Foundation For The National Institutes Of Health Research Articles

Mapping the causal associations of cytokines with sarcopenia and aging traits: Evidence from bidirectional Mendelian randomization.

Cytokines and growth factors may serve as a bridge in studying the causal relationships between inflammaging and sarcopenia due to their roles in inflammaging. In this study, we aim to explore the causal association of cytokines with sarcopenia and aging traits and further identify the significant inflammation factors. Bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to identify the causality. Forty-one kinds of circulation cytokines and growth factors were set as exposures, and the data were from a summary genome-wide association study (GWAS) containing three cohorts with 8293 healthy participants of European ancestry from 1983 to 2011. Hand grip strength, adjusted appendicular lean mass (AALM), usual walking pace, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels, able to walk or cycle unaided for 10min (AWCU10) and telomere length were selected as outcomes. Data for outcomes were obtained from meta-GWAS and the UK Biobank, and sample sizes ranged from 69537 to 472174. Low hand grip strength was defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) cut-off points, respectively. Other outcome traits were defined and measured according to the UK Biobank and raw cohorts' criteria. We set two significance thresholds for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with exposures to obtain adequate SNPs (5×10-6 and 5×10-8). Inverse-variance weighted, MR-Egger and weighted median were employed to estimate the causality. Twenty-seven factors were identified to relate to sarcopenia and aging traits causally, and most were associated with only one outcome trait. IL16 (interleukin-16), CTACK (cutaneous T-cell attracting chemokine), MIP1b (macrophage inflammatory protein 1b) and PDGFbb (platelet-derived growth factor BB) were proven to relate causally to at least one sarcopenia and aging trait in both analyses with two significance thresholds. IL16 was causally associated with hand grip strength (0.977 [0.956-0.998] for EWGSOP and 0.933 [0.874-0.996] for FNIH), AALM (0.991 [0.984, 0.998]), MVPA (0.997 [0.995-1.000]) and AWCU10 (1.008 [1.003-1.013]). CTACK was proven to relate causally to hand grip strength (1.013 [1.007-1.019] for EWGSOP and 1.090 [1.041-1.142] for FNIH), AWCU10 (0.990 [0.986-0.994]) and telomere length (0.998 [0.983-0.994]). The results indicated that MIP1b has a causal effect on hand grip strength (1.032 [1.001-1.063] for EWGSOP), AWCU10 (0.994 [0.988-1.000] and 0.993 [0.988-0.998]) and telomere length (1.006 [1.000-1.012]). PDGFbb may causally relate to AALM (1.016 [1.001-1.030]) and telomere length (1.011 [1.007-1.015]). Reserve MR analyses also proved their unidirectional causal effects. Twenty-seven factors were causally related to sarcopenia and aging traits, and the causal effects of IL16, CTACK, MIP1b and PDGFbb were proven in both analyses with two significance thresholds.

Sarcopenia in subjects with Alzheimer’s disease: prevalence and comparison of agreement between EGWSOP1, EGWSOP2, and FNIH criteria

BackgroundSarcopenia is an age-related clinical syndrome characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and muscle strength. It appears to be closely linked to dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, its prevalence among AD patients remains unclear. In this study, we assessed differences in sarcopenia prevalence between non-demented individuals and AD patients. Moreover, we assessed sex-specific differences in sarcopenia prevalence and explored the diagnostic value of the Muscle Quality Index (MQI) for diagnosing sarcopenia among AD patients.MethodCross-sectional study including 145 patients with probable AD and 51 older adults with normal cognition. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2) and of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). The MQI was computed as the ratio of handgrip strength to skeletal muscle mass.ResultsNo significant difference in sarcopenia prevalence was observed between AD patients and controls. Prevalence ranged from 3.4 to 23.4% in AD patients and from 2 to 11.8% in controls, depending on diagnostic criteria. Prevalence was higher using EWGSOP1 and decreased using EWGSOP2 and FNIH. Prevalence was higher in males than in females with AD. The MQI was lower in AD patients than in controls (95%CI: − 0.23, − 0.05, p < 0.001), but displayed poor diagnostic accuracy in identifying sarcopenia cases.ConclusionsAD patients and controls show comparable sarcopenia prevalence. Sarcopenia prevalence is higher in males than females among AD patients and higher when using EWGSOP1 compared to FNIH and EWGSOP2 criteria.

Performance of Radiological and Biochemical Biomarkers in Predicting Radio-Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis Progression.

Imaging biomarkers permit improved approaches to identify the most at-risk patients encountering knee osteoarthritis (KOA) progression. This study aimed to investigate the utility of trabecular bone texture (TBT) extracted from plain radiographs, associated with a set of clinical, biochemical, and radiographic data, as a predictor of long-term radiographic KOA progression. We used data from the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Biomarkers Consortium dataset. The reference model made use of baseline TBT parameters adjusted for clinical covariates and radiological scores. Several models based on a combination of baseline and 24-month TBT variations (TBT∆TBT) were developed using logistic regression and compared to those based on baseline-only TBT parameters. All models were adjusted for baseline clinical covariates, radiological scores, and biochemical descriptors. The best overall performances for the prediction of radio-symptomatic, radiographic, and symptomatic progression were achieved using TBT∆TBT parameters solely, with area under the ROC curve values of 0.658 (95% CI: 0.612-0.705), 0.752 (95% CI: 0.700-0.804), and 0.698 (95% CI: 0.641-0.756), respectively. Adding biochemical markers did not significantly improve the performance of the TBT∆TBT-based model. Additionally, when TBT values were taken from the entire subchondral bone rather than just the medial, lateral, or central compartments, better results were obtained.

Association between the sarcopenia-related traits and Parkinson's disease: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study

ObjectiveTo explore the causal association between sarcopenia-related traits and Parkinson's disease by Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. MethodsA genome-wide association study (GWAS) of sarcopenia-related traits was done at the UK Biobank (UKB). The traits were appendicular lean mass, low hand grip strength (including the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) criteria and usual walking pace. The International Parkinson's Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC) gave us GWAS data for Parkinson's disease (PD). We used three different types of MR analyses: including Inverse-variance weighted (IVW), Mendelian randomized Egger regression (MR-Egger), and weighted median methods (both weighted and simple modes). ResultsThe MR analysis showed that low hand grip strength was negatively associated with the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, including EWGSOP criterion (odds ratio (OR) = 0.734; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.575–0.937, P = 0.013) and FNIH criterion (OR = 0.619; 95% CI = 0.419–0.914, P = 0.016), and usual walking pace was also a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (OR = 3.307, 95% CI = 1.277–8.565, P = 0.014). ConclusionsIn European population, low hand grip strength is negatively associated with the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, and usual walking pace is also a risk factor for Parkinson's disease. Further exploration of the potential genetic mechanisms underlying hand grip strength and Parkinson's disease and the potential relationship between walking pace, balance, and falls in Parkinson's patients may help to reduce the burden of sarcopenia and Parkinson's disease.

Higher ultra processed foods intake is associated with low muscle mass in young to middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional NHANES study.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become a pressing global health concern, prompting investigations into their potential association with low muscle mass in adults. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 10,255 adults aged 20-59 years who participated in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) during cycles spanning from 2011 to 2018. The primary outcome, low muscle mass, was assessed using the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) definition, employing restricted cubic splines and weighted multivariate regression for analysis. Sensitivity analysis incorporated three other prevalent definitions to explore optimal cut points for muscle quality in the context of sarcopenia. The weighted prevalence of low muscle mass was 7.65%. Comparing the percentage of UPFs calories intake between individuals with normal and low muscle mass, the values were found to be similar (55.70 vs. 54.62%). Significantly linear associations were observed between UPFs consumption and low muscle mass (P for non-linear = 0.7915, P for total = 0.0117). Upon full adjustment for potential confounding factors, participants with the highest UPFs intake exhibited a 60% increased risk of low muscle mass (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.26, P for trend = 0.003) and a decrease in ALM/BMI (β = -0.0176, 95% CI: -0.0274 to -0.0077, P for trend = 0.003). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the consistency of these associations, except for the International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS) definition, where the observed association between the highest quartiles of UPFs (%Kcal) and low muscle mass did not attain statistical significance (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.87, P for trend = 0.082). Our study underscores a significant linear association between higher UPFs consumption and an elevated risk of low muscle mass in adults. These findings emphasize the potential adverse impact of UPFs on muscle health and emphasize the need to address UPFs consumption as a modifiable risk factor in the context of sarcopenia.

Diagnostic Criteria and Measurement Techniques of Sarcopenia: A Critical Evaluation of the Up-to-Date Evidence.

Sarcopenia, a geriatric syndrome characterized by progressive skeletal muscle mass and function decline, poses a significant health risk among the elderly, contributing to frailty, falls, hospitalization, loss of independence and mortality. The prevalence of sarcopenia varies significantly based on various factors, such as living status, demographics, measurement techniques and diagnostic criteria. Although the overall prevalence is reported at 10% in individuals aged 60 and above, disparities exist across settings, with higher rates in nursing homes and hospitals. Additionally, the differences in prevalence between Asian and non-Asian countries highlight the impact of cultural and ethnic factors, and variations in diagnostic criteria, cut-off values and assessment methods contribute to the observed heterogeneity in reported rates. This review outlines diverse diagnostic criteria and several measurement techniques supporting decision making in clinical practice. Moreover, it facilitates the selection of appropriate tools to assess sarcopenia, emphasizing its multifactorial nature. Various scientific groups, including the European Working Group of Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP), the International Working Group on Sarcopenia (IWGS), the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia (AWGS), the American Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) and the Sarcopenia Definition and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC), have published consensus papers outlining diverse definitions of sarcopenia. The choice of diagnostic criteria should be aligned with the specific objectives of the study or clinical practice, considering the characteristics of the study population and available resources.

Sizing and mending of appendicular muscle mass for hydration during the 12-lead electrocardiogram: True incidence of sarcopenia in heart failure.

Our aim was to develop and evaluate a method for the measurement of muscle mass during the 12-channel electrocardiogram (ECG), to determine the incidence of sarcopenia in patients with overhydration and to correct it for congestion. A 12-channel ECG that simultaneously provided multifrequency segmental impedance data was used to measure total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), ECW/TBW ratio and appendicular muscle mass (AppMM), validated by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The mean ECW/TBW ratio was 0.24±0.018 (SD) and 0.25±0.016 for young (age range 20-25years) healthy males (n=77) and females (n=88), respectively. The deviation of the ECW/TBW ratio from this mean was used to correct AppMM for excess ECW ('dry AppMM') in 869 healthy controls and in 765 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) New York Heart Association classes II-IV. The association of AppMM and dry AppMM with grip strength was also examined in 443 controls and patients. With increasing N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a continuous decline of AppMM indices is observed, which is more pronounced for dry AppMM indices (for males with NT-proBNP<125pg/mL: AppMM index mean=8.4±1.05, AppMM index dry mean=8.0±1.46 [n=201, P<0.001]; for females with NT-proBNP<150pg/mL: AppMM index mean=6.4±1.0, AppMM index dry mean=5.8±1.18 [n=198, P<0.001]; for males with NT-proBNP>1000pg/mL: AppMM index mean=7.6±0.98, AppMM index dry mean=6.2±1.11 [n=137, P<0.001]; and for females with NT-proBNP>1000pg/mL: AppMM index mean=5.9±0.96, AppMM index dry mean=4.8±0.94 [n=109, P<0.001]). The correlation between AppMM and upper-body AppMM and grip strength (r-value) increased from 0.79 to 0.83 (P<0.001) and from 0.80 to 0.84 (P<0.001), respectively, after correction (n=443). The decline of AppMM with age after correction for ECW is much steeper than appreciated, especially in males: In patients with CHF and sarcopenia, the incidence of sarcopenia may be up to 30% higher after correction for ECW excess according to the European (62% vs. 57%, for males, and 43% vs. 31%, for females) and Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) (56% vs. 46%, for males, and 54% vs. 38%, for females) consensus guidelines. The incidence of sarcopenia in CHF as defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia and FNIH consensus may be up to 30% higher after correction for ECW excess. This correction improves the correlation between muscle mass and strength. The presented technology will facilitate, on a large scale, screening for sarcopenia, help identify mechanisms and improve understanding of clinical outcomes.

Predictive Capability of 5 Sarcopenia Diagnostic Criteria for Fall Incidents in Older Japanese Women: The Otassha Study.

The association between sarcopenia diagnosis according to various diagnostic criteria and falls is unclear. We examined the association between sarcopenia defined by 5 different international criteria, and fall and injurious fall numbers among older community-dwelling Japanese women. Prospective observational study. Two population-based cohort studies in Itabashi, Japan, were integrated, including 552 community-dwelling Japanese women >75years of age. Muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance were assessed by bioimpedance analysis, handgrip strength, and gait speed, respectively. We recorded the fall and injurious fall numbers for 1year using a diary. The association between sarcopenia diagnosis defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019, European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), International Working Group on Sarcopenia, and Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia, and Wasting Disorders, and fall numbers was assessed by Poisson regression analysis to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% CI for the presence or absence of sarcopenia. Of 470 participants (mean age 77.1 ± 8.1years), 144 reported a combined 352 falls. Overall, 80 individuals experienced a single fall, 64 experienced multiple falls, and 91 experienced injurious falls. Sarcopenia defined by the AWGS 2019 (IRR 1.39, 95% CI 1.10-1.76) and FNIH (IRR 2.55, 95% CI 1.99-3.26) was significantly associated with the number of falls. In addition, sarcopenia defined by the FNIH (IRR 2.72, 95% CI 1.84-4.03) was significantly associated also with the number of injurious falls. No significant association was observed between sarcopenia diagnosis based on the other definitions and fall outcomes. The AWGS 2019 and FNIH sarcopenia definitions were associated with the fall and injurious fall numbers in older Japanese women, indicating they can help in predicting falls in this population.

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and the role and contributions of the Private Partners Scientific Board (PPSB).

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) Private Partners Scientific Board (PPSB) encompasses members from industry, biotechnology, diagnostic, and non-profit organizations that have until recently been managed by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) and provided financial and scientific support to ADNI programs. In this article, we review some of the major activities undertaken by the PPSB, focusing on those supporting the most recently completed National Institute on Aging grant, ADNI3, and the impact it has had on streamlining biomarker discovery and validation in Alzheimer's disease. We also provide a perspective on the gaps that may be filled with future PPSB activities as part of ADNI4 and beyond. HIGHLIGHTS: The Private Partners Scientific board (PPSB) continues to play a key role in enabling several Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) activities. PPSB working groups have led landscape assessments to provide valuable feedback on new technologies, platforms, and methods that may be taken up by ADNI in current or future iterations.

DeepKOA: a deep-learning model for predicting progression in knee osteoarthritis using multimodal magnetic resonance images from the osteoarthritis initiative.

No investigations have thoroughly explored the feasibility of combining magnetic resonance (MR) images and deep-learning methods for predicting the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). We thus aimed to develop a potential deep-learning model for predicting OA progression based on MR images for the clinical setting. A longitudinal case-control study was performed using data from the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), composed of progressive cases [182 osteoarthritis (OA) knees with both radiographic and pain progression for 24-48 months] and matched controls (182 OA knees not meeting the case definition). DeepKOA was developed through 3-dimensional (3D) DenseNet169 to predict KOA progression over 24-48 months based on sagittal intermediate-weighted turbo-spin echo sequences with fat-suppression (SAG-IW-TSE-FS), sagittal 3D dual-echo steady-state water excitation (SAG-3D-DESS-WE) and its axial and coronal multiplanar reformation, and their combined MR images with patient-level labels at baseline, 12, and 24 months to eventually determine the probability of progression. The classification performance of the DeepKOA was evaluated using 5-fold cross-validation. An X-ray-based model and traditional models that used clinical variables via multilayer perceptron were built. Combined models were also constructed, which integrated clinical variables with DeepKOA. The area under the curve (AUC) was used as the evaluation metric. The performance of SAG-IW-TSE-FS in predicting OA progression was similar or higher to that of other single and combined sequences. The DeepKOA based on SAG-IW-TSE-FS achieved an AUC of 0.664 (95% CI: 0.585-0.743) at baseline, 0.739 (95% CI: 0.703-0.775) at 12 months, and 0.775 (95% CI: 0.686-0.865) at 24 months. The X-ray-based model achieved an AUC ranging from 0.573 to 0.613 at 3 time points. However, adding clinical variables to DeepKOA did not improve performance (P>0.05). Initial visualizations from gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) indicated that the frequency with which the patellofemoral joint was highlighted increased as time progressed, which contrasted the trend observed in the tibiofemoral joint. The meniscus, the infrapatellar fat pad, and muscles posterior to the knee were highlighted to varying degrees. This study initially demonstrated the feasibility of DeepKOA in the prediction of KOA progression and identified the potential responsible structures which may enlighten the future development of more clinically practical methods.

Prediabetes is associated with loss of appendicular skeletal muscle mass and sarcopenia.

Decreasing mass and metabolism in skeletal muscle are associated with increasing insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The causal relation between sarcopenia and abnormal glucose metabolism may be bidirectional. This investigation is aimed to explore the detailed correlation between pre-diabetes and sarcopenia in United States (US) adults. A total of 22,482 adults aged ≥20 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. Generalized linear models were conducted to examine associations between diabetes status, serum glucose, glycohemoglobin (HbA1c), and sarcopenia. Generalized additive models and smooth fitting curves were used to examine the non-linear relationship between HbA1c and ASMBMI. Sarcopenia was defined as ASMBMI (appendicular skeletal muscle mass/body mass index) < 0.789 for males, and <0.512 for females based on the cut-off values of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Sarcopenia Project. After fully adjusting for multiple covariates, sarcopenia was directly correlated with pre-diabetes [OR (95%CI) = 1.230 (1.057, 1.431), p = 0.008] and T2DM [OR (95%CI) = 2.106 (1.625, 2.729), p < 0.001]. In non-T2DM population, HbA1c was negatively correlated with ASMBMI [β (95%CI) = -0.009 (-0.013, -0.005), p < 0.001]. The correlations only persisted in males. Furthermore, in male non-T2DM population, the association of HbA1c and ASMBMI presents an inverted U-shape curve with an inflection point of HbA1c 5.2%. Pre-diabetes is associated with increased risk of sarcopenia. HbA1c is an independent risk factor for loss of appendicular skeletal muscle mass and sarcopenia when HbA1c greater than 5.2% in the male non-T2DM population.

Association of sarcopenia with important health conditions among community-dwelling Asian women.

This study aimed to examine sarcopenia prevalence using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS) and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) definitions, and their associations with important health conditions affecting midlife Singaporean women. Muscle mass and function were objectively assessed in 1201 healthy community-dwelling subjects aged 45-69 years under the Integrated Women's Health Program (IWHP). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), handgrip strength and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were measured, and the relationship between sarcopenia with hypertension, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), osteoporosis, depression/anxiety, and urinary incontinence were examined using binary logistic regression models. Sarcopenia prevalence was 18.0% and 7.7% by the AWGS and FNIH criteria respectively. Osteoporosis (aOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.94) and T2DM (aOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.42) was positively associated with AWGS- and FNIH-defined sarcopenia respectively, while hypertension was not, after adjustment for age, ethnicity, education levels and menopausal status. A negative percent agreement of 95.6% suggests good agreement between the criteria in the absence of sarcopenia. Even though they represent a single concept, sarcopenia by either criterion differed in their relationships with diabetes and osteoporosis, suggesting the need for further rationalization of diagnostic criteria.

Performance of the SARC-F in identifying low grip strength and physical performance in older adults with cancer

IntroductionRemote, online geriatric assessment (GA) is gaining attention in oncology. Most GA domains can be assessed remotely. However, there is limited evidence identifying reliable tools that can be used in lieu of objective measures of physical function, such as grip strength and physical performance during remote, online GA. In this prospective cohort study, we aimed to assess the performance of the SARC-F, a screening questionnaire for sarcopenia, in identifying low grip strength and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Additionally, we assessed the satisfaction of clinical staff with using the SARC-F in the clinic. Materials and MethodsData were prospectively collected from older adults with cancer of any type and stage who underwent GA in the geriatric oncology clinic of a tertiary cancer centre. Following GA, patients were asked to complete the SARC-F tool. Spearman correlations were performed between objective measures of physical function, SARC-F domains, and SARC-F total score. Additionally, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were assessed to evaluate the performance of SARC-F to detect low grip strength and SPPB. ResultsEighty (n = 80) older adults (mean age: 80 years) with cancer completed the SARC-F. A positive SARC-F was found in 31.3% of the cohort. Moderate correlations were found between the SPPB per point and Assistance in walking (r = −0.69), as well as the SPPB per point and total SARC-F score (r = −0.66). SARC-F exhibited moderate sensitivity in identifying low grip strength using the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) criteria (sensitivity: 64.3%) or the Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (SDOC) criteria (sensitivity: 40.4%). However, specificity was high (>75%) regardless of the criteria applied. Similarly, moderate sensitivity (52.2%), but excellent specificity (97.1%) was found for SPPB. When low grip strength per FNIH was combined with low SPPB, SARC-F demonstrated high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (75.7%). DiscussionSARC-F exhibited promising performance in identifying low grip strength per FNIH and low SPPB combined. To definitively assess the performance of the SARC-F in detecting low grip strength and SPPB, larger studies are warranted.

Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Schizophrenia (AMP® SCZ): developing tools to enable early intervention in the psychosis highrisk state.

Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Schizophrenia (AMP® SCZ): developing tools to enable early intervention in the psychosis highrisk state.

Worsening of Articular Tissue Damage as Defined by Semi-Quantitative MRI Is Associated With Concurrent Quantitative Cartilage Loss Over 24 Months.

To assess the association of worsening of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) semi-quantitative (SQ) tissue features with concurrent change in quantitative (Q) cartilage thickness measurements over 24 months within the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Biomarker Consortium study. In all, 599 participants were included. SQ assessment included cartilage damage, meniscal extrusion and damage, osteophytes, bone marrow lesions (BMLs), and effusion- and Hoffa-synovitis. Change in medial compartment Q cartilage thickness was stratified by concurrent ipsicompartmental SQ changes. Between-group comparisons were performed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Results were presented as adjusted mean difference. Knees with any increase in SQ cartilage scores in the medial compartment (n = 268) showed more Q cartilage loss compared to knees that remained stable (mean adjusted difference [MAD] = -0.16 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [-0.19, -0.13] mm). Knees with any increase in meniscal extrusion in the medial compartment (n = 98) showed more Q cartilage loss than knees without (MAD = -0.18 mm, 95% CI: [-0.22, -0.14] mm. Comparable findings were seen for meniscal damage worsening. Regarding BMLs, an increase by one subregion resulted in a MAD of Q cartilage loss of -0.10 mm, 95% CI: [-0.14, -0.06] mm, while this effect almost tripled for change in two or more subregions. Increase in either effusion- and/or Hoffa-synovitis by one grade resulted in a MAD of -0.07 mm, 95% CI: [-0.10, -0.03] mm. Worsening of SQ cartilage damage, meniscal extrusion and damage, number of subregions affected by BML, maximum size of BMLs and worsening of effusion- and/or Hoffa synovitis is associated with increased Q cartilage loss.

Prevalence of sarcopenia under different diagnostic criteria and the changes in muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function with age in Chinese old adults

BackgroundAt present, there are several diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia were used in China, and the diagnostic criteria were not unified. This study aims to investigate the consistency between the latest sarcopenia diagnostic criteria Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia(AWGS 2019) and other common diagnostic criteria. The changes of muscle mass, muscle strength and physical function with age and their effects on the diagnosis of sarcopenia were also analyzed.MethodsA total of 1009 men aged ≥60 years were enrolled from multiple communities. Skeletal muscle mass index, grip strength and 6 m gait speed were measured. The consistency of AWGS 2019 with other diagnostic criteria was analyzed and the trends of these three indicators were observed. The differences of muscle mass, muscle strength and function among different diagnostic criteria and age groups were evaluated. In addition, the change trends of these three indicators with age were observed.ResultsAccording to AWGS 2019 diagnostic criteria, the incidence of sarcopenia in male aged 60–69 years, 70–79 years and over 80 years was 1.5%, 9.6% and 33.1%, respectively. AWGS 2019 was highly consistent with other diagnostic criteria (Kappa = 0.66–0.80, P < 0.01), except the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health(FNIH) (Kappa = 0.32, P < 0.01). When AWGSA2019 diagnostic criteria are applied, the prevalence of decreased muscle strength (39.1%) and physical function (46.4%) was significantly higher than that of low muscle mass (35.9%) in the men over 80 years old. Muscle strength (P < 0.01) and function (P < 0.01) decreased at the same rate with age, both of which were more significant than muscle mass (P < 0.01).ConclusionAWGS 2019 was highly consistent with other criteria. Maintaining muscle mass should be the focus of attention before age 80, while improving muscle strength and function should be focused after age 80 to prevent disability.

African Centers of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Science: Building Capacity for Enhancing Data Intensive Infectious Diseases Research in Africa.

Africa faces both a disproportionate burden of infectious diseases coupled with unmet needs in bioinformatics and data science capabilities which impacts the ability of African biomedical researchers to vigorously pursue research and partner with institutions in other countries. The African Centers of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Science are collaborating with African academic institutions, industry partners, the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in a public-private partnership to address these challenges through enhancing computational infrastructure, fostering the development of advanced bioinformatics and data science skills among local researchers and students and providing innovative emerging technologies for infectious diseases research.

Sarcopenia in chronic kidney disease: prevalence by different definitions and relationship with adiposity.

This was a cross-sectional study with chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients under non-dialysis-dependent (NDD), hemodialysis (HD), and kidney transplant (KTx) treatment aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) guidelines, and to analyze the relationship between sarcopenia and its components and body adiposity. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and anthropometry. Bioelectrical impedance provided data on the phase angle and body water. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the total sample (n=243; 53% men, 48±10 years) was 7% according to the FNIH and 5% according to the EWGSOP2 criteria, and was low in each CKD group independently of the criteria applied (maximum 11% prevalence). Low muscle mass was present in 39% (FNIH) and 36% (EWGSOP2) and dynapenia in 10% of the patients. Patients who were sarcopenic according to the EWGSOP2 criteria presented low body adiposity. Conversely, patients who were sarcopenic according to the FNIH criteria presented high adiposity. This study suggests that in CKD (i) sarcopenia and low muscle mass prevalence varies according to the diagnostic criteria; (ii) sarcopenia and low muscle mass are common conditions; (iii) the association with body adiposity depends on the criteria used to define low muscle mass; and (iv) the FNIH criteria detected higher adiposity in individuals with sarcopenia. Novelty: Prevalence of sarcopenia and low muscle mass in CKD varied according to the diagnostic criteria. Association of excess adiposity with sarcopenia and low muscle mass depends on muscle mass index applied. FNIH criteria detected higher adiposity in individuals with sarcopenia and low muscle mass.

Sarcopenic Obesity Versus Nonobese Sarcopenia in Hemodialysis Patients: Differences in Nutritional Status, Quality of Life, and Clinical Outcomes

Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO) are linked to unfavorable prognosis in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) populations. We tested whether nonobese sarcopenia and SO, as different stages of extreme protein-energy wasting, have different prognoses. In this prospective observational study, 261 MHD patients were recruited from October 2010 to April 2012 and followed until October 2020. Two definitions were used to diagnose sarcopenia: the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People consensus and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Biomarkers Consortium criteria. Obesity was determined as the percentage of total body fat, ≥27% for men and ≥38% for women. Data for all-cause and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, baseline nutrition markers, inflammation and oxidative stress, adipokines, body composition parameters, handgrip strength, and quality of life (QoL) scores were measured. According to European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People, 115 (44.1%) patients were sarcopenic and 120 (46.0%) according to FNIH definitions. Of them, 28.4% and 34.5% were SO, respectively. Higher levels of albumin, creatinine, uric acid, leptin, phase angle, better nutritional scores, and lower adiponectin levels characterized SO patients compared with nonobese sarcopenic patients regardless of indexing method. Better QoL scores were noted in SO compared with nonobese sarcopenic patients using the FNIH sarcopenia criteria. The hazard of all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and first cardiovascular event for patients with SO was lower compared with the nonobese patients after multivariate adjustments. Statistical significance of these associations disappeared after including fat mass in multivariate models. MHD patients with SO have better nutritional status and prognosis for cardiovascular events, all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, and possibly better QoL compared with nonobese sarcopenic MHD patients. The better prognosis appears to be entirely due to the excess fat, which is protective in sarcopenic MHD patients similar to that described in the entire MHD population.

MRI-ASSESSED INCREASE IN GRADE AND EXTENT OF SUBREGIONAL INVOLVEMENT OF MENISCAL DAMAGE AND BONE MARROW LESIONS DEFINED SEMI-QUANTITATIVELY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CONCURRENT QUANTITATIVELY-DEFINED CARTILAGE THICKNESS LOSS: THE FNIH BIOMARKERS CONSORTIUM STUDY

Purpose: The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) OA Biomarkers Consortium is a nested case-control study based within the larger OAI study. One goal of this study was to determine the association between semiquantitative MRI biomarkers and knee OA progression over 48 months as defined by pre-determined medial radiographic, clinical or combined outcomes. The results of this study showed that worsening of several structural MRI features from baseline to 24 months was associated with increased odds of being a ‘case’ at 48 months (defined as worsening of radiographic OA and worsening of pain).