Investigación en nutrición clínica y generación de nuevas evidencias: el programa NutriCOVer / Investigation in clinical nutrition and generation of new evidence: the NutriCOVer program

NutriCOVer es un programa de investigación impulsado por Nutricia a nivel global para apoyar iniciativas de investigación clínica en 16 países de todo el mundo. El programa tiene como objetivo adaptar el cuidado nutricional a las necesidades de los pacientes con COVID-19 dados de alta de la unidad de cuidados intensivos. En España se están desarrollando tres proyectos de investigación, siendo un país de referencia dentro del programa NutriCOVer. Estos estudios analizan la evolución de los pacientes tras una COVID-19 grave desde el punto de vista nutricional, evaluando aspectos relevantes como la prevalencia y evolución de la desnutrición y la sarcopenia (estudio NUTRICOVID), la prevalencia y el impacto de la disfagia (estudio COVID-19-DN-OD) y los cambios de la composición corporal medida por ecografía nutricional y bioimpedanciometría (estudio NUTRIECOMUSCLE). En este artículo, los investigadores que lideran estos tres proyectos discuten todos los pasos que han seguido para el desarrollo de los estudios en el contexto de una pandemia mundial: desde la idea inicial, el diseño y el reclutamiento de pacientes hasta los problemas de ejecución que se han encontrado en el día a día o la política de publicación de los resultados. Además, ofrecen algunas impresiones sobre los resultados iniciales y las implicaciones que pueden tener estos estudios para cambiar la práctica clínica habitual (AU)

NutriCOVer is a global research program sponsored by Nutricia to support initiatives in clinical investigation in 16 countries worldwide. The program's objective is to adapt nutritional care to the needs of patients with COVID-19 who have been discharged from the intensive care unit. In Spain — a reference country for the NutriCOVer program — three research projects are being carried out. These studies analyze the clinical course of COVID-19 patients from a nutritional point of view, evaluating relevant aspects such as the prevalence and evolution of malnutrition and sarcopenia (the NUTRICOVID study), the prevalence and impact of dysphagia (the COVID-19-DN-OD study), or changes in corporal composition measured through nutritional ultrasound and bioimpedance analysis (the NUTRIECOMUSCLE study). In this article, the principal investigators of the three projects discuss the steps taken to develop these studies in the context of a worldwide pandemic: from initial concept, study design, and patient recruitment to problems in the execution of the project in day-to-day practice and publication policies. Also, they offer some insights on the initial results and the implications which these studies may have for current clinical practice (AU)

[Avascular necrosis of both hips and knees in a patient with ulcerative colitis treated for a long term with high-dose corticosteroids]. / Necrosis avascular de ambas caderas y rodillas en una paciente con colitis ulcerosa tratada prolongadamente con corticoides a dosis altas.

INTRODUCTION: Avascular necrosis represents the bone tissue death from vascularization failure, and it is mainly associated with the use of high-dose corticosteroids for a long time. CLINICAL CASE: A 25 years old female patient treated with high-dose corticosteroids for 7 months for ulcerative colitis presents with both knees pain and limited hip and knee motility. In a plain X-ray and in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) avascular necrosis was observed at these joints. Bone densitometry showed osteopenia at the femoral head and lumbar osteoporosis. DISCUSSION: We present a striking case for its large involvement of the joints (both knees and hips) with simultaneous osteoporosis and osteopenia in a young patient treated with corticosteroids for ulcerative colitis. It is necessary to recommend the judicious use of glucocorticoids, prescribing the minimal necessary dose and for the least amount of time necessary to control the underlying disease.

[Protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of catheter related infections in patients with home parenteral nutrition]. / Protocolo para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de las infecciones relacionadas con el catéter en el paciente con nutrición parenteral domiciliaria.

One of the most frequent complications of home parenteral nutrition is parenteral nutrition catheter infection. Prevention of these complications by adequate protocols on the catheter cares manages to decrease significantly the number of infections. Diagnosis and treatment of these infections should be done early to avoid loss of central venous accesses that may affect the treatment with this nutritional support modality in the long term. The existence of a protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of infections related with the catheter is, thus, of great value in the treatment of these patients.

[Refeeding syndrome. A review]. / Síndrome de realimentación. Revisión.

Refeeding syndrome is a complex clinical picture that encompass all those alterations that can occur as a consequence of the nutritional support (oral, enteral or parenteral) in malnourished patients. Refeeding syndrome is classically characterized by neurological alterations, respiratory symptoms, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure few days after beginning of refeeding, with life-threatening outcome. Its pathogenesis includes alterations in the corporal fluids, and in some electrolytes, minerals and vitamins. In this article a review of refeeding syndrome pathogenesis and clinical manifestations is carried out, with a final series of recommendations for lowering the risk of this syndrome and for facilitate the early diagnosis and the treatment.

[Colonic metabolism of fiber]. / Metabolismo colónico de la fibra.

Over the last few years, the colon has come to be considered more and more as a central digestive organ. This is where bacterial fermentation takes place to eliminate the substrates, mostly carbohydrates, that have avoided digestion by human enzymes within the small intestine. Of these, fibre plays a prominent role. As a result of this colonic fermentation, short-chain fatty acids are created and these have an important function at the level of the colon (reduction in pH, trophic effect, energy production, etc.) and at the systemic level (lipid metabolism, glycaemic metabolism, etc.) No less important are the effects of this colonic metabolism of fibre on proliferation of bacteria, thus giving fibre probiotic effects.

[Nelson's syndrome concomitant with Cushing's syndrome]. / Síndrome de Nelson concomitante con síndrome de Cushing.

A case is presented of Nelson's Syndrome concomitant with Cushing's Syndrome in a female patient who underwent five years earlier bilateral adrenalectomy due to Cushing's Disease. Together with hyperpigmentation, very elevated ACTH, and intrasellar mass in CT scan, plasma cortisol levels without rythm and not suppressible were observed as well as increased cortisol in urine. The macroadenoma was resected though the sphenoid and later hypophysis radiotherapy was given, with a clinical remission and biochemical improvement of the syndrome. At the present time, slightly elevated ACTH levels persist, with panhypopituitarism and empty sella turcica. The clinical picture is described and a literature search is carried out.