Fat Thickness Measurements Research Articles

Use of real-time ultrasound measurements of fat thickness and longissimus thoracis muscle characteristics for predicting body fat depots in crossbred hair ewes

Use of real-time ultrasound measurements of fat thickness and longissimus thoracis muscle characteristics for predicting body fat depots in crossbred hair ewes

Epicardial fat and liver stiffness by ARFI elastography in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection without liver disease.

To evaluate the association between increased epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM), as assessed by elastography in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection (PWH). 91 PWH on effective antiretroviral treatment (ART) were enrolled. EFT was measured by transthoracic echocardiography. Liver steatosis was evaluated by ultrasound Hamaguchi criteria and LSM by elastography with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Tecnique. LSM ≥8 Kpa was suggestive of clinically relevant fibrosis. Mean age was 54.3 years and 27.5% were women. EFT correlated with HIV-1 infection duration (rS 0.252, p = 0.016), age at study entry (rS 0.527, p < 0.001), BMI (rS 0.363, p < 0.001), waist circumference (rS 0.549, p < 0.001), HDL (rS -0.391, p < 0.001), triglycerides (rS 0.375, p < 0.001), Hamaguchi score (rS 0.279, p = 0.007), right lobe of the liver (rS 0.259, p = 0.014), Left ventricular mass/Body surface area (rS 0.220, p = 0.036).A LSM ≥8 Kpa was found in 20.9% of PWH, more commonly in those with EFT above the median >5.6 mm (30.4% vs 11.1%, p = 0.038). LSM significantly correlated with EFT (rS 0.274, p = 0.009), CD4+ cells (rS -0.320, p = 0.003) and nadir of CD4+ cells (rS -0.292, p = 0.007).In a subgroup (n = 53), an HOMA-IR index >2.33 identified increased EFT, (AUC 0.73, 95%CI 0.59-0.84, p = 0.001) while an HOMA-IR >3.27 predicted increased LSM (AUC 0.76, 95%CI 0.62-0.87, p = 0.005). PWH with increased EFT have worse metabolic profile and a high proportion of clinically relevant fibrosis at ARFI elastography, despite normal liver function tests. The HOMA-IR index might be used to identify PWH with increased EFT and liver fibrosis.

Anthropometric Formulas Repurposed to Predict Body Fat Content from Ultrasound Measurements of Subcutaneous Fat Thickness

Anthropometric Formulas Repurposed to Predict Body Fat Content from Ultrasound Measurements of Subcutaneous Fat Thickness

Relationship Between Prepatellar Fat Thickness and Bone Mineral Density.

To evaluate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) by measuring the prepatellar fat thickness with knee radiography and to gain a measurement method that has not been done before in the literature. Cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Training and Research Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkiye, between January and June 2020. Patients' age, body mass index (BMI) data, prepatellar fat thickness (mm), L1-L4 total, bone mineral density femoral neck, femur trochanter major, and femur total T scores were recorded. The relationships between these three groups (normal, osteopenia, osteoporosis) and between prepatellar fat tissue measurement were evaluated. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Post Hoc Tukey tests were used in the analysis. A statistically significant difference was found in terms of trochanter major T score measurements (X2 = 20.435; p <0.001) and BMI (X2 = 66.535; p <0.001) measurements of prepatellar fat thickness measurement. A statistically significant difference was found between the three groups in terms of prepatellar fat thickness measurement, L1-4 T-score, femoral neck, and femur total values (p <0.001). Prepatellar fat thickness in postmenopausal Turkish women was positively correlated with BMD; BMD increases as the prepatellar fat thickness increases. This explains that perapatellar fat thickness creates a mechanical load on the bones and causes an increase in BMD. Osteoporosis, Fat thickness, Bone mineral density.

Combined Efficacy of Global Longitudinal Strain and Epicardial Fat Thickness Measurement in Assessing Coronary Artery Disease Severity

ABSTRACT Context: More positive global longitudinal strain (GLS) and higher epicardial fat thickness (EFT) correlate with coronary artery disease (CAD) severity. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the combined efficacy of GLS and EFT measurement in predicting severity of CAD measured by coronary angiography. Study and Design: Prospective, observational study conducted in Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, for 2 years. One thousand patients with ≥50% coronary stenosis were grouped as cases and 500 patients who had normal coronaries or &lt;50% stenosis were taken as controls. Subjects and Methods: EFT and GLS were measured by transthoracic echo and the severity of CAD was by Gensini scoring. Statistical Analysis Used: Mean and standard deviation used for quantitative data and group differences were compared with Student’s t-test. Results: We observed a mean EFT of 7.2 mm ± 1.6 mm and mean GLS of–13.24 ± 1.6 among cases compared to a mean EFT of 3.4 mm ± 0.8 mm and mean GLS of–19.2 ± 1.2 in the controls with P &lt; 0.001. The cutoff values of EFT and GLS for predicting significant CAD were 4.85 mm and 14.9 with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 88%. Conclusion: Combined use of GLS and EFT measurement is less costly and very well correlates with CAD severity.

Does local fat thickness correlate with post-operative infection in open reduction and internal fixation of acetabulum fractures?

Obesity is an epidemic which increases risk of many surgical procedures. Previous studies in spine and hip arthroplasty have shown that fat thickness measured on preoperative imaging may be as or more reliable in assessment of risk of post-operative infection and/or wound complications than body mass index (BMI). We hypothesized that, similarly, increased local fat thickness at the surgical site is a predictor of wound complication in acetabulum fracture surgery. Patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of an acetabulum fracture through a Kocher-Langenbeck (K-L) approach at a single institution from 2013 to 2020 were identified. Pre-operative CT scans were used to measure fat thickness from the skin to the greater trochanter in line with the surgical approach. Post-operative infections and wound complications were recorded and associated with fat thickness and BMI. 238 patients met inclusion criteria. 12 patients had either infection or a wound complication (5.0%). There was no significant association with BMI or preoperative fat thickness on post-operative infection or wound complication (p-value 0.73 and 0.86). There is no statistically significant association of post-operative infection or wound complications in patients with increased soft tissue thickness or increased BMI. ORIF of acetabulum fractures through a K-L approach can be performed safely in patients with large subcutaneous fat thickness and high BMI with low risk of infection or wound complications.

Estimation of Validity of A-Mode Ultrasound for Measurements of Muscle Thickness and Muscle Quality.

This study aimed to determine whether amplitude modulation (A-mode) ultrasound (US) provides accurate and reliable measurements comparable to those obtained using brightness modulation (B-mode) US under diverse conditions. Thirty healthy participants (15 women and 15 men) underwent measurements of subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), muscle thickness (MT), and muscle quality (MQ) in the trapezius and biceps brachii muscles using both US modes before and after exercises designed to stimulate the respective muscles. Among the three key indices, the results demonstrated the high validity of the A-mode, with minimal mean differences (MDs) between the two devices less than 0.91 mm and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) exceeding 0.95 for all measures. In addition, the correlation coefficients between the error scores and average scores for the trapezius and biceps brachii suggested no evidence of systematic error. The trapezius MT and MQ significantly increased, and the biceps brachii MT significantly increased after the exercises (p < 0.05). Notably, both the A- and B-modes exhibited the same trend in these post-exercise changes in the muscle. This study suggests that low-cost and low-resolution A-mode US provides measurements of SFT, MT, and MQ similar to the more expensive, high-resolution B-mode imaging. A-mode US is an affordable and portable alternative for muscle assessment.

Intra- and inter-rater reliability of muscle and fat thickness measurements obtained using portable ultrasonography in older adults

Ultrasonography (US) is a promising tool for assessing body composition, offering accuracy and accessibility. However, technician skills and equipment characteristics can impact measurement reliability. We aimed to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of two evaluators using A-mode Portable Ultrasound to measure muscle and fat thickness in Brazilian older adults. Quantitative cross-sectional study carried out with 150 community-dwelling older adults of Campinas-SP-Brazil, recruited in a retirement preparation program and a geriatric outpatient care unit. Scans of nine anatomical points were performed using the portable ultrasound in A-mode (BodyMetrix Pro System BX2000; Livermore, CA), with 6 scans per location and 3 measurements taken by each evaluator. After the selection and analysis of the generated images, muscle and fat thickness were measured. Reliability estimates between measures of the same evaluator (intra-rater) and between evaluators (inter-rater) were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and differences within and between technicians were assessed using one-way ANOVA. Analyses were carried out for the overall sample and stratified by sex and by nutritional status. Excellent ICC values (>0.90) were found for subcutaneous fat thickness in intra- and inter-rater reliability analyses. The lowest ICC values were observed for deep abdominal fat thickness measured by evaluator 1 (ICC=0.90) and evaluator 2 (ICC=0.87), as well as in the inter-rater analysis (ICC=0.85). Muscle thickness measurements had satisfactory ICC values for triceps, biceps, anterior thigh, and calf, ranging from moderate to good (ICC 0.50-0.90). A portable A-mode ultrasound demonstrates excellent reliability among both intra- and inter-raters for assessing fat thickness but only moderate for muscle thickness in older adults. Hence, this could prompt inquiries regarding the sole reliance on this tool for quantifying muscle mass and examining sarcopenia in older adults. To our knowledge, this study represents the first assessment of reliability for a portable A-mode ultrasound device conducted with older adults.

Ultrasound assessment of malnutrition in infancy: a pilot case-control study

This study aimed at determining the intra- and inter-rater reliability in ultrasound body composition measurements and investigating the differences between malnourished and non-malnourished infants. Sonographic images for measurements of fat and muscle thickness were compared between 9 malnourished and 9 non-malnourished hospitalized infants. The mean of fat and muscle thickness sums were 12.44 ± 7.58 mm and 28.98 ± 7.18 mm, respectively. The intra- and inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficient were above 0.9 for both measurements, indicating high intra- and inter-rater reliability. Compared to non-malnourished infants, malnourished infants have 45% of fat thickness sum and 71% of muscle thickness sum. Ultrasound measurements of body composition in infants were different between hospitalized malnourished and non-malnourished infants. This approach has the potential to be utilized more broadly, from assessing the nutritional status of critically ill infants in intensive care units to screening for malnutrition in high-risk infant populations.

Predicting body fat depots in Katahdin sheep using ultrasound kidney fat thickness measurements

The present study aimed to predict the amount and energy content of body fat depots in Katahdin sheep using ultrasound measurements of kidney fat thickness (uKFT). Twenty-four h before slaughter, the uKFT was measured behind the 13th rib on the right side of 34 animals. After slaughter, data were collected on both carcass and non-carcass components. Internal fat depots were dissected, weighed, and classified as mesenteric (MF), omental (OM), or perirenal (PF) fat and then summed to give the total internal fat (IF) weight. Carcass fat (CF: subcutaneous plus intermuscular fat), muscle, and bone weights were then obtained by manual deboning of the left half of the carcass. Total body fat (TBF) was the sum of IF and CF. Finally, the gross energy content (GE) of IF, CF, and TBF was calculated. The uKFT was moderately to highly associated with internal body fat depots (0.63 ≤ r ≤ 0.83, P < 0.001). In addition, r was 0.76 to 0.86 for IF and CF and had a similar range for GEIF, GECF, and GETBF. To predict internal body fat depots, the equations had an r2 ranging from 0.43 to 0.76, and in these models, the uKFT and empty body weight (EBW) were included (P < 0.05). The equations for IF, CF, GEIF, GECF, and GETBF had an r2 ranging from 0.54 to 0.78. The evaluation showed that the equations had low to moderate precision (> 0.44 ≤ and ≤ 0.78), moderate to high accuracy (> 0.75 ≤ and ≤ 0.99), and moderate to high reproducibility index (> 0.61 and ≤ 0.88). The results indicate that the equations developed from ultrasonic measurements of kidney fat thickness can be used to predict the amount and energy content of body fat depots in Katahdin sheep with moderate accuracy and precision. It also appears that Katahdin sheep store a significant proportion of absorbed energy in the carcass rather than in internal depots.

14–21 éves sportolók klasszikus antropometriai és modern műszeres technikákkal becsült testzsírszázalékának összehasonlító elemzése

Currently, one of the most accurate measurements of body composition components, including the fat content of the body is based on the method of dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The application of the DEXA method in clinical setting is usually limited to the assessment of bone health status due to the device’s cost and immobile nature, therefore in sport diagnostics the body composition estimation is usually carried out with other methods, such as bioimpedance analysis or anthropometrical methods based on the measurement of body dimensions, which ensure a rapid, accurate and frequently repeatable way of examination. For our research goal we choose the comparison of the most frequently used body fat percentage estimation methods. The accuracy of the other methods in the light of the DEXA estimations is presented. Sport Sciences and Diagnostic Research Centre of the Hungarian Handball Federation coordinated the assessment of 171 young elite handball players (14–21-year-olds), whose body composition estimations were performed in the spring and summer of 2023. The preliminary analysis of body fat percentage estimates in handball players carried out with different methods showed that the rapid and cost-efficient estimations based on anthropometric skinfold measurements can substitute the body fat percentage estimation method based on the clinically acclaimed golden standard dual X-ray absorptiometry technology. Body fat percentage estimation via InBody 770 device showed significantly lower values compared to the DEXA method, however this difference was consistent, therefore body composition assessment via InBody device can serve as an alternative of monitoring personal progress and status. We also carried out examinations with a novel ultrasound technology aided by BodyMetrix device, its subcutaneous fat thickness measurement estimated accurately the skinfold thicknesses on human body, its body fat percentage estimation based the skinfold thicknesses was adequately accurate compared to the DEXA method. With the aid of available DEXA measurement results and with the aim of creating an alternative method with low instrument requirement for body fat percentage estimation, which can be used with the highest accuracy particularly considering the body composition of young elite athletes, we created a modified sport-specific body fat percentage estimation equation. Our new estimation method was based on classical anthropometric skinfold measurements, and it accurately correlated with the DEXA body fat% estimates in case of young elite handball players.

The Relationship Between Anthropometric and Ultrasonographic Muscle and Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Measurements and Osteoporosis in Male Patients

The Relationship Between Anthropometric and Ultrasonographic Muscle and Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Measurements and Osteoporosis in Male Patients

Prediction of carcass traits in fattening Chios and Serres lambs using real-time ultrasonography and live body weight measurements pre-slaughter

The objective of this study was to assess the capability of predicting carcass traits and meat cuts weights, in fattening lambs of indigenous Greek dairy sheep breeds, using ultrasound measurements and live body weight measurements pre-slaughter. A total of 187 lambs of Chios and Serres breeds were involved in the study. Body condition score, live body weight (LBW), and ultrasound measurements of Longissimus lumborum muscle depth (LMD) and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) at the lumbar region were recorded pre-slaughter. After slaughter, the carcasses were classified using five-degree grading systems for muscle development and fat deposition, while hot (HCW) and cold carcass (CCW) and meat cuts weights were measured. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and linear regression models to estimate the fixed effects of sex and the covariances of LBW, BCS, and ultrasound measurements on the studied traits. High R2 values (0.60 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.92) were observed in the models predicting HCW, CCW, forequarter, leg chump on shank off, the short loin, the eye of the short loin, and foreshank weights. Among the models estimated LMD, SFT, and LBW as significant predictors, the ones predicting hot and cold carcass weights, the short loin, the eye of the short loin, and the eye of the rack weights were successfully validated. Other models including BCS, LBW, sex, and either one or none of the ultrasonography measurements as predictors were also validated and presented.

Protein-Based Soy Flour Supplementation to Support the Effects of Weight Training on Muscle Hyper-trophy Suplemento de harina de soja a base de proteínas para respaldar

Replacement supplements are required for optimal muscular hypertrophy in athletes. However, not all athletes can afford high-protein supplements due to their high expenses. The aim of this paper is to investigate and demonstrate the efficacy of protein-based supplements in enhancing the effects of resistance training on muscle growth. This method of study is a pseudo-experimental pre-test-posttest design. Using the entire sampling technique, 14 PPLP West Sumatra Indonesian Pencak silat athletes were used as study samples. The research procedure includes the measurement of thigh muscle circumference and thigh fat thickness of athletes (pretest), treatment of lunges 1-8 times, measurement of thigh muscle circumference and thigh fat thickness of athletes after eight treatments (midtest), and the size of thigh muscle circumference and thigh fat thickness after 9-16 lunges training sessions (posttest). Soy flour was administered depending on the athlete's average food intake, administered 30 minutes after the lunges exercise. The lunge training consisted of 16 sessions, moderate intensity (30% - 50% of maximum capacity), six repetitions, five sets, and 3 - 6 minute intervals. A tape meter was used to measure thigh muscle circumference and skinfold thickness to calculate thigh fat thickness using the formula MTMC = MTC - skinfold thickness (3.14 x TSF). The test utilized was the Kruskal-Wallis test. The examination of the data yielded a p-value of 0.03 &lt; 0.05 and a percentage increase of 10.68%. In lunges training, high-protein soy flour can be administered as an alternative or replacement for supplements for muscular hypertrophy. Keywords: Muscular Hypertrophy, Soy Flour, Lunges

PSXII-20 Differences in Fat Accretion Rate of Different Depots of Angus, Brahman and Charolais Feedlot Steers

Abstract Understanding accretion rate of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat in feedlot steers is crucial to ensure that carcasses are meeting market specifications and therefore optimizing profitability. Intramuscular fat (marbling) and subcutaneous fat (P8 and rib) are key areas of assessment on the live animals and carcasses determining quality. The objective of the present study was to determine fat accretion rate in three popular breeds of cattle with contrasting accretion rate throughout the feedlotting period. We hypothesized that Angus would have the fastest fat accretion rate being early maturing. Thirty of each Angus, Brahman and Charolais steers were entered into a feedlot (344 ± 5.3 kg initial BW) and six of each breed randomly selected for slaughter at 50-day intervals for 200 days on feed (DOF). Ultrasound scanning and BW were measured at each slaughter point, measuring fat thickness at the rib and P8 site, intramuscular fat (IMF), kidney fat and the eye muscle area (EMA). Body weight, intramuscular fat (%), P8 and rib fat (mm) all had significant interactions between DOF and breed (P &amp;lt; 0.001). At the start of the feeding period, Charolais were lighter than Angus and Brahman (P &amp;gt; 0.001). However, Charolais (663.7 ± 9.31 kg) and Angus were the heavier (680.4 ± 8.68 kg) than Brahman (539.4 ± 8.68 kg) at 200 DOF (P &amp;lt; 0.05). The interaction for P8 and rib fat was due to all breeds having similar fat thickness at 0 DOF (P &amp;gt; 0.05) but Angus had greatest (21.38 ± 0.882 mm, 17.12 ± 0.549 mm), Brahman intermediate (16.73 ± 0.883 mm and 10.38 ± 0.550 mm) and Charolais thinnest (9.97 ± 0.966 mm, 7.23 ± 0.600 mm) P8 and rib fat, respectively, at 200 DOF (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Similarly, IMF was similar between breeds at 0 DOF (P &amp;gt; 0.05), but Angus had greater IMF (7.76 ± 0.287 %; P &amp;lt; 0.001) compared with Brahman (5.08 ± 0.287 %) and Charolais (5.18 ± 0.314 %), which were not different amongst them (P &amp;gt; 0.10). Results of the present study demonstrated the contrasting fat metabolisms of each genotype with Angus steers showing the fastest fat accretion rate for all fat depots, whereas Brahman steers showed intermediate and Charolais slowest subcutaneous fat accretion rate. However, both Brahman and Charolais steers showed similarly low IMF and kidney fat accretion rates. Fat accretion rate of each depot and whole body should be considered in mathematical simulation models of animal growth.

PSV-2 Impact of Diseases in Pig Production on Carcass and Meat Quality

Abstract Several diseases, including Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS), are present in pig herds. The effects of diseases on growth performance are generally well known, but there is a lack of information on the consequences on carcass and meat quality. The aim of this project was to assess the impact of diseases present in the nursery and finishing on performances, carcass yields and meat quality. The trial was carried out at the Deschambault Swine Evaluation Station, where a project aimed at evaluating disease resilience is being carried out. A total of 480 castrated piglets from 8 different batches entered the nursery barn every 3 weeks. Pigs were observed daily, and a careful examination of the clinical signs was carried out weekly on each animal, to separate pigs showing signs of disease from those in good health. Ultrasound measurements of back fat thickness, muscle depth and intramuscular fat (IMF) level were performed three different times during growth. When the pigs reached a body weight of approximately 120 kg, carcass quality and meat yield measurements were taken 18 to 24 hours after slaughter. The ultimate pH, color, water loss and marbling were measured on the loin. The presence of PRRS and other diseases had a significant impact on the growth performance of pigs in fattening and demonstrates that the presence of the virus in the herd significantly decreases the average daily gain (ADG). This difference has a direct impact on the number of days in fattening. Results for back fat thickness at the end of fattening show significant differences (P &amp;lt; 0.05) between uninfected pigs (14.7 mm), pigs infected in nursery (13.9 mm) and fattening (12.8 mm) only, and pigs that have been ill both in nursery and fattening (12.4 mm). These results indicate that the presence of diseases leads to a decrease in fat deposition in pigs at the end of fattening. However, results for IMF measured at the end of fattening demonstrate that the presence of diseases had no significant impact on the final IMF level (P &amp;gt; 0.10), varying between 2.05% for healthy pigs and 2.13% for animals that have been sick in nursery and fattening. The results obtained in the slaughterhouse have shown that the presence of diseases does not seem to have an impact on the various measures of meat quality (P &amp;gt; 0.05). Only drip loss shows a significant difference (P &amp;lt; 0.05) between healthy and sick animals. However, the low number of sick pigs in the batches evaluated could have limited the observed effects. The work carried out by the CDPQ has made it possible to quantify the impact of diseases by providing a better understanding of their impact on product quality.

Using fat thickness and longissimus thoracis traits real-time ultrasound measurements in Black Belly ewe lambs to predict carcass tissue composition through multiresponse multivariate adaptive regression splines algorithm

The main idea of the current study was to estimate carcass tissue composition using fat thickness and longissimus thoracis (LT) traits real-time ultrasound measurements (USM) in Black Belly ewe lambs through multiresponse multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) algorithms. Twenty-four hours before slaughter, subcutaneous (SFT) and kidney-fat thickness (KFT), LT depth (LTD), width (LTA, cm) and area (LTMA) were measured in 60 lambs (BW of 26.40 ± 7.01 kg). Information on carcass and non-carcass components was recorded after slaughter. The total carcass muscle (TCM), total carcass bone (TCB), and total carcass fat (TCF) had a low to high correlation (P < 0.01) with BW, cold carcass weight (CCW), and LTD, SFT, KFT, and LDMA. The CCW (%65.58) and SFT (%16.70) were the most effective variables, whilst LTD (%9.57) and LTMA (%8.15) were the lowest variables for determining TCB, TCM, and TCF. The multiresponse MARS algorithm provides an accurate and efficient means of estimating TCF, TCB, and TCM.

Perirenal fat thickness as a risk factor for postoperative complications in elective colorectal cancer surgery.

Visceral obesity is an important factor that increases the risk of complications after colorectal cancer surgery. As calculating visceral fat is difficult and time-consuming, more practical fat measurements that are not time-consuming have been introduced. This study aimed to investigate the effects of perirenal fat thickness on postoperative complications and prognosis in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. Perirenal fat thickness was measured from the dorsal aspect of the left kidney on preoperative computerized tomography of patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer. The effects of perirenal fat thickness on postoperative complications were investigated. Diagnostic test performance was examined using the Roc Curve test to determine the cutoff value for the perirenal fat thickness values according to the complication findings of the patients. The cutoff value of perirenal fat thickness was found to be above 25.1, according to the presence of complications in the patients. Those with a perirenal fat thickness greater than 25.1 mm were considered to have high perirenal fat thickness values, and those with a low perirenal fat thickness value were considered low. Multivariate analysis revealed that increased perirenal fat thickness is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. We believe that perirenal fat thickness measurement, as an indicator of visceral fat volume, can be used to identify patients at high risk of developing complications after colorectal cancer surgery. This may change the disease management and affect the patient information process.

Repurposing the Incidental Detection of Internal Hemorrhoids as an Independent Predictor of Coronary Artery Disease Risk

The relationship between anal canal hemorrhoids and cardiovascular diseases has been demonstrated in retrospective population-based studies. Despite the etiological similarities, the real-time correlation between hemorrhoids and cardiovascular risk is not known yet. We aimed to investigate the importance of incidentally detected internal hemorrhoids in predicting cardiovascular risk as determined by Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) and Epicardial Fat Thickness (EFT) measurements. Totally, 269 patients who underwent colonoscopy for benign reasons were enrolled in this single-center cross-sectional study. The groups with and without hemorrhoids were compared for CIMT, EFT, and other risk factors. Independent predictors for increased CIMT and EFT values were evaluated by regression analysis. The mean age of the patients was 43.5±13.9 years and 34.6% were female. The prevalence of internal hemorrhoids was 30.5% (n=82). The presence of hemorrhoids was one of the independent predictors for increased CIMT along with hypertension and smoking (OR: 4.29, 2.63, and 2.36, respectively). The independent predictors of increased EFT were female gender, high body mass indexes, and high platelet levels (OR: 2.27, 1.47, and 1.01 respectively). Incidentally diagnosed internal anal canal hemorrhoids, albeit for other reasons, can be a useful predictor for the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

Muscle Architecture and Subcutaneous Fat Measurements of Rectus Femoris and Vastus Lateralis at Optimal Length Aided by a Novel Ultrasound Transducer Attachment.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study determines the sensitivity of muscle architecture and fat measurements of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles from ultrasound images acquired with varying transducer tilt, using a novel transducer attachment, in healthy adults. Secondary objectives were to estimate intrarater and interrater reliability of image measurement and acquisition, respectively. Methods: Thirty healthy adults participated (15 women and 15 men; 25 [SD 2.5] y). Ultrasound image acquisition was conducted by two raters at different transducer tilts relative to the skin: estimated perpendicular, and five measured angles (80°, 85°, 90°, 95°, 100°) using the transducer attachment. Muscle thickness (MT), subcutaneous fat thickness (FT), pennation angle (PA), and fascicle length (FL) were measured. Sensitivity and reliability were assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and standard error of measurements (SEMs). Results: MT and FT for RF and VL were not sensitive to transducer tilt. However, PA and FL were sensitive to transducer tilt. MT and FT for both muscles showed high ICCs and low SEMs for intrarater and interrater reliability. For PA of both muscles, standardizing transducer tilt improved interrater ICCs and lowered SEMs. Conclusion: MT and FT measurements of RF and VL acquired at 60° knee flexion are robust to varying transducer tilt angles. PA measurements benefit from standardizing transducer tilt.