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Aim: Sarcopenia is a skeletal muscle disorder associated with decreased muscle mass and functional capacity. The SARC-F questionnaire facilitates sarcopenia screening in elderly patients. The present study investigates the applicability of the SARC-F questionnaire to sarcopenia screening in patients scheduled for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery and its relationship with postoperative outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out with elderly patients scheduled for GI cancer surgery. The study included 71 patients consisting of 47 males and 24 females. The risk of sarcopenia was assessed by the Strength, Assistance with walking, Rising from a chair, Climbing stairs, and Falling (SARC-F) questionnaire. Patients with a SARC-F score ≥4 were considered to be at risk of sarcopenia. The demographic data, nutritional status and comorbidity data of the patients were recorded. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess postoperative complications in those patients at risk of sarcopenia. Results: The mean age of 71 study patients was 72.6 ± 5.6 years. There were 15 (21.1%) patients with a SARC-F score ≥ 4. The postoperative complication rate was 60% in patients with a SARC-F score ≥ 4 in comparison with 28.5% of those with a SARC-F score < 4, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.024). The SARC-F score ≥ 4 group also had a longer hospital stay (p Conclusion: We believe that the SARC-F questionnaire has a place in sarcopenia screening in patients scheduled for GI surgery, and it is possible to predict postoperative adverse outcomes.

A decline in the body’s motor functions has been linked to decreased muscle mass and function in the oral cavity and throat; however, aging of the junctions of the muscles and bones has also been identified as an associated factor. Basic and clinical studies on the muscles, tendons and bones, each considered independently, have been published. In recent years, however, research has focused on muscle attachment as the muscle–tendon–bone complex from various perspectives, and there is a growing body of knowledge on SRY-box9 (Sox9) and Mohawk(Mkx), which has been identified as a common controlling factor and a key element. Myostatin, a factor that inhibits muscle growth, has been identified as a potential key element in the mechanisms of lifetime structural maintenance of the muscle–tendon–bone complex. Findings in recent studies have also uncovered aspects of the mechanisms of motor organ complex morphostasis in the superaged society of today and will lay the groundwork for treatments to prevent motor function decline in older adults.

Sarcopenia is a disease of old age characterized by decreased muscle mass and strength. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) promote muscle mass synthesis and increase muscle strength. We aimed to develop a dietary amino acid database and to examine the association between BCAA intake and handgrip strength in Korean older adults. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014–2018 were used. Overall, 4852 participants aged ≥65 years were included in the study. Demographic, lifestyle, and health data were obtained through interviews and questionnaires. The 24-h recall method was used to assess dietary intake. An amino acid database was established using the 9th revision of the Korean Standard Food Composition Table. The mean handgrip strength was estimated from triplicate measurements obtained using the dominant hand. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association between BCAA intake and handgrip strength. Grains greatly contributed to amino acid intake, however, a significant negative association was observed between handgrip strength and increased BCAA intake through grains. In the fully adjusted model, leucine intake and handgrip strength showed a positive association. Thus, consuming BCAAs (especially leucine) via a variety of food sources can help maintain muscle health in older people.

The decline of skeletal muscle mass and strength that leads to sarcopenia is a pathology that might represent an emergency healthcare issue in future years. Decreased muscle mass is also a condition that mainly affects master athletes involved in endurance physical activities. Skeletal muscles respond to exercise by reshaping the biochemical, morphological, and physiological state of myofibrils. Adaptive responses involve the activation of intracellular signaling pathways and genetic reprogramming, causing alterations in contractile properties, metabolic status, and muscle mass. One of the mechanisms leading to sarcopenia is an increase in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels and a reduction in enzymatic antioxidant protection. The present review shows the recent experimental models of sarcopenia that explore molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, the clinical aspect of sport sarcopenia will be highlighted, and new strategies based on nutritional supplements, which may contribute to reducing indices of oxidative stress by reinforcing natural endogenous protection, will be suggested.

Objective: To validate calf circumference as a technology for assessing muscle mass in the elderly. Method: Cross-sectional study with 132 elderly people from Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Decreased muscle mass was determined by the skeletal muscle mass index (IME) using Dual Energy X-Ray Absortometry (DEXA). The cutoff circumferences (CC) cutoff points to indicate muscle mass decrease were estimated by ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Results: The most accurate cut-off points for detecting decreased muscle mass in the elderly were 34 cm for men (sensitivity: 71.5%, specificity: 77.4%) and 33 cm for women (sensitivity: 80.0%; specificity: 84.6%). Conclusion: CC can be used as a measure for early identification of muscle mass decrease in routine evaluations of the elderly in primary care. RESUMEN Objetivo: Validar la circunferencia de la pantorrilla como tecnología de evaluación de masa muscular en mayores. Método: Estudio transversal con 132 mayores de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. La disminución de masa muscular fue determinada por el índice de masa muscular esquelética (IME) por medio de la Absorciometría por Rayos-X de Dupla Energía (DEXA). Los puntos de corte de la medida de circunferencia de la pantorrilla (CP) para indicar disminución de masa muscular fueron estimados por medio de curva ROC, sensibilidad, especificidad y precisión. Resultados: Los puntos de corte con mejor precisión para detección de masa muscular disminuida en mayores fue 34 cm para hombres (sensibilidad: 71,5%; especificidad: 77,4%) y 33 cm en mujeres (sensibilidad: 80,0%; especificidad: 84,6%). Conclusión: La CP puede ser utilizada como medida para identificación precoz de disminución de masa muscular en evaluaciones de rutina de mayores en la atención primaria. RESUMO Objetivo: Validar a circunferência da panturrilha como tecnologia de avaliação de massa muscular em idosos. Método: Estudo transversal com 132 idosos de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. A diminuição de massa muscular foi determinada pelo índice de massa muscular esquelética (IME) por meio da Absorciometria por Raios-X de Dupla Energia (DEXA). Os pontos de corte da medida de circunferência da panturrilha (CP) para indicar diminuição de massa muscular foram estimados por meio de curva ROC, sensibilidade, especificidade e acurácia. Resultados: Os pontos de corte com melhor acurácia para detecção de massa muscular diminuída em idosos foi 34 cm para homens (sensibilidade: 71,5%; especificidade: 77,4%) e 33 cm em mulheres (sensibilidade: 80,0%; especificidade: 84,6%). Conclusão: A CP pode ser utilizada como medida para identificação precoce de diminuição de massa muscular em avaliações de rotina de idosos na atenção primária.

We hypothesized that severity of coronary artery calcification (CAC), emphysema, muscle mass, and fat attenuation can help predict mortality in patients with lung cancer participating in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). Following regulatory approval from the Cancer Data Access System (CDAS), all patients diagnosed with lung cancer at the time of the screening study were identified. These subjects were classified into two groups: survivors and nonsurvivors at the conclusion of the NLST trial. These groups were matched based on their age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, lung cancer stage, and survival time. CAC, emphysema, muscle mass, and subcutaneous fat attenuation were quantified on baseline low-dose chest CT (LDCT) for all patients in both groups. Nonsurvivor group had significantly greater CAC, decreased muscle mass, and higher fat attenuation compared to the survivor group (p<0.01). No significant difference in severity of emphysema was noted between the two groups (p>0.1). We thus conclude that it is possible to create a quantitative prediction model for lung cancer mortality for subjects with lung cancer detected on screening low-dose CT (LDCT).

Research on the influence of relationships among satiety, muscle mass, and outdoor environmental factors is sparse. In this work the relationships among satiety feeling, body composition, and outdoor environmental factors on eating in healthy young Japanese women are investigated. Fifty three (53) women were examined over an approximately 2-year period. All participants ate the same lunch; feelings of satiety and body composition were measured before and immediately after lunch. Satiety was assessed using a visual analog scale. Outdoor environmental factors were recorded at the time of measurement. Results showed that satiety before lunch decreased with increased muscle mass and decreased humidity (p < 0.05). The Δ satiety increased on eating with increased outdoor temperature (p < 0.05). The Δ satiety with high outdoor temperature was significantly greater than with low outdoor temperature (p = 0.005). Decreased muscle mass more influenced Δ satiety with respect to outdoor temperature than increased muscle mass (p = 0.007). The results suggest that increased muscle mass and decreased humidity increase hunger (unlike satiety) before eating. The findings also show that outdoor temperature clearly influences the magnitude of satiety on eating. Increasing muscle mass may be useful for satiety control at various outdoor temperatures in young women.

Background: Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is characterized by impaired physical activity, diminished quality of life (QoL), weight and fat mass gain, decreased muscle mass and decreased bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term treatment (7 years) with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on metabolic parameters, body composition (BC), BMD, bone microarchitecture and QoL. Patients and Methods: In this prospective study, BMD and BC were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone microarchitecture was assessed with the trabecular bone score (TBS). The QoL-AGHDA test was used to assess QoL. Results: A total of 18 AGHD patients (mean age, 37.39 ± 12.42) were included. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) showed a significant increase after 7 years ( p = 0.03 and p = 0.001, respectively). There was a significant tendency of body fat mass (BFM) ( p = 0.028) and lean body mass (LBM) ( p = 0.005) to increase during the 7 years of rhGH treatment. There was a significant increase in lumbar spine (LS) BMD ( p = 0.01). TBS showed a nonsignificant decrease after 7 years of treatment, with a change of -0.86% ± 1.95. QoL showed a large and significant improvement ( p = 0.02). Conclusion: Long-term rhGH treatment in AGHD patients induces a large and sustained improvement in QoL. Metabolic effects are variable with an increase in LBM as well as in BMI and BFM. There is a positive effect on BMD based on the increase in LS BMD, which stabilizes during long-term therapy and is not associated with a similar increase in bone microarchitecture.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (PUFA) supplementation on the parameters of body composition, muscle strength and physical performance in elderly people with decreased muscle mass (DMM). Fifty three elderly people with an ALM index (the ratio of appendicular lean mass to squared height) either below (−2SD: low muscle mass-LMM) or between (−1SD and −2SD: the risk of LMM-rLMM) the ALM index for the young Polish reference population were randomly assigned to PUFA-treated groups (LMM-PUFA, rLMM-PUFA) or control groups (LMM-control, rLMM-control). PUFA-treated groups received capsules containing 1.3 g of PUFA and 10 mg of vitamin E, while the control groups received 11 mg of vitamin E daily for 12 weeks. Body composition (BIA analysis), muscle strength (hand grip measured with dynamometer) and physical performance (Timed Up and Go test-TUG) were assessed before and after supplementation. No statistically significant differences were observed either in muscle mass or in the hand grip and TUG in any group. The post-pre difference (mean ± SD) in ALM index was as follows (kg/m2): LMM-PUFA: 0.00 ± 0.30, rLMM-PUFA: 0.00 ± 0.22, LMM-control: 0.03 ± 0.36, rLMM-control: –0.03 ± 0.20. In our study, a 12 week supplementation of PUFA did not affect the evaluated parameters in elderly individuals with DMM.

The Fontan operation is the anticipated palliative strategy for children born with single-ventricle type of congenital heart disease. As a result of important circulatory limitations, a series of end-organ complications are now increasingly recognized. Elevated central venous pressure and impaired cardiac output are the hallmarks of cavo-pulmonary flow, which result in a cascade of pathophysiological consequences. The Fontan circulation likely impacts all organ systems in an indolent and relentless manner, with progressive decline in functionality likely to occur in many. Liver fibrosis, altered bone density, decreased muscle mass, renal dysfunction, lymphatic insufficiency, and a host of other conditions are present. Standardized screening and evaluation of survivors as they grow through childhood and beyond is indicated and can be facilitated through dedicated multidisciplinary clinical programs. Invasive assessment at specific milestones can provide important actionable information to optimize individual status. More detailed characterization and understanding of these end-organ complications is necessary to contribute to the goal of achieving a normal duration and quality of life for these unique individuals.

With increasing age, it appears that masters athletes competing in anaerobic events (10–100 s) decline linearly in performance until 70 years of age, after which the rate of decline appears to accelerate. This decline in performance appears strongly related to a decreased anaerobic work capacity, which has been observed in both sedentary and well-trained older individuals. Previously, a number of factors have been suggested to influence anaerobic work capacity including gender, muscle mass, muscle fiber type, muscle fiber size, muscle architecture and strength, substrate availability, efficiency of metabolic pathways, accumulation of reaction products, aerobic energy contribution, heredity, and physical training. The effects of sedentary aging on these factors have been widely discussed within literature. Less data are available on the changes in these factors in masters athletes who have continued to train at high intensities with the aim of participating in competition. The available research has reported that these masters athletes still demonstrate age-related changes in these factors. Specifically, it appears that morphological (decreased muscle mass, type II muscle fiber atrophy), muscle contractile property (decreased rate of force development), and biochemical changes (changes in enzyme activity, decreased lactate production) may explain the decreased anaerobic performance in masters athletes. However, the reduction in anaerobic work capacity and subsequent performance may largely be the result of physiological changes that are an inevitable result of the aging process, although their effects may be minimized by continuing specific high-intensity resistance or sprint training.

In kwashiorkor the heart is clinically and radiologically small. This study utilises echocardiography, a tool not previously used in this disease, to show that this is due to decreased muscle mass.