A multi-centre survey on hospital malnutrition: result of PNSI study.

BACKGROUND: Disease-related malnutrition is associated with adverse outcomes such as increased rates of morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and extra costs of health care. This study was conducted to assess nutritional status among patients and to determine the risk factors for malnutrition in Iran university f. METHODS: Persian Nutritional Survey In Hospitals (PNSI) was a cross-sectional study that conducted in 20 university hospitals across Iran. All the patients with age range of 18 to 65 years, who were admitted or discharged, were assessed by subjective global assessment (SGA). RESULTS: In total, 2109 patients were evaluated for malnutrition. Mean values of age and body mass index were 44.68 ± 14.65 years and 25.44 ± 6.25 kg/m2, respectively. Malnutrition (SGA-B & C) was identified in 23.92% of the patients, 26.23 and 21% of whom were among the admitted and discharged patients, respectively. The highest prevalence of malnutrition was in burns (77.70%) and heart surgery (57.84%) patients. Multivariate analysis presented male gender (OR = 1.02, P < 0.00), malignant disease (OR = 1.40, P < 0.00), length of hospital stay (OR = 1.20, P < 0.00), and polypharmacy (OR = 1.06, P < 0.00) as independent risk factors for malnutrition. Malnutrition was not associated with age (P = 0.10). CONCLUSION: This study provides an overall and comprehensive illustration of hospital malnutrition in Iran university hospitals, finding that one out of four patients were malnourished; thus, appropriate consideration and measures should be taken to this issue.

Evaluation of non-invasive arterial stiffness parameters and their relationship with physical activity, anthropometric indices and lipid profiles in healthy middle-aged adults: Results of the PERSIAN cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness (AS) indicates the initial stage of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is associated with modifiable and lifestyle risk factors. We aimed to examine the association of AS with anthropometric indices, lipid profiles and physical activity (PA). METHODS: Six hundred and fifty-eight healthy middle-aged adults were selected and anthropometric indices [body mass index, waist circumferences (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), neck circumferences, a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), body fat mass (BFM), visceral fat area, fat-free mass (FFM), lipid profiles and PA] were measured. AS is measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) and central augmentation index (cAIx). RESULTS: Our results show that cf-PWV was positively associated with TGs (ß = 0.10, P = .01) and anthropometric indices correlated with WC (ß = 0.11, P = .02), WHR (ß = 0.09, P = .03), WHtR (ß = 0.1, P = .02) and BRI (ß = 0.09, P = .04). cAIx was independently positively associated with cholesterol (ß = 0.08, P = .03), WC (ß = 0.1, P = .03), WHR (ß = 0.09, P = .02), ABSI (ß = 0.09, P = .01), BRI (ß = 0.08, P = .05), visceral fat area (ß = 0.09, P = .03) and BFM (ß = 0.08, P = .04) and negatively associated with PA (ß = -0.08, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: WC, WHR and BRI were associated with both cf-PWV and cAIx. TGs and WHtR were associated with cf-PWV, while cAIx was associated with ABSI, improving these indices may be helpful to prevent CVD.

Efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma therapy in severe COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Since SARS-CoV-2 infection is rapidly spreading all around the world, affecting many people and exhausting health care resources, therapeutic options must be quickly investigated in order to develop a safe and effective treatment. The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) for treating severe cases of COVID-19 who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Among 64 confirmed cases of severe COVID-19 with ARDS in this study, 32 patients received CP besides first line treatment. Their clinical response and outcome in regard to disease severity and mortality rate were evaluated and compared with the other 32 patients in the control group who were historically matched while randomly chosen from previous patients with the same conditions except for receiving CP therapy. Analysis of the data was performed using SPSS software. Patients with plasma therapy showed improvements in their clinical outcomes including a reduction in disease severity in terms of SOFA and APACHE II scores, the length of ICU stay, need for noninvasive ventilation and intubation and also showed an increase in oxygenation. They also showed reduction in mortality which was statistically significant in less severe cases with mild or moderate ARDS. Early administration of the convalescent plasma could successfully contribute to the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients with mild or moderate ARDS at risk of progressing to critical state.

Induction of labour in term premature rupture of membranes; oxytocin versus sublingual misoprostol; a randomised clinical trial.

Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) occurs in about 8-10% of pregnancies and its most important complication is chorioamnionitis, so labour induction has an important role in this situation. This study was performed to compare oxytocin and sublingual Misoprostol for labour induction in PROM cases with term pregnancy. A total of 270 pregnant women who had spontaneous rupture of membrane and unripe cervix were enrolled. The first group underwent Oxytocin infusion according to low-dose standard protocol and the second group received 25 µg sublingual Misoprostol every 4 h. Time interval from induction to the beginning of active phase of labour was similar in both groups. Second stage of labour was significantly shorter in misoprostol group (p < .05). Although, some maternal side-effects were significantly higher in misoprostol group (p < .001), but 5 minute Apgar score was significantly better in this group. In conclusion, sublingual misoprostol was associated with better neonatal outcomes was more effective than oxytocin for labour induction in PROM cases. Impact statement What is already known on this subject: PROM occurs in about 8-10% of pregnancies; about 60% of these cases are term pregnancies. Most experts recommend early induction of labour in term PROM cases with an eye towards avoiding increased morbidity and mortality. Oxytocin is the most frequently used agent that is administered intravenously for the purpose of labour induction. Misoprostol is an alternative to oxytocin and is simpler to use, as it is administered via the oral, buccal, sublingual, rectal and vaginal routes rather than intravenously. What do the results of this study add: Time interval from induction to the beginning of active phase of labour was similar in both groups. Second stage of labour was significantly shorter in the misoprostol group. Although, some maternal side-effects were significantly higher in misoprostol group, the 5 minute Apgar score was significantly better in this group. What are the implications of these finding for clinical practice and/or further research: Sublingual misoprostol for induction of labour in PROM cases is more effective than oxytocin and its neonatal outcomes are better. Due to its easy prescription and better labour outcomes, sub lingual misoprostol may be a better choice for labour induction in PROM cases.