Nutrition
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Parenteral nutrition (PN) that includes lipid emulsion is considered to increase both bacterial and fungal central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections. This concept is based on several erroneous metrics: Reports in age-old literature at a time when preparing PN admixtures lacked stringent quality control, when its infusion, the techniques of insertion, maintenance of vascular access devices, and delivery systems were not well identified or enforced. Additionally, concepts of glucohomeostasis were different and higher glucose levels were accepted. We provide updated information with supporting literature to show that associating PN with lipids with an increase in bloodstream infections is not justified.
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It was recently postulated that a nutritional intervention aiming at achieving weight gain might increase survival in ALS patients. This article discusses the effect of nutritional status and weight gain on survival, respiratory status and physical function. ⋯ A high body mass index may impair respiratory muscle function and passive mobilization of paretic patients. Future research should evaluate the effect of changes in weight and body composition on clinical outcome while taking into account respiratory muscle strength and physical function.
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Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment as a prognosis tool in women with gynecologic cancer.
The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status (NS) of women hospitalized for gynecologic tumors and relate it to such outcomes as hospital length of stay and 1-y mortality. ⋯ Our findings suggest that the PG-SGA can be considered not just as an indicator of nutritional risk, but also as a major predictor of prognosis and mortality in this population.
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Obesity is a major public health problem. Regulating food intake and promoting metabolism of fat are two important options for treating obesity. Auricular vagus nerve stimulation (AVNS) is considered as an alternative approach to vagal nerve stimulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AVNS and its mechanisms on obesity in obese rats. ⋯ AVNS was more effective in reducing body weight and causing visceral fat loss. Biochemical tests found more NE released in the serum and more β3-adrenoceptor and UCP1 expression in the BAT. All of these features suggested that energy expenditure might play an important role in obesity management by AVNS.
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Malnutrition has been associated with oxidative damage by altered antioxidant protection mechanisms. Specifically, the aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative damage (DNA and lipid) and antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], and catalase [CAT] mRNA, and protein expression) in thymus from malnourished rat pups. ⋯ The results of this study demonstrated that higher body-weight deficits were related to alterations in antioxidant protection, which contribute to increased levels of damage in the thymus. To our knowledge, this study demonstrated for the first time that early in life, malnutrition leads to increased DNA and lipid oxidative damage, attributable to damaged antioxidant mechanisms including transcriptional and enzymatic activity alterations. These findings may contribute to the elucidation of the causes of previously reported thymus dysfunction, and might explain partially why children and adults who have overcome child undernourishment experience immunologic deficiencies.