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Introduction: Head and neck cancer patients are a population at permanent nutritional risk. In addition to the presence of the tumour, the reason for this is the tumour's location, which affects all structures involved in the swallowing process. The side effects of the oncological treatments they must receive during the course of their illness-surgery, chemo-radiotherapy, etc.-only further burden an already precarious nutritional status. For all these reasons, it is essential that, from the diagnosis of their disease, a multidisciplinary team including specialists in dietetics and nutrition supervises them.

Introduction: Prevalence of disease-related malnutrition in hospitals ranges from 20%-50%. Use of nutritional screening tools should be the first step in the prevention and treatment of patients at risk of malnutrition and/or undernourished., Aims: To implement a nutritional screening tool at admission to a tertiary hospital., Methods: The nutrition unit prepared a protocol for early detection of nutritional risk and selected the NRS 2002 as screening tool. The protocol was approved by the hospital committee of protocols and procedures and disseminated through the intranet. NRS 2002 was included in the diet prescription software to be implemented by the nursing staff of the hospital wards and as a direct communication system with the nutrition unit. Three phases were designed: pilot phase, implementation phase, and consolidation phase., Results: The pilot phase, NRS 2002 was implemented in 2hospital units to monitor software. The implementation phase was carried out in the same units, and all action protocols related to it were verified. The consolidation phase consisted of sequential extension of the protocol to the other hospital units., Conclusions: Implementation of nutritional screening at hospital admission is a long and complex process that requires involvement of many stakeholders. Computer software has allowed for a rapid, simple, and automatic process, so that the results of the screening are immediately available to the nursing staff of the nutrition unit and activate the nutritional protocols when required., (Copyright © 2019 SEEN y SED. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: Treatment with oral antineoplastic agents known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is new and, thus, little is known about their impact on nutritional status (NS), dietary intake, quality of life, and survival. The aim of this study was to provide information on these components in order to guide future nutritional recommendations., Patients and Method: A prospective, observational study in adults who start treatment with TKIs, in whom NS was assessed using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters, and dietary intake (24-hour dietary recall). The EORTC QLQ-C30 was used to assess quality of life. Nonparametric tests were used in statistical analysis, and survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank curves., Results: Of the overall sample, 21.7% had moderate malnutrition according to PG-SGA, and 74.2% moderate weight loss at 6 months, but no patient had BMI<18.5kg/m 2 . Patients with moderate malnutrition had lower survival at four years of diagnosis (log-rank=0.015). Energy intake was lower than recommended by the ESPEN 2017 congress, and no patient covered the protein requirements (1.5g protein/kg weight) during follow-up. A worse score on the global health scale of the EORTC QLQ-C30 was related to worse NS., Conclusions: Treatment with TKIs does not appear to have a significant impact on NS and quality of life after 6 months of follow-up. Malnutrition should be prevented through individualized nutritional advice because it is related to shorter survival., (Copyright © 2019 SEEN y SED. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) are one of the most serious concerns in patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) which involve high morbidity and cost for the healthcare system. In the last years, taurolidine lock has proven to be beneficial in the prevention of CRBSI; however, the evidence of its efficiency is limited., Objective: to determine if taurolidine lock is a cost-effective intervention in patients on HPN., Materials and Methods: retrospective study in patients on HPN with taurolidine lock. We compared the CRBSI rate and cost of its complications before and during taurolidine lock., Results: thirteen patients, six (46%) males and seven (54%) females, with a mean age of 61.08 (SD = 14.18) years received taurolidine lock. The total days of catheterization pre and per-taurolidine were 12,186 and 5,293, respectively. The underlying disease was benign in five patients (38.5%) and malignant in eight (61.5%). The CRBSI rate pre vs per-taurolidine was 3.12 vs 0.76 episodes per 1,000 catheter days (p = 0.0058). When the indication was a high CRBSI rate, this was 9.72 vs 0.39 (p < 0.001) in pre and per-taurolidine period respectively. No differences have been observed in the occlusion rates. None of the patients reported any adverse effects. The total cost of CRBSI in the pre-taurolidine period was 151,264.14 euros vs 24,331.19 euros in the per-taurolidine period., Conclusions: our study shows that taurolidine lock is a cost-effective intervention in patients on HPN with high risk of CRBSI.

Aim: To determine the impact of the type of hospital kitchen on the dietary intake of patients., Methods: A cross-sectional, two-centre study, of cooking in a traditional kitchen (TK) and in a chilled kitchen (CK). Subjective global assessment (SGA) was used for nutritional diagnosis. Before study start, a dietician performed a nutritional assessment of the menus of each hospital. All dishes were weighed upon arrival to the ward and at the end of the meal., Results: 201 and 41 patients from the centres with TK and CK respectively were evaluated. Prevalence of malnutrition risk was 50.2% at the hospital with TK and 48.8% at the hospital with CK (p=0.328). Forty-eight and 56 dishes were nutritionally evaluated at the hospitals with TK and CK respectively. Intake analysis consisted of 1993 and 846 evaluations in the hospitals with TK and CK respectively. Median food consumption was 76.83% at the hospital with TK (IQR 45.76%) and 83.43% (IQR 40.49%) at the hospital with CK (p<0.001). Based on the prevalence of malnutrition, a higher protein and energy intake was seen in malnourished patients from the CK as compared to the TK hospital, but differences were not significant after adjustment for other factors., Conclusions: Cooking in a chilled kitchen, as compared to a traditional kitchen, may increase energy and protein intake in hospitalized patients, which is particularly beneficial for malnourished patients., (Copyright © 2017 SEEN. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introducción: la esofagitis eosinofílica (EEo) es una enfermedad inmunoalérgica crónica emergente en adultos. Surge como respuesta disfuncional frente a los antígenos de los alimentos y se caracteriza por síntomas recurrentes de disfunción esofágica e inflamación. El tratamiento farmacológico y dietético se basa en su patogénesis y debe ser individualizado. Uno de los posibles abordajes dietéticos se basa en la eliminación empírica de alimentos que con mayor frecuencia causan EEo.Objetivo: evaluar la ingesta dietética de los pacientes con EEo que siguen la dieta de exclusión de los seis grupos de alimentos (DESGA) y conocer sus posibles carencias nutricionales.Métodos: estudio transversal descriptivo en un grupo de pacientes con EEo que inició tratamiento con DESGA durante el periodo de marzo de 2013 hasta marzo de 2015. Se evaluó la ingesta mediante registro de 72 horas. Se compararon los resultados con las referencias para población adulta sana española (23). Para el análisis estadístico se usaron los test de Mann-Whitney, Krhuskall-Wallis y Chi-cuadrado. Significación p < 0,05.Resultados: se incluyeron en el estudio 14 pacientes. En algunos de ellos, la ingesta dietética siguiendo DESGA fue deficitaria en energía, proteínas y fibra. Tampoco consiguieron cubrir las ingestas de micronutrientes de calcio, zinc, magnesio, ácido fólico, niacina y vitaminas B2 y D, teniendo en cuenta edad y sexo, el 60% de la muestra.Conclusiones: el abordaje terapéutico mediante DESGA, teniendo en cuenta las características de la dieta, debe acompañarse de una evaluación periódica del estado nutricional, que incluya micronutrientes y una pauta de suplementación específica.

Background: Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is associated with an increased risk of death, in both the short and the long term., Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine which nutrition-related risk index predicts long-term mortality better (three years) in patients who receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN)., Methods: This prospective, multicenter study involved noncritically ill patients who were prescribed TPN during hospitalization. Data were collected on Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), body mass index, albumin and prealbumin, as well as long-term mortality., Results: Over the 1- and 3-year follow-up periods, 174 and 244 study subjects (28.8% and 40.3%) respectively, died. Based on the Cox proportional hazards survival model, the nutrition-related risk indexes most strongly associated with mortality were SGA and albumin (<2.5 g/dL) (after adjustment for age, gender, C-reactive protein levels, prior comorbidity, mean capillary blood glucose during TPN infusion, diabetes status prior to TPN, diagnosis, and infectious complications during hospitalization)., Conclusions: The SGA and very low albumin levels are simple tools that predict the risk of long-term mortality better than other tools in noncritically ill patients who receive TPN during hospitalization., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background: in recent years, researching about new oral antineoplastics has progressed while its impact on dietary intake and nutritional status (NS) hasn't developed enough yet., Objectives: dietary intake and NS assessment in patients who start treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and evaluate its impact on them., Methods: an observational, prospective-six-months study, in which were included patients starting treatment with TKI. The intake was evaluated by a 24 h dietary record and a food frequency questionnaire. The NS was evaluated by anthropometric measurements and the patient-generated Global Subjective Assessment (PG-GSA); the results were compared with the Spanish references (SENC-semFYC, 2007 and O. Moreiras, 2013). Friedman test, χ2, Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney were used in the statistical analysis. Significance p < 0.05., Results: 22 patients (54.5% male) were included. At baseline, NS was adequate in 73.9% of patients according PG-GSA. Weight loss was no significant, although a high percentage of the energy and protein requirements hadn't been reached. The caloric intake was positively related with the number of meals. Dietary habits did not change during treatment., Conclusion: dietary intake did not reach nutritional requirements at baseline. The TKI don't seem to affect the patient's intake and nutritional status. The research about these parameters before starting treatment could prevent future complications and it would guide the dietary advice., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: the implementation of quality management systems (QMS) in the health sector has made great progress in recent years, remains a key tool for the management and improvement of services provides to patients., Aim: to describe the process of implementing a quality management system (QMS) according to the standard ISO 9001:2008 in a Nutrition Unit., Methods: the implementation began in October 2012. Nutrition Unit was supported by Hospital Preventive Medicine and Quality Management Service (PMQM). Initially training sessions on QMS and ISO standards for staff were held. Quality Committee (QC) was established with representation of the medical and nursing staff. Every week, meeting took place among members of the QC and PMQM to define processes, procedures and quality indicators. We carry on a 2 months follow-up of these documents after their validation., Results: a total of 4 processes were identified and documented (Nutritional status assessment, Nutritional treatment, Monitoring of nutritional treatment and Planning and control of oral feeding) and 13 operating procedures in which all the activity of the Unit were described. The interactions among them were defined in the processes map. Each process has associated specific quality indicators for measuring the state of the QMS, and identifying opportunities for improvement. All the documents associated with requirements of ISO 9001:2008 were developed: quality policy, quality objectives, quality manual, documents and records control, internal audit, nonconformities and corrective and preventive actions. The unit was certified by AENOR in April 2013., Conclusion: the implementation of a QMS causes a reorganization of the activities of the Unit in order to meet customer's expectations. Documenting these activities ensures a better understanding of the organization, defines the responsibilities of all staff and brings a better management of time and resources. QMS also improves the internal communication and is a motivational element. Explore the satisfaction and expectations of patients can include their view in the design of care processes., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Hypoglycemia is a common problem among hospitalized patients. Treatment of hyperglycemia with insulin is potentially associated with an increased risk for hypoglycemia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of hypoglycemia (capillary blood glucose <70 mg/dL) in hospitalized patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN)., Methods: This prospective multicenter study involved 19 Spanish hospitals. Noncritically ill adults who were prescribed TPN were included, thus enabling us to collect data on capillary blood glucose and insulin dosage., Results: The study included 605 patients of whom 6.8% (n = 41) had at least one capillary blood glucose <70 mg/dL and 2.6% (n = 16) had symptomatic hypoglycemia. The total number of hypoglycemic episodes per 100 d of TPN was 0.82. In univariate analysis, hypoglycemia was significantly associated with the presence of diabetes, a lower body mass index (BMI), and treatment with intravenous (IV) insulin. Patients with hypoglycemia also had a significantly longer hospital length of stay, PN duration, higher blood glucose variability, and a higher insulin dose. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a lower BMI, high blood glucose variability, and TPN duration were risk factors for hypoglycemia. Use of IV insulin and blood glucose variability were predictors of symptomatic hypoglycemia., Conclusions: The occurrence of hypoglycemia in noncritically ill patients receiving PN is low. A lower BMI and a greater blood glucose variability and TPN duration are factors associated with the risk for hypoglycemia. IV insulin and glucose variability were predictors of symptomatic hypoglycemia., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The prevalence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders in patients who receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is not well known. These disorders can affect the treatment, metabolic control, and prognosis of affected patients. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence in noncritically ill patients on TPN of diabetes, prediabetes, and stress hyperglycemia; the factors affecting hyperglycemia during TPN; and the insulin therapy provided and the metabolic control achieved., Methods: We undertook a prospective multicenter study involving 19 Spanish hospitals. Noncritically ill patients who were prescribed TPN were included, and data were collected on demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables (glycated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein [CRP], capillary blood glucose) as well as insulin treatment., Results: The study included 605 patients. Before initiation of TPN, the prevalence of known diabetes was 17.4%, unknown diabetes 4.3%, stress hyperglycemia 7.1%, and prediabetes 27.8%. During TPN therapy, 50.9% of patients had at least one capillary blood glucose of >180 mg/dL. Predisposing factors were age, levels of CRP and glycated hemoglobin, the presence of diabetes, infectious complications, the number of grams of carbohydrates infused, and the administration of glucose-elevating drugs. Most (71.6%) patients were treated with insulin. The mean capillary blood glucose levels during TPN were: known diabetes (178.6 ± 46.5 mg/dL), unknown diabetes (173.9 ± 51.9), prediabetes (136.0 ± 25.4), stress hyperglycemia (146.0 ± 29.3), and normal (123.2 ± 19.9) (P<.001)., Conclusion: The prevalence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders is very high in noncritically ill patients on TPN. These disorders affect insulin treatment and the degree of metabolic control achieved.

Background and Objective: The consumption of oral antineoplastics -and more particularly of tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI)- has increased in recent years. These therapies show a better tolerance but still, the nutritional alterations related to their daily and chronic clinical use are under investigation. This study assesses the effects of TKI on the intake, nutritional status and micronutrients as well as the patients quality of life., Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted including adult patients having started some TKI treatment from July 2012 to June 2013, and a 6 month follow-up period was established. Demographic pharmacotherapeutic, nutritional and biochemical variables were collected and also a EORTC-QLQ30 questionnaire at baseline, first, third and sixth month of treatment., Results: 31 patients were included in the study. The percentage of weight loss at treatment baseline was statistically matched to the results on the patient-generated Global Subjective Assessment. Appetite decreased after one month of treatment, and so did the calorie consumption; 62.1% of the patients lost weight, 55.5% on the third month and 70.6% on the sixth month. 6-17% of the patients suffered from malnutrition to some degree during the follow-up period and a decrease of calcium, phosphate and magnesium plasma levels was detected. The emotional scale was the one with a lowest score in EORTC QLQ-30, and fatigue and lack of appetite were the most common symptoms at treatment baseline, progressively increasing those of nausea, vomits and diarrhea., Discussion: Patients treated with TKI did not show a relevant malnutrition. Considering the results, it is important to take into account weight loss at treatment baseline; it is also important to control calcium and phosphate levels during treatment, to advise and counsel the patient on the GI effects (nausea, vomits and diarrhea) and emotionally reinforce the patient., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) is a practice in continually growing by the significant advantages involved for the patient and the healthcare system. Today, in the investigation of health outcomes is essential to assess the patient s opinion. Among the measures focused on patients with HPN, several studies about quality of life have been done, but the degree of satisfaction with this treatment modality has not been evaluated., Objective: To evaluate the degree of satisfacion of patients and their caregivers receiving HPN with doctors, pharmacists and nurses in a hospital., Material and Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed, which consisted of 48 closed questions to patients and their caregivers receiving HPN who voluntarily answered. With survey responses a database in SPSS with the following variables was created: personal, sociocultural, clinical and related to HPN data and valoration of health personnel involved (nutrition area of the Pharmacy Service and Nursing and Medical Nutrition Units) and hospital facilities related to HPN. Also a section of open response suggestions was included., Results: 24 surveys were distributed, 12 to patients and 12 to caregivers. Response rate was 91.7% in the case of patients and 58.3% in the caregivers. 63.6% of patients and 42.9% of caregivers were women. Mean age was, respectively, 46.1 years (SD: 13.7) and 47.0 years (SD: 3.6). Most of patients (55.6%) and caregivers (60.0%) had secondary studies and were pensoniers (72.7% and 71.4%, respectively). Underlying diseases of patients were: radiation enteritis (27.3%), intestinal obstruction (18.2%), intestinal carcinomatosis (45.5%) and Chron s disease (9.1%). With respect to items assessing satisfaction with physicians, nurses and pharmacists, in general both patients and caregivers were satisfied. Suggestions made were: greater amplitude of delivery schedule of HPN and inclusion of audiovisual information., Conclusions: The degree of satisfaction of patients receiving HPN and their caregivers with the care given by doctors, pharmacists and nurses is appropriate, but it s possible to make improvements to optimize the quality of the whole process., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Texture modified diets are among the most used in hospitals and nursing homes. These traditionally prepared diets may have a low nutritional value and particularly tend to have low energy and protein content. The continued use of these diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies and compromise the patient's nutritional status Over the last decades, we have witnessed the evolution of technology and evolved and nowadays it is possible to find on the market industrial products with a complete nutritional value and a suitable texture for deglutition among inpatients. These products are easy to prepare and serve, so that their inclusion in the hospital kitchens provides great advantages., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Dysphagia is a highly prevalent symptom, which may be due to multiple disease processes, both structural and functional, and located at the oropharyngeal or esophageal level. Oropharyngeal dysphagia can cause malnutrition even in 1/3 of patients as a result of alterations in the efficiency of swallowing and cause changes in the security of swallowing (penetration and aspiration) in up to 2/3 of the patients who present it, with high risk of aspiration pneumonia and respiratory infections. In neurological, elderly or institutionalized patients its prevalence may range from 30 to 60%, with different degrees of severity that may become necessary artificial nutrition. It is also related to greater disability, prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical and the establishment of an effective treatment that includes postural exercises, nutritional support and rehabilitation. All this wouldn't be possible without a nutritional team that takes part of the multidisciplinary team patients with dysphagia required. It is the only way to ensure a longterm care to these patients in order to decrease the morbidity and mortality.

Objective: Hyperglycemia may increase mortality in patients who receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN). However, this has not been well studied in noncritically ill patients (i.e., patients in the nonintensive care unit setting). The aim of this study was to determine whether mean blood glucose level during TPN infusion is associated with increased mortality in noncritically ill hospitalized patients., Research Design and Methods: This prospective multicenter study involved 19 Spanish hospitals. Noncritically ill patients who were prescribed TPN were included prospectively, and data were collected on demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables as well as on in-hospital mortality., Results: The study included 605 patients (mean age 63.2 ± 15.7 years). The daily mean TPN values were 1.630 ± 323 kcal, 3.2 ± 0.7 g carbohydrates/kg, 1.26 ± 0.3 g amino acids/kg, and 0.9 ± 0.2 g lipids/kg. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the patients who had mean blood glucose levels >180 mg/dL during the TPN infusion had a risk of mortality that was 5.6 times greater than those with mean blood glucose levels <140 mg/dL (95% CI 1.47-21.4 mg/dL) after adjusting for age, sex, nutritional state, presence of diabetes or hyperglycemia before starting TPN, diagnosis, prior comorbidity, carbohydrates infused, use of steroid therapy, SD of blood glucose level, insulin units supplied, infectious complications, albumin, C-reactive protein, and HbA1c levels., Conclusions: Hyperglycemia (mean blood glucose level >180 mg/dL) in noncritically ill patients who receive TPN is associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality.

Background & Aims: Weight gain is an undesirable side effect of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). We performed this study to examine the influence of SGAs on resting energy expenditure (REE) and the relationship of REE to weight gain in adolescent patients., Methods: Antipsychotic-naïve or quasi-naïve (<72 h of exposure to antipsychotics) adolescent patients taking olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone in monotherapy were followed up for one year. We performed a prospective study (baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment) based on anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and indirect calorimetry (Deltatrac™ II MBM-200) to measure REE. We also analyzed metabolic and hormonal data and adiponectin concentrations., Results: Forty-six out of the 54 patients that started treatment attended at least 2 visits, and 16 completed 1 year of follow-up. Patients gained 10.8 ± 6.2 kg (60% in the form of fat mass) and increased their waist circumference by 11.1 ± 5.0 cm after 1 year of treatment. The REE/kg body mass ratio decreased (p = 0.027), and the REE/percentage fat-free mass (FFM) ratio increased (p = 0.007) following the fall in the percentage of FFM during treatment. Weight increase was significantly correlated with the REE/percentage FFM ratio at all the visits (1-3-6-12 months) (r = 0.69, p = 0.004 at 12 months)., Conclusions: SGAs seem to induce a hypometabolic state (reflected as decreased REE/kg body mass and increased REE/percentage FFM). This could explain, at least in part, the changes in weight and body composition observed in these patients., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a major complaint among older people. Dysphagia may cause two types of complications in these patients: (a) a decrease in the efficacy of deglutition leading to malnutrition and dehydration, (b) a decrease in deglutition safety, leading to tracheobronchial aspiration which results in aspiration pneumonia and can lead to death. Clinical screening methods should be used to identify older people with oropharyngeal dysphagia and to identify those patients who are at risk of aspiration. Videofluoroscopy (VFS) is the gold standard to study the oral and pharyngeal mechanisms of dysphagia in older patients. Up to 30% of older patients with dysphagia present aspiration-half of them without cough, and 45%, oropharyngeal residue; and 55% older patients with dysphagia are at risk of malnutrition. Treatment with dietetic changes in bolus volume and viscosity, as well as rehabilitation procedures can improve deglutition and prevent nutritional and respiratory complications in older patients. Diagnosis and management of oropharyngeal dysphagia need a multidisciplinary approach.

Objective: Phytosterols present in parenteral nutrition (PN) lipid emulsions have been linked to phytosterolemia and cholestatic liver disease, although no direct relation has been established. We investigated the relation among plasma phytosterol (PY) infused, total plasma PY levels, and possible links to PN-associated liver disease., Methods: Twenty-seven adult patients on home PN were enrolled in the study. PYs were measured in plasma and lipid emulsions by gas chromatography. Liver function tests and blood counts were assessed to identify hepatic impairment, and biopsies were performed in eight patients., Results: Mean total plasma PY level was higher in patients than in controls (55.4 +/- 6.2 versus 14.8 +/- 2.3 microg/mL). Simple linear regression models showed a correlation among total plasma PY, liver function tests, and platelet counts, which was stronger for total bilirubin (r(2) = 0.53, P = 0.0001) and aspartate aminotransferase (r(2) = 0.50, P = 0.0001) and weaker for platelet counts (r(2) = 0.158, P = 0.04); between infused lipid and liver function tests, the correlation was significant for total bilirubin (r(2) = 0.19, P = 0.038) and aspartate aminotransferase (r(2) = 0.164, P = 0.049). In multiple linear regression analysis, a decreased oral diet (b = -52.3, P = 0.001) and infused PY (b = 2.54, P = 0.093) were risk factors for high plasma PY levels (r(2) = 0.54). Biopsies showed moderate to severe liver impairment in five patients., Conclusion: Liver damage may be linked to high plasma PY levels and strengthened by lack of an oral diet in patients on home PN.

Digestive surgeons should form part of the multidisciplinary team managing patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia. These patients can be diagnosed through clinical methods and complementary investigations such as videofluoroscopy and pharyngoesophageal manometry. These techniques also allow specific treatment to be selected. Up to one-third of patients with dysphagia suffer from malnutrition as a result of alterations in food bolus transport. Furthermore, up to two-thirds show alterations in swallowing safety (penetrations and aspirations, especially when swallowing liquids), as well as a high risk of respiratory infections and aspiration pneumonia. Increasing food bolus viscosity to 3500-4000 mPas (pudding viscosity) improves the effectiveness of swallowing and reduces the risk of aspirations. Botulinic toxin injection in the upper esophageal sphincter is indicated in patients with spasticity of neuromuscular origin. Cricopharyngeal myotomy is the basis of treatment for Zenker's diverticulum and is also indicated in patients with alterations in the upper esophageal sphincter and preserved oropharyngeal motor response.

Use of n-3 fatty acids (FA) has been reported to be beneficial for cancer patients. We performed a systematic review of the literature in order to issue recommendations on the clinical use of n-3 FA in the cancer setting. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and Healthstar databases. We selected clinical trials or prospective observational studies including patients with cancer and life expectancy >2 months, in which enteral supplements with n-3 FA were administered. Parameters evaluated individually were clinical (nutritional status, tolerance, survival and hospital stays), biochemical (inflammatory mediators), and functional (functional status, appetite and quality of life (QoL)). Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria; eight were of high quality. The panel of experts established the following evidence: (1) oral supplements with n-3 FA benefit patients with advanced cancer and weight loss, and are indicated in tumours of the upper digestive tract and pancreas; (2) the advantages observed were: increased weight and appetite, improved QoL, and reduced post-surgical morbidity; (3) there is no defined pattern for combining different n-3 FA, and it is recommended to administer > 1.5 g/day; and (4) better tolerance is obtained administering low-fat formulas for a period of at least 8 weeks. All the evidences were grade B but for 'length of treatment' and 'advantage of survival' it was grade C. Our findings suggest that administration of n-3 FA (EPA and DHA) in doses of at least 1.5 g/day for a prolonged period of time to patients with advanced cancer is associated with an improvement in clinical, biological and QoL parameters.

Introduction: External beam radiation of abdominal and pelvic cavities is a current therapy for gynaecological cancer that often produces radiation-induced bowel injury and malnutrition., Case Report: A 72-year old patient underwent surgery and external beam radiation therapy for an ovarian carcinoma. Two years later she was found to have intestinal pseudoobstruction related to chronic radiation enteritis and protein-energy malnutrition. Home parenteral nutrition was prescribed due to poor oral intake, but it was discontinued after 6 catheter-related sepsis and upper cava vein thrombosis. Parenteral nutrition could be reintroduced after an angioplasty of that vein, and the patient was operated on with the finding of an incarcerated ileum eventration. Nowadays she maintains a normal nutritional status with oral diet., Discussion: Radiation enteritis can lead to perforation, fistulae or strictures of the bowel. Malnutrition is common and parenteral nutrition may be necessary. Surgery can solve these complications, achieves good survival rates and can allow stopping parenteral nutrition.

Objective: The prevalence of malnutrition is high in patients with head and neck cancer due to tumor location and coadjuvant treatment. We studied changes in resting energy expenditure (REE) during treatment with chemoradiotherapy and compared the measured REE by indirect calorimetry (IC) with the value estimated by the Harris-Benedict (HB) formula., Methods: Eighteen patients with head and neck cancer (15 men and 3 women, mean age 57 +/- 10.7 y, age range 30-71 y) entered the study. All patients were treated with radiotherapy (70.8 +/- 1 Gy, range 70-72) and received 37.4 +/- 3.5 fractions (range 32-42) and concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatinum (absolute doses of 400 to 1000 mg). Nutrition assessment included anthropometry (body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, subscapular skinfold thickness, midarm circumference, and midarm muscle circumference) and tetrapolar bioimpedance (Holtain BC). The IC (kcal/24 h; Deltatrac II MBM-200) was performed after an overnight fast. Measurements were done before treatment, at weeks 2, 4, and 6 of treatment, at the end of treatment, and 2 wk after treatment., Results: Body mass index decreased during treatment from 24.7 +/- 4.4 kg/m(2) (range 16.9-31.4) to 22.3 +/- 4.2 kg/m(2) (range 15.1-29.6). REE (kcal/24 h) changed significantly during treatment (IC P < 0.05, HB formula P < 0.001). REE measured by IC appeared as a U-shaped curve, but REE estimated by the HB formula decreased during treatment. The HB underestimated REE measurements compared with IC. These differences were statistically significant before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 2 wk after treatment (P < 0.05) and showed a limited clinical agreement with the Bland-Altman method., Conclusions: REE measured by IC significantly changed during chemoradiotherapy. It was higher before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 2 wk after treatment. The HB formula underestimated REE in these patients. IC is a suitable method for measuring REE in this cohort of patients.

Background: Type 2 diabetic patients may need enteral nutrition support as part of their treatment. The objective was to compare glycemic and lipid control in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes requiring feeding via nasogastric tube using enteral feedings with either a highcarbohydrate or a high-monounsaturated-fat content., Methods: This trial included type 2 diabetes patients admitted to the hospital for neurologic disorders or head and neck cancer surgery who received either a low-carbohydrate-high-mono-unsaturated-fat (Glucerna) or a high-carbohydrate diet (Precitene Diabet). Glycemic and lipid control was determined weekly. Safety and gastrointestinal tolerance were also assessed., Results: A total of 104 patients were randomized and 63 were evaluable according to preestablished protocol criteria. Median duration of therapy was 13 days in both groups. Mean glucose was significantly increased at 7 days of treatment (p = .006) in the Precitene arm, with no significant variations in the Glucerna arm. Mean weekly blood triglycerides levels in the Precitene arm were increased without reaching statistical significance, whereas patients in the Glucerna arm showed a stable trend. Patients in the Precitene arm showed a significantly higher incidence of diarrhea than patients in Glucerna arm (p = .008), whereas the incidence of nausea was smaller in the Precitene arm than in the Glucerna arm (p = .03)., Conclusions: An enteral formula with lower carbohydrate and higher monounsaturated fat (Glucerna) has a neutral effect on glycemic control and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic patients compared with a high-carbohydrate and a lower-fat formula (Precitene Diabet).