Search

Background: A nationwide, prospective, multicenter, cohort study (the Disease-Related caloric-protein malnutrition EChOgraphy (DRECO) study) was designed to assess the usefulness of ultrasound of the rectus femoris for detecting sarcopenia in hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition and to define cut-off values of ultrasound measures. Methods: Patients at risk of malnutrition according to the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) underwent handgrip dynamometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), a Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and rectus femoris ultrasound studies. European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria were used to define categories of sarcopenia (at risk, probable, confirmed, severe). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were used to determine the optimal diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of cut-off points of the ultrasound measures for the detection of risk of sarcopenia and probable, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia. Results: A total of 1000 subjects were included and 991 of them (58.9% men, mean age 58.5 years) were evaluated. Risk of sarcopenia was detected in 9.6% patients, probable sarcopenia in 14%, confirmed sarcopenia in 9.7%, and severe sarcopenia in 3.9%, with significant differences in the distribution of groups between men and women (p < 0.0001). The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris showed a significantly positive correlation with body cell mass of BIA and handgrip strength, and a significant negative correlation with TUG. Cut-off values were similar within each category of sarcopenia, ranging between 2.40 cm2 and 3.66 cm2 for CSA, 32.57 mm and 40.21 mm for the X-axis, and 7.85 mm and 10.4 mm for the Y-axis. In general, these cut-off values showed high sensitivities, particularly for the categories of confirmed and severe sarcopenia, with male patients also showing better sensitivities than women. Conclusions: Sarcopenia in hospitalized patients at risk of malnutrition was high. Cut-off values for the better sensitivities and specificities of ultrasound measures of the rectus femoris are established. The use of ultrasound of the rectus femoris could be used for the prediction of sarcopenia and be useful to integrate nutritional study into real clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disease-related malnutrition (DRM) affects approximately a third of hospitalized patients and is associated with an increased risk of morbimortality. However, DRM is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Our aim is to evaluate the prognostic value of morphofunctional tools and tests for nutritional assessment in clinical practice. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies relating to the morphofunctional assessment of nutritional status and mortality or complications. Evidence was evaluated using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) method. Twelve GRADE recommendations were made and divided into seven topics: food intake and nutrient assimilation, anthropometry, biochemical analysis, hand grip strength, phase angle, muscle imaging, and functional status and quality of life. From these recommendations, 37 statements were developed and scored in a two-survey Delphi method by 183 experts. A consensus was reached on accepting 26/37 statements. Surveys had high internal consistency and high inter-rater reliability. In conclusion, evidence-based recommendations were made on the prognostic value of morphofunctional assessment tools and tests to assess malnutrition, most of which were found to be feasible in routine clinical practice, according to expert opinions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The oral administration of vitamin B12 offers a potentially simpler and cheaper alternative to parenteral administration, but its effectiveness has not been definitively demonstrated. The following protocol was designed to compare the effectiveness of orally and intramuscularly administered vitamin B12 in the treatment of patients ≥65 years of age with vitamin B12 deficiency. Methods/design The proposed study involves a controlled, randomised, multicentre, parallel, non-inferiority clinical trial lasting one year, involving 23 primary healthcare centres in the Madrid region (Spain), and patients ≥65 years of age. The minimum number of patients required for the study was calculated as 320 (160 in each arm). Bearing in mind an estimated 8-10% prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among the population of this age group, an initial sample of 3556 patients will need to be recruited. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment arms. In the intramuscular treatment arm, vitamin B12 will be administered as follows: 1 mg on alternate days in weeks 1 and 2, 1 mg/week in weeks 3–8,and 1 mg/month in weeks 9–52. In the oral arm, the vitamin will be administered as: 1 mg/day in weeks 1–8 and 1 mg/week in weeks 9–52. The main outcome variable to be monitored in both treatment arms is the normalisation of the serum vitamin B12 concentration at weeks 8, 26 and 52; the secondary outcome variables include the serum concentration of vitamin B12 (in pg/ml), adherence to treatment, quality of life (EuroQoL-5D questionnaire), patient 3satisfaction and patient preferences. All statistical tests will be performed with intention to treat and per protocol. Logistic regression with random effects will be used to adjust for prognostic factors. Confounding factors or factors that might alter the effect recorded will be taken into account in analyses. Discussion The results of this study should help establish, taking quality of life into account, whether the oral administration of vitamin B12 is an effective alternative to its intramuscular administration. If this administration route is effective, it should provide a cheaper means of treating vitamin B12 deficiency while inducing fewer adverse effects. Having such an alternative would also allow patient preferences to be taken into consideration at the time of prescribing treatment. Trial registration This trial has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT 01476007, and under EUDRACT number 2010-024129-20.

There are no studies that have specifically assessed the role of intravenous lipid emulsions (ILE) enriched with fish oil in people with diabetes receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The objective of this study was to assess the metabolic control (glycemic and lipid) and in-hospital complications that occurred in non-critically ill inpatients with TPN and type 2 diabetes with regard to the use of fish oil emulsions compared with other ILEs. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the Insulin in Parenteral Nutrition (INSUPAR) trial that included patients who started with TPN for any cause and that would predictably continue with TPN for at least five days. The study included 161 patients who started with TPN for any cause. There were 80 patients (49.7%) on fish oil enriched ILEs and 81 patients (50.3%) on other ILEs. We found significant decreases in triglyceride levels in the fish oil group compared to the other patients. We did not find any differences in glucose metabolic control: mean capillary glucose, glycemic variability, and insulin dose, except in the number of mild hypoglycemic events that was significantly higher in the fish oil group. We did not observe any differences in other metabolic, liver or infectious complications, in-hospital length of stay or mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke is a public health problem of the first order. In developed countries is one of the leading causes of death, along with cardiovascular disease and cancer. In addition, stroke is the leading cause of permanent disability in adulthood. Many of the patients who survive do so with significant sequelae that limit them in their activities of daily living. Most strokes (80-85%) are due to ischemia, while the rest are hemorrhagic. We have identified many modifiable risk factors, some with an important relationship with dietary factors or comorbidities in wich the diet has a significant impact. The incidence of malnutrition in stroke patients is not well known, but most likely impacts on patient prognosis. Furthermore, the nutritional status of patients admitted for stroke often deteriorates during hospitalization. It is necessary to perform a nutritional assessment of the patient in the early hours of admission, to determine both the nutritional status and the presence of dysphagia. Dysphagia, through alteration of the safety and efficacy of swallowing, is a complication that has an implication for nutritional support, and must be treated to prevent aspiration pneumonia, which is the leading cause of mortality in the stroke patient. Nutritional support should begin in the early hours. In patients with no or mild dysphagia that can be controlled by modifying the texture of the diet, they will start oral diet and oral nutritional supplementation will be used if the patient does not meet their nutritional requirements. There is no evidence to support the use of nutritional supplements routinely. Patients with severe dysphagia, or decreased level of consciousness will require enteral nutrition. Current evidence indicates that early nutrition should be initiated through a nasogastric tube, with any advantages of early feeding gastrostomy. Gastrostomy will be planned when the enteral nutrition support will be expected for long-term (4 weeks). Much evidence points to the importance of glycemic control during hospitalization for stroke. Hyperglycemia at diagnosis and during the first hours of admission impact on patient prognosis. The goal of glycemic control necessary to modify this bad prognosis without adding risk by iatrogenic hypoglycemia is still matter of debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: obesity affects many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 agonists are a promising therapy for obese patients. However, there is a lack of evidence of the use of these drugs in IBD patients. This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of GLP-1 agonists in a cohort of obese patients with IBD., Methods: a retrospective series of cases of consecutive IBD patients who received GLP-1 agonists indicated to treat obesity between 2019 and 2021 was analyzed. The GLP-1 agonists included were semaglutide 1.0 mg or liraglutide 3.0 mg. The coprimary endpoints were the percentage of change in body weight from baseline to six months and a weight reduction of 5 % or more at six months. In addition, the safety profile of GLP-1 agonist therapy and its impact on the IBD course were reviewed., Results: sixteen obese patients with IBD (nine with Crohn's disease [CD] and seven with ulcerative colitis [UC]) were included in the study. The median body mass index at baseline was 35 (32-37). The percentage of change in body weight was -6.2 % (-3.4-[-8.5]) at six months, and a 5 % or more weight reduction was achieved in 58.3 % (7/12) of patients at six months. The most common side effect was nausea (13.3 %), and one patient withdrew due to diarrhea. IBD activity score did not change significantly during follow-up., Conclusion: our results showed that GLP-1 agonists were effective and had a good safety profile in IBD patients. Most adverse effects were mild, and the IBD activity had no significant changes.

Introduction: obesity is a global health problem. Metabolic/Bariatric surgery (MBS) has proven to be one of the most effective methods for treating the most severe forms. However, a thorough evaluation and preparation of people seeking MBS is necessary. In Spain, there are no standardized interviews to carry out the psychosocial assessment of people seeking MBS. The Boston Interview for MBS (BIBS) is a recognized and flexible tool to evaluate the psychosocial factors., Objective: to present the process of translation into Spanish and cross-cultural adaptation of the BIBS., Materials and Methods: the reverse translation procedure was followed. To validate the translation, a multidisciplinary group of experts was formed. They were asked to rate the clarity of wording and cultural adaptation of the translation items. In addition, the translated interview was used to evaluate 173 patients seeking MBS who rated their satisfaction with the interview experience., Results: the evaluation of the translation by a group of experts was favorable (global mode and median were 3-excellent, IQR of 1). The overall percentage agreement of the adequacy of "cultural adaptation" of the text was 85.8 % (95 % CI, 0.784, 0.932) and of the "clarity of wording" was 84.7 % (95 % CI, 0.7644; 0.9286). Furthermore, it was well accepted by the majority of the patients interviewed (p(50) 10 out of 10)., Conclusions: the Spanish translation of the BIBS is available for the assessment of Spanish-speaking people seeking MBS. It was rated as having good fidelity to the original English version, and was deemed highly satisfactory by patients.

Introduction: Background: the underlying cause of the deficiency of ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTCD) is a gene mutation on the X chromosome. In females, the phenotype is highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic to neurologic compromise secondary to hyperammonemia and it can be prompted by numerous triggers, including pregnancy. Objective: the objective of this article is to report a case of two pregnancies of an OTCD-carrier, and to review the literature describing OTCD and pregnancy, parturition and postpartum. Methods: an extensive search in PubMed in December 2021 was conducted using different search terms. After screening all abstracts, 23 papers that corresponded to our inclusion criteria were identified. Results: the article focuses on the management of OTCD during pregnancy, parturition, and the postpartum period in terms of clinical presentation, ammonia levels and treatment. Conclusions: females with OTCD can certainly plan a pregnancy, but they need a careful management during delivery and particularly during the immediate postpartum period. If possible, a multidisciplinary team of physicians, dietitians, obstetrician-gynecologist, neonatologists, pharmacists, etc. with expertise in this field should participate in the care of women with OTCD and their children during this period and in their adult life.

Background: bariatric surgery is widely employed nowadays. Nutritional complications following malabsorptive bariatric surgery are common., Objectives: to compare protein malnutrition incidence, the amount of protein intake and the influence of various risk factors in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and biliopancreatic diversion (BPD)., Methods: retrospective study comparing the development of hypoalbuminemia in 92 patients undergoing BPD and 121 RYGB, before surgery and 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after it. Protein intake was estimated by serum prealbumin. The influence of prior body mass index (BMI), age and sex was analyzed., Results: hypoprealbuminemia was found in around 40% of patients 3 months after both procedures, decreasing to about 10% after 2 years of surgery. Hypoalbuminemia incidence was close to 20% in the first post-surgery year in BPD, persisting in 10-15% of cases thereafter. After RYGB, hypoalbuminemia incidence was lower (5-9% in all postoperative follow-up measurements). During the first year after surgery, hypoalbuminemia was more frequent after BPD than after RYGB (at the 3rd month (OR:3.9; p=0.006; 95%CI:1.5-10.4), 6th (OR:5.0; p=0.002; 95% CI:1.8-13.8), and at the 12th month (OR:4.4;p=0.007;95%;CI:1.5-12.8)), but not after the first year. A higher preoperative BMI favored it (OR: 1.03; p=0.046; 95% CI:1-1.06), as well as greater age during the first 6 months., Conclusion: Patients with BPD had a higher risk for hypoproteinemia than those undergoing RYGB, especially during the first year post-surgery. Higher preoperative BMI, and age (in the short-term period) could have a significant inverse relation to hypoproteinemia., (Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)