Sarcopenic obesity and brain health: A critical appraisal of the current evidence.

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a body composition phenotype derived from the simultaneous presence in the same individual of an increase in fat mass and a decrease in skeletal muscle mass and/or function. Several protocols for the diagnosis of SO have been proposed in the last two decades making prevalence and disease risk estimates of SO heterogeneous and challenging to interpret. Dementia is a complex neurological disorder that significantly impacts patients, carers and healthcare systems.

Ethnicity-specific patterns of epigenetic age acceleration in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an age-related chronic inflammatory disease which may include accelerated biological ageing processes in its pathogenesis. To determine if increased biological age is associated with risk of RA and/or is present once disease is established. We used DNA methylation to compare biological age (epigenetic age) of immune cells in adults at risk of RA and those with confirmed RA, including twins discordant for RA.

Deconditioning in quiescent Crohn's Disease patients with heightened fatigue perception.

Background & Objective: IBD fatigue aetiology is poorly understood. This study quantified body composition and physical function alongside proton magnetic resonance imaging (1H MRI) and spectroscopy (31P MRS) measures of organ structure and function in quiescent Crohn's Disease patients (CD) and healthy volunteers (HV), to identify a physiological basis for IBD fatigue.

Methods: Body composition was determined using DEXA and 1H MRI.

Effect of medium-chain triglycerides and whey protein isolate preloads on glycaemia in type 2 diabetes: a randomized crossover study.

Background: Small nutritional preloads can reduce postprandial glucose excursions in individuals with and without metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, most studies have focused on preloads administered before single meals and have predominantly used protein-based preloads.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of sequential consumption of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and whey protein isolate (WPI) preloads before breakfast, lunch, and dinner on postprandial, diurnal, and 24-h glycaemia in individuals with T2D.

Nicotinic acid improves mitochondrial function and associated transcriptional pathways in older inactive males.

Objectives: To examine the effect of the NAD precursor, nicotinic acid (NA), for improving skeletal muscle status in sedentary older people.

Methods: In a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled design, 18 sedentary yet otherwise healthy older (65-75 y) males were assigned to 2-weeks of NA (acipimox; 250 mg × 3 daily, n=8) or placebo (PLA, n=10) supplementation. At baseline, and after week 1 and week 2 of supplementation, a battery of functional, metabolic, and molecular readouts were measured.

Influence of CReatine Supplementation on mUScle Mass and Strength After Stroke (ICaRUS Stroke Trial): A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background/objectives: The acute phase of stroke is marked by inflammation and mobility changes that can compromise nutritional status. This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of creatine supplementation for older people during seven days of hospitalization for stroke compared to usual care.

Method: The primary outcome measures were changes in functional capacity, strength, muscle mass, and muscle degradation.

Correlation between Altmetric Attention Scores and citation scores across the high impact-factor journals each in Medicine, Surgery, and Anaesthesia.

Background: Citation scores (CS) are traditionally used to measure the impact of scientific publications. Altmetric Attention Scores (AAS), in contrast, consider the digital dissemination of articles across social media platforms to track their audience reach. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the correlation between AAS and CS in 12 high-impact-factor journals in the category of 'Clinical Medicine'.

A critical approach to research on perioperative pain management.

Optimal postoperative pain management is a prerequisite for enhancing functional recovery after surgery. However, many studies assessing analgesic interventions have limitations. Consequently, further improvements in study design are urgently needed.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the perioperative period: current controversies and concerns.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-specific inhibitors provide significant analgesic and opioid-sparing benefits. However, these analgesics are commonly avoided owing to concerns of potential adverse effects. The evidence for NSAID-related adverse effects is conflicting and of poor quality, and these analgesics are safer than what has been implied.

Impact of Senescent Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Innate Immune Cell Function.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are components of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that influence cellular functions via their cargo. Here, the interaction between EVs derived from senescent (SEVs) and non-senescent (N-SEVs) fibroblasts and the immune system is investigated. Via endocytosis, SEVs are phagocytosed by monocytes, neutrophils, and B cells.

Postprandial plasma aminoacidemia and indices of appetite regulation following pea-rice blend, pea isolate and whey protein ingestion in healthy young adults.

Plant-derived proteins are often deficient in essential amino acids and have lower rates of digestibility than animal-derived proteins. Blending different plant-derived proteins could compensate for these deficiencies and may augment postprandial aminoacidemia over single-source plant proteins. This study assessed plasma amino acids and appetite hormones, appetite sensations and energy intake following ingestion of a pea-rice protein blend (BLEND), compared with pea-only (PEA) and whey (WHEY) protein.

1-year health outcomes associated with systemic corticosteroids for COVID-19: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: In patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring supplemental oxygen, dexamethasone reduces acute severity and improves survival, but longer-term effects are unknown. We hypothesised that systemic corticosteroid administration during acute COVID-19 would be associated with improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 1 year after discharge.

Methods: Adults admitted to hospital between February 2020 and March 2021 for COVID-19 and meeting current guideline recommendations for dexamethasone treatment were included using two prospective UK cohort studies (Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 and the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium).

Cross-education of lower limb muscle strength following resistance exercise training in males and females: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cross-education describes the training of one limb that leads to performance enhancements in the contralateral untrained limb, driven by neural changes rather than muscle adaptation. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cross-education (vs. a control group) via resistance exercise training (RET) for improving muscle strength in the untrained lower limb of healthy males and females.

Exploring the utility of ultrasound to assess disuse atrophy in different muscles of the lower leg.

Background: Skeletal muscle is a highly plastic tissue crucial for many functions associated with whole-body health across the life course. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the current gold standard for measuring skeletal muscle size. However, MRI is expensive, and access to facilities is often limited.

Application of a new definition of sarcopenic obesity in middle-aged and older adults and association with cognitive function: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002.

Background & Aims: The role of sarcopenic obesity (SO) in impaired cognitive function has been investigated in several observational studies, but results have been mixed. This study applied the proposed European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN)-European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) definition of SO to a representative population aged ≥50 years to identify the association between SO and cognitive function.

Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002 waves were used.

Blood Biomarkers of Long COVID: A Systematic Review.

Background: Long coronavirus disease (COVID; LC) affects millions of people worldwide. The exact mechanisms which result in a broad, undulating and detrimental symptom profile remain unknown. Blood biomarkers associated with LC have been described; however, consensus on these remains elusive, in part due to a lack of continuity between studies on a universally accepted definition of LC.