EEG functional connectivity as a Riemannian mediator: An application to malnutrition and cognition.

Mediation analysis assesses whether an exposure directly produces changes in cognitive behavior or is influenced by intermediate "mediators". Electroencephalographic (EEG) spectral measurements have been previously used as effective mediators representing diverse aspects of brain function. However, it has been necessary to collapse EEG measures onto a single scalar using standard mediation methods. In this article, we overcome this limitation and examine EEG frequency-resolved functional connectivity measures as a mediator using the full EEG cross-spectral tensor (CST). Since CST samples do not exist in Euclidean space but in the Riemannian manifold of positive-definite tensors, we transform the problem, allowing for the use of classic multivariate statistics. Toward this end, we map the data from the original manifold space to the Euclidean tangent space, eliminating redundant information to conform to a "compressed CST." The resulting object is a matrix with rows corresponding to frequencies and columns to cross spectra between channels. We have developed a novel matrix mediation approach that leverages a nuclear norm regularization to determine the matrix-valued regression parameters. Furthermore, we introduced a global test for the overall CST mediation and a test to determine specific channels and frequencies driving the mediation. We validated the method through simulations and applied it to our well-studied 50+-year Barbados Nutrition Study dataset by comparing EEGs collected in school-age children (5-11 years) who were malnourished in the first year of life with those of healthy classmate controls. We hypothesized that the CST mediates the effect of malnutrition on cognitive performance. We can now explicitly pinpoint the frequencies (delta, theta, alpha, and beta bands) and regions (frontal, central, and occipital) in which functional connectivity was altered in previously malnourished children, an improvement to prior studies. Understanding the specific networks impacted by a history of postnatal malnutrition could pave the way for developing more targeted and personalized therapeutic interventions. Our methods offer a versatile framework applicable to mediation studies encompassing matrix and Hermitian 3D tensor mediators alongside scalar exposures and outcomes, facilitating comprehensive analyses across diverse research domains.

Dietary characteristics of community-dwelling older adults with poor appetite: a cross-sectional analysis.

RATIONALE: Poor appetite is considered a key factor in the development of malnutrition, a link that can be explained by alterations in dietary intake. Given the limited data on dietary characteristics in community-dwelling older adults with poor appetite, the present study aimed to examine whether poor appetite is associated with lower nutrient intake and more unfavourable food choices. METHODS: In 569 participants of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam aged ≥70 years appetite was assessed using the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire and dichotomised into normal (>14) and poor (≤14). Intake of energy, 19 nutrients, 15 food groups, the Dutch Healthy Diet Index 2015 (DHD15) and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) were calculated from a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary differences between appetite groups were examined using Mann-Whitney U test and binary logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: Mean age was 78 ± 6 years and 52% were female. Appetite was poor in 12.5% of participants. Energy intake was 1951 (median; quartiles 1-3: 1,653-2,384) kcal/day with no difference between appetite groups. Poor appetite was associated with lower intake of protein (OR 0.948, 95%CI 0.922-0.973), folate (0.981, 0.973-0.989), zinc (0.619, 0.454-0.846), vegetables (0.988, 0.982-0.994) and lower scores of DHD15 (0.964, 0.945-0.983) and MDS (0.904, 0.850-0.961), as well as higher intake of carbohydrates (1.015, 1.006-1.023), and vitamins B2 (4.577, 1.650-12.694) and C (1.013, 1.005-1.021). CONCLUSIONS: Community-dwelling older adults with poor appetite showed poorer diet quality with a lower intake of protein, folate, zinc and vegetables, compared with those reporting normal appetite and should be advised accordingly.

The infant gut microbiome and cognitive development in malnutrition.

Malnutrition affects 195 million children under the age of five worldwide with long term effects that include impaired cognitive development. Brain development occurs rapidly over the first 36 months of life. Whilst seemingly independent, changes to the brain and gut microbiome are linked by metabolites, hormones, and neurotransmitters as part of the gut-brain axis. In the context of severe malnutrition, the composition of the gut microbiome and the repertoire of biochemicals exchanged via the gut-brain axis vary when compared to healthy individuals. These effects are primarily due to the recognized interacting determinants, macro- and micronutrient deficiencies, infection, infestations and toxins related to poor sanitation, and a dearth of psycho-social stimulation. The standard of care for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition is focused on nutritional repletion and weight restoration through the provision of macro- and micronutrients, the latter usually in excess of recommended dietary allowances (RDA). However, existing formulations and supplements have not been designed to specifically address key recovery requirements for brain and gut microbiome development. Animal model studies indicate that treatments targeting the gut microbiome could improve brain development. Despite this, research on humans targeting the gut microbiome with the aim of restoring brain functionality are scarce. We conclude that there is a need for assessment of cognition and the use of various tools that permit visualization of the brain anatomy and function (e.g., Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), electroencephalogram (EEG)) to understand how interventions targeting the gut microbiome impact brain development.

Gut microbiota in regulation of childhood bone growth.

Childhood stunting and wasting, or decreased linear and ponderal growth associated with undernutrition, continue to be a major global public health challenge. Although many of the current therapeutic and dietary interventions have significantly reduced childhood mortality caused by undernutrition, there remain great inefficacies in improving childhood stunting. Longitudinal bone growth in children is governed by different genetic, nutritional and other environmental factors acting systemically on the endocrine system and locally at the growth plate. Recent studies have shown that this intricate interplay between nutritional and hormonal regulation of the growth plate could involve the gut microbiota, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach in tackling childhood undernutrition. In this review, I focus on the mechanistic insights provided by these recent advances in gut microbiota research and discuss ongoing development of microbiota-based therapeutics in humans, which could be the missing link in solving undernutrition and childhood stunting.

Growing up: A NOD2 our microbes.

In a recent report in Science, Schwarzer and colleagues demonstrate the growth benefits of treatment with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain WJL in a preclinical mouse model of chronic undernutrition. L. plantarum influences the somatotropic axis to promote growth through intestinal epithelial NOD2 sensing.

Microbe-mediated intestinal NOD2 stimulation improves linear growth of undernourished infant mice.

The intestinal microbiota is known to influence postnatal growth. We previously found that a strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (strain LpWJL) buffers the adverse effects of chronic undernutrition on the growth of juvenile germ-free mice. Here, we report that LpWJL sustains the postnatal growth of malnourished conventional animals and supports both insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin production and activity. We have identified cell walls isolated from LpWJL, as well as muramyl dipeptide and mifamurtide, as sufficient cues to stimulate animal growth despite undernutrition. Further, we found that NOD2 is necessary in intestinal epithelial cells for LpWJL-mediated IGF-1 production and for postnatal growth promotion in malnourished conventional animals. These findings indicate that, coupled with renutrition, bacteria cell walls or purified NOD2 ligands have the potential to alleviate stunting.

A gut bacterial strain rescues stunted growth.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum promotes growth in undernourished mice.

Effects of Postdischarge High-Protein Oral Nutritional Supplements and Resistance Training in Malnourished Surgical Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

The presence of malnutrition is increasingly becoming a postdischarge problem in surgical patients. We aimed to investigate whether oral nutritional supplements combined with resistance training could minimize skeletal muscle atrophy in surgical patients after discharge. This randomized controlled study was conducted at the Department of Surgery, National Hospital of Faroe Islands from 2018 to 2020. A total of 45 patients aged 37−74 years participated and were allocated to one of three groups: diet (DI; n = 13), exercise and diet (EX + DI; n = 16), or control (CON; n = 16). The intervention period lasted 8 weeks. The intervention groups received individual dietary counselling and a protein-rich oral nutritional supplement twice a day containing 22 g of protein/day. Patients in the EX + DI group were assigned to resistance training sessions. Patients in the CON group received standard care. The primary outcome was change in lean body mass (LBM). Secondary outcomes were change in body weight, handgrip strength, quality of life, surgery-related side effects, energy and protein intake, length of stay and one-year mortality. To estimate within-group changes, linear mixed models including group−time interactions as fixed effects and patients as random effects were fitted. Within-group change in LBM was 233, 813 and 78 g in the DI, EX + DI and CON groups, respectively, with no significant between-group difference (p > 0.05). Pain score declined more (p = 0.04) in the EX + DI group compared with the CON group. Body weight, handgrip strength, quality of life and surgery-related side effects did not differ between groups. At the end of study, mean cumulative weight change in the DI and EX + DI groups was 0.4% and 1.6%, respectively, whereas the CON group experienced a weight loss of −0.6%. No significant difference in primary outcome between groups was noted. However, our results indicate some benefits from exercise and nutrition for malnourished surgical patients.

Prehabilitation, enhanced recovery after surgery, or both? A narrative review.

This narrative review presents a biological rationale and evidence to describe how the preoperative condition of the patient contributes to postoperative morbidity. Any preoperative condition that prevents a patient from tolerating the physiological stress of surgery (e.g. poor cardiopulmonary reserve, sarcopaenia), impairs the stress response (e.g. malnutrition, frailty), and/or augments the catabolic response to stress (e.g. insulin resistance) is a risk factor for poor surgical outcomes. Prehabilitation interventions that include exercise, nutrition, and psychosocial components can be applied before surgery to strengthen physiological reserve and enhance functional capacity, which, in turn, supports recovery through attaining surgical resilience. Prehabilitation complements Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) care to achieve optimal patient outcomes because recovery is not a passive process and it begins preoperatively.

Clinical significance of controlling nutritional status score (CONUT) in evaluating outcome of postoperative patients with gastric cancer.

The stomach is the main digestive organ in humans. Patients with gastric cancer often develop digestive problems, which result in poor nutrition. Nutritional status is closely related to postoperative complications and quality of life (QoL) in patients with gastric cancer. The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is a novel tool to evaluate the nutritional status of patients. However, the relationship of the CONUT score with postoperative complications, QoL, and psychological status in patients with gastric cancer has not been investigated. The present follow-up study was conducted in 106 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy in our hospital between 2014 and 2019. The CONUT score, postoperative complications, psychological status, postoperative QoL scores, and overall survival (OS) of patients with gastric cancer were collected, and the relationship between them was analyzed. A significant correlation was observed between the CONUT score and postoperative complications of gastric cancer (P < 0.001), especially anastomotic leakage (P = 0.037). The multivariate regression analysis exhibited that the CONUT score (P = 0.002) is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. The CONUT score was correlated with the state anxiety questionnaire (S-AI) for evaluating psychological status (P = 0.032). However, further regression analysis exhibited that the CONUT score was not an independent risk factor for psychological status. Additionally, the CONUT score was associated with postoperative QoL. The multivariate regression analysis exhibited that the CONUT score was an independent risk factor for the global QoL (P = 0.048). Moreover, the efficiency of CONUT score, prognostic nutrition index, and serum albumin in evaluating complications, psychological status, and QoL was compared, and CONUT score was found to outperform the other measures (Area Under Curve, AUC = 0.7368). Furthermore, patients with high CONUT scores exhibited shorter OS than patients with low CONUT scores (P = 0.005). Additionally, the postoperative complications (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21-0.92, P = 0.028), pathological stage (HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.26-4.06, P = 0.006), and global QoL (HR 15.24, 95% CI 3.22-72.06, P = 0.001) were associated with OS. The CONUT score can be used to assess the nutritional status of patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery and is associated with the incidence of postoperative complications and QoL.

Automated food intake tracking requires depth-refined semantic segmentation to rectify visual-volume discordance in long-term care homes.

Malnutrition is a multidomain problem affecting 54% of older adults in long-term care (LTC). Monitoring nutritional intake in LTC is laborious and subjective, limiting clinical inference capabilities. Recent advances in automatic image-based food estimation have not yet been evaluated in LTC settings. Here, we describe a fully automatic imaging system for quantifying food intake. We propose a novel deep convolutional encoder-decoder food network with depth-refinement (EDFN-D) using an RGB-D camera for quantifying a plate's remaining food volume relative to reference portions in whole and modified texture foods. We trained and validated the network on the pre-labelled UNIMIB2016 food dataset and tested on our two novel LTC-inspired plate datasets (689 plate images, 36 unique foods). EDFN-D performed comparably to depth-refined graph cut on IOU (0.879 vs. 0.887), with intake errors well below typical 50% (mean percent intake error: [Formula: see text]%). We identify how standard segmentation metrics are insufficient due to visual-volume discordance, and include volume disparity analysis to facilitate system trust. This system provides improved transparency, approximates human assessors with enhanced objectivity, accuracy, and precision while avoiding hefty semi-automatic method time requirements. This may help address short-comings currently limiting utility of automated early malnutrition detection in resource-constrained LTC and hospital settings.

Acceptance of illness, quality of life and nutritional status of patients after lower limb amputation due to diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases with a high number of sufferers worldwide. Diabetic neuropathy and diabetic angiopathy lead to serious infectious complications which are very difficult to combat and may finally lead to the amputation of a lower limb. The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life, the level of acceptance of the illness and the nutritional status of patients after lower limb amputation due to diabetes. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients (23 men and 76 women) were enrolled into the study. They had all undergone lower limb amputation due to diabetic foot and were treated in the Department of General and Oncological Surgery. The following questionnaires were used: the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and the anonymous specific socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire. RESULTS: The diabetes-related amputees were revealed to have a higher QoL within the social domain (mean score 64.48), an intermediate QoL - within the environmental domain (mean score 63.04) and the mental domain (mean score 59.61), and a lower QoL - within physical (somatic) domain (mean score 54.69). There was no statistical correlation between genders or between all the domains of QoL (P > 0.05). The mean MNA score was 22.66, which means that patients were at risk of malnutrition. There were statistical differences between women and men as regards nutritional status (P = 0.034). The mean AIS score was 27.65 (27.09 women and 29.48 men), which means that the respondents accept their disease. There was no statistical correlation between gender and the acceptance of the disease (P = 0.288). There was not statistical correlation between age and QoL (P > 0.05). There were statistical differences between age and nutritional status (P < 0.05), and between age and acceptance of the illness (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The better the quality of life was in all the domains, the better the level of acceptance of illness was. The less malnourished the patient was, the better their quality of life was in all the domains.

A Biological Index to Screen Multi-Micronutrient Deficiencies Associated with the Risk to Develop Dementia in Older Persons from the Community.

BACKGROUND: Low blood status in several nutritional compounds, including long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA), carotenoids, and vitamin D, have been associated with a higher risk to develop dementia. Nutritional deficiencies may potentiate each other regarding dementia risk; yet the association of multiple nutritional deficiencies with dementia has been little explored. OBJECTIVE: To develop an index of micronutritional biological status (MNBS) for the screening of multi-micronutritional deficiencies associated with the risk of dementia in a prospective population-based cohort of older persons. METHODS: We included participants from the Bordeaux Three-City study, who were free of dementia at baseline, had blood measurements of LC n-3 PUFA, carotenoids, and 25(OH)D, and who were followed for up to 18 years for dementia. We used penalized splines in Cox models to model dose-response relationships of each nutritional component with the risk of dementia and construct a risk index. RESULTS: 629 participants with an average age of 73.1 years were included in the study. Each increase of 1 SD of the MNBS index was associated with a 46%higher risk of dementia (HR = 1.46, 95%CI 1.23; 1.73). Participants with highest index ([mean+1SD; max]) had a 4-fold increased risk of dementia compared with participants with a low index ([min; mean-1SD]) (HR = 4.17, 95%CI 2.30; 7.57). CONCLUSION: This index of assessment of micronutritional biological status is a practical tool that may help identify populations with inadequate nutritional status, screen eligible individuals for nutritional prevention in primary care, or for supplementation in preventive trials of dementia.

Nutrition in adolescent growth and development.

During adolescence, growth and development are transformative and have profound consequences on an individual's health in later life, as well as the health of any potential children. The current generation of adolescents is growing up at a time of unprecedented change in food environments, whereby nutritional problems of micronutrient deficiency and food insecurity persist, and overweight and obesity are burgeoning. In a context of pervasive policy neglect, research on nutrition during adolescence specifically has been underinvested, compared with such research in other age groups, which has inhibited the development of adolescent-responsive nutritional policies. One consequence has been the absence of an integrated perspective on adolescent growth and development, and the role that nutrition plays. Through late childhood and early adolescence, nutrition has a formative role in the timing and pattern of puberty, with consequences for adult height, muscle, and fat mass accrual, as well as risk of non-communicable diseases in later life. Nutritional effects in adolescent development extend beyond musculoskeletal growth, to cardiorespiratory fitness, neurodevelopment, and immunity. High rates of early adolescent pregnancy in many countries continue to jeopardise the growth and nutrition of female adolescents, with consequences that extend to the next generation. Adolescence is a nutrition-sensitive phase for growth, in which the benefits of good nutrition extend to many other physiological systems.

Strategies and interventions for healthy adolescent growth, nutrition, and development.

Adolescence is a pivotal point in the life course, characterised by transformative physical, cognitive, and emotional growth, an openness to change, and a drive to reshape the social environment. It offers unique opportunities to adopt changes in diet and physical activity that can persist into later life. Yet pre-existing nutritional problems, including micronutrient deficiencies, food insecurity, and poor-quality diets, persist at the same time as adolescents face the rapid emergence of an obesity epidemic. Adolescent growth and nutrition has been largely overlooked in intervention and policy research. Most intervention studies have emphasised micronutrient supplementation, with few taking into account the multiple drivers of adolescent diets. This Series paper highlights that effective interventions and policies will need to cut across sectors; be supported by multifaceted and multilevel policy; and extend across education, health, food systems, social protection, and digital media. Better data standardisation and systems will be essential in coordinating and monitoring these responses. In a context of shifts in planetary ecosystems and commercial drivers, resilient food systems will need to both ensure access to healthy and affordable foods and provide the infrastructure and incentives for continuing physical activity. Intergenerational partnerships with young people will be essential in bringing about transformative change and ensuring that food policies reflect their needs and aspirations.

Patients with Post-Covid-19 Syndrome are at risk of malnutrition and obesity: findings of outpatient follow-up / Pacientes com Síndrome Pós-Covid-19 apresentam risco de desnutrição e obesidade: achados de um ambulatório de seguimento

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the nutritional and functional status, swallowing disorders, and musculoskeletal manifestations of patients with Post-Covid-19 Syndrome, stratified by the Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index. Methods This is a cross-sectional study with patients diagnosed with Post-Covid-19 Syndrome after discharge from the intensive care unit of a university hospital. The evaluated outcomes were: nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment, bioimpedance and anthropometry), swallowing disorders (Dysphagia Risk Evaluation Protocol), functional status (Post-Covid-19 Functional Status Scale), and musculoskeletal manifestations. According to the Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index, patients were stratified in terms of loss or not loss of muscle mass. Results Thirty-eight patients were included in the study, 20 stratified into the no loss of muscle mass group (17 females; 49.45±12.67 years) and 18 into the loss of muscle mass group (18 males; 61.89±12.49 years). Both groups were at risk of malnutrition (Mini Nutritional Assessment scores between 17-23.5 points; No Loss of Muscle Mass Group: 21.82±3.93; Loss of Muscle Mass Group: 23.33±3.41) and obesity (No Loss of Muscle Mass Group: 33.76±6.34; Loss of Muscle Mass Group: 30.23±3.66). The groups differed in terms of bioimpedance parameters (except fat mass) and age. However, there were no differences in swallowing alterations, functional status, and musculoskeletal manifestations. Conclusion Patients with Post-Covid-19 Syndrome, stratified according to the Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index, were at risk of malnutrition and obesity. The persistence of fatigue, weakness, myalgia and arthralgia at 6 months after hospital discharge is noteworthy. These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive care for patients with Post-Covid-19 Syndrome.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar o estado nutricional, status funcional, alterações de deglutição e manifestações musculoesqueléticas de pacientes com Síndrome Pós-Covid-19, estratificados pelo Índice de Massa Muscular Esquelética Apendicular. Métodos Estudo transversal composto por pacientes diagnosticados com a Síndrome Pós-Covid-19 que estiveram internados na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva de um hospital universitário. Os desfechos avaliados foram: estado nutricional (Mini Avaliação Nutricional; bioimpedância e antropometria), alterações de deglutição (Protocolo Fonoaudiológico de Avaliação do Risco de Disfagia), status funcional (Post-Covid-19 Functional Status Scale) e manifestações musculoesqueléticas. Os pacientes foram classificados, quanto à perda de massa muscular conforme o Índice de Massa Muscular Esquelética Apendicular, em grupo sem e com perda de massa muscular. Resultados Foram inseridos no estudo 38 pacientes, 20 no grupo sem perda de massa muscular (17 deles do sexo feminino; 49,45±12,67 anos) e 18 no grupo com perda de massa muscular (todos do sexo masculino; 61,89±12,49 anos). Os pacientes de ambos os grupos apresentaram risco de desnutrição (escores Mini Avaliação Nutricional entre 17-23.5 pontos; Grupo Sem Perda de Massa Muscular: 21,82±3,93; Grupo Com Perda de Massa Muscular: 23,33±3,41) e obesidade (Grupo Sem Perda de Massa Muscular: 33,76±6,34; Grupo Com Perda de Massa Muscular: 30,23±3,66). Os grupos diferiram quanto aos parâmetros da bioimpedância (exceto massa gorda) e idade. Entretanto, não foram observadas diferenças na deglutição, status funcional e manifestações musculoesqueléticas. Conclusão Os pacientes com Síndrome Pós-Covid-19, estratificados conforme o Índice de Massa Muscular Esquelética Apendicular, apresentaram risco de desnutrição e obesidade. Destaca-se a persistência de fadiga, fraqueza, mialgia e artralgia após seis meses da alta hospitalar. Esses achados ressaltam a importância do cuidado integral ao paciente com a Síndrome Pós-Covid-19.

Relação do risco nutricional e perfil glicêmico no desfecho de pacientes críticos / Relationship of nutritional risk and glycemic profile in the outcome of critically ill patients

Em pacientes críticos o risco nutricional e a hiperglicemia associam-se ao aumento da incidência de desfechos desfavoráveis. Objetivo: Avaliar a relação do risco nutricional pelo Nutrition Risk in Critically III, versão modificada (mNUTRIC) e perfil glicêmico nos desfechos de alta, óbito e tempo de internação de pacientes críticos e verificar o impacto das ferramentas Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Disease Classification System II (APACHE II) e do Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) nesses desfechos. Método: Estudo longitudinal prospectivo desenvolvido em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI). Foram incluídos adultos, com tempo ≥ 48 horas de internação e com registro mínimo de duas aferições glicêmicas. Excluíram-se pacientes em cuidados paliativos, readmitidos nas UTI e gestantes. O teste Exato de Fisher e Shapiro Wilk foram utilizados para avaliar as variáveis categóricas e contínuas, respectivamente. Posteriormente, utilizou-se o teste de Mann-Whitney ou t-Student não pareado. Realizou-se análise de regressão logística e linear. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: Ao avaliar 35 pacientes, 45,7% apresentaram alto risco nutricional. Foi observado associação do risco nutricional com os desfechos de alta e óbito; o SOFA associou-se ao óbito e tempo de internação. O incremento de 1 ponto no escore do SOFA aumentou a chance de óbito em 83% e tempo maior de internação em 0,49 dias. O perfil glicêmico e APACHE II não se associou aos desfechos. Conclusão: o escore SOFA foi o instrumento que apresentou associações significativas com o desfecho do óbito e maior tempo de internação de pacientes críticos

In critically ill patients, nutritional risk and hyperglycemia are associated with an increased incidence of unfavorable outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the relationship of nutritional risk by the Nutrition Risk in Critically III, modified version (mNUTRIC) and glycemic profile in the outcomes of discharge, death and length of stay in critically ill patients and to verify the impact of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Disease Classification System II (APACHE II) and the Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) tools on these outcomes. Method: Prospective longitudinal study developed in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Adults were included, with ≥ 48 hours of hospitalization and with a minimum record of two blood glucose measurements. Patients in palliative care, readmitted to ICU and pregnant women were excluded. Fisher's Exact test and Shapiro Wilk test were used to evaluate categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Subsequently, the Mann-Whitney or unpaired t-Student test was used. Logistic and linear regression analysis was performed. The significance level adopted was 5%. Results: When evaluating 35 patients, 45.7% were at high nutritional risk. An association was observed between nutritional risk and discharge and death outcomes; SOFA was associated with death and length of hospital stay. The increment of 1 point in the SOFA score increased the chance of death by 83% and a longer hospital stay by 0.49 days. Glycemic profile and APACHE II were not associated with outcomes. Conclusion: the SOFA score was the instrument that showed significant associations with the outcome of death and longer hospital stay in critically ill patients

Socioeconomic Risk Factors of Poor Nutritional Status in Polish Elderly Population: The Results of PolSenior2 Study.

Poor nutritional status (PNS) threatens successful aging. Identifying potentially modifiable predictors of PNS is essential for elaborating a preventive strategy for the population at risk. To assess the prevalence of PNS in the Polish elderly population and analyze its socioeconomic correlates based on the data from the nationwide PolSenior2 project. Special emphasis was put on potentially modifiable factors among the identified PNS predictors. Nutritional status was assessed in 5698 community-dwelling older adults with the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form. We evaluated the effect of age, sex, level of education, marital status, place of residence, subjective loneliness, and self-reported poverty on the nutritional status of the studied subjects. PNS was found in 25.3% of studied subjects (27.7% women and 21.9% men; p < 0.001). Female sex, older age, unmarried status (in men), subjective loneliness, and self-reported poverty were independent correlates of PNS. The two last above-mentioned predictors were identified as potentially modifiable. Based on our results, we recommend preventive interventions (e.g., performing regular screening), particularly in unmarried (men), poorly educated individuals, self-reporting poverty, complaining of loneliness, and the oldest old. PNS preventive strategies should include social support (both emotional and instrumental) to reduce the effect of poverty and subjective loneliness.

Long-Term Evolution of Malnutrition and Loss of Muscle Strength after COVID-19: A Major and Neglected Component of Long COVID-19.

Post-acute consequences of COVID-19, also termed long COVID, include signs and symptoms persisting for more than 12 weeks with prolonged multisystem involvement; most often, however, malnutrition is ignored. METHOD: The objective was to analyze persistent symptoms, nutritional status, the evolution of muscle strength and performance status (PS) at 6 months post-discharge in a cohort of COVID-19 survivors. RESULTS: Of 549 consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between 1 March and 29 April 2020, 23.7% died and 288 patients were at home at D30 post-discharge. At this date, 136 of them (47.2%) presented persistent malnutrition, a significant decrease in muscle strength or a PS ≥ 2. These patients received dietary counseling, nutritional supplementation, adapted physical activity guidance or physiotherapy assistance, or were admitted to post-care facilities. At 6 months post-discharge, 91.0% of the 136 patients (n = 119) were evaluated and 36.0% had persistent malnutrition, 14.3% complained of a significant decrease in muscle strength and 14.9% had a performance status > 2. Obesity was more frequent in patients with impairment than in those without (52.8% vs. 31.0%; p = 0.0071), with these patients being admitted more frequently to ICUs (50.9% vs. 31.3%; p = 0.010). Among those with persistent symptoms, 10% had psychiatric co-morbidities (mood disorders, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress syndrome), 7.6% had prolonged pneumological symptoms and 4.2% had neurological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Obese subjects as well as patients who have stayed in intensive care have a higher risk of functional loss or undernutrition 6 months after a severe COVID infection. Malnutrition and loss of muscle strength should be considered in the clinical assessment of these patients.

[Knowledge and perception of malnutrition among the rural population in the Central Highlands, Madagascar]. / Connaissances et perceptions de la malnutrition par la population rurale des Hautes Terres Centrales, Madagascar.

INTRODUCTION: malnutrition due to inadequate food supply is a major challenge in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study is to identify the sociocultural drivers of malnutrition. METHODS: we conducted a qualitative study in the Amoron´I Mania region, Madagascar. The study involved pregnant women, mothers and fathers, grandmothers and health actors such as "matrones", community workers and health workers. A total of 24 semi-structured individual interviews and 6 focus groups were used to collect data. Thematic analysis was used. RESULTS: malnutrition refers to a lack of food and undernourishment. It revolves around the amount of rice consumption, socio-cultural factors and insufficient financial resources. Vulnerable groups were mainly composed of children and pregnant women. Severe malnutrition including signs was reported, but there was evidence for local adaptation. Thus, families were trying by different means to fight against malnutrition. CONCLUSION: the socio-cultural context modulates knowledge and perception of the causes, the manifestations and the vulnerability or non-vulnerability of an individual as well as the severity of malnutrition.