Impact of fermentation by Saccharomyces Cerevisiae on the macronutrient and in vitro digestion characteristics of Chinese noodles.

This study examined the impact of live bread yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on the nutritional characteristics of Asian dried noodles. Micronutrient analysis of fermented noodles revealed a 6.9% increase in the overall amino acid content, a 37.1% increase in the vitamin B content and a 63.0% decrease in the phytic acid level. Molecular weight analysis of starch and protein contents revealed moderate decrease in the fermented noodles. The in vitro digestion of fermented noodles showed a slightly faster initial acidification, four-fold decrease in the initial shear viscosity (from 8.85 to 1.94 Pa·s). The initial large food particle count (>2 mm diameter) was 19.5% lower in the fermented noodles. The fermented noodles contained slightly higher free sugar content (73.5 mg g-1 noodle) during the gastric digestion phase. The overall nutrition and digestion results indicate nutritional improvement and digestion-easing attributes in the fermented noodles.

Percepção do peso corporal e dificuldades encontradas pelas pessoas com deficiência visual na aquisição, na preparação e no consumo dos alimentos / Perception of body weight and difficulties encounteredby people with visual impairment in acquiring, preparing and consuming food

Objetivo: investigar a percepção do peso corporal e as dificuldades encontradas pelas pessoas com deficiência visual na aquisição, na preparação e no consumo dos alimentos. Metodologia: estudo observacional transversal, com adultos e idosos com deficiência visual em Pelotas/RS, realizado no período de abril a maio de 2023. Foi utilizado um questionário composto de 42 itens. Os dados coletados foram analisados por análise descritiva e analítica, e apresentados como média ± desvio padrão ou percentual. Resultados: a amostra contou com 20 pessoas, predominantemente do sexo feminino e idosas. Em relação ao consumo alimentar, 50% dos participantes consomem feijão, 75% frutas e hortaliças, 50% bebidas adoçadas, biscoitos recheados e doces. Referente à percepção do peso corporal, percebeu-se que a maior parte do grupo sente que está acima do peso adequado e se sentem "insatisfeitos(as)". Sobre as dificuldades encontradas, 85% dos participantes relataram dificuldade extrema para identificar a validade dos alimentos, 70% para comprar alimentos frescos e perecíveis e 40% para usar a faca para cortar e descascar os alimentos. Conclusão: verificou-se que a maior parte do grupo sente que está acima do peso adequado e estão "insatisfeitos(as)" em relação ao peso corporal. Além disso, dependem de outra pessoa para escolher os alimentos a serem comprados, saber o prazo de validade, preparar alimentos que precisam ser porcionados, servir refeições no prato, cortar carnes, descascar vegetais e frutas, utilizar faca, entre outros. Esta dependência pode influenciar diretamente no seu consumo alimentar quando essas pessoas se encontram sozinhas, optando por consumir alimentos industrializados de fácil preparo ou prontos.

Objective: to investigate the perception of body weight and the difficulties encountered by people with visual impairments in acquiring, preparing and consuming food. Methodology: cross-sectional observational study, with adults and elderly people with visual impairment in Pelotas/RS, carried out from April to May 2023. A questionnaire composed of 42 items was used. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical analysis, and presented as mean ± standard deviation or percentage. Results: the sample included 20 people, predominantly female and elderly. Regarding food consumption, 50% of participants consume beans, 75% fruits and vegetables, 50% sweetened drinks, stuffed cookies and sweets. Regarding the perception of body weight, it was noticed that the majority of the group feels that they are overweight and feel "dissatisfied". Regarding the difficulties encountered, 85% of participants reported extreme difficulty in identifying the expiration date of food, 70% in purchasing fresh and perishable foods and 40% in using a knife to cut and peel food. Conclusion: it was found that the majority of the group feels that they are overweight and are "dissatisfied" with their body weight. Furthermore, they depend on someone else to choose the food to be purchased, know the expiration date, prepare food that needs to be portioned, serve meals on the plate, cut meat, peel vegetables and fruits, use a knife, among others. This dependence can directly influence their food consumption when these people are alone, choosing to consume easily prepared or ready-made processed foods.

Nutritional status and its associated factors among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in Addis Ababa, Central Ethiopia, 2021: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study is to assess nutritional status and associated factors among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in Yeka sub-city, Ethiopia, 2021. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in selected health centres found in the Yeka sub-city from May 2021 to July 2021. In total, 396 systematically selected infants and young children aged 6-23 months attended the selected health centres were included in the study. Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. A multinomial logistic regression model was used. The overall magnitude of undernutrition and overnutrition among infants and young children were 24.7% and 5.5%, respectively. Dietary diversity score (DDS) ((adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 5.65; 95% CI = 2.301, 10.87; P value = 0.003), minimum meal frequency (MMF) (AOR = 5.435; 95% CI = 2.097, 11.09; P value = 0.0052), and diarrhoea (AOR = 2.52; 95% CI = 1.007, 6.310; P value = 0.002) were statistically significantly associated factors for nutritional status among infants and young children. Malnutrition (undernutrition and overnutrition) is a public health problem among infants and young children in Yeka sub-city, Ethiopia. DDS, MMF, and diarrhoeal disease were associated with higher odds of undernutrition.

Machine learning as a tool predicting short-term postoperative complications in Crohn's disease patients undergoing intestinal resection: What frontiers?

The recent study, "Predicting short-term major postoperative complications in intestinal resection for Crohn's disease: A machine learning-based study" investigated the predictive efficacy of a machine learning model for major postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery in Crohn's disease (CD) patients. Employing a random forest analysis and Shapley Additive Explanations, the study prioritizes factors such as preoperative nutritional status, operative time, and CD activity index. Despite the retrospective design's limitations, the model's robustness, with area under the curve values surpassing 0.8, highlights its clinical potential. The findings align with literature supporting preoperative nutritional therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive assessment and optimization. While a significant advancement, further research is crucial for refining preoperative strategies in CD patients.

Stable Isotope Signatures Illuminate Diverse Nutritional Strategies in Rhizoctonias and Their Orchid Partners.

Understanding the nutritional ecology of orchids, particularly those in symbiosis with rhizoctonias, presents a complex challenge. This complexity arises partly from the absence of macroscopic fruit bodies in rhizoctonias, which impedes the acquisition of their stable isotope data. In this study, we investigated the fungal associations and isotopic signatures in the pelotons of Stigmatodactylus sikokianus (associated with non-ectomycorrhizal [non-ECM] rhizoctonias) and Chamaegastrodia shikokiana (associated with ECM rhizoctonias). Our research reveals elevated levels of 13C enrichment in S. sikokianus plants and their pelotons, similar to those found in fully mycoheterotrophic orchids and their mycobionts. Interestingly, C. shikokiana plants and their pelotons exhibited even higher levels of 13C and 15N enrichment than many other fully mycoheterotrophic species. Our findings imply that both ECM and saprotrophic mycobionts, including certain rhizoctonias, can fulfill the carbon needs of highly mycoheterotrophic orchids. This finding also indicates that 13C enrichment can be an indicator of mycoheterotrophy in at least some rhizoctonia-associated orchids, despite the typically low 13C enrichment in non-ECM rhizoctonias. Our demonstration of partial mycoheterotrophy in S. sikokianus suggests a broader prevalence of this nutritional strategy among orchids, given that almost all orchids are associated with non-ECM rhizoctonias.

Nutritional and Culinary Habits to Empower Families (n-CHEF): a feasibility study to increase consumption and home cooking of plant-based foods.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the feasibility and acceptability of a culinary nutritional intervention aimed at increasing plant-based foods consumption in the context of the Mediterranean diet in parent-child dyads. DESIGN: The Nutritional and Culinary Habits to Empower Families (n-CHEF) is a 9-month feasibility study that included four culinary nutritional workshops (two face to face, two online) led by a chef and a dietitian-nutritionist. These workshops combined cooking with plant-based foods, with nutritional advice and experimental activities. The main outcomes were retention, quality of the intervention (monitoring workshops, acceptability and perceived impact) and changes in dietary and cooking habits. SETTING: Parent-child dyads, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Parent-child (aged 10-14 years) dyads. RESULTS: Fifteen parent-child dyads were recruited, of which thirteen were retained during the 6-month follow-up. All but one parent-child dyads attended the four workshops. The overall assessment of the workshops was positive, although the online workshops were rated lower than the face to face. In general, parent-child dyads reported benefits in terms of nutrition and cooking aspects. Parents significantly increased their adherence to the Mediterranean diet, but non-significant changes were observed in children. However, children increased their consumption of vegetables and legumes and reduced snacks and ready meals. Parents also changed some of their culinary habits and increased their confidence in cooking at home. CONCLUSIONS: The n-CHEF showed that the culinary nutritional intervention had good levels of recruitment, retention and acceptability among parent-child dyads. In addition, dietary and culinary knowledge and habits can be improved, although further studies are needed to know the long-term effects in larger populations.

The relationship between nutritional status and prognosis in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients in palliative care: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the nutritional status and its prognostic effect on the survival of patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. METHODS: A prospective cohort study design was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China. The study consisted of 202 advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients from a palliative care unit. The following data were collected from the patients: biochemical indicators, i.e., anemia (hemoglobin levels), albumin, pre-albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and anthropometric parameters, i.e., body mass index (BMI), nutritional status by Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), and performance status by Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS). Severe malnutrition was confirmed with the PG-SGA score of ≥ 9. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test were used to calculate overall survival (OS). The effect of nutritional status on survival was performed by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Severe malnutrition was found in 71.3% of patients according to the cutoff of the PG-SGA. PG-SGA score ≥ 9, albumin level < 35 g/L, and CRP level ≥ 10 mg/L predicted shortened life expectancy. Multivariate Cox regression analysis results showed that the PG-SGA score ≥ 9 and the albumin level < 35 g/L were predictive of OS. CONCLUSION: Our data support that severe malnutrition is a predictor for OS in patients with advanced GI cancer. Information on nutritional status should be considered to individualize palliative care plan for these patients, and hence improve their quality of life.

The Leptospira interrogans proteome's response to zinc highlights the potential involvement of this metal in translational-machinery and virulence.

Leptospires, as motile Gram-negative bacteria, employ sophisticated strategies for efficient invasion and dissemination within their hosts. In response, hosts counteract pathogens through nutritional immunity, a concept involving the deprivation of essential metals such as zinc. Zinc, pivotal in modulating pathogen-host interactions, influences proteins structural, catalytic, and regulatory functions. A comprehensive understanding of how leptospires regulate intracellular zinc availability is crucial for deciphering their survival mechanisms. This study explores the proteomic profile of Leptospira interrogans sv. Copenhageni str. 10A cultivated in Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris medium supplemented with the zinc chelator TPA or ZnCl2. Among the 2161 proteins identified, 488 were subjected to scrutiny, revealing 102 less abundant and 81 more abundant in response to TPA. Of these 488 proteins, 164 were exclusive to the presence of TPA and 141 were exclusive to the zinc-enriched conditions. Differentially expressed proteins were classified into clusters of orthologous groups (COGs) with a distribution in metabolic functions (37.8%), information storage/processing (21.08%), cellular processes/signaling (28.04%), and poorly characterized proteins (10.65%). Differentially expressed proteins are putatively involved in processes like 1-carbon compound metabolism, folate biosynthesis, and amino acid/nucleotide synthesis. Zinc availability significantly impacted key processes putatively related to leptospires' interactions with their host, such as motility, biofilm formation, and immune escape. Under conditions of higher zinc concentration, ribosomal proteins, chaperones and components of transport systems were observed, highlighting interactions between regulatory networks responsive to zinc and iron in L. interrogans. This study not only revealed hypothetical proteins potentially related to zinc homeostasis, but also identified possible virulence mechanisms and pathogen-host adaptation strategies influenced by the availability of this metal. There is an urgent need, based on these data, for further in-depth studies aimed at detailing the role of zinc in these pathways and mechanisms, which may ultimately determine more effective therapeutic approaches to combat Leptospira infections.

Acupuncture Therapy on Dysphagia in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of acupuncture therapy on dysphagia in patients with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: This randomized controlled study lasted 42 days and included 112 patients with Parkinson's disease and dysphagia. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (56 cases each group) using the completely randomized design, all under routine treatment. The experimental group was given acupuncture therapy. The primary outcome was Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS). The secondary outcomes were (1) Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA), and (2) nutritional status including body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, prealbumin, and hemoglobin. Adverse events were recorded as safety indicators. RESULTS: One participant quitted the study midway. There were no significant differences in baseline assessment (P>0.05). After treatment, both groups showed significant improvement in PAS, SSA and nutritional status except for BMI of the control group. There were significant differences between the two groups in the PAS for both paste and liquid, SSA (25.18±8.25 vs. 20.84±6.92), BMI (19.97±3.34 kg/m2vs. 21.26 ±2.38 kg/m2), serum albumin (35.16 ±5.29 g/L vs. 37.24 ±3.98 g/L), prealbumin (248.33 ±27.72 mg/L vs. 261.39 ±22.10 mg/L), hemoglobin (119.09±12.53 g/L vs. 126.67±13.97 g/L) (P<0.05). There were no severe adverse events during the study. CONCLUSION: The combination of routine treatment and acupuncture therapy can better improve dysphagia and nutritional status in patients with Parkinson's disease, than routine treatment solely. (registration No. CLINICALTRIAL: gov NCT06199323).

Preoperative micronutrient repletion strategies in metabolic and bariatric surgery: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is lacking to inform how micronutrient deficiencies should be prevented and treated before metabolic-bariatric surgery to optimize patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to examine the effect of preoperative repletion strategies for micronutrient deficiencies on micronutrient biochemistry, quality of life, and complication rates among candidates for metabolic and bariatric surgery, compared to usual care, alternate strategies, or no treatment. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and CENTRAL was searched in April 2024. A grey literature search was updated in April 2024 via Google search. Eligible observational and interventional studies were those that provided micronutrient repletion prior to the surgery and measured micronutrient status pre- and/or post-surgery. Studies with participants who were pregnant, lactating, or elected jejunocolic bypass, jejunoileal bypass, vertical banded gastroplasty, and biliopancreatic diversion were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist. Findings were narratively synthesized, and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was adopted when applicable. Twenty studies (n=27 groups) were included (n=15 observational; n=5 interventional). RESULTS: Strategies targeted vitamins A, D, E, B6, B12, C, thiamin, folate, calcium, iron, selenium, and zinc, including chronic dosing of oral supplements and multivitamins (n=21), mega-doses of oral supplements (n=1), intramuscular injection (n=1), intravenous infusion (n=1), and a mix of injection and oral supplements (n=3). Preoperative repletion strategies varied in efficacy. Chronic dosing of oral supplements increased vitamin D levels (n=4 interventional studies; GRADE rating: moderate). Multivitamins did not improve vitamin B12 status but improved status of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folate. Iron infusion (n=1) increased ferritin levels despite small sample size and low adherence rate, whereas oral iron supplementation resulted in unchanged (n=4) or decreased (n=1) ferritin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Proactive and personalized micronutrient repletion schedules may decrease the risk of preoperative and early postoperative deficiency.

Transforming the electronic health record from a documentation application to an automated diet program for personalizing neonatal nutrition and improving feeding administration safety through process improvement.

Delivering adequate nutrition to preterm and sick neonates is critical for growth. Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) require additional calories to supplement feedings for higher metabolic demands. Traditionally, clinicians enter free-text diet orders for a milk technician to formulate recipes, and dietitians manually calculate nutrition components to monitor growth. This daily process is complex and labor intensive with potential for error. Our goal was to develop an electronic health record (EHR)-integrated solution for entering feeding orders with automated nutrition calculations and mixing instructions. The EHR-integrated automated diet program (ADP) was created and implemented at a 52-bed level III academic NICU. The configuration of the parenteral nutrition orderable item within the EHR was adapted to generate personalized milk mixing recipes. Caloric, macronutrient, and micronutrient constituents were automatically calculated and displayed. To enhance administration safety, handwritten milk bottle patient labels were substituted with electronically generated and scannable patient labels. The program was further enhanced by calculating fortifier powder displacement factors to improve mixing precision. Order entry was optimized to allow for more complex mixing recipes and include a preference list of frequently ordered feeds. The EHR-ADP's safeguarded features allowed for catching multiple near-missed feeding administration errors. The NICU preterm neonate cohort had an average of 6-day decrease (P = 0.01) in the length of stay after implementation while maintaining the same weight gain velocity. The EHR-ADP may improve safety and efficiency; further improvements and wider utilization are needed to demonstrate the growth benefits of personalized nutrition.

Integrated nutritional and functional components analyses reveal insights into the peel and pulp quality at different harvest times of 'Dahongpao' tangerine (Citrus reticulata Blanco).

The fruit of Citrus reticulata 'Dahongpao' (DHP) is typically harvested when fully ripe, exhibiting a dark red color, high sweetness, and pleasant taste. However, it remains uncertain whether the optimum harvesting time for its medicinal part (peel) aligns with that of the fruit. The findings of the study indicated that the peel exhibited the highest concentration of total flavonoids (4.018 mg/g) during the middle stage of maturity. Additionally, the total polysaccharide content increased progressively with ripening, reaching its peak (5.36 %) at full maturity. Furthermore, the DHP pulp demonstrated the highest concentration of total polyphenols (11.5 %) and the lowest titrable acid content (0.97 %) during the middle stage of maturity. Furthermore, the peel and pulp of DHP at the middle stage of ripening exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. Considering the nutritional and functional components at various harvest times of DHP, it is recommended to harvest the peel at the intermediate stage of ripeness. Additionally, during this stage, the pulp also exhibited greater abundance of nutritional components. The findings of this study elucidate the process of accumulation and alteration of nutritional and functional constituents during the ripening of DHP fruit.

Sex differences in clinical presentation, treatment response, and side effects of nutritional therapy among patients at nutritional risk A secondary analysis of the randomized clinical trial EFFORT.

BACKGROUND: Considering sex-specific factors has become an increasingly recognized area for research and practice. In the field of clinical nutrition, there is insufficient evidence regarding differences in clinical presentation, treatment response, and side effects of nutritional therapy among female and male patients. METHODS: This secondary analysis investigated differences among female and male patients at risk for malnutrition regarding initial presentation, clinical outcomes, and treatment response in patients included in the Effect of Early NutritionalSupporton Frailty, Functional Outcomes, and Recovery of Malnourished Medical Inpatients Trial (EFFORT), a randomized controlled trial comparing individualized nutritional support to usual care. RESULTS: Of 2,028 patients included in the trial 964 were female and 1,064 were male. The nutritional history and clinical presentation of female patients was different: they consumed less food and had a greater loss of appetite than the male population. Male patients had higher risk for mortality at 180 days (27% compared to 19%, adjusted HR 1.35 [95%CI 1.12, 1.63]) and further adverse clinical outcomes. However, there was no difference in the effect of nutritional support on mortality among female and male patients (HR 0.76 [95%CI 0.45, 1.27] compared to 0.81 [95%CI 0.54, 1.21]; p for interaction =0.939). CONCLUSION: Results of this multicenter randomized trial suggest that multimorbid female inpatients, have a different clinical presentation and are more prone to loss of appetite and reduced daily dietary intake compared to male inpatients. Importantly, the favorable response to nutritional interventions was similar in both sexes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02517476.

Plant metabolites modulate social networks and lifespan in a sawfly.

Social interactions influence disease spread, information flow and resource allocation across species, yet heterogeneity in social interaction frequency and its fitness consequences are still poorly understood. Additionally, the role of exogenous chemicals, such as non-nutritive plant metabolites that are utilised by several animal species, in shaping social networks remains unclear. Here, we investigated how non-nutritive plant metabolites impact social interactions and the lifespan of the turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae. Adult sawflies acquire neo-clerodane diterpenoids ('clerodanoids') from non-food plants and this can serve as a defence against predation and increase mating success. We found intraspecific variation in clerodanoids in natural populations and laboratory-reared individuals. Clerodanoids could also be acquired from conspecifics that had prior access to the plant metabolites, which led to increased agonistic social interactions. Network analysis indicated increased social interactions in sawfly groups where some or all individuals had prior access to clerodanoids, while groups with no prior access had fewer interactions. The frequency of social interactions was influenced by the clerodanoid status of the focal individual and that of other conspecifics. Finally, we observed a shorter lifespan in adults with prior clerodanoid access when grouped with individuals without prior access, suggesting that social interactions to obtain clerodanoids have fitness costs. Our findings highlight the role of intraspecific variation in the acquisition of non-nutritional plant metabolites in shaping social networks. This variation influences individual fitness and social interactions, thereby shaping the individualised social niche.

Development of a structured, digital nutrition awareness tool, the Pedi R-MAPP.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to an unprecedented change in healthcare systems, including the swift roll-out of technology-enabled care services, such as remote consultations. Interventions such as nutrition assessments for children are likely to continue to be conducted remotely as part of an online consultation. This article considers nutrition screening and nutritional assessment in children in acute and primary care settings. The article also provides an overview of the development of the Paediatric Remote Malnutrition Application (Pedi-R-MAPP), designed to assist healthcare professionals to undertake a standardised, nutrition-focused assessment via remote consultation and/or in primary care settings. The aim of the Pedi-R-MAPP is to help identify children with declining nutritional status or new nutritional concerns and to recommend frequency of review based on the outcomes of the assessment.

Factors Influencing Malnutrition Among Older Adult Residents in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia: Sex Differential Study.

BACKGROUND: The global population of older adults is on the rise. As people age, their physical functions gradually decline, leading to a decrease in the overall functioning of different organ systems. Due to these changes, older individuals are at a higher risk of encountering various adverse health outcomes and complications, such as malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition and its associated factors among older adults dwelling in the western region of Saudi Arabia. We have analyzed these factors separately for both men and women to understand any potential sex differences. METHODS: A nonrandomized cross-sectional study was conducted for older adults aged ≥60 years in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Personal information was obtained through a closed questionnaire. The Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form was used to determine the malnutrition status of older adults. Consequently, the individuals were divided into 2 groups: normal and malnourished. To assess the risk factors related to malnutrition, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were determined using a binary logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of malnutrition in men and women was around 7% and 5%, respectively. Potential risk factors related to malnutrition in men were higher age (OR 1.263, 95% CI 1.086-1.468; P=.002), being widowed (OR 8.392, 95% CI 1.002-70.258; P=.049), and having dental problems (OR 9.408, 95% CI 1.863-47.514; P=.007). On the other hand, risk factors associated with malnutrition in women were lower BMI (OR 0.843, 95% CI 0.747-0.952; P=.006) and being disabled (OR 18.089, 95% CI 0.747-0.952; P=.006). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide important insights into the risk factors for malnutrition among older adults in the western region of Saudi Arabia. While the overall prevalence of malnutrition was relatively low, the analysis revealed distinct risk factors for older men and women. Interventions developed based on the identified risk factors may prove effective in addressing the issue of malnutrition within this population.

Associations of prognostic nutritional index with risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortalities in persons with gestational diabetes mellitus: A NHANES-based analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate relationships between prognostic nutritional index (PNI) during pregnancy and risk of all-cause mortality (ACM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in persons with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using NHANES data from 2007 to 2018, and weighted Cox regression models were established. Restricted cubic spline analysis was used to unveil associations of PNI with risk of ACM and CVD mortalities in individuals with GDM. Receiver operating characteristic curve was employed for determination of threshold value for association of PNI with mortality. Sensitivity analysis was performed to verify the stability of the results. RESULTS: 734 GDM individuals and 7987 non-GDM individuals were included in this study. In GDM population, after adjusting for different categorical variables, PNI was significantly negatively correlated with ACM risk. Subgroup analysis showed that among GDM populations with no physical activity, moderate physical activity, parity of 1 or 2, negative correlation between PNI and risk of ACM was stronger than other subgroups. Sensitivity analysis results showed stable negative correlations between PNI and ACM and CVD mortality of total population, and between PNI and ACM of GDM. CONCLUSION: In individuals with GDM, PNI was negatively correlated with ACM risk, especially in populations with no physical activity, moderate physical activity, and parity of 1 or 2. PNI = 50.75 may be an effective threshold affecting ACM risk in GDM, which may help in risk assessment and timely intervention for individuals with GDM.

Basal Metabolic Rate Versus Dietary Vitamin D and Calcium Intakes and the Association With Body Composition and Bone Health After Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.

We examined the association among basal metabolic rate (BMR) as well as dietary intakes of vitamin D (Vit D) and calcium on body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) after spinal cord injury (SCI). Cross-sectional design. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA. About 33 individuals with chronic SCI who recorded their food consumption 3 days per week for 2 weeks. BMR was measured after 10 to 12 h of overnight fast. Average daily vit D and calcium intakes, and total caloric intake were recorded and analyzed using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) software. Fasting blood analysis for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) status and Triiodothyronine (T3) status was performed (n = 10). Total and regional BMD, % fat mass (FM), and % lean mass (LM) were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry scans. Participants consumed less than the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended daily allowances (RDA) for vit D (600-800 IU) and calcium (1000-1200 mg) for adults. BMR was positively related to total-lean mass (r = .62, P = .0001; n = 32) and leg-lean mass (r = .51, P = .003; n = 32). Adjusted BMR was negatively related to BMD of the left (r = -.38, P = .047; n = 28) and the right (r = -.41, P = .032; n = 28) proximal tibia. Vit D intake was negatively related to percentage total-FM (r = -.33, P = .07; n = 29) and legs-%FM (r = -.37, P = .047; n = 29). Multivariate regression models indicated that adjusted BMR explained the variance in leg fat mass (34%; P = .002) and percentage fat mass (44%; P < .0001). Persons with SCI are likely to consume less than the RDAs for vit D and calcium. BMR may explain the changes in body composition and bone metabolism. Dietary vit D should be considered as a prophylactic intervention in maintenance of bone health after SCI.

Optimal fasting duration for mice as assessed by metabolic status.

In the study of obesity and diabetes, mice are widely used for experimental research, and fasting is a common procedure used to reset metabolism in mouse models. The fasting duration for experimental mice varies greatly in nutritional and metabolic studies, ranging from 2 to 48 h. This study aims to assess the optimal fasting duration for mice fed low- and high-fat diets over a short period of time. C57BL/6J mice were fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or high-fat diet (HFD) and fasted for 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 24 h. The effects of different conditions after fasting on the metabolic level of mice were explored, and the data were collected for analysis. Our data indicate that fasting has inconsistent effects on mice fed a low-fat or high-fat diet. To compare the metabolic differences between mice in different dietary levels and thereby secure better scientific data, mice should fast for 6 h in animal experiments. Fasting for 6 h is also recommended when comparing glucose tolerance with insulin tolerance.

To explore the postoperative nutritional status and factors influencing prognosis in patients with chronic constipation complicated by malnutrition.

Background: Many patients with constipation also suffer from varying degrees of malnutrition, and the relationship between the two conditions is a vicious cycle. Surgery is the final step in the treatment of constipation, with a success rate of up to 95%. This study aims to investigate the effects of surgical treatment on the nutritional status of patients with chronic constipation and malnutrition. Methods: A total of 60 patients with chronic constipation and various degrees of malnutrition who underwent surgery in our department from January 2020 to March 2023 were included in this study. Biochemical tests including BMI, albumin, total protein, hemoglobin, cholesterol and lymphocyte count were conducted, as well as measurements of inflammatory markers such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Additionally, multiple nutritional risk screening scales (NRS2002, MUST, NRI, and MNA) and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were used to assess the nutritional status of patients before surgery, as well as at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-surgery. Finally, we analyzed the factors influencing postoperative recovery outcomes in patients. Results: Compared to pre-operation, the BMI of patients significantly increased at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the operation, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). Multiple nutritional risk assessment tools (NRS2002, MUST, NRI, and MNA), as well as the prognostic nutritional index (NPI), indicated a reduction in nutritional risk and improvement in nutritional status at 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery, compared to pre-surgery levels (p < 0.001). The levels of albumin, total protein, and hemoglobin in patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after the surgery were significantly higher than those before the surgery (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant change in the number of lymphocytes. Inflammatory markers such as IL-6, IL-8, and CRP exhibited a significant decrease after the surgery, reaching normal levels at 6 months post-surgery (p < 0.001). Low BMI, low PNI, and low cholesterol levels are independent risk factors for patient prognosis (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Surgical treatment can enhance the nutritional status of constipation patients with malnutrition, which in turn promotes the restoration of intestinal motility. The patient's nutritional status will impact the postoperative recovery outcomes.