Pro-Inflammatory Diet Is Correlated with High Veillonella rogosae, Gut Inflammation and Clinical Relapse of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic conditions arising from an intricate interplay of genetics and environmental factors, and are associated with gut dysbiosis, inflammation, and gut permeability. In this study, we investigated whether the inflammatory potential of the diet is associated with the gut microbiota profile, inflammation, and permeability in forty patients with IBD in clinical remission. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) score was used to assess the inflammatory potential of the diet. The fecal microbiota profile was analyzed using 16SrRNA (V3-V4) gene sequencing, while fecal zonulin and calprotectin levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We found a positive correlation between the DII score and elevated calprotectin levels (Rho = 0.498; p = 0.001), but not with zonulin levels. Although α- and ß-diversity did not significantly differ across DII quartiles, the most pro-inflammatory diet group exhibited a higher fecal abundance of Veillonella rogosae (p = 0.026). In addition, the abundance of some specific bacteria sequences showed an exponential behavior across DII quartiles and a correlation with calprotectin or zonulin levels (p ≤ 0.050). This included a positive correlation between sq702. Veillonella rogosae and fecal calprotectin levels (Rho = 0.419, p = 0.007). DII, calprotectin, and zonulin levels were identified as significant predictors of 6-month disease relapse (p ≤ 0.050). Our findings suggest a potential relationship of a pro-inflammatory diet intake with Veillonella rogosae and calprotectin levels in IBD patients in clinical remission, which may contribute to disease relapse.

Dys-R Questionnaire: A Novel Screening Tool for Dysbiosis Linked to Impaired Gut Microbiota Richness.

Practical and affordable tools to screen intestinal dysbiosis are needed to support clinical decision making. Our study aimed to design a new subjective screening tool for the risk of intestinal dysbiosis from a previously described nonvalidated questionnaire (DYS/FQM) and based on subjective and objective data. A total of 219 individuals comprised the chronic diseases (CD; n = 167) and healthy control (HC; 52 subjects) groups. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, body composition, lifestyle, past history, intestinal health, and dietary data were collected. The gut microbiota (GM) profile was assessed from fecal samples using the 16S rRNA sequencing. Scores for the new tool (Dys-R Questionnaire) were assigned using discrete optimization techniques. The association between Dys-R scores and dysbiosis risk was assessed through correlation, simple linear models, sensitivity, specificity, as well as positive and negative predictive values. We found significant differences in the Chao1 Index between CD and HC groups (adjusted p-value = 0.029), highlighting lower GM richness as the primary marker for intestinal dysbiosis. DYS/FQM showed poor performance in identifying poor GM richness. Dys-R exhibited a 42% sensitivity, 82% specificity, 79% positive predictive value (PPV), and 55% negative predictive value (NPV) to identify poor GM richness. The new Dys-R questionnaire showed good performance in ruling out dysbiosis.

Changes in the Gut Microbiota after the Use of Herbal Medicines in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Herbal medicine is a low-cost treatment and has been increasingly applied in obesity treatment. Gut microbiota (GM) is strongly associated with obesity pathogenesis. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review guided by the question: "Does the use of herbal medicine change the GM composition in obese individuals?" Randomized clinical trials with obese individuals assessing the effects of herbal medicine intervention in GM were retrieved from the Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases, including the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Two reviewers independently extracted data using standardized piloted data extraction forms and assessed the study-level risk of bias using an Excel template of the Cochrane "Risk of bias" tool 2-RoB 2. RESULTS: We identified 1094 articles in the databases. After removing duplicates and reading the title and abstract, 14 publications were fully evaluated, of which seven publications from six studies were considered eligible. The herbs analyzed were Moringa oleifera, Punica granatum, Scutellaria baicalensis, Schisandra chinensis, W-LHIT and WCBE. The analysis showed that Schisandra chinensis and Scutellaria baicalensis had significant effects on weight loss herbal intervention therapy composed by five Chinese herbal medicines Ganoderma lucidum, Coptis chinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Nelumbo nucifera gaertn, and Fructus aurantii (W-LHIT) and white common bean extract (WCBE) on GM, but no significant changes in anthropometry and laboratory biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Herbal medicine modulates GM and is associated with increased genera in obese individuals.

Understanding the gut microbiota in cancer cachexia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cachexia is a complex, multifactorial syndrome primarily characterized by weight loss, muscle wasting, anorexia, and systemic inflammation. It is prevalent in cancer patients and is associated with a poor prognosis, including lower resistance to intervention toxicity, quality of life, and survival, compared to patients without the syndrome. The gut microbiota and its metabolites have been shown to influence host metabolism and immune response. Our article reviews the current evidence suggesting a role of gut microbiota in the development and progression of cachexia, while discussing the potential mechanisms involved. We also describe promising interventions targeting gut microbiota aiming to improve outcomes related to cachexia. RECENT FINDINGS: Dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut microbiota, has been associated with cancer cachexia through pathways involving muscle wasting, inflammation, and gut barrier dysfunction. Interventions targeting gut microbiota, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, have shown promising results in managing this syndrome in animal models. However, evidence in humans is currently limited. SUMMARY: Mechanisms linking gut microbiota and cancer cachexia need to be further explored, and additional human research is necessary to evaluate the appropriate dosages, safety, and long-term outcomes of prebiotic and probiotic use in microbiota management for cancer cachexia.

Megamonas funiformis, Plasma Zonulin, and Sodium Intake Affect C3 Complement Levels in Inactive Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear, with both genetic and environmental factors potentially contributing. This study aimed to explore the relationship among gut microbiota (GM), intestinal permeability, and food intake with inflammatory markers in inactive SLE patients. A total of 22 women with inactive SLE and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled, and dietary intake was assessed through 24-h dietary recalls. Plasma zonulin was used to evaluate intestinal permeability, while GM was determined by 16S rRNA sequencing. Regression models were used to analyze laboratory markers of lupus disease (C3 and C4 complement and C-reactive protein). Our results showed that the genus Megamonas was significantly enriched in the iSLE group (p < 0.001), with Megamonas funiformis associated with all evaluated laboratory tests (p < 0.05). Plasma zonulin was associated with C3 levels (p = 0.016), and sodium intake was negatively associated with C3 and C4 levels (p < 0.05). A combined model incorporating variables from each group (GM, intestinal permeability, and food intake) demonstrated a significant association with C3 complement levels (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that increased Megamonas funiformis abundance, elevated plasma zonulin, and higher sodium intake may contribute to reduced C3 complement levels in women with inactive SLE.

Agreement between muscle mass assessments by computed tomography and calf circumference in patients with cancer: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Cancer influences body composition, including a loss of muscle mass (MM), associated with worse outcomes. The study aimed to evaluate the agreement between MM estimated by calf circumference (CC) and computed tomography (CT) image as a reference method. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including patients (>20 years) diagnosed with cancer attending a reference center of oncology. Spearman's correlation was performed to verify the correlation between CC and MM by CT, including skeletal muscle area - SMA and skeletal muscle index - SMI. ROC curves, Kappa coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were obtained. RESULTS: The study included 219 patients, age 62.9 ± 13.1 years (mean ± standard deviation). Low CC was observed in 43.8% of the patients, and 29.2% had low SMI. CC positively correlated with SMA (rho = 0.333) and SMI (rho = 0.329), and fair agreements (K = 0.268) were observed between CC and SMI, with higher and significant values for males (K = 0.332) and patients below 60 years (K = 0.419). The area under the curve (AUC) for low CC to identifying low SMI was equal to 0.685 (CI 95% 0.606-0.765). Low CC presented fair agreement to identify low SMI in the sample; however, the negative predictive value was almost 80% for all analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Low CC is not a surrogate for low SMI in patients with cancer, but it could be an alternative, non-invasive, easy-to-perform method to pre-screen patients with cancer with adequate SMI.

Accuracy of isolated nutrition indicators in diagnosing malnutrition and their prognostic value to predict death in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to evaluate the accuracy of isolated nutrition indicators in diagnosing malnutrition in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer and their association with mortality. METHODS: Prospective cohort study involving patients with cancer (n = 178) attending a reference center of oncology at any point in the disease trajectory or treatment. Nutrition status was evaluated in a unique moment by body mass index (BMI), Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), handgrip strength (HGS), and calf circumference (CC). Kappa coefficient, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated for each nutrition indicator (PG-SGA as the reference method). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess hazard ratio (HR) and CI of mortality. RESULTS: From the total patients, 11% were underweight, 48% were malnourished (PG-SGA B or C), 43% had low HGS, and 55% presented low CC. There were 46 deaths (25.8%). BMI, HGS, and CC showed poor and fair agreements (κ < 0.30 for all ) and poor accuracy (AUC < 0.70 for all) in identifying malnutrition by PG-SGA. After the adjustment for confounders (age, treatment performed, site, and stage of cancer), PG-SGA (HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.5-5.9) and low CC (HR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1-5.2) were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: The nutrition indicators are not accurate in diagnosing malnutrition, whereas PG-SGA and low CC could predict mortality in gastric and colorectal cancer patients. Thus, CC should be combined with PG-SGA in nutrition assessments.

Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity of Schoolchildren from a Low-income Region in Brazil: Associations with Maternal Variables / Comportamento Sedentário e Atividade Física de Escolares de uma Região de Baixa Renda no Brasil: Associações com Variáveis Maternas

INTRODUCTION: In the last decade, an increasing number of studies investigated markers of Sedentary Behavior (SB) and Physical Activity (PA) in school-age children since they lead to nutritional status changes in this groupOBJECTIVE: To analyze associations between maternal factors and SB and PA of schoolchildrenMETHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 410 mothers of children enrolled between the first and the fifth year in municipal schools of Santa Cruz, RN, Brazil. By applying questionnaires, socioeconomic variables of the family, maternal data, and habits related to SB and PA on weekdays and weekends were investigated. Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to test associationsRESULTS: It was observed that income below one minimum wage and less maternal education were associated with greater active transportation among children (69.3%, p = 0.012 and 68.4%, p = 0.022, respectively). Children from low-income families (65.4%, p = 0.016) and who had six and seven siblings (8.2%, p = 0.023 and 7.6%, p = 0.037, respectively) presented lower SB at the weekend. Low level of maternal education was associated with reduced PA during the week (70.8%, p = 0.024CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic (i.e., family income and number of siblings) and maternal factors (i.e., level of education) are important indicators for time spent on sedentary behavior and physical activity of schoolchildren

INTRODUÇÃO: Na última década, um número crescente de estudos tem se preocupado em investigar marcadores de Comportamento Sedentário (CS) e Atividade Física (AF) em crianças na idade escolar, por serem reconhecidos como causadores de alterações do estado nutricional nesta faixa etáriaOBJETIVO: Analisar os fatores associados maternos sobre o CS e AF de escolaresMÉTODO: Trata-se de uma pesquisa com delineamento transversal, envolvendo 410 mães de crianças matriculadas entre o primeiro e quinto ano nas escolas municipais de Santa Cruz, RN, Brasil. Por meio da aplicação de questionários, foram investigadas variáveis socioeconômicas da família, dados maternos e hábitos relacionados ao CS e AF dos escolares, nos dias da semana e no final de semana. Para testar associações foi utilizado o teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson e Teste Exato de FisherRESULTADOS: Foi observado que uma renda inferior a um salário mínimo e menor escolaridade materna foram associados com maior deslocamento ativo das crianças (69,3%, p = 0,012 e 68,4% p = 0,022, respectivamente). As crianças de famílias com baixa renda (65,4%, p = 0,016) e que tinham seis e sete irmãos (8,2%, p = 0,023 e 7,6%, p = 0,037, respectivamente) apresentam menor CS no final de semana. Um menor grau de escolaridade materna foi associado com uma menor prática de AF durante a semana (70,8%, p = 0,024CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que os fatores socioeconômicos (i.e., renda familiar e número de irmãos) e maternos (i.e., nível de escolaridade) são importantes indicadores para o tempo dispendido em comportamento sedentário e atividade física de escolares

Low calf circumference is an independent predictor of mortality in cancer patients: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Loss of muscle mass is associated with worse outcomes in patients with cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of calf circumference (CC) and skeletal muscle index from computed tomography (CT) to predict mortality in patients with cancer. METHODS: A single-center prospective study was conducted with patients aged ≥20 y attending a reference center of oncology and who had recent abdominal CT images. Data were collected through a semistructured form and patients' records and included sociodemographic data (sex, age and ethnicity), clinical data (primary site and staging of tumor and treatments performed), anthropometric variables (body mass index and CC), and outcome (death). Low CC for men was considered to be ≤ 34 cm and for women ≤ 33 cm. Muscle mass was assessed by CT images at the level of L3. The Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age, sex, and staging of disease was used. RESULTS: A total of 250 patients were evaluated, 52.8% female, with a median age of 63 y (interquartile ratio: 55-73). Normal body mass index was identified in 44.4%; 29.2% had low skeletal muscle index, and 46.4% had low CC. Death by any cause occurred in 16%, and only low CC was a significant predictor of mortality (hazard ratio = 3.01; confidence interval 1.52-5.98; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Low CC can predict risk of mortality in this cohort of patients. The findings suggest the use of CC as a simple, easy, cost-effective anthropometric measurement to quickly screen patients at risk of death who could benefit from targeted care to improve their prognosis.

Agreement between software programmes of body composition analyses on abdominal computed tomography scans of obese adults

ABSTRACT Objective A large number of studies have used abdominal computed tomography (CT) to quantify body composition, and different software programmes have been used to perform these analyses. Thus, this comparison is important to enable researchers to know the performance of more accessible software. Subjects and methods Fifty-four abdominal CT scans of obese (BMI 30 to 39.9 kg/m2), sedentary adults (24-41 years) patients from a Brazilian single center were selected. Two software programs were compared: Slice-O-Matic (Tomovision, Canada) version 5.0 and OsiriX version 5.8.5. The body composition analysis were segmented using standard Hounsfield unit (HU) (adipose tissue: -190 to +30 and skeletal muscle: -29 to +150) and measured at the mid third lumbar vertebra (L3) level on a slice showing both transversal processes. Bland-Altman limits of agreement analyses were used to assess the level of agreement between Slice-O-Matic and OsiriX. Results A total of fifty-four participants were evaluated, with majority women (69%), mean of age 31.3 (SD 6.5) years and obesity grade I most prevalent (74.1%). The agreement, in Bland-Altman analysis, between Slice-O-Matic and OsiriX analisys for the muscle mass tissue, visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue were excellent (≥ 0.954) with P-values < 0.001. Conclusion These findings show that Slice-O-Matic and OsiriX softwares agreement in measurements of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and sarcopenia diagnosis in obese patients, suggesting good applicability in studies with body composition in this population and clinical practice.

Gut Microbiota Profile of Obese Diabetic Women Submitted to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Its Association with Food Intake and Postoperative Diabetes Remission.

Gut microbiota composition is influenced by environmental factors and has been shown to impact body metabolism. OBJECTIVE: To assess the gut microbiota profile before and after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and the correlation with food intake and postoperative type 2 diabetes remission (T2Dr). DESIGN: Gut microbiota profile from obese diabetic women was evaluated before (n = 25) and 3 (n = 20) and 12 months (n = 14) after RYGB, using MiSeq Illumina-based V4 bacterial 16S rRNA gene profiling. Data on food intake (7-day record) and T2Dr (American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria) were recorded. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the abundance of five bacteria genera differed between patients with (57%) and without T2Dr (p < 0.050). Preoperative gut bacteria genus signature was able to predict the T2Dr status with 0.94 accuracy ROC curve (receiver operating characteristic curve). Postoperatively (vs. preoperative), the relative abundance of some gut bacteria genera changed, the gut microbial richness increased, and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (rFB) decreased (p < 0.05) regardless of T2Dr. Richness levels was correlated with dietary profile pre and postoperatively, mainly displaying positive and inverse correlations with fiber and lipid intakes, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gut microbiota profile was influenced by RYGB and correlated with diet and T2Dr preoperatively, suggesting the possibility to assess its composition to predict postoperative T2Dr.

Agreement between software programmes of body composition analyses on abdominal computed tomography scans of obese adults.

Objective A large number of studies have used abdominal computed tomography (CT) to quantify body composition, and different software programmes have been used to perform these analyses. Thus, this comparison is important to enable researchers to know the performance of more accessible software. Subjects and methods Fifty-four abdominal CT scans of obese (BMI 30 to 39.9 kg/m2), sedentary adults (24-41 years) patients from a Brazilian single center were selected. Two software programs were compared: Slice-O-Matic (Tomovision, Canada) version 5.0 and OsiriX version 5.8.5. The body composition analysis were segmented using standard Hounsfield unit (HU) (adipose tissue: -190 to +30 and skeletal muscle: -29 to +150) and measured at the mid third lumbar vertebra (L3) level on a slice showing both transversal processes. Bland-Altman limits of agreement analyses were used to assess the level of agreement between Slice-O-Matic and OsiriX. Results A total of fifty-four participants were evaluated, with majority women (69%), mean of age 31.3 (SD 6.5) years and obesity grade I most prevalent (74.1%). The agreement, in Bland-Altman analysis, between Slice-O-Matic and OsiriX analisys for the muscle mass tissue, visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue were excellent (≥ 0.954) with P-values < 0.001. Conclusion These findings show that Slice-O-Matic and OsiriX softwares agreement in measurements of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and sarcopenia diagnosis in obese patients, suggesting good applicability in studies with body composition in this population and clinical practice.

Is skeletal muscle radiodensity able to indicate physical function impairment in older adults with gastrointestinal cancer?

BACKGROUND: Worsening nutritional status in older adult cancer patients can lead to sarcopenia, a condition that occurs with low quantity or quality of muscle mass associated with low physical function. However, most of the studies with cancer patients have only analyzed the quantity of muscle mass for diagnostic of sarcopenia, without exploring muscle characteristics and physical function. The purpose of the present study is to explore the associations between muscle mass characteristics and physical function in older adult patients with cancer. METHODS: Gastric older cancer patients were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Computed tomography images of the abdominal region evaluated skeletal muscle mass using the Slice-O-Matic version 5.0 Software program (Tomovision, Montreal, Canada) to determine the parameters of skeletal muscle index (SMI, muscle quantity) and skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD). The physical function was evaluated through handgrip strength and gait speed test. Four musculature phenotypes were identified: normal SMI and SMD, only low SMI, only low SMD, and low SMI and SMD. Linear regression analyses adjusted by age and tumor stage verified the associations between SMI, SMD and physical function. A One-Way Covariance Analysis with Bonferroni post hoc test was used to compare the physical function variables among the four different phenotypes. RESULTS: In total, 167 patients were evaluated (58.1% males; mean age 69.17 ±â€¯7.97 years). The results showed that muscle mass characteristics explains, at least partially, the variability in handgrip strength and gait speed in a direct relationship. The phenotypes with low muscular SMI and/or SMD presented worse performances in handgrip strength and gait speed tests. When stratified for sexes, the significant difference occurs only in males. CONCLUSIONS: Low SMD has negatively impacted physical function in older adults with gastrointestinal cancer, especially in males.

Cardiovascular risk assessment using the lipid accumulation product index among primary healthcare users: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The lipid accumulation product (LAP) index is an abdominal adiposity marker. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the cardiovascular risk of primary healthcare users through the LAP index and correlate it with anthropometric and biochemical indicators. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in primary care units in a city in northeastern Brazil. METHODS: The subjects responded to a structured questionnaire that contained questions about their sociodemographic condition, and then underwent an anthropometric nutritional assessment. The LAP index values were expressed as three degrees of cardiovascular risk intensity: high risk (above the 75th percentile), moderate risk (between the 25th and 75th percentiles) and low risk (below the 25th percentile). RESULTS: The median LAP index was 52.5 cm.mmol/l (range: 28.2-86.6), and there was no statistically significant difference between the sexes: 57.7 cm.mmol/l (24.5-91.1) and 49.5 cm.mmol/l (29.8-85.2) for females and males, respectively (P = 0.576). Among all the subjects, 67.2% were overweight and there was a statistically significant difference in mean LAP index between those who were and those who were not overweight. Statistically significant differences in anthropometric and biochemical markers for cardiovascular risk were observed among individuals who had higher LAP index values. There were significant correlations between the LAP index and all of the biochemical variables. CONCLUSIONS: These significant correlations between the LAP index and the traditional biochemical risk markers may be useful within conventional clinical practice, for cardiovascular risk screening in primary healthcare.

Is cachexia associated with chemotherapy toxicities in gastrointestinal cancer patients? A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy is an effective treatment with good clinical response in patients with cancer. However, it can cause exacerbated toxicities in patients and consequently change the course of treatment. Some factors may interfere with this toxicity such as body composition, especially in gastrointestinal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of body composition, nutritional status, and functional capacity scale in predicting the occurrence of toxicities in gastrointestinal cancer patients during chemotherapy treatment. METHODS: This is a prospective study with gastrointestinal cancer patients at the beginning of chemotherapy treatment. Sarcopenia and muscle attenuation were assessed using the skeletal muscle index from computerized tomography by measuring cross-sectional areas of the L3 tissue (cm2 /m2 ). Cachexia was graded according to involuntary weight loss associated with sarcopenia. Nutritional status was assessed by using anthropometric evaluation and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment. Functional capacity was evaluated by handgrip strength and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status scale. Haematological gastrointestinal and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria. The associations among sarcopenia, cachexia, nutritional status, and functional capacity with DLT were assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression model. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were evaluated (55% male, 60.9 ± 14.0 years) and followed up for a mean of 55 days. Most patients had normal weight (44.2%) and good ECOG Performance Status (≤1) at baseline (78%). During the chemotherapy period, the most prevalent toxicities were diarrhoea, nausea, and anorexia, but the presence of DLT was similar between cycles (P > 0.05). Cachexia was associated with a higher toxicity manifested by diarrhoea (P = 0.02), nausea (P = 0.02), and anorexia (P < 0.01 and P = 0.03 at Cycles 1 and 2, respectively). Sarcopenic and cachetic individuals experienced more toxicities and DLT during chemotherapy. The only factors associated with DLT in the multivariate Cox regression analyses including the presence of metastasis and the chemotherapy protocol were cachexia and the ECOG scale (P < 0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Cachexia and ECOG score may identify patients with an increased risk for developing severe toxicity events during chemotherapy treatment for gastrointestinal cancer.

Association of l-Arginine Supplementation with Markers of Endothelial Function in Patients with Cardiovascular or Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

l-Arginine supplementation is a potential therapy for treating cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, the use of distinct l-arginine sources, intervened populations, and treatment regimens may have yielded confusion about their efficacy. This research constitutes a systematic review and meta-analysis summarizing the effects of l-arginine supplementation compared to placebo in individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, or diabetes. Eligibility criteria included randomized clinical trials and interventions based on oral supplementation of l-arginine with a minimum duration of three days; comparison groups consisted of individuals with the same disease condition receiving an oral placebo substance. The primary outcome was flow-mediated dilation, and secondary outcomes were nitrite/nitrate (NOx) rate and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Statistical heterogeneity among studies included in the meta-analyses was assessed using the inconsistency index (I2). Fifty-four full-text articles from 3761 retrieved references were assessed for eligibility. After exclusions, 13 studies were included for data extraction. There was no difference in blood flow after post-ischemic hyperemia between the supplementation of l-arginine and placebo groups before and after the intervention period (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.30; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = -0.85 to 1.46; I2 = 96%). Sensitivity analysis showed decreased heterogeneity when the studies that most favor arginine and placebo were removed, and positive results in favor of arginine supplementation were found (SMD = 0.59; 95% CIs = 0.10 to 1.08; I2 = 75%). No difference was found in meta-analytical estimates of NOx and ADMA responses between arginine or placebo treatments. Overall, the results indicated that oral l-arginine supplementation was not associated with improvements on selected variables in these patients (PROSPERO Registration: CRD42017077289).

Associação da quimiotoxicidade com o estado (de la quimiotoxicidad con el estado) nutricional em pacientes oncológicos / Nutritional status and chemotoxicity in oncology patients

Introdução: O câncer é uma enfermidade caracterizada pelo (El cáncer es una enfermedad que se caracteriza por el) crescimento desordenado de células, cujo tratamento com quimioterapia atua no seu controle ou (cuyo tratamiento con quimioterapia actúa en su control o) remissão e pode prolongar a sobrevida. No entanto (Sin embargo), a quimioterapia pode causar uma série de efeitos colaterais, denominados quimiotoxicidade, levando ao déficit nutricional e comprometendo sua tolerância e (llevando al déficit nutricional y comprometiendo su tolerancia y) eficácia. Objetivo: Verificar a associação da quimiotoxicidade com o estado nutricional de pacientes oncológicos. Métodos: Estudo transversal, de caráter retrospectivo, com análise de prontuário (con análisis de historia clínica) de pacientes com neoplasia de tumores sólidos, com 3 ciclos realizados de quimioterapia. Foram coletadas variáveis (Fueron contempladas variables) sociodemográficas, clínicas, antropométricas e a quimiotoxicidade foi categorizada conforme a National Cancer Institute (NCI). Resultados: Foram avaliados 126 pacientes, com idade média 54.6 ± 13.9 anos, predominantemente do sexo feminino (68.3%). As neoplasias mais prevalentes foram mama (51%) e trato gastrointestinal (34.5%) e o estadiamento IV foi prevalente (con prevalencia del estadio IV) (40.5%). A quimiotoxicidade apresentou-se desde o primeiro ciclo, com 52.5% de toxicidade bioquímica. Comparando o primeiro e terceiro ciclo não foi observada associação significativa entre a toxicidade e o índice de massa corporal (IMC), leucócitos, plaquetas e hemoglobina, mas observou-se tendência na toxicidade (pero se observó una tendencia en la toxicidad) de neutrófilos (p = 0.053). A toxicidade gastrointestinal afetou significativamente a perda de peso durante o (la pérdida de peso durante el) tratamento (p = 0.024). Conclusão: A quimiotoxicidade foi observada desde o primeiro ciclo, no entanto apenas a toxicidade do trato gastrointestinal apresentou (sin embargo, solo la toxicidad del tracto gastrointestinal presentó una) associação com a perda de peso corporal.

Introduction: Cancer is a disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells, whose treatment with chemotherapy acts as a control or remission and may prolong survival. However, chemotherapy can cause a number of side effects, called chemotoxicity, leading to malnutrition and compromising its effectiveness and tolerance. Objective: To investigate the association between chemotoxicity and the nutritional status of cancer patients. Methods: Longitudinal and retrospective study with chart analysis of patients with cancer of solid tumors, with at least 3 cycles of chemotherapy performed. Sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric variables were collected and chemotoxicity was categorized according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI, 1999). Results: We evaluated 126 patients, mean age of 54.6 ± 13.9 years, predominantly female (68.3%). The most common cancers were breast (51%) and gastrointestinal tract (34.5%) and most were classified as stage IV (40.5%). Chemotoxicity showed up from the first cycle, with 52.5% biochemical toxicity. Comparing the first and the third cycles, no difference in toxicity was observed in relation to body mass index (BMI), white blood cells, platelets and hemoglobin; but there was a trend in the association of toxicity with neutrophils (p = 0.053). The GI toxicity significantly affected weight loss during treatment (p = 0.024). Conclusion: chemotoxicity was observed from the first cycle; however only the toxicity of the gastrointestinal tract was associated with weight loss.

Hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype in primary health care: comparison of two cutoff points.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype among users of primary health care using two different cutoff points used in the literature. METHODS: We evaluated adults and elderly individuals of both sexes who attended the same level of primary health care. HTGW phenotype was determined with measurements of waist circumference (WC) and triglyceride levels and compared using cutoff points proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program - NCEP/ATP III (WC ≥102 cm for men and ≥88 cm for women; triglyceride levels ≥150 mg/dL for both sexes) and by Lemieux et al (WC ≥90 cm for men and ≥85 cm for women; triglyceride levels ≥177 mg/dL for both). RESULTS: Within the sample of 437 individuals, 73.7% was female. The prevalence of HTGW phenotype was high and statistically different with the use of different cutoff points from the literature. The prevalence was higher using the NCEP/ATP III criteria compared to those proposed by Lemieux et al (36.2% and 32.5%, respectively, p<0.05). Individuals with the presence of the phenotype also presented alterations in other traditional cardiovascular risk markers. CONCLUSION: The HTGW phenotype identified high prevalence of cardiovascular risk in the population, with higher cutoff points from the NCEP/ATP III criteria. The difference in frequency of risk alerts us to the need to establish cutoff points for the Brazilian population.

Associação do (Asociación entre el) estado nutricional com a qualidade (y la calidad) de vida de pacientes oncológicos em tratamento quimioterápico / Association between nutritional status and quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Introduction: The number of new cancer cases has increased over the years, placing this disease among the most prevalent worldwide. Studies show that the quality of life of cancer patients is impaired and that there is an association between malnutrition and reduced quality of life (QoL). Objective: To investigate the association between nutritional status and quality of life of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 45 cancer patients from the outpatient chemotherapy service at a university hospital in Northeast Brazil. Anthropometric measurements and QoL were assessed by applying the Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results: There was a high percentage of malnutrition, ranging from 15.6% according to body mass index, to 43.9%, according to the muscular circumference of the arm. Median score was verified at 50.0 (Q1 = 41.7; Q3, 50.0) on the scale of general QoL. There were no significant correlations between nutritional status and QoL scores. Only the cognitive performance scale showed inverse correlation with triceps skinfold (TSF) (p = 0.033) and arm circumference (p = 0.011). Regarding the level of symptoms, diarrhea correlated directly with PCT (p = 0.025). Conclusion: There was impairment of QoL in the aspect of overall health. Although many studies have shown association between malnutrition and low QoL, this relationship was not observed in this investigation

Introdução: Os números de novos casos de câncer vêm aumentando ao longo dos anos (La cantidad de nuevos casos de cáncer está aumentando a lo largo de los años), fazendo com que esta doença esteja entre uma das mais prevalentes no (provocando que esta enfermedad sea una de las más prevalentes en el) mundo. Estudos evidenciam que a qualidade de vida dos pacientes oncológicos está prejudicada e que há associação (está deteriorada y que existe una asociación) entre desnutrição e redução da qualidade de vida (QV). Objetivo: Verificar a associação do estado nutricional com a qualidade de vida de pacientes oncológicos em tratamento quimioterápico. Métodos: Estudo transversal envolvendo 45 pacientes oncológicos captados do serviço ambulatorial de quimioterapia de um hospital universitário localizado no Nordeste brasileiro. Foram avaliadas (Fueron evaluadas) medidas antropométricas e a QV, a partir da aplicação do Quality of life Questionnaire. Resultados: Observou-se elevado percentual de desnutrição, variando de 15.6%, segundo o (según el) índice de massa corporal, a 43.9%, segundo a circunferência muscular do braço (del brazo). Foi verificada uma pontuação mediana de 50.0 (Q1 = 41.7; Q3 = 50.0) para a escala de estado geral de QV. Não foram observadas importantes correlações entre os estado nutricional e os escores (puntajes) de QV. Apenas escala de desempenho cognitivo apresentou correlação inversa com a prega cutânea tricipital (el pliegue cutáneo del tríceps) (PCT) (p = 0.033) e circunferência do braço (p = 0.011). Em relação à escala de sintomas, a diarréia se correlacionou diretamente a PCT (p = 0.025). Conclusão: Verificou-se comprometimento da (compromiso de la) QV no aspecto de saúde global. Embora muitos estudos demonstrem associação entre a desnutrição e baixa (Aunque muchos estudios demuestren la asociación entre desnutrición y baja) QV, essa relação não foi evidenciada nessa (no fue probada en esta) investigação