Maintenance Of Nutrition Research Articles

Nutritional and Health Profiles of the Seasonal Changes in some Nutrients, Anti-nutrients and Mineral Contents of <i>Treculia africana food crop</i>

Environmental variables such as temperature, rainfall, sunshine among others are known to influence fruiting, seed formation and quality of food crops by different mechanisms. Levels of nutrients, anti-nutrients and mineral composition of periodically harvested seeds of Treculia africana (a legume) during the fruiting season were assessed to determine the influence of season on quality parameters. Standard methods of analysis were used to evaluate protein, fat, crude fibre, ash, carbohydrate, moisture hydrogen cyanide, phytate, tannin, oxalate, alkaloid, saponinns and minerals. Highest nutritive and anti-nutrient values of seeds occurred at mid season and late season development periods respectively. Observed quality parameters were 14.55% protein, 5.74% fat, 2.10% crude fibre, 1.45% ash, 33.20% moisture, 50.14% carbohydrate, 0.45mg/100g HCN, 0.8 phytate 6.10mg/100g, 0.45mg/100g 1.65mg and 0.77mg/100g for early season seeds. The mid season seeds quality parameters increases were protein (5.1%) fat (0.34%) ash (0.22%), moisture (2.40%) carbohydrate (4.87%) and mean increase of 3.88% for anti-nutrient. Phytate, oxalate and phenolic values were highest at late season seeds. The mineral contents were comparable among the seasons. Calcium (20.0mg) and magnesium (280mg) recorded the least values in late season seeds. The relationship between seasonal changes in nutrients, anti-nutrients and seasons was significant (P < 0.05). The quality parameters are within the Recommended Daily Allowance for Nutrients, anti-nutrients and minerals but for calcium and magnesium. The seasonal changes posit Treculia africana as multi-purpose nutritional and health maintenance food crop.

“Snowmelt Sign” and “Corkscrew Microvessels” Predicting Epithelium Regeneration After Acute Rejection of Small-Bowel Transplantation: A Case Report

Intestinal failure characterized by inadequate maintenance of nutrition via normal intestinal function comprises a group of disorders with many different causes. If parenteral nutrition dependency develops, which is associated with higher mortality and complications, it is considered for intestine transplantation. However, the graft failure rate is not low, and acute cellular rejection is one of the most important reasons for graft failure. As a result, early identification of rejection and timely modification of anti-rejection medications have been considered to be associated with better graft and patient survival rates. The diagnostic gold standard for rejection is mainly based on histology, but hours of delay by pathology may occur. Some researchers investigated the association of endoscopic images with graft rejection to provide timely diagnosis. In this study, we present the first case report with characteristic features under magnifying endoscopy with a narrow-band imaging system to predict epithelial regeneration and improvement of graft rejection in a patient with small-bowel transplantation.

Non-CNS pathogenic origin of Parkinson's disease.

The gut with its variety of microbiota may serve as an etiological origin of diseases. Gut microbes may also play a role in the pathogenesis of diseases beyond their simple nutritional maintenance and support. For example, gut protein aggregation, possibly aided by microbes as well as nasal influences, might be linked to disease that may move to the brain through the vagus nerve. To this end, Braak has offered a "dual-hit" hypothesis that proposes a novel etiology for Parkinson's disease (PD). The hypothesis places the initial origin of the disease in the nose and the gastrointestinal tract (GI) after infection by an unknown pathogen that could aggregate in the gut and then eventually spread to the brain via the autonomic plexuses. Gut health functioning, therefore, may affect brain status and behavior. A protein known as alpha-synuclein accumulates in brains of people with Parkinson's disease that is also present in the GI before the onset of motor symptoms. Therefore, the stomach, previously thought to be a stable mechanism throughout life, might explain some etiological origins of disease. Finally, the vagus nerve of the autonomic system that extends from the brain to the abdomen and exercises both sympathetic and parasympathetic roles might be associated with PD diagnosis along with Lewy body influences.

The Effects of Delirium Prevention Guidelines on Elderly Stroke Patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the delirium prevention interventions recommended by the Delirium Prevention Guidelines for Elderly Stroke Patients (DPGESP). The DPGESP comprises nine dimensions with 28 interventions, including risk factor assessment, orientation disorder prevention, sleeping pattern maintenance, sensory interventions, constipation, dehydration, hypoxia and infection prevention, pain management, and appropriate nutrition maintenance. This quasi-experimental study used a nonequivalent control group and a pretest-posttest design. The experimental and control groups each included 54 patients, and the participants were elderly patients who were admitted to the stroke unit. The study outcomes were the delirium incidence and severity, stroke impact, and length of hospitalization. Posttest values for delirium incidence, severity, stroke impact, and length of hospitalization were significantly improved in the experimental group. Implementation of the DPGESP had beneficial effects on the delirium incidence and severity, stroke impact, and length of hospitalization among elderly patients admitted to a stroke unit.

Application of enteral nutrition in treatment of Crohn′s disease

Enteral nutrition(EN)therapy is one of the most important treatments of Crohn′s disease(CD), especially in European countries, EN is considered as the first-line of treatment for pediatric CD.EN can improve the poor nutrition condition, induction and maintenance remission, the risk of this treatment is very low.But in our country the application of EN is still limited, deepening the understanding and obtained clinical guidelines are very important. Key words: Enteral nutrition; Crohn′s disease; Treatment

Treatment Options in Gastrointestinal Cutaneous Fistulas.

Enterocutaneous fistulas occur most commonly following surgery. A minority of them is caused by a myriad of other etiologies including infection, malignancy, and radiation. While some fistulas may close spontaneously, most patients will eventually need surgery to resolve this pathology. Successful treatment entails adoption of various methods of treatment aimed at control of sepsis, protection of surrounding skin and soft tissue, control of fistula output, and maintenance of nutrition, with eventual spontaneous or surgical closure of the fistula. The aim of this article is to review the various treatment options in their appropriate context.

An overview of diseases in fish hatcheries and nurseries

Quality and healthy fish seed is the prerequisite for sustainable aquaculture. A major challenge to the expansion of aquaculture production is the outbreak of diseases. Disease induced mortality is a serious issue for the fish seed industry. The immature immune system in fish makes the early developmental stages more susceptible to infectious diseases. Common fish diseases in hatcheries and in early rearing systems are caused by protozoan, ciliates, myxosporodians, worms, opportunistic bacteria and fungi. Production of healthy fish seed and survivality depends on the proper health management, maintenance of good water quality, proper nutrition and application of biosecurity measures. The paper highlighted the different types of diseases, causative agents and their prevention and control measures in fish hatcheries and nurseries.

Stage-dependent stoichiometric homeostasis and responses of nutrient resorption in Amaranthus mangostanus to nitrogen and phosphorus addition.

Stoichiometric homeostasis is the ability of plants remaining their element composition relatively stable regardless of changes in nutrient availability, via various physiological mechanisms. Nutrient resorption is one of such key mechanisms, but whether and how nitrogen and phosphorus homeostasis and resorption in plants would change with growth-stages under variable nutrient supply was unclear. A nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer addition experiment was conducted to evaluate the dynamics of N and P homeostasis and resorption efficiency during different growth-stages of Amaranthus mangostanus in a greenhouse. The homeostasis regulation coefficient of green-leaf P varied significantly, while that of green-leaf N maintained relatively stable across growth stages. Moreover, homeostasis regulation coefficient of N was higher at seedling stage but lower at flowering stage than that of P at corresponding stages, suggesting that the growth of A. mangostanus may switch from being more N- to P-limited from vegetative to reproductive stage. N resorption efficiency (NRE) was higher and P resorption efficiency (PRE) was lower at flowering than seed-filling stage. The nutrient dynamics displayed here suggested contrasting nutrient homeostasis and resorption responses of plants to environmental nutrient availability across growth stages. These findings can improve the understanding of nutrition maintenance mechanism of plants during their growth.

Radiation-induced esophagitis in lung cancer.

Radiation-induced esophagitis is the most common local acute toxicity of radiotherapy (RT) delivered for the curative or palliative intent treatment of lung cancer. Although concurrent chemotherapy and higher RT dose are associated with increased esophagitis risk, advancements in RT techniques as well as adherence to esophageal dosimetric constraints may reduce the incidence and severity. Mild acute esophagitis symptoms are generally self-limited, and supportive management options include analgesics, acid suppression, diet modification, treatment for candidiasis, and maintenance of adequate nutrition. Esophageal stricture is the most common late sequela from esophageal irradiation and can be addressed with endoscopic dilatation. Approaches to prevent or mitigate these toxicities are also discussed.

Treatment approaches in motor neurone disease

Although there is no cure for motor neurone disease (MND), the advent of multidisciplinary care and neuroprotective agents has improved treatment interventions and enhanced quality of life for MND patients and their carers. Evidence-based multidisciplinary care, respiratory management and disease-modifying therapy have improved the outcomes of patients diagnosed with MND. Supportive approaches to nutritional maintenance and optimization of symptomatic treatments, including management of communication and neuropsychiatric issues, improve the quality of life for MND patients. Recent progress in the understanding of the clinical, pathophysiological and genetic heterogeneity of MND has improved the approach of clinicians to treatment. Notwithstanding improvement to care and quality of life, survival benefit has become evident with the advent of a multidisciplinary care framework, early treatment with riluzole and noninvasive ventilation. Weight maintenance remains critical, with weight loss associated with more rapid disease progression. The end-of-life phase is poorly defined and treatment is challenging, but effective symptom control through palliative care is achievable and essential. Encouragingly, current progress of clinical trials continues to close the gap towards the successful development of curative treatment in MND.

Structural and functional properties of articular cartilage under various loading modes (literature review)

The formation of extra-articular traumatic deformities is a com­plication that occurs in about a third of cases with nonunion or pseudarthrosis after isolated diaphyseal fractures of long bones. Objective: based on the analysis of scientific informa­tion to determine the structural and functional properties of ar­ticular cartilage (AC) under physiological and non-physiological load to determine the impact on extra-articular traumatic deformities of the long bones. Methods: he literature search conducted by e-databases (PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, RISC), monographs, dissertations, abstracts of dissertations in the last 20 years. Results: physiological load plays a key role in the development, operation, and maintenance of homeostasis nutrition of AC. Its increase, decrease or non-physiological re­distribution is one of the biggest factors of structural and func­tional disorders in the AC and, accordingly, the development of osteoarthritis. Today, ongoing study of the effect of mechani­cal stimuli of varying duration and strength of the functioning of cells and structural features of the AC matrix. We describe some of the mechanotransduction ways. It was found that exces­sive exercise, immobilization of a limb, its lengthening by dis­traction osteosynthesis leads to the development of structural and functional disorders in the AC in knee and ankle joints, which progresses with time. Subsequently, the destructive changes noted in the AC in contralateral limb. In clinical researches the relationship between the existence of stable post-traumatic deformities of the long bones of the limbs and the development of osteoarthritis are studied. However, it has not been studied terms destructive affection in the joints, their severity in rela­tion to the magnitude of deformation reversibility after restoring the anatomical axis of the limb.

Nutritional self-care promotion in community-dwelling older people: a protocol of mixed method research

To describe a research protocol designed to promote nutritional self-care in older people. The aims of the research are: a) to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional education intervention in changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; b) to describe the nutritional self-care ability and activities; c) to identify the promoting factors and barriers that influence the changes in nutritional knowledge, behaviors and attitudes in home-dwelling older people. Sequential explanatory mixed method design. The study will enroll 50 people aged 65 years and over. In the first quantitative phase, a pre-test and post-test design will be used to deliver a nutritional intervention aimed to change knowledge, behaviors and attitudes toward nutrition. Using the quantitative study results, the qualitative study phase will be conducted by interviews in sub-groups of older people. In a third phase, the quantitative and qualitative study results will be integrated. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and qualitative data will be analyzed through content analysis. The study will provide new knowledge on nutritional self-care in home-dwelling older adults and the factors promoting nutritional self-care. Nutritional self-care promotion is of pivotal importance for the nursing care provided to home-dwelling older people. Educational programs aimed at the maintenance of proper nutrition in the older adults may reduce malnutrition and the related diseases. Nutrition educational programs should be based on knowledge derived from research to tailor individualized nutritional interventions and to realize effective educational programs.

Percutaneous endoscopic transgastric jejunostomy (PEG-J): a retrospective analysis on its utility in maintaining enteral nutrition after unsuccessful gastric feeding

Background/aimsAlthough percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the method of choice for long-term enteral nutrition, feeding-related adverse events such as aspiration pneumonia and peristomal leakage can impede the use of PEG....

Drought effect on weaning weight and efficiency relative to cow size in semiarid rangeland.

Cow size has been suggested to be an important consideration for selecting cattle to match their production environment. Over the last several decades, the trend in genetic selection for maximum growth has led to gradual increases in beef cow size. An unrelated trend during this same period in the western United States has been an increase in temperature, drought frequency, and drought severity. Due to the potential influence of the increasing cow size trend on nutritional maintenance costs and production, we assessed the effect of cow size on weaning weight and efficiency in relation to drought on a semiarid high-elevation ranch in Wyoming. This study addresses a lack of empirical studies on the interaction between cow size and drought. We measured calf weaning weights of 80 Angus × Gelbvieh cows from 2011 to 2014 and assessed how drought affected weaning weights, efficiency (considered as calf weight relative to cow weight), intake requirements, and potential herd sizes relative to cow size. We stratified cows into 5 weight classes (453, 498, 544, 589, and 634 kg) as a proxy for cow size and adjusted weaning weights to a 210-d calf sex adjusted value. Cow size was a significant factor every year, with different cow sizes having advantages or disadvantages different years relative to weaning weight. However, efficiency for the smallest cows (453 kg) was always greater than efficiency for largest cows (634 kg; < 0.001). Efficiency for the smallest cows was greater in the driest year (0.41 ± 0.02) than efficiency of the largest cows in the wettest years (0.37 ± 0.01). The change in efficiency (ΔE) between wet and dry years was 0.18 for the smallest cow size and 0.02 for the largest cow size, and ΔE decreased as cow size increased. This is an indication of the ability of smaller cows to lower maintenance requirements in response to changes in the production environment but with optimal upside potential when conditions are favorable. These results indicate large cows (589 to 634 kg) do not maximize genetic potential in this production environment when conditions are optimum or provide any advantage over small or moderate size cows (453 to 544 kg) across the drought gradient.

Charting the course of young children with cystic fibrosis

In addition to aggressive monitoring of disease course and the use of novel strategies for respiratory and antimicrobial therapies, marked attention to the maintenance of excellent growth and nutrition has played a key role in improving long-term outcomes of children with cystic fibrosis (CF). CF centers play particular attention to changes in growth measurements as useful markers of nutrition and disease activity, leading to earlier and more rigorous evaluations and interventions. As such, the optimal care of young children with CF is highly dependent on the use of standardized growth charts. In this study, Zhang et al analyzed data from 2587 children followed in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Data Registry in order to compare differences in the classification of growth status of young children with CF as assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) growth percentiles. Currently, WHO standards often are followed up to 23.9 months, followed by the use of CDC references. Among several findings, this study reports that using weight status measures (weight-for-length and body mass index) at 24 months, 26% of children who were classified as normal growth using WHO references were underweight using CDC references. These findings are important to ensure greater understanding of the potential impact of changing growth standards on the interpretation of individual growth status, the impact on clinical practice, and to allow accurate comparisons between CF centers. These findings further set the stage to explore relationships between early nutritional interventions and long-term growth and pulmonary outcomes.Article page 1089▶ In addition to aggressive monitoring of disease course and the use of novel strategies for respiratory and antimicrobial therapies, marked attention to the maintenance of excellent growth and nutrition has played a key role in improving long-term outcomes of children with cystic fibrosis (CF). CF centers play particular attention to changes in growth measurements as useful markers of nutrition and disease activity, leading to earlier and more rigorous evaluations and interventions. As such, the optimal care of young children with CF is highly dependent on the use of standardized growth charts. In this study, Zhang et al analyzed data from 2587 children followed in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Data Registry in order to compare differences in the classification of growth status of young children with CF as assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) growth percentiles. Currently, WHO standards often are followed up to 23.9 months, followed by the use of CDC references. Among several findings, this study reports that using weight status measures (weight-for-length and body mass index) at 24 months, 26% of children who were classified as normal growth using WHO references were underweight using CDC references. These findings are important to ensure greater understanding of the potential impact of changing growth standards on the interpretation of individual growth status, the impact on clinical practice, and to allow accurate comparisons between CF centers. These findings further set the stage to explore relationships between early nutritional interventions and long-term growth and pulmonary outcomes. Article page 1089▶ Comparing the Use of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization Growth Charts in Children with Cystic Fibrosis through 2 Years of AgeThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 167Issue 5PreviewTo examine differences between use of World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth reference in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) up to 2 years of age. Full-Text PDF

The Role of Enteral Nutritional Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Enteral nutrition therapy is a dietary treatment regimen for inflammatory bowel disease that has the benefit of avoiding suppression of the immune system. Its mechanism of action has not been well characterized, but may be related to the elimination of dietary antigens or modulation of the gut microbiota. This treatment has shown success for induction of remission, and may also have a role in maintenance of remission. In the pediatric population, enteral nutrition therapy has the dual benefit of targeting both the inflammatory processes and the poor growth of these patients. This review details the administration and mechanism of action of enteral nutritional therapy, the induction and maintenance of remission, the impact of enteral nutritional therapy on growth and nutrition, and side effects and quality of life. A table summarizes studies investigating enteral nutritional therapy for induction of remission. This review contains 1 table and 49 references.

Total parenteral nutrition treatment efficacy in adolescent eating disorders.

Management of adolescent patients with severe eating disorders who refuse treatment for weight loss is complicated. Nutritional rehabilitation is most important during the growth period; thus, strong support in the form of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) as soon as possible is necessary in severe cases. No studies involving detailed, long-term follow up have evaluated biochemical markers and gonadotropin in patients undergoing TPN treatment. Twenty-five adolescent female patients admitted to hospital received TPN immediately, and biochemical marker and gonadotropin levels were measured and analyzed. If subsequent weight gain was observed, TPN treatment was gradually reduced and stopped. No patients dropped out of the study. A significant increase in weight was observed during hospitalization (average, 8.0 kg). Under this treatment, serum total bilirubin was significantly decreased at 3 months, total cholesterol was significantly decreased at 2 months, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was significantly increased at 3 and 6 months. Follicle-stimulating hormone response significantly preceded both luteinizing hormone response and appetite recovery. After this treatment, nine of the 25 patients were readmitted for recurrence of appetite loss. Two patients required additional TPN treatment, but seven immediately recovered their appetite after hospitalization without TPN treatment. Bodyweight gain per day was significantly lower and ALP on admission was significantly higher in patients with than without recurrence. Most patients had a remarkable recovery of appetite without refusal behaviors and without evidence of malnutrition after admission. Nutrition maintenance with TPN support is particularly important during the growth period.

Non Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis is a pathological abnormality of the airways in which there is permanent dilatation and thickening of the airways. Precise incidence/prevalence in India is not known. Recent data suggests that about 1 % young children admitted in a hospital with pneumonia may develop bronchiectasis. Due to significant burden of pneumonia in young children in developing countries including India, it may be a significant problem that is possibly under recognized. Causes of bronchiectasis depend on the burden of respiratory infections and availability of the investigations for identification of the underlying cause. Post infectious causes are common in countries where infections are more common; however, since these countries are usually resource constrained and therefore, are not able to appropriately diagnose the other causes, leading to more than real overrepresentation of infections as a cause. In countries with less of infectious illnesses and good diagnostic facilities, malformations of airways, immune deficiency disorders and primary ciliary dyskinesia are common causes of bronchiectasis. High resolution CT scan of chest confirms the diagnosis. Treatment is supportive care and consists of maintenance of nutrition, airway clearance and antibiotics for exacerbations. Medical treatment is successful in the majority.

Deletion of the amino acid transporter Slc6a14 suppresses tumour growth in spontaneous mouse models of breast cancer.

SLC6A14 mediates Na(+)/Cl(-)-coupled concentrative uptake of a broad-spectrum of amino acids. It is expressed at low levels in many tissues but up-regulated in certain cancers. Pharmacological blockade of SLC6A14 causes amino acid starvation in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer cells and suppresses their proliferation in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we interrogated the role of this transporter in breast cancer by deleting Slc6a14 in mice and monitoring the consequences of this deletion in models of spontaneous breast cancer (Polyoma middle T oncogene-transgenic mouse and mouse mammary tumour virus promoter-Neu-transgenic mouse). Slc6a14-knockout mice are viable, fertile and phenotypically normal. The plasma amino acids were similar in wild-type and knockout mice and there were no major compensatory changes in the expression of other amino acid transporter mRNAs. There was also no change in mammary gland development in the knockout mouse. However, when crossed with PyMT-Tg mice or MMTV/Neu (mouse mammary tumour virus promoter-Neu)-Tg mice, the development and progression of breast cancer were markedly decreased on Slc6a14(-/-) background. Analysis of transcriptomes in tumour tissues from wild-type mice and Slc6a14-null mice indicated no compensatory changes in the expression of any other amino acid transporter mRNA. However, the tumours from the null mice showed evidence of amino acid starvation, decreased mTOR signalling and decreased cell proliferation. These studies demonstrate that SLC6A14 is critical for the maintenance of amino acid nutrition and optimal mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling in ER+ breast cancer and that the transporter is a potential target for development of a novel class of anti-cancer drugs targeting amino acid nutrition in tumour cells.

Management of Corrosive Injuries of Upper GI Tract: Case Series

Ingestion of corrosive substances results in severe damage of the upper aerodigestive system and is a major cause of concern in India. Corrosive ingestion may result in perforation and death in acute phase, Stricture formation is a debilitating long term complication. Retrospective study of all corrosive injury patients admitted in our hospital, both early and late presentations. A total of 29 cases were admitted from Jan 2010 to June 2014 of which 6 were Acute presentations and 23 Delayed presentations. In the Acute phase 2 were managed conservatively; there was 1 preoperative and 2 post operative deaths. 1 patient survived post surgery (cervical esophagostomy + total gastrectomy with feeding jejunostomy) of the 23 patients with late presentation, 2 underwent definitive surgery, 1 patient underwent Feeding Jejunostomy. The remaining 20 patients were managed with endoscopic dilatations. In this group 13 patients were followed up with repeated dilatations. 5 had endoscopic failure and 2 developed complications due to endoscopy. Surgery in the acute phase depends on the site and extent of injury. Choice depends on extent of cicatrisation and involvement of esophagus. In the late phase endoscopic dilatation of strictures is the mainstay of management. Maintenance of nutrition is essential for good outcome. Corrosive injury of the upper GI tract is a complex condition requiring intensive approach and multidisciplinary management.