BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle alterations are associated with higher mortality and morbidity in patients with liver cirrhosis. Assessing these changes seems to be a promising method for identifying patients at a high risk of poor outcomes following liver transplantation (LT). This is particularly important given the current global shortage of organ donors. However, evidence of the impact of these alterations on the prognosis of patients undergoing LT is inconclusive. The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the impact of skeletal muscle changes, reflected in sarcopenia, myosteatosis and metabolic changes in the calf muscles, on perioperative outcomes and long-term survival after LT. We also sought to determine the posttransplant evolution of the resting muscle metabolism. METHODS: We examined 134 adult LT candidates. Of these, 105 underwent LT. Sarcopenia and myosteatosis were diagnosed by measuring the skeletal muscle index and mean psoas muscle radiation attenuation, respectively, which were obtained from computed tomography (CT) scans taken during pretransplant assessment. Additionally, patients underwent 31P MR spectroscopy (MRS) of the calf muscles at rest before LT and 6, 12 and 24 months thereafter. The median follow-up was 6 years. RESULTS: Patients with abnormal 31P MRS results and CT-diagnosed myosteatosis prior to LT had significantly worse long-term survival after LT (hazard ratio (HR), 3.36; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.48-7.60; p = 0.0021 and HR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.06-6.29; p = 0.03, respectively). Multivariable analysis showed that abnormal 31P MR spectra (HR, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.50-7.71; p = 0.003) were a better predictor of worse long-term survival after LT than myosteatosis (HR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.14-6.78; p = 0.025). Patients with abnormal 31P MR spectra had higher blood loss during LT (p = 0.038), required a higher number of red blood cell transfusions (p = 0.006) and stayed longer in ICU (p = 0.041) and hospital (p = 0.007). Myosteatosis was associated with more revision surgeries following LT (p = 0.038) and a higher number of received red blood cell transfusion units (p = 0.002). Sarcopenia had no significant effect on posttransplant patient survival. An improvement in the resting metabolism of the calf muscles was observed at 12 and 24 months after LT. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal 31P MRS results of calf muscles were superior to CT-based diagnosis of myosteatosis and sarcopenia in predicting perioperative complications and long-term survival after LT. Resting muscle metabolism normalized 1 year after LT in most recipients.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kosterní svaly * diagnostické zobrazování metabolismus MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie * metody MeSH
- počítačová rentgenová tomografie * metody MeSH
- prognóza MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- sarkopenie etiologie metabolismus MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- transplantace jater * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Wilson disease (WD) primarily presents with hepatic and neurological symptoms. While hepatic symptoms typically precede the neurological manifestations, copper accumulates in the brain already in this patient group and leads to subclinical brain MRI abnormalities including T2 hyperintensities and atrophy. This study aimed to assess brain morphological changes in mild hepatic WD. WD patients without a history of neurologic symptoms and decompensated cirrhosis and control participants underwent brain MRI at 3T scanner including high-resolution T1-weighted images. A volumetric evaluation was conducted on the following brain regions: nucleus accumbens, caudate, pallidum, putamen, thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, midbrain, pons, cerebellar gray matter, white matter (WM), and superior peduncle, using Freesurfer v7 software. Whole-brain analyses using voxel- and surface-based morphometry were performed using SPM12. Statistical comparisons utilized a general linear model adjusted for total intracranial volume, age, and sex. Twenty-six WD patients with mild hepatic form (30 ± 9 years [mean age ± SD]); 11 women; mean treatment duration 13 ± 12 (range 0-42) years and 28 healthy controls (33 ± 9 years; 15 women) were evaluated. Volumetric analysis revealed a significantly smaller pons volume and a trend for smaller midbrain and cerebellar WM in WD patients compared to controls. Whole-brain analysis revealed regions of reduced volume in the pons, cerebellar, and lobar WM in the WD group. No significant differences in gray matter density or cortical thickness were found. Myelin or WM in general seems vulnerable to low-level copper toxicity, with WM volume loss showing promise as a marker for assessing brain involvement in early WD stages.
- MeSH
- bílá hmota patologie diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- hepatolentikulární degenerace * patologie diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- játra patologie diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční tomografie * MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mozek * patologie diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- šedá hmota patologie diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Background: Metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents a major clinical complication of obesity. Methods: In this study, we used magnetic resonance (MR) methods to determine the effect of obesity treatment with semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, on the liver fat content and selected metabolic variables. We investigated whether treatment would affect the acute response of liver fat to glucose and fructose administration and whether it would affect the fatty acid profile of VLDL-triglycerides. Sixteen obese non-diabetic men underwent a 16-week dietary intervention and 16-week treatment with subcutaneous semaglutide in a crossover design without a washout period. The order of the interventions was randomized. Results: After treatment, body weight of the subjects decreased by 5% and liver fat by a third, whereas dietary intervention had no impact on these parameters. The decrease in liver fat with semaglutide did not correlate with changes in body weight and other measures of adiposity and was unrelated to improved insulin sensitivity. Conclusions: The proportion of palmitic and palmitoleic acids in VLDL-triglycerides decreased after treatment, suggesting that the beneficial effects of semaglutide on liver fat are mediated by the suppression of de novo lipogenesis.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Prolonged fasting, which leads to the mobilization of fat from adipose tissue, can result in the development of hepatosteatosis. However, it is not yet known whether the accumulation of fat in the liver after fasting can be affected by concurrent obesity. Therefore, this study aimed to assess how excessive adiposity influences changes in liver fat content induced by fasting and subsequent refeeding. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten lean women and eleven women with obesity (age: 36.4 ± 7.9 and 34.5 ± 7.9 years, BMI: 21.4 ± 1.7 and 34.5 ± 4.8 kg/m2) underwent a 60-h fasting period followed by 2 days of isocaloric high-carbohydrate refeeding. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) examinations of liver were conducted at baseline, after 48 h of fasting, and at the end of refeeding period. Hepatic fat content (HFC) increased in lean women after fasting, whereas no statistically significant change in HFC was observed in women with obesity. Additionally, fasting led to significant reductions in liver volume in both groups, likely attributable to glycogen depletion, with subsequent restoration upon refeeding. Notably, changes in hepatic fat volume (HFV) rather than HFC inversely correlated with baseline liver fat content and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that prolonged fasting results in accumulation of fat in the liver in lean subjects only and that this accumulation is inversely related to baseline fat content and insulin resistance. Moreover, the study underscored the importance of evaluating hepatic fat volume rather than hepatic fat content in studies that involve considerable changes in hepatic lean volume.
- MeSH
- adipozita * MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- dietní sacharidy aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- játra * metabolismus diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- obezita * patofyziologie terapie metabolismus MeSH
- omezení příjmu potravy * MeSH
- sacharidová dieta škodlivé účinky MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- ztučnělá játra diagnostické zobrazování MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
BACKGROUND: Changes in both the vascular system and brain tissues can occur after a prior episode of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), detectable through modifications in diffusion parameters using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. These changes in diffusion parameters may be particularly prominent in highly organized structures such as the corpus callosum (CC), including its major components, which have not been adequately studied following COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate microstructural changes in whole-brain (WB) diffusion, with a specific focus on the CC. METHODS: A total of 101 probands (age range from 18 to 69 years) participated in this retrospective study, consisting of 55 volunteers and 46 post-COVID-19 patients experiencing neurological symptoms. The participants were recruited from April 2022 to September 2023 at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague, Czech Republic. All participants underwent MRI examinations on a 3T MR scanner with a diffusion protocol, complemented by additional MRI techniques. Two volunteers and five patients were excluded from the study due to motion artefacts, severe hypoperfusion or the presence of lesions. Participants were selected by a neurologist based on clinical examination and a serological test for COVID-19 antibodies. They were then divided into three groups: a control group of healthy volunteers (n=28), an asymptomatic group (n=25) with a history of infection but no symptoms, and a symptomatic group (n=41) with a history of COVID-19 and neurological symptoms. Symptomatic patients did not exhibit neurological symptoms before contracting COVID-19. Diffusion data underwent eddy current and susceptibility distortion corrections, and fiber tracking was performed using default parameters in DSI studio. Subsequently, various diffusion metrics, were computed within the reconstructed tracts of the WB and CC. To assess the impact of COVID-19 and its associated symptoms on diffusion indices within the white matter of the WB and CC regions, while considering age, we employed a statistical analysis using a linear mixed-effects model within the R framework. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in mean diffusivity (MD) between the symptomatic and control groups in the forceps minor (P=0.001) and CC body (P=0.003). In addition to changes in diffusion, alterations in brain perfusion were observed in two post-COVID-19 patients who experienced a severe course. Furthermore, hyperintense lesions were identified in subcortical and deep white matter areas in the vast majority of symptomatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The main finding of our study was that post-COVID-19 patients exhibit increased MD in the forceps minor and body of the CC. This finding suggests a potential association between microstructural brain changes in post-COVID-19 patients and reported neurological symptoms, with significant implications for research and clinical applications.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
OBJECTIVE: Many patients with long COVID experience neurological and psychological symptoms. Signal abnormalities on MR images in the corpus callosum have been reported. Knowledge about the metabolic profile in the splenium of the corpus callosum (CCS) may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of long COVID. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-one subjects underwent proton MR spectroscopy examination. The metabolic concentrations of total N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), total creatine (Cr), myo-inositol (mI), and NAA/Cho in the CCS were statistically compared in the group of patients containing 58 subjects with positive IgG COVID-19 antibodies or positive SARS-CoV-2 qPCR test at least two months before the MR and the group of healthy controls containing 23 subjects with negative IgG antibodies. RESULTS: An age-dependent effect of SARS-CoV-2 on Cho concentrations in the CCS has been observed. Considering the subjective threshold of age = 40 years, older patients showed significantly increased Cho concentrations in the CCS than older healthy controls (p = 0.02). NAA, Cr, and mI were unchanged. All metabolite concentrations in the CCS of younger post-COVID-19 patients remained unaffected by SARS-CoV-2. Cho did not show any difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (p = 0.91). DISCUSSION: Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 disproportionately increases Cho concentration in the CCS among older post-COVID-19 patients compared to younger ones. The observed changes in Cho may be related to the microstructural reorganization in the CCS also reported in diffusion measurements rather than increased membrane turnover. These changes do not seem to be related to neuropsychological problems of the post-COVID-19 patients. Further metabolic studies are recommended to confirm these observations.
- MeSH
- cholin * metabolismus MeSH
- corpus callosum * diagnostické zobrazování metabolismus MeSH
- COVID-19 * diagnostické zobrazování metabolismus MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- inositol metabolismus MeSH
- kreatin * metabolismus MeSH
- kyselina aspartová * analogy a deriváty metabolismus MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie metody MeSH
- protonová magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie * metody MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 * MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
Úvod: Diabetes mellitus (DM) asociovaný s cirhózou jater (tzv. hepatogenní DM) má od klasického DM 2. typu (T2DM) řadu odlišností, data o jeho prevalenci, rizikových faktorech a vývoji po transplantaci jater (LT) jsou však omezená. Cílem této studie bylo posoudit prevalenci, rizikové faktory a potransplantační vývoj DM diagnostikovaného v rámci předtransplantačního vyšetření u prospektivně sledované kohorty kandidátů LT. Metody: Do studie bylo zařazeno 122 dospělých pacientů, kteří byli v období 5/2015 až 4/2017 zařazeni na čekací listinu (WL) k LT. Přítomnost DM byla hodnocena na základě standardních kritérií včetně orálního glukózového tolerančního testu (OGTT). Výsledky: U 54 pacientů (44,3 %) byl před LT přítomen DM, z nichž u 26 pacientů (21,3 %) byl známý již dlouho před zařazením na WL (klasický T2DM) a u dalších 28 pacientů (23,0 %) byl DM diagnostikován v průběhu předtransplantačního vyšetření na základě patologických hodnot OGTT (hepatogenní DM). U 13 pacientů byl zjištěn de novo DM po LT. Dle multivariantní analýzy měli pacienti s hepatogenním DM oproti klasickému T2DM významně nižší BMI (p = 0,015), nižší lačnou glykemii (p = 0,002) a nižší glykovaný hemoglobin (p = 0,010). Oproti pacientům bez diabetu měli pacienti s hepatogenním DM častější výskyt metabolického syndromu (p = 0,033). Pacienti s hepatogenním DM byli méně často léčeni inzulinem 1 měsíc po LT (32,0 vs. 76,2 %; p = 0,002), 6 měsíců (20,0 vs. 76,2 %; p < 0,001), 1 rok (20,0 vs. 75,0 %; p < 0,001) a 2 roky po LT (23,8 vs. 66,7 %; p = 0,007) než pacienti s klasickým T2DM; oproti skupině bez předtransplantačního DM byli častěji léčeni inzulinem 1 měsíc po LT (32,0 vs. 7,7 %; p = 0,015) a 2 roky po LT (23,8 vs. 9,1 %; p = 0,029). Závěr: Hepatogenní DM je u kandidátů LT častý (23,0 %), u většiny pacientů po LT na rozdíl od klasického T2DM regreduje, nicméně inzulinoterapie je nutná až u jedné čtvrtiny pacientů i 2 roky po LT.
Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) associated with liver cirrhosis (hepatogenous DM) has several differences from classical DM type 2 (T2DM), data about its prevalence, risk factors and outcome after liver transplantation (LT) are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and posttransplant outcome of DM diagnosed during the pretransplant investigation in a prospectively followed cohort of LT candidates. Methods: The study included 122 adult patients who were listed for LT in the period from 5/2015 to 4/2017. Presence of DM was evaluated by standard criteria including oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Results: DM was present in 54 patients (44.3%) pretransplant, of whom 26 patients (21.3%) had long-term history of DM before they were listed for LT (classical T2DM), and in other 28 patients (23.0%) DM was diagnosed during the pretransplant investigation based on pathological results of OGTT (hepatogenous DM). In 13 patients, de novo DM after LT was diagnosed. On the multivariate analysis, patients with hepatogenous DM had significantly lower BMI (P = 0.015), lower fasting glucose (P = 0.002) and lower glycated hemoglobin (P = 0.010), compared to classical T2DM. In comparison to patients without DM, patients with hepatogenous DM had more frequent occurrence of metabolic syndrome (P = 0.033). Patients with hepatogenous DM were less frequently treated with insulin at 1 month (32.0% vs. 76.2%; P = 0.002), 6 months (20.0% vs. 76.2%; P <0.001), 1 year (20.0% vs. 75.0%; P <0.001) and 2 years after LT (23.8% vs. 66.7%; P = 0.007) than patients with classical T2DM; but they were more frequently treated with insulin than patients without pretransplant DM 1 month after LT (32.0% vs. 7.7%; P = 0.015) and 2 years after LT (23.8% vs. 9.1%; P = 0.029). Conclusion: Hepatogenous DM is frequent in LT candidates (23.0%), it regresses in the majority of patients after LT unlike the classical T2DM, however, insulinotherapy is still necessary up to one quarter of patients even 2 years after LT.
- Klíčová slova
- hepatogenní diabetes,
- MeSH
- diabetes mellitus 2. typu * diagnóza farmakoterapie MeSH
- jaterní cirhóza diagnóza komplikace MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- příprava pacienta k transplantaci MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- transplantace jater * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
BACKGROUND: During and after exercise, dynamic 31 P MR parameters are typically measured using an MR-compatible ergometer. Self-built equipment for local condition can be constructed where possible. PURPOSE: To develop a pedal resistance ergometer with rocker arm based on a system that combines electric weight displacement, visual self-monitoring, and exercise triggering. The repeatability and reproducibility were tested. METHODS: The hardware and software for the ergometer were constructed from commercial components in a home laboratory. Twelve volunteers participated in the testing of the ergometer. RESULTS: A fully automated ergometer system was developed, allowing the pedal resistance to be adjusted during the examination. The system includes a self-monitoring and triggering mechanism that enables both the operator and subject to monitor pedal frequency and force. The operator can modify the pedal resistance as desired during the exercise. This self-monitoring solution is simple and cost-effective, requiring only a commercial potentiometer, an Arduino converter, and a conventional video projector with a personal computer (PC). Additionally, all system components are located outside the magnetic resonance (MR) room, avoiding interference with the MR system. Results of several test of the reproducibility/repeatability of power at three pedal resistance values (15%, 24%, 25% maximal voluntary force) were expressed both as a coefficient of variation ranging from 6% to 3.1% and as an intraclass correlation of coefficient ranging from 0.96 to 0.99. Similar values were also found for other dynamic parameters of 31 P MR spectroscopy. These findings are similar to published data obtained on different types of ergometers. CONCLUSIONS: Based on more than 1 year of usage, the ergometer proved successful in handling stationary and variable loads, and can be easily operated by a single user.
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
