  

Background Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a growing healthcare burden with increasing prevalence and comorbidities due to progressive aging society. Accumulating evidence suggest that low skeletal muscle mass has a negative impact on clinical outcome in elderly adult population. We sought to determine the significance of psoas muscle area as a novel index of low skeletal muscle mass in elderly patients with ADHF. Methods In this single-center retrospective observational study, we reviewed consecutive 865 elderly participants (65 years or older) who were hospitalized for ADHF and 392 were available for analysis (79 years [74–85], 56% male). Cross-sectional areas of psoas muscle at the level of fourth lumbar vertebra were measured by computed tomography and normalized by the square of height to calculate psoas muscle index (PMI, cm2/m2). Results Dividing the patients by the gender-specific quartile value (2.47 cm2/m2 for male and 1.68 cm2/m2 for female), we defined low PMI as the lowest gender-based quartile of PMI. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed female sex, body mass index (BMI), and E/e’, but not left ventricular ejection fraction, were independently associated with PMI. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed low PMI was associated with higher rate of composite endpoint of all-cause death and ADHF re-hospitalization (P = 0.033). Cox proportional hazard model analysis identified low PMI, but not BMI, was an independent predictor of the composite endpoint (Hazard ratio: 1.52 [1.06–2.16], P = 0.024). Conclusions PMI predicted future clinical adverse events in elderly patients with ADHF. Further studies are needed to assess whether low skeletal muscle mass can be a potential therapeutic target to improve the outcome of ADHF.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kosei Yamaguchi ◽  
Mineaki Kitamura ◽  
Takahiro Takazono ◽  
Shuntaro Sato ◽  
Kazuko Yamamoto ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although muscle mass loss and pneumonia are common and crucial issues in hemodialysis (HD) patients, few reports have focused on their association, which remains unclear. This study assessed the association between skeletal muscle mass and the incidence of pneumonia in HD patients using the psoas muscle index (PMI). Methods This retrospective study included 330 patients on HD who were treated at a single center between July 2011 and June 2012. The observation period was between July 2011 and June 2021. Demographic, clinical, and HD data were collected, and the associations between PMI and hospitalization due to bacterial pneumonia were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for patients’ background data. Additionally, the correlation between patient characteristics and PMI was evaluated using multivariable linear regression. Results Among 330 patients (mean age, 67.3 ± 13.3; 56.7% male; median dialysis vintage 58 months, (interquartile range [IQR] 23–124), 79 were hospitalized for pneumonia during the observation period (median observation period was 4.5 years [IQR 2.0–9.1]). The multivariable Cox proportional analysis, which was adjusted for age, sex, dialysis vintage, diabetes mellitus, and stroke history and considered death as a competing risk, indicated that decreased PMI/(standard deviation) was closely associated with the development of pneumonia (hazard ratio: 0.67, 95% confidence interval: 0.47–0.95, p = 0.03). Conclusions Skeletal muscle mass was associated with the development of pneumonia in patients on HD and could be a useful marker for the risk of pneumonia.


2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 157-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Sun Kim ◽  
Won Young Kim ◽  
Hyun Kyung Park ◽  
Myung Chun Kim ◽  
Woong Jung ◽  
...  

Objective: Until now, cutoff values of low skeletal muscle mass using computed tomography (CT) were driven by optimal stratification to predict mortality in cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the simple, age-specific, cutoff value of low skeletal muscle mass by CT in healthy adults. Design: This is a retrospective, observational, single-center study. Setting: This study was performed in the health screening department of a university-affiliated hospital during a 10-year period. Patients: Medical records of 1,422 patients presenting to the health screening department were reviewed. Cross-sectional area of psoas muscle at the level of the third lumbar vertebra on abdominal CT was measured and adjusted by height (mm2/m2). This value (psoas muscle index [PMI]) was assumed to represent whole skeletal muscle mass. We divided the patients according to age, sex, and defined cutoff value of low skeletal muscle mass as 2 SDs below the mean. Intervention: None. Measurements and Main Results: Among 1,422 patients, 550 patients (38.6%) were male. The mean PMI was 896.60 (mm2/m2) for men and 570.54 (mm2/m2) for women. Cutoff values of PMI for men were 592.3 mm2/m2 for 20-39 years, 474.0 mm2/m2 for 40-49 years, 422.2 mm2/m2 for 50-59 years, 374.4 mm2/m2 for 60-69 years, and 331.5 mm2/m2 for 70-89 years. The values for women were 399.9 mm2/m2 for 20-39 years, 287.7 mm2/m2 for 40-49 years, 242.5 mm2/m2 for 50-59 years, 220.4 mm2/m2 for 60-69 years, and 147.6 mm2/m2 for 70-89 years. Conclusions: Cutoff values of low skeletal muscle mass using CT differed in healthy adults as age increased. Further studies on the effect of sarcopenia intervention using this cutoff value are needed.


Cardiology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Persio D. Lopez ◽  
Pankaj Nepal ◽  
Adedoyin Akinlonu ◽  
Divya Nekkalapudi ◽  
Kwon Kim ◽  
...  

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome associated with exercise intolerance, and its symptoms are more common in patients with low skeletal muscle mass (SMM). Estimation of muscle mass can be cumbersome and unreliable, particularly in patients with varying body weight. The psoas muscle area (PMA) can be used as a surrogate of sarcopenia and has been associated with poor outcomes in other populations. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess if sarcopenia is associated with the survival of patients with HF after an acute hospitalization. Method: We retrospectively studied a cohort of 160 patients with HF who had abdominopelvic computed tomography during an acute hospitalization. We obtained standardized measurements of their PMA and defined sarcopenia as the lowest gender-based tertile of the said area. The patients were followed until death or discontinuation of care. We used Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression analysis to assess the relationship between sarcopenia and all-cause mortality. Results: We found that the 52 patients with sarcopenia had 4.5 times the risk of all-cause mortality at 1 year compared to the rest of the cohort (CI 1.784–11.765; p = 0.0016) after adjusting for significant covariates. Stratification by age and sex revealed that this association could be limited to males and patients < 75 years old. Conclusion: The PMA, used as a surrogate of low SMM, is independently associated with an increased risk of late mortality after an acute hospitalization in patients with HF.


2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 715-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatsugu Ohara ◽  
Goki Suda ◽  
Megumi Kimura ◽  
Osamu Maehara ◽  
Tomoe Shimazaki ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masakuni Tateyama ◽  
Hideaki Naoe ◽  
Motohiko Tanaka ◽  
Kentaro Tanaka ◽  
Satoshi Narahara ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and systemic decreases in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. The influence or prognosis of various liver diseases in this condition have been widely investigated, but little is known about whether sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss are related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Methods: To clarify the relationship between MHE and sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: Ninety-nine patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled. MHE was diagnosed by a neuropsychiatric test. Skeletal mass index (SMI) and Psoas muscle index (PMI) were calculated by dividing skeletal muscle area and psoas muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra by the square of height in meters, respectively, to evaluate muscle volume. Results: This study enrolled 99 patients (61 males, 38 females). MHE was detected in 48 cases (48.5%) and sarcopenia in 6 cases (6.1%). Patients were divided into two groups, with or without MHE. Comparing groups, no significant differences were seen in serum ammonia concentration or rate of sarcopenia. SMI was smaller in patients with MHE (46.4 cm 2 /m 2 ) than in those without (51.2 cm 2 /m 2 , P = 0.027). Similarly, PMI was smaller in patients with MHE (4.24 cm 2 /m 2 ) than in those without (5.53 cm 2 /m 2 , P = 0.003). Skeletal muscle volume, which is represented by SMI or PMI was a predictive factor related to MHE (SMI ≥ 50 cm 2 /m 2 ; odds ratio 0.300, P = 0.002, PMI ≥ 4.3 cm 2 /m 2 ; odds ratio 0.192, P = 0.001).Conclusions: Muscle mass loss was related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy, although sarcopenia was not. Measurement of muscle mass loss might be useful to predict MHE.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masakuni Tateyama ◽  
Hideaki Naoe ◽  
Motohiko Tanaka ◽  
Kentaro Tanaka ◽  
Satoshi Narahara ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and systemic decreases in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. The influence or prognosis of various liver diseases in this condition have been widely investigated, but little is known about whether sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss are related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Methods To clarify the relationship between MHE and sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods Ninety-nine patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled. MHE was diagnosed by a neuropsychiatric test. Skeletal mass index (SMI) and Psoas muscle index (PMI) were calculated by dividing skeletal muscle area and psoas muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra by the square of height in meters, respectively, to evaluate muscle volume. Results This study enrolled 99 patients (61 males, 38 females). MHE was detected in 48 cases (48.5%) and sarcopenia in 6 cases (6.1%). Patients were divided into two groups, with or without MHE. Comparing groups, no significant differences were seen in serum ammonia concentration or rate of sarcopenia. SMI was smaller in patients with MHE (46.4 cm2/m2) than in those without (51.2 cm2/m2, P = 0.027). Similarly, PMI was smaller in patients with MHE (4.24 cm2/m2) than in those without (5.53 cm2/m2, P = 0.003). Skeletal muscle volume, which is represented by SMI or PMI was a predictive factor related to MHE (SMI ≥ 50 cm2/m2; odds ratio 0.300, P = 0.002, PMI ≥ 4.3 cm2/m2; odds ratio 0.192, P = 0.001). Conclusions Muscle mass loss was related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy, although sarcopenia was not. Measurement of muscle mass loss might be useful to predict MHE.


Author(s):  
Ryutaro Yamada ◽  
Yukiharu Todo ◽  
Hiroyuki Kurosu ◽  
Kaoru Minowa ◽  
Tomohiko Tsuruta ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The current study evaluated the performance of psoas muscle mass measurement for detecting low skeletal muscle mass quantity. Methods A sample of 82 consecutive patients with gynecological cancers was examined using computed tomography and dual energy X-ray absorptiometric scan before treatment. Skeletal muscle mass index was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometric scan and its cut-off value was set at 5.40 kg/m2 for detecting low skeletal muscle mass. Psoas muscle mass index was manually measured with cross-sectional computed tomography imaging at the level of L3 by six evaluators. Results Low skeletal muscle mass index was identified in 23 (28.0%) patients. Two-way analysis of variance confirmed a significant main effect of skeletal muscle mass index on mean psoas muscle mass index values (P &lt; 0.0001). A receiver operating characteristic curve obtained from a total of 492 psoas muscle mass index data points gathered from six evaluators produced an area under the curve value of 0.697 (95% confidence interval 0.649–0.744) and a cut-off value of 3.52 cm2/m2, with sensitivity of 79.0% and specificity of 59.6%. Using the cut-off value, the kappa coefficient for evaluating diagnostic agreement between skeletal muscle mass index (low vs. normal) and psoas muscle mass index (low vs. normal) was 0.308 (95% confidence interval 0.225–0.392), suggesting poor agreement. Fleiss’ kappa produced a coefficient of 0.418 (95% confidence interval 0.362–0.473), suggesting moderate agreement. Conclusions Although relevance between skeletal muscle mass index and psoas muscle mass index was confirmed, intensity of relevance between them was weak. Psoas muscle mass index measurement should be subordinated to skeletal muscle mass index measurement for detection of low skeletal muscle mass.


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