Evidence mapPaperPMID 42130732Full record

ArticleFrontiers in endocrinology2026

Subclinical muscle softening in type 2 diabetes: a shear wave elastography study linking mechanical properties to metabolic profiles.

Wen Tang, Shuting Li, Jing Cai, Lin Chen, Tian Liu, Xiaoling Jiang, Yan Lei, Lirong Hu, Cong Chen, Lin Pu and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Wen Tang *Department of Ultrasound, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Shuting Li *Department of Ultrasound, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Jing CaiDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Lin ChenDepartment of Health Management Medical Center, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Tian LiuDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Xiaoling JiangDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Yan LeiDepartment of Ultrasound, Third People's Hospital of Chengdu Eastern New Area, Chengdu, China.
Lirong HuDepartment of Ultrasound, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Cong ChenDepartment of Ultrasound, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Lin PuDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Yuanyuan YueDepartment of Ultrasound, Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Skeletal muscle is a critical target organ in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While muscle atrophy is a well-recognized complication, qualitative tissue remodeling often precedes macroscopic volume loss. This study aimed to characterize the mechanical properties of the rectus femoris in patients with T2DM using shear wave elastography (SWE) and to investigate their associations with lipid and uric acid profiles. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 76 patients with T2DM and 67 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We assessed shear wave velocity (SWV), muscle thickness, and cross-sectional area of the rectus femoris bilaterally. Clinical biochemical indicators were analyzed. Physical function was evaluated using the five-repetition sit-to-stand (5STS) test and the 6-meter gait speed (6MGS) test. Results: T2DM patients exhibited significantly reduced SWV compared to controls (p < 0.001), indicating muscle softening. This mechanical alteration occurred despite preserved muscle thickness and cross-sectional area. Lower muscle stiffness was strongly correlated with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and uric acid levels, but not with fasting plasma glucose. Functionally, reduced SWV was associated with prolonged 5STS duration and slower gait speed. Conclusion: T2DM impairs muscle mechanical properties prior to the onset of overt atrophy. This "quality-first" deterioration is closely linked to dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia rather than acute hyperglycemia. These findings suggest that metabolic-driven soft tissue remodeling serves as an early marker of diabetic myopathy. SWE offers a sensitive tool for detecting these subclinical changes.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Elasticity Imaging TechniquesMuscle, SkeletalMuscular AtrophyAgedCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Ageddiabetic myopathylipotoxicitymuscle qualitymuscle stiffnessshear wave elastographytype 2 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

PMID42130732
PMCPMC13160727

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.