Dataset Information

Ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness show sexual dimorphism in children of three to five years of age.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

A standard approach to measure subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) using ultrasound has proved successful in adults, but has not been studied in children. This study addressed that gap in children aged three to five years.

Methods

In autumn 2016, 24 preschools in Southwest Germany, recruited via mail, agreed to take part in this study and 274 children (51.4% boys) with a mean age of 4.6 ± 0.7 years participated in measurements of SAT and anthropometry. Differences in measurements were explored between the sexes and anthropometric predictors of mean SAT thickness were identified. Intra-observer reliability for ultrasound measurements of SAT was also assessed.

Results

The mean SAT thickness showed significant differences between the boys and girls (5.3 ± 2.0 and 6.3 ± 2.0 mm, respectively, p < 0.01). The children's body mass, height and sex explained 66% of the variance in the mean SAT thickness, as SAT was larger with a higher body mass, a smaller stature and in girls. Intra-observer reliability resulted in an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.994 (p < 0.01) with a 95% confidence interval of 0.983-0.998.

Conclusion

Subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness differed between boys and girls with a mean age of 4.6 years. Intra-observer reliability was excellent. This standardised approach enabled high-precision measurements of SAT in a paediatric population.

SUBMITTER: Kelso A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6585817 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness show sexual dimorphism in children of three to five years of age.

Kelso Anne A Vogel Katharina K Steinacker Jürgen M JM

Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) 20180807 3

<h4>Aim</h4>A standard approach to measure subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) using ultrasound has proved successful in adults, but has not been studied in children. This study addressed that gap in children aged three to five years.<h4>Methods</h4>In autumn 2016, 24 preschools in Southwest Germany, recruited via mail, agreed to take part in this study and 274 children (51.4% boys) with a mean age of 4.6 ± 0.7 years participated in measurements of SAT and anthropometry. Differences in measurement ...[more]

PMID: 29992657

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Project description:PurposeThis study compared subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) measurements using a skinfold caliper and Renco Lean-Meater Series 12 A-mode portable ultrasound scanner (A-US). It aimed to assess their inter- and intra-rater reliability and measure the agreement between both methods.MethodsEighty-four volunteers of different fitness levels were divided into three groups by Ʃ6 skinfolds: G1 ≤ 55 mm (n = 33 males); G2 > 55 mm (n = 32 males); G3 = 98.0 ± 52.3 mm (n = 19 females). Triceps, subscapular, biceps, iliac crest, supraspinal, abdominal, front thigh and medial calf were assessed by ultrasound and skinfolds. Two technicians for both tools performed triplicate measures. Intraclass correlation (ICC), technical error of measurement (TEM) and coefficients of variation (CVs) were applied for test-retest and inter-rater reliability. Non-Parametric statistics were used in order to establish possible statistical differences and correlation between skinfolds thickness and uncompressed subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness from ultrasound. The amount of agreement between both methods was assessed with Lin's coefficient and a scatterplot of all site locations. A Bland-Altman plot was constructed to establish limits of agreement between groups and regression analysis was employed to assess the ability of skinfolds to explain the variance of ultrasound.ResultsTest-retest ICC for skinfolds and ultrasound were higher than 0.989 and 0.793, respectively. Inter-rater ICC for skinfolds was 0.999 with a 95% CI of 0.995 to 0.999 and for ultrasound was 0.755 with a much larger 95% CI of 0.622 to 0.841. TEMs (> 8.50%) and CVs (> 6.72%) compromised ultrasound reliability. Statistical differences were found in most of the analysed anatomical sites (p < 0.001) except in biceps G2 (Z = -1.150, p = 0.25) and G3 (Z = -1.309, p = 0.19). Good correlations (r > 0.7, p ≤ 0.05) were reported at almost all anatomical sites and groups except for biceps (G1: Rho = 0.26, p = 0.140) and abdominal (G2: Rho = -0.16, p = 0.38; G3: Rho = 0.43, p = 0.068). Lin's concordance correlation coefficient registered low values of agreement between skinfolds and A-mode ultrasound (ranged from-0.009-0.646). The scatterplot and the estimated regression line drawn through the midst of all anatomical sites of the whole sample had a slope of 0.51 and R2 adjusted = 0.62 was obtained. The combined analysis between the Bland-Altman plot and the linear regression showed that specifically in the G2 and G3 groups, as the SAT increases the differences between skinfolds and ultrasounds measurements also increases.ConclusionsThe Renco Lean-Meater ultrasound is not interchangeable with skinfold measures. Its utility is questionable, particularly for assessing SAT in active adult populations. Its poor test-retest and inter-rater reliability as well as the lack of agreement when compared to the skinfolds would exclude the free use of the A-mode ultrasound scanner in its hypothetical replacing of the classical calipers.

Project description:BackgroundFlow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT), measured by ultrasound, are widely used to test the efficacy of cardioprotective interventions. Although assessment methods vary, automated edge-detecting image analysis software is routinely used to measure changes in FMD and CIMT. We aimed to quantify the effect that commonly adjusted ultrasound settings have on arterial lumen and wall thickness measurements made with CIMT measurement software.MethodsWe constructed phantom arteries from a tissue-mimicking agar compound and scanned them in a water bath with a 10 MHz multi-frequency linear-array probe attached to a high-resolution ultrasound machine. B-mode images of the phantoms were recorded with dynamic range (DR) and gain set at five decibel (dB) increments from 40 dB to 60 dB and -10 dB to +10 dB respectively. Lumen diameter and wall-thickness were measured off-line using CIMT measurement software.ResultsLumen measurements: there was a strong linear relationship between DR and gain and measured lumen diameter. For a given gain level, a 5 dB increase in DR reduced the measured lumen diameter by 0.02 +/- 0.004 mm (p < 0.001). For a given DR level, a 5 dB increase in gain reduced measured lumen diameter by 0.04 +/- 0.004 mm (p < 0.001). A 5 mm increase in distance between the ultrasound probe and the artery reduced measured lumen diameter by 0.04 +/- 0.03 mm (p < 0.001)CIMT measurements: For a fixed gain level, a 5 dB increase in DR increased measured wall thickness by 0.003 +/- 0.002 mm (p < 0.001). The effects of increasing gain were not consistent and appeared to vary depending on the distance between the artery and the ultrasound probe and the thickness of the artery wall.ConclusionDR, gain and probe distance significantly alter lumen diameter and CIMT measurements made using image analysis software. When CIMT and FMD are used to test the efficacy of cardioprotective interventions, the DR, gain and probe position used to record baseline scans should be documented and replicated in post-treatment scans in individual trial subjects. If more than one sonographer or imaging centre is used to collect data, the study protocol should document specific DR and gain settings to be used in all subjects.

Project description:ObjectiveThe prevalence of obesity is growing globally. Adiposity increases the risk for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Adipose tissue distribution influences systemic metabolism and impacts metabolic disease risk. The link between sexual dimorphisms of adiposity and metabolism is poorly defined. We hypothesise that depot-specific adipose tissue mitochondrial function contributes to the sexual dimorphism of metabolic flexibility in obesity.MethodsMale and female mice fed high fat diet (HFD) or standard diet (STD) from 8-18 weeks of age underwent whole animal calorimetry and high-resolution mitochondrial respirometry analysis on adipose tissue depots. To determine translatability we used RT-qPCR to examine key brown adipocyte-associated gene expression: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor co-activator 1α, Uncoupling protein 1 and cell death inducing DFFA like effector a in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (sWAT) of 18-week-old mice and sWAT from human volunteers.ResultsMale mice exhibited greater weight gain compared to female mice when challenged with HFD. Relative to increased body mass, the adipose to body weight ratio for BAT and sWAT depots was increased in HFD-fed males compared to female HFD-fed mice. Oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, respiratory exchange ratio and food consumption did not differ between males and females fed HFD. BAT mitochondria from obese females showed increased Complex I & II respiration and maximal respiration compared to lean females whereas obese males did not exhibit adaptive mitochondrial BAT respiration. Sexual dimorphism in BAT-associated gene expression in sWAT was also associated with Body Mass Index in humans.ConclusionsWe show that sexual dimorphism of weight gain is reflected in mitochondrial respiration analysis. Female mice have increased metabolic flexibility to adapt to changes in energy intake by regulating energy expenditure through increased complex II and maximal mitochondrial respiration within BAT when HFD challenged and increased proton leak in sWAT mitochondria.

Project description:Marrow adipose tissue (MAT) is unique with respect to origin, metabolism, and function. MAT is characterized with high heterogeneity which correlates with skeletal location and bone metabolism. This fat depot is also highly sensitive to various hormonal, environmental, and pharmacologic cues to which it responds with changes in volume and/or metabolic phenotype. We have demonstrated previously that MAT has characteristics of both white (WAT) and brown (BAT)-like or beige adipose tissue, and that beige phenotype is attenuated with aging and in diabetes. Here, we extended our analysis by comparing MAT phenotype in different locations within a tibia bone of mature C57BL/6 mice and with respect to the presence of sex steroids in males and females. We report that MAT juxtaposed to trabecular bone of proximal tibia (pMAT) is characterized by elevated expression of beige fat markers including Ucp1, HoxC9, Prdm16, Tbx1, and Dio2, when compared with MAT located in distal tibia (dMAT). There is also a difference in tissue organization with adipocytes in proximal tibia being dispersed between trabeculae, while adipocytes in distal tibia being densely packed. Higher trabecular bone mass (BV/TV) in males correlates with lower pMAT volume and higher expression of beige markers in the same location, when compared with females. However, there is no sexual divergence in the volume and transcriptional profile of dMAT. A removal of ovaries in females resulted in decreased cortical bone mass and increased volume of both pMAT and dMAT, as well as volume of gonadal WAT (gWAT). Increase in pMAT volume was associated with marked increase in Fabp4 and Adiponectin expression and relative decrease in beige fat gene markers. A removal of testes in males resulted in cortical and trabecular bone loss and the tendency to increased volume of both pMAT and dMAT, despite a loss of gWAT. Orchiectomy did not affect the expression of white and beige adipocyte gene markers. In conclusion, expression profile of beige adipocyte gene markers correlates with skeletal location of active bone remodeling and higher BV/TV, however bone loss resulted from sex steroid deficiency is not proportional to MAT expansion at the same skeletal location.

Dataset Information

Ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness show sexual dimorphism in children of three to five years of age.

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness show sexual dimorphism in children of three to five years of age.

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