Trending Articles
-
Malabsorption is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that leads to defective digestion, absorption and transport of important nutrients across the intestinal wall. Small intestine is the major site where most of the nutrients are absorbed. There are three main mechanisms of malabsorption; premucosal, mucosal and postmucosal. ⋯ Disorders of malabsorption lead to decreased iron absorption and produce iron deficiency anemia. Using the index terms malabsorption, postgastrectomy, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, gallstones, cholangitis, celiac disease, tropical sprue, Crohn's disease intestinal lymphangiectasia, macroglobulinemia and iron deficiency anemia the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched. Additional data sources included bibliographies and references of identified articles.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A randomized clinical trial of care for women with preterm labour: home management versus hospital management.
Preterm labour occurs in about 10% of all pregnancies and is the most important cause of premature birth. Women with preterm labour are admitted to hospital to have the contractions stopped. Thereafter, many women remain in hospital until delivery. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to compare hospital care with home care of women who had been admitted to hospital for preterm labour. ⋯ Home care management is an efficient and acceptable alternative to hospital care for women experiencing preterm labour.
-
Dietary supplementation with nutrients that have physiologic effects on immune function has been shown to be beneficial in subsets of patients with surgical and medical critical illness. However, several meta-analyses have suggested potential harm when immune nutrients are used inappropriately. ⋯ This article discusses the mechanisms by which immune nutrients can be used to modulate alterations in innate and acquired immunity associated with critical illness. In addition, recent evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for use of immunonutrition in adults is reviewed as a means to clarify some of the more controversial issues and provide a "roadmap" for the practitioner.