2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Event details: A graduate exam seminar is a presentation of the student’s final research project for their degree.
This is an ALES MSc Final Exam Seminar by Yiqi (Megan) Wang. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.
MSc with Dr. Diana Mager.
Zoom Link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/96467344134?pwd%3DbnYoZtU5davo6HqZa3o5cdhk2w75Fh.1
Thesis Topic: Body composition and muscle function in young children with chronic liver disease
Abstract:
Background: Malnutrition is prevalent among infants and young children with chronic liver disease (CLD), leading to sarcopenia (reduced skeletal muscle mass and muscle function) and growth challenges. Research on non-invasive methods for assessing body composition and association with motor function in childhood CLD is limited.
Objective: This thesis aimed to (1) evaluate body composition in infants and young children with CLD using non-invasive methods, (2) assess the utility of ultrasound (U/S) for muscle layer thickness (MLT) as a surrogate marker for fat-free mass (FFM), and (3) examine associations between body composition, motor function, nutrition status, and liver disease severity.
Methods: This subset analysis of baseline data from an ongoing longitudinal case-control study included infants and young children with CLD and healthy controls (HC) aged 2 months to 6 years. Data collected included FFM using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), MLT and cross-sectional area (CSA): thigh, calf and arm using U/S. Motor function in children with CLD was evaluated using the Peabody Developmental Scale (PDMS-2). Nutritional status and laboratory values were obtained from medical charts.
Results: 18 CLD (1.1 [0.5, 4.6] years) and 15 HC (2.5 ± 1.5 years) were included. The CLD cohort were shorter (73.6 [64.7, 102.0] vs. 90.6 ± 15.1 cm; p<0.01) and had lower absolute thigh MLT (1.7±0.5 vs. 2.1±0.3 cm; p=0.01) compared to HC. 33% (n=5/15) of CLD children were malnourished. Calf, thigh absolute MLT and thigh CSA (absolute, index) were negatively correlated with pediatric end-stage scores (R2=-0.65 to -0.77, p=0.02, p<0.01, p=0.01, and p=0.04, respectively). U/S MLT indices at all sites were positively correlated with FFM (R2=0.60 to 0.74, p<0.001), and U/S reliability was good to excellent (ICC 0.90-0.99).
Conclusion: Infants and young children with CLD exhibited reduced thigh MLT. Lower-limb MLT is negatively correlated with liver disease severity. Non-invasive tools like U/S and BIA show promise for assessing body composition in this population.
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