Nutrition
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Costs related to postoperative complications continue to be a major burden on any health care system. The aim of the present study was to calculate hospital costs for postoperative complications and to evaluate whether preoperative supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and arginine (specialized diet) might lead to cost savings in patient care. ⋯ The costs of postoperative morbidity consumed a large amount of the diagnosis-related group reimbursement rate. Preoperative supplementation with the specialized diet appears to be a cost-effective treatment.
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This study investigated the effects of soy product fermented by Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus jugurti supplemented with isoflavones on adipose tissue, blood lipid, and glucose levels on juvenile rats. ⋯ This product may offer new approaches to obesity prevention.
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Acute ischemic stroke is a clinical condition accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we compared levels of plasma lipophilic antioxidants and inflammation markers between patients with stroke and healthy controls and assessed the associations of antioxidants, inflammation markers, and neurologic deficits among patients with stroke. ⋯ Plasma concentrations of alpha- and beta-carotene are lower in patients with acute ischemic stroke than in healthy controls and are negatively correlated with hs-CRP level and neurologic deficits. The negative association between neurologic deficits and combined plasma alpha- and beta-carotene levels is confounded by hs-CRP.
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Homocystinemia is an important independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Inflammatory cytokines play key roles in the development of atherogenesis. This study investigated the effect of homocysteine on inflammatory cytokine expression. ⋯ These findings suggest that homocysteine may contribute to the initiation and progression of vascular disease by activating monocytes, resulting in the secretion of cytokines that amplify the inflammatory response.