Nutrition
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Previous research showed that low concentration of biomarkers in the blood during adolescence (i.e., iron status; retinol; and vitamins B6, B12, C, and D) may be involved in the early stages of development of many chronic diseases, such as hypertension. The aim was to evaluate if iron biomarkers and vitamins in the blood are associated with blood pressure in European adolescents. ⋯ Levels of RBC folate and vitamin B6 in blood may affect BP in adolescents. In this context, programs aimed at avoiding high BP levels should promote healthy eating behavior by focusing on the promotion of vegetable proteins and foods rich in vitamin B12 (i.e., white meat and eggs), which may help to achieve BP blood control in adolescents.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary measurements in young and apparently healthy individuals. ⋯ In physiological conditions, the caloric intake level seems to be an important factor to act in the modulation of plasma TAC, before establishing anthropometric impairments of body or metabolic composition, or both. Additionally, the plasma TAC increase may be able to act as a compensatory mechanism.
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Although massive cirrhotic ascites is generally considered a contraindication for the placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), such patients are usually poorly nourished. Preceding paracentesis of ascites is one method for controlling ascites and allowing the safe placement of PEG, but it often results in overuse of albumin. Preceding peritoneal-venous (P-V) shunting can avoid excessive use of albumin, but this introduces the risk of infectious contamination. ⋯ She underwent PEG using a staged sequential introduction method using a Funada-style gastric wall fixation kit as follows: 1) full stretching and pushing out of the stomach from the mediastinum into the peritoneal cavity by deep insertion and a turning-over procedure of the endoscope, 2) full distention by air to adhere the gastric wall to the peritoneal wall without migration of the colon, 3) four-point square fixation under gastroenterological endoscopy without migration of the visceral organ, and 4) puncture of the needle introducer of the PEG tube in the center of the fixations under repeated gastroenterological endoscopy 3 d after the fixation. She underwent P-V shunting under local anesthesia on the 28th day after placement of PEG and enteral nutrition. Her case shows that we can achieve proper enteral nutritional support even for patients with massive cirrhotic ascites.
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Parkinson's disease (PD) may be caused by the interaction of a number of factors, including genetics, toxins, oxidative stress, mitochondrial abnormalities, and aging. Studies have shown that consumption of an antioxidant-rich diet may reduce the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the flavonoid hesperidin in an animal model of PD induced by 6-hidroxidopamine (6-OHDA). ⋯ This study demonstrated a protective effect of hesperidin on the neurotoxicity induced by 6-OHDA in aged mice, indicating that it could be useful as a therapy for the treatment of PD.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effect of zinc on liver cirrhosis with hyperammonemia: a preliminary randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial.
To our knowledge, no randomized study has shown whether zinc replacement therapy is effective for hyperammonemia in liver cirrhosis; therefore, we performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to examine efficacy and safety of the zinc replacement therapy. ⋯ Although this study is preliminary and includes a small sample, it is, to our knowledge, the first randomized controlled trial to show that zinc supplementation for 3 mo seems effective and safe for treating hyperammonemia in liver cirrhosis. Studies with a larger sample size are needed to confirm our findings.