Nutritional Deficits Research Articles

Consumption and Digestion of Plastics by Greater Hive Moth Larvae.

The accumulation and unsustainable management of plastic waste generate environmental pollution that affects ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. We studied the possibility of using the consumption and digestion of oxo-biodegradable, compostable plastics and polypropylene from face masks by the fifth-instar larvae of G. mellonella as a strategy for the sustainable management of plastic waste. We used Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) to determine the percentage of consumption and presence of microplastics in the digestive tract and excreta for 10 treatments evaluated for 135 h. The effects of plastics on the continuity of the life cycle of the greater hive moth were also determined. We established that the larvae fragmented and consumed 35.2 ± 23% of the plastics evaluated, with significant differences between treatments. Larvae were able to consume more of the intermediate layers of masks (86.31%) than the other plastics. However, none of the plastics were digested. Instead, microplastics accumulated in the excreta, resulting in nutritional deficits that affected the continuity of the life cycle, including the induction of the early formation of pupae after 24 h and a reduction in the number of eggs laid by the females.

Honeybee Nutrition: Physiological and Ecological Insights

Bees play a vital role in global agriculture through their pollination services; however, their populations have declined over the past three decades due to various stress, including nutritional deficits stemming from habitat loss and alteration. ​This review emphasizes the critical need for understanding bee nutrition, which is essential for overcoming these declines.​ With their evolutionary background alongside flowering plants, bees have adapted to a herbivorous diet primarily consisting of floral nectar and pollen. Nectar provides the energy necessary for flight and other metabolic processes, while pollen supplies essential proteins, fats and micronutrients. Foraging behaviors vary among bee species and are influenced by environmental factors and the genetic composition of the colony. Honey bees exhibit complex social structures where worker bees gather nectar, pollen and water, each contributing to the nutritional needs of the colony. The transformation of collected nectar into honey and pollen into bee bread illustrates bees unique food storage strategies, providing vital nutrition to larvae and adult workers. Additionally, understanding the nutritional processes involved in larval development and royal jelly production sheds light on caste differentiation and overall colony health. This comprehensive view on bee nutrition underscores its significance for future conservation strategies.

Comparative Analysis of Nutritional Advice and a Combined Approach for Addressing Impending Stunting in Infants: A Clinical Trial.

Weight faltering (WF) has been associated with stunting and with long-term adverse consequences for health and development. Nutritional care for managing WF may consist of giving nutritional advice (NA) and/or provision of oral nutrition supplements (ONSs). In this study, we aimed to evaluate practical management options in the community for infants with WF aged 6-12 months. This nonrandomized clinical trial was conducted in the community of Makassar, South Sulawesi, from March 2022 to March 2023. A total of 1013 infants were enrolled for screening. Anthropometric measures were performed in 913 infants, of which 170 showed WF below the 15th percentile of the WHO weight increment table without stunting. Infants with a weight increment below P5th were assigned to receive NA plus ONS, while infants between P5th and below P15th were assigned to receive only NA. At the second and third months, ONSs were administered to WF infants who were below P15th. One month after the intervention, 87/105 infants in the NA-plus-ONS group (82.8%) and 52/65 infants in the NA-only group (80%) were no longer WF. After 3 months, infants in the NA-plus-ONS group achieved greater weight gain than infants in the NA group (264.1 g vs. 137.4 g, p < 0.001) as well as greater length gain (2.35 cm vs. 2.14 cm, p < 0.001). WF management should be started at below P15th to achieve a better result. Infants with greater nutritional deficits should be assigned to receive the combination of NA plus ONSs to achieve a higher rate of resolution of growth.

Food Supplements and Their Use in Elderly Subjects-Challenges and Risks in Selected Health Issues: A Narrative Review.

The European population is ageing. Food Supplements (FSs) are foods with particular characteristics, consumed by elderly people for various purposes, including combating nutritional deficits. Their consumption in this age group, associated with a high prevalence of polypharmacy, can enhance interactions. Potential drug-food (or food supplements), drug-drug interactions and polypharmacy are common health issues among older adults. The prevalence of polypharmacy is high, and preliminary data also indicate that there is significant FS use, increasing the risk of the duplication of therapies and various adverse reactions as well as drug-FS and FS-FS interactions. Therefore, the intervention of health professionals in mitigating these risks is essential. This review highlights and discusses the association between FSs, polypharmacy, and adverse reactions due to the risk of potential interactions between these products. Moreover, it also provides current scientific evidence regarding the use of FSs by the elderly. A review of the challenges, advantages, and risks of using FSs in elderly people who are malnourished and/or polymedicated, focusing on the good practises needed to support healthy ageing, is presented. In this regard, this paper aims to help health professionals better deal with the issue of the use of multiple FSs and polypharmacy, overcome the malnutrition problem, and improve the health and well-being of older adults.

Early enteral nutrition (EEN) following intestinal anastomosis in pediatric patients – what’s new?

Abstract Introduction Abdominal surgery in children may disrupt normal gut function, necessitating prolonged fasting, which can lead to complications such as dehydration and nutritional deficits. Early enteral nutrition (EEN) after surgical procedures can enhance wound healing, prevent malnutrition, and expedite recovery. Although concerns exist regarding the risk of complications associated with EEN, current evidence suggests that it is not linked to increased perioperative complications. Content This scoping review provides an overview of the role of EEN in pediatric abdominal surgery, exploring its benefits and risks within the context of recent literature from 2021 to 2024. A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed database in April 2024 and the identified studies were compared. The search revealed 586 results, wherefrom eight studies (three systematic reviews and five clinical studies) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Five studies were added since 2021. Overall, EEN may reduce the length of hospital stay, time to full oral intake, and return of bowel function. It does not seem to increase the rate of anastomotic leakage. EEN is associated with lower rates of surgical site infections and wound dehiscence as well as fewer septic complications. One study showed an increase in nausea/vomiting and abdominal distension in the EEN group, which did not lead to further complications. Summary and Outlook Current evidence suggests that EEN after abdominal surgery in pediatric patients is not associated with a higher rate of complications. In fact, EEN seems to be beneficial and lead to improved patient outcomes and shorter hospital stays. Emphasis on patient and parent comfort, individualized feeding initiation based on clinical factors, and standardized postoperative feeding protocols are recommended to optimize outcomes in pediatric abdominal surgery.

Iron-dependent KDM4D activity controls the quiescence-activity balance of MSCs via the PI3K-Akt-Foxo1 pathway

Iron deficiency is a prevalent nutritional deficit associated with organ damage and dysfunction. Recent research increasingly associates iron deficiency with bone metabolism dysfunction, although the precise underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Some studies have proposed that iron-dependent methylation-erasing enzyme activity regulates cell proliferation and differentiation under physiological or pathological conditions. However, it remains uncertain whether iron deficiency inhibits the activation of quiescent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by affecting histone demethylase activity. In our study, we identified KDM4D as a key player in the activation of quiescent MSCs. Under conditions of iron deficiency, the H3K9me3 demethylase activity of KDM4D significantly decreased. This alteration resulted in increased heterochromatin with H3K9me3 near the PIK3R3 promoter, suppressing PIK3R3 expression and subsequently inhibiting the activation of quiescent MSCs via the PI3K-Akt-Foxo1 pathway. Iron-deficient mice displayed significantly impaired bone marrow MSCs activation and decreased bone mass compared to normal mice. Modulating the PI3K-Akt-Foxo1 pathway could reverse iron deficiency-induced bone loss.

Nutrient Stress Symptom Detection in Cucumber Seedlings Using Segmented Regression and a Mask Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network Model

The health monitoring of vegetable and fruit plants, especially during the critical seedling growth stage, is essential to protect them from various environmental stresses and prevent yield loss. Different environmental stresses may cause similar symptoms, making visual inspection alone unreliable and potentially leading to an incorrect diagnosis and delayed corrective actions. This study aimed to address these challenges by proposing a segmented regression model and a Mask R-CNN model for detecting the initiation time and symptoms of nutrient stress in cucumber seedlings within a controlled environment. Nutrient stress was induced by applying two different treatments: an indicative nutrient deficiency with an electrical conductivity (EC) of 0 dSm−1, and excess nutrients with a high-concentration nutrient solution and an EC of 6 dSm−1. Images of the seedlings were collected using an automatic image acquisition system two weeks after germination. The early initiation of nutrient stress was detected using a segmented regression analysis, which analyzed morphological and textural features extracted from the images. For the Mask R-CNN model, 800 seedling images were annotated based on the segmented regression analysis results. Nutrient-stressed seedlings were identified from the initiation day to 4.2 days after treatment application. The Mask R-CNN model, implemented using ResNet-101 for feature extraction, leveraged transfer learning to train the network with a smaller dataset, thereby reducing the processing time. This study identifies the top projected canopy area (TPCA), energy, entropy, and homogeneity as prospective indicators of nutritional deficits in cucumber seedlings. The results from the Mask R-CNN model are promising, with the best-fit image achieving an F1 score of 93.4%, a precision of 93%, and a recall of 94%. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the integrated statistical and machine learning (ML) methods for the early and accurate diagnosis of nutrient stress. The use of segmented regression for initial detection, followed by the Mask R-CNN for precise identification, emphasizes the potential of this approach to enhance agricultural practices. By facilitating the early detection and accurate diagnosis of nutrient stress, this approach allows for quicker and more precise treatments, which improve crop health and productivity. Future research could expand this methodology to other crop types and field conditions to enhance image processing techniques, and researchers may also integrate real-time monitoring systems.

Nursing Care for Mrs. D with a Medical Diagnosis of Babies with Low Birth Weight

Babies with low birth weight is a condition where a baby is born with a weight of less than 2,500 grams. Such babies face a higher risk of mortality compared to those born with normal weight due to the immaturity of their organ systems, including the lungs, kidneys, heart, immune system, and digestive system. Babies with low birth weight often struggle to adapt to their environment, leading to instability in physiological functions such as temperature, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. This can result in hypothermia, increased heart rate, decreased respiratory frequency, recurrent apnea, and reduced SpO2 levels. This study aims to describe the nursing care provided to By.Ny.D, a patient with a medical diagnosis of babies with low birth weight in the Perinatology Room at Waled Hospital, Cirebon Regency. A qualitative research design with a case study approach was employed. The subject of the case study was By.Ny.D, observed over three days from January 22nd—24th, 2024. The primary nursing issues identified were ineffective breathing patterns and nutritional deficits. After three days of nursing care, the study concluded that the problems of ineffective breathing patterns and nutritional deficits remained unresolved, necessitating the continuation of the planned interventions.

Preeclampsia: Short- and Long-Term Effects.

Does our time inside the womb predict our future? Evidence suggests that the environment in the womb plays a powerful role in predicting specific adult diseases. The fetus is constantly responding and adapting to the intrauterine environment by a process called programming. Toxic exposures, such as nutritional deficits and hypoxia, can affect fetal development and increase the risk for specific diseases that manifest later in our adult life. Preeclampsia (PE) is one disorder that results in a less-than-optimal environment for the growing fetus. It is pregnancy-specific and defined as new-onset hypertension after 20 weeks' gestation in the presence of maternal multiorgan dysfunction. To the best of our understanding, the pathogenesis is multifactorial and involves dysfunction of the placenta and the vascular, renal, and immunological systems. Treatment options are limited and may result in adverse outcomes for the fetus and newborn. Preeclampsia is a major contributor to perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, thus generating a significant healthcare burden. Research continues to demonstrate that mothers and infants affected by PE are at increased susceptibility to chronic conditions such as cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, and neurological diseases. More efforts are needed to further understand this disease. Efforts to increase awareness will help improve clinical outcomes for both mothers and infants.

Autistic Children/Adolescents Have Lower Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Higher Salivary IL-6 Concentration: Potential Diet-Inflammation Links?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders. Many patients with ASD often show behavioral problems at mealtimes, including food selectivity and atypical feeding behaviors. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has a beneficial effect on mental health for the general population across different ages. There is evidence that good adherence to the MD is effective in reducing peripheral inflammatory markers, such as the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). The present study was designed to evaluate adherence to the MD in children with ASD using age- and sex-matched, typically developing individuals (TDs) as a control group and to determine whether differences in adherence to the MD are associated with salivary IL-6 and IL-6 receptor concentration. Twenty children and adolescents with ASD (mean age 9.95 ± 0.65 years) and twenty TDs (mean age: 9.85 ± 0.59 years) participated in this study (N = 16 males and N = 4 females in each group). Participants with ASD were enrolled in a psychiatric consultation in Valencia (Spain), and TDs were recruited from two public schools in Valencia. The parents of both ASD and TD groups answered the items in a validated Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED) questionnaire on their children's adherence to the MD. The mean adherence to MD score was significantly lower in the ASD group (9.10 ± 0.42) (range 6-12) than in the TD group (10.35 ± 0.31) (range 8-12) (p = 0.02, Mann-Whitney U test). There was no statistically significant association between adherence to the MD and age or sex in both groups, but there was a significant correlation between the total KIDMED score and body mass index (BMI) in the ASD group. Regarding the concentration of Il-6 and the Il-6 receptor in saliva samples, there were no significant differences between the two groups; however, linear regression analysis by group revealed significant associations between the adherence to MD score and the concentration of IL-6 and its receptor in saliva in the ASD group (p = 0.003, OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.007 to -0.02; p = 0.009, OR = -0.64, 95% CI -0.01 to -0.00). In contrast, no significant associations were observed between the adherence to MD score and the concentration of IL-6 and its receptor in saliva in the TD group. Children and adolescents with ASD showed significantly lower adherence to the MD, which can contribute to nutritional deficits described in ASD, and the role of BMI composition (fat versus lean mass) needs to be further investigated in this group. The concentration of IL-6 and its receptor in saliva is associated with adherence to the MD, suggesting a possible link between IL-6 and diet in ASD. Further studies to clarify the associations between IL-6, psychiatric alterations, and diet in ASD are needed.

Undetected and undiagnosed comorbidity in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery-Results from the Berlin Bariatric Cohort study.

The quality of general obesity management before bariatric surgery (BS) is rarely investigated. Inadequate information regarding undetected and undiagnosed comorbidities (UUCs) in individuals with obesity may influence the penetration, risks, and outcomes of BS. We conducted a cohort study involving a pre-specified medical check-up in a cooperation between a BS department and an outpatient medical centre. A total of 1068 patients (74.4% women) were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 42.1 years (standard deviation [SD] 11.9) and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 46.1 (SD 6.91). The onset of obesity occurred in 11.4% of patients during childhood, 47.2% during schooltime/adolescence, 41.4% in adulthood. Gender differences were observed: men had higher BMI, systolic blood pressure, and impaired metabolic state (including diabetes, dyslipidemia, and liver disease with p-values <.001 for all). Women had lower haemoglobin levels, impaired iron status, lower albumin levels (p < .001), and increased C-reactive protein levels (p < .05). The prevalence of UUC conditions (percentage of cases) was as follows: arterial hypertension, 53%; decreased cystatin C clearance, 57%; dyslipidemia, 41%; fatty liver, 40%; iron deficiency, 37%; diabetes mellitus, 34%; vitamin D deficiency, 32%; chronic pain syndrome, 23%; liver fibrosis, 12%; obstructive sleep apnea, 10%; and vitamin deficiencies (vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin K1) <10%. Undiagnosed hypertension was more prevalent in younger women, and nutritional deficits were associated with high BMI in both genders. Older age and high BMI were associated with undiagnosed diabetes and decreased glomerular filtration rate in both genders, and with liver fibrosis in men. UUC are highly prevalent in individuals undergoing BS. A refined assessment is recommended to improve health conditions and outcome in these candidates.

Systematic nutritional screening and assessment in older patients: Rationale for its integration into oncology practice

As the global population ages, so does the number of older people being diagnosed, treated and surviving cancer. Challenges to providing appropriate healthcare management stem from the heterogeneity common in this population. Although malnutrition is highly prevalent in older people with cancer, ranging between 30 % and 80 % according to some analyses, is associated with frailty, and has been shown to be a major risk factor for poor treatment response and worse overall survival, addressing nutrition status is not always a priority among oncology healthcare providers. Evaluation of nutritional status is a two-step process: screening identifies risk factors for reduced nutritional intake and deficits that require more in-depth assessment. Screening activities can be as simple as taking weight and BMI measurements or using short nutritional questionnaires and asking the patient about unintentional weight loss to identify potential nutritional risk. Using geriatric assessment, deficits in the nutritional domain as well as in others reveal potentially reversible geriatric and medical problems to guide specific therapeutic interventions. The authors of this paper are experts in the fields of geriatric medicine, oncology, and nutrition science and believe that there is not only substantial evidence to support regularly performing screening and assessment of nutritional status in older patients with cancer, but that these measures lead to the planning and implementation of patient-centered approaches to nutrition management and thus enhanced geriatric-oncology care. This paper presents rationale for systematic nutrition screening and assessment in older adults with cancer.

Relationship between duration of heart failure and nutritional status in hospitalised patients - preliminary cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction Heart failure (HF) is a chronic disease which is one of the most common causes of hospitalisation of elderly patients. Nutritional status has a crucial impact on the course of disease and survival. HF frequently occurs with nutritional deficits, which may lead to malnutrition and loss of skeletal mass, which makes the prognosis worse. Nutritional status depends also on the patient's economic status, ability to prepare meals, and availability of fresh vegetables and fruits. Knowledge of the connection between the duration of heart failure and nutritional status will enable selection of patients with a higher risk of malnutrition, for which nutritional support should be considered. Purpose The study aims to assess the variability of nutritional status in heart failure patients over the duration of the disease, using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI). Methods The nutritional status of 134 patients with HF admitted to the cardiology department was assessed with the MNA questionnaire. Additionally, GNRI has counted from serum albumin concentration, weight and height of patients. Patients were divided according to the duration of HF into two groups, one with patients with equal or less than five years of history of disease and the second with patients with HF lasting more than five years. Results The mean age was 52.4±16.9 years, 20.2% of patients were women, and the mean LVEF was 30.3±13.8%. The group of patients with HF lasting equal or less than five years was younger than patients with more than five years of the disease (49.5±16.9 years vs. 57.3 ±16.2 years, p=0.002). There were no significant differences in sex, LVEF and NYHA class between the two groups. According to MNA and GNRI scores, the nutritional status had no differences between the group of patients suffering from HF for more than five years compared with those with HF lasting 5 years or less (p=0.50; p=0.63, respectively). Moreover, the time of HF lasting was not correlated with scores of MNA and GNRI (p=0.33; p=0.22). Conclusions The study found no significant association between the nutritional status of patients and duration of heart failure. Therefore, monitoring nutritional status is crucial, irrespective of the duration of HF. It is necessary to analyse this issue in a larger group of patients with heart failure to identify specifically which patients are at risk of malnutrition and how nutritional status changes with the duration of the disease.

Implementasi Keperawatan dengan Masalah Defisit Nutrisi pada Pasien Tuberkulosis Paru

Pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious disease that transmits the lungs caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosa which has a rod-like shape and is acid-resistant, so it is known as BTA (acid-resistant rods) which is the main factor in Pulmonary Tuberculosis. The type of research used is descriptive in the form of case studies with data collection methods by means of interviews and physical examination. The research subjects were two pulmonary tuberculosis patients with nutritional deficit problems at Muhammadiyah Hospital in Palembang. The nursing implementation approach used includes identification of nutritional status: management of oral hygiene and providing diet education. This study was conducted to compare two respondents who had been given implementation for three days where 1 day was implemented 3 times, namely nutrition management, oral hygiene and diet education and was carried out in the morning. The study showed that after three days of implementation the problem of nutritional deficit experienced by weight patients increased by 1 kg, oral hygiene improved, and knowledge increased.

Giardiasis in the Elderly: A Comprehensive Review with Presentation of Three Cases

Gisrdiasis in the elderly is a very complicated condition. Comorbidities have a major influence on the course, management, and outcomes of giardiasis in elderly individuals. Immunologic, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, renal and gastrointestinal disorders, neurological and respiratory ailment, and nutritional deficits all interact with giardiasis, resulting in severe clinical symptoms and additional difficult therapy. A complete, multidisciplinary approach is required for the efficient management of giardiasis in elderly patients with comorbidities, with an emphasis on personalised medications, supportive care, and preventative initiatives.

Impact of Nutrition Education on the Outcome of Bariatric Surgery

Abstract Background Bariatric Surgery is the most effective way for inducing long term weight loss and decreasing comorbidities and mortality in patients with severe obesity. After the surgery, nutritional counselling is important to facilitate the adaption of eating habit to the new gastric intestinal physiology and to prevent the nutritional deficits arising after the bariatric surgery. Aim of the Work Assess impact of nutrition education no outcome of bariatric surgery regarding dietary habits and clinical parameters. Patients and Methods This study was carried out on 128 bariatric patients, 64 patients underwent bariatric surgery and took nutritional education session and follow-up for 6months from the first day of performing the operation (Group A), and another 64 bariatric patients performed the surgery six month ago without taking the nutritional education session or any follow-up (Group B). Results In Group A (with the nutritional education intervention) there was a statistically significant difference in the eating after bariatric surgery knowledge, taking supplementation, satisfaction level after the surgery, eating habits, anthropometry and weight loss measurements, improving nausea and vomiting symptoms, and better Hb%, albumin level, and improvement in serum TG level, Serum LDL level which decreased and also improvement of HDL level which increased at the six month of performing the operation more than Group B (without the nutritional education intervention). Conclusion There is a great importance of nutritional education and compliance to the follow-up after performing the bariatric surgery on the outcome of the bariatric surgery regarding dietary habits and clinical parameters.

Malnutrition contribution to the functional status and health related quality of life after COVID-19, a correlational follow-up study

To assess malnutrition contribution to the functional status and health related quality of life after hospitalization due to COVID-19 pneumonia, 66 selected adults referred for physical rehabilitation accepted to participate in the study; none of them required oxygen supply or had history of lung/musculoskeletal/neurological/immune/rheumatic disease or trauma, or contraindication for respiratory-function tests. At three evaluations, with 3 months in-between, assessments included: self-report of functional status, the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, spirometry, the 6-min-walk-test, the MRC-scale, the 30-s sit-to-stand-test, the timed-up-and-go-test, nutritional status, and ultrasound imaging (vastus medialis and diaphragm). At referral, patients had nutritional deficits with protein deficiency, which gradually improved; while muscle thickness (of both vastus medialis and diaphragm) increased, along with muscle strength and mobility (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Contrarywise, the distance covered during the 6-min-walk-test decreased (ANOVA, p < 0.05), with a negative influence from excess body mass. During rehabilitation, health-related quality of life and functional status improved, with negative influence from a history of tobacco use and referral delay, respectively. After hospitalization due to COVID-19, early diagnosis of both protein deficiency and decrease of skeletal muscle thickness could be relevant for rehabilitation, while pondering the negative impact of excess body mass on submaximal exercise performance.

Higher prevalence of sacbrood virus in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies after pollinating highbush blueberries.

Highbush blueberry pollination depends on managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) L. for adequate fruit sets; however, beekeepers have raised concerns about the poor health of colonies after pollinating this crop. Postulated causes include agrochemical exposure, nutritional deficits, and interactions with parasites and pathogens, particularly Melisococcus plutonius [(ex. White) Bailey and Collins, Lactobacillales: Enterococcaceae], the causal agent of European foulbrood disease, but other pathogens could be involved. To broadly investigate common honey bee pathogens in relation to blueberry pollination, we sampled adult honey bees from colonies at time points corresponding to before (t1), during (t2), at the end (t3), and after (t4) highbush blueberry pollination in British Columbia, Canada, across 2 years (2020 and 2021). Nine viruses, as well as M. plutonius, Vairimorpha ceranae, and V. apis [Tokarev et al., Microsporidia: Nosematidae; formerly Nosema ceranae (Fries et al.) and N. apis (Zander)], were detected by PCR and compared among colonies located near and far from blueberry fields. We found a significant interactive effect of time and blueberry proximity on the multivariate pathogen community, mainly due to differences at t4 (corresponding to ~6 wk after the beginning of the pollination period). Post hoc comparisons of pathogens in near and far groups at t4 showed that detections of sacbrood virus (SBV), which was significantly higher in the near group, not M. plutonius, was the primary driver. Further research is needed to determine if the association of SBV with highbush blueberry pollination is contributing to the health decline that beekeepers observe after pollinating this crop.

USE OF NUTRIENT RISK IN CRITICALLY ILL SCORE TO ASSESS NUTRITIONAL RISK IN MECHANICALLY VENTILATED PATIENTS

Ensuring proper nutritional support is crucial for critically ill patients. This nutritional deficit is closely associated with heightened susceptibility to nosocomial infections, delayed wound healing, and an escalated risk of mortality. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Nutrient Risk in Critically Ill (NUTRIC) score in assessing the nutritional risk of mechanically ventilated patients. Method: It is a cross-sectional study. It is conducted at the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad from 1st Jan 2024 to 30 May 2024. The calculated sample size was 381 selected by non-probability consecutive sampling. The study utilized the modified Nutritional Risk in the Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) score to assess nutritional risk in mechanically ventilated (MV) patients. Data will be analyzed using SPSS 24.0. A P value of ≤ 5 will be significant Result: The study included a total of 381 participants, with a mean age of 55.7 ± 17.5 years and, a BMI was 23.7 ± 3.5. 219 (57.48%) had low nutritional risk (NUTRIC score ≤4), while 162 (42.51%) had high nutritional risk (NUTRIC score ≥5). Patients in the high nutritional risk group had a longer stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), had fewer ventilator-free days and had higher mortality rates compared to those in the low nutritional risk group (8.5 ± 4.1 days vs. 5.2 ± 3.9 days, p-value &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: The study highlights the significance of the NUTRIC score as a valuable tool for the estimation of nutritional risk among mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU setting

Combat-related peripheral nerve injuries.

Active-duty service members (ADSM) and military Veterans represent a population with increased occupational risk for nerve injuries sustained both during training operations and wartime. Mechanisms of war-related nerve injuries have evolved over time, from the musket ball-related traumas described by S.W. Mitchell to complex blast injuries and toxic exposures sustained during Middle East conflicts in the 21st century. Commonly encountered nerve injury etiologies in this population currently include compression, direct trauma, nutritional deficits, traumatic limb amputation, toxic chemical exposures, or blast-related injuries. Expeditious identification and comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment of combat-associated neuropathies, as well as prevention of these injuries whenever possible is critical to reduce chronic morbidity and disability for service members and to maintain a well-prepared military. However, diagnosis of a combat-associated nerve injury may be particularly challenging due to comorbid battlefield injuries or delayed presentation of neuropathy from military toxic exposures. Advances in imaging for nerve injury, including MRI and ultrasound, provide useful tools to compliment EMG in establishing a diagnosis of combat-associated nerve injury, particularly in the setting of anatomic disruption or edema. Surgical techniques can improve pain control or restoration of function. In all cases, comprehensive interdisciplinary rehabilitation provides the best framework for optimization of recovery. Further work is needed to prevent combat-associated nerve injuries and promote nerve recovery following injury.