Bioelectrical Impedance Measurements Research Articles

Allometric fat mass index and alanine aminotransferase attenuate the associations of platelet parameters with lung cancer risk

We have previously shown that body mass index attenuates a positive association of platelet count (PLT) and inverse of mean platelet volume (MPV) with lung cancer risk in men. It is unclear whether fat mass, lean mass, or liver function tests (LFTs) show similar attenuations. Using bioelectrical impedance measurements (UK Biobank cohort) and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, we examined the associations of allometric fat-mass index (AFI, fat mass adjusted for height), allometric lean-mass index (ALI, fat-free mass adjusted for height and fat mass), and LFTs with lung cancer risk and their multiplicative and additive interactions with platelet parameters. Based on 1573 lung cancer cases in men and 1473 in women with body composition measurements (1541 in men; 1428 in women with biomarker measurements), AFI in women, ALI in both sexes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin in men were inversely associated, while gamma-glutamyl transferase in men and alkaline phosphatase in both sexes were positively associated with lung cancer risk. Only AFI and ALT interacted inversely with PLT and positively with MPV in men. The attenuation of the associations of platelet parameters with lung cancer risk by high-AFI and high-ALT in men suggests that adiposity-related factors hinder lung-cancer-related platelet associations.

Assessing Pain Levels Using Bioelectrical Impedance in Low Back Pain Patients: Clinical Performance Evaluation

Background/Objectives: Musculoskeletal pain is one of the leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide and has a negative impact on daily life and quality of life. Methods: The purpose of this study was to analyze the electrical characteristics of back pain by measuring and calculating bioelectrical impedance variables (R, Z, PA) in 85 subjects (45 in the Healthy group and 40 in the LBP group). Additionally, impedance measurements were conducted on 20 subjects (10 in the Young group and 10 in the Older group) to assess the impact of aging. Results: Bioelectrical impedance parameter values were higher in cases of back pain, and correlation analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the Healthy and LBP groups (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between impedance parameters and pain related indices (ODI, RMDQ, VAS) (mean R, Z, PA: 0.68, 0.54, 0.75), with BMI positively correlating only with PA (0.493). Diagnostic accuracy for detecting back pain exceeded 95% (R, Z, PA: 0.984, 0.984, 0.963). Conclusions: Results indicated that aging did not significantly affect impedance values. The bioelectrical impedance measurement device used in this study, with its simultaneous diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, proved useful for real-time pain diagnosis and treatment monitoring, highlighting its potential clinical utility.

Primary and residual cardiometabolic risk factors among young adults in a Russian city

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality and a significant contributor to temporary and permanent disabilities worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the burden of primary and residual cardiometabolic risk factors in a sample of young adults in the Russian city of Kazan.MethodsThis case-control study used the Cardiometabolic Disease Staging (CMDS) classification system, which has been validated in several countries. The study included 191 individuals aged 25–44 years who met the inclusion criteria but did not meet any exclusion criteria. Data collection involved a patient card with questions from the World Health Organization’s STEPS instrument, face-to-face patient interviews, and a physical examination. Anthropometric assessments included height, weight, and waist circumference measurements. Body composition was evaluated using bioelectrical impedance measurements. Patients also underwent in-depth laboratory biochemical analyses.ResultsThe study cohort was comprised of 97 females (50.8%) and 94 males (49.2%). The median age of participants was 35.00 years [IQR: 30.00–39.00]. The study cohort showed an increase in all anthropometric parameters, with abdominal obesity and overweight reaching 100% in the CMDS 3. Apart from atherogenic lipids and raised blood pressure, other risk factors that precipitate residual risk and were not part of CMDS, such as insulin levels, insulin resistance, leptin values, and hyperuricemia, increased as CMDS levels increased.ConclusionsThe prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors was high in young adults in Kazan. This study highlights the need for the early identification and management of cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults to prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases later in life.

Signal Acquisition and Algorithm Design for Bioimpedance-Based Heart Rate Estimation from the Wrist

Background: Heart rate (HR) is a critical biomarker that provides insights into overall health, stress levels, and the autonomic nervous system. Pulse wave signals contain valuable information about the cardiovascular system and heart status. However, signal acquisition in wearables poses challenges, particularly when using electrical sensors, due to factors like the distance from the heart, body movement, and suboptimal electrode placement. Methods: Electrical bioimpedance (EBI) measurements using bipolar and tetrapolar electrode systems were employed for pulse wave signal acquisition from the wrist in both perpendicular and distal configurations. Signal preprocessing techniques, including baseline removal via Hankel matrix methods, normalization, cross-correlation, and peak detection, were applied to improve signal quality. This study describes the combination of sensor-level signal acquisition and processing for accurate wearable HR estimation. Results: The bipolar system was shown to produce larger ΔZ(t), while the tetrapolar system demonstrated higher sensitivity. Distal placement of the electrodes yielded greater ΔZ(t) (up to 0.231 Ω) when targeting both wrist arteries. Bandpass filtering resulted in a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), achieving 3.6 dB for the best bipolar setup and 4.8 dB for the tetrapolar setup, compared to 2.6 and 3.3 dB SNR, respectively, with the Savitzky–Golay filter. The custom HR estimation algorithm presented in this paper demonstrated improved accuracy over a reference method, achieving an average error of 1.8 beats per minute for the best bipolar setup, with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 8%. Conclusions: The analysis supports the feasibility of using bipolar electrode setups on the wrist and highlights the importance of electrode positioning relative to the arteries. The proposed signal processing method, featuring a preprocessing pipeline and HR estimation algorithm, provides a proof-of-concept demonstration for HR estimation from EBI signals acquired at the wrist.

Parenteral nutrition infusion has no clinical implications for bioelectrical impedance measurements in chronic intestinal failure patients.

Parenteral nutrition infusion has no clinical implications for bioelectrical impedance measurements in chronic intestinal failure patients.

PSIII-29 Evaluating the efficacy of bioelectrical impedance analysis using machine learning models for the classification of parasitized goats

Abstract Rapid identification and evaluation of animal health condition is one of the most important concerns when it comes to livestock productivity, particularly for small ruminants susceptible to infection from blood-feeding gastrointestinal nematodes, like Haemonchus contortus. The present study was designed to optimize the process of differentiating parasite infected goats from healthy goats. This study used male intact Spanish goats (n = 65), aiming to establish a proof of concept for the efficacy of bioelectrical impedance, specifically through the metrics of Resistance, and Reactance, in identifying the health status of goats. The research involved the development and comparative analysis of seven machine learning (ML) models, divided into four classification-based models and three regression models, to assess their capabilities in accurately classifying goats based on bioelectrical properties. The data for this study were gathered from live animals using CQR 3.0 (Sea food analytics), with measurements taken from both ear and tail ends to ensure comprehensive and reliable bioelectrical readings. Among the classification models evaluated, the Random Forest Classification model emerged as the most effective, demonstrating a validation accuracy of 71.8% and a testing accuracy of 77.1%. This was closely followed by the K-NN Classification model, which showed a promising testing accuracy of 86.7%. Conversely, the Support Vector Machines and Boosting Classification models displayed decreased accuracies, indicating variability in the performance of classification models in this context. The regression models, evaluated through metrics such as Mean Squared Error (MSE) and R-square, revealed the K-NN Regression model as the most proficient, with the least Test MSE of 0.13 and an R-square of 0.482. This suggests a moderate correlation and predictive capability in determining the health status of goats based on bioelectrical impedance measurements. The Decision Tree Regression and Support Vector Regressor models showed varying degrees of effectiveness, with the latter indicating a minimal R-square value, highlighting the challenges in applying regression models to this domain. The conducted proof of concept research not only underscores the potential of bioelectrical impedance analysis in veterinary diagnostics, but also opens avenues for further refinement of ML algorithms in classifying and predicting the health status of farm animals. The outcomes of this study could significantly influence management strategies for small ruminants, offering a non-invasive, rapid, and potentially cost-effective tool for early detection of parasitism, thereby enhancing animal welfare and productivity in the agricultural sector.

Open, Active-Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Correlation between Whole Body DEXA and BIA Muscle Measurements.

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for diagnosing sarcopenia. However, comparative studies using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) would be required in the Korean population. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between total-body bone density measuring devices (Hologic and GE Lunar) and a bioelectrical impedance measurement device (InBody 970) as well as the correlation between upper body muscle mass. A total of 119 participants were involved in this study, aged 20 to 70 years, with specific body mass index ranges and no severe health conditions used both DXA (or DEXA) and BIA technologies to assess body composition. The participants were scanned using a Hologic QDR-4500W DXA scanner and GE-Lunar Prodigy DXA systems, and the InBody 970 type of multi-frequency BIA machine. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between the devices, with a coefficient of at least 0.8. The muscle mass measurement comparisons between the InBody 970 and Hologic devices demonstrated remarkably high correlation coefficients (exceeding 0.9) across all limbs. Similarly, the muscle mass comparison between the Inbody 970 and GE Lunar devices also revealed substantial correlation coefficients, ranging from 0.83 upwards, across all limbs. Limb muscle mass measurements using Hologic and GE Lunar whole-body DXA and Inbody 970 BIA demonstrated particularly high levels of concordance. In addition, a conversion formula that bridges limb muscle mass measurements from two widely used whole-body DXA machines and a BIA machine will facilitate sarcopenia research and patient management.

PPG and Bioimpedance-Based Wearable Applications in Heart Rate Monitoring—A Comprehensive Review

The monitoring of hemodynamic parameters, such as heart rate and blood pressure, provides valuable indications of overall cardiovascular health. It is preferable that such monitoring is non-invasive and in real time via an affordable, compact and small-scale device for maximum convenience. Numerous literature sources have exploited derivations of these parameters from photoplethysmogram (PPG) and electrical bioimpedance (EBI) signal measurements through the use of calculation algorithms of varying complexity. Compared to electrocardiogram (ECG), these measurement techniques have a merit of well-established practices of designing a wearable device that could conveniently be put on a wrist. The current paper provides a comprehensive review on the use of PPG and EBI measurement techniques in the context of hemodynamic parameter monitoring using a wearable device. A special emphasis is placed on the most basic hemodynamic parameter—heart rate—describing different algorithms of heart rate detection and monitoring. The last section provides an overview of commercially available and in-home wearable device technologies based on PPG and EBI measurements, their design challenges, and future prospects.

Classification of Laboratory Test Outcomes for Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients Using Cellular Bioelectrical Measurements.

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients often face complications like anemia, malnutrition, and cardiovascular issues. Serological tests, which are uncomfortable and not frequently conducted, assist in medical assessments. A non-invasive, convenient method for determining these test results would be beneficial for monitoring patient health. This study develops machine learning models to estimate key serological test results using non-invasive cellular bioelectrical impedance measurements, a routine procedure for ESKD patients. The study employs two machine learning models, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF), to determine key serological tests by classifying cell bioelectrical indicators. Data from 688 patients, comprising 3,872 biochemical-bioelectrical records, were used for model validation. Both SVM and RF models effectively categorized key serological results (albumin, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone) into low, normal, and high. RF generally outperformed SVM, except in classifying calcium levels in women. The machine learning models effectively classified serological test results for maintenance hemodialysis patients using cellular bioelectrical indicators, therefore can help in making judgments about physicochemical indicators using electrical signals, thereby reducing the frequency of serological tests.

Impact of volume indices in bioelectrical impedance measurement on the assessment of cardiac function indices by echocardiography in hemodialysis patients

Introduction Cardiovascular events resulting from volume overload are a primary cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is significantly valuable for assessing the volume status of hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this article, we explore the correlation between the volume index measured by BIA and the cardiac function index assessed by echocardiography (ECG) in HD patients. Methods Between April and November 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving randomly selected 126 maintenance HD patients. Comprehensive data on medical history and laboratory test results were collected. Subsequently, we investigated the correlation between volume indices measured by BIA and cardiac function parameters by ECG. Results We discovered a significant correlation between the volume indices measured by BIA and various parameter of cardiac function. The Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) group exhibited higher levels of the percentage of Extracellular Water (ECW%) and the percentage of Total Body Water (TBW%) compared to the Non-LVH group. Extracellular Water (ECW) and Third Interstitial Fluid Volume (TSFV) were identified as independent risk factors for Left Ventricular Mass (LVM), and both demonstrated a high predictive value for LVM. ECW% emerged as an independent risk factor for the Left Ventricular Mass Index (LVMI), with a high predictive value for LVMI. Conclusion ECW and TSFV were found to be positively associated with cardiac function parameters in HD patients.

Asymmetry in Body Composition Variables of Youth Athletes

Assessing bilateral differences in paired anthropometric features is an important methodological problem in sports anthropology. The present study included 128 adolescent female athletes (59 rhythmic gymnasts, 58 tennis players, and 11 swimmers). Body composition components were determined using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance measurements (analyzer InBody 170). Asymmetry coefficients of muscle and fat mass accumulation in the upper (AA) and lower (AL) limbs were calculated using the Nacheva` equation (1986). The percentiles method was applied to distribute the bilaterally studied anthropometric features according to the mean values of the units of asymmetry (UA). Wilkoxon-test was used to assess the statistically significant differences in paired variables. Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to determine the differences in UA between three assessed athlete groups, depending on their age. The differences in body composition components between rhythmic gymnasts (RG), tennis players (TP), and swimmers (SW) were well expressed in all assessed age groups. The most considerable inter-group differences were observed in terms of the asymmetry coefficient in the lean body mass (LBM) with a right direction and body fat mass with a left direction for upper limb fat mass (%, kg), which have signed the highest values in the tennis players group, followed by the RG on the same age. Swimmers had significantly the lowest values of UA for all body segments. A close relation was found between asymmetry in body composition variables and the type of sports activity. Tennis was found as a sport with more pronounced inter-limbs asymmetry.

Assessment of the correlation between the occurrence of fine movements of the hand, pre-frailty, and body composition in the elderly

PurposeThe main objective of the study was to evaluate the correlations between fine movements of the hand, the tissue composition of the upper limb, and the occurrence of frailty syndrome in elderly people in the Polish population.MethodsThe study included 998 individuals living alone aged 60 to 87 years. Anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance measurements were taken, tests of motor skills of the upper limbs and functional efficiency were performed, and the phenotype of physical weakness was assessed.ResultsParticipants identified as pre-frailty were observed to score less favourably in motor skills tests compared to other participants. The significance of the differences between the males and females was confirmed for most tests of precision, coordination, and speed of the upper limbs, in addition to the number of aiming errors. A correlation was observed between reduced fine movements of the hand and age, reduced functional efficiency, and low muscle mass of the upper limbs. Of all the included hand motor tests, only hand tremor scores in the stability test did not affect the risk of pre-frailty.ConclusionsThe study showed a significant, positive correlation between the fine movements of the hand, mainly with the weight and strength of the muscles of the upper limb, and negative in the case of the risk of frailty syndrome. It is advisable to focus on programs to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity, which translates into health and quality of life.

The effects of Phoniatric PREhabilitation in Head and Neck Cancer patients on Aspiration and Preservation of Swallowing (PREHAPS): study protocol of a monocentric prospective randomized interventional outcome-blinded trial

BackgroundDysphagia, with its negative impact on life expectancy and quality of life, is a major side effect of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In a typical Head and Neck Cancer Center, more than half of patients are affected. Improving treatment, and ideally prevention respectively prehabilitation, therefore seems more than desirable.MethodsThe study is planned as a monocentric, prospective, outcome-blinded, randomized interventional study comparing an advanced phoniatric-logopedic prehabilitation with a control (standard of care). Seventy patients (30 control group, 30 intervention group, 10 drop-out rate of 15%) with an initial diagnosis of invasive HNSCC and curative treatment intention will be included over a period of 17 months. In addition to the previous standard, both groups will undergo both detailed subjective assessment of swallowing function and quality of life by means of various questionnaires and objective analyses by bioelectrical impedance measurements and phoniatric endoscopic swallowing examinations. In the intervention group, risk-related nutritional counseling (face-to-face) and phoniatric-logopedic prehabilitation are provided: detailed counseling with video demonstration and exercises to strengthen and improve the range of motion of the oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal muscles (guided by exercise diary). Controls are performed at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months, and 9 or 12 months after the end of therapy during the regular tumor follow-up. Primary study endpoints are swallowing function and emotional distress at 6 weeks of control visit.DiscussionPrehabilitation measures have already proven successful in other patient groups, e.g., transplant patients. In the field of head and neck oncology, interest in such concepts has increased significantly in recent years. However, usually, only subgroups, e.g., patients with swallowing problems after radiochemotherapy alone, are in focus. Our study aims to investigate the general benefit of prehabilitation with regard to swallowing function, which is so important for protection of aspiration and quality of life.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00029676. International Clinical Trials Registry Platform DRKS00029676. Registered on 19 July 2022.

Serum afamin and its implications in adult growth hormone deficiency: a prospective GH-withdrawal study.

Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is associated with a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS), which contributes to the unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile in these patients. Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a widely used biomarker, however it does not always reflect the cardiometabolic risk and has a poor relationship with clinical efficacy endpoints. Consequently, there is an unmet need for biomarkers to monitor responses to GH-replacement. Afamin is a hormone-like glycoprotein, expressed in the liver. Higher afamin levels are strongly associated with MS and insulin resistance (IR). Although both MS and IR are very common in AGHD, afamin has not been investigated in these patients. To investigate afamin as a potential biomarker in patients with AGHD. Participants included 20 AGHD patients (11 GH-substituted and 9 GH-unsubstituted) and 37 healthy controls. Subjects underwent routine laboratory examinations, anthropometric measurements, body composition analysis using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody720) and measurement of serum afamin concentrations. In GH-substituted subjects, GH-substitution was withdrawn for 2 months. Measurements were carried out right before GH-withdrawal, at the end of the 2-month withdrawal period, and 1 month after reinstituting GH-replacement therapy (GHRT). GH-unsubstituted patients demonstrated higher afamin levels compared to controls (p=0.03). Afamin positively correlated with skeletal muscle mass, bone mineral content, total body water, extracellular- and intracellular water content, insulin (all, p<0.01), HOMA-IR (p=0.01) and C-peptide (p=0.03) levels in AGHD but not in healthy controls. In GH-substituted patients 2-month of GH-withdrawal caused significant changes in body composition, including decreased fat-free mass, skeletal muscle mass, total body water, and intracellular water content (all, p<0.01); but these changes almost fully recovered 1 month after reinstituting GHRT. Unexpectedly, afamin levels decreased after GH-withdrawal (p=0.03) and increased with reinstitution (p<0.01). Changes of afamin levels during GH-withdrawal positively correlated with changes of HOMA-IR (r=0.80; p<0.01) and changes of insulin (r=0.71; p=0.02). Higher afamin levels in unsubstituted AGHD patients might indicate severe metabolic dysregulation. Significant changes accompanying GH-withdrawal and reinstitution, along with strong correlations with measures of IR, suggest that afamin could be a promising biomarker to monitor GHRT-associated changes of insulin sensitivity.

BODY COMPOSITION USING DXA VERSUS BIA IN A MIXED COHORT OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

https://youtu.be/pzOWeEl1S_s BACKGROUND Body composition assessment is an important clinical and research tool. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the ‘gold standard’ and useful in the research environment, however, it is expensive, reliant on a trained technician, requires a large space, and is immoveable. Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) measurements have improved with the application of 8-electrode multifrequency units and could offer faster, cheaper, and portable alternative if measurements are comparable. The purpose of this study was to determine how well bone mineral content (BMC), lean body mass (LBM), and fat mass measurements made with BIA compared to those made with DXA. METHODS 46 (36 female) college students [avg 21.2 yr, 167.2 cm, 67.2 kg, 28.9% fat; 6 Asian, 4 Hispanic, 3 Black] had their BIA and DXA whole body composition measured within minutes of each other. Three compartments were compared BIA vs DXA: BMC, fat mass, and LBM. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were determined. RESULTS Absolute fat mass (r=0.95), lean mass (r=0.98), and BMC (r=0.91) were highly correlated between the assessment methods. CONCLUSIONS A quadripolar multifrequency BIA device can be a valid body composition surrogate in research environments using college students when a DXA machine is impractical to use.w

Predictors of sustained physical activity: behaviour, bodily health, and the living environment.

This study examined the determinants of sustained physical activity. Eighty-four participants undertook a 7-weeks walking regime (i.e., a 1-h biometrically-monitored walk, at least 5days/week), with bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and total cholesterol capillary blood measurements performed before and after programme. To investigate behavioural habit formation, 7weeks after walking termination, all participants were interviewed and (health) re-tested. Data were modelled with an artificial neural network (ANN) cascading algorithm. Our results highlight the successful prediction of continued physical activity by considering one's physical fitness state, the environmental living context, and risk for cardiovascular disease. Importantly, those artificial neural network models also taking body mass index (BMI) and blood cholesterol as predictors excel at predicting walking continuation (i.e., predictions with 93% predictability). These results are first to highlight the type and importance of available physiological drivers in maintaining a sustained physical activity regime such as walking. They are discussed within the framework of habit formation and the nowadays health and/or wellbeing focus.

Reduced skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio is independently associated with reduced cognitive function in type 2 diabetes mellitus

AimSkeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio (SVR) has been recognised as an index of sarcopenic obesity. SVR is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome and arterial stiffness which are known risk factors for cognitive dysfunction. We aimed to investigate association between SVR and cognitive function in patients with T2DM. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 1326 patients with T2DM and mean age 61.3 ± 8.0 years. SVR was assessed based on bioelectrical impedance measurements of muscle mass and visceral fat area (VFA). Cognitive function was assessed using Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Linear regression was used to examine the association between SVR in quartiles and RBANS score, adjusting for demographics, education, presence of depressive symptoms, clinical covariates and medications. ResultsThe lower SVR quartiles were negatively associated with RBANS total score in the unadjusted analysis. The corresponding coefficients for Quartiles 1 and 2 SVR were −3.79 (95 % CI −5.39 to −2.19; p < 0.001) and −1.47 (95 % CI −2.86 to −0.07; p = 0.039) in fully adjusted analysis. The negative association between Quartile 1 SVR and RBANS score was evident in immediate memory, delayed memory, visuo-spatial construction, language and attention domains. Muscle mass and VFA alone had weaker associations with RBANS scores. ConclusionOur study demonstrated, for the first time, an independent association between reduced SVR and lower cognitive function. This is evident in global and multiple cognitive domains. The synergistic effects of reduced muscle mass and visceral obesity may be more pronounced than their independent effects on cognitive function.

A differentiated approach to the diagnosis of overweight and obesity in children based on bioimpedance analysis of body composition.

Aim: The current study introduces a novel diagnostic algorithm employing bioimpedance analysis to comprehensively evaluate body composition in children, assessing fat content, skeletal muscle content, and fat distribution. Materials and Methods: Bioelectrical impedance measurements were obtained using the TANITA MC-780 MA analyzer. Indicators such as body weight, BMI, total fat content, absolute limb muscle mass, skeletal muscle strength, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were assessed. A sample of 101 children aged 9 to 14 were studied using the proposed algorithm, refining BMI-based classifications. Results: The algorithm comprises three steps, categorizing children based on fat content, presence of sarcopenia, and central fat distribution. It identified diverse somatotypes within the groups classified by BMI. Notably, it revealed prognostically unfavorable somatotypes, such as sarcopenic obesity with central fat distribution, highlighting potential health risks. Current BMI-centric diagnoses may misclassify cardiometabolic risks, making early detection challenging. The algorithm enables a detailed evaluation, unmasking metabolically unfavorable conditions like sarcopenic obesity. The incorporation of functional tests, such as a standardized hand-grip test, enhances diagnostic accuracy. The proposed WHR indicator for characterizing fat distribution provides a practical method for determining somatotypes in children. Conclusions: This comprehensive algorithm offers an alternative to BMI-based classifications, enabling early detection of obesity and associated risks. Further validation through large-scale epidemiological studies is essential to establish correlations between somatotypes and cardiometabolic risks, fostering a more nuanced and individualized approach to pediatric obesity management.

Sensitivity study of a locally developed six electrode focused impedance method.

The Focused Impedance Method (FIM) is a new technique of electrical bioimpedance measurements in the human body. The idea originated in Bangladesh and provides an opportunity for localized measurement of bioimpedance down to reasonable depths from the body surface using skin surface electrodes. This has potential applications for physiological studies of targeted organs in the body and in detecting or diagnosing diseases and disorders. FIM is based on the age-old Tetra-Polar Impedance Measurement (TPIM) but provides a few significant improvements. Technology must be developed indigenously to obtain long-term benefits, particularly in Low and Medium Income countries (LMIC). This paper presents an experimental sensitivity study of the six-electrode version of the Focused Impedance method (FIM-6) with the circuit and phantom indigenously designed in Nepal. The work involved sensitivity studies of both FIM-6 and TPIM with the necessary circuit blocks developed through experimental validation. The sensitivity studies were performed on a simple 2D phantom with different electrode arrangements for FIM-6 and linear TPIM. A cylindrical object was placed at different positions for this study. The FIM-6 gave a high sensitivity in the central part, which remained almost constant within a small region that may be termed as the focused region. On the other hand, TPIM results fell off sharply away from the central point, making it unsuitable for practical measurements on target organs. Besides, there were areas with large negative sensitivities in TPIM, which were much smaller in FIM. The results obtained through this work clearly show the improvement offered by FIM over TPIM.

Factors associated with the dietary patterns of children with precocious puberty

Objectives To investigate the nutritional status and factors associated with dietary patterns, sociodemographic variables and physical activity practice in children diagnosed with central precocious puberty (CPP). Methods Cross-sectional study with 85 female children aged 10 years with a diagnosis of CPP. Nutritional assessment was performed through body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and body composition by measurements of skinfolds (SF) and bioelectrical impedance (BIA). The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used, followed by varimax orthogonal rotation to identify dietary patterns, and Poisson regression to verify associations between variables, using a significance level of 5%. Results The group had a mean age of 8.4 years (1.30) and lived mostly in urban areas (52 – 61.2%). Excess weight was observed in 64.7% according to the BMI, 32.9% according to the WC and 63.5% according to body fat%. Two main dietary patterns were identified: the “western” and the “healthy” patterns. The identified dietary patterns were not associated with nutritional status, assessed according to all considered indicators. WC and body fat% were inversely associated with physical activity practice (PR=1.96, CI=1.12-3.43) and directly associated with the individuals’ urban area of residence (PR=0.63, CI= 0. 42-0.94), respectively. Conclusion: The results showed a high prevalence of excess weight, which was inversely associated with physical activity practice and directly with urban area of residence, although nutritional status is not associated with the identified dietary patterns. These results highlight the need for educational and informative measures to fight obesity.