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Background and Purpose: Asthma is an inflammatory disease that involves airway hyperresponsiveness and remodelling. Flavonoids have been associated to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and may represent a potential therapeutic treatment of asthma. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of the sakuranetin treatment in several aspects of experimental asthma model in mice.Experimental Approach: Male BALB/c mice received ovalbumin (i.p.) on days 0 and 14, and were challenged with aerolized ovalbumin 1% on days 24, 26 and 28. Ovalbumin-sensitized animals received vehicle (saline and dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO), sakuranetin (20 mg kg(-1) per mice) or dexamethasone (5 mg kg(-1) per mice) daily beginning from 24th to 29th day. Control group received saline inhalation and nasal drop vehicle. On day 29, we determined the airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and remodelling as well as specific IgE antibody. RANTES, IL-5, IL-4, Eotaxin, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ and GMC-SF content in lung homogenate was performed by Bioplex assay, and 8-isoprostane and NF-kB activations were visualized in inflammatory cells by immunohistochemistry.Key Results: We have demonstrated that sakuranetin treatment attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and remodelling; and these effects could be attributed to Th2 pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress reduction as well as control of NF-kB activation.Conclusions and Implications: These results highlighted the importance of counteracting oxidative stress by flavonoids in this asthma model and suggest sakuranetin as a potential candidate for studies of treatment of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence on body composition suggests that sarcopenic obesity (obesity with depleted muscle mass) might be predictive of morbidity and mortality in non-malignant disease and also of toxicity to chemotherapy. We aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical implications of sarcopenic obesity in patients with cancer. METHODS: Between Jan 13, 2004, and Jan 19, 2007, 2115 patients with solid tumours of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract from a cancer treatment centre serving northern Alberta, Canada, were identified. Available lumbar CT images of the obese patients were analysed for total skeletal muscle cross-sectional area; these values were also used to estimate total body fat-free mass (FFM). FINDINGS: Of the 2115 patients initially identified, 325 (15%) were classified as obese (body-mass index [BMI] > or =30). Of these obese patients, 250 had CT images that met the criteria for analysis. The remaining 75 patients were recorded as without assessable scans. Obese patients had a wide range of muscle mass. Sex-specific cut-offs that defined a significant association between low muscle mass with mortality were ascertained by optimum stratification analysis: 38 (15%) of 250 patients who had assessable CT images that met the criteria for analysis were below these cut-offs and were classified as having sarcopenia. Sarcopenic obesity was associated with poorer functional status compared with obese patients who did not have sarcopenia (p=0.009), and was an independent predictor of survival (hazard ratio [HR] 4.2 [95% CI 2.4-7.2], p<0.0001). Estimated FFM showed a poor association with body-surface area (r(2)=0.37). Assuming that FFM represents the volume of distribution of many cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, we estimated that individual variation in FFM could account for up to three-times variation in effective volume of distribution for chemotherapy administered per unit body-surface area, in this population. INTERPRETATION: This study provides evidence of the great variability of body composition in patients with cancer and links body composition, especially sarcopenic obesity, to clinical implications such as functional status, survival, and potentially, chemotherapy toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is a pandemic disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which spread worldwide, revealing uphill repercussions. The infection is mediated by coronavirus spike protein and host cell receptor ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2). Several cell lines have been used as an in vitro model to test potential drugs and to study the viral kinetics. Since lungs are one of the first organs affected by the virus, pulmonary cell lines such as: A549 (lung cells) and BEAS-2B (Bronchial epithelium cells) are the most studied. However, these cells present a slow viral replication profile which complicate the testing of new antiviral drugs and viral replication studies. High levels of ACE2, which is observed in some groups of patients, is associated with the increase of viral replication and severe symptoms. Thus, the development of a BEAS-2B cell line overexpressing ACE2 would be a useful model to study SARS-CoV-2 infection and to study new drugs. Develop a BEAS-2B cell line overexpressing ACE2 and evaluate the role of ACE2 on SARS-CoV-2 viral kinetics. BEAS-2B were transfected with pCEP-ACE2-myc and selected with hygromycin (125ng/ul) for 20 days, creating BEAS-2B-ACE2 cell line. ACE2 expression was quantified by RT-qPCR. Western Blotting and Immunofluorescence were used to quantify the ACE2 protein levels. ACE2 activity was evaluated using (MCA-Ala-Pro-Lys(Dnp)-OH) substrate. Cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (MOI=0.2). Viral kinetics were analyzed by RT-qPCR. Proliferation analysis was performed by MTT assay. Long-term overexpression ACE2 in BEAS-2B-ACE2 was confirmed by RT-qPCR, Western Blotting and Immunofluorescence. Compared to BEAS-2B, ACE2 mRNA expression was 100-fold higher (p<0.05), ACE2 protein levels increased 12X (p<0.05) and the immunofluorescence showed that ACE2 protein was more abundantly in BEAS-2B-ACE2. A 50X (p<0.0001) increase in the ACE2 activity was observed 2 months after the transfection. There was no difference in proliferation between BEAS-2B-ACE2 and BEAS-2B. Overexpression of ACE2 increased the viral kinetics. BEAS-2B-ACE2 presented 1000X (p<0.05) more SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cells and supernatant compared with BEAS-2B, 48 and 72 hours after infection. Here we show for the first time that overexpression of ACE2 in BEAS-2B drastically changes the infection profile of SARS-CoV-2 and increases viral load – making it an useful cell line for future studies of SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is estimated that more than one-tenth of adults aged ≥60 years are now classified as having sarcopenic obesity (SO), a clinical condition characterized by the concurrent presence of sarcopenia (low muscle mass and weakness) and obesity (excessive fat mass). Independently, sarcopenia and obesity are associated with a high risk of numerous adverse health outcomes including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and neurological conditions (e.g. dementia), but SO may confer a greater risk, exceeding either condition alone. This imposes a substantial burden on individuals, healthcare systems and society. In recent years, an increasing number of observational studies have explored the association between SO and the risk of CVDs; however, results are mixed. Moreover, the pathophysiology of SO is governed by a complex interplay of multiple mechanisms including insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, hormonal shifts and alteration of energy balance, which may also play a role in the occurrence of various CVDs. Yet, the exact mechanisms underlying the pathological connection between these two complex conditions remain largely unexplored. The aim of this review is to examine the association between SO and CVDs. Specifically, we seek to: (1) discuss the definition, epidemiology and diagnosis of SO; (2) reconcile previously inconsistent findings by synthesizing evidence from longitudinal studies on the epidemiological link between SO and CVDs; and (3) discuss critical mechanisms that may elucidate the complex and potentially bidirectional relationships between SO and CVDs.

Background & Aims: Phase angle (PhA) is a biomarker derived from raw bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) values: resistance (R) and reactance (Xc). PhA reflects cellular membrane integrity and, as a result, has been considered a marker of fluid distribution, making it a potential prognostic indicator. A growing body of research demonstrates independent associations between PhA and muscle strength, mass, and composition. In this context, PhA has the extra potential to serve as a marker of muscle quality. However, the evidence supporting its use for this purpose is not well established. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between PhA and markers of muscle quality., Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis (Internal Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews - PROSPERO on a registration code: CRD42024507853) focused on observational studies assessing the relationship between PhA and markers of both concepts of muscle quality: the muscle quality index (MQI: strength by a unit of mass) and the muscle composition (i.e., skeletal muscle radiodensity [SMD], muscle echogenicity, muscle fat fraction, inter- and intramuscular adiposity). Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2), while the certainty of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Meta-analyses with a random-effects model were conducted., Results: Seventeen studies were included in this systematic review, encompassing 2710 participants. Meta-analyses demonstrated that PhA had a moderate positive correlation coefficient with SMD (4 studies, 924 participants; r = 0.54, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.38 to 0.69, heterogeneity (I 2 ) = 92 %) and good accuracy (85 %) for classifying low SMD (2 studies, 390 participants; Area Under the Curve - AUC pooled 0.85, 95 % CI 0.78 to 0.92, I 2  = 0 %). PhA was inversely-moderately correlated with muscle echogenicity (8 studies, 1401 participants; r = - 0.42, 95 % CI - 0.57 to - 0.24, I 2  = 82 %) and positively-weakly correlated with MQI (2 studies, 191 participants; r = 0.36, 95 % CI 0.21 to 0.49, I 2  = 17 %). All studies had a higher risk of bias. The certainty of evidence ranged from low to very low., Conclusion: Despite technical challenges, this study demonstrates the potential of PhA as a surrogate marker for muscle quality, particularly expressing muscle composition (SMD). Future studies should utilize BIA with standardized protocols to potentially establish specific cutoff values for PhA, thereby enhancing its diagnostic accuracy and clinical applicability. These studies could additionally explore the mechanisms underlying the associations between PhA and muscle quality aspects. In cases where technical factors are not easily controlled, the use of standardized PhA (SPhA), which converts PhA into Z-scores, could be beneficial. Although this warrants investigation, this approach (SPhA) has the potential to account for variables such as age, sex, device differences, and health status., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest CMP has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, Nestlé Health Science, Pfizer, AMRA Medical; and investigator-initiated funding from Almased. MCG has received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, and Nestlé Health Science Brazil. APTF reports receiving a grant for research from Prodiet Medical Nutrition. The other authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study aimed to investigate and propose novel approaches to calculate muscle quality index (MQI) using muscle mass derived from single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (SF-BIA) and calf circumference in both unadjusted and body mass index (BMI)-adjusted forms. In addition, we examined their prognostic significance in patients with cancer., Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted on a prospective cohort study of patients with cancer. Handgrip strength was measured. SF-BIA was conducted to estimate appendicular lean soft tissue (ALST, in kilograms). MQI was calculated using three approaches: (1) the ratio of handgrip strength to ALST (MQI SF-BIA ), (2) the ratio of handgrip strength to calf circumference (MQI calf circumference ), and (3) the ratio of handgrip strength to BMI-adjusted calf circumference (MQI adj. calf circumference ). Maximally selected log-rank was calculated to estimate their cutoff values to predict survival., Results: Two hundred eighty-four patients were included (51.1% men; median age, 61 years). Solid tumors were the most frequent (89.8%). All approaches to MQI (MQI SF-BIA , MQI calf circumference , and MQI adj. calf circumference ) were independent predictors of 6-month mortality. The found cutoffs were (1) MQI SF-BIA (<1.52 for men, <0.63 for women), (2) MQI calf circumference (<0.74 for men, <0.24 for women), and (3) MQI adj. calf circumference (<0.75 for men, <0.25 for women)., Conclusion: This study introduces MQI SF-BIA, MQI calf circumference , and MQI adj. calf circumference as future potential surrogate methods for computing MQI in clinical practice when other robust procedures are unavailable, pending further validation., (© 2024 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

The two-component molecular level model dividing body mass into fat and fat-free mass (FFM) is a cornerstone of contemporary body composition research across multiple disciplines. Confusion prevails, however, as the term lean body mass (LBM) is frequently used interchangeably with FFM in scientific discourse. Are LBM and FFM the same or different body components? Captain Albert R. Behnke originated the LBM concept in 1942 and he argued that his "physiological" LBM component included "essential" fat or structural lipids while FFM is a chemical entity "free" of fat. Classical experimental animal and human studies conducted during Behnke's era laid the foundation for the widely used body density and total body water two-component molecular level body composition models. Refined body composition models, organization of lipids into structural and functional groupings, and lipid extraction methods all have advanced since Behnke's era. Our review provides an in-depth analysis of these developments with the aim of clarifying distinctions between the chemical composition of LBM and FFM. Our retrospective analysis reveals that FFM, derived experimentally as the difference between body weight and extracted neutral or non-polar lipids (mainly triglycerides), includes polar or structural lipids (i.e., Behnke's "essential" fat). Accordingly, LBM as originally proposed by Behnke has the same chemical composition as FFM, thus answering a longstanding ambiguity in the body composition literature. Bringing body composition science into the modern era mandates use of the chemically correct term FFM with elimination of the duplicative term LBM that today has value primarily in a historical context. Avoiding use of the term LBM additionally limits confusion surrounding similar widely used body composition terms such as lean mass, lean soft tissue mass, and lean muscle mass., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest ☒ The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Steven Heymsfield reports a relationship with Tanita Corporation that includes: consulting or advisory. Steven Heymsfield reports a relationship with Novo Nordisk that includes: consulting or advisory. Steven Heymsfield reports a relationship with Abbott that includes: consulting or advisory. Steven Heymsfield reports a relationship with Versanis that includes: consulting or advisory. Steven Heymsfield reports a relationship with Medifast Inc that includes: consulting or advisory. Grant Tinsley reports a relationship with Size Stream that includes: consulting or advisory. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Individuals with Post COVID-19 condition (PCC), or long COVID, experience symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, or sleep disorders that persist after recovery from COVID-19. These ongoing symptoms significantly compromise quality of life and diminish functional capacity and independence. Multimodal digital interventions targeting behavioural factors such as nutrition and mindfulness have shown promise in improving health outcomes of people with chronic health conditions and may be beneficial for those with PCC. The BLEND study (weB-based pLatform to improve nutrition, mindfulnEss, and physical function, in patients with loNg COVID) study is an 8-week pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating the feasibility of a digital wellness platform compared to usual care among individuals with PCC. The web-based wellness platform employed in this study, My Viva Plan (MVP)®, integrates a holistic, multicomponent approach to promote wellness. The intervention group receives access to the digital health platform for 8 weeks with encouragement for frequent interactions to improve dietary intake and mindfulness. The control group receives general content focusing on improvements in dietary intake and mindfulness. Assessments are conducted at baseline and week 8. The primary outcome is the feasibility of platform use. Secondary and exploratory outcomes include a between-group comparison of changes in body composition, nutritional status, quality of life, mindfulness, physical activity, and physical performance after 8 weeks. Findings of this study will inform the development of effective web-based wellness programs tailored for individuals with PCC to promote sustainable behavioural changes and improved health outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper other then funding disclosures listed above., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Individuals diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are exposed to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS), which negatively affects their health outcomes and quality of life. Lifestyle interventions have shown promise in managing MetS. This study outlines the protocol for a web-based multimodal self-care program, Digital Metabolic Rehabilitation, for managing MetS in patients with COPD. The Digital Metabolic Rehabilitation is a single-arm pilot trial that integrates the Canadian Health Advanced by Nutrition and Graded Exercise (CHANGE) Program and a web-based wellness platform. The web-based wellness platform employed in this study is My Viva Plan (MVP)®, which integrates a holistic, multicomponent approach to promote wellness. The intervention will primarily focus on lifestyle changes for patients with COPD. Over 6 months, participants will use the web-based wellness platform and engage in weekly online support group sessions. Fifty patients diagnosed with stage I-II COPD and MetS will participate. Blood tests, anthropometrics, body composition, physical function, muscle strength, physical activity, energy metabolism, quality of life and mental health will be assessed at baseline, 3, and 6 months. The Digital Metabolic Rehabilitation program aims to explore whether a multimodal integrative intervention delivered through a web-based wellness platform can be implemented by patients with COPD with MetS. By combining the expertise of the CHANGE Program with the digital delivery format, the intervention seeks to enhance self-monitoring and foster better self-management practices. The protocol outlines a novel and potentially impactful intervention for managing MetS in patients with COPD., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: CMP has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Almased. NM has since become an employee of My Viva Plan. BRS receives a Mitacs Accelerate program fellowship partially funded by My Viva Inc. AR, LC, MFP, DK – no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Breast cancer (BC) is frequently linked with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and sarcopenia. Therefore, measuring or accurately estimating resting energy expenditure (REE) is crucial for tailoring nutritional needs, managing weight and prevent under- or over-nutrition. We aimed to measure and compare REE between women with BC and a matched control group. Moreover, the prediction accuracy of selected formulas was evaluated., Methods: Women aged ≥18 years with newly diagnosis of BC (stage 0-III) and body mass index (BMI) ≤ 30 kg/m 2 were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Anthropometry, indirect calorimetry, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were performed. Patients with BC data were compared to healthy women with similar age and BMI range. Measured REE (mREE) was compared against 15 predictive equations. Agreement between methods was evaluated using Bland-Altman analysis., Results: We included 106 women with BC (age 49.9 ± 11.1 years and BMI 24.5 ± 2.8 kg/m 2 ) and 75 women as control group. There were no differences in age, anthropometry, and BIA variables between groups, except for percentage fat mass. Measured REE values, alone and adjusted for fat-free mass (FFM) and age, were higher in patients with BC compared to controls (+4.3 % and +6.1 %, respectively). Regarding REE prediction, most of the selected equations underestimated mREE. Precision varied widely, with the two Marra equations showing the highest agreement (73 % and 74.5 %) along with the Müller equation (74 %), however, the wide limit of agreement range indicates substantial variability., Conclusions: Women with early-stage BC exhibited higher mREE compared to controls, albeit its clinical significance is unknown. None of the selected predictive equations provided accurate and precise REE estimates in this group. Although the Marra equation displayed the highest agreement, further studies are needed to evaluate REE variability and its prediction in women with BC., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Excess body weight, suboptimal diet, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, sleep disruption, and elevated stress are modifiable risk factors associated with the development of chronic diseases. Digital behavioural interventions targeting these factors have shown promise in improving health and reducing chronic disease risk. The Digital Intervention for behaviouR changE and Chronic disease prevenTION (DIRECTION) study is a parallel group, two-arm, randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of adding healthcare professional guidance and peer support via group-based sessions to a web-based wellness platform (experimental group, n = 90) compared to a self-guided use of the platform (active control group, n = 90) among individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to <35 kg/m 2 and aged 40-65 years. Obesity is defined by a high BMI. The web-based wellness platform employed in this study is My Viva Plan (MVP)®, which holistically integrates nutrition, physical activity, and mindfulness programs. Over 16 weeks, the experimental group uses the web-based wellness platform daily and engages in weekly online support group sessions. The active control group exclusively uses the web-based wellness platform daily. Assessments are conducted at baseline and weeks 8 and 16. The primary outcome is between-group difference in weight loss (kg) at week 16, and secondary outcomes are BMI, percent weight change, proportion of participants achieving 5% or more weight loss, dietary intake, physical activity, alcohol consumption, sleep, and stress across the study. A web-based wellness platform may be a scalable approach to promote behavioural changes that positively impact health. This study will inform the development and implementation of interventions using web-based wellness platforms and personalized digital interventions to improve health outcomes and reduce chronic disease risk among individuals with obesity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: CMP has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Almased. NM has since become an employee of My Viva Plan. CEO, TG, SV, CFT, IMS, MFP, STJ, AAK, DK, NM, JFM, SENS, MQ, BOS – no conflicts of interest. See Funding section above for additional competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: CMP has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, Nestlé Health Science, Pfizer, AMRA Medical, and Novo Nordisk; served as a steering committee member (from 2013 to 2015) and received research funding in 2013 from GTx, the developer of Enobosarm. SMP reports grants or research contracts from the US National Dairy Council, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Roquette Freres, Ontario Centre of Innovation, Nestle Health Sciences, Myos, National Science and Engineering Research Council, and the US National Institutes of Health; reports personal fees from Nestle Health Sciences; reports non-financial support from Enhanced Recovery outside the submitted work; has patents licensed to Exerkine, but reports no financial gains. MCG has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, and Nestlé Health Science Brazil. SBH serves on the Medical Advisory Boards of Tanita Corporation, Novo Nordisk, Abbott, and Medifast.

Background: Energy requirement assessment is a cornerstone for nutrition practice. The extent to which total energy expenditure (TEE; indicator of energy requirements) has been measured in adults with chronic diseases has not been explored., Objectives: This systematic review aimed to characterize evidence on TEE among individuals with chronic diseases and describe TEE across chronic diseases and in comparison to controls without a chronic disease., Methods: A literature search using terms related to doubly labeled water and TEE was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase. Eligible articles included those that measured TEE using doubly labeled water in adults with a major chronic disease. Methodological quality was determined using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics quality criteria checklist. Sample size-weighted TEE was calculated in each chronic disease subgroup., Results: Fifty studies were included, of which 15 had a control group. Median sample size was 20 participants, and approximately half of studies were published over 10 y ago. Thirty-five (70%) studies reported resting energy expenditure, and approximately half (k = 26) reported physical activity level. Methodological quality was neutral (k = 25) or positive (k = 23) for most studies. TEE among individual studies ranged from 934 to 3274 kcal/d. Mean weighted TEE was lowest among gastrointestinal (1786 kcal/d) and neurologic (2104 kcal/d) subgroups and highest among cancer (2903 kcal/d), endocrine (2661 kcal/d), and autoimmune (2625 kcal/d) subgroups. Excluding 1 article in cancer survivors resulted in a low TEE in the cancer subgroup (2112 kcal/d). Most studies with a control group reported no differences in TEE between controls and patients; however, only 1 study was powered for between-group comparisons., Conclusions: Energy requirements vary across chronic diseases, although there is insufficient evidence to suggest that TEE in patients with chronic disease is different than that among controls. Further research is needed to inform energy requirement recommendations that consider chronic disease. This review was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42022336500 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display&#95;record.php?RecordID=336500)., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This narrative review summarizes the evidence for nutrition, exercise, and multimodal interventions to maintain weight and muscle mass and prevent malnutrition from meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials published within the last 5 years, and in comparison to future research priority areas identified by international guidelines., Recent Findings: Dietary counseling with oral nutrition support (ONS), escalated to enteral nutrition if weight loss continues, is the gold standard treatment approach to maintaining weight and preventing malnutrition. Recent ONS trials with dietary counseling show promising findings for weight maintenance, extending the literature to include studies in chemoradiotherapy, however, change in body composition is rarely evaluated. Emerging trials have evaluated the impact of isolated nutrients, amino acids, and their derivatives (ie, β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate) on muscle mass albeit with mixed effects. There is insufficient evidence evaluating the effect of exercise interventions on unintentional weight loss, muscle mass, and malnutrition, however, our knowledge of the impact of multimodal nutrition and exercise interventions is advancing. Prehabilitation interventions may attenuate weight and muscle loss after surgery, particularly for patients having gastrointestinal and colorectal surgery. Multimodal trials that commence during treatment show mixed effects on weight and muscle mass when measured., Summary: This review highlights that the evidence for preventing unintentional weight loss and malnutrition from cancer treatment is strong within nutrition. Multimodal interventions are emerging as effective interventions to prevent unintentional weight loss. Promising interventions are demonstrating improvements in muscle mass, however further exploration through studies designed to determine the effect on muscle is required., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Background: Malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty are distinct, albeit interrelated, conditions associated with adverse outcomes in adults with cancer, but whether they relate to multimorbidity, which affects up to 90% of people with cancer, is unknown. This study investigated the relationship between multimorbidity with malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty in adults with cancer from the UK Biobank., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 4122 adults with cancer (mean [SD] age 59.8 [7.1] years, 50.7% female). Malnutrition was determined using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria. Probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia were defined using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 criteria. (Pre-)frailty was determined using the Fried frailty criteria. Multimorbidity was defined as ≥2 long-term conditions with and without the cancer diagnosis included. Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) of malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty according to the presence of multimorbidity., Results: Genitourinary (28.9%) and breast (26.1%) cancers were the most common cancer diagnoses. The prevalence of malnutrition, (probable-)sarcopenia and (pre-)frailty was 11.1%, 6.9% and 51.2%, respectively. Of the 11.1% of participants with malnutrition, the majority (9%) also had (pre-)frailty, and 1.1% also had (probable-)sarcopenia. Of the 51.2% of participants with (pre-)frailty, 6.8% also had (probable-)sarcopenia. No participants had (probable-)sarcopenia alone, and 1.1% had malnutrition, (probable-)sarcopenia plus (pre-)frailty. In total, 33% and 65% of participants had multimorbidity, including and excluding the cancer diagnosis, respectively. The most common long-term conditions, excluding the cancer diagnosis, were hypertension (32.5%), painful conditions such as osteoarthritis or sciatica (17.6%) and asthma (10.4%). Overall, 80% of malnourished, 74% of (probable-)sarcopenia and 71.5% of (pre-)frail participants had multimorbidity. Participants with multimorbidity, including the cancer diagnosis, had higher odds of malnutrition (OR 1.72 [95% confidence interval, CI, 1.31-2.30; P < 0.0005]) and (pre-)frailty (OR 1.43 [95% CI 1.24-1.68; P < 0.0005]). The odds increased further in people with ≥2 long-term conditions in addition to their cancer diagnosis (malnutrition, OR 2.41 [95% CI 1.85-3.14; P < 0.0005]; (pre-)frailty, OR 2.03 [95% CI 1.73-2.38; P < 0.0005]). There was little evidence of an association of multimorbidity with sarcopenia., Conclusions: In adults with cancer, multimorbidity was associated with increased odds of having malnutrition and (pre-)frailty but not (probable-)sarcopenia. This highlights that multimorbidity should be considered a risk factor for these conditions and evaluated during nutrition and functional screening and assessment to support risk stratification within clinical practice., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background and Aims: Prehabilitation combines exercise, nutritional, and psychological interventions administered before surgery to improve patient outcomes. This comprehensive review and meta-analysis examined the feasibility, adherence, and effectiveness of prehabilitation in frail, high-risk individuals undergoing major abdominal surgery., Methods: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases to identify relevant studies evaluating prehabilitation programs published between 2010 and 2023, either as observational studies or randomized clinical trials (RCTs)., Results: The 23 articles (13 RCTs and 10 observational studies) included 1849 older male and female patients aged 68.7 ± 7.2 years. Nineteen of the included studies reported on adherence to prehabilitation programmes, which was generally good (>75%) over different models, settings, and durations. Factors such as patients' desire for expedited surgery, self-assessment of fitness, personal and professional obligations, health issues, holidays, and advancement of surgery dates negatively affected adherence to prehabilitation programmes. When compared with rehabilitation or standard pre- and post-surgical care, prehabilitation was associated with a 25%, albeit not statistically significant reduction in postoperative complications, according to data from 14 studies reporting on postoperative complications (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.17, P = 0.43; I 2  = 65%). Prehabilitation has been found to improve the 6-min walk test significantly by 29.4 m (MD +29.4 m, 95% CI 5.6 to 53.3, P = 0.02; I 2  = 39%), compared with rehabilitation or standard pre- and post-surgical care., Conclusion: Prehabilitation was acceptable to patients, with good adherence, and improved physical function., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The rapid and widespread clinical adoption of highly effective incretin-mimetic drugs (IMDs), particularly semaglutide and tirzepatide, for the treatment of obesity has outpaced the updating of clinical practice guidelines. Consequently, many patients may be at risk for adverse effects and uncertain long-term outcomes related to the use of these drugs. Of emerging concern is the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that can accompany rapid substantial weight reduction; such losses can lead to reduced functional and metabolic health, weight cycling, compromised quality of life, and other adverse outcomes. Available evidence suggests that clinical trial participants receiving IMDs for the treatment of obesity lost 10% or more of their muscle mass during the 68- to 72-week interventions, approximately equivalent to 20 years of age-related muscle loss. The ability to maintain muscle mass during caloric restriction-induced weight reduction is influenced by two key factors: nutrition and physical exercise. Nutrition therapy should ensure adequate intake and absorption of high-quality protein and micronutrients, which may require the use of oral nutritional supplements. Additionally, concurrent physical activity, especially resistance training, has been shown to effectively minimize loss of muscle mass and function during weight reduction therapy. All patients receiving IMDs for obesity should participate in comprehensive treatment programs emphasizing adequate protein and micronutrient intakes, as well as resistance training, to preserve muscle mass and function, maximize the benefit of IMD therapy, and minimize potential risks., (© 2024 The Author(s). Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: none declared.

The prevalence of fragrances in various hygiene products contributes to their sensorial allure. However, fragrances can induce sensitization in the skin or respiratory system, and the mechanisms involved in this process are incompletely understood. This study investigated the intricate mechanisms underlying the fragrance's effects on sensitization response, focusing on the interplay between CYP450 enzymes, a class of drug-metabolizing enzymes, and the adaptive immune system. Specifically, we assessed the expression of CYP450 enzymes and cytokine profiles in culture of BEAS-2B and mature dendritic cells (mDC) alone or in co-culture stimulated with 2 mM of a common fragrance, cinnamyl alcohol (CA) for 20 h. CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP2A6, and CYP2A13 were analyzed by RT-PCR and IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-18, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) by Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). Through RT-PCR analysis, we observed that CA increased CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 expression in BEAS-2B, with a further increased in BEAS-2B-mDC co-culture. Additionally, exposure to CA increased IL-12p70 levels in mDC rather than in BEAS-2B-mDC co-culture. In regards to IL-18, level was higher in BEAS-2B than in BEAS-2B-mDC co-culture. A positive correlation between the levels of IL-10 and CYP1B1 was found in mDC-CA-exposed and between IL-12p70 and CYP1A1 was found in BEAS-2B after CA exposure. However, IL-12p70 and CYP1A2 as well as IL-18, IL-33, and CYP1A1 levels were negative, correlated mainly in co-culture control. These correlations highlight potential immunomodulatory interactions and complex regulatory relationships. Overall, exposure to CA enhances CYP450 expression, suggesting that CA can influence immune responses by degrading ligands on xenosensitive transcription factors., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background and Aims: Measurement of body composition using computed tomography (CT) scans may be a viable clinical tool for low muscle mass assessment in oncology. However, longitudinal assessments are often infeasible with CT. Clinically accessible body composition technologies can be used to track changes in fat-free mass (FFM) or muscle, though their accuracy may be impacted by cancer-related physiological changes. The purpose of this study was to examine the agreement among accessible body composition method with criterion methods for measures of whole-body FFM measurements and, when possible, muscle mass for the classification of low muscle in patients with cancer., Methods: Patients with colorectal cancer were recruited to complete measures of whole-body DXA, air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). These measures were used alone, or in combination to construct the criterion multicompartment (4C) mode for estimating FFM. Patients also underwent abdominal CT scans as part of routine clinical assessment. Agreement of each method with 4C model was analyzed using mean constant error (CE = criterion - alternative), linear regression including root mean square error (RMSE), Bland-Altman limits of agreement (LoA) and mean percentage difference (MPD). Additionally, appendicular lean soft tissue index (ALSTI) measured by DXA and predicted by CT were compared for the absolute agreement, while the ALSTI values and skeletal muscle index by CT were assessed for agreement on the classification of low muscle mass., Results: Forty-five patients received all measures for the 4C model and 25 had measures within proximity of clinical CT measures. Compared to 4C, DXA outperformed ADP and BIA by showing the strongest overall agreement (CE = 1.96 kg, RMSE = 2.45 kg, MPD = 98.15 ± 2.38%), supporting its use for body composition assessment in patients with cancer. However, CT cutoffs for skeletal muscle index or CT-estimated ALSTI were lower than DXA ALSTI (average 1.0 ± 1.2 kg/m 2 ) with 24.0% to 32.0% of patients having a different low muscle classification by CT when compared to DXA., Conclusions: Despite discrepancies between clinical body composition assessment and the criterion multicompartment model, DXA demonstrates the strongest agreement with 4C. Disagreement between DXA and CT for low muscle mass classification prompts further evaluation of the measures and cutoffs used with each technique. Multicompartment models may enhance our understanding of body composition variations at the individual patient level and improve the applicability of clinically accessible technologies for classification and monitoring change over time., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Carla M Prado reports financial support was provided by Alberta Government. Katherine Ford reports a relationship with Abbott Nutrition that includes: consulting or advisory and paid expert testimony. Maria Cristina Gonzalez reports a relationship with Abbott Nutrition that includes: consulting or advisory. Carla M Prado reports a relationship with Abbott Nutrition that includes: consulting or advisory. Maria Cristina Gonzalez reports a relationship with Nutricia Research BV that includes: consulting or advisory. Maria Cristina Gonzalez reports a relationship with Nestle Brazil that includes: consulting or advisory. Carla M Prado reports a relationship with Nutricia Research BV that includes: consulting or advisory. Crala M Prado reports a relationship with Nestle Health Science that includes: consulting or advisory. Crala M Prado reports a relationship with AMRA medical that includes: consulting or advisory. Carla M Prado reports a relationship with Pfizer that includes: consulting or advisory. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and low bone mineral density (BMD) are highly prevalent and can co-exist. Parameters of mineral metabolism are associated with BMD in CKD, but other contributing factors may contribute. The aim of this study was to assess changes in BMD and its determinants in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD (NDD-CKD)., Methods: Body composition and biochemical profiles were assessed in a retrospective hospital-based cohort study of patients with NDD-CKD. BMD, lean soft tissue (LST), appendicular LST (ALST), and percentage fat mass were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The ALST index (ALSTI, ALST/height 2 ) and load-capacity index (LCI, fat mass/LST) were calculated. Low BMD was defined as T-score ≤ -1.0., Results: The mean time between assessments was 2.8 ± 1.3 years; 46 patients were included. A reduction in renal function was observed. Changes in body composition included reductions in ALST (P = .031), ALSTI (P = .021), a trend for BMD (P = .053), and an increase in percentage fat mass (P = .044) and LCI (P = .032). Females had a reduction in BMD (P = .034), ALST (P = .026), and ALSTI (P = .037). Patients with low BMD at baseline had lower LST (P = .013), ALST (P = .023), and percentage fat mass (P = .037) than those with normal BMD. Additionally, reductions in LST (P = .041), ALST (P = .006), and ALSTI (P = .008) were observed in patients who had low BMD at baseline, while no significant changes in body composition were observed in those with normal BMD at baseline. The following body composition parameters at baseline were determinants of BMD status at follow-up: LST (odds ratio [OR]: 0.899, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.829-0.976, P = .010), ALST (OR: 0.825, 95% CI: 0.704-0.967, P = .017), and ALSTI (OR: 0.586, 95% CI: 0.354-0.968, P = .037), independent of fat mass and LCI., Conclusions: Detrimental body composition changes were observed without changes in body weight; these were more significant in females. Moreover, this is the first longitudinal study showing a protective effect of LST against BMD loss in patients with NDD-CKD., (Copyright © 2024 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Accurately estimating resting energy requirements is crucial for optimizing energy intake, particularly in the context of patients with varying energy needs, such as individuals with cancer. We sought to evaluate the agreement between resting energy expenditure (REE) predicted by 40 equations and that measured by reference methods in women undergoing active breast cancer treatment stage (I-IV) and post-completion (i.e., survivors)., Methods: Data from 4 studies were combined. REE values estimated from 40 predictive equations identified by a systematic search were compared with REE assessed by indirect calorimetry (IC) using a metabolic cart (MC-REE N = 46) or a whole-room indirect calorimeter (WRIC-REE N = 44). Agreement between methods was evaluated using Bland-Altman and Lin's concordance coefficient correlation (Lin's CCC)., Results: Ninety participants (24 % survivors, 61.1% had early-stage breast cancer I or II, mean age: 56.8 ± 11 years; body mass index: 28.7 ± 6.4 kg/m 2 ) were included in this analysis. Mean MC-REE and WRIC-REE values were 1389 ± 199 kcal/day and 1506 ± 247 kcal/day, respectively. Limits of agreement were wide for all equations compared to both MC and WRIC (∼300 kcal for both methods), including the most commonly used ones, such as Harris-Benedict and Mifflin ST. Jeor equations; none had a bias within ±10% of measured REE, and all had low agreement per Lin's CCC analysis (<0.90). The Korth equation exhibited the best performance against WRIC and the Lvingston-Kohlstadt equation against MC. Similar patterns of bias were observed between survivors and patients and between patients with stages I-III versus IV cancer., Conclusion: Most equations failed to accurately predict REE at the group level, and none were effective at the individual level. This inaccuracy has significant implications for women with or surviving breast cancer, who may experience weight gain, maintenance, or loss due to inaccurate energy needs estimations. Therefore, our research underscores the need for further efforts to improve REE estimation., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest C.M.P. reports receiving unrelated honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, Nestle Health Science, Pfizer, and AMRA Medical. B.R.S, A.P.P, A.A.K, M.C.G, M.J.H, A.A.J, P.S, E.C, I.P, E.P and R.T. declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Low muscle mass and malnutrition are independently associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in patients with cancer. However, it is not yet clear which parameter is most indicative of these risks. This study investigates the prognostic significance of different parameters reflecting malnutrition and muscle health in a well-characterised oncology population at nutritional risk., Methods: This preplanned secondary analysis included patients with cancer from a Swiss-wide, randomised-controlled nutritional trial. We investigated associations among malnutrition markers (i.e., malnutrition diagnosis based on modified Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, albumin concentration) and muscle health markers (i.e., hand grip strength, computed tomography (CT)-based muscle mass and radiodensity) with 180-day all-cause mortality (primary outcome)., Results: We included 269 patients with a main admission diagnosis of cancer and available CT scans. In a mutually adjusted model, four parameters contributed to risk assessment including modified malnutrition diagnosis (GLIM) (HR 1.78 (95%CI 1.17 to 2.69), p = 0.007, AUC 0.58), low albumin concentration (HR 1.58 (95%CI 1.08 to 2.31), p = 0.019, AUC 0.62), low handgrip strength (HR 2.05 (95%CI 1.43 to 2.93), p = 0.001, AUC 0.62) and low muscle radiodensity (HR 1.39 (95%CI 0.90 to 2.16), p = 0.139, AUC 0.63). Combining these parameters resulted in a model with high prognostic power regarding 180-day mortality (overall AUC 0.71)., Conclusions: In this study of inpatients with cancer at nutritional risk, several malnutrition and muscle health parameters emerged as independent prognostic indicators for mortality. The use of these parameters may improve risk stratification and guide nutritional interventions in this vulnerable population., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02517476., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The Institution of P.Schuetz has previously received unrestricted grant money unrelated to this project from Nestle Health Science and Abbott Nutrition. The institution of Z.Stanga received speaking honoraria and research support from Nestle Health Science, Abbott Nutrition and Fresenius Kabi. CMP has received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, Nestlé Health Science, Pfizer, and AMRA Medical. CMP has a conflict of interest with Dr. Vickie Baracos and Dr. Lisa Martin, who are both from the same institution. All other authors report no conflicts of interest. The results presented in this paper have not been published previously in whole or part, except in abstract form., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Beyond obesity, excess levels of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) significantly contribute to the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS), although thresholds for increased risk vary based on population, regions of interest, and units of measure employed. We sought to determine whether a common threshold exists that is indicative of heightened MetS risk across all populations, accounting for sex, age, BMI, and race/ethnicity. A systematic literature review was conducted in September 2023, presenting threshold values for elevated MetS risk. Standardization equations harmonized the results from DXA, CT, and MRI systems to facilitate a comparison of threshold variations across studies. A total of 52 papers were identified. No single threshold could accurately indicate elevated risk for both males and females across varying BMI, race/ethnicity, and age groups. Thresholds fluctuated from 70 to 165.9 cm 2 , with reported values consistently lower in females. Generally, premenopausal females and younger adults manifested elevated risks at lower VAT compared to their older counterparts. Notably, Asian populations exhibited elevated risks at lower VAT areas (70-136 cm 2 ) compared to Caucasian populations (85.6-165.9 cm 2 ). All considered studies reported associations of VAT without accommodating covariates. No single VAT area threshold for elevated MetS risk was discernible post-harmonization by technology, units of measure, and region of interest. This review summarizes available evidence for MetS risk assessment in clinical practice. Further exploration of demographic-specific interactions between VAT area and other risk factors is imperative to comprehensively delineate overarching MetS risk., (© 2024 World Obesity Federation.)

Objectives: Given the innovative nature of the method, our study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of body mass index (BMI)-adjusted calf circumference (CC) in older patients who are hospitalized., Methods: This was a unique analysis as part of other cohorts comprising general hospitalized patients aged 60 years or older of both sexes. Only patients with excess weight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 ) were included. CC was adjusted by reducing 3, 7, or 12 cm for BMI (in kg/m 2 ) within 25-29.9, 30-39.9, and ≥40 kg/m 2 , respectively. CC was considered low if ≤ 34 cm for males and ≤ 33 cm for females. Clinical outcomes included prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality., Results: A total of 222 patients were included. After BMI adjustments, 72.1% of the patients were reclassified from a normal CC category to a low CC category. The frequency of low CC increased from 33.8% to 81.9% following BMI adjustments. Among those reclassified to the low CC, 11 died, compared to only 2 patients in the group that maintained a normal CC classification. BMI-adjusted CC was inversely associated with mortality (HR adjusted 0.84, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.95), but not with prolonged LOS., Conclusions: Our novel study highlights the prognostic value of BMI-adjusted CC. As an anthropometric marker of muscle mass, it proved to be a predictor of mortality in older patients with high BMI. This adjustment is further important because it may help to better detect low muscle mass in these patients where such conditions might be masked., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Ana Paula Trussardi Fayh reports financial support was provided by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. Maria Cristina Gonzalez reports financial support was provided by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. Jarson Pedro da Costa Pereira reports financial support was provided by Coordination of Higher Education Personnel Improvement. Ana Paula Trussardi Fayh reports a relationship with Prodiet Clinical Nutrition that includes: funding grants. Carla M Prado reports a relationship with Abbott Nutrition that includes: consulting or advisory. Carla M Prado reports a relationship with Danone Nutricia Research that includes: consulting or advisory. Carla M Prado reports a relationship with Nestle Health Science that includes: consulting or advisory. Carla M Prado reports a relationship with Pfizer that includes: consulting or advisory. Carla M Prado reports a relationship with AMRA Medical that includes: consulting or advisory. Maria Cristina Gonzalez reports a relationship with Abbott Nutrition that includes: consulting or advisory. Maria Cristina Gonzalez reports a relationship with Danone Nutricia Research that includes: consulting or advisory. Maria Cristina Gonzalez reports a relationship with Nestle Health Science that includes: consulting or advisory. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study aimed to evaluate if combining low muscle mass with additional body composition abnormalities, such as myosteatosis or adiposity, could improve survival prediction accuracy in a large cohort of gastrointestinal and genitourinary malignancies., Methods: In total, 2015 patients with surgically-treated gastrointestinal or genitourinary cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Skeletal muscle index, skeletal muscle radiodensity, and visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue index were determined. The primary outcome was overall survival determined by hospital records. Multivariate Cox hazard models were used to identify independent predictors for poor survival. C-statistics were assessed to quantify the prognostic capability of the models with or without incorporating body composition parameters., Results: Survival curves were significantly demarcated by all 4 measures. Skeletal muscle radiodensity was associated with non-cancer-related deaths but not with cancer-specific survival. The survival outcome of patients with low skeletal muscle index was poor (5-year OS; 65.2%), especially when present in combination with low skeletal muscle radiodensity (5-year overall survival; 50.2%). All examined body composition parameters were independent predictors of lower overall survival. The model for predicting overall survival without incorporating body composition parameters had a c-index of 0.68 but increased to 0.71 with the inclusion of low skeletal muscle index and 0.72 when incorporating both low skeletal muscle index and low skeletal muscle radiodensity/visceral adipose tissue index/subcutaneous adipose tissue index., Conclusion: Patients exhibiting both low skeletal muscle index and other body composition abnormalities, particularly low skeletal muscle radiodensity, had poorer overall survival. Models incorporating multiple body composition prove valuable for mortality prediction in oncology settings., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Objectives: To 1) explore the experience of patients with lung cancer with low muscle mass or muscle loss during treatment and the ability to cope with treatment, complete self-care, and 2) their receptiveness and preferences for nutrition and exercise interventions to halt or treat low muscle mass/muscle loss., Methods: This was a qualitative study using individual semi-structured interviews conducted using purposive sampling in adults with a diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), treated with curative intent chemo-radiotherapy or radiotherapy. Patients who presented with computed tomography-assessed low muscle mass at treatment commencement or experienced loss of muscle mass throughout treatment were included. Data were analysed using thematic analysis., Results: Eighteen adults (mean age 73 ± SD years, 61% male) with NSCLC (76%) treated with chemo-radiotherapy (76%) were included. Three themes were identified: 1) the effect of cancer and its treatment; 2) engaging in self-management; and 3) impact and influence of extrinsic factors. Although experiences varied, substantial impact on day-to-day functioning, eating, and ability to be physically active was reported. Patients were aware of the overall importance of nutrition and exercise and engaged in self-initiated or health professional supported self-management strategies. Early provision of nutrition and exercise advice, guidance from health professionals, and support from family and friends were valued, albeit with a need for consideration of individual circumstances., Conclusion: Adults with NSCLC with or experiencing muscle loss described a diverse range of experiences regarding treatment. The types of support required were highly individual, highlighting the crucial role of personalised assessment of needs and subsequent intervention., Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: N.K. has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition. C.M.P. has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, Nestlé Health Science, Pfizer, and AMRA medical. R.M.D. has previously received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition and Fresenius Kabi. A.U., S.F.F, D.L.B., L.E., L.D., and S.S. report no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Kiss et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of thigh muscle assessed by CT images to predict overall mortality in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This was a multicenter cohort study including adults (≥ 18 years old) newly diagnosed with CRC, who performed a diagnostic computed tomography (CT) exam including thigh regions. CT images were analyzed to evaluate skeletal muscle (SM in cm 2 ), skeletal muscle index (SMI in cm 2 /m 2 ), and skeletal muscle density (SMD in HU). Muscle abnormalities (low SM, SMI, and SMD) were defined as the values below the median by sex. Kaplan-Meyer curves and hazard ratios (HRs) for low SM, SMI and SMD were evaluated for overall mortality, stratified by sex. A total of 257 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients' mean age was 62.6 ± 12.1 years, and 50.2% (n = 129) were females. In males, low thigh SMI was associated with shorter survival (log-rank P = .02). Furthermore, this low thigh SMI (cm 2 /m 2 ) was independently associated with higher mortality rates (HR adjusted 2.08, 95% CI 1.03-4.18). Our additional findings demonstrated that low SMD was independently associated with overall mortality among early-stage patients (I-III) (HR adjusted 2.78, 95% CI 1.26-6.15)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Short-term clinical outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection are generally favorable. However, 15-20% of patients report persistent symptoms of at least 12 weeks duration, often referred to as long COVID. Population studies have also demonstrated an increased risk of incident diabetes and cardiovascular disease at 12 months following infection. While imaging studies have identified multi-organ injury patterns in patients with recovered COVID-19, their respective contributions to the disability and morbidity of long COVID is unclear., Methods: A multicenter, observational study of 215 vaccine-naïve patients with clinically recovered COVID-19, studied at 3-6 months following infection, and 133 healthy volunteers without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with recovered COVID-19 were screened for long COVID related symptoms and their impact on daily living. Multi-organ, multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and circulating biomarkers were acquired to document sub-clinical organ pathology. All participants underwent pulmonary function, aerobic endurance (6 min walk test), cognition testing and olfaction assessment. Clinical outcomes were collected up to 1 year from infection. The primary objective of this study is to identify associations between organ injury and disability in patients with long-COVID symptoms in comparison to controls. As a secondary objective, imaging and circulating biomarkers with the potential to exacerbate cardiovascular health were characterized., Discussion: Long-term sequelae of COVID-19 are common and can result in significant disability and cardiometabolic disease. The overall goal of this project is to identify novel targets for the treatment of long COVID including mitigating the risk of incident cardiovascular disease., Study Registration: clinicaltrials.gov (MOIST late cross-sectional study; NCT04525404)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Paterson, White, Beaulieu, Sherrington, Prado, Tandon, Halloran, Smith, McCombe, Ritchie, Pituskin, Haykowsky, Coulden, Emery, Tsui, Wu, Oudit, Ezekowitz and Thompson.)

Objective: To examine the relationship between the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (A-CCI) with body composition and overall survival in patients newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC)., Research Methods and Procedures: In this cohort study, patients (≥ 18 years old) with CRC were followed for 36 months. Computed tomography images of the third lumbar were analyzed to determine body composition, including skeletal muscle area (SMA), skeletal muscle index (SMI), skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Phenotypes based on comorbidity burden assessed by A-CCI and body composition parameters were established., Results: A total of 436 participants were included, 50% male, with a mean age of 61 ± 13.2 years. Approximately half of the patients (50.4%) had no comorbidity, and the A-CCI median score was 4 (interquartile range: 3-6). A higher A-CCI score was a risk factor for 36-month mortality (HR = 3.59, 95% CI = 2.17-5.95). Low SMA and low SMD were associated with a higher A-CCI. All abnormal phenotypes (high A-CCI and low SMA; high A-CCI and low SMD; high A-CCI and high VAT) were independently associated with higher 36-month mortality hazard ( adjusted HR 5.12, 95% CI 2.73-9.57; adjusted HR 4.58, 95% CI 2.37-8.85; and adjusted HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.07-5.22, respectively)., Conclusion: The coexistence of comorbidity burden and abnormal body composition phenotypes, such as alterations in muscle or fat compartments, may pose an additional risk of mortality in patients newly diagnosed with CRC. Early assessment and management of these phenotypes could be crucial in optimizing outcomes in such patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background : Although adolescents with obesity have an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease, a subset maintains a healthy cardiometabolic profile. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors may determine cardiometabolic risk. We aimed to characterize the lifestyle behaviors of adolescents with obesity, compare differences between metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO), and assess associations between lifestyle behaviors and cardiometabolic profiles. Methods : Participants aged 10-18 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95 th percentile were included. Dietary intake (DI) was estimated from 3-day food records, and diet quality (DQ) was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-Canadian Adaptation. Physical activity (PA), body composition, anthropometrics, blood markers, and blood pressure (BP) were objectively measured. MUO was defined as having high triglycerides, BP, glucose, or low high-density lipoprotein. Regression analyses were performed between lifestyle behaviors and cardiometabolic markers. Results : Thirty-nine participants (BMI z-score 2.8 [2.5-3.5], age 12.5 [10.9-13.5] years, 56.4% female) were included. A high proportion of participants failed to meet lifestyle recommendations, particularly for DQ (94.7%, n = 36), fiber (94.7%, n = 36), and PA (90.9%, n = 30). No differences in lifestyle behaviors were found between MUO (59.0%, n = 22) and MHO (41.0%, n = 16). Protein intake was negatively associated with BMI and waist circumference z-scores, fat mass index, insulin resistance, low-density lipoprotein, and C-reactive protein, whereas higher DQ was associated with lower C-reactive protein. Higher light PA levels were associated with lower total cholesterol and triglycerides. Conclusion : Adolescents with either MUO or MHO displayed low adherence to DQ, DI, and PA recommendations; no differences in lifestyle behaviors were found. Protein intake, DQ, and PA were associated with a healthier cardiometabolic profile.

Introduction: Pollution harms the health of people with asthma. The effect of the anti-inflammatory cholinergic pathway in chronic allergic inflammation associated to pollution is poorly understood., Methods: One hundred eight animals were divided into 18 groups (6 animals). Groups included: wild type mice (WT), genetically modified with reduced VAChT (VAChTKD), and those sensitized with ovalbumin (VAChTKDA), exposed to metal powder due to iron pelletizing in mining company (Local1) or 3.21 miles away from a mining company (Local2) in their locations for 2 weeks during summer and winter seasons. It was analyzed for hyperresponsivity, inflammation, remodeling, oxidative stress responses and the cholinergic system., Results: During summer, animals without changes in the cholinergic system revealed that Local1 exposure increased the hyperresponsiveness (%Rrs, %Raw), and inflammation (IL-17) relative to vivarium animals, while animals exposed to Local2 also exhibited elevated IL-17. During winter, animals without changes in the cholinergic system revealed that Local2 exposure increased the hyperresponsiveness (%Rrs) relative to vivarium animals. Comparing the exposure local of these animals during summer, animals exposed to Local1 showed elevated %Rrs, Raw, and IL-5 compared to Local 2, while in winter, Local2 exposure led to more IL-17 than Local1. Animals with VAChT attenuation displayed increased %Rrs, NFkappaB, IL-5, and IL-13 but reduced alpha-7 compared to animals without changes in the cholinergic system WT. Animals with VAChT attenuation and asthma showed increased the hyperresponsiveness, all inflammatory markers, remodeling and oxidative stress compared to animals without chronic lung inflammation. Exposure to Local1 exacerbated the hyperresponsiveness, oxidative stressand inflammation in animals with VAChT attenuation associated asthma, while Local2 exposure led to increased inflammation, remodeling and oxidative stress., Conclusions: Reduced cholinergic signaling amplifies lung inflammation in a model of chronic allergic lung inflammation. Furthermore, when associated with pollution, it can aggravate specific responses related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and remodeling., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background & Aims: Although it is widely recognized that muscle quality significantly influences adverse outcomes in patients with cancer, the precise definition of muscle quality remains elusive. The muscle quality index (MQI), also known as muscle-specific strength, is a relatively recent functional concept of muscle quality. It is obtained through the ratio of muscle strength to muscle mass, but its predictive value in patients with cancer remains unknown. In this study, we explored the prognostic significance of MQI in patients with cancer. Furthermore, we introduce and assess the prognostic potential of a novel muscle quality metric: the strength-to-muscle-radiodensity index (SMRi)., Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted on a prospective cohort study. CT scans were opportunistically used to assess body composition parameters, including skeletal muscle mass (SM in cm 2 ) and muscle radiodensity (SMD in HU) at the third lumbar vertebra (L3). Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured. MQI CT was calculated using the ratio of HGS to SM (cm 2 ). SMRi was calculated as the ratio of HGS to SMD (HU). For analysis purposes, low MQI CT and SMRi were defined using two approaches: statistical cutoffs associated with survival, and median-based distribution data., Results: A total of 250 patients were included (52.8% females, 52% adults, 20-90 years). Gastrointestinal tumors and stage III-IV were the most frequent diagnosis and stages. SMRi and MQI CT were strongly positively correlated (ρ = 0.71 P < 0.001). Individual components of MQI CT and SMRi were also positively correlated. Patients with both low MQI CT and SMRi had shorter survival (log-rank P = 0.023 and P = 0.003, respectively). When applying median distribution cutoffs, SMRi emerged as the most accurate predictor of mortality (HR adjusted 3.18, 95% CI 1.50 to 6.75, C-index: 0.71), when compared to MQI CT (HR adjusted 1.49, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.87, C-index: 0.68)., Conclusion: This study introduces the concept and potential prognostic significance of the SMRi. The physiological and clinical implications of this new index warrant further investigation across a spectrum of diseases, including cancer., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest APTF reports receiving grant for research from Prodiet Medical Nutrition. CMP has received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, Nestlé Health Science, Pfizer, and AMRA Medical. MCG has received honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, and Nestlé Health Science Brazil., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background: Low muscle mass (MM) predicts unfavorable outcomes in cancer. Protein intake supports muscle health, but oncologic recommendations are not well characterized. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of dietary change to attain 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg/day protein diets, and the preliminary potential to halt MM loss and functional decline in patients starting chemotherapy for stage II-IV colorectal cancer., Patients and Methods: Patients were randomized to the diets and provided individualized counseling. Assessments at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks included weighed 3-day food records, appendicular lean soft tissue index (ALSTI) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to estimate MM, and physical function by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test., Results: Fifty patients (mean ± standard deviation: age, 57 ± 11 years; body mass index, 27.3 ± 5.6 kg/m 2 ; and protein intake, 1.1 ± 0.4 g/kg/day) were included at baseline. At week 12, protein intake reached 1.6 g/kg/day in the 2.0 g/kg/day group and 1.2 g/kg/day in the 1.0 g/kg/day group (P = 0.012), resulting in a group difference of 0.4 g/kg/day rather than 1.0 g/kg/day. Over one-half (59%) of patients in the 2.0 g/kg/day group maintained or gained MM compared with 44% of patients in the 1.0 g/kg/day group (P = 0.523). Percent change in ALSTI did not differ between groups [2.0 g/kg/day group (mean ± standard deviation): 0.5% ± 4.6%; 1.0 g/kg/day group: -0.4% ± 6.1%; P = 0.619]. No differences in physical function were observed between groups. However, actual protein intake and SPPB were positively associated (β = 0.37; 95% confidence interval 0.08-0.67; P = 0.014)., Conclusion: Individualized nutrition counselling positively impacted protein intake. However, 2.0 g/kg/day was not attainable using our approach in this population, and group contamination occurred. Increased protein intake suggested positive effects on MM and physical function, highlighting the potential for nutrition to attenuate MM loss in patients with cancer. Nonetheless, muscle anabolism to any degree is clinically significant and beneficial to patients. Larger trials should explore the statistical significance and clinical relevance of protein interventions., Competing Interests: Disclosure KF reports honoraria from Abbott Nutrition. MS reports grant/research support from AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb; consultancy for ISPEN; and honoraria from AstraZeneca, BMS, Merck, IPSEN, Viatris, and Novartis. KM reports grant/research support from Deciphera, Blueprint Medicines, AstraZeneca, and Actuate; advisory role with Pfizer Canada. KP reports grant/research support from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service pRogram); speakers bureau of Abbott Nutrition Health Institute. JA reports honoraria from Danone. MS reports honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Life2Good. ND reports honoraria from Abbott Nutrition. CP reports honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, Nestlé Health Science, Pfizer, and AMRA medical; and investigator-initiated funding from Almased. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Early identification of people at risk of cancer-related malnutrition, low muscle mass (LMM) and sarcopenia is crucial to mitigate the impact of adverse outcomes. This study investigated risk factors associated with LMM, malnutrition and (probable-) sarcopenia and whether these varied in people with or without a history of cancer., Methods: Participants in the UK Biobank, with or without a history of cancer, who completed the Oxford WebQ at the baseline assessment were included. LMM was estimated from fat-free mass derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis, and low muscle strength from handgrip strength, and used to identify probable or confirmed sarcopenia following the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 definition. The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria were applied to determine malnutrition. Generalised linear models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) for associations between risk factors (clinical, functional, nutritional) and study outcomes., Results: Overall, 50,592 adults with (n = 2,287, mean ± SD 59.7 ± 7.1 years) or without (n = 48,305, mean ± SD 55.8 ± 8.2 years) cancer were included. For all participants (PRs [cancer, without cancer]), slow walking pace (PR 1.85; 1.99), multimorbidity (PR 1.72; 1.51), inflammation (PR 2.91; 2.07), and low serum 25(OH)D (PR 1.85, 1.44) were associated with higher prevalence of LMM, while higher energy intake (PR 0.55; 0.49) was associated with lower prevalence. Slow walking pace (PR 1.54 [cancer], 1.51 [without cancer]) and higher protein intake (PR 0.18 [cancer]; 0.11 [without cancer]) were associated with increased or decreased prevalence of malnutrition, respectively regardless of cancer status. Multimorbidity was the only common factor associated with higher prevalence (PR 1.79 [cancer], 1.68 [without cancer]) of (probable-)sarcopenia in all participants., Conclusion: Risk factors for LMM and malnutrition were similar in adults with and without cancer, although these varied between LMM and malnutrition. These findings have implications for the future of risk stratification, screening and assessment for these conditions and the development or modification of existing screening tools., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest NK reports honoraria from Abbott Nutrition Australasia. CP reports honoraria or consulting fees from Abbott Nutrition, Nestle Health Sciences, Nutricia and Pfizer. RD reports honoraria from Abbott Nutrition Australasia and Fresenius Kabi. BB, SFF, ARC, GA, LE and LD have no conflicts of interest to report., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus may play a role in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PC); however, this association remains to be explored in the context of specific PC stages. The objective of this study was to systematically review the evidence for an association between diabetes and overall, early, or advanced PC risk., Materials and Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL) from inception until September 2023. Cohort and case-control studies that assessed PC risk in adult males (≥18 years) associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus or diabetes (if there was no distinction between diabetes type) were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess study bias; those with NOS<7 were excluded. Evidence certainty was assessed with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method., Results: Thirty-four studies (n=26 cohorts and n=8 case-controls) were included. Of these, 32 assessed diabetes and all PC stages combined, 12 included early PC stages, and 15 included advanced PC stages. Our meta-analysis showed diabetes had a protective effect against early PC development (n=11, risk ratio [RR]=0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.61-0.83, I²=84%) but no association was found for combined (n=21, RR=0.95; 95% CI=0.79-1.13, I²=99%) or advanced PC stages (n=15, RR=0.96; 95% CI=0.77-1.18, I²=98%) at diagnosis. According to GRADE, the evidence certainty was very low., Conclusions: Diabetes may be protective against early PC stages, yet evidence linking diabetes to risk across all stages, and advanced PC specifically, is less conclusive. High heterogeneity may partially explain discrepancy in findings and was mostly associated with study design, method used for PC diagnosis, and risk measures. Our results may aid risk stratification of males with diabetes and inform new approaches for PC screening in this group, especially considering the reduced sensitivity of prostate-specific antigen values for those with diabetes., Competing Interests: APP, BRS, FTV, LFMF, SAP, JDL, MLM, PJR, JEV, FMS have nothing to disclose. CMP reports receiving unrelated honoraria and/or paid consultancy from Abbott Nutrition, Nutricia, Nestle Health Science, Pfizer, and AMRA medical but she made no influence on this work in relation with the companies or their products., (Copyright © 2024 Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology.)

Purpose: Patients with cancer often experience nutritional challenges and are vulnerable to muscle mass loss. While substantial research is directed towards understanding how nutritional interventions affect clinical outcomes, insights into patients' personal experiences during these trials remain limited. This qualitative study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of how participation in the Protein Recommendations to Increase Muscle (PRIMe) trial affected patients' relationships with food., Methods: A subset of patients who completed a minimum of one follow-up visit in the PRIMe trial participated in a semi-structured interview about their experience implementing dietary modifications to increase protein intake. Data from 26 patients with a recent diagnosis of stage II-IV colorectal cancer (non-cachectic) were included. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and qualitative content analysis was applied., Results: Most patients were male (65.4%) with stage II or III (69.2%) colorectal cancer and were a mean age of 57 ± 10 years. Five key themes emerged to provide a deeper understanding of patients' relationship with food after the PRIMe trial: (1) new positive perspectives on nutrition and coping with a cancer diagnosis; (2) embracing a comprehensive approach to food and nutrition; (3) facilitators promoting adherence to the intervention; (4) barriers challenging adherence to the intervention; and (5) shaping future dietary intake., Conclusion: This qualitative study explored the emotional and psychological effects of a clinical nutrition trial on patients, focusing on their relationship with food. It underscored the trial's comprehensive intervention and its enduring influence on patients, extending beyond the immediate intervention phase. The role of current perspectives, motivation, and knowledge acquisition on ability to adhere to dietary changes to increase protein intake were emphasized by patients and are key considerations for both clinicians and researchers., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02788955; registration posted on 2016-06-02., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Pulmonary emphysema is a primary component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a life-threatening disorder characterized by lung inflammation and restricted airflow, primarily resulting from the destruction of small airways and alveolar walls. Cumulative evidence suggests that nicotinic receptors, especially the α7 subtype (α7nAChR), is required for anti-inflammatory cholinergic responses. We postulated that the stimulation of α7nAChR could offer therapeutic benefits in the context of pulmonary emphysema. To investigate this, we assessed the potential protective effects of PNU-282987, a selective α7nAChR agonist, using an experimental emphysema model. Male mice (C57BL/6) were submitted to a nasal instillation of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) (50 µl, 0.667 IU) to induce emphysema. Treatment with PNU-282987 (2.0 mg/kg, ip) was performed pre and post-emphysema induction by measuring anti-inflammatory effects (inflammatory cells, cytokines) as well as anti-remodeling and anti-oxidant effects. Elastase-induced emphysema led to an increase in the number of α7nAChR-positive cells in the lungs. Notably, both groups treated with PNU-282987 (prior to and following emphysema induction) exhibited a significant decrease in the number of α7nAChR-positive cells. Furthermore, both groups treated with PNU-282987 demonstrated decreased levels of macrophages, IL-6, IL-1β, collagen, and elastic fiber deposition. Additionally, both groups exhibited reduced STAT3 phosphorylation and lower levels of SOCS3. Of particular note, in the post-treated group, PNU-282987 successfully attenuated alveolar enlargement, decreased IL-17 and TNF-α levels, and reduced the recruitment of polymorphonuclear cells to the lung parenchyma. Significantly, it is worth noting that MLA, an antagonist of α7nAChR, counteracted the protective effects of PNU-282987 in relation to certain crucial inflammatory parameters. In summary, these findings unequivocally demonstrate the protective abilities of α7nAChR against elastase-induced emphysema, strongly supporting α7nAChR as a pivotal therapeutic target for ameliorating pulmonary emphysema., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) often exhibit changes in body composition (BC) which are associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Many studies group colon and rectal cancers together, irrespective of staging, potentially affecting assessment and treatment strategies. Our study aimed to compare BC in patients with CRC focusing on tumor location and metastasis presence. A total of 635 individuals were evaluated, with a mean age of 61.8 ± 12.4 years and 50.2% female. The majority had rectal cancer as the primary cancer site (51.0%), and 23.6% had metastatic disease. The first regression model showed tumor site and metastasis as independent factors influencing skeletal muscle (SM), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and visceral adipose tissue variability (all p values < 0.05). The second model, adjusted for BMI, indicated tumor site as the primary factor affecting SMI variations (adjusted R 2  = 0.50 p < 0.001), with colon tumors inversely associated with SM (standardized β - 2.15(- 3.3; - 0.9) p < 0.001). A third model, considering all the confounders from the directed acyclic graphs, was constructed and the found association remained independent. Our findings highlight significant BC variations in patients with CRC, influenced by tumor location and metastases presence, underscoring the need for location-specific assessment in CRC management., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, affects neuronal cells, causing several symptoms such as memory loss, anosmia and brain inflammation. Curcuminoids (Me08 e Me23) and curcumin (CUR) are derived from Curcuma Longa extract (EXT). Many therapeutic actions have been linked to these compounds, including antiviral action. Given the severe implications of COVID-19, especially within the central nervous system, our study aims to shed light on the therapeutic potential of curcuminoids against SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in neuronal cells. Here, we investigated the effects of CUR, EXT, Me08 and Me23 in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y. We observed that Me23 significantly decreased the expression of plasma membrane-associated transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and TMPRSS11D, consequently mitigating the elevated ROS levels induced by SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, Me23 exhibited antioxidative properties by increasing NRF2 gene expression and restoring NQO1 activity following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both Me08 and Me23 effectively reduced SARS-CoV-2 replication in SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing ACE2 (SH-ACE2). Additionally, all of these compounds demonstrated the ability to decrease proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-17, while Me08 specifically reduced INF-γ levels. Our findings suggest that curcuminoid Me23 could serve as a potential agent for mitigating the impact of COVID-19, particularly within the context of central nervous system involvement., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Sarcopenic obesity is characterized by a concurrent decline in muscle mass and function, along with increased adipose tissue. Sarcopenic obesity is a growing concern in older adults owing to significant health consequences, including implications for mortality, comorbidities and risk of developing geriatric syndromes. A 2022 consensus statement established a new definition and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity. The pathophysiology of this condition involves a complex interplay between muscle, adipose tissue, hormonal changes, inflammation, oxidative stress and lifestyle factors, among others. Sarcopenic obesity is treated with a range of management approaches, such as lifestyle interventions, exercise, nutrition and medical therapies. Emerging therapies that were developed for treating other conditions may be relevant to sarcopenic obesity, including novel pharmacological agents and personalized approaches such as precision medicine. In this Review, we synthesize the current knowledge of the clinical importance of sarcopenic obesity, its assessment and diagnosis, along with current and emerging management strategies., (© 2024. Springer Nature Limited.)

Prolonged exposure to iron powder and other mineral dusts can threaten the health of individuals, especially those with COPD. The goal of this study was to determine how environmental exposure to metal dust from two different mining centers in Brazil affects lung mechanics, inflammation, remodeling and oxidative stress responses in healthy and elastase-exposed mice. This study divided 72 male C57Bl/6 mice into two groups, the summer group and the winter group. These groups were further divided into six groups: control, nonexposed (SAL); nonexposed, given elastase (ELA); exposed to metal powder at a mining company (SAL-L1 and ELA-L1); and exposed to a location three miles away from the mining company (SAL-L2 and ELA-L2) for four weeks. On the 29th day of the protocol, the researchers assessed lung mechanics, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), inflammation, remodeling, oxidative stress, macrophage iron and alveolar wall alterations (mean linear intercept-Lm). The Lm was increased in the ELA, ELA-L1 and ELA-L2 groups compared to the SAL group (p < 0.05). There was an increase in the total number of cells and macrophages in the ELA-L1 and ELA-L2 groups compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Compared to the ELA and SAL groups, the exposed groups (ELA-L1, ELA-L2, SAL-L1, and SAL-L2) exhibited increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, neutrophil elastase, TIMP-1, MMP-9, MMP-12, TGF-β, collagen fibers, MUC5AC, iNOS, Gp91phox, NFkB and iron positive macrophages (p < 0.05). Although we did not find differences in lung mechanics across all groups, there were low to moderate correlations between inflammation remodeling, oxidative stress and NFkB with elastance, resistance of lung tissue and iron positive macrophages (p < 0.05). Environmental exposure to iron, confirmed by evaluation of iron in alveolar macrophages and in air, exacerbated inflammation, initiated remodeling, and induced oxidative stress responses in exposed mice with and without emphysema. Activation of the iNOS, Gp91phox and NFkB pathways play a role in these changes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)