Multicenter research in dialysis centers in Brazil: recruitment and implementation of the SARC-HD study.

Introduction: Multicenter research initiatives in Brazilian dialysis centers are scarce. We described the recruitment and implementation phases of the SARC-HD study, aimed at investigating sarcopenia and its impact on adverse clinical outcomes.

Methods: The SARC-HD is a cohort study being conducted with patients on hemodialysis in Brazil.

Serum myostatin levels are associated with physical function and hospitalization in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Myostatin functions as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. The association of myostatin with muscle parameters in dialysis patients is inconsistent, and there are no studies associating myostatin with physical function and outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Therefore, we assessed the association of serum myostatin with lean mass, physical function, and hospitalization in a prospective cohort of PD patients.

Handgrip Strength Thresholds are Associated With Malnutrition Inflammation Score (MIS) in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: The aim is to verify the association between nutritional status and muscle strength, considering handgrip strength (HGS) cutoffs associated with sarcopenia and mortality.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis, including hemodialysis patients. Malnutrition Inflammation Score (MIS) was used to assess nutritional status.

Sarcopenia diagnosis in patients receiving hemodialysis: Agreement among different consensuses.

Background: There are many consensuses to diagnose sarcopenia, and their agreement in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) is not clear. We described the sarcopenia prevalence in patients receiving HD using different consensuses and analyzed their level of agreement.

Methods: Sixty-seven patients (43 men, 55 ± 14.

Spatial Ventilation Inhomogeneity Determined by Electrical Impedance Tomography in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.

The aim of this study was to examine whether electrical impedance tomography (EIT) could determine the presence of ventilation inhomogeneity in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) from measurements carried out not only during conventional forced full expiration maneuvers but also from forced inspiration maneuvers and quiet tidal breathing and whether the inhomogeneity levels were comparable among the phases and higher than in healthy subjects. EIT data were acquired in 52 patients with exacerbated COPD (11 women, 41 men, 68 ± 11 years) and 14 healthy subjects (6 women, 8 men, 38 ± 8 years). Regional lung function parameters of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV), forced inspiratory vital capacity (FIVC), forced inspiratory volume in 1 s (FIV), and tidal volume (V ) were determined in 912 image pixels.

According to Revised EWGSOP Sarcopenia Consensus Cut-Off Points, Low Physical Function Is Associated With Nutritional Status and Quality of Life in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the association of nutritional status and quality of life with low physical function, according to the revised European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) - sarcopenia consensus cut-offs in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Design And Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Participants were submitted to a single evaluation of physical function, nutritional status, and quality of life.

Association of Phase Angle, but Not Inflammation and Overhydration, With Physical Function in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Muscle mass depletion, overhydration, and inflammatory state have been related to impaired physical function in chronic kidney disease patients. The relationship between bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) parameters, such as hydration status and phase angle (PhA), with physical function in peritoneal dialysis (PD), is still not well-established. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the association of BIA parameters (overhydration index and PhA) and inflammatory markers with physical function in patients on PD.

Age, diabetes mellitus, and dialysis modality are associated with risk of poor muscle strength and physical function in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Due to the poor outcomes associated with the impairment of physical function and muscle strength in patients on maintenance dialysis, it is important to understand the factors that may influence physical function and muscle strength. The aim of this study was to explore the factors associated with physical function in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Methods: Patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis for at least 3 months, aged 18 years old or above, were enrolled.

A Comparison of Dietary Intake Between Individuals Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis in the United Kingdom and China.

Objective: Protein-energy wasting is highly prevalent in people with end-stage kidney disease receiving regular hemodialysis. Currently, it is unclear what the optimal nutritional recommendations are, which is further complicated by differences in dietary patterns between countries. The aim of the study was to understand and compare dietary intake between individuals receiving hemodialysis in Leicester, UK and Nantong, China.

Vitamin D and skeletal muscle: A narrative review focusing on chronic kidney disease and dialysis.

Morphological, molecular, and physiological effects of vitamin D on skeletal muscle have been analyzed both in animals and humans. Vitamin D may be a potential therapeutic for increasing muscle mass and function. The presence of vitamin D receptors in skeletal muscle cells is already established.

Which Method Should Be Used to Assess Protein Intake in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients? Assessment of Agreement Between Protein Equivalent of Total Nitrogen Appearance and 24-Hour Dietary Recall.

Objectives: After dialysis initiation, a high protein diet is recommended due to significant nutrient losses through dialysate and increased risk of protein energy wasting. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, protein intake can be assessed through different methods that have some advantages and limitations, which affect its use on routine care. The aim of this study is to evaluate the agreement between 2 different methods (24-hour dietary recall and PNA-protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance) on estimating protein intake in PD patients.

Multimodal remote chest monitoring system with wearable sensors: a validation study in healthy subjects.

Objective: Development of wearable medical technology for remote monitoring of patients suffering from chronic lung diseases may improve the care, therapy and outcome of these patients.

Approach: A multimodal system using wearable sensors for the acquisition of multiple biosignals (electrical bioimpedance of the chest for electrical impedance tomography and respiratory rate assessment, peripheral oxygen saturation, chest sounds, electrocardiography for heart rate measurement, body activity, and posture) was developed and validated in a prospective, monocentric study on 50 healthy subjects. The subjects were studied under different types of ventilation (tidal and deep breathing, forced full expiration maneuver) and during increased body activity and posture changes.

Correction: Update of the European consensus on sarcopenia: what has changed in diagnosis and prevalence in peritoneal dialysis?

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Role of parathyroid hormone in anorexia on maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Background And Aim: Anorexia, which is a common condition in patients on hemodialysis (HD), is characterized by impaired appetite, a subjective condition that hinders anorexia diagnosis. Anorexia is frequently associated with protein energy wasting and inflammation, increasing morbidity and mortality risk. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between appetite and nutritional, inflammatory, hormonal, and dietary intake parameters in patients on maintenance HD.

Regional lung function in nonsmokers and asymptomatic current and former smokers.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is able to detect rapid lung volume changes during breathing. The aim of our observational study was to characterise the heterogeneity of regional ventilation distribution in lung-healthy adults by EIT and to detect the possible impact of tobacco consumption. A total of 219 nonsmokers, asymptomatic ex-smokers and current smokers were examined during forced full expiration using EIT.

Update of the European consensus on sarcopenia: what has changed in diagnosis and prevalence in peritoneal dialysis?

Patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) may be affected by sarcopenia, which is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder characterized by muscle mass atrophy with decline of muscle strength and function. The aim was to evaluate differences in the diagnosis and prevalence of sarcopenia according to European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP). The screening for sarcopenia was performed in PD patients older than 18 years, with evaluation of appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI), handgrip strength (HGS) and gait speed (GS).

Twelve weeks of supervised exercise improves self-reported symptom burden and fatigue in chronic kidney disease: a secondary analysis of the 'ExTra CKD' trial.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients experience a high symptom burden including fatigue, sleep difficulties, muscle weakness and pain. These symptoms reduce levels of physical function (PF) and activity, and contribute to poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Despite the gathering evidence of positive physiological changes following exercise in CKD, there is limited evidence on its effect on self-reported symptom burden, fatigue, HRQoL and physical activity.

Performance of new spirometry reference values in preoperative assessment of lung function.

Background: Pulmonary function is not routinely assessed in patients without respiratory disease and symptoms before surgery, even if they are smokers. We aimed to check whether the new spirometric reference values of the worldwide Global Lung Initiative (GLI) affected the preoperative assessment of lung function in allegedly lung-healthy patients compared with the still commonly used old predicted values.

Methods: Two hundred nineteen allegedly lung-healthy non-smokers, past and current smokers were examined by spirometry before elective surgery.

Wearable Sensors for Frequency-Multiplexed EIT and Multilead ECG Data Acquisition.

This paper presents a wearable sensor architecture for frequency-multiplexed electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and synchronous multilead electrocardiogram (ECG) data acquisition. The system is based on a novel electronic sensing architecture, called cooperative sensors, that significantly reduces the cabling complexity and enables flexible EIT stimulation and measurement patterns. The cooperative-sensor architecture was initially designed for ECG and has been extended for multichannel bioimpedance measurement.